FrEd Talk
FrEd Talk
with Liz and Jenn
Some New Interesting Info from FrEd
We recently received some information from National Headquarters. There's some cool stuff coming for rituals and MIT in colleges. We also have an opportunity to get a free gift!
I wanted to pass on some information and brainstorm for ideas to help us get our free gift. Some of this stuff I knew, but I guess I missed some of this information at National Convention this summer. Even some of the college chapter ladies were surprised by some of these.
First off, our NVPR Deb Volker reminded us about MIT pins. We haven't had any of them yet, but maybe in the future NDEA might. (woo hoo!) The pins should be kept by our chapter VPR and are the property of the chapter unless the chapter allows the MIT to keep the pin after initiation. If the MIT does keep the pin, the chapter should add the cost of replacement pins ($3) to maintain the supply of chapter pins.
Something cool that I also found out was that we can order a Table Badge for Chapter Anniversary Ceremonies (like the 5th, 10th, 1 Millionth [it doesn't hurt to dream�]) We would need to reserve one at least 6 weeks prior to needing it by contacting National Headquarters at 828-251-0606 or emailing: [email protected].
This wouldn't affect us, but National allows college chapters to have their Senior Commitment ceremony early for students who will not be returning to campus, due to student teaching/internships. All they need to do is get approval of the local Province Officer.
Deb also gave us the paperwork for the new awards. We heard a little about these at National Convention over the summer and it's great to know that these are now available to our NDEA membership. SAI now has a Patroness Sword of Honor. She would be bestowed this honor in the same way an initiated member would receive the Sword of Honor. The Patroness award is a very beautiful sword with a sapphire. The next new award is the Rose of Constancy. This is awarded to an alumnae member for outstanding fraternity service for a minimum of 35 years after college. This is a beautiful new way to honor a woman for her sacrifice and dedication to our sisterhood. There has also been a revision to the Rose of Dedication award. Now there is a minimum requirement of 25 years of service to the fraternity after college. The final new award is the Wreath of Achievement. This is awarded to a member for outstanding and faithful service to the fraternity on the chapter, province, and national levels. This is one award that I didn't hear about at convention. It's another beautiful way to honor a beloved sister.
The National Policy for SAI Badges was also clarified for sisters. Your SAI badge is the official property of the Fraternity. We all pay for a lifetime lease on our badges. Upon death, or resignation from SAI, the badge must be returned to National Headquarters. Badges of deceased members are kept in our Fraternity Memorial Collection and can be requested by a descendant to wear when she has been initiated. A suggestion that has been put forth by National is for all of us to fill out a badge disposition form to be kept with your personal papers, to ensure that your badge ends up in the proper place�One weird thing though, the ladies said that we would receive a copy of the badge dispensation form to use, but they forgot. We even checked online and it isn't there either...hmmm�As soon as we find one, we'll pass it along.
The last thing that I'm putting to the chapter is a hunt for ideas. We are entering a new century with MIT training in SAI. We now will have access to cyber FRED, right on our national website. We will have access to puzzles and games to assist our MITs and the MITs of collegiate chapters. Here's the really cool part. If we submit a puzzle or a game to the new cyber FRED, our chapter will get the choice of receiving a wicked-cool spiral bound SAI songbook or we can get a $10 credit towards the purchase a chapter copy of the history book, Sigma Alpha Iota, A History. ALL we have to do is think up a submission before April 1st. So many brilliant minds�we should be able to think up something. Either of these great prizes would be a great asset to our chapter. Send any of your ideas to: [email protected] and we'll pass them along.
We're still looking for the next person to share their chapter history and memories with us for the Spotlight Chapter. [Hint, hint�some of our ladies from exotic locales other than Northern Delaware�(I was thinking of spotlighting Eta Rho as a group project a little later since there are more of us around right now)] Email either of us at [email protected] or [email protected]. Now, go 'Tawk amongst yourselves�'
Liz Lockhart-Videtto and Jennifer Lipinsky