Read all about Alpha Kappa's sweat drive with Victoria Secret to donate to our local cause, Womenspace!
Alpha Chi Omega has partnered up with the Victoria’s Secret PINK Campus Representatives here at the University of Oregon to put on a sweats and clothing drive! Alpha Chi Omega’s philanthropy is the prevention of domestic violence. Here at the Alpha Kappa chapter, we support Womenspace, which is a local women’s shelter that provides the victims with shelter, toiletries, clothes, and a safe place to live away from their abusive relationships.
Victoria’s Secret PINK Campus Representatives and AXO have partnered up to put on a sweats drive for Womenspace since we have worked with Womespace in the past and we can help get word out there to the rest of the sororities in our community. I automatically jumped at the chance to help out our own philanthropy in any way we could.
All across the nation, campuses that have the Victoria’s Secret PINK Campus Representative group are having a competition between colleges to see which campus can raise the most amount of donated clothing items to a local organization. We really want University of Oregon to win!
Victoria’s Secret PINK and Alpha Chi Omega’s joint sweats and clothing drive will be March 12-18 (Monday-Saturday) from 12-2pm everyday. The drop off location for all of the clothes will be at AXO on the front Porch. The top 3 donators will receive Victoria’s Secret gift cards or gift bags filled with Victoria’s Secret PINK apparel. There will also be a prize for the sorority that donates the most items of clothing! All donators will receive exclusive coupons to redeem at the Valley River Victoria’s Secret store.
I'm glad that Alpha Chi is doing what we can to help victims of domestic violence here in Eugene!
LITB,
Chrissy Hardesty
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
My Journey
Read all about Alpha Chi's membership development program, My Journey, from Melissa Andre!
This upcoming year our nationals is officially implementing a new program with our sorority. It's called My Journey and it is specifically designed to help each girl with the stages of life that they are in. For instance, as freshman it is there to help girls choose their majors, gain confidence, and work well with others. And for seniors it would be there to help you construct your resume and practice interviewing for a job. Each group of girls will be learning together with girls of their same age and they will be taught by their own peers. We will appoint a single person in each age group to lead the discussions and this will in turn give our girls another opportunity to become a leader in our house. I'm very excited about this because over spring break I will be traveling to Los Angeles for a regional conference to learn more about the program. Once I know more about the program I will train each grade representative and then we will officially begin My Journey next fall.
I am so excited to start using My Journey. The freshman and junior classes have already started to use it, and they are growing so much closer because of it. My Journey helps facilitate personal growth by learning from your peers. I know that this program will help us develop ourselves as well as help our chapter become more well rounded and successful!
LITB,
Chrissy Hardesty
This upcoming year our nationals is officially implementing a new program with our sorority. It's called My Journey and it is specifically designed to help each girl with the stages of life that they are in. For instance, as freshman it is there to help girls choose their majors, gain confidence, and work well with others. And for seniors it would be there to help you construct your resume and practice interviewing for a job. Each group of girls will be learning together with girls of their same age and they will be taught by their own peers. We will appoint a single person in each age group to lead the discussions and this will in turn give our girls another opportunity to become a leader in our house. I'm very excited about this because over spring break I will be traveling to Los Angeles for a regional conference to learn more about the program. Once I know more about the program I will train each grade representative and then we will officially begin My Journey next fall.
I am so excited to start using My Journey. The freshman and junior classes have already started to use it, and they are growing so much closer because of it. My Journey helps facilitate personal growth by learning from your peers. I know that this program will help us develop ourselves as well as help our chapter become more well rounded and successful!
LITB,
Chrissy Hardesty
Alpha Chi at Work: Lauren Cartmell
Read all about Lauren Cartmell's volunteer work with the Greenhill Humane Society!
I don't know about all of you, but I am definitely jealous of Lauren's job! This sounds so fun and rewarding! I don't know how she's able to resist adopting them all!
LITB,
Chrissy Hardesty
Being a huge dog lover—we’re talking made-my-dog-a-facebook
dog lover--it only seemed natural to start volunteering at Greenhill Humane
Society my sophomore year of college. It may have started more as a way to
fulfill community service requirements, but I quickly found myself driving
across town every week or two just to see those loveable animals.
While in the process of training to become a dog walker, I
worked as a “cattery companion.” It didn’t sound like my ideal job at first,
but I was amazed at how quickly I came to like spending time with the cats, getting
them used to human interaction and making sure they had a clean, safe place to
stay at the shelter.
After my brief stint in the cattery, I moved on to the
kennel, where I started by simply sitting with dog after dog, petting them,
feeding them treats, and acclimating them to collars, leashes, and the human
touch. I was in heaven. “Is this really community service?” I thought. It was
too much fun to be deemed “community service.” After this first level of
training in the kennel, I upgraded to dog-walker, which I have been doing to
this day. It’s a simple concept: you put a leash on, take the dog to a fenced
in yard to play, then walk them around the shelter’s grounds, and yet the dogs
are just ecstatic every time they get to go on one of these 15-minute walks.
It’s the highlight of their whole day. And it feels so good to be able to give
them that simple pleasure.
I’ve also spent time as a “kennel runner,” where I help
visitors find dogs that may be good matches for them. This is a rewarding job,
as I am directly involved in finding these dogs new homes.
Volunteering at Greenhill has been a wonderful experience.
Not only does it put a smile on my face, but it really changes the lives of the
animals there. I hope to continue volunteering there as long as I am in Eugene!
I don't know about all of you, but I am definitely jealous of Lauren's job! This sounds so fun and rewarding! I don't know how she's able to resist adopting them all!
LITB,
Chrissy Hardesty
Alpha Chi Omega Leadership Convention
Read all about President Annie and VP CRS Sam's time at the national Alpha Chi Leadership Convention!
The New Year has already help many exciting things for Alpha
Kappa. Early in the term, Annie and I were able to go the Leadership Convention
in Indianapolis, Indiana where we would meet with other presidents and Chapter
Relations and Standards from all over the country. It was truly an eye opening
experience to how grateful I am to my chapter here at the University of Oregon.
In our small groups, I found myself being able to speak up about not only of
efficient ways our house handles situations but also that I was able to give
solutions to other chapters problems because of the past exec board’s training
and the preparation we had been given in our new positions.
We are one of the chapters who cares the most. Not
necessarily about winning every single philanthropy event, or being the
“hottest” on campus (even though we definitely work it ;)), but that we care
the most about each other. I can say with all my heart that there is not a girl
in this house that would not look at a fellow member and not as least see a
fellow sister. There is a sense of unity in our house that not only do other
chapters lack, but that other chapters cannot revitalize. We have that spark
that has kept us sane thus far and that bit of logic in the back of our minds
reminding us that what goes on in “sorority life” isn’t always real life. But the people that we are becoming together,
the bonds we are constructing and rebuilding are the realest things we will
ever experience. The convention was a wonderful experience and I received a lot
of insight and training on dealing with sticky situations and dealing with the
overall stress of my position, but definitely the most rewarding thing was
being able to sit down with over 200 other chapters and tell them how proud I
am to be a part of Alpha Kappa chapter.
The New Year has already help many exciting things for Alpha
Kappa. Early in the term, Annie and I were able to go the Leadership Convention
in Indianapolis, Indiana where we would meet with other presidents and Chapter
Relations and Standards from all over the country. It was truly an eye opening
experience to how grateful I am to my chapter here at the University of Oregon.
In our small groups, I found myself being able to speak up about not only of
efficient ways our house handles situations but also that I was able to give
solutions to other chapters problems because of the past exec board’s training
and the preparation we had been given in our new positions. 
We are one of the chapters who cares the most. Not
necessarily about winning every single philanthropy event, or being the
“hottest” on campus (even though we definitely work it ;)), but that we care
the most about each other. I can say with all my heart that there is not a girl
in this house that would not look at a fellow member and not as least see a
fellow sister. There is a sense of unity in our house that not only do other
chapters lack, but that other chapters cannot revitalize. We have that spark
that has kept us sane thus far and that bit of logic in the back of our minds
reminding us that what goes on in “sorority life” isn’t always real life. But the people that we are becoming together,
the bonds we are constructing and rebuilding are the realest things we will
ever experience. The convention was a wonderful experience and I received a lot
of insight and training on dealing with sticky situations and dealing with the
overall stress of my position, but definitely the most rewarding thing was
being able to sit down with over 200 other chapters and tell them how proud I
am to be a part of Alpha Kappa chapter.
I am so proud to say that I had two amazing women representing Alpha Chi at Leadership Convention! Thank you both for all the hard work that you do!
LITB,
Chrissy Hardesty
Alpha Chi Abroad: Chloe Smock and Sarah Krause
Read all about Chloe and Sarah's study abroad in Spain!
Spain was a place that both Sarah and I always wanted to
visit and we were thrilled when we found out that we were able to study there
together in the summer of 2011. I am studying to be a teacher at the University
of Oregon and Spanish was something that I wanted to continue in order to be
more accessible to my possible Spanish-speaking students. Sarah is studying
both human physiology and Spanish and studying in a Spanish speaking country
was the opportunity she needed to practice her knowledge of the language.
We
lived in a small town called Oviedo, located in the northern Asturias region of
Spain, and we studied multiple aspects of the Spanish language and culture for
the majority of our days there. There were also chances to go on excursions to
nearby towns that were enriched with culture that we took advantage of. Being
able to study abroad was something we both knew we wanted to do before we
graduated college, and the chance to practice a language we both felt a passion
for as well as see first hand the way the Spanish people live was something we
will always treasure. Being able to immerse ourselves in another language and
country was an unforgettable experience on its own, but being able to share it
with each other made it all the more memorable. Having a sister to share this
trip with brought a sense of familiarity that made adjusting to a new place
easier and all the more enjoyable. We met through Alpha Chi Omega and have been
good friends, but being able to live in another part of the world together
created a deeper connection between the two of us that we are beyond grateful
for.
What an amazing opportunity for Chloe and Sarah! I'm sure their experience abroad was even more rewarding because they got to share it with each other!
LITB,
Chrissy Hardesty
Spain was a place that both Sarah and I always wanted to
visit and we were thrilled when we found out that we were able to study there
together in the summer of 2011. I am studying to be a teacher at the University
of Oregon and Spanish was something that I wanted to continue in order to be
more accessible to my possible Spanish-speaking students. Sarah is studying
both human physiology and Spanish and studying in a Spanish speaking country
was the opportunity she needed to practice her knowledge of the language. 
We
lived in a small town called Oviedo, located in the northern Asturias region of
Spain, and we studied multiple aspects of the Spanish language and culture for
the majority of our days there. There were also chances to go on excursions to
nearby towns that were enriched with culture that we took advantage of. Being
able to study abroad was something we both knew we wanted to do before we
graduated college, and the chance to practice a language we both felt a passion
for as well as see first hand the way the Spanish people live was something we
will always treasure. Being able to immerse ourselves in another language and
country was an unforgettable experience on its own, but being able to share it
with each other made it all the more memorable. Having a sister to share this
trip with brought a sense of familiarity that made adjusting to a new place
easier and all the more enjoyable. We met through Alpha Chi Omega and have been
good friends, but being able to live in another part of the world together
created a deeper connection between the two of us that we are beyond grateful
for. Womenspace Cards
On Hera Day, Cristina and Whitaker organized an event for Alpha Chi to give back to our local philanthropy, Womenspace. Keep reading to learn more!
I loved having the opportunity the make a card for Womenspace especially because we can't have personal contact with the members of Womenspace because of the sensitivity of their work. It was nice to be able to share something so personal as a card with a victim of domestic violence, and I hope that all of our cards brightened their day!
LITB,
Chrissy Hardesty
Happy Hera day! March 1st is Alpha Chi Omega’s celebration
of service to others. In honor of our patron goddess Hera, Alpha Chi Omegas
give personal service for the happiness and well-being of others. It is a day
to remind our chapter to give back in some small way. Whitaker Sherk, VP of
Ritual and Fraternity Appreciation, and I decided our chapter needed to do a
small event on Hera Day to be reminded of our philanthropy, domestic violence
awareness, by being able to give back to Womenspace, the local women’s shelter
that the Alpha Kappa chapter supports. During a hectic time filled with midterms,
papers and classes coming to an end we wanted to do something small, but
meaningful for Womenspace. It was especially important for me, as VP
Philanthropy, to have our chapter always be thinking about the victims at
Womenspace at different times during the year and not solely when we raise
money and put on our philanthropy, Diamond Days, every May. This past Hera Day,
our chapter made supportive cards to the victims at Womenspace. We wanted to be
able to lift their spirits during this difficult time in their lives and hoped
it brightened their day. We wanted to make them feel like they are always loved
and constantly in our thoughts! We made over fifty handmade cards for the women
of Womenspace. The event turned out a great success! It meant a lot to our
girls as they felt like they were getting in closer contact with the victims,
who we are not normally able to interact with.
It was great to have such a big turnout on Hera Day and have our chapter
give up their time for the happiness of others. Alpha Chi teaches us that even
something as small as making a card can brighten someone’s day and make a
difference.
LITB,
Chrissy Hardesty
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