On 11/3 National Council VP of Alumnae Affairs, Sara DaSilva, will host an interactive chat with any alumnae who are interested in becoming more involved with Phi Sigma Rho. We are also interested in what type of programming you would be interested in as an alumna.
Please e-mail vpofalumnaeaffairs@phisigmarho.org if you are interested in attending this chat at 8 Eastern on 11/3!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Breast Cancer Awareness Month - A Special Message
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. My Grandmother was a breast cancer survivor. She found the lump early during the 1980s when she was in her 60s. She had her breast removed and that was that, and it was rarely mentioned. After I knew she was ok, breast cancer didn’t concern me again. I always considered it an “old” person’s disease. (What I consider “old” keeps changing, but that’s another subject.) The facts are that more cases of breast cancer occur in women over the age of 40, than in women under the age of 40. However, the women under the age of 40 who do have breast cancer, are more likely to have the aggressive form.
Now breast cancer is back in my life. This time it has attacked a good friend of mine. She is in her 30s, has two small children and no family history of cancer. She found a lump while showering. This lump was actually at the edge of her breast near her armpit. It was very small, about pea sized, and was not painful. Formerly working in the medical field (albeit the four-legged medical field), she knew she should get it checked. But being a stay at home mom and having a husband who just got back to work after a layoff without health insurance for another two months, caused her to delay medical attention. It nagged the back of her mind, so she started feeling the lump daily. First she thought her anxiety was making her think the lump was getting bigger, but two weeks after finding it, it was clear the lump was growing. Now it was bean sized, basically twice the size in two weeks. Fortunately she found a program through the Susan Komen Foundation that allowed her to be seen (& treated) at minimal cost. (Health Insurance will start for her soon, but wont pay because now her cancer is a pre-existing condition.) She has been diagnosed with Stage 2 Grade 3 breast cancer. This form has a 10% cure with surgical removal alone. She was rushed in for a radical mastectomy. The bad news was the cancer had already spread, the good news was it was found in only two of the eleven lymph nodes removed with her breast. Now she is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy. With these treatments, she has a 55% chance for a cure. She has explained to her children that she is sick and needs medicine that will also make her sick. They had a head shaving party, as they decided it would be less scary for the kids to help her lose her hair, rather than see it fall out. She is determined to stay positive that she will beat this disease.
I don’t mean to scare or depress anyone. Rather I am asking for positive thoughts and prayers for my friend. Also I want to remind everyone to do their monthly self breast exams. Early detection is so important. Please don’t ignore any changes in your breasts – shape, color, discharges, smell – any change can be important. Please know there are wonderful groups like the Susan Komen Foundation that will help with the costs of mammograms other costs. Above all, even with our busy lives, always take time for your health – eat well, exercise, and manage your stress. Your health is the most important thing you have.
I will end with the words of a national campaign, “Feel your Boobies”!
Lara Day
Foundation Board of Directors
VP of Programs
Now breast cancer is back in my life. This time it has attacked a good friend of mine. She is in her 30s, has two small children and no family history of cancer. She found a lump while showering. This lump was actually at the edge of her breast near her armpit. It was very small, about pea sized, and was not painful. Formerly working in the medical field (albeit the four-legged medical field), she knew she should get it checked. But being a stay at home mom and having a husband who just got back to work after a layoff without health insurance for another two months, caused her to delay medical attention. It nagged the back of her mind, so she started feeling the lump daily. First she thought her anxiety was making her think the lump was getting bigger, but two weeks after finding it, it was clear the lump was growing. Now it was bean sized, basically twice the size in two weeks. Fortunately she found a program through the Susan Komen Foundation that allowed her to be seen (& treated) at minimal cost. (Health Insurance will start for her soon, but wont pay because now her cancer is a pre-existing condition.) She has been diagnosed with Stage 2 Grade 3 breast cancer. This form has a 10% cure with surgical removal alone. She was rushed in for a radical mastectomy. The bad news was the cancer had already spread, the good news was it was found in only two of the eleven lymph nodes removed with her breast. Now she is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy. With these treatments, she has a 55% chance for a cure. She has explained to her children that she is sick and needs medicine that will also make her sick. They had a head shaving party, as they decided it would be less scary for the kids to help her lose her hair, rather than see it fall out. She is determined to stay positive that she will beat this disease.
I don’t mean to scare or depress anyone. Rather I am asking for positive thoughts and prayers for my friend. Also I want to remind everyone to do their monthly self breast exams. Early detection is so important. Please don’t ignore any changes in your breasts – shape, color, discharges, smell – any change can be important. Please know there are wonderful groups like the Susan Komen Foundation that will help with the costs of mammograms other costs. Above all, even with our busy lives, always take time for your health – eat well, exercise, and manage your stress. Your health is the most important thing you have.
I will end with the words of a national campaign, “Feel your Boobies”!
Lara Day
Foundation Board of Directors
VP of Programs
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Resumania Wrap-Up
We’d like to extend a Penguin Shout Out to all the alumnae who helped make the Fall 2009 Resumania a roaring success!
Megan Browdie, Pam Capicotto, Melinda Crum, Christina Dempsey, Tricia Fought, Stephanie Gagliardi, Ellina Gendlina, Sydney Hardison, Janine Ketter, Jennifer Kramer, Morgan Lynn-Becket, Melissa Moran, Stefanie Opitz, Mary Sheleheda, Tracy Smith, and Elissa Yuen.
Special thanks to our Resumania Director, Carol Anderson, for doing a fantastic job in coordinating this entire drive!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
National Council Fall 2009 Face-to-Face Meeting
National Council is getting ready for the 1st face-to-face meeting of the 12th National Council. We will be hosted by VP of Expansion, Cate Landry, in Orlando.
The main focus of the F2F will be the strategic plan for 2010-2014. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know!
The main focus of the F2F will be the strategic plan for 2010-2014. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
West Regional Conference in November
West Regional Conference -- November 13-15, 2009 in Seattle
Registration for the West Regional Conference to be held November 13-15, 2009 at the University of Washington is now open!
To register, please contact Caryn at the Washington-Mu chapter (crcr@u.washington.edu) for a registration form, which will be due by midnight on Thursday, November 5.
You will be flying into Sea-Tac airport (SEA). From there you can either take a bus or a cab to get to the University District.
To register, please contact Caryn at the Washington-Mu chapter (crcr@u.washington.edu) for a registration form, which will be due by midnight on Thursday, November 5.
You will be flying into Sea-Tac airport (SEA). From there you can either take a bus or a cab to get to the University District.
Some things on the agenda for the weekend include Qdoba, bubble tea, a Rush/Publicity workshop, LEAP programming, an alumni panel, a semi-formal banquet, and an optional social at Pikes Place Market in downtown Seattle! Hope to see you there!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
National Council October Meeting
Tonight, National Council had our October meeting. A lot of the discussion tonight focused on preparing for the strategic plan at our face-to-face meeting next month and next steps of our National Awareness Campaign, continued from the one that the 11th National Council started.
We also got a lot of updates from the Council members and Foundation on all the wonderful things we're working on, such as the West Regional Conference coming up in November, the end of Resumania, Ritual updates, Conference 2010 planning, alumnae and chapter updates, expansion activities, and the upcoming newsletter!
Watch for more updates soon!
We also got a lot of updates from the Council members and Foundation on all the wonderful things we're working on, such as the West Regional Conference coming up in November, the end of Resumania, Ritual updates, Conference 2010 planning, alumnae and chapter updates, expansion activities, and the upcoming newsletter!
Watch for more updates soon!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Congratulations Cal Poly Pomona Colony!
Congratulations to the Cal Poly Pomona Colony for their induction Sunday! We are looking forward to bringing them through their colony education period and Installation to become the next chapter of Phi Sigma Rho!
Good luck to the colony and colony educator Angelina Aultshuler and her team of volunteers!
A few pictures from the event are below!
Good luck to the colony and colony educator Angelina Aultshuler and her team of volunteers!
A few pictures from the event are below!
Alpha Class
Beta Class
Cal Poly Pomona Colony!
With the membership education team!
Everyone!
Beta Class
Cal Poly Pomona Colony!
With the membership education team! 
Everyone! Sunday, October 11, 2009
Pictures from VCU
To continue to celebrate the successes of the last few years, we'd like to share some pictures of the VCU Colony Induction! The first picture is of our new candidates at VCU and the second includes the alumnae in attendance!
Congratulations & Good Luck VCU Colony!
Congratulations & Good Luck VCU Colony!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Welcome Cal Poly Pomona Colony
It is with great excitement that we announce our next colony at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona! There are 22 candidates and induction is planned for Sunday October 18, 2008 at 10 AM. Their colony education leader is Angelina Altshuler (Chi Chapter: University of California-San Diego) with support from many of the other local alumnae in the area. Any sisters interested in attending the induction ceremony are welcome! The Cal Poly students being inducted will be black pants/skirts and white tops. Please RSVP to VPofExpansion@phisigmarho.org if you plan to attend.
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