Where is she now?: Lauren Stitzlein

Lauren Stitzlein, lovingly nicknamed "Stitz," graduated from our Alpha Lambda chapter in 2013.  During her time as a Tri Delta at Carolina, she served as the Risk Management Chair and Vice President of Chapter Development.  Lauren was (and still is) one of our most well-respected and adored members; she conducts herself so gracefully and is always genuinely concerned with helping those around her.  When I caught up with Lauren to talk about writing this post, I was so thankful to see that she is still the same happy-go-lucky, beautifully spirited young woman who mentored me (and so many others) through my first few years of college.  Her passions for Tri Delta and people in general are unprecedented.  It's truly no surprise that she was selected to be a field consultant for Delta Delta Delta nationally.  Lauren is the perfect example of how sisterhood lasts far beyond just the college years, and I cannot wait to share her story with you!

Lauren, third from the left, and some of her sisters on Graduation Day

“It's funny what can happen in a just a year! I remember March 2013, I was flying back to Columbia from a short weekend trip to Tri Delta's Executive Office in Arlington, Texas that I was only bold enough to tell a handful of sisters about. About a month after that weekend trip for the Field Consultant Interview Weekend, I found out I would have the opportunity to serve on Tri Delta's 2013-2014 Field Consultant team and joyfully shared the news with…everyone! Then we (there are six on the team) were trained over the summer to be ready to hit the road for recruitment visits in the first week of August!

So a year later, with my entire closet packed in two suitcases  and all the paperwork/equipment of an office stashed in my purse, where am I now?

I could tell you, but it will probably be different tomorrow and again a few days after that! For now though, I’m in Cleveland, Mississippi at Delta State University.

I spend about 90% of my time traveling the Fraternity's South Central Region, which includes Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. The other 10% I go out of my region to chapters in Maryland, Nebraska, Indiana, Ohio and the Carolinas. My purpose is to be a liaison between the Fraternity and each of our collegiate chapters, an ambassador to the colleges and universities where we have established chapters and a resource for chapter officers and advisors to develop their leadership and chapter management.

To date this has amounted to about 35,000 miles traveled, 36 chapter visits on 27 different campuses, over 900 officer and advisor meetings and too many memories to count! The best part by far has been all of the incredible sisters I’ve had the privilege to meet across the country.

Regardless of the differences between chapters, the greatest thing is knowing that immediately coming from South Carolina and Nebraska or Maryland and Mississippi, whether our signature philanthropy event is Game Day or Delta Desserts, and even when I what I call a 'mixer' she calls a 'swap,' we can immediately connect around the Ritual we know, the values we share and the Purpose we've promised to pursue.

Another thing I've learned is that Tri Delta is so much larger than any individual chapter, but our 'DDD world' is also smaller than one would think! It's been exciting to see some familiar faces to Alpha Lambda on the road!

Hailey Salito and Caroline Williams were initiated at Alpha Lambda in 2011,
and both are in the Alpha Sigma chapter at UNC now, where Hailey serves as VP/F!

Sara Dronet is an alumna of the Phi Nu chapter at UL Lafayette and served as the
2012-13 Field Consultant to Alpha Lambda.  She's also my "big" in the FC program!

Mary Merkel was initiated at the Alpha Lambda chapter in 2011,
and she is now in the Chi chapter at Ole Miss!

So far this year has been--as all Executive Office Staff and past FCs said it would be--the ride of my life! I'm so thankful for this adventure and opportunity, but visits do get challenging and this lifestyle does get draining! For those moments, it all goes back to the 'why' of our organization. There's an amazing quote Sarah Ida Shaw wrote to some Fraternity staff in 1938--our 50th anniversary--that I keep on my desktop background as a reminder:

'[Your chapters] have been given a goal, and you want them to press forward toward that mark, because, by so doing, they will develop into the kind of chapter you want them to be, especially able to train the membership into the kind of women our Sorority is pledged to produce, - the kind that will be quick to see clearly, quick to act wisely, quick to serve steadfastly, with fervor ablaze, with zeal afire, with heart aglow, according to their God-given capacities, faculties and talents, for, after learning to love one another, they will just normally and naturally love ALL others...'

With that, no matter where I travel or which chapter I’m visiting, the approach can always be 'clear eyes, full heart, can't lose'--just the way Tri Delta started back in 1888!

DL,

Stitz"

Sincerely Yours -- A Thank You Note

Since our national philanthropic partnership began in 1999, St. Jude Children's Research hospital has been at the heart and soul of every Delta Delta Delta chapter in the nation.  Here at the University of South Carolina, we are especially committed to the cause.  Not only were we one of the top fundraising chapters in the country last year, but we were also the first collegiate chapter to ever raise over $100,000 in one year for St. Jude.  On a national level, Tri Delta just wrapped up its "15 in 5" campaign-- a mission to raise $15 million in 5 years, a mission that we accomplished in just 3.5 years.



The last week of February, our girls participated in our annual "Sincerely Yours" event, a letter-writing fundraiser for St. Jude led by our philanthropy chair, Sara Carota.  I am writing today's blog post to everyone out there receiving a letter in hopes that you will decide to donate to St. Jude on behalf of Tri Delta.

"Soon, you will be receiving a letter from me.  Or maybe you already have.  Although it will come in the standard stamped white envelope, it is my sincere hope that this letter escapes your 'junk pile' and gets opened.  Why?  Because by opening this letter, you are opening your heart to the story of Mae, a young girl who is currently being treated for Wilms tumor at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  I know that her story will captivate you more than mine, and I hope that you will decide to help her on behalf of Tri Delta.

Many of our sisters have visited St. Jude on one of our chapter's annual trips to Memphis, TN where we've seen firsthand Tri Delta's influence on the hospital.  We've seen the Tri Delta-sponsored C-Clinic, a specialty clinic wing of the hospital, and the Teen Room, a place for teenage patients to escape the stress of treatments, doctors and parents and just be kids.  Our letters can be seen anywhere from hallway floors and walls to the t-shirts of the patients.  St. Jude truly is Tri Delta's hospital.

Even those of us who haven't been to Memphis have seen our influence through a family in Columbia, S.C.  Evan Pertile was treated at St. Jude hospital after being diagnosed with medullablastoma (a type of brain cancer) at an early age.  We are proud to say that Evan is now completely cancer-free, but he and his family still participate in all of our chapter's philanthropy events.  Evan is just one example of the incredible strength St. Jude gives their patients, and we are so thankful to have the opportunity to know him and help others like him.

I want to make one thing clear-- we're not in it for the recognition.  We're not asking you to support Tri Delta, we're asking you to support St. Jude, because so many times people say that they'd like to help but don't know how.  This is where we come in.  We're simply giving you a means of supporting a cause that you already believe in.

The letter you're about to receive is more than just a piece of paper.  It's an invitation to give suffering children another chance at life.  Please, by all means, do not donate for Tri Delta.  Donate for Evan.  For Mae.  For your co-worker's daughter.  For your future son.  Help us ensure that no child dies in the dawn of life, the vision on which Danny Thomas founded St. Jude.

We believe that Danny Thomas said it best when he said,

'A dream is one thing.  A realization is something entirely separate... I publicly thank you, wherever you may be, for the support of this dream... it took your hearts, loving minds, and generous souls to make it come true.'

From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank you for considering a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Sincerely,
The women of the Alpha Lambda chapter of Delta Delta Delta"

**If you do not receive a letter but would still like to donate on behalf of our chapter, click here
and select University of South Carolina in the drop-down box.**

USC Dance Marathon Sister Spotlight: Alex Hall

From 12 p.m. March 1st to 12 p.m. March 2nd, 12 of our dedicated sisters took the challenge to be apart of the incredible experience of USC Dance Marathon.  One in particular, Alex Hall, participated as a member of the university's morale team.  The morale team is a select group of about 60 individuals who dedicate themselves to months of training and fundraising to be the leaders of the 24-hour event.  It is an extremely competitive process, and we were so fortunate to have a Tri Delta on the team!  That being said, it truly was no surprise to anyone that Alex was selected. 

"I barely knew Alex when she became my big sister, and now that I've seen her in action I can say I've never met someone more dedicated to making life better for all who surround her."

- Zoe Raine, fellow USCDM participant, Tri Delta sister and Alex's little

Alex and Zoe

We love you, A. Hall! 

"Dance Marathon is a celebration of a year-long fundraising campaign for the Palmetto Health Children's Hospital which is our local Children's Miracle Network Hospital. A 13 minute long line dance is taught and mastered by all of the participants, games of dodgeball and knockout are played, bands and performers come to entertain, but most importantly Miracle Families come to share their stories and show why we are all doing what we are doing. This year we were fortunate enough to have 12 families come to speak and share how Palmetto Health Children's Hospital as impacted their lives. 

Having these incredible people come and share the hardships they've overcome really tugs on your heart strings and allows participants and everyone involved to truly see where the money and hard work goes. I know I can say that seeing those kids up on stage with their bright eyes and smiling faces is more than enough motivation to take just one day to stand and dance.

This year USCDM went above and beyond fundraising expectations.

In total we raised $318,649.00 FOR THE KIDS!!!!

It's still incredibly difficult for me to even put into words the overall excitement and pure joy I felt when those numbers were flipped during closing ceremonies. Tri Delta contributed over $2,500 to that grand total from the fundraising of the individuals that participated in the event.

It was such an honor to be not only a part of the experience of USCDM but to be on the morale team.  As a morale team captain, about 60 other students and I were basically the teachers of the line dance and the pep of the event. We help motivate the dancers to keep standing and are guides for them in learning the line dance and having an awesome time at main event.  Being on the morale team definitely made me realize that what I'm doing really does make a difference in the lives of over 80,000 patients that are treated at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital every year.

One of the coolest things we did this year at the main event was make paper chains. We were able to string together 8,000 strips of paper and hang them for all to see. Seeing all of those chains and knowing that the hospital treats 10 times that many patients every year solidifies that what I and all the incredible people around me are doing is so so so so important! In addition, Tri Delta came in 3rd place in the banner competition with an awesome Despicable Me themed banner.

I would like to give a special thanks to Zoe Raine, Clara Kinnison, Laura Cornette, Julia Flowers, Mary Margaret Rentschler, Halie Schouten, Ali Black, Bessie Rose Woltz, Sydney Kohn, Hayley Geis, and Becca Toribio for coming and standing for the kids! I would also like to thank all of my sisters that donated to this cause and sent me texts of encouragement. This organization has impacted my life so tremendously and it was absolutely wonderful to be able to share that with my sisters.

One day we will dance in celebration, until then we will dance for a cure.

DL, 

Alex Hall"

Parents Weekend

Two weekends ago, Tri Delta celebrated its annual Parents Weekend.  Parents traveled from all over the country (even as far as California!) to spend time with their daughters and get the full "Tri Delta experience."

I love that Tri Delta's Parents Weekend is in the spring instead of on the same weekend as the university-sponsored one in the fall because it puts the whole focus of the weekend is on sharing our sisterhood with the incredible people who raised us to be Tri Deltas!

By now, all of the new pledge class has been initiated and found their "niche" in the sorority with tons of new lifelong friends to introduce to their parents.  Tri Delta's Parents Weekend has evolved over the past few years especially, becoming less of a formal cocktail dinner and more of a fun social event.  For many parents, the weekend was a chance for them to take a weekend off from their hectic lives and relive their college years with their daughters. 

This year, social chair Alex Hall planned a casual meet and greet with parents on Friday night as well as the annual Parents Cocktail on Saturday, where girls danced the night away with the parents and friends at the South Carolina State Museum.  The venue, food and entertainment by 76 and Sunny made for an unforgettable night.  Props to you, Alex!

The weekend was completed by the seniors' Pansy Tea on Sunday afternoon.  Pansy Tea is an event planned by the Member Development Chair, Dana Hurtik, that aims solely to commemorate the seniors before they take their final degree and become alumnae of Tri Delta.  It also serves as a time for seniors to share their special collegiate experience of being a Tri Delta with their mothers, as the invitations are exclusive to female family members only.  The afternoon was complete with slideshows of the girls' four years of sisterhood, all the way from their own bid day in 2010!  On behalf of everyone, we are so thankful for the influence the seniors have had on this chapter, and are excited to see the incredible things that lay ahead for them.

Once again, thank you to all the parents who made the trip to Columbia, S.C. to spend your time with our chapter.  We are so fortunate to have such loving families in our lives and couldn't be more thankful to have such incredible collegiate experiences to share with you!

DL,
km