FALL 2017 FALL ALPHA ALPHA CHI OMEGA || THE LYRE THE JEANNE SULLIVAN Charting Her Own Course as a Venture Capitalist INSTAGRAM VS. REALITY VOLUME 120 : ISSUE 1 ISSUE : 120 VOLUME CALL TO Fall 2017 CONVENTION Volume 120 : Issue 1 alphachiomega.org Corner Office The Difference One Sister Can Make Cassie Gerhardt, President, Alpha Chi Omega National Housing Corporation (AP, University of North Dakota) If you were asked to name I developed friendships with an Alpha Chi Omega sister sisters that proved to be invaluable who has made a difference in as I navigated not just the highs your life, who would you and lows of college, but the larger name? Your celebrations and challenges life big sister? Your best friend? Your chapter advisor? A mentor? Another has brought since college. alumna? Likely the biggest challenge in responding would be to limit your response to just one sister. Likely your life, just like mine, has been enriched by I am forever grateful to Ellen for that make a positive difference. a number of Alpha Chi Omega sisters. invitation! Both big and small gestures can The first time an Alpha Chi Omega Recognizing Ellen’s impact on my make a difference. Neither Ellen nor I made a difference in my life, she life, and the difference countless other could have foreseen the difference an was not even my sister – at least, not sisters have made in my life with big invitation to “hang out” would make yet. In January 1994, I was enrolled and small gestures, I often wonder if in my life; imagine how your gestures, in an International Politics course, I’m “paying it forward” enough. Am I both big and small, could impact the and although I disliked the course, I making a difference in the lives of my life of another sister. had become friends with one of my sisters – not just the ones I know, but By sharing the gifts of your treasure, classmates, Ellen Dahl. About two the ones I haven’t met yet? As an talent and time in a manner that is weeks into the semester, Ellen invited Alpha Chi Omega, am I doing what significant to you, you can and will me to “hang out” and watch TV at I can “to shed the light of love and make a difference! You will make a her sorority house. I didn’t give much friendship round me?” difference in the life of another sister. thought to the invitation – after all, it I also wonder what Alpha Chi You will make a difference in your was just an invitation to “hang out.” I Omega and our broader communities chapter and community. You will make would eventually realize that Ellen had would be like if every sister made it a a difference in our Fraternity. invited me to an informal recruitment/ priority to make a difference. To make By letting your lyre “send forth the COB event – and, as the saying goes, a difference in the life of another sister chords of love, unselfishness, sincerity,” the rest is history. by sending a note (or even just a text) you will make a difference! And, if The difference Ellen’s invitation to connect or reconnect with a sister. every Alpha Chi Omega looks to make made on my life is immeasurable. That To make a difference in a collegiate/ a difference in the lives of others, invitation resulted in me becoming alumnae chapter by volunteering to together we will achieve the heights! an Alpha Chi Omega – and I believe help as an advisor or by attending P.S. I am forever grateful to Ellen it changed the trajectory of my life. an event. To make a difference in a Dahl and to all the Alpha Chi Omega I developed friendships with sisters student’s life by making a donation sisters who have made a difference in that proved to be invaluable as I to a scholarship fund or by serving my life and in the lives of countless navigated not just the highs and lows of as a mentor. To make a difference in others! I hope you will take time to college, but the larger celebrations and her community by supporting a local thank the Alpha Chi Omega sisters who challenges life has brought since college. domestic violence shelter. Simply to have made a difference in your life. The Lyre xx alphachiomega.org 7 Life INSTAGRAM VERSUS By Lisa Young Stiers (EO, Indiana State University) A picture is worth a thousand words could be the rally cry for millions of Instagram lovers. Beautiful pictures — sharing stories of friendship, sisterhood, adventure and life — are the foundation of Instagram and the key attraction for sisters who love this social media platform. “There is nothing better than a picture to tell a story,” says DeeDee Durkan (KF, Loyola Marymount University). People around the world agree. Launched in fall 2010, Instagram now has more than 700 million users. Eileen Wixted (BE, Michigan am as a person and have it show my “You don’t have to read anything. State University), founder of personality, my love for my sisters It’s all visual,” says Nicole Botich a communications and crisis and family. I choose the pictures (GM, Ball State University). “If management firm. “People like to based on experiences that I will something intrigues you, then you see photos and watch videos rather never forget and that I want to show read the caption. Otherwise, you just than read information. With the others.” keep scrolling.” introduction of Stories, clients can AJ Cutler (BX, Utah State Instagram is primarily a mobile marry videos and photos to tell the University) agrees. “I love posting platform, which means it’s most story of their business or product.” pictures and looking back on them. popular with younger sisters — For the average Alpha Chi Omega It’s like my own personal online those who are comfortable and member, Instagram offers a digital photo album that I get to share with engaged with their smartphones. archive to treasure and share. family and friends.” But, Instagram is for everyone and “I love Instagram to tell a story is becoming popular with businesses about my life,” says Maya Pohl and marketers. (AG, University of New Mexico). “I “Instagram is a great way to customize my Instagram to fit who I visually engage audiences,” says 36 Fall 2017 xx The Lyre VERSUS REAL LIFE INSPIRING always tag the brand so that I can their own worth. CONNECTION match that moment with the things “I’m a marketer and I understand The highlight for most Instagram that made that moment possible.” picking the right picture and great users is connection — connecting Cutler often tags Outdoor lighting, but even I sometimes with friends, family and Alpha Chi Women’s Alliance (@outdoorwomen), get caught up in it,” Botich says. Omega sisters, as well as connecting a nonprofit media and adventures “Instagram can be a beast, just like with those who share a passion. collective that strives to engage, all social media.” “I love connecting with other educate and empower women Wixted sees this disconnect people from all around the country, worldwide. Their page features between perception and reality as from places I’ve been to and sisters beautiful photos of women and their similar to that of glossy magazines I’ve met along the way,” Pohl says. outdoor adventures. (like House Beautiful, Better Homes “It’s nice to see that we can still “I love being instantly connected and Gardens or Elle) in previous appreciate each other from afar.” to women who are inspired in the years. For Ossy Lopez, keeping up same way I am — through being “They would showcase the most with sisters — and connecting with outdoors,” she explains. beautiful photos that would make new ones — is her favorite part of Finally, Instagram is a great way you want to accomplish the same Instagram. to connect with new places. level of beauty, whether personally “I get to see their adventures, and “I use Instagram to connect or in your home,” says Wixted. I get to connect with sisters from with my friends and document my Luckily, she sees a shift in digital other chapters and see that we love adventures,” says Durkan, who is marketing. and share the same passion for our studying abroad at Oxford University “Today, we see companies letters,” says Lopez (KY, Florida in England. “It’s also an amazing focusing on ‘real life.’ They want to International University). “Seeing way to find new places to explore engage with their audience in a way the love in return warms my heart to and eat by checking out popular that inspires, but also want to keep know that I’m not alone.” bloggers, friends, sisters or stranger’s things achievable,” she explains. Instagram also helps connect accounts!” Wixted encourages those who users with those who share interests might feel envious to remember that and ideas. As a marketing student, Instagram is a highlight reel, not Cutler believes social media is a AVOIDING ENVY a real representation of a person’s conversation between consumers Instagram love can ignite entire life. and brands, and she encourages Instagram envy, with perfectly “It is not a competition,” she users to make a connection. curated images leading to a serious says. “My motto is to make friends “My one tip for beginning case of “keeping-up-with-the- wherever you go, and I think if you Instagrammers is to tag the brands Joneses.” Users can easily become approach life (and social media in your photos,” she explains.