CHE RON TODAY’S FRIENDS, TOMORROW’S LEADERS, FOREVER IN SERVICE SPRING/SUMMER 2020 | OMEGA PHI ALPHA NATIONAL SERVICE SORORITY | OMEGAPHIALPHA.ORG DISTRICT SUMMITS | NEW COLONY | SPONSOR A SISTER CHE RON President’s VOLUME 52 | 03 The Chevron newsletter is produced CORNER three times a year for Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sorority alumnae and active chapters. Spark a Love of OPA Board of Directors Reading in Someone President | Jan Titsworth You Love VP Communications | Thea Moritz VP Finance | Leanne Kirby My grandniece turned 1 at the beginning VP Lifetime Membership | Alyssa Bernhardt of February. I was definitely overthinking VP Programs | Andie Hixson what to get her for this special birthday. Her parents feel strongly that her toys should Executive Director inspire creative free play and imagination, Jenn Schimmel Stanley so I was determined to buy the “perfect” gift. Perusing the aisles at the local toy shop, Chevron Staff I realized that what I really wanted to give article while preparing this column. I’d like to Managing Editor | Thea Moritz her was the love of reading—which would share those suggestions with you, so that in Editorial Director | Donna Pintek definitely inspire her imagination! I headed the coming weeks, you too can develop a love Layout Editor | Shelley Lai to the Barnes & Noble children’s section where of reading with a child in your life. Graphics | Devin Pascoe I was reacquainted with so many friends from Writers | Catherine Ferrell, Mackenzie the years of reading to my own children— > Listen to audiobooks in the car on the way Garretson Graves, Mary Harrison, Gabie Kur Corduroy, Frog and Toad, Hank the Cow Dog to and from activities. The article notes that Photo Coordinator | Jessica Toms and even the nameless One Fish Two Fish. hearing someone read a book confidently is I remembered all of the nights we read aloud a great way to experience fluency. Distribution Dates and Deadlines together and desperately want to be sure > Let kids see you reading for fun and October 1 | due August 15 my grandniece has that same experience. pleasure. January 1 | due November 15 I brought home a selection of favorite titles > Create a space where hanging out and April 1 | due February 15 and am now well equipped to send a few reading is appealing. books to her on every holiday this year! > Read the book…THEN watch the movie. Submissions > Spend time together reading aloud. If you would like to submit a feature story My kids are now adults and have cleared out > Get a cookbook and let your child pick a about an alumna or a service project lots of other childhood paraphernalia from meal to make with you. Ask them to read happening at your chapter, please email it to: their rooms. But, all of those books (and the recipe out loud. [email protected] more) are still on the shelves of their rooms > Ask questions and show interest in the Please send photos in 300dpi JPG format. waiting for the day when they can share books your child is reading. them with their own kids. It is interesting to > Give books as gifts, with an inscription that National Office Mailing Address note that, as they have grown and matured, tells the recipient why you chose the book Omega Phi Alpha National Office they still enjoy reading for fun and learning. especially for them. PO Box 955, East Lyme, CT 06333 My son often shares books and magazine articles related to his career path and overall March 2 was Dr. Seuss’ birthday and also Official National Website leadership development that he has found National Read Across America Day. With so omegaphialpha.org insightful. My daughter likes to spend some many people spending more time at home time reading each day as a way to relieve these days, use that time to read a book with Contact List stress and decompress. a child in your life! It might be just the spark To request a list of all sorority officers, that’s needed to inspire a love of reading for a appointments, and chapters, please email As young parents, my husband, Jim, and I lifetime. [email protected] did not intentionally state that we wanted to develop a love of reading in our children. But, Happy Reading! Update Your Contact Information I realized that we modeled a lot of behaviors Jan Titsworth (Delta) members.omegaphialpha.org that I discovered in a Parents magazine National President On the cover: A compilation of virtual photos posted by OPA sisters across the country demonstrating the /OmegaPhiAlphaNationalServiceSorority /Omega_Phi_Alpha theme: “We will all get through this together.” @OmegaPhiAlpha /add/ophia67 @omegaphialpha1967 Omega Phi Alpha Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sorority NATIONAL NEWS From the EXECUTIVE Sponsor a Sister Bee there for us so we can bee there for them! DIRECTOR True to our cardinal principles, many sisters have reached out to ask how they can support “ Service is the rent we pay for our room Omega Phi Alpha and our sisterhood during here on Earth.”—Muhammad Ali the uncertain times of the global pandemic. As you can imagine, the widespread economic This quote is one of my favorites, and one that impact is significant among our active I live by. For many years, I have been traveling members. Their worlds have been turned to Guatemala with Habitat for Humanity to upside down—having to leave campus and adjust to online learning. Many are without put my hands and feet into action, helping jobs or internships. families build their own homes and providing families with healthy home kits that include The caring spirit of our sisters is the cornerstone of Omega Phi Alpha! latrines, vented stoves, and potable water. Many active members need dues waivers to remain in good standing. It is vital that Working alongside families in need has been we grant these waiver requests to support them and ensure we lead by example. an incredible experience and has taught me to This resulted in a significant decrease in operational resources at the national level. not only appreciate my life and opportunities, Together, we can support OPA by raising $10,000. but to understand that it is my honor, duty, and privilege to work to better the world around me. How can you help? Please sponsor a sister or two with a gift of $65 or more. That is the amount of OPA’s motto, “Today’s Friends, Tomorrow’s current active member dues. All funds will help Omega Phi Alpha continue to Leaders, Forever in Service,” is precisely why I am support all of our members. excited to be in partnership with you. Through service, leadership, and friendship, our own cups Donate online at omegaphialpha.org/sponsorasister are filled and in turn we can replenish the cups Return the of those we work to serve. I’m excited to have enclosed Or mail your support in the provided envelope today to: envelope with the opportunity to share this journey with you. Omega Phi Alpha National Office your gift P.O. Box 955 Over the past few months, I’ve had the joy East Lyme, CT 06333 of connecting with many of you, learning All funds will help Omega Phi Alpha continue to support all of our members through programming, about your love for OPA, your hopes for the leadership, and service opportunities. Omega Phi Alpha is an IRS 501(c)4 exempt organization. organization’s growth, and your passion Contributions or gifts are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. for helping to make this growth possible. I am excited to create a plan worthy of your support. While it will take some time to put together the plan, I am eager to move a few projects forward swiftly including reopening WHEN THE WORLD the Rose Shop and simplifying technology. TURNS UPSIDE DOWN Be on the lookout for more information on these items in the coming months. When we started to put together this issue of the Chevron, we could not have imagined all the ways that our world would In the meantime, my virtual door is open— change in such a short time. please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Email me at [email protected] First, on March 3, a deadly tornado ripped through the or text me at 413-224-8337. Nashville and Cookeville areas of Tennessee, the home of Epsilon Chapter and many OPA alumnae. Sadly, Epsilon Epsilon Chapter assists with cleanup after a tornado devastated Blessings and appreciation, alumna Jessica Rector Clark passed away during the storm parts of Tennessee in March. Jenn Schimmel Stanley (see page 8), and many alumnae and sisters experienced Executive Director damage or loss of power. Epsilon members and OPA (written March 2020) alumnae spent hours helping with the cleanup. Then, in mid-March, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many campuses to close and switch to online learning. OPA national officers, the executive director, and especially the chapter support team, prepared contingency plans and other accommodations to support the active chapters during this transition. National President Jan Titsworth, right, with OPA’s new From all of us at OPA, we hope you are staying healthy and safe at home. executive director, Jenn Schimmel Stanley, center, and OPA’s virtual office assistant, Virginia Vesnaver, left. —The Chevron staff SPRING/SUMMER 2020 3 NATIONAL NEWS SPRING LIBERTY FEBRUARY 8 • RAMADA PLAZA INN DISTRICT HAGERSTOWN, MD SUMMITS 2020 SUMMIT SERVICE District Summits were held PROJECT SUPPORTS this past February, with the exception of the Colonial EDUCATORS District, which had to cancel its summit when college In February, as a way to support the campuses across the country President’s Project (adult and childhood shut down as a result of the literacy), the District Summit organizers coronavirus pandemic.