The of Alpha Omicron Pi

Piper
The
of Alpha Omicron Pi
September 2014
in this issue
Letter from Amber Countis
AOII Executive Board
Vice President
P1
Become an AOII Volunteer
P2
Save the Dates
P3
Chapter Reminders
P3
Strike Out Arthritis!
P4
AOII & the Jingle Bell Run
P5 AOII Foundation News
P6
Fulfilling the Promise
P7
It’s that exciting time in AOII – we can’t believe the summer is over so quickly and yet
we are all looking forward to the news about recruitments happening all over North
America for the next few months! The promise and potential that marks the start of the
school year, not to mention the opportunity to welcome lots of new members into AOII,
is palpable and something that cannot be replaced. We acknowledge and appreciate all the
good work from collegians, advisers, volunteers, and staff that goes into growing the
Fraternity! We look forward to celebrating a successful fall recruitment season!
As another school year kicks off, we are also reminded about the many risks and potential threats
that our members can face on college campuses. We wholeheartedly put our members’ safety as a
top priority and encourage the use of strong risk management programs and proactive planning to
mitigate issues. The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) is equally concerned about member
safety and often engages in advocacy and education efforts on behalf of member organizations. In
April, NPC and other fraternal community representatives attended an event where the first report
of the Presidential appointed White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault was
shared. The report was a result of a national conversation started through a series of 27 “listening
sessions” that ultimately included thousands of people who provided information, insight, and
recommendations to help solve the campus/student safety issue.
Among other initial recommendations, this report announced the creation of www.notalone.gov, a
one-stop source for information for students, survivors, and institutions. The Task Force will continue to work on finding solutions, easing coordination, and even creating laws and regulations. In
late July, several US Senators released the Campus Accountability and Safety Act (CASA), a piece of
legislation intended to create incentives for schools to take proactive steps to protect students and
lessen sexual assault and harassment claims. The Survivor Outreach and Support Campus Act (S.O.S.
Campus Act) was also introduced and would require colleges and universities to establish an independent, on-campus advocate to support survivors of sexual assault. The advocates would work with
victims to ensure access to medical care, offer guidance on reporting assault to law enforcement, and
share legal rights information.
Statistics suggest that college students residing on campus and in Greek housing can be more at
risk. Collegiate members should make it a priority to review critical safety and risk management information with chapters and new members early in the semester to help diminish incidents and keep
our sisters safe! To help with this education, be sure to make use of the new and revised risk management resources from AOII. Resources now available to you include:
- Alcohol Philosophy and Policy and the new Transportation Policy
- Event Planning Guides to assist in creating every element of an event
- Event Planning Checklists to guide conversations and ensure role clarity for successful events
- Chapter Education Workshop that was presented by Dr. Lori Hart at Leadership Institute to
Chapter Presidents this summer
These resources can be found in the Risk Management tab of the Officer Resource Library (ORL) on
the Fulfilling the Promise website. To locate these and a wide variety of other tools, visit
http://edu.alphaomicronpi.org.
On behalf of the AOII Executive Board, we wish you an exciting (and safe) fall semester! Remember
to always take care of one another and never leave a sister behind.
Keep up the great work welcoming new members into AOII and make sure that everyone has the
tools needed to keep exceeding the expectation!
Amber Countis
AOII Executive Board Vice President
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A message from the Nominating Trustees
Believe it or not, the process to elect the Executive Board for the 2015-2017 biennium is already
under way! The Nominating Trustees have been selected and are currently outlining the process
and dates for the upcoming elections cycle.
Who are the Nominating Trustees (NT)?
The Nominating Trustees are a five member council with representatives from the following groups:
o A Past International President (PIP)
o A Rituals, Traditions, and Jewelry (RT&J) committee member
o An Alumnae President from an Alumnae Chapter that reached Ruby Level Standards of Excellence for
the past biennium
o A Chapter Adviser from a Collegiate Chapter that reached Ruby Level Standards of Excellence for the
past biennium
o A member-at-large, which can be any initiated member of AOII (including, but not limited to, Network
Volunteers, or any other Alumnae or Collegiate Chapter volunteers or members)
Who selects the Nominating Trustees, and are there additional criteria?
The outgoing Nominating Trustees select the new members of the committee. The incoming Nominating Trustees
must have at least one member from the previous committee, but no more than two returning. A Nominating Trustee
may only serve two consecutive terms.
What are the Nominating Trustees working on right now?
During the Spring and Summer, the NTs work on developing the election timeline and revising the Interest and Candidate Information Forms, as well as identifying potential Executive Board candidates. Interested Executive Board
candidates will be asked to submit an Interest Form in the Fall.
How can I get involved in the Executive Board election process?
Check out the Nominating Trustees page on the public side of the AOII website, under “Resources.” Suggest an
alumna who you think would represent the Fraternity well on the Executive Board. Email your suggestion to
nt@alphaomicronpi.org. The NTs will reach out to the alumna and encourage her to submit an Interest Form.
Please contact the NTs at nt@alphaomicronpi.org with any questions or comments!
Become an AOII volunteer!
The Human Resources Committee
always accepts applications. To speak
to a member of the HRC team, e-mail
hrc@alphaomicronpi.org. To complete
a volunteer application, visit alphaomicronpi.org and navigate to Alumnae >
Volunteer Opportunities.
The following positions are
currently open:
• Network Specialist - Development
Lambda Rho (Texas Christian U)
• Network Specialist - Development
Nu Omega (Northern Kentucky U)
Applications for open positions are
reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply now
to ensure your application receives full
consideration!
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Pre-Leadership Institute
Rose Tribute Order Deadline
June 9
AOII Leadership Institute
June 27 - 29
Save the Dates!
Bid Day Stats form due
24 hrs after Bid Day
AOII Foundation Board Candidate
Nominations due
October 22
Proposed revisions to AOII
Governing Documents due
October 30
Bid Day Statistics Form
As we embark on a new academic year, Alpha Omicron Pi wishes each of our chapters
participating in fall formal recruitment the best of luck! Remember, the Fraternity will
be best maintained by
well-chosen members.
Also, as a reminder,
the Vice President of
Membership Recruitment must submit the
Bid Day Statistics form
within 24 hours of the
chapter’s Bid Day. Failure to submit
this form within 24
hours of bid day will
result in a personal fine
of $25. Please be sure
to carefully read each
question and enter
your figures accurately.
All required questions
are denoted by a red
asterisk symbol (*).
A message containing
instructions for accessing and completing the form was sent to VPMRs, Chapter Presidents, Recruitment
Advisers, and Chapter Advisers prior to the start of recruitment. If you have any further
questions regarding completion of this form, please contact your Assistant Director of
Chapter Services.
Governing Documents Amendment Proposals
Any revisions to the Fraternity’s Governing Documents which you believe
should be considered at Convention should be submitted to and received by
the Constitution Interpretation and Revision Committee (CIRC) no later than
October 30, 2014. Pursuant to Title IV, Article II of the Bylaws, proposed
amendments to the Fraternity Constitution and Bylaws may be submitted by:
the International Executive Board; any officer or committee if the amendment
relates to that office or committee; any five members of Council acting jointly
(see the AOII Constitution, Article VI for Council Composition); and CIRC.
CIRC proposed amendments should be submitted to Julie Brining, 1871 Charlanda Drive, Mobile, AL 36695, or may be emailed to julieabrining@gmail.com
or julieb@mobis.com.
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Strike
Out
Arthritis!
Alpha Omicron Pi’s collegiate and alumnae chapters are dedicated to “Striking Out” arthritis, and we are amazed each year by the success of our
chapter events. Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity began expanding on our chapter-level events in 2011 with a Strike Out Arthritis! event with the Atlanta Braves, and the response has been incredible! We now have over 15 Fraternity Strike Out Arthritis! events for 2014. The funds raised from the
Fraternity’s Strike Out Arthritis! events are donated to the AOII Foundation’s Arthritis Fund, which is used to assist the Arthritis Foundation in a variety
of important ways. Check this list to see if an event is being planned near you, and email Assistant Director of Public Relations Rachel Boison at
rboison@alphaomicronpi.org with any questions.
Strike Out Arthritis! with AOII & the New York Yankees - Saturday, September 6
Strike Out Arthritis! with AOII & the Texas Rangers - Friday, September 12
Strike Out Arthritis! with AOII & the Arizona Diamondbacks - Saturday, September 13
Strike Out Arthritis! with AOII & the Pittsburgh Pirates - Friday, September 19
Strike Out Arthritis! with AOII & the Tampa Bay Rays - Saturday, September 20
Strike Out Arthritis! with AOII & the Atlanta Braves - Thursday, September 25
Strike Out Arthritis! with AOII & the Boston Red Sox - Thursday, September 25
Strike Out Arthritis! with AOII & the Philadelphia Phillies - Saturday, September 27
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Every year, members of Alpha Omicron Pi tie bells to their shoes and brave the cold-weather months in the name of raising
funds for and awareness of arthritis. In some cities, AOII sisters are outside running and walking in temperatures well below
zero, yet their spirits are high and their commitment to the cause is not shaken! AOIIs who have participated in their local
Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis recognize this scenario as an annual tradition for their chapters, families, friends, and
communities as we continue to assist in the fight against arthritis.
AOII Fraternity and the Arthritis Foundation have joined forces to support the efforts of AOII members and solidify a national partnership between Alpha Omicron Pi and the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis. As part of
this partnership, AOII’s own International President Allison Allgier has been named the National Chair of the 2014 Jingle
Bell Run/Walk series. Allison will serve as a spokesperson for the event and will work with a team of AOII volunteers who
make up the new National AOII Jingle Bell Run/Walk Committee.
How can you contribute to this partnership? Our goal is to have a team from EVERY collegiate and alumnae chapter participate in a Jingle Bell Run event, whether it be actually at the event or from afar through the “Jingle in your Jammies”
program. Our fundraising goal is $284,000 raised by AOII teams alone - with your help, we can accomplish and even surpass
this goal!
Get started now!
It’s never too early to get your team started! The first
step is designating a Team Captain and getting the team
registered. Visit www.arthritis.org and navigate to Special
Events > Jingle Bell Run/Walk to find an interactive map
of event locations.
Team AOII is already in SECOND place for overall fundraising with $9,384! (A special shout out to the Indy AOII
Alumnae team for ranking in the Top 5!). Lets keep the
momentum going, get our teams signed up and start fundraising to fight arthritis!
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AOII
Foundation News
Help Secure AOII’s Future by Serving on the Foundation Board
The Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation Nominating Committee is now accepting nominations for Board of Directors positions for the
2015-2017 term. Candidates should have a passion for the Foundation’s mission of enhancing the lives of our members and securing the
future of our Fraternity through leadership development,
scholarships, and philanthropic endeavors.
Qualified candidates will be prepared to make meaningful
contributions in five key areas:
• Strategic Governance & Fiduciary Responsibility, including
the ability to develop and promote the strategic agenda and
responsibly manage and allocate funds;
• Fundraising, including actively cultivating, soliciting, and
stewarding current and prospective donors, serving as a
spokesperson, and donating at a pacesetting level;
• Oversight, including collaborating with and supporting
staff and volunteers;
• Leadership, including modeling AOII values and positively advocating for the Foundation and Fraternity; and
• Commitment, including prioritizing Board service and
actively participating in and satisfying all Board member
obligations.
The reward for service is the satisfaction of knowing that
you are helping to secure the future of Alpha Omicron Pi
and improve the lives of our members and those we serve.
If you or a sister you know may be qualified and interested in this opportunity, please visit the Foundation website at www.aoiifoundation.org for detailed information about board member responsibilities and expectations and the nominating process. If you have
questions, you may contact Janet Brown at janetsiegelbrown@gmail.com or 312-503-0397. The deadline for submitting nominations is
Wednesday, October 22, 2014. The Nominating Committee will present the slate of nominees to Council early next year for election
at International Convention in June 2015.
Thank you for helping the AOII Foundation identify new leaders as we continue to work for you and for Alpha Omicron Pi!
Schedule a Visit from a
Foundation Ambassador
Online Scholarship Application Coming
in November!
Foundation Ambassadors are available to visit your
chapter this semester! Ambassadors are a great way to
educate your chapter on the Foundation and learn about
our programs, mission and vision. Contact Jana Adkins
at jadkins@alphaomicronpi.org to schedule an Ambassador visit.
The on-line Foundation Scholarship Application will
be posted November 1! Diamond Jubilee Scholarships
are available for undergraduate, graduate and returning
alumnae; several named scholarships are also available.
Visit the Foundation website now at www.aoiifoundation.org for scholarship criteria and eligibility information. Then, check back on November 1 to begin your
application. All applications must be submitted by
March 1, 2015.
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A New Home for AOII Education
Fulfilling the Promise
AOII Headquarters Staff members and the Education Committee work in partnership to offer
educational training and programming to our members. If you have attended an AOII international
event, utilized a resource within the Officer Resource Library or participated in an online webinar,
you have been a part of AOII educational offerings.
As we continuously look for ways to offer innovative and pertinent programming for AOII’s members, we hope that you will take advantage of our newest resource - the rebranded and relaunched
Fulfilling the Promise e-learning website. On the site, you will be able to access trainings, resources,
and tools customized to fit the needs of your involvement in AOII. It is the committee’s hope that
you utilize and enjoy this site as you work your best with body, brain, spirit and substance for Alpha
Omicron Pi.
The site is funded in part by the AOII Foundation. We greatly appreciate the generosity of our sisters and their support of AOII’s educational initiatives.
To access, go to: edu.alphaomicronpi.org. The site is accessible to all members!
This information also appeared in the Summer 2014 issue of AOII’s To Dragma. To read the full
article, visit http://www.todragma.com/summer2014.
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