Advancing Solutions

NPC has a proud reputation as one of the leading organizations of collegiate and alumnae women. Our member organizations are located on more than 670 campuses with over 350,000 undergraduate members in more than 3,100 chapters. We are in the business of empowering women to be leaders on their campuses and in their communities to make a difference in the lives of others.

The Safe Campus Act and Fair Campus Act were introduced yesterday in Congress. NPC announced its full support for both the Safe Campus and Fair Campus acts and remains committed to playing a part in important dialogue pertaining to student safety and success.

On a personal note, I am pleased to see legislative efforts representing different approaches to address the complex topic of campus sexual violence. This legislation escalates the conversation for the benefit of our sorority members and all students. We all want the same outcome -- a safer campus.

We will watch closely in the coming days and weeks as lawmakers debate issues that impact student safety on campus and address due process protections for individuals and organizations. In addition, we will enthusiastically support legislation that will strengthen our historic exemption under Title IX as a women's-only organization. 

Our shared commitment as a unified coalition of women is important every day, but especially today. We applaud members of Congress for hearing our voices and seeking solutions to our concerns.

Convention Highlights

I have enjoyed the opportunity to travel this summer as NPC Chairman and speak at sorority conventions. It is such a joy to meet active and alumnae members and recognize there is friendship beyond badges. My favorite part of attending any convention is to hear about the remarkable achievements of sorority women.

At Alpha Omicron Pi convention in Los Angeles, I attended the Panhellenic luncheon with a garden party theme. What an impressive setting! It was symbolic to recognize that there are many varieties in the NPC garden, yet we are all grounded with the same soil and grow from similar humble beginnings as values-based women’s organizations. During the luncheon, I heard about Nicole Klibert who attends Northwestern State University. She was awarded the AOPi Mary Louise Roller Award that recognizes a collegiate member for outstanding service and leadership to her Panhellenic, campus and/or community. A proven campus leader, Nicole has served as President’s Leadership Program Association chair and on the Student Government Association election board. For the sorority community, Nicole has served as AOPi Panhellenic delegate, College Panhellenic president and vice president of recruitment — in that order — delegate first, president second and vice president third. When Nicole could have rested on her laurels after serving as Panhellenic president, she stepped up to serve as vice president of recruitment when needed. That speaks volumes about Nicole being a servant leader.

When attending Kappa Delta convention in Orlando, I was swept away with the energy of

the opening night event. At that event, I heard about the top 15 Kappa Delta collegians honored as recipients of the Corre Anding Stegall Collegiate Leadership Award. One woman who was highlighted was Cara Mund a student at Brown University. From Bismarck, North Dakota, Cara is a founding member of her chapter and currently serves as KD chapter president. She excels in the business, entrepreneurship and organization honors program with a 3.8 GPA. This exceptional leader balances her school work and leadership position with other activities, including teaching assistant, tour guide, cheerleader and member of two dance companies. In addition, she is the founder and director of her hometown’s annual Make-A-Wish Fashion Show, which has raised over $48,000 to help make wishes come true for children battling life-threatening medical conditions. Cara is described by a fellow teaching assistant: “Although the school is filled with some of the most accomplished students in the country, she continues to stand out because of her continued academic achievements, campus involvement and personal drive.” Cara clearly puts her values into action.

Outstanding young leaders like Nicole and Cara make us all proud to be sorority women. Our conventions provide opportunities to honor excellence and celebrate the sorority experience.

ABSOLUTE AMBASSADORS: LEADERSHIP CONSULTANTS TAKE TO THE ROAD

NPC Executive Committee with 
Sigma Kappa leadership consultants

This summer, more than 300 outstanding sorority women, who recently graduated from college, will be trained as chapter leadership consultants for the 26 NPC member organizations. They are absolute ambassadors for our NPC member organizations.

Chapter inspections occurred early in our existence as national sororities. National officers and alumnae volunteers traveled by train to visit chapters on college campuses and quizzed chapter leaders about their knowledge of sorority history, rules, ritual and officer duties and responsibilities. Written or typed reports were submitted for review. These reports had bearing upon which chapters received awards or those that received additional resources and support.

It was important then and remains critical today that our sorority chapters operate in alignment with inter/national policies and procedures. Leadership consultants deliver important messages and help bridge communication between inter/national headquarters and the local chapters. With their hand on the pulse of campus current events, consultants provide helpful feedback to the inter/national councils and governing boards in their ongoing efforts to monitor campus trends and develop relevant programs.

Consultants are mentors and coaches. Others would describe them as the sisterhood of the traveling shoes as they move from campus to campus and visit NPC's combined 3,000+ sorority chapters.

These women are top notch young professionals who teach chapter officers how to lead and motivate others, as well as mediate challenging situations. Consultants train chapter members on topics ranging from social policies and decision-making to membership selection and marketing. They collaborate with alumnae advisors and house corporation volunteers who serve as the local support system for the chapter. In essence, our traveling consultants function at a high level as organizational development specialists, blending both individual and group coaching to maximize team and organizational performance.

Consultants help chapter leaders implement strategies for success and sustain results by:

• Building relationships with collegians, alumnae and university officials.
• Developing short-term and long-term action plans for chapters.
• Ensuring consistency and compliance with inter/national sorority standards.
• Instilling chapter officer responsibility and accountability.
• Facilitating discussions on current campus issues.
• Conducting educational programs.
• Teaching sorority ritual and how it applies to our daily lives.
• Identifying risky behaviors.
• Teaching intervention strategies and creative problem solving.
• Encouraging collaboration and contributing to harmony in Panhellenic.
• Extending outreach to other women in the campus community at large.

I encourage you to welcome these ambassadors to your campus during the coming year. Consultants can help identify chapter strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. By holding up the mirror to chapter leaders, consultants help assess chapter success and make positive change happen.