Epsilon Sigma Alpha
 

This thread was to intended to discuss a new virtual chapter of the ESA sorority.

If you are interested in joining Epsilon Sigma Alpha (www.esaintl.org), please PM me with your email and I will be happy to get some information to you.

I have edited this post due to the alarmingly negative reception received.

Good day.

OH NOEZ TEH GAMMA CHI IS BACK!!! EVERYBODY RUN FOR COVER!!!

Back to your regularly scheduled thread. :o

What in the world is that reply about?

The search of a lifetime!
 

Well this is just fantastic! You know I went through rush once each semester I was in school, and taking into account the fact that I graduated in five years, that's 10 times. As you can imagine, I was heartbroken when I never received a bid and ever since then, I have longed for the sense of joy and meaning in life that can come only from sorority membership. AT LONG LAST I now suspect I have found a home with the lovely women of ESA because one of them posted on a message board and that must be lo, a sign that I am destined to become a part of the majestic sisterhood the bonds of which I cannot even begin to fathom as I am but a lowly sorority reject UNTIL NOW. I hope my dreams can finally come true and gosh you girls just buckle up and join me on this bumpy ride where we will maybe enjoy some VIRTUAL POPCORN and beverages (that's sweet tea or Coke, for the sisters from the South who might also be partaking of deviled eggs and lounging in their Lilly dresses before a spot of tennis) because my life will certainly not be complete until I can call some complete strangers from the internet my SISTERS I AM SO EXCITED!!! This was meant to be!

Re: The search of a lifetime!
 

I don't think you can use "spot" like that.

Hi Karen:

I'm sorry you received such a rude reception here at Greek Chat.

I looked up ESA on the internet, http://www.esaintl.com/
and it seems to be a very reputable service organization with a track record of more than 60 years.

I like the fact that it not only helps out a very worthwhile philanthopy (wow-- you guys raised $9 million dollars in 2004-2005 for St. Judes Children's Hospital-- that's wonderful!), http://www.stjude.org/esa/0,2624,590_3184_5111,00.html but it also offers its members leadership training as well as a venue for networking. It's so important that women help each other in the business world just as men have been doing for years.

I also note that you count Martha Pullen, of the PBS series, "Martha's Sewing Room" among your newest members. Congratulations!

I wish you lots of luck with your new chapter. I have heard of other organizations reaching out through on-line meetings. It seems to be the wave of the 21st century-- a way of uniting people who might otherwise not be able to get together because of geographical restrictions.

Thanks Blue Angel.
It's an odd reception; I'll give you that.
Yes, ESA has a nice history and an established reputation. I didn't put in more information on the original post because I assumed only women who were already familiar with ESA would be interested in responding.

FYI KRHill -

They're talking about Gamma Chi (Greek Chat, haha get it??:rolleyes: ) Do a search for it. It was a virtual expirament went very, very wrong. You'll understand the reception of this thread after that.

See guys, I can be nice to the newbies;) ...
I'm not always a bitch!

Just to piggyback, I believe Beta Sigma Phi has online chapters as well, so an online chapter isn't something totally foreign.

Good luck KRHill91

:)

AlphaFrog:

I don't understand the connection. I know what Gamma Chi was-- I read the threads.. but what has a satire GLO have to do with a legitimate service organization?

Or, are you saying that some of the posters here made rude comments because they didn't take the time to research ESA before making false assumptions? :confused:

Yes, Beta Sigma Phi has online chapters, and we just became "official", as in, recognized by International. I belong to Online Alpha Phi. (my chapter, not to be confused with Alpha Phi sorority)

I believe in the original post, she was asking about starting an online chapter of ESA, sort of using GC as a tool for recruitment. I think they realize that ESA is a legit org, it's popped up in a few threads, but it's almost like asking to start a virtual ZTA chapter. (well, it's a little different being that one is service and one is social, but they're both national orgs).

Yeah, but I was going to say...

I was actually a member of ESA before I went through rush (recruitment, bad Amy!) and went DG... And to me, ESA is SO different, that it actually kind of makes sense that they would have an online chapter. I mean, it's kind of like Make-A-Wish recruiting for volunteers online. It's a service sorority. That's just my two cents, as a former member of ESA, and I know that different chapters of ESA probably have different views as well b/c of the things they do. I'm sure some chapters are only there to serve as a community service organization, and some are more into the sisterhood side of it.

I'm a Pi Phi and I can't imagine having a Pi Phi chapter organize online, but ESA is more like a service org with a personal development branch. Did you drop out of ESA after pleding DG?

I am also a Gamma Sigma Sigma and I never had any trouble being both in school. Two other Pi Phis were also GSS sisters as well. GSS is nearer to ESA philosophically, but not the same, as GSS was formed as a collegiate group and ESA was formed as a community group that also has some collegiate chapters. I'm glad not everyone here is close-minded about the service sororities.

Can you be an alumni intiate into this sorority?

-Rudey

Only a virtual alumni initiate, I think.

Seriously, best of luck, KRH.

Since ESA has a type of membership, Member at Large, which is open for individuals to join, without joining a physical chapter (usually due to the lack of such chapter in one's area), it makes perfect sense to have a virtual chapter.

I may be wrong but doesn't BSP require that to be eligible for an onling chapter, a women must first be a member in good standing in a physical chapter?

There's no real classification type for an alumni initiate.
The membership types as described on the website are as follows:

Traditional Membership
Since 1929, ESA International's traditional members have used their vast support network of local chapters to excel in community education, service and philanthropy. Their "hands-on" endeavors provide more than 650,000 direct service hours and over $10 million for charitable causes each year.

Collegiate Membership
ESA collegiate membership is available on participating campuses across the nation. On college campuses that have not yet colonized an ESA chapter, there are opportunities for interested individuals to assist in the colonization process.

Member-at-Large Membership
Share ESA’s benefits and support ESA activities and projects without being a chapter member.

Legacy Membership
This membership is available to close family relatives of existing

Élan Membership
Élan stands for Education–Leadership–Affirmation–Networking. This membership is youth driven, providing middle school and high school age members with opportunities to develop personal leadership skills through service-oriented activities.

DESA Membership
DESA's (Debutante of Epsilon Sigma Alpha) have their ESA membership fee paid in full when they decide to join ESA. They are legacies.

gosh
 

seems like ESA has all kinds of memberships. certainly want each
person to feel warm and cuddly and buy lots of jewelry

BSP requires that a woman must be in good standing with International, not necessarily in a land chapter. There are quite a few members in my online chapter that are Members-at-Large. Their online membership will now count toward degree progression.

That's one thing that I like about ESA is that the whole family can be involved.

That's the intention from the international group. They really want to make it a family-friendly sorority. So many of the service orgs are for men only or women only or you can't involve the kids. It's nice to have something that everyone can do together.

I remember some neighbors that were big in the Lions when I was a kid and their kids were really resentful of the time away; ESA is something that the family can incorporate into their time.

I did go "inactive" from ESA once I pledged DG, but not because of that. I was unhappy with some of the things going on within our ESA chapter... they ended up turning it around and I thought that I was going to come back, but between being vp:Panhell, sorority council, Dance Marathon, and of course class, the ESA meetings always seemed to conflict with something.

CarolinaDG.
Well, you know you can always re-activate through this new virtual chapter. We'd love to have someone who has been on the other side.
~Karen