==Highlights of 2021==
Chapter Summary
In the past year our chapter has done some great things even with the restrictions of the pandemic placed upon us. Academically speaking our chapter has done a tremendous job bringing up our chapter wide GPA and rank. This fall semester we were ranked 5 of 6 of all the sororities in average GPA. This past winter semester, we placed 2 of 6 with an average GPA of 3.659. We currently have 6 open Merit-Based scholarships. Operationally speaking, we have held some awesome fundraiser events that our DEI heads planned and are currently working to plan our yearly tradition philanthropy fundraiser event for the promise committee at our school which works to prevent drinking and driving on campus. Aside from this, we hope to hold a fun run philanthropy event in the fall. We had a solid rush year and received 4-5 quota additions taking in 30 new members. Following a solid recruitment, we held our ritual and initiation for all new members to be inducted into the chapter. We have an exciting senior kickball event coming up that is being held through our panhellenic council. This event is a fundraiser to donate to a Gofundme for a member on our campus who recently became paralyzed due to a serious accident. One of our chapter wide goals this year is to increase our DEI efforts and work to get some new and fun philanthropy and sisterhood events in!
Chapter Philanthropy
Our chapter supports the Children’s Literacy Foundation through fundraising events we hold on campus. Additionally, we work with the Rockbridge County and elementary schools to raise money for supplies and school supplies for children. We are planning to do a few events in the fall with organizations in the area that support DEI efforts as well.
With the recent shift to focus on mental health and well-being advocacy, our chapter has been working to brainstorm some new ideas for events to fundraise for and support some of these organizations. We are hoping to hold events in the fall to support Active Minds, NEDA, Jed Foundation, and Mental Health America. Some current plans we have is to hold a fun run, a “food fuel” event during our finals week, a yoga event and more!
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
While it was difficult to operate as a chapter during the pandemic, we have really been working to get back to our normal operations and have been specifically focusing on DEI efforts and philanthropy events. We plan to hold many philanthropy events in the fall since our philanthropy chair is currently abroad. As far as DEI, our chapter makes strong efforts to increase engagement in diversity engagement and inclusion. Our DEI heads lead meetings every week following chapter to talk about a specific weekly topic which helps raise awareness around such topic. We also have done a collaboration with an organization campus to promote racial equity and inclusion. We held a fundraiser to raise money for children’s school supplies that promote all skin colors (crayons, band aids, etc) as well as posters for the classrooms. We are looking to do some other collabs this spring as well as in the fall. Additionally, we have held chapter wide DEI events in the past year where some outside members came to speak to our chapter on various topics.
Operating in a Pandemic
Operating during the pandemic was a challenge for our chapter. For a long period of time, we were having to do everything virtually (chapter, rush workshop, rush, initiation, sisterhood events). It was most difficult to hold rush virtually due to the technical difficulties we encountered. The inorganic feeling of getting to know someone through a screen made it a challenge for both our members and the PNM’s. While we tried to make it as natural as possible, we felt the experience would have been much better for the PNM’s if it were in person. Chapter and other operations were tough to hold virtually as sometimes it was hard to have effective and solid conversation. However, I think our chapter did a great job trying to make some virtual sisterhood events fun so that we could relax and still get to be together as a chapter.
