TTTEMPOEMPOEMPOEMPO!!! MARCH T ! 2011 INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FRATERNITY WHAT’S INSIDE Lambda Phi Installed in January n January 16, Phi B Province had the privilege of welcoming OLambda Phi at the University of Massachusetts Amherst into our sisterhood. Presiding over the 3 Collegiate ceremony was Marcie Richardson, Comment NVP Extension & Fraternity Development, assisted by Phi B Province Officer Amber Womack. National Alumnae Leadership Award winner Geraldine Barretto-Sims of the Boston Alumnae Chapter Boston Alumnae Chapter donated led a very moving meditation for 6 roses for the ceremony and an afghan Province the new initiates. Representatives to raffle off as a fundraiser; Eta Days from Eta Mu, the Boston Alumnae Mu donated their ritual robes and Chapter, and the New York Alumnae handmade letters for each new sister; Chapter participated in the initiation and Epsilon Zeta donated $25 for the ceremony, after which the Lambda chapter’s needs. Phi chapter was officially installed. Officer training and the first Following the ceremonies, the formal meeting of the new chapter 13 new sisters hosted a beautiful 8 were held the following morning. The Alumnae reception that included fantastic ladies presented a musicale featuring Comment pizza, homemade salads, and desserts. an SSAA arrangement of “Oh The highlight of the reception was Danny Boy” and a group rendition At top, Phi B Province Officer GREGORY Amber Womack, at left, and Marcie a red velvet SAI cake topped with of SAI’s “The Whistle Song.” It was a Richardson, NVP Extension & DICKENS chocolate music notes. Phi B also beautiful weekend filled with the true Fraternity Development, right, Publications presented the new chapter with gifts: spirit of Sigma Alpha Iota. with charter members of Manager the New York Alumnae Chapter gave — Amber Womack, Lambda Phi at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Above, the RUTH SIEBER them $150 for new equipment; the Phi B Province Officer ceremony’s celebratory cake. JOHNSON Rechartering Held in Memphis Executive Director he Delta Beta Chapter at Memphis University soprano soloist for the initiation. Also particpating CONTACT US was rechartered on February 20, 2011. were Yvonne Glass, former NVP Collegiate Chapters, Marcie Richardson, NVP Extension & members of Epsilon Gamma and the Jonesboro Alumnae 828.251.0606 Fraternity Development, was the installing Chapter. [email protected] Tofficer. She was assisted by new Mu A Province Officer Originally chartered in March 1962, Delta Beta is sai-national.org Beverly Pierce. Julia Lansford, former Mu PO, was the proud to be among active chapters again. 2 news notes Improving Your Nonverbal Communication Adapted from the University of Hawaii, Honolulu by Regina Murphy, Theta leg swinging, tapping (toes, fingers), and gaze aversion. Relax your self B Province Officer. physically, smile and move back to alleviate any stress. Eye contact: Eye contact helps regulate the flow of communication. Paralinguistics: Many of you suffered through my 30-second attempt It signals interest in others and increases the speaker’s credibility. Making at paralinguistics this fall. Contemplate your vocal tone, pitch, rhythm, frequent eye contact opens the flow of communication and conveys inter- timbre, volume and inflection to judge how others are hearing you. Place a est, concern, warmth and credibility. Lack of eye contact communicates strong emphasis on one of the words in this sentence with each repetition, disinterest or even a desire to hide something. It demoralizes the person you are listening to. and notice how the meaning changes: try it once with a frown and once with a smile. Facial expressions: Smiling is a powerful cue that transmits happiness, Here are three “frown” examples… friendliness, warmth and openness. If you smile frequently you will be per- • I like Bach (But you don’t) ceived as more likable, friendly, warm and approachable. Plus, smiling is often • I LIKE Bach (but he’s not that great) contagious! Check your smile in the mirror – you don’t need a huge, toothy • I like BACH (But I hate Beethoven) grin (which may seem insincere) but what you think is a gentle smile could Humor: Laughter releases stress and actually look like a smirk (I struggle tension for both instructor and student. with that!). Develop the ability to laugh at yourself; don’t be quick to take offense. Gestures: A lively and animated speaking style captures attention, makes Don’t be afraid to voice your anger the material more interesting, facilitates or worries, but do it with love, open- learning and provides a bit of entertain- mindedness, respect. If you have to ment. Head nods communicate positive start the sentence with “With all due respect,” maybe you’d better think reinforcement to students and indicate that you are listening. You just about what you’re about to say. If someone starts out, “Well, SHE said…”, want to avoid looking like a ballet dancer or out-of-tilt windmill. that might be a good time to think about motivations for repeating (or listening) to what she did (or did not) say. Posture and body orientation: Standing erect, but not rigid, and leaning slightly forward communicates to students that you are approach- Always look for the third way. In a world of polarization (left OR able, receptive and friendly. Face the people you are speaking to or with. right, up OR down), we need to find a little bit of the left AND a little bit Speaking with your back frequently turned or looking at the floor or ceil- of the right, the up AND the down. You can compromise without com- ing communicates disinterest to your class. promising your principles. If you can give a little, you will get a little. If we all take our marbles and go home, then none of us will have any fun. And Proximity: Some people give nonverbal clues to when you may be if we’re not having fun, then why are we here? “invading their space”—either physically or emotionally. Look for rocking, Life is short; fill it with love, laughter and music. FRATERNITY POLICY REMINDER igma Alpha Iota mandates that MIT classes either with Greek alphabet letters, or with some other correspond with the National Vice President, should ONLY be referred to with the semester series of names (music adjectives, flowers, etc.). This Collegiate Chapters Ms. Christine Bruns at NVP. of initiation. practice may have filtered over from some other [email protected]. S An example would be the Spring 2011 MIT class organizations, but if your chapter is doing this, it must Following Fraternity policy is an important part of Alpha Chapter. It has come to the attention of the be stopped immediately. of being a chapter in good standing. NEB that some chapters are naming their MIT groups, If you have questions about this you may Thank you for your cooperation. Tempo! • March 2011 • Sigma Alpha Iota collegiate comment 3 Theta — Washburn University, Topeka, KS Sigma Delta — University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign In December, Theta Chapter participated in Adopt-a-Family by Sigma Delta is excited to have 10 new members-in-training join their providing presents and food to a local family. Preparations are under way sisterhood. Work has begun on the annual solo competition for local for the Burrito Week fundraiser, the annual Formal Ball, and initiation of Champaign-Urbana young musicians. The competition provides these new members. — Kelsey Rice, editor students with an opportunity to play for University of Illinois professors as judges. The winners of each category receive a monetary prize. The Kappa — University of Nebraska, Lincoln scrapbooking and history committee is assembling a scrapbook from Recruitment events included a Disney movie night and an first semester, which includes a picture of the 1949 Sigma Delta chapter information session at the coffee house. For Valentine’s Day, the chapter donated by an alumnae member. Other events for the semester are helping sold chocolate bars and singing Valentines. A unique fundraising idea for the local Girl Scouts receive their music badges and the Mom’s Day St. Patrick’s Day involves selling paper clovers for $.25 to write a message Brunch and Formal. — Tracie Tatz, editor on one side and someone’s name on the other. After they are displayed, another quarter is paid to flip the clover to the other side. Sigma Upsilon — University of Denver, CO — Elizabeth Fritton, editor Eight new members-in-training joined Sigma Upsilon in January. The chapter hosted Xi C Province Day in February, and in May will hold their First Annual Sigma Upsilon Rose Ball, which will be a campus-wide formal event and fundraiser. —Ellen Leslie, editor Alpha Mu — Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA In October, Alpha Mu participated in Relay for Life in honor of Lauren Eshbaugh, a sister who lost her battle with cancer last May. The chapter raised over $3,000 for the American Cancer Society in her memory. Seven new members were welcomed into Alpha Mu last fall: Betty Anderson, Amelia Cessna, Nicole Gasse, Christine Hedden, Stephanie Johnson, Elizabeth Kaufman, and Ashley Williams, who previously had been affiliated with Kappa Beta at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. — Rebecca MacNamee, editor Gamma Kappa — Longwood University, Farmville, VA Gamma Kappa and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (Mu Delta) joined forces Alpha Beta for a fall musicale directed by Danielle Minnick and Hurley Wilmouth. (above) was Selections performed included “Autumn Evening” by Roger Quilter; rechartered in November at Brahms’ “Intermezzo in A Major” for piano; “Theme from Tetris” for the University low brass trio; “Cold Missouri Waters” by Keelaghan on mandolin; and of Arizona. At Debussy’s “Syrinx” for tenor saxophone. — Kathleen Whitney, editor right, the fall initiates of Alpha Gamma Pi — California State University, Long Beach Mu Chapter at Gamma Pi held a retreat in October with fun, food, games, Carnegie Mellon and bonding.