What does citizenship mean to you and what role does your council and chapter play in that understanding?

I feel like citizenship is a word that gets thrown around a lot, when I was in the 3rd and 8th grade I received an award from our local lions club for being a good citizen; my 8th grade operetta was all about what it takes to be a good citizen and I was involved in a group called positive peers and part of our mission statement was to be a good citizen for others to model after.  In these groups we never discussed what citizenship was, and as a 3rd grader I really didn't know what being a good citizen or having good citizenship was. 

Over the years I have developed my own definition of citizenship or rather I should say good citizenship.  To me good citizenship is displaying through actions what is the right thing to do.  Good citizenship is going beyond the average actions and doing more when I was little it was cleaning all of the floors instead of just the kitchen floor.  Good Citizenship is recognizing others for their hard work and always trying your hardest.  Good Citizenship is being a good sport and following rules but it is also raising question to rules that are unjust. Good citizenship is caring about others; it is seeking ways to make the world a better place.  It is speaking up when things need to be said or speaking up for those unable to do it.  Good citizenship is complex and simple just like a Rubik's cube.






My council is responsible for displaying characteristics of good citizenship.  To me this is doing what I listed above, as a ruling body we set the standard for the community.  As leaders we are looked to as an example of how to act and therefore need to be acting in an appropriate manner that we would like our council to act. 
As for my chapter when I became President I became really aware of the fact that I was the figure head of my sorority and how I acted reflected directly on Phi Rho and made me realize how important it is to display good citizenship and it made me grow up.  What citizenship means to me hasn't changed for awhile, my chapter nor my council has drastically altered this.  My chapter has a lot of the same ideals as I do and so does what it means to be a Panhellenic Woman.  When I chose to go Greek I was choosing to be held to a higher standard and to be a person that can be looked to as an example of good citizenship.

Oath

Oath, noun.

1.

a solemn appeal to a deity, or to some revered person orthing, to witness one's determination to speak the truth, tokeep a promise, etc.: to testify upon oath.

2.

a statement or promise strengthened by such an appeal.

3.

a formally affirmed statement or promise accepted as anequivalent of an appeal to a deity or to a revered person orthing; affirmation.

4.

the form of words in which such a statement or promise ismade.

5.

an irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of god oranything sacred.

6.

any profane expression; curse; swearword: He slammed thedoor with a muttered oath.

What do you have to say about your experience at the conference?

I really liked parts of the conference and other parts I was like eh.  My favorite session that I went to was an NPHC/MCGC session where we created out own sororities.  I learned a lot and the fact that it was interactive made it a lot of fun.  I also enjoyed the Empowering Women session I went to, when I got into the session and found out it was all about Circle of Sisterhood I was really excited because that is what PHA is considering changing their philanthropy to.  It was nice to learn more about Circle of Sisterhood and see how excited these two women were about it.  I also found out that even though Circle of Sisterhood is not very old they have already given out one grant.  The session really made me want to read the book that inspired Ginny Carol to create Circle of Sisterhood.  Looking at the binders gave me a lot of good ideas for the year and made me realize just how much work we have ahead of us.  It is intimidating but exciting all at once that we get to be a part of this change.  Two sessions I didn't really care for were the first session of the Ditch Diggers Ball (we basically played cross the line for most of it) and PHA's town hall meeting.  I felt like in theory the town hall meeting could have been very productive and great but our panel didn't really talk much and the conversation never went anywhere. Overall it was a great experience, at times I wished councils were roomed together so we could debreif after each day but it was also nice to really get to know people in other councils.

PSR & PHA

Phi Sigma Rho  

The Objectives of the Sorority

• To foster and provide the broadening experience of sorority living with its social and moral challenges and responsibilities for the individual and the chapter.
• To develop the highest standard of personal integrity and character.
• To promote academic excellence and support personal achievement, while providing a social balance.
• To aid the individual in the transition from academic to the professional community.
• To maintain sorority involvement with the alma mater and the community through responsible participation.
• To maintain the bond of sisterhood with alumnae members through communication, consultation, and participation in Sorority functions.
  
  

Panhellenic Creed 

We, as Undergraduate members of woman's fraternities, stand for good scholarship, for guarding of good health, for maintenance of fine standards, and for serving, to the best of our ability, our college community. Cooperation for furthering fraternity life, in harmony with its best possibilities, is the ideal that shall guide our fraternity activities.

We, as Fraternity Women, stand for service through the development of character inspired by the close contact and deep friendship of individual fraternity and Panhellenic life. The opportunity for wide and wise human service through mutual respect and helpfulness, is the tenet by which we strive to live.

ME!

In Order to bring the community closer to these values I plan to maintain close contact with chapters and meet with Presidents in not only a formal business setting but also in informal settings.  I plan to be available for when people have questions, either in email or in person, and be willing to meet outside my office hours.  I will help to make sure that chapters understand the SOE from the University and other rules that are in place as well.  I will try my hardest to live out these values in my everyday life to be a good role model to others, I can't change others but I know that I can change my own behaviors.  I am a big believer that PHA can become a sisterhood and because of this I will work with my Presidents to make sure we can accomplish this.  I suppose all of this comes down to service, I am here to be a service to my community.

4H

I pledge my head to clearer thinking,

my heart to greater loyalty,

my hands to larger service,

my health to better living,

for my club, my community, my country and my world.

This is the pledge I recited twice a month from the 4th grade to the summer after I graduated.  4H has always been a big part of my life and helped develop me into the person I am today.  All the values that 4H has are right in this pledge.  

My head to clearer thinking.  The value of clearer thinking this says that the members of the 4H community believe in a clear mind when making decisions and not making haste decisions that might be regretted later.  It is important to think through what the outcomes could be and make the best one for the group.

My heart to greater loyalty.  The value of loyalty means that it is important to stay loyal to who you are, where you came from and what you believe in.  Loyalty is important because it helps mark your integrity as a person.

My hands to larger service.  The value of service means giving back to your community because they helped you become who you are today.  4H is big in service because they know that it benefits not only those receiving the service but those who perform the service as well. 

My health to better living.  This is a pledge to be substance free because it helps members live longer and to be able to improve their world around them and be a role models for others.

For my club, my community, my country and my world.  We can make a large impact, 4H helps create leaders and values leadership.  With the skills acquired in 4H members can go on to make an impact at a larger and larger level.

I know this pledge because I was a member of 4H but if you look at 4H club or on a website you can easily see this in the members.  A lot of times members display these values in their day to day life even after their time in their club is over.

ENFJ

I think that my MBTI type is greatly reflected in my leadership style.  I am very organized and scheduled in my daily life so the organizations that I lead are very scheduled, not necessarily a very rigid schedule but one so that everyone is able to plan ahead.  With PHA I hope to get a google calendar put together so everyone can be aware of what is going on.  I am very loyal to the groups that I lead, this is partly because I pour my heart and soul into the groups that I lead so I stand by them.  I am very passionate about where PHA can go and the improvements that can be made to unite us more as a community, in the last year it is easy to see that chapters became closer than what they were as it was displayed at CPLI.   I like to plan for the future and set goals for the future so that the group has a picture in mind of where we are going and where we could be.  I want to get a big picture of where the members of the community want to see us and help to work toward that.  I keep in mind people's feelings and try to compromise without hindering. I really like to have a relationship with the people that view me as a leader so that I know what they think and how to facilitate positive change.  With PHA I plan to get to know not just those on the council well but also the Presidents and members of the chapters.