The Piper - April 2017

TheP i p e rAlpha Omicron Pi | April 2017

Convention 2017 Registration Information Beta Sigma (Boise State U)
50 Years of AOII & the Arthritis Foundation member, Kayleigh Nemeth
Suitcase Diaries Blogs and more! shared an alternative
spring break trip at Zion
National Park with two other
Panhellenic sisters from BSU.

SAVE THE DATES BFoaorudnMdateiossnage

APRIL 15 Andrea Dill
Various Collegiate AlphaLink
Reports Due (Chi Psi/California Polytechnic State U)

AOII Foundation Ambassador Foundation Board Director
Applications Due
Dear sisters,
AOII Foundation Young It is hard to believe that International Convention
Alumnae Council is upon us! In just a few short months, we will
Applications Due celebrate the milestones of this biennium with
sisters from across the United States and Canada.
Chapter Donations to the We will share stories of those whose lives have been
Foundation Due (This includes forever changed, and we will celebrate all of our
Strike Out Arthritis! donations sisters and friends who have made these stories
in order to count for awards.) possible!
We have enjoyed substantial growth in our
Foundation this year, with an increase in giving to our Loyalty Fund, in monthly
donor commitments and in launching new Named Scholarships. We have awarded
more in scholarships, leadership and educational grants, and philanthropic dollars
than ever before. Additionally, we have taken measures to better utilize social media
to enhance awareness of giving opportunities such as Giving Tuesday and a fan
favorite of our sisterhood, Pi Day. Thanks to your support of Pi Day last month, we
exceeded our goal and raised more than $12,000!
Through your support of initiatives like Pi Day, your dollars go directly to our
Loyalty Fund. Our Loyalty Fund allows the Foundation Board of Directors the ability
to allocate dollars where they are needed most. As the Foundation Board liaison to
the Grants Committee, every year we receive a grant proposal from the Fraternity.
Unfortunately, we cannot grant every request due to the lack of available funds.
However, as we grow our Loyalty Fund, we will be able to allocate additional dollars
to Foundation programs that need additional support—like Fraternity Grants.
As we celebrate our accomplishments during International Convention, we also
celebrate each and every sister who has made a gift to our Foundation. Every gift
matters, and giving is easy. As we close out our fiscal year on June 30, I encourage
you to purchase a Rose Tribute honoring a sister during International Convention,
sign up for monthly giving, or make a commitment to increase your annual gift this
year.
Whether you have your bags packed to travel to D.C. or will be celebrating our
sisterhood from a distance, we would not have these success stories to share if it were
not for you. Thank you for your support of our mission and vision. Thank you for
Securing the Future of Alpha Omicron Pi!

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Executive Board Excerpts

Click to hear the message.

As another school year and biennium come racing to a close, there is so much to be proud
of as we celebrate one another and our collective accomplishments through AOII. As your
Executive Board, it is our duty to set the vision for the future and one of our most important
tools to accomplish this is the creation, execution and implementation of our Strategic Plan.
Hopefully, by now you have read or heard about our Strategic Plan through To Dragma, in
previous Piper articles, on the website, social media or even in your chapter discussions. The
success of any strategic plan is dependent on the work of all of us. Collegiate chapters do
their part by recruiting strong members and future leaders. We pursue appropriate extension
opportunities to bring AOII to new campuses. Alumnae help identify and drive the need for
new alumnae chapters and other engagement opportunities. Staff and volunteers provide
training, visits and so many resources and levels of support to our members all
over North America. Amber Countis

Our current Strategic Plan includes four focus areas: (Pi/Tulane U)
Experience – AOII will deliver an unparalleled membership experience by:
enhancing lifetime engagement, enriching AOII’s culture of living our values; International Vice President

and developing exceptional members.

Some of the recent highlights that have been accomplished in this area include:

• The digital version of To Dragma highlighting nearly 60 volunteers released in March.

• The revised New Member Lessons Facilitators Guide in the ORL provides step-by-step instructions to
provide a more purposeful new member experience.

• Regular Ritual Moments podcasts are posted on Facebook and Instagram.

Service – AOII will champion a culture of service and leadership by: advancing partnerships to make a difference
in our communities and enhancing AOII leadership in the interfraternal community.
Some of the recent highlights that have been accomplished in this area include:
• AOII successfully achieved our $150,000 Fundraising Goal for Jingle Bell Run! During the Arthritis
Foundation Annual Meeting, AOII presented a check for $575,000 representing donations for the
fiscal year.
• Promoted our partnership with the Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign on social media to help provide our
members with resources on cyber security.
• Leadership Academy 2017 included a service aspect. Toiletry items were donated by attendees to the
Women’s Campus of the Nashville Rescue Mission. Advancing women was the central theme for
the weekend.

Advancement – AOII will provide exceptional resources by: fostering a high-performance environment and
enhancing connections through innovative and relevant technologies.
Some of the recent highlights that have been accomplished in this area include:
• The Career Center on the AOII website continues to promote AOII staff and volunteer opportunities as
well as career positions. Check it out if you are a job seeker or employer!
• New and updated Fraternity videos
• Educational Leadership Consultant visits during the spring semester

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Growth – AOII will foster membership growth by: developing alumnae cultivation, involvement and retention
initiatives and expanding the positive presence and influence of AOII on collegiate campuses.
Some of the recent highlights that have been accomplished in this area include:
• The NS-Alumnae team is working in three different committees to identify ways they can help increase
alumnae engagement in their respective areas.
• The Executive Director and Director of Collegiate Experience held calls with all new chapters’
recruitment teams, ELCs, ADCEs and NSDs regarding continuous recruitment.
• The fun and engaging Rosie the Panda social media initiative is ongoing through International
Convention 2017.
The last few years have also allowed for the creation and rollout of the AOII Culture Principles. Besides giving
us a consistent approach to how we do things in AOII, they allow our members to achieve the meaning of our
Fraternity as outlined in our Ritual. Changing cultures does not happen overnight, but together we have begun to
move the needle and together we will continue to strengthen AOII’s culture day by day. In large and small ways,
we have seen chapters and members begin to incorporate these into their daily lives. From hashtags on social
media to themes for chapter programming, topics for presentations and education, focus areas for volunteer
recruitment and position descriptions, we have been inspired and motivated by your good work. Keep letting
your light shine locally and globally through: Accountability and Ownership, Collaboration, Engagement,
Innovation; and Open and Honest Communication.
Recent highlights of the usage of the Culture Principles include:
• The Culture Principles were interwoven into all three attendee tracks which made up the 2017
Leadership Academy programming.
• The revised Membership Selection process, now accessible on the ORL, is better rooted in AOII’s Ritual
and Culture Principles to expand the emphasis on values based recruitment.
• The revised Executive Board KSAs, accessible in the volunteer position description area on the AOII
website, more clearly connects to the culture principles.
There is a great document in the Officer Resource Library on the Fulfilling the Promise website that includes our
strategic plan (plus those for the AOII Foundation and AOII Properties) as well as our Culture Principles. If you
haven’t already viewed this, I urge you to go download it right away and share it with your chapter members. This
is a great resource and will be so much more impactful if you can refer to it often and ensure that those items
that your chapter is spending time on tie back to one (or more) of the four focus areas of the Fraternity’s strategic
plan and reinforce usage of the Culture Principles! We’d love to hear from you and how you are utilizing these
important AOII resources in your daily work with your chapters! Thank you for your efforts to keep AOII strong,
thriving and moving in a positive direction.

Save the Date

Want to learn how to lead a healthier life? The Education and
Training department is hosting two webinars in celebration
of Women's Health Week. Join us Monday, May 14th at
8pm CDT for learning centered around group and exercise,
and again on May 17th at 8pm CDT for a nutrition webinar
detailing how physiology drives eating behaviors. It's never
too early or late to work toward being your healthiest, happiest
you! A full schedule of Women’s Health Week activities will
be featured in To Dragma so stay tuned to learn about the
challenges and social media takeover from one of today’s most
popular motivational campus speakers.

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RT&J News

Calling All Keepers of the Ritual and Advisers!

by Mary Matarazzo Bryant, Delta Omega (Murray State University), RT&J Member, Life Loyal
• What are burning questions AOIIs have about Ritual?
• What are the first things Keepers of the Ritual (KORs) need to know to perform their duties?
• What are ways KORs can inspire members to explore the “mysteries” of our Ritual?
Those questions and many more were included in the first ever conference calls conducted with KORs and their advisers
by members of the Rituals, Traditions, and Jewelry Committee (RT&J) during spring 2017. The calls were among the
innovative initiatives hatched during RT&J’s meeting last November.
A conference call was conducted for each Network by the respective RT&J Liaison, Mary Bryant, Kay Elam, Shokooh Miry,
and Bev Townsend. Each call, preparation and follow-up included:
• The call provided information on officer responsibilities, resources, review of preparing for conducting Ritual,
ideas on utilizing a committee, RT&J updates and news, KORs sharing best practices, and the RT&J Liaison
answering any additional questions from the survey.
• A PowerPoint presentation with a summary of the conference call and any post-call questions and answers was
sent to KORs and advisers and will be available on the ORL later this spring.
The RT&J Committee is very pleased and excited with the participation and response to the conference calls. The many
ideas and contributions of the KORs and advisers are valuable to everyone. The participant questions, information from the
surveys, and the conference calls themselves gave RT&J members relevant insight into the Ritual needs of AOII members
and chapters.
Plans are in development for more conference calls to address additional Ritual topics. Part of the RT&J Committee
member job description is to present ideas, accept feedback, exchange information, and communicate verbally and in
writing effectively with all AOII stakeholders and peers. We hope the conference call concept assists our members and
helps accomplish RT&J’s purpose of fulfilling the promise to each AOII.
RT&J enthusiastically welcomes and encourages input. Please send your questions and ideas about any aspect of Ritual
performance and education (being conscious of not including secret information in email messages) to the committee at
[email protected].

2- Ritual Moments

Spend some time with AOII’s Founders! Watch for a new “Ritual
Moments” installment on the second Monday of each month! March’s
recording was a “Founders’ Day Greeting” from 1976. Members can also
access a transcript of each recording in the Ritual section of the Officer
Resource Library on Fulfilling the Promise (edu.alphaomicronpi.org >
Officer Resource Library > Ritual > Ritual Moments & Ritual Moments
Transcripts).

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AOII Foundation News

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1 - Rose Tributes Now Available for Convention!

Rose Tributes are a special way to honor your sisters at Convention and make your contribution to the Loyalty Fund, the
fund that supports all Foundation programs. For each $5 contribution, you can send a sister a Rose Tribute—she will
receive an acknowledgement card and an embroidered rose for her name badge.
Rose Tributes can be purchased online for $5 each under Donate Now/Donate Online at
www.aoiifoundation.org, by mail and throughout event registration. Please make sure to include the Rose Tribute order
form, which will be on our website, as it is required to complete your order. Please contact Sydney Talley at
[email protected] with any questions about your order. The deadline to purchase Rose Tributes for them to be
included in the on-site Convention registration packet is Tuesday, May 30.

2 - April 15 is the Deadline for Foundation Convention Awards

All collegiate and alumnae chapter donations (including SOA! donations) must be received by April 15, to count towards
the Excellence in Fundraising awards given at Convention. Please make sure you include the SOA! Event Report Form or
appropriate documentation for other donations sent to our office so that we can credit your chapter correctly.
You may mail your donation to:
Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation
5390 Virginia Way
Brentwood, TN 37027

3 - Pi Day Goal Exceeded!

Thanks to the generous sisters who donated to Pi Day this year, we raised more than $12,000 with gifts still coming in!
Your Pi Day gifts to our Loyalty Fund directly support scholarships, educational and arthritis programs and the Ruby
Fund. Thank you for joining us in our vision of Securing the Future of Alpha Omicron Pi!

4 - Thank you to all Educational and Leadership Scholarship Applicants!

We are proud to announce that we have once again received a record number of educational scholarship applications this
year! Thank you to everyone who submitted an application. All applicants will be notified by May 30 as to whether they
received a Foundation scholarship.
The Foundation will also be granting a scholarship for one student to attend UIFI this summer. Thank you to the collegiate
members who applied for the UIFI scholarship. All applicants will be notified in early April as to whether they received
the Foundation UIFI scholarship.

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5 - April 15 is the Deadline to Apply for Young Alumnae Council or Ambassador Volunteer Positions

The deadline is quickly approaching to apply to become a member of the Young Alumnae Council or a Foundation
Ambassador. Foundation Ambassadors serve as the voice of the Foundation in their local community. An Ambassador’s
role is to inform collegiate and alumnae members about the importance of the Foundation and its programs which Secure
the Future of our Fraternity through leadership development, scholarships and philanthropic endeavors. Ambassadors
must be alumnae in good standing with AOII and agree to serve the Foundation for a two-year volunteer term.

Additionally, we are looking for alumnae who graduated within the last 10 years to serve on our Young Alumnae Council.
The YAC’s purpose is to assist the Foundation in engaging and educating our sisters, specifically collegiate and recent
alumnae sisters, to the idea of consistent giving to our sisterhood though the AOII Foundation. YAC members are also
asked to represent the Foundation at AOII events and/or make presentations on the Foundation to collegiate chapters at
least twice a year.

Visit our website at www.aoiifoundation.org for the application and job description for these opportunities. The deadline
to apply for both of these volunteer opportunities is April 15. Please contact Jana Adkins at [email protected]
for questions about Foundation Ambassadors and Courtney Stafford at [email protected] in regards to the
Young Alumnae Council.

Commemorative AOII Badge

In October 2017, AOII Past International President, Carole Jurenko Jones, Alpha Delta
(U of Alabama) will begin a two-year term as chairman of the National Panhellenic
Conference. To recognize this milestone occasion, the AOII Executive Board and the AOII
Rituals, Traditions, and Jewelry Committee have approved the sale of a limited edition
emerald badge to recognize NPC’s signature green color. The badge will only be available
through October 2019 when Carole’s term as NPC Chairman ends.
The following options are available:
• 10K yellow gold or 10K white gold with alternating pearls and emeralds in the “O” and in

the corners of the “II” (plain or chased, $299)
• Sterling silver with alternating pearls and emeralds in the “O” and emeralds in the corners

of the “II” (plain or chased, $175)
This badge is considered a secondary badge only. It will be available for purchase by initiated members of AOII who are in
good standing. Initial orders placed before mid-May 2017 will be available for anyone attending Convention at the Herff
Jones Table. Orders for non-Convention attendees will be mailed to home addresses immediately following Convention.

To Order: Visit the Herff Jones website at: hjgreek.com. Then search for Alpha Omicron Pi.

Do you follow AOII? 6

Do you follow Alpha Omicron Pi on social media? Make sure to
follow us to keep up with exciting chapter information, Fraternity
News, events, programs, trainings, ELC travels and much more!
Check them all out by clicking the logos below.

Convention 2017 Information

1 - Registration Open! 1 2
3 4
Registration is now open to members of Council for International
Convention 2017! Do not forget to check out the Travel Guidelines and
the FAQs on the Convention page of AOII’s website and listed below. This
is a great opportunity to come celebrate with sisters, learn from the best
and be a part of the AOII event of the year! Stay tuned for registration
updates as attendee spaces will fill up fast! If you have any questions
regarding Convention 2017 email [email protected].

2 - Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to view a PDF and get all of your questions answered!

3 - Travel Guidelines For Chapter Presidents

All Collegiate Chapter Presidents must adhere to the Travel Guidelines to
be reimbused for travel to/from Washington, D.C. Please reference these when planning and booking travel.
Click here for a PDF copy of the Convention 2017 Collegiate Chapter President Guidelines.

4 - Travel Guidelines For International Volunteers

The travel for Convention 2017 will be paid for Past International Presidents, Executive Board Directors, Network
Directors, Network Specialists, National Panhellenic Conference Delegation, Standing Committee Chairmen and
Parliamentarian. In order to receive reimbursement, the Travel Guidelines must be followed.
Click here for a PDF copy of the Convention 2017 International Volunteer Guidelines.

2017 MLB Strike
Out Arthritis! Dates

The spring and summer Strike Out Arthritis! Los Angeles Angels April 8, 2017
schedule is officially set! Join AOII and your Philadelphia Phillies April 21, 2017
favorite team at the park this season! To purchase Colorado Rockies April 22, 2017
tickets for the games listed and all 30 MLB teams, Oakland Athletics April 22, 2017
check out our website! If you have questions Cincinnati Reds April 22, 2017
regarding these events and this initiative contact New York Mets April 22, 2017
the Assistant Director of Marketing & Events, Milwaukee Brewers April 23, 2017
Monica Grandorff at Minnesota Twins May 2, 2017
[email protected]. Atlanta Braves June 10, 2017
Chicago White Sox June 25, 2017
7 Seattle Mariners July 22, 2017

Volunteering for AOII

The Human Resources Committee always accepts volunteer applications. To speak to a member of the HRC team
about which position is right for you, please email [email protected]. To complete a volunteer application, visit
alphaomicronpi.org/volunteer-opportunities1 and click on the link at the bottom of the page.
The positions listed here are currently open - HRC is actively recruiting to fill these vacancies:

Standing Committees
AOII Properties Board - two terms beginning July 1, 2017
NPC Delegation - three terms beginning July 1, 2017
Public Relations Committee Member
Network 1
No Vacancies
Network 2
No Vacancies
Network 3
No Vacancies
Network 4
No Vacancies
Network 5
Network Specialist-Finance
Network 6
No Vacancies
Network 7
Network Specialist-Development, Troy U *New Colony Fall 2017* (Effective 7/1/2017)
Network 8
Network Specialist-Development, Alpha Rho (Oregon State U) (Effective 5/1/2017)

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AOII & the Arthritis
Foundation Honor
50 Years Together

Throughout 2017, AOII will celebrate our 50-year partnership with the Arthritis
Foundation in several ways! One of the many areas of collaboration includes participation
in both signature events sponsored annually by the Arthritis Foundation. Walk To Cure
Arthritis (WTCA) events are held each spring with Jingle Bell Run (JBR) events are
typically held in November and December. WTCA teams are forming now!
WTCA is the Arthritis Foundation’s annual community fundraising 5K walk event. The
funds raised from the 5K support their nonprofit mission and research aimed at finding
a cure for arthritis – America’s leading cause of disability. Most local WTCA events
occur in May, but some start earlier in the spring. Whether you walk to show your AOII
commitment, have a loved one who suffers from arthritis, or are looking for a walking or
running event for physical fitness, these family and pet-friendly WTCA events are great
ways to get moving in support of a worthwhile cause!

How to Get Involved:

WTCA event sign-ups are happening now! Go to http://www.arthritis.org/get-involved/
walk-to-cure-arthritis/ to find a walk near you, or give through Team AOII National by
clicking the “Find A Team” box and type in Team AOII National.

Honor AOII’s and the Arthritis Foundation’s 50th Anniversary!

It does not cost anything to register for a WTCA event because fundraising is the primary
source of revenue. To honor our 50th, we are encouraging every WTCA participant to
raise at least $50 for the cause. Your registration provides you an online donor page with
easy ways to send personal emails. Ask 5 people for $10 or 10 people for $5, or make it easy
and ask 1 person for $50. Whatever way you choose, we thank you for stepping up and
becoming a Champion Of Yes!

TJoeoiaunrm!

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AOII Suitcase Diaries

by Educational Leadership Consultant Tanasia Jackson, Kappa Kappa (Ball State U)
“What is the hardest part about being an ELC?”
I’m asked this question everywhere I go, and honestly, my answer changes almost every time. Sometimes it’s
living out of two suitcases, other times it’s the early morning flights. Being an Educational Leadership Consultant
for your Fraternity has its ups, downs, highs and lows. It’s filled with laughs, tears, hellos and goodbyes. You
become familiar with the unfamiliar and comfortable with the uncomfortable.
So, if I answer wholeheartedly, when someone asks me, “What is the hardest part about being an ELC?” I also
end up answering, “What is the best part about being an ELC?”
Finding a home everywhere you go.
By the time my ELC experience ends, I will have explored 15 states, visited 17 chapters, flown in and out of 26
different airports, and encountered close to 2,000 AOIIs. In each of those numbers, I found the one thing that an
ELC lives without each semester—a home.
From the hilarious Lambda Lambda Chapter at the University of Connecticut that I had the privilege of helping
colonize, to the beautifully sincere Chi Psi Chapter at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo,
who ate candy with me on Valentine’s Day, and the in between at Iota Sigma, our Iowa State University chapter
where more than 100 women welcomed me into my 23rd year on earth; I have a home.
I have been welcomed by countless smiles, hugs, open hearts and a lot of snacks. I have built relationships with
women who aspire to be something great and impact the world in small and big ways. I have spent a year of my

life leaving my heart in places from coast to coast.
So, in the future when someone asks me, “What was the hardest part about being
an ELC?” I’ll also end up answering, “What was the best part about being an
ELC?”
It was finding a home in 17 places scattered from Connecticut to California

and leaving some of the most amazing women
I’ve ever met. But I’d like to say those weren’t
goodbyes at all, because everyone always finds
their way back home at one point or another.

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AOII Suitcase Diaries

by Educational Leadership Consultant Ankita Naik, Rho Beta (Virginia Commonwealth U)
When I began this journey of a lifetime with my teammates by my side in
Nashville, I never knew I would learn this much from being an Educational
Leadership Consultant for AOII. As I write this from the chapter house at the
University of Michigan where I have spent the majority of the semester working
with one of AOII’s newest chapters, I can’t help but to reflect on my time as an ELC
and have an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love. In the fall, I traveled to 13
collegiate chapters and had the opportunity to help start a brand new collegiate
chapter at Missouri State University. This semester, I was a resident consultant at
the University of Michigan and traveled to six other collegiate chapters. This job is
unlike any other job and my hope is that I can provide a glimpse into this journey as
an Educational Leadership Consultant.

Working as an Educational Leadership Consultant for AOII is inspiring.
Oftentimes, I am asked why I wanted to be an ELC and my answer is the same every
single time. I wanted to be an ELC because I wanted to inspire my collegiate sisters
and share the AOII experience with every AOII sister I met. I’ve had the opportunity
to meet fearless leaders in the fraternity and sorority profession, intelligent and
successful AOII alumnae, and driven collegiate women. Let me tell y’all, our AOII
sisters are doing amazing things in this world. Our leaders are working tirelessly
with passion and grit. What a privilege is it to work with intelligent women, fearless
leaders, creative geniuses, and driven AOII sisters!
Little did I know, though, the people that I crossed paths with throughout this
journey would in turn inspire me. Every chapter I visited taught me something new
and inspires me in ways I never knew was possible. At Gamma Delta (U of South
Alabama), I learned the power of love, hospitality and sincere kindness. At Beta
Tau (U of Toronto), I learned the beauty of a larger-than-life and fun attitude. Gamma Delta and Beta Tau - I am
forever grateful, blessed, and a better person because our paths crossed.

Working as an Educational Leadership Consultant for AOII is fulfilling.
In the fall, I had the opportunity to help start a new collegiate chapter at Missouri State University. I was only
able to spend three weeks in Springfield, Missouri with my fellow teammates Alicia and Ali, but knowing I had
the honor to help recruit such devoted and genuine women and having the opportunity to watch them grow
through the AOII experience is so fulfilling.
After I left Missouri State, I was scared to be on my own for the rest of the semester traveling to different
chapters. However, between the traveling, relationship building, networking and working independently, I found
that my life was being enriched through my travels, the women I met, and my growing network. I have been
able to travel to 12 different states, been welcomed with open arms by alumnae, realized the power in lifetime
membership from advisors, and learned from inspiring leaders in the fraternity and sorority community.

Working as an Educational Leadership Consultant for AOII has introduced me to my best friends.
My ELC team is my serendipity. I wasn’t looking for them; I wasn’t expecting them. But I found what I have been
unconsciously looking for. They know my quirks, they can determine when I need to be left alone, they can tell

11when I need someone to listen to me, and they continue to inspire me each day. In just two short weeks, I know

TheI will be leaving Nashville with some of my best and truest friends. No matter where this life takes us and the
number of miles between us, the bonds and memories will last a lifetime -something I will always treasure.
Working as an Educational Leadership Consultant for AOII is challenging.
On July 17, 2016, I left my hometown in Virginia with 2 suitcases, a full heart and a sense of not knowing
what the next nine months of my life would look like. I was nervous to be away from my supportive family,
my generous best friends, and my beautiful hometown. I had never been alone, away from my family, for an
extended period. So, the thought of traveling for 5 months alone was daunting. Being an ELC forces you to break
out of your comfort zone multiple times a day. Through this, I have learned to advocate for myself. I’ve learned
so much about myself through this journey. When my boss, Kaya, was in the process of interviewing candidates
for the new ELC team, I asked what she was looking for in the candidates. Her answer was simple and true –
resilience and persistence. I’ve learned where my breaking point is – I am okay with being vulnerable and honest
with my feelings. Not every day is great, but I’ve embraced the challenge. There are days where I will just pick up
the phone and call my best friend and chapter sister, Jessica, who gives me the courage to face the unknown, or I
FaceTime my supportive family that will always listen for hours as I talk about my day. I am now encouraged to
find comfort in being in unfamiliar situations. Thank you for allowing me to be vulnerable and honest with you
all – this journey would not have been the same without my incredible support system.
Working as an Educational Leadership Consultant for AOII is life-
changing.
This job has changed my life. I have learned so much about myself.
I’ve laughed and cried, I’ve been stressed and challenged, and I’ve been
inspired and empowered. I have learned to be a better friend, sister,
and mentor. I have found that AOII, wherever you may go, will always
be there waiting for you with open arms. I have learned the beauty
of the AOII experience. AOII, you have inspired me and shown me
the power of sisterhood and lifelong friendships. I love to love AOII
and for that I am grateful for the opportunity to have served as an
Educational Leadership Consultant for my beloved Fraternity.
Thank you AOII sisters, for welcoming me into your sisterhoods
and lives. Thank you to our fearless and selfless leader, Kaya Miller,
for bringing Cycle 7 together and for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Thank you to my friends and family that have supported me on my
journey. And thank you, God, for allowing me to face my dreams
with strength and courage.

Piper
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