Sisters,

I recently had the opportunity to participate in Chi Omega’s Alumnae Chapter Leadership Conference (ACLC) on October 14-16, 2011, at our organization's Executive Headquarters in Memphis, TN. It was a truly incredible experience! The weekend was filled with great information and I learned many great ideas from alumnae chapters all over the country. It would be impossible for me to recount all of that here, but I wanted to share two powerful thoughts that struck me at ACLC.

Opening thought: We are a national and thriving organization. Like me, I’m sure many of know we are the largest women’s organization in the world. However, my experiences have been largely regional. I was initiated at Chi Lambda at Winthrop University and I now serve Chi Omega in the GSP area. Until now, I’d never attended a national Chi Omega event, so I couldn’t truly appreciate the depth of our fraternity. ACLC changed all of that. We are a part of a spectacular group of women from around the country connected by two letters: Chi Omega. Understanding how special we are on a national level has made me even more excited to work on the local level. There are women in all 50 state just like us learning how to make Chi Omega a lifetime experience. We are working toward a common goal, each in our own way.

Closing thought: You’re an essential piece! Let me expand that: You are an essential piece of Chi Omega. This fraternity would not exist without each of you. We would not be as successful or as large as we are if it weren’t for each sister. That’s why it’s so important to remain active in Chi Omega as alumna. During the conference we were encouraged to stop talking about “actives” verses “alums” because we should always be active in Chi Omega. Just because our collegiate days are over doesn’t mean we stop being Chi Omegas. You don’t have to plan events, fill up your calendar and give huge sums of money to be active. That’s the wonderful part of being an alumna. You can involved in the way that’s right for you. But the key is that you be involved, be active in some way because you are an essential piece.

You are what makes our chapter and our national organization tick. By growing our local Chi Omega alumnae chapter, we are making our national Chi Omega a stronger organization. Over the next few months, the executive committee and I will be discussing all of the new ideas I’ve learned and how to bring them to our chapter. We want to see the Greenville-Spartanburg Chi Omega Alumnae Chapter thrive, and I hope you do,  too! So, join us for our next event, pay your alumna dues, and let us know what you would like to see from your alumnae chapter.

Love in Chi Omega,

Stacy

GSP Alumnae Chapter A.K.A.