Founders Day Message

Dear Sisters:

Throughout our lives, many Tri Sigmas recollect and recite the familiar saying, “Remember always, we who receive much, must give much.”  This special quote from our Ritual has served as a compass for me from the day I heard it during the Arc Degree.

Reflecting on my young adult life, I have found the lessons I learned about leadership, sisterhood and citizenship in Tri Sigma were a sort of magnetic field leading me to my purpose. While it has taken many years to discover my authentic leadership, Tri Sigma has continued to provide me the opportunities, and more importantly, the inspiration to move, ever forward, to my true north.

It has been almost 19 years since I joined the Psi Chapter at MarshallUniversity; I have continued to serve Tri Sigma and the fraternal movement professionally and personally since that day. I have found my passion in student leadership development and organizational change, and have pursued a career in higher education administration, working specifically with fraternities and sororities. I volunteer nationally in many roles to advance the fraternal movement with organizations including HazingPrevention.Org and the Northeast Greek Leadership Association. The development of young adults into values-centered citizens is my true north – and I have Tri Sigma to thank for helping me discover it.

Each year on April 20^th, Tri Sigmas have an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of our Sisterhood during Founders Day celebrations. This year’s theme, “To Be Authentic,” written by Emmy Smith (Epsilon Pi), focuses on the journey each of us must take to find our true north.

Tri Sigma is a lifetime sorority experience for women – a continuous journey. Whether or not this sentence from our mission statement resonates currently, I ask you to please commit to making Tri Sigma a bigger part of your life. I have a few suggestions about how to make that happen:

• Join Sigma Connect, our online social network, and reconnect with old friends (and make some new ones).
• Pay your annual alumnae dues so that Tri Sigma can continue to provide member benefits such as The Triangle magazine, an interactive website, developmental leadership programs, and staff support for our collegiate and alumnae chapters.

• Make a donation to the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation to support leadership programs, scholarships or play therapy programs.
• Volunteer as an Alumnae Advisory Board or Housing Corporation Board member for a local collegiate chapter. Apply for National Officer or Council service.
• Join an alumnae chapter or become a key alumna.
• Recommend a woman for membership. (Keep in mind that women can be initiated as alumnae.)
• Buy a brick on the Sisterhood Walk to help support renovations to our national memorial headquarters, Walton House.
• Send a thank you note to someone from your Tri Sigma past who has made an impact on you.

April is a month of hope and renewal. How appropriate it seems that it is also the month of Tri Sigma’s Founders Day – what a natural time to renew our commitments to the Sorority and our Sisters. This Founders Day, celebrate Tri Sigma by reflecting on how our Sorority has helped you find your “true north” and recommit to making our organization part of your journey to discovering your authentic self.

2010 Founders Day Program - To Be Authentic

Ever Forward,

Allison Swick-Duttine

Publications Vice President