SORORITY LETTERS: PROMOTING OUR BRAND

At college commencement ceremonies this spring, I was pleased to see so many sorority women wearing their colorful stoles and letters with their graduation attire. These letters let others know that we place value in our sorority membership. We are promoting our brand.

People do not always assign our letters with a particular NPC organization, but rather they see the letters and think sorority. Therefore, it is up to each of us to advocate for the sorority brand and openly share how sorority membership enhances the college experience.

• We can talk about friendship as the basis for the founding of our organizations.  
• We can talk about ways we make a difference as sorority women — as leaders on campus and in our communities; as caring citizens engaged in outreach efforts and charitable causes; and as scholars who value academic achievement and career pursuits.  
• We can talk about the benefits of mentorship that comes with intergenerational support from alumnae advisors and near peer relationships within our chapters.  
• We can talk about how lifelong commitment translates into sisters who are there for us in good times and challenging times.
• And we can talk about how our ritual and highest teachings provide the moral compass in our lives.  

This promotion of our brand should happen 365 days a year — not just during recruitment.

How are you promoting our brand? Are you talking about your positive sorority membership experience?

Ritual: Learn it. Live it. Teach it. Expect it.

Summertime provides time to reflect on many aspects of fraternal life, including ritual.

Last summer, I had the privilege of serving as a facilitator at the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI). This is the premier leadership program for the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). It was a memorable time that reinforced my commitment to and passion for the sorority experience.

There were nearly 100 professionals and students housed in a sorority facility on the University of Indiana campus in Bloomington. This group of strangers quickly became family. Our discussions related to common challenges as leaders and opportunities to change the status quo by getting back to basics of respective rituals.

UIFI follows a philosophy whereby all those involved have a shared experience. We were divided into small-group meetings, known as "chapter meetings." This allowed for hearty debate, soulful conversations and brainstorming of ideas.

UIFI takes student leaders on a five-day journey that sets forth blueprints for change. These are intended to be taken back to chapters and communities, as well as incorporated into day-to-day lives. The curriculum is thoughtful and deliberate in guiding participants along the training continuum where they finally reach their call to action. One of the most memorable moments was when the students stood in front of the group with their fraternity brothers and sorority sisters and recited their open creeds. Significant words and phrases were repeated for all to hear - in unison.

Lessons taught in our rituals are intended to be applied to our daily routines. Symbolism has meaning to us, and it should inspire us and remind us how we can live more fulfilling lives.

Sorority and fraternity membership has the potential to lift up the entire university community. The recent findings by Gallup give credence to the fact that sorority membership contributes to the well-being of college alumnae . We can talk about who we are and what we do, but our actions speak louder than words.

We need to live our ritual. We need to teach it. And we need to expect it from our members and fraternal friends.

So let's do it.

Let's demonstrate what it means to be a Panhellenic woman by putting values into action - FOR GOOD.

Let's empower our members to make necessary changes in their organizations and insist on alignment with our fraternal values found in our rituals - FOR GOOD.

Let's extend our helping hand and build bridges with others - FOR GOOD.

Take time to think about what ritual means to you and how you can use it to advance sorority. And talk about it.