Shepherd’s Call Newsletter - April 2008
Spreading Alumni Connections and Love
As a result of some great feedback from our alumni that attended 20th anniversary celebrations in February, we want to recruit Pledge Class Alumni Liaisons for pledge classes from each chapter.
As a Pledge Class Alumni Liaisons you would be responsible for the following:
- keeping your pledge sisters updated about what is going on with other alumni in your class and all alumni events.
- encouraging your pledge sisters to keep their contact information updated with your chapter and the Board of Directors.
If you are interested, send an e-mail to alumni@sigma-phi-lambda.com.
Austin Area Alumni Outing
Want an excuse to enjoy God’s beautiful creation with your sisters?? Have I got a tree swinging idea for you! I would like to invite you out for a canopy tour at Cypress Valley Canopy Tours (near Austin) on the afternoon of July 26th. I have been working there since it opened in 2005 and I hope you are able to come.
The Canopy Tour consists of three sky bridges and 6 zip lines; the longest is over 350 feet, and most launch and land in platforms up to 40 feet high in the trees. At the first platform your guides will help you acclimate to the heights and point out some of the things you’ll be seeing on your tour. Then you and your guides are free to fly through the canopy taking in the beauty and exhilaration of soaring through the trees.
In order to provide you with the best experience possible, we will need those participating to reserve their spot and prepay. The price is a bargain at $35 plus tax ($37.45) if you do it as part of the Phi Lamb event.
If you would like to reserve your tree time, or have questions, contact Amy King (pledge class 2002) [amyrking5@gmail.com or 903.738.6692] by JULY 11th. This event will be for alumni only, but feel welcome to come and relax while some lambs fly through the trees.
I will send out more information to participants as the date approaches.
In Him,
Amy King
Basic Information
Make reservations with Amy King (deadline is JULY 11th!!)
Wear tennis shoes
Cameras encouraged
$35 plus tax
www.cypressvalleycanopytours.com
903.738.6692
Regional Directors Position Announcement
The Board of Directors is excited about what God is doing in Phi Lamb. We are announcing a new position, Regional Director, to assume the major duties of chapter oversight from the Board members and allow the Board to focus on national-level administration of Phi Lamb. There is a current need for 7 Regional Directors. If you are interested, please email Miranda Peacock at mpeacock@sigma-phi-lambda.com or call her at 281-550-0562 for an application and more information.
The responsibilities of a Regional Director are to:
- attend the All Chapter Officer Retreat.
- oversee the activities of assigned chapters including calendars, budgets, officer elections, etc. as coordinated through the Alumni Councils and/or chapter officers.
- advise Alumni Councils and/or chapter officers on chapter concerns as they occur.
- liaise between the chapter, University, and the Board of Directors/executive director when necessary.
- travel to each assigned chapter at least once during each academic year (travel stipend provided).
- communicate with the Executive Director regularly and coordinate requested data.
- prayerfully consider the needs and health of each chapter and inform the Board of Directors accordingly in a summary report to be submitted three times each academic year using the provided Chapter Summary Report Format.
- assist with the appointment and training of new Alumni Council members.
The position of Regional Director is a volunteer, unpaid position within Sigma Phi Lambda. In order to serve as a regional director, a candidate must meet the following requirements:
- she must have previously served at least one year as an Alumni Council member, executive director, or a member of the Board of Directors.
- she must currently live within the United States and be willing to travel to visit assigned chapters at least once each academic year (travel stipend provided).
- she must be willing and able to serve 7-14 hours a week for one year primarily via computer and telephone.
- she must be willing and able to attend the All Chapter Officer Retreat for the academic year in which she is planning to serve.
Helping An Alum in Macedonia
Hello Phi Lamb family!
My name is Carolyn Reinhardt. For those of you who don’t know me, I am an alum of the Kappa Chapter of Sigma Phi Lambda at Sam Houston State University. I am a member of the Delta Pledge class. I was an active member of the Sam Houston chapter for fabulous two years.
I am now a proud Peace Corps Volunteer serving in Macedonia, Eastern Europe. I have been here since September and went through 3 months of training where I learned both Macedonian and Albanian language. I am working as an English Teacher in a small Albanian village on the west side of the country. I work with grades 1st and 5th-8th as well as teaching adults English. I help the students and teachers with English communication as well as resources for their school. I will be serving and living in Macedonia for two years.
I have begun a project in my village of Gradec to create an English Library for the students at the school. With this said, I am emailing all of you for any help you can give me in assisting with this huge, exciting new task!
I have started two different programs to help collect books The first is called “Book and a Buck”. I am looking for donations of books, new or used, and one dollar per book in order to cover shipping costs. The second program is very similar, called “Magazines for Macedonia”. It works the same as the “Book and a Buck” program only this involves old magazines and comics. The magazines can be any material appropriate type because those they are not reading level for my students will be used for projects in English class.
I greatly appreciate any and all help you can all give me in this project. I have already made other contacts in the U.S.A. and are expecting our first batch of books soon. I can not tell you how excited my students are because right now their library at school is very small, and has no English books whatsoever. Any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated! This could be a wonderful project for community service if you have the time and are interested in helping!
If you are interested in helping, please email Miranda Peacock at mpeacock@sigma-phi-lambda.com for my address and more details! Thanks so much for your time and all your help!
Welcome New Alumni
If this is the first copy of the Shepherd’s Call, Sigma Phi Lambda’s alumni newsletter, we are excited to be in contact with you again. If you would prefer to not receive any more Shepherd’s Call alumni newsletters, please click unsubscribe at the bottom of the page.
**To make sure you receive your newsletter, please add alumni@sigma-phi-lambda.com to your email safe senders list.**
Alumni Prayer Points
- Pray for wisdom for the Board of Directors leadership. Pray that God will give them clear direction for the future of Sigma Phi Lambda.
- Pray for the executive director, Miranda, as she works with new chapters.
- Pray for the chapter officers. Pray that God will strengthen them give them wisdom as they lead their chapters.
- Pray for the prospective chapters applying from across the nation as they seek God’s will for their campuses. There is currently one more campus looking at opening a chapter of Phi Lamb.
- Pray that God will lead women to come alongside the Board of Directors as regional directors to provide guidance to the chapters.
Current Phi Lamb Needs
In this section of the newsletter we will publish some of the current needs of the Board of Directors as well as praise for needs that have been met.
Needs
- New Sigma Phi Lambda laptop
- Digital Video camera
- New web design software
- Portable sound system
- New web design to include video/photo gallery/etc. or a volunteer to help
- Funds for a semi-annual training retreat for Board and Regional Directors
Praises
Praise God for the assistance of our new volunteer, Jennifer, who will be helping coordinate chapter financial records with our accountant!
National 20th Anniversary T-shirts
The design for the t-shirt commemorating the 20th anniversary celebration is in! T-shirts are still available from the Executive Director for $10 plus $4 shipping and handling. Please email Miranda at ex_dir@sigma-phi-lambda.com for more information.
Alumni Update Corner
Do you have an update you would like to share with your sisters? If so, please email alumni@sigma-phi-lambda.com.
Getting Involved With Phi Lamb Alumni Activities
Would you like more information about getting involved in Phi Lamb as an alum? There are opportunities in many areas. Please email the executive director for more information.
We currently have a need for alums who have expertise in accounting, finance, and law. If you or someone you know is gifted in these areas and has a passion to serve, please let us know.