I remember the first time my brother, sister and I attended Chi Omega
Convention in 2006 to watch our mom speak. We knew she was a big deal in the
fraternal world, but had no idea what a sorority celebrity she is until we saw
long lines of women waiting to get their picture with her. To us, she is an
incredible lady, but also just a mother, mentor and friend.
As you can imagine, being Jean Mrasek's oldest daughter has
involved some pressure at various points in time -- namely, during my formal
recruitment. That summer, my mom had just finished her term as Chi Omega national
president, so no one would have faulted her had she pushed me toward Chi Omega.
Instead, she encouraged me to seriously consider each and every chapter NPC had
to offer on our campus (of course, I did attend a university with a strong NPC
presence). Through her true Panhellenic spirit and support no matter the
outcome, the choice to be a sorority woman was always mine. This has made our
bond all the more special, fulfilling the legacy started by my grandmother in
Chi Omega.
When writing me notes, she likes to sign off as "Sister
Mom." It is neat to know we are sisters first. I feel truly blessed to
have this unique relationship with her. She has shown me and others what it
means to be an advocate for women, and she tirelessly works to uphold the values
so dear to Panhellenic. I often seek her counsel when faced with difficult
decisions, as I know she is diplomatic in her approach to all things. Her
wisdom also guides her to give me space when I need to make my own choices, as
here lies the opportunity for true learning and personal growth.
Now working for Chi Omega, I have personally witnessed the power
of Panhellenic that many women like my mom work so hard to grow. Leading a
colony this fall, it has been the support of the local Panhellenic community
that has made all the difference. The bonds that my "Sister Mom"
shares with NPC and its allies continue to be a model in my life and career. It
has been fun to interact professionally with some of the amazing Panhellenic
women she calls friends. From my perspective, that is what Panhellenic is all
about: celebrating friendships and common values among outstanding women.
I hope that you take this occasion to celebrate the sisters and
the special relationships in your life. This is a meaningful day for my family,
so if you see me amid a mess of tears, you'll know why.
The journey has begun! This past weekend, I had the pleasure of
spending some time with the 2013-16 Sigma Sigma Sigma Executive Council during
their quarterly council meeting held in Dallas at the invitation of the group’s
NPC Delegate Laura Sweet. The visit provided me the opportunity to thank Tri
Sigma for its support of Laura in her role as chairman of the NPC Strategic
Planning Committee and to recount my high regard for other leaders in their
national organization – Diana Sarber and Mary Barbee just to name a couple. We
discussed the six goals of the 2013-15 NPC Executive Committee and the shared
commitment among all of the 26 NPC groups. In addition, we reviewed the Conference’s
desire to shape our message by visiting with Panhellenic women on campuses and
initiating proactive conversations with campus officials. I appreciated
the opportunity to meet and educate all vice presidents on the council about
NPC’s vision for the future. 
During lunch, each national officer presented me with a travel
item and filled a small red suitcase for my upcoming trips. The activity was so
creative, and it was fun to get travel tips from fellow sorority road warriors.
The visit with the council was a great display of the the true Panhellenic
sisterhood found among us. Indeed, we have a shared commitment that will result
in desirable outcomes. I look forward to more visits with Panhellenic
sisters this fall and throughout the 2013-15 biennium.
