Thursday, February 28, 2013

Wear Your Badge with Pride


       We, as members of a women’s fraternity, have symbols of our membership. These symbols and their meanings are special and known only to us, those who have the privilege of wearing them, yet we wear them as demonstrated pride of our commitment to Delta Gamma. It is more than a piece of jewelry; it is a symbol of our love, devotion and pride.
Maureen Sweeney Syring, former Fraternity President, once said, “Our badge is our outward symbol of our inner commitment.” It is important to remember why we wear our badge and when we wear our badge. To wear our badge, you should be aligned with the meanings and purpose of Delta Gamma. The purpose of wearing our badge is to show our understanding, love and commitment for the organization and those things for which Delta Gamma stands. 
Consider this: you are always wearing your letters, but you should wear your badge to show your additional pride and love for the Fraternity and our mission and values.
When to wear your badge:
Any time you are feeling your best, looking your best
On chapter badge day to show pride in membership and the strength of the beliefs and commitment to Delta Gamma
At formal chapter
At Initiation
At the Pi Alpha ceremony
Founders Day
Delta Gamma alumnae meeting
Panhellenic meeting or gathering
Delta Gamma memorial service or funeral
When it’s not a great idea to wear your badge:
You just rolled out of bed and are not necessarily looking your personal best
If you are having a really, really bad day and are in a not-so-good mood
You are at a bar; you are drinking
Your behavior is not reflective of Delta Gamma standards or values


FAQs:
Q: “I thought I could only wear my badge if I was wearing formal chapter attire like a dress.”
A: There is no Fraternity policy for badge attire. Each chapter has different dress requirements for formal chapter in its bylaws and standing rules. Some state dresses; some state no strapless dresses; some state business attire; some state nothing. The badge may be worn at any time, however, as long as you look neat, polished and presentable and your behavior reflects the standards of the Fraternity. 

Q: “Is there a specific place I have to wear my badge?”
A: The badge may be worn anywhere, as specific in Fraternity policy. It may be worn as a pendant, on a bracelet or as a pin. If it is worn as a pin, it is over the heart. A helpful tip for placement: place your thumb on your throat, right above the sternum, spread out your palm, and place the badge where the base of the pinky finger meets the base of the fourth finger.

Q: “I never ordered a badge. Is it too late for me to get one?”
A: Any initiated member of Delta Gamma Fraternity may order a badge at any time from the Fraternity jeweler, J. Brandt. www.jbrandt.com

Q: “I cannot afford a badge.”
A: J. Brandt offers a sterling silver badge option for only $45. For the price of a few lattes, you can have your badge for a lifetime.

Q: “I am in poor standing and on probation with my chapter. I was told I cannot wear my badge.
A: Only members in good standing may wear the Delta Gamma badge. When a member is no longer on probation, she may again wear her badge with pride and as emblem of aligning with the standards of membership and the values and meanings of the Fraternity.

Q: My friend resigned her membership, but she still wants her badge. Is that okay?
A: If someone is no longer a member of the Fraternity, she may not wear the badge. A badge must be returned to Executive Offices if a member resigns or is expelled.  By owning or wearing a badge, a woman is demonstrating her beliefs and values are in line with those of the Fraternity and she agrees to uphold the meanings and secrets of Delta Gamma. If she no longer is a member, these no longer apply, and her badge must be surrendered.

Staige Davis Hodges, Beta Theta-Duke, is the Fraternity Director of Scholarship and Rituals. You can reach Staige at edurituals@deltgammma.org. 

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Career Change Has DG Alum "Doing Good"


“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”
– Martin Buber

If you’re a Delta Gamma, chances are you’re a well-rounded woman. The sorority has a wonderful international reputation, and so the women who choose it in college are probably ones who desire high-quality organizations. Then there is the Delta Gamma experience. While in a sorority in college, there are more than just classes. There are formal meetings, social gatherings, philanthropic events and rituals. After a Delta Gamma has graduated from college, she’s been groomed to be multifaceted and have many interests. This, combined with studies showing women have much less linear career paths than men, means that Delta Gammas are likely to have at least one career change in their lifetimes.

Take me for instance; I've recently changed careers. I am a Delta Gamma from Zeta Iota chapter at Chapman University in Orange County, California. I went from a career in marketing communications to teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels. I worked full-time and went to school full-time at Pepperdine University for five years just because I love learning. Toward the end of completion of my doctorate degree, I got called in for a teaching interview at a local university and I was hired to teach on the spot. I had never thought of myself as a teacher, but it turns out it’s what I had been training for all this time. Also, I believe I received an aptitude to teach because my mom and husband, two of the people closest to me, are both teachers. Perhaps I partially acquired the aptitude to be a teacher subliminally through them.

You might be wondering how things went in the classroom. Well, it was love from the very first time I taught. One of the things that all Delta Gammas are taught is to “Do Good.” Teaching is all about doing good. In fact, if you’re not there to do good as a teacher, you shouldn't be in the classroom.

One of my friends is a compensation director. She is analytical and plans things down to the last detail. She recently had a baby and was extremely worried about doing everything right. When she told this to her doctor, he told her not to worry so much about doing everything right because it’s just not possible. The way to good parenting, he said, is to parent from the heart. The same thing goes for teaching. As long as you teach from the heart, the rest comes naturally. Looking back, I also realize that since I went to school while working full-time, I was able to practice what I was learning in my job.

The point of this story is to tell you that if you’d like to change careers, have confidence in yourself. If you’ve been through college as a Delta Gamma, chances are you've done many different things already. You probably know much more than you think you know. If you’re thinking about a new career, what are some things you’ve done in your current career that can apply to the new one you desire? Some of the things that transferred for me were strong interpersonal and communication skills and patience. Skills like these are essential to do almost any job well. The rest comes with practice.

Women are often socialized at a young age to ask people if they’re doing things the right way and not to do things unless they’re perfect. Men, on the other hand, are taught to just do it, and they are allowed to fake it till they make it. You can’t learn unless you make mistakes. So, go out there and follow your dreams. You’re a DG! You can do it!

Dr. Margaret Moodian, Zeta Iota-Chapman, and her husband, Dr. Michael Moodian, live in Orange County, California with their rescue dog, Manny, and chinchilla, Marshall. You can reach Margaret at mminni100@hotmail.com or follow her on Twitter @mminni100.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

From Childhood to Adulthood, Love Conquers All


“Long distance is hard. You have to trust that as you each change on your own, your relationship will also change along with you. It takes hope, good humor, and idealism. It takes a massive dose of courage to protect the relationship at all odds. It is hard, but worth it.
You'll both be stronger as a result.”
― Craig M. Mullaney, The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier's Education


Playing nicely as kids


When I was a little girl, I had no idea that my brother’s friend would be the love of my life. When we were young; it was about playing and laughing and me being the pesky little sister. It is funny to look back and think of those days and to see where Alex and I are today. Today Alex is my best friend, my hero and my rock. Sometimes I wonder if we would be in love today if our families had not grown apart for nine years.


Curiosity and technology is what brought us back together. Our mothers have been friends since they were in seventh grade and it was their friendship that inspired me to reconnect all of us after too many years apart. When I got the idea to contact him, I was afraid he wouldn’t remember me. I had nothing to worry about. It was like no time had passed. From the moment he wrote, "I remember you," we wrote to each other every day. At first, I was only interested in reuniting our mothers; but, it was when I saw him in person for the first time in nine years that everything changed.


Lance Corporal Alex Sanford
Looking at him took me back to the beach, to his backyard and to the childhood we shared. We were taller, of course, but he was the same Alex. The biggest difference, he was on leave from Camp Lejeune. He is a Marine now. He proudly serves our nation and it’s one of the reasons that I love him so much. He asked me out on an official date during that week at home and we’ve been together ever since. It’s the most challenging, but rewarding relationship I’ve ever had. We are far apart and only see each other for a week or so every few months, but the distance does indeed make my heart grow fonder. His deployment is around the corner and he needs me now more than ever. I do worry every day about it and I am scared, but I could not imagine my future without him. I will do whatever it takes to get through the hard moments and be able to enjoy the happy ones. For Christmas, he surprised me with a deployment ring. It’s not an engagement ring, but rather a promise. A promise to come home to me, a promise to love me and it’s my promise to pray for him, wait for him and support him. What started as a play date, is now two adults, planning their future together, hand-in-hand. I’ve learned that everything really does happen for a reason and that it paid to play nice as a kid.

Stephanie Bergeron, Eta Beta-Hartford, is a sophomore majoring in business marketing. She is from Massachusetts and adores her dog, Penny. Her boyfriend Lance Corporal Alex Sanford is in the United States Marine Corp. He deploys in April. You can reach Stephanie at distanceistemporary@gmail.com.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Quotes for a DG

 @quotesforadg
Member behind popular Twitter account says it was a rough start

We’re all on Twitter and when Delta Gammas look at their feeds, I wanted them to find positive words about our Fraternity. I’ll be the first to admit that on my social media journey, I made some rookie mistakes.

My idea was to create a Twitter account that is based on quotes that would suit a DG sister. I came up with the handle @quotesforadg.

It started with tweets that said "Do Good" and "Delta Gamma is what I amma." I followed a few sisters to start my follower base. I never imagined that my account would grow to be so popular.

But; I made my first mistake just a couple weeks into the project. I didn’t think it was a big deal to start re-tweeting groups like "Total Sorority Move" and "Total Fraternity Move." I just wanted to gain followers and I know those accounts are popular. What I didn’t take into account was that some of the tweets weren’t in line with Delta Gamma values; I found that out first hand when I was contacted by DG Leaders.

It’s hard to take criticism about a project, especially when you think you are “Doing Good.” I listened to the women who contacted me and I started to understand why some of the things that I posted in the name of Delta Gamma were causing a stir, and not in a good way.
I was told by one leader: “I love that you are so willing to remain positive and be a positive voice for women who are members of DG. Just some requests from one Twitter fan to another:
 
  1. Try not to talk negatively about other groups by saying DG is the best. Be Panhellenic and show some love to other groups.
  2. Please watch your language.
  3. No RT’ing TSM’s. I only saw two but those are not what we are about. They make jokes that don’t help our reputation
  4. Use your platform for good things, goodwill and good news about what it means to be in Delta Gamma. I BELIEVE IN YOU!”

When I first read this, I was taken back a little bit. It didn’t even occur to me what I was tweeting. I went through those tweets and deleted them. Now, I refrain from quoting TSM (who doesn’t help Greek Life reputations), using inappropriate language and saying how Delta Gamma is the best.

What I do, is try to enforce Greek unity because we are all Greek together! Like one of my favorite quotes, “These letters don’t make me better than you; they make me better than I used to be.”

The emails and conversations from Delta Gamma leaders changed me for the better online.

Women my age often think it’s OK to post whatever they feel and think that future employers can’t see it -- which is far from the truth. As another woman told me, “Your social media footprint will follow you like your shadow, you might not always see it, but it’s there.” Remember, you’re always wearing your letters!

Since that conversation in early July, I now have more than 2,100 followers. I am so blessed for having so many supporters and all of my followers inspire me every day and make me glad I became a Delta Gamma.
 
My main point of having this account was to connect sisters all over the world to each other over a common but strong thread: our love for Delta Gamma. Whether the tweets are about This Day in DG History, song lyrics, fast facts, or an overall Delta Gamma quote, I hope they instill the pride in each and everyone one of you for being a member of such a great organization.
 
As I said, Delta Gamma doesn’t make me better than those who aren’t; they make me better than the person I used to be.

Kaylin Marques, Eta Beta–Hartford, is double majoring in marketing and communications with a minor in finance. She plans to work as an event planner. You can contact Kaylin at kaylin.marques@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter @quotesforadg.
For a list of some of the most common mistakes made on Twitter, click here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heather-dugan/social-media-advice_b_2094374.html