Six new members!

Congratulations to:

Elana Bode
Molly Hancock
Emily Koemeter-Cox
Danielle Nase
Brooke Ruhl
Dani Wysocki

The Nu class at the Beta Alpha chapter of University of Maryland, inducted November 23rd, 2009!

Membership Candidate Interviews!

Today was our last day of rush! Congratulations to everybody who was offered an interview. Interviews will be held on Tuesday, September 22nd around 5pm (individual interviews scheduled with Sara). Dress is professional. There is no test, just think on a few things that you think would make you an asset to our sorority. And good luck!

Sigma Alpha Information

WHO WE ARE

Sigma Alpha is a professional sorority dedicated to excellence in women pursuing careers in agriculture. The UMD chapter (Beta Alpha chapter) was founded in 2003 and is very active. Sisters participate in professional development workshops, network with industry professionals, participate in philanthropy projects, and build lasting friendships by just having fun! New sisters are welcomed every semester.

WHO WE RECRUIT

Sigma Alpha is open to any undergraduate student with a sincere interest in agriculture. Our group seeks enthusiastic and motivated women looking for others who share their passion. Sisters are expected to be active members and make the sorority a top priority.

REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

To join Sigma Alpha, you must:

• Have a sincere interest in agriculture
  
• Be an undergraduate student
  
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5
  
• Be a member of another organization or work 20+ hours per week

Sisters are expected to:

• Attend weekly meetings (currently on Monday evenings)
  
• Attend some weekend events
  
• Work independently and with others outside of meetings to get things done
  
• Make the sorority a top priority

New members pay a one-time activation fee of $160 at the time of activation. After activation, dues of $120 per sister are collected each fall. Payment plans are available for sisters that cannot pay their dues in one installment.

THE DO'S AND DONT'S OF SIGMA ALPHA

• We DO treat all sisters with kindness and respect. We DON'T participate in hazing of any sort.
  
• We DO hang out as friends outside of sorority time, but we DON'T allow consumption of alcohol at any sorority event.
  
• We DO help each other out with school work, but we DON'T provide tutoring.
  
• We DO enforce attendance.
  
• We DO encourage sisters to be members in other organizations, but we DON'T allow sisters to join a social sorority.

WHAT WE DO
Past and present events and projects include:

• Learning how to interview, dress for the work world, and prepare a resume
  
• Attending local and national conferences
  
• Meeting and networking with industry professionals
  
• Raising money to support charities like Heifer International and others
  
• Assembling care packages and writing letters to military families
  
• Cleaning up Paint Branch Stream
  
• Ag Day Kiss-A-Pig Competition
  
• Hosting Mary Kay parties, going out to lunch, and having sleepovers
  
• Camping and visiting places like Harpers Ferry
  
• Attending mud bogs, shooting trap, driving tractors, and getting our hands dirty!

As always, if you have any questions, contact the rush chair, Sarah, at meagher@umd.edu

Fall 2009 Rush!

Hello everybody! If you are interested in Sigma Alpha at the University of Maryland, you've come to the right place! The sorority is a great place to meet women with similar interests, and make some great friends. To Rush for the sorority, you must attend two of the Rush events. Then, if you are still interested in joining you will do an interview with the sisters of the sorority. After that, if you are accepted, you go through a Membership Candidate process where you learn more about the sorority, it's objectives, vision, etc. Each Rush class does a volunteer event, a fundraiser event, and a social event with the Rush class. This gives you time to decide if you like the sorority and to get to know the women in it.

The Rush schedule is as follows:

• Tuesday, September 8th at 6:30 pm - Ice Cream Party at the Campus Farm
  Meet at the campus farm where you will get a tour and have an Ice Cream party!
  
  
• Thursday, September 10th at 6:30 pm - Alpha Gamma Rho cookout
  Come meet the men in the Agriculture fraternity and get some free food!
  7511 Princeton Avenue
  
  
• Sunday, September 13th at 2:00 pm - Founder's Day Celebration
  Meet some of the Sigma Alpha Alumni on the weekend of our chapter foundation anniversary
  8400 Potomac Avenue
  
  
• Tuesday, September 15th at 5:30 pm - Service Event to Benefit Military Families
  Join us in this service event in Animal Science room 0408
  
  
• Wednesday, September 16th at 5:15 pm - Dairy Farm
  Visit the UMD Dairy Farm! Meet at the campus farm to carpool from there

The Rushes are NOT required to bring any food, money, etc to the events. This is on us! We want to show you what a great sorority Sigma Alpha is!

Save the Date:
The Interviews will probably be scheduled for Tuesday, September 22nd, so keep that in mind as you are making your plans.

Also check out the National Sigma Alpha website.

If you have any questions you can email Sara Meagher, the Rush Chair, at meagher@umd.edu.

Coming up:
Who We Are and Who We Recruit
Requirements & Expectations of Sigma Alpha women
The Do's and Don'ts of Sigma Alpha