[SigmaSarah328]

Hi All! I'm actually a member on the new National Board of SAEPi and came across this discussion thread one night, and have decided to reply (hope ya'll don't mind). Since this seems to be half discussion about AEPhi's new colonies and half discussion about what happend to the SigmaAEPi chapters there, I feel my comments to be at least interesting.

SDSU was before my time in the sisterhood actually. I'm not terribly sure what happend there, but I know they left before any semblence of a national board. ASU was initiated after the national board formed, and they were given the letter Alpha. Well, if ASU is Alpha, and UCDavis is Chater, then what the heck was SDSU supposed to be? Since their time as a chapter was so short, that first board decided that they would (sadly) be lost to the sands of time.

Our chapter at ASU always had intentions of becoming AEPhi. We knew this when they were initiated as one of our chapters. Why they "settled" on us instead of just waiting, I'll never know. But settle they did, and then when they had their oppertunity they left. They, unfortunatly offered us no explaination or warning. We felt a little betrayed when they left, but there was nothing we could really do except regroup.

It was around this time that our (full) chapter at Oregon also decided to leave. They left because they really wanted to have Panhellenic association, and their Council told them that they'd have a better chance of getting it as a local, than as a chapter in a non-affiliated national. So, they are now Sigma Mu Omega (I think), and seem to be doing quite well.

There was a comment above that stated something to the effect of we were growing too quickly to hold on to our chapters. There is a degree of truth in that. The first incarnation of the national board made a lot of desiscions without thinking of the long-term consequences. My later incarnation paid the price for that. But now we have our act together and are growing and a slower, more reasonable pace. We now holding strong at 5 chapters, including our newest at UCLA!

I hate to think of Sigma and AEPhi "competing" for a similar market. Sometimes that may be the case. But I think that overall, our organizations have similar goals in mind; to create a warm and welcoming place as well as a unique Jewish experience for anyone who wishes to contribute. And to that end, I believe we should be allies. I'd love for our two sisterhood to have future collaberations.

Everyone have a great rest of summer!

Sincerely,
Sarah Gamma Chapter '04
Spirit ~ Strength ~ Sisterhood