FORECAST: SUNNY SKIES AHEAD

“A great organization is one that delivers superior performance and makes a distinct impact over a long period of time, keeping in mind that performance must be assessed relative to the mission.” - Jim Collins, “Good to Great and the Social Sectors” 

As we begin the New Year, NPC begins implementing its 2015-20 strategic plan, which was adopted by the board of directors at the annual meeting in October 2014. 

The strategic plan reaffirms our mission statement, vision statement and values. Our strategic objectives and goals are articulated here. 

The focus of our work will center on three areas: 

• Educational support 
• Growth management 
• Marketing and outreach 

We realize there are opportunities to educate and better equip our NPC family and our stakeholders with Panhellenic knowledge. 

We know that there are opportunities to better collaborate in areas of growth management and to follow trends and projections as we consider what the sorority experience should look like in the future. 

We understand that there are opportunities to strengthen our position as the premier advocate of the sorority movement through enhanced marketing and outreach efforts. 

Watch for progress reports in the months and years to come. This is just the beginning of sunny skies ahead with limitless opportunities for NPC. 

Are you wearing your sunglasses? NPC is ready to get started on our five-year journey from good to great. We are determined to rise to the challenge outlined by Jim Collins and effectively deliver on our mission and make a distinct impact.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW: 26 Points of Light

It is appropriate this time of year to reflect on accomplishments and progress made to advance the sorority experience. 

Our shared commitment as a unified coalition of women has resulted in many successful outcomes. In honor of our 26 member organizations, here are 26 noteworthy accomplishments. Together, we …

1. Enhanced relationships and greater understanding of NPC through campus visits.
2. Affirmed tenets with revision of the NPC standards document and bylaws.
3. Adopted position statements to reinforce our stance on issues ranging from right to assemble and right of association as women’s-only organizations to hazing and discrimination.
4. Joined thousands of other women at the Take The Lead Challenge Launch Event held via live stream on Feb. 19, and invited Panhellenic women across the world to watch the event and engage in Twitter discussion.
5. Announced research findings on well-being and retention related to sorority membership to substantiate our claims of adding value to the college experience.
6. Participated in listening sessions on sexual assault awareness sponsored by the White House and Department of Education.
7. Expanded NPC Foundation Board of Trustees, which has strategic initiatives underway to provide additional support to NPC.
8. Hosted first Chapter Management Summit to educate member organization’s staff and volunteers on NPC policies and procedures and to address common challenges.
9. Participated in Capitol Hill visits with students as ambassadors equipped with messages to advocate for freedom of association, charitable giving and the Collegiate Housing Infrastructure Act (CHIA).
10. Created and adopted the 2015-20 strategic plan to set NPC on course for another five years.
11. Attended Vision2020 National Congress and reaffirmed support as a national ally.
12. Created pilots and task forces to address immediate needs and concerns:
    o “Something of Value” Review Task Force;
    o Bylaws Review Task Force;
    o Benefits of Single-Sex Status Task Force;
    o Campus Mergers Task Force;
    o Recruitment Counselor Nonaffiliation Pilot;
    o Student Safety and Sexual Assault Awareness Task Force.
13. Distributed new Recruitment Counselor Guide.
14. Produced Sorority Recruitment Information Guide and supporting tools for alumnae and Alumnae Panhellenics to use to promote the sorority experience.
15. Conducted 43 training sessions at five regional conferences and AFA.
16. Trained 64 RFM Specialists representing all 26 member organizations and provided additional training through RFM Lite sessions.
17. Facilitated AFA Drive-In Sessions and participated in the Big 10 FSA Conference. 
18. Exhibited at the National Association of Student Councils.
19. Hosted quarterly conference calls with campus professionals who serve on our Fraternity/Sorority Advisory Committee.
20. Assigned our volunteers and experts to 12 consulting team visits and 21 “Something of Value” sessions.
21. Conducted 31 university document reviews and several housing committee assists.
22. Promoted 70+ extension opportunities to member organizations.
23. Presented awards to exemplary College Panhellenics and Alumnae Panhellenics.
24. Collaborated with representatives from American Association of University Women (AAUW), Running Start, White House Council on Girls and Women and Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) as part of an advocacy day in Washington.
25. Celebrated the centennial milestones and attended the anniversary events of the Cleveland and Indianapolis Alumnae Panhellenic Associations.
26. Appeared in new media outlets and posted articles in 47 publications as part of our mission to share our message.

This has been a remarkable year. Strides have been made on campuses, in communities and on Capitol Hill. Special appreciation is extended to our dedicated volunteers who along with our talented staff make this progress possible. In addition, we are grateful to our interfraternal partners who support our efforts. 

Our work continues in 2015. Let’s get started.

A Day in D.C.

As part of our mission to be the premier advocacy and support organization for the advancement of the sorority experience, NPC representatives visited with several officials on Nov. 20 in Washington. Joining me on visits were Advocacy Chairman Mary Jane Beach, NPC Executive Director Nicki Meneley, Fraternity/Sorority Political Action Committee President Sarah Lindsay and Public Policy Specialist Amy Davenport of Squire Patton Boggs. We met with officials at the following offices:

• Association of American University Women (AAUW)
• Running Start
• White House Council on Women and Girls
• Rape Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)

These meetings were productive as we discussed ways NPC can align our strategic initiatives and collaborate in areas of research, training and education, and sexual assault prevention and response awareness. We seek to establish meaningful relationships and dialogue with other organizations that will result in a greater understanding of who we are and what we do. It was helpful to share our updates on the recent Gallup-Purdue Index study findings on the well-being of college graduates and retention as it relates to sorority membership. We also shared news with these officials about the formation of our Benefits of Single-Sex Status Task Force and Student Safety and Sexual Assault Awareness Task Force. Through these meetings, we discovered that these organizations offer trainings, education and resources that can benefit our sorority women. It was a great day of conversation.

In our movement to advance the sorority experience, we must continue to reach out to other audiences and bring others along in our journey to fully embrace our mission and vision. This is what being a premier advocacy and support organization is all about.

A Collegian's Perspective: Friendships Beyond Badges

By Abby Schneider, University of Missouri

Chairman Jean M. Mrasek with all the past NPC
chairmen in attendance at the 2014 NPC annual meeting.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the National Panhellenic Conference annual meeting in St. Louis. Throughout the weekend, I shadowed current NPC Chairman, Jean M. Mrasek, and sat in on some of her meetings, observing and absorbing as much information as my collegian viewpoint would allow me to do. 

The first event I witnessed Friday night was a meeting to revise the bylaws with NPC delegations from the 26 NPC member organizations. Upon entering the crowded room, I immediately noticed a u-shaped table that seated one woman per each of the 26 NPC sororities. These 26 women, I came to find, were the delegates that would stand up and speak on behalf of their organizations when they felt it was necessary. With the delegates in the shape of a U, I already could feel a sense of collaboration among the women in the room. When a woman stood up and walked to the microphone to make any input, she would state her name and sorority affiliation first, with full respect and attention of those around her. This collaboration, I then understood, was Panhellenic -- friendships beyond badges.

While I was most taken by the true spirit of togetherness that was apparent at the meeting, the subject being addressed was also something that surprised me. As an active member, the bylaws are something that I remember acknowledging during my recruitment process and pushing out of my mind shortly after. Before this weekend, I never would have assumed that the NPC worked so diligently on keeping these bylaws as up to date and accurate as possible. For one hour these women went line by line, sometimes debating one word or phrase until finding one that conveyed their meaning accurately. The NPC's determination toward revising and perfecting these regulations truly represents how much work they put into so many different things that before the meeting I had never even thought of. 

One of the biggest things I took away from the meeting was just how important the National Panhellenic Conference is in terms of the bigger picture of sorority life. NPC is the venue that allows all 26 incredible women’s organizations to advance sorority together.

FOR GUARDING OF GOOD HEALTH

It is powerful to hear sorority women recite The Panhellenic Creed in unison.

The Panhellenic Creed includes the phrase for guarding of good health as one of the main tenets by which we strive to live. Indeed, our early NPC leaders had vision to place good health as a focus area.

How did good health make the list? Why is good health important to sorority women?

Good health means different things to different people; however, we can all agree that good health contributes significantly to happiness and overall well-being. It encompasses the wide range of things — physical, mental and emotional functions — that play into our lifetime success and accomplishment. With our health in good order, we can live up to our fullest potential. 

NPC member organizations have inter/national philanthropies that either support local charities or national causes. Several of our NPC member organizations support causes related to women’s health. Here are just a few examples:

• Alpha Epsilon Phi supports Sharsheret, an organization that supports young Jewish women in their fight against breast cancer.
• Alpha Gamma Delta supports members and individuals living with diabetes.
• Alpha Omicron Pi supports research and education on arthritis.
• Alpha Phi supports projects in all areas of women’s heart health.
• Delta Gamma supports organizations that promote sight preservation.
• Delta Phi Epsilon supports the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD).
• Sigma Kappa supports studies on aging and addresses needs of the elderly, with an emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease.
• Zeta Tau Alpha devotes efforts to breast cancer education and awareness.

All of these noble causes raise awareness and bring to light the need to do more to assist in research, education and support to benefit women’s health.

One such organization that seeks to elevate the issue of women’s good health is DiabetesSisters. Reports indicate 13.4 million women have diabetes, which is also linked to high blood pressure, kidney failure, heart disease, blindness and stroke, among other health issues. Founder and CEO Brandy Barnes was diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager and found little information about services for women when her journey took her through a high-risk pregnancy. Her experiences culminated in forming DiabetesSisters in 2008. She contends that emotional and peer support are vitally important to coping with this disease. 

Emotional and peer support are just what sorority women can offer one another as well as other women in need. It is not uncommon for sorority sisters to sit with others in hospital waiting rooms, accompany a friend on a doctor visit or specialized treatment or provide meals for sisters and their families. Whatever and whenever the need arises, sorority sisters are there to provide comfort, encouragement and support. 

Ways to guard good health:

• Make healthy food and drink choices.
• Visit your doctor regularly.
• Do self-exams, and be aware of changes in your body and appearance.
• Know your family history. Some diseases are hereditary.
• Make time for exercise and form fitness groups with other women — running, water aerobics, walking, Zumba, yoga or Pilates.
• Model life balance with rest, work and play.

Guarding of good health requires that we tune into our bodies and become more knowledgeable about prevention and maintenance. Good health equates to increased work productivity, social engagement and ultimately, lifetime fulfillment. More than ever, as sorority women we are charged to uphold this portion in our creed and apply good habits to our daily lives.

As we approach the holiday season, let’s give thanks for good health.

Resources:
National Institutes of Health — Orwh.od.nih.gov  
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention — cdc.gov

The Journey Continues!

The NPC Executive Committee enjoyed campus visits to Washington University and Saint Louis University just prior to the NPC annual meeting held in St. Louis Oct. 24-26. These campus visits allow the NPC Executive Committee to meet with university officials and empower our sorority women to work together as a unified coalition of women. We reminded the sorority members that they are the largest women’s organization on campus. At Saint Louis University, the NPC Executive Committee received a warm welcome with more than 1,000 sorority women attending the all-sisters forum. After an informal roll call of chapters, each NPC Executive Committee member shared her personal story of sorority membership. It is exhilarating to have that many sorority women present to hear the message: Shared commitment brings desirable outcomes. Our journey continues to advance sorority. We look forward to more travels in the coming year.

Efforts Continue on Sexual Assault Awareness

As noted in the NPC chairman’s September message, sexual assault awareness is at the forefront of discussions on college campuses. We are continuing to get updates about initiatives that are underway. Thank you for sharing your efforts with NPC. 

In recent months, national campaigns have been launched to help raise awareness and engage individuals to speak up and take action. One such initiative underway is “It’s On Us.” We applaud our Panhellenic sisters who have taken the pledge. It is wonderful to see that our brothers in NIC and fraternity men are also addressing this issue that is very important to all students, but especially to women. We can all make a difference in spreading the word. 

We are also seeing more education on Title IX -- what it means and how it is defined. Some College Panhellenics are inviting campus officials trained on Title IX to attend their meetings and provide education to sorority women. Please take a moment to review the nine things to know about Title IX.

Friends, our united efforts for sexual assault awareness continue. We encourage our College Panhellenics and sorority leaders to become educated about Title IX and encourage our women to stand by each other and support others who have the courage to come forward and report. After all, we are on the same team.