The Leaves Changed and So Did We

           

It was arguably only yesterday that the sun beat down on us as we moved our clothes, books, beds, and hundreds (literally, hundreds) of bottles of shampoo and perfume back into our 4517 home. Another summer closed but fall was fresh and fully ahead of us. We were finally reunited and ready to tackle another semester. Don’t blink! Too late. Thanksgiving is already upon us as well as the elections of a new Leaders’ Council, a new cabinet, and, in a few short weeks, finals. How is it that the speed of time is predictably increasing and yet still comes as a shock? It felt like a whirlwind but Pi Delta did not get swept up. Instead, we buckled down and as the leaves changed, so did we. This semester highlights one of change, adjustments, new mountains climbed, and different paths forged.

Cutting the ribbon at House Rededication 

             This fall we have been blessed with a new house. The tireless modifications, planning, and renovations done over the course of the past few years have shown. The updates are modern and sophisticated. Our “Pi Delta Makeover” has given us a new place to serve as the center of our sisterhood- movie nights on the couches; meetings in the dining hall; dinner gatherings (and hilarious stories) in the kitchen. A House Rededication in October solidified the beginning of this next chapter. Members of Headquarters, Greek staff at UMD, and alumnae gathered for the ribbon-cutting and celebrations to renew the value that our house is our home. And a new member has been added to the family! Mrs. Mallat is our eccentric new house mom who loves us as if we were her own. We are lucky to have had her help throughout the semester and look forward to our time with her to come. She only adds to the unique vibes that vibrate throughout this house.

            Additionally, Pi Delta hosted the first annual Rose Ball to Strikeout Arthritis on October 11^th. The event was a black-tie affair consisting of a three-course meal, speaker from the Arthritis Foundation, silent auction, and raffle. Even in its infancy, Rose Ball raised $2500 which was donated in its entirety to the Arthritis Foundation! Special thanks to our Philanthropy Chair, Ashley Nonemaker, for the careful planning and execution of this event that turned out to be such a success and step in the right direction for our chapter. This serves to mark only the beginning of a path toward becoming, overall, more philanthropic, humble, and dedicated, as individuals and as a unit.  More information and photographs about the event are available on our website www.umdalphaomicronpi.com (which is new as well!)

Sisters at Rose Ball to Strikeout Arthritis 

            We aspire for nothing short of loving what we have and molding it into something greater. This is not as contradictory as it sounds. What Pi Delta has is a limitless, genuine love for one another that grows stronger with each obstacle we overcome. At the end of the day it is the friendship, laughter, and freedom to be ourselves that makes this house so great. We recognize this but at the same time are in the dawn of realizing that we can also take this and run with it. And this has shown. Pi Delta has improved communication within ourselves, with our community, and with Headquarters; we have budgeted, balanced, and modified to abide by more appropriate guidelines; we have acknowledged areas of improvement and directed our attention to them; and we have gained confidence. Pi Delta is proud to announce its achievement of the necessary Standards of Excellence to qualify us for Ruby status! None of this could have been possible without a genuine thirst to succeed and grow; a thirst quenched only by the determination of our leaders and members. 

            At the same time, we never abandon our principles. Our strong foundation of sisterhood has proven to be the perfect tool for embracing change-we are realizing this more than ever. As our chapter is in the midst of electing new leaders, we can only hope that they, too, keep this as a central focus while forming the future of Pi Delta. 

That being said, we proudly introduce the incoming Leaders’ Council and Cabinet for 2014:

Chapter President- Rae Baron

Vice President of Administration - Ali Mazurek

Vice President of Academic Development - Sway Maripuri

Vice President of Chapter Development - Arielle Abrams

Vice President of Communications - Ciara Delehanty

Vice President of Education - Jillian Sikora

Vice President of Membership Recruitment - Casey Rozek

Vice President of Standards - Shaill Vasavada

Chapter Treasurer - Katie Cauley

New Member Educator - Kathleen Murphy

Secretary - Ericka Rocke

Philanthropy Chair - Klarissa Tan

Property Manager - Esha Sirkar

Risk Management Chair - Rebecca Connor

Activities Chair - Kelly Lawrence

Alumnae Relations - Cara Hissey 

Keeper of the Ritual - Jordan Sallinger

Social Chair - Bethany Fincher

Technology Chair - Andrea Saferstein

TShirt Chairman - Jenny Kovalick

Alpha love and all of mine!