The Jade Times

By Christine” ECKO” Ho, Staff Writer

The Founding Mothers

Who remembers their first DPhiL anniversary in the sorority? Who remembers what they were doing as the clock struck midnight on December5^th of whatever year you crossed? For the older girls, I found that a majority of the older sisters don’t remember the exact moment of their first anniversary, or cannot even recall what they really did on the exact day. But it’s the memories throughout the years, what you might have done a random year for the anniversary. Maybe it did not involve the entire chapter — maybe it just includes you and your line sister, reminiscing about the old days as Jennifer “Paris” Lee and Tran “Phoenix” Nguyen from Georgia State University did.

“During one anniversary, me and my line sister Tran went to RuSan’s just to chat and reminisce. We ended up crying over how old we’ve gotten, and the things that we’ve shared over the years,” Lee said.

This intimate moment is an example of the sisterhood that we share and continue to share over the years. While we recall the past, however, many sisters also look towards the future. When asked where they would like the sorority to be on our  25^th anniversary, Linh “Artistry” Huynh from Grand Valley State University, who just crossed, answered that she wants “at least half of our chapters in active status, as well as more than double the number of chapters.”

A sister that crossed in Spring 2008 at Emory University, Melissa “Solaris” Duong, also stated that she wants to be “celebrating being the largest Asian-interest sorority that is internationally recognized.”

On another end, Rosalie “Micro” Zoleta, a sister from DePaul University, said that she wants “our sorority to be the closest in sisterhood by our 25^th anniversary. I care more that we are active sisters become closer and make a difference, than to expand across the nation.”

All of these goals are possible, and everyone in the sorority can make a difference. December 5^th is a time for our sorority to reflect nationwide, not only on the past, present and future, but about ourselves, and where we will be. This year, where were you? On December 5^th , what have you done to enrich your own life and your sisters’ lives? How has the sorority changed you, and how has your leadership affected the sorority? These are only a few of the questions that we find ourselves asking as we look back on our recently passed founding date.

Finally, founder Anh “Doc” Nguyen shares her thoughts for our 12^th anniversary:

“Twelve years ago on December 5, 1998, I had the privilege of starting a wonderful journey with six other Sisters. YOU ALL have the strength, patience and the passion to continue the founder’s dream to make a difference in this ever changing world. The credit belongs to those who have followed in the founders’ footsteps and continued the legacy of this great organization. Those who strive valiantly, with great enthusiasm, devotion and generously give a part of themselves to such a worthy cause should be commended for enriching this organization. Delta Phi Lambda is a better organization because of all the Sisters: past, present and future. At our best, we know the triumph of high achievement. At our worst, we give others the opportunity to exploit our weakness. United, we are unstoppable.”

Let us take these words to heart, and become truly united in our goal and in our sisterhood.

 Happy Anniversary, everyone! D-Phi-yeowL!

University of Georgia
Enduring Eight Psi Class
#116 Christina “ICON” Shin
#117 Stephanie “Dilemma” Pham
#118 Jennifer “Début” Nguyen
#119 Katie “Premise” Ku
#120 Jaleesa “Aspire” Reed
#121 Catherine “Adrenaline” Im
#122 Brenda “Hachiko” Phang
#123 Andrea “Risqué” King

University of Cincinnati
Nu Class
#43 Shirley “Leilani” Yip
#44 Weily “Raijini” Shay
#45 Katy “Java” Ngo

Georgia State University
Fancy Five Mu Class
#45 Nafisa “Miami” Kabir
#46 Ging Chananya “Ambiance” Peinpicharana
#47 Karen “Kryptonite” Ly
#48 Jenalyn “Tigress” Wright
#49 Patty “Psky-line” Park

DePaul University
Fly Five Omicron Class
#53 Jessica “kira” Kath
#54 Michelle “Cobalt” Chong
#55 Joyce “Aloha” Zhai
#56 Lolida “Aeolles” Boldbaatar
#57 Crystal “Chaaya” Watson

Emory University
Fearless Five Nu Class
#58 Mary “Colette” Nguyen
#59 Lisa “Angel” Li
#60 Susan “Aura” Nguyen
#61 Jenny “elaira” Qiao
#62 Sydnie “V0RTEX” Schneider

Georgia Institute of Technology
Thriving Three Zeta Class
#21 Vanessa “Raize” Nguyen
#22 Christal “Odyzzey” Sengkhamphong
#23 Karen “Murrina” Cheng

Purdue University
Omicron Class
#52 Maryam “Serenade” Rusli
#53 Icha “Twirl” Rambli

Loyola University Chicago
Serene Six Mu Class 
#42 Van “Aeriley” Nguyen
#43 Sherry “Atari” Tiaokhiaoa
#44 Pat “Kumiko” Wongwiwat
#45 Karen “reveaL” Wong
#46 Tiffany “Gia” Yi
#47 Marcella “Versus” Perez

Grand Valley State University
Faithful Five Beta Class
#19 Linh “Artistry” Huynh
#20 Victoria “Fae” Sun
#21 Melissa “Tahla” Ok
#22 Kelly “Emerald” Nguyen
#23 Christine “Evoke” Vo

University of West Florida
Shining Seven Alpha Class
#09 Jeanette “Fraîche” Agagas
#10 Thao “Volé” Nguyen
#11 Roci “Vivas” Tia
#12 Thuy Hang “Ceria” Do
#13 Alexia “Melia” Blastos
#14 Laura “Vibe” Wermers
#15 Sharlene “Syrena” San Nicolas

In the October 2010 edition of The Jade Times, Lillie “Ivory” Madali demonstrated how sisters could turn their standards into tote bags.

Now’s your chance to win this bag! All you have to do is comment on any of the December articles on the blog to enter!

Please be sure to include your name and e-mail so that we can contact you if you win!

The lucky sister will be announced in the January 2011 edition of The Jade Times.

By Oanhie “Shinsen” Pham, Copy Editor

While giving DIY gifts may not always mean a big difference for your wallet, it can be almost certain that they’ll be unique and more meaningful than what can be bought easily in stores. Below are a few gift ideas to help you get started. Depending on how creative you’re feeling, these gifts may require more than a few hours, so be sure to give yourself enough time to get those creative juices flowing.

CUSTOMIZED SHOES
Feeling creative? Buy some canvas (or similar fabrics that won’t be hard to work on) shoes and waterproof markers, fabric pens and/or waterproof paints (such as acrylics). You can also try permanent markers, but some say designs will fade away. To avoid making a mess or unwanted designs, try to draw out your designs on a sheet of paper. There are many designs you can create on the shoes, but remember that the person receiving these customized shoes will want to wear them out in public. So be creative, but with the wearer in mind.

For inspiration, check out this video tutorial by ‘Bobsmade,’ a German clothing line that customizes shoes, bags and clothes using artwork inspired by cartoons.

TIE-DYE SCARVES
Gaoli “Chamomile” Moua, staff writer and copy editor for “The Jade Times,” wrote about the versatility of scarves in her article. You can take an ordinary scarf a step further by tie-dying it with vibrant hues and patterns. Create different patterns of swirls, circles and splashes of colors using techniques found on websites such as www.howtotiedye.org. It is recommended that cotton, linen, silk or a naturally woven fabric be used to get the best results.

GREETING CARDS
With the connections to technology, software and people we all have these days, there are many ways to customize holiday greeting cards than buying pre-made ones at the store. Have a close friend that can help you take your photos, or take photos yourself of scenery or objects. Create a greeting card template on your computer. Add in your photo(s) and a customized message and the cards are ready to be printed! Have them printed on card-stock paper or photo paper to make them sturdy.

ORNAMENTS

If you know how to knit, why not knit some holiday ornaments for a friend or relative? Create yarn ornament balls and other decorations to put up in trees. Click here for instructions from Canadian Living.

If you’re not up for knitting, you may purchase a few glass or plastic clear or light-colored balls (some can open up to include a small decoration or photo inside). They can be bought inexpensively at Michael’s, Target, etc. For instance, around this time of year, the dollar section of Target usually carries a set of four medium-sized silver balls for only $1. Use beads, sequins and ribbons to create beautiful ornaments out of them!

PHOTO FRAMES
It’s time to get crafty with photo frames! Picture frames can be metal, plastic, wood, etc. Purchase one (or more) frames to decorate and add in a photo! Frames can be purchased for very cheap at dollar stores and crafts stores. The decorations don’t have to be holiday-related. It can be adorned with embellishments you know the receiver will enjoy or find whimsical.

2011 CALENDAR
It’s fairly simple. Find a photo you like (maybe of family or something that relates to the person receiving your gift) and add the 2011 calendar on the same page as the picture. You can find yearly calendar templates online for a small cost or even for free. The size of the paper is up to you. The calendar can be as elaborate as you want it to be. You can have different photos for it, bind it, laminate it, etc. Sometimes, you can find spiral-bound calendars with blank pages for adding your own photos at stores such as Target for only $1.

Photo credit:
http://GoodHousekeeping.com

by Huong “Theory” Van, Contributing Writer

I am on a quest to succeed and climb the corporate ladder. A part of it is because of my innate desire to achieve. Another reason is so I can say I lived a full life. Interwoven through all this is eventual financial security, should I succeed. And this will provide me with high self-esteem and happiness.

Financial security, self-esteem and happiness. Wouldn’t anybody want that? While my career path may be different than yours, there are some key elements that transcend specific job titles that can help you achieve your goals — not only at your job, but even in your personal life.

This article will focus on the art of negotiation as analyzed in the book, “Women Don’t Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide” by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever. In the eye-opening book, I gained an understanding of where women stand in the workplace as a result of perpetuating circumstances and expectations in our society. Although we do not have much control over our marginalization, the authors provide tools and techniques to overcome common, yet oft overlooked or unrealized obstacles to provide more parity in the workplace.

We acknowledge that there are obvious wage gaps between men and women. For every $1 a man earns, a woman makes $0.76 for equal work.

There are several complex reasons for this, social expectations and perceptions being one of them, but for the purpose of this article, I will focus on how women can use negotiation to close the gap. Also, it is up to us to be conscious of how we are affected and what we can do to obtain the happiness, self-esteem and financial stability that we deserve.

For those of you who have already experienced a job offer, how did you accept that offer? Did you: A.) accept the offer salary at face value, or, B.) negotiate for a higher salary before you accepted the offer?

If you chose A, you, like me, never knew that salaries were negotiable. Well, salaries are absolutely negotiable and employers are even expecting you to negotiate for more.

However, if you chose B, you are one smart cookie. Studies show that your single decision would create a life time difference of $570,000. Don’t believe me? Let’s take a look at the numbers as seen in the book.

“Suppose that at age 22 an equally qualified man and woman receive job offers for $25,000 a year. The man negotiates and gets his offer raised to $30,000. The woman does not negotiate and accepts the job for $25,000. Even if each of them receives identical 3 percent raises every year throughout their careers (which is unlikely, given their different propensity to negotiate and other research showing that women’s achievements tend to be under-valued), by the time they reach age 60 the gap between their salaries will have widened to more than $15,000 a year, with the man earning $92,243 and the woman only $76,870. While that may not seem like an enormous spread, remember that the man will have been making more all along, with his extra earnings over the 38 years totaling $361,171. If the man had simply banked the difference every year in a savings account earning 3 percent interest, by age 60 he would have $568,834 more than the woman—enough to underwrite a comfortable retirement nest egg, purchase a second home, or pay for the college education of a few children.”

Again, this half-a-million dollar increase is based off one decision. Imagine if you continually asked for the raise that you deserve throughout your lifetime. Studies show that “a woman who routinely negotiates her salary increases will earn over one million dollars more by the time she retires than a woman who accepts what she’s offered every time without asking for more.”

One of the main problems identified in why inequity exists between men and women is that we don’t ask! We have been raised not to ask for things — that it’s not our place to ask. We may not even be aware that we can ask for more or that we are worth more.

“Because parents see infrequent tasks as ones that call for payment, they are not likely to pay a daughter, for example, for washing the dishes, but they will pay a son for washing the family car.”

“Children have reason to think that boys labor for payment, while girls labor ‘for love.’”

As a result of this early training, many women struggle when they must assign a value to their work.

Also, we are afraid for a lot of reasons since negotiating is unnatural for us. We don’t ask for more because we are afraid we will mess up a relationship with our boss. We don’t ask for what we deserve because we are afraid we will lose respect or credibility. Better yet, we hope our bosses do the right thing and recognized our hard work by giving us raises. This rarely happens.

The book recognizes that men are more successful using more direct approaches in negotiation while women are punished for imitating. Think of the tough, straight-talking, man. Now transfer those traits to a woman. He would be looked up to and admired as a boss and she would be looked down on and labeled as a b****.

To compensate for this, the book offers a socially acceptable tactic — use our strength of being collaborators to get us what we want. Rather than merely imitating men (which often doesn’t work), women can learn to ask as women. The book also offers some self-management techniques to overcome negotiating anxiety which will help provide you control of the negotiating process and will help you translate knowledge to action.

For more information visit:

womendontask.com
http://heinz.cmu.edu/progress

Or just buy or check out the book!

Photo Credit:
http://press.princeton.edu/titles/7575.html

By May “Mosaic” Advincula, Editor-in-chief

Social media has evolved the way we interact with one another, and whether on a personal or business level, the fact remains that more people are turning to social networks as a means to communicate.

Professional networking is an important facet of any successful career. Whether it is to find mentors, connect with other professionals, or to search for a job, social media, when used effectively, can enhance traditional networking methods.

Here are some ways that you can use social networking to build and maintain connections that can eventually help you along in your career endeavors.

LinkedIn, a business-oriented networking site, allows you to connect with other professionals in your field. Think of your profile as an online resumé and make sure that it is up-to-date to reflect all your experiences and skills such as previous jobs, internships, and your college extracurricular activities. To make your profile even stronger, reach out to others who have worked with you and ask them to provide recommendations on work you have done in the past.

Connect with other professionals in your field by joining groups and introducing yourself to others in-person just as you would at a networking event. LinkedIn is also a great place to find current information and best practices in your industry of interest. The more engagement you have with others, the better off you’ll be in keeping up-to-date with top of mind issues while also building your network.

Another popular social network, Twitter, is not just an outlet to express yourself in 140 characters or less. If you’re in the job market, Twitter can be utilized as a resource in your search. Many companies have a designated Twitter account that lists available positions. Like LinkedIn groups, you can utilize Twitter to find articles and other content that will enrich your knowledge about topics that may interest you. The key to effective use is to research, follow those profiles that provide valuable content, and engage in conversation when appropriate. And the key to effective social networking in general is, well, being social.

While you can use social networking to build and maintain professional relationships, always remember that first impressions are important. Think of all your social networking profiles as a representation of your personal brand.
If someone you didn’t know looked at the information you decide to display, what kind of impression would you leave?

Many people have a false sense of security when it comes to the type of information that they share online. Though the Internet is a vast space, you have to keep in mind, that anything you put out there has the potential to be searched and found. If there are some things that you do not want your employer, coworkers, or potential employers to see, make certain items in your profile private, or simply just watch what you put out there because you never know who might be looking.

A golden rule of thumb: Think before you Tweet.

By Emilia “Lavender” Liem, Copy Editor

Wintery conditions often mean bad traffic. What better excuse to stay indoors than to avoid sitting in a car for hours on the highway?

Snow, and especially ice, can be dangerous foes in the winter months. Unless one grew up shoveling snow 10 feet deep out of the driveway, people can be ill-prepared for slick ice, freezing rain, sleet, snow or slush. According to safemotorist.com, the three basic rules you must follow when it comes to driving in winter conditions are: be alert, slow down and stay in control. Here are some tips on how to safeguard your car and maneuver yourself safely while driving this winter.

1.Stay at home if possible. Do you really need to pay a visit to the mall? Do you have to get the latest “Call of Duty”? Think of it this way: is it worth risking your life to venture out to do whatever it is you need or want to do? It may sound overdramatic, but driving on ice is definitely a gamble.

2.Maintain your car. Take it to a mechanic to make sure everything is in working order and that your car is ready for the colder weather. Have the mechanic check everything, from the battery to the windshield wipers. Check your tires to make sure the tread depth is still OK. To do this, place a penny in the tread so Lincoln is upside down. If you can see the top of his head, it may be time to get new tires.

3.Put together a car emergency kit. The kit should contain a first-aid kit, batteries, a flashlight, a blanket, non-perishable food items such as granola bars or trail mix, flares, an AM/FM radio, bottles of water, jumper cables and a simple tool kit. For the winter, you should add kitty litter (you can pour it on the ground and to create traction for your tires), ice scraper, windshield de-icer, a snow shovel, extra blankets, clothes and, if possible, chains to put on your tires.

4.Make sure you can fully see out of your windows. To defrost your windows, turn your car engine on and run the car for a few minutes, turning on the defroster option in the car. Use an ice scraper and a windshield de-icer to speed up the process. This is a chemical spray that dissolves ice quickly.

5.Remember to turn on your headlights. It sounds silly, but drivers will often forget to turn on their lights because it’s not raining or foggy. But if the lights aren’t on, other drivers will not be able to see you. Make sure both your headlights and taillights are in working condition before driving.

6.Be conscientious of your driving. Be alert and never drive when you are tired. Do not follow the driver in front of you too closely. Brake earlier and also brake gentler than you are used to, since the roads are slippery – the same goes for accelerating. Be gentle with the steering wheel, too – no sudden or jerky movements. Avoid using cruise control, because you will need to react instantly if needed. Cruise control can often cause drivers to be more distracted since there’s no need to monitor speed.

7.Watch for icy areas. Spots that don’t get a lot of sun, bridges and sometimes intersections are susceptible to ice. Drive with caution through these areas. Be especially cautious of “black ice” – these slick patches of ice can often look like a harmless puddle.

If all else fails, drive as if the entire road was covered in ice. You may receive honks and rude stares for driving at a turtle’s pace, but it’s your life in your own hands. Be safe, smart and alert this winter and drive carefully!

Sources:
http://www.safemotorist.com/articles/winter_driving.aspx
http://www.suite101.com/content/snow-driving-and-ice-driving-a180947

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/safety/articles/124638/article.html

Photo credit
www.ridelust.com

By May “Mosaic” Advincula, Editor-in-chief

Wilma "Louvre" Miranda, Vice President of Records

Wilma “Louvre” Miranda is an alumna from the Charter class of the Epsilon Chapter at the University of Central Florida. In addition to being a freelance web and graphic designer, she serves as the Vice President of Records and Webmistress for National Board.

Miranda’s responsibilities involve the maintenance of sorority records including tracking a chapter’s performance through aspirations, managing sorority documents and history, and recording minutes of conference calls and meetings. As webmistress she maintains the national website and provides graphic and website assistance to chapters.

In this Q&A, Miranda speaks about her role in preserving sorority history and how she hopes to offer her skills and abilities to help the sorority continue to grow.

What inspired you to be involved with National Board?
“Being a charter, I’ve always had a strong drive to continually help the sorority grow and evolve to the best it can be. After graduating, I felt that joining National Board was the best way to stay involved. With my passion for graphic and web design, I offered my knowledge and skills to increase our sorority’s online presence by becoming the National Webmistress. After several years, I stepped up to the position of Vice President of Records to further the growth and mission of our sorority.”

What has helped prepare you to handle the responsibilities of your position?
“My experience for both positions goes hand in hand. Throughout my undergraduate years and since graduating, I’m constantly expanding my knowledge and improving myself. Being meticulous and organized with my work allows me to perform at my best. Also, working in various environments and with many types of people and personalities, both in college and the corporate world, has helped me to be a better leader, team player, and overall a better person.”

What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of your position?
“Being able to share my knowledge, whether it be on a personal or professional level. Also, meeting and connecting with sisters throughout the country.”

What do you find to be most challenging aspect of your position?
“Documenting our history. Nowadays it’s easier to be able to keep track of events, documents, and other significant changes since we live in such a technologically advanced day and age where almost everything is available through just a click of a button.”

Who/What is your inspiration?
“All sisters, past and present, who have given and currently give their time and efforts towards continually building upon our sisterhood. The passion that we all share is what adds to my own passion to continue to do the work that I do.”

What do you hope to accomplish in your term?
“To archive and document important sorority history, on national and chapter levels, using an efficient and sustainable digital system through gathering research.”

What advice would you give sisters who aspire to be a part of NB one day?
“Keep educating yourself. Not just on an educational level, but also a personal level. With society constantly changing, there’s always something new to be learned. Every day offers a new learning experience that adds to the overall richness of life.”