What Founders Day Means to Me

Council Connections – November 2016

By National Vice President Erika McManus Bukva, Delta Rho

I was lucky to be a Founding Sister of the Delta Rho Chapter at Chowan University in North Carolina. Establishing a national sorority chapter on my campus was a highlight of my college years, and the beginning of a long list of challenges that taught me critical skills that I still use today.

But as incredible as that experience was, it pales compared to the founding of Alpha Sigma Tau itself. I often reflect on what kind of women our eight founders must have been to establish an organization that was committed to the ethical, cultural, social, and professional development of its members.

What brave, confident, and intelligent women they were! In their day, women were a minority and perceived as an inferior status. But instead of being scared away from an education, our founders recognized the fierce power of women committed to one another and laid the groundwork for an organization that would continue empowering women to excel for over a century. I hope our 117th Founders Day gave you an opportunity to reflect on the incredible history of our Sorority, and to give thanks for the Sisters in your life!

When I talk about Alpha Sigma Tau to friends and co-workers who aren’t familiar with fraternal organizations, I always explain that AΣT benefited my life like nothing else. This Sorority has impacted tens of thousands of lives in the past 117 years. The organization has met the needs of a changing membership in a changing society over an incredible number of years. The collegiate experience of today has evolved from that of our founders. It has even changed from what I – and many alumnae – experienced, growing with the times to meet the needs of our newest members. I am proud to represent an organization that is preparing women leaders with the core values and skills to enrich their own lives and the lives of others – today and into the future.

The National Council is committed to continuing Alpha Sigma Tau’s progress. With the Sorority’s four Strategic Areas of Focus, the Sorority will:

1. Increase opportunities for alumnae engagement and involvement.
2. Open more chapters and invite new women into our Sisterhood.
3. Strengthen communications as a way to engage each other and the National Organization.
4. Grow our philanthropic impact through the Women’s Wellness Initiative – empowering members to improve women’s wellness through service activities and projects.

You can learn more about the Strategic Areas of Focus and the bright future for Alpha Sigma Tau at alphasigmatau.org/about/strategic-goals.

And you can support the programming and opportunities that make the Alpha Sigma Tau experience valuable for our members by becoming a regular donor to the Alpha Sigma Tau National Foundation at alphasigmatau.org/foundation/give-now. Join us in ensuring AΣT’s continued progress!