The Jade Times

The Zeta Tau Alpha Headquarters was one of the groups kind enough to host our meeting.  ZTA was founded in 1898, exactly 100 years before Delta Phi Lambda.  Not unlike us, ZTA started out with just a few members on a campus with a dream to make the lives of young collegians better, to improve the college experience, and forge the bonds of sisterhood with a home away from home. Looking at the old photos, memorabilia, and chapter roll books in their archives, it was hard to not be inspired and contemplate what a beautiful Delta Phi Lambda Headquarters Office might look like someday.

2011-2012 National Board

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

As sisters of Delta Phi Lambda, we are instilled with the seven virtues of loyalty, honesty, respect, dedication, integrity, discipline, and academic excellence and vow to execute them in every endeavor the sorority undertakes.

Ideally, the embodiment of our virtues should extend beyond our sorority activities and should be something that we exemplify in everything that we do from personal to professional. In reflecting about my own summer seven list, I realized that much of what I do or aspire to do can be represented by a virtue.

It is my hope that my list, as well as the lists from my fellow staff members, provides you with new perspective and allows you to find various ways that you can demonstrate the virtues in your routine.

Loyalty: Sisterhood is everlasting.

Once a sister, always a sister. When your priorities naturally shift, it’s easy to lose touch with your chapter and sorority events. However, if you make an effort, there are ways that you can make sure that you are still in the loop.

Social networking provides so many opportunities to keep in touch with sisters from your chapter and across the nation, so this summer when you sign online, take the time to organize an event and get your sisters together. Whether it’s a lunch or dinner, group activity, taking the time to meet up does wonders in sustaining relationships.

For those sisters who are too far away to meet up with, send them a message and say hello. After all, you’re only one post/tweet away.

Honesty: Twelve Commandments

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin explores a woman’s journey to find happiness in her life. As part of her project, Rubin pledges to make resolutions and to keep them throughout the entire year. Since resolutions often have a tendency to fizzle, the author takes a step back and first creates a list of overarching principles, as she dubs her“Twelve Commandments,” that allow her to keep her resolutions in perspective.

She also creates another list, “Secrets of Adulthood” which summarizes much of the things she has learned in her lifetime.

This summer, take the time to reflect on your personal commandments and your personal life lessons. What are some of the values that are important to you? What do you need to improve on? What do you enjoy?

Check out Gretchen Rubin’s list here to get some ideas for your own list.

Respect: Find a mentor.

It’s always important to respect the work of people who have come before you. Whether it is the work of older sisters at your chapter or senior-level professionals in the workplace, it is important to respect the work they have done to get to where they are today. A great way to acknowledge and leverage their expertise is by establishing a mentor/mentee relationship.

Learning is key to success, and so is networking, so reach out to someone you admire and take the time to learn about their experiences and ask for their advice.

Dedication: Practice makes perfect.

Whether it’s nurturing a talent such as playing an instrument, singing, playing a sport or a hobby, sticking with an activity on a frequent basis provides a sense of personal accomplishment and enjoyment.

Reserve 15 to 30 minutes of your day everyday to one activity that you enjoy.

Integrity: Golden Rule

Treating others the way you want to be treated may sound grade-school, but this simple truth often goes neglected; one small rude moment can damper anyone’s day.

The next time you’re out and about remember simple manners and be courteous to others. Include a smile and you are sure to brighten someone’s day.

Discipline: Mind over matter.

Physical activity is an important facet of a healthy lifestyle. This summer, aim do something outdoors. Whether it is running, biking, swimming, or joining a fitness camp, there are a multitude of activities to get your blood pumping.

Though the thought of exercise can often be intimidatingespecially when it is not part of your routine, finding and activity you enjoy increases the chances of getting your mind out of the grumble.

Academic Excellence: Never stop learning.

Learning something new can help you break away from a monotonous routine and can offer you stimulating challenges that can enhance your skills and perspective. Whether it’s learning a new language, skill, or subject, find something unfamiliar and take the time to learn more about it.

You never know when your newly acquired skills will come in handy. Not to mention, it’s a great stride in personal development.

By: Oanhie “Shinsen” Pham, Copy Editor & Staff Writer

Loyalty

We may be a world of many nations, but we still are all inhabitants of the same place. We all share our home with one another, yet we don’t seem to embrace all that Mother Nature has given to us. We use and abuse our resources. This summer, I challenge us to be loyal to our beautiful home, Earth. The U.S. produces 40 percent of the world’s waste at 1,609 pounds per person per year, according to www.recycling-revolution.com. We don’t realize it, but a lot of garbage we throw out doesn’t really belong in the landfill. Hershey’s Kisses wrappers are recyclable. Same with motor oil. The National Recycling Coalition states that in 2000, nearly 70 million tons of materials are kept out of landfills and incinerators just by recycling and composting. Recycling also can reduce toxic emissions from polluting our air and water.

If you can help it, ride a bicycle to your destination. If you love gardening, share your enjoyment by helping a neighbor start a garden himself. Instead of just tossing things out left and right, try to separate as much garbage as you can from the recyclables. If you want to see how it impacts your environment, visit your local landfill and see if there are any tours available. Let’s show our planet love and kindness by doing our part to keep Earth a wonderful place to live in for many, many years to come.

Honesty

This is a small activity to reflect on.

Write a list of times in your past where you found yourself weighing the worth of honesty and explain why. What made you decide to be honest in a particular situation? Why did you feel the circumstance was made better because you weren’t so honest? Would you do the same thing if it happens again?

Respect

Itching to get artsy? Think of a design for a T-shirt or tank top that’s all about respect. You can either use T-shirt transfers (the ones you can design on the computer and print on), use pre-made iron-on words or work directly on your canvas. Whatever your design turns out to be, make sure the theme of “respect” is easy for people to guess. For example, you can have the word in big letters in the center of the shirt. In caption boxes around RESPECT, list ways that show respect. Examples include “Recycle,” “Love your parents” or “Aretha Franklin” (or even “Otis Redding” if you prefer). Have fun!

Dedication

If you find yourself glued to the television all day, every day, maybe it’s time to loosen up your dedication to the TV screen. How about volunteering your time to do something positive for your community? Hospitals, charities, care centers, schools, etc. are always looking for volunteers. Tie it in to a cause you care for. For example, if you wish to feed the homeless, a way to do so is to dedicate some of your Saturday (or any other day you’re free) to a local food bank. Volunteers can help pack meals with donations given from the community. If you enjoy gardening, why not see if you can help plant a small garden at a senior home?

Integrity

This summer, make “Millions” a part of your movies-to-watch list. A religious boy named Damian finds a bag of money that seemed to have fallen out of the sky. He then tells his older brother, Anthony, and they both think of ways to put the money to use. Anthony is practical with his money while Damian decides to use his share to save the world. Click here to watch the trailer.

Discipline

Name a goal you wish to achieve. Whether it’s a health goal or not, stick with it. Think of it as a summer resolution. If you want a certain grade in your class, make that the goal. If you truly want it, put it high on your priority list. If an activity comes up, instead of thinking of how fun it’ll be, decide if it can wait until after your accomplishment. Whatever the goal may be, you may reward yourself along the way, but know that the greatest award will be conquering that goal.

Academic Excellence

Before another school year begins, I challenge you to pick up a nonfiction book and start reading. Just because you’re not in school doesn’t give you an excuse to stop learning. Here’s another challenge for those still in summer session: Raise your hand when the professor asks the class a question. It’s an incomparable feeling when you’re ready to pounce on a question delivered to all the faces around you.

By Emilia “Lavender” Liem, Copy Editor

Loyalty – Dogs are probably the most loyal creatures on Earth. There are thousands of dogs without homes. If it is not the right time to adopt, make the time to go to an animal shelter and spend an hour or two with the dogs staying there. They will appreciate the company and the opportunity to play beyond the confines of their cages.

Honesty – Did you ever write in a journal or diary when you were younger? It was the one medium in which you could truly be honest with yourself. Start writing again! If you are more traditional, invest in a nice journal you can find at any bookstore. Or, you can create a journal online. Blogger, WordPress or Tumblr are all free online sites where you can start.

Respect – the earth and recycle your clothes. Clean out your entire closet. Make a donation to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Or, if you are interested in expanding your wardrobe, try hosting a clothing swap. Invite some friends over and have them bring some of their closet rejects. One girl’s trash is another girl’s treasure! You may find some cute new clothes for summer or fall.

Dedication – to your family. Make a point to spend time with your family. If they happen to live far away, make a road trip to see them. They will appreciate the effort you made and it may bring you closer together.

Integrity – Who are more moral and pure than kids? If you find yourself without plans on a weekend night, make it a movie night. Pick a fun animated feature, like “Despicable Me,” “Up” or any of the “Toy Story” movies. Their feel-good stories will brighten your spirits.

Discipline – your body. Try something new and unexpected, like a pole dancing class. Work out in a fun interesting way and pick up a new skill along the way. Check out Groupon, Living Social or Half Off Depot for great deals. They usually feature offers for one month of classes at various places.

Academic Excellence – sharpen your mind. Try reading a book while laying out at the pool. Read a book on a topic of interest, such as history, languages, computer science, etc. Or, pick something completely out of left field and see how you like it!

By: Christine “ECKO”  Ho, Staff Writer

Loyalty

Being part of an Asian-interest sorority has enabled us to mingle and mix with different cultures of not only Asia, but of other parts of the world. However, most of us remain loyal to our roots—I am deeply proud of the fact that I am Korean, and will not hesitate to cry out, “KP!” (Korean Pride)

Because we have so many cultures embroiled within our organization, here is my challenge to you: I know that many of us may not have the funds nor inclination to travel abroad, but being part of our organization gives us opportunities that other people may not have. Go to the house of a sister of a different ethnicity (with an invitation of course), and take pictures of yourself in another culture. My own house is Americanized, but I have little things here and there: a Korean calendar, pictures of me in a hanbok (Korean traditional wear) at a young age, Korean food (kimchi, etc.). Think of it as a treasure hunt, and the more things you can find, the better. The purpose of this challenge is for you to remain loyal to your own culture, but not out of ignorance or simply because of your blood, but because of knowledge and understanding of other cultures. Loyalty should not come from blindness, but from knowledge of all things before choosing to remain loyal.

Honesty

Being honest is important because using lies will only end up in your own entrapment if you are unlucky. Lying to parents, friends, family and even strangers will normally have a bad outcome. But even worse than all that—-what about lying to yourself?

My idea for you: If you kept a diary or journal when you were younger, look through it. I have done this recently, and was able to point out several of my own personality traits that have changed over the years. It amazes me to this day some of the things I have written down, especially when I was a teenager. There were times when I had been selfish, petty and cruel. However, acknowledging that has made me see what I have changed into. I have acknowledged that in the same situation, I would have done things differently. So go through your old diaries and journals and be honest to yourself. What were you like before, and what are you like now?

Respect

Respect is perhaps one of the key ingredients in any relationship. Without respect for the other person, what is she/he to you besides a stranger? Respect takes time and work, building to different degrees with different people. A lack of respect results in a caustic relationship, usually hurtful to at least one side. The people that we should respect the most, I believe, are our parents. My parents have done a lot for me, and have supported me since birth. Of course, I understand that some families are different and the dynamic can also be dissimilar to mine.

So here is my idea for you: Pick two people that you have the greatest respect for, and plan a picnic. During the picnic, tell them what you respect about them, and ask what they respect about you. Write it down. Most likely, they will name characteristics you are proud of and wish to keep. Then have fun, eat and be merry, since you have at least two people you deeply respect, and respect you back for who you are.

Dedication

Anyone who knows me also knows that I am wholly dedicated to Harry Potter. I have decided recently that before the premiere of the last movie, I will be reading all seven books again in order to demonstrate my own dedication to the series to myself. I know I probably sound like a nerd, but there you go—my dedication to the series is wholly real and I will probably cry at the end of the movie.

My idea for you: What are you dedicated in besides the sorority? Perhaps you love your job and are working to get to the top of the ladder. Perhaps you are wholly dedicated to collecting jelly beans. Whatever the source, take a picture that represents your dedication to a certain thing or idea, and explain why you are so dedicated to it.

Integrity

Integrity has always been something that I feel is difficult to explain. Whether or not you have integrity has always been based on your actions.

My idea for you: Write a story that you think demonstrates integrity. Make up your own characters, but make yourself the lead character. Make up a fictional situation that could involve anything you want (history, fantasy, science, etc.) and demonstrate how you/your character would make an act of integrity.

Discipline

My idea for you: Take up a physical activity that you normally do not do. Yoga, Pilates, kickboxing, etc. Not only will it be healthy for you, but it will also let you try out new things to help discipline your body.

Academic Excellence

My idea for you:Pick a subject that has nothing to do with your major/former major (for those who have graduated). For example, because my major is English, perhaps I will pick the subject of math. Do something this summer that demonstrates your prowess in another area, or simply you learning something new. I believe that academic excellence is not only you thriving in your area of expertise, but also not being lackadaisical to other subjects as well. Ask your sisters to help you learn something about cellular biology—maybe just one formula. Take a picture of a solved math problem. Write a creative story. There are many things you can do with the many different parts of knowledge. There is nothing wrong with broadening your horizons. Consider this summer the perfect time to learn.

By: Stephenie “Remedi” Lai, Staff Writer

Loyalty: Over the summer, to enact the virtue of loyalty, I’ve made sure to keep in touch with my family, closest friends and sisters. Although it’s summer and we’re all on different schedules, I want to make sure my sisters know that I’m still around for whatever they need. I do this by sending texts, making calls and setting up dates.

Honesty: It may be a task for some of us to constantly be true to ourselves and to others, especially in the summertime when your daily routine may change. In everything you do, you should think about putting yourself in the other person’s shoes. No one likes being lied to. Hold yourself to this. Whenever you lie or think about lying, you should ask yourself why you are lying, what are the benefits of telling this lie and what are the possible repercussions.

Respect: For a lot of us, summertime means moving back home for a few months. Since I graduated in May, this meant moving back for more than a few months. Being the youngest, my parents had already adjusted to their empty nest lifestyle. It may be difficult for both parties to readjust to this new lifestyle, so I had to respect that things have changed around the house and the rules they set in place for me. In turn, they had to respect that I have matured and that I should be able to go out and do more things on my own.

Dedication: We all get a bit lazier in the summertime. I blame it on the heat. Either way, we can’t lose focus on the things we’re doing, no matter what they may be. If you’re working on a personal project or a summer class, set your sights on it and dedicate your time to completing that task. Create benchmarks to mark your progress.

Integrity: A lot happens during the summer that can test your honesty. We all know the saying, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Well, I went to Vegas and I made sure there was nothing to tell. I even had to be honest to myself to stay out of trouble, especially when it came to money.

Discipline: The immense amount of free time you have in the summer may take a toll on your discipline in many areas – academics, health and well-being or relationships. A lack of discipline in your life leads to a lack of control. Nobody wants that. I would suggest keeping a calendar with goals and deadlines. Set a plan for yourself and keep revising it. Make some short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals to make sure you stay on track.

Academic Excellence: Being a recent graduate, I didn’t have any homework or classes to worry about this summer. But just because you graduate doesn’t mean that learning stops. I’ve been studying up to take the GRE and I’ve been doing some personal research on cooking just to keep busy. There is always room to learn and grow.

By Gaoli “Chamomile” Moua, Copy Editor & Staff Writer

Honesty – In putting together my journalism portfolio, honesty is key in selecting writing samples to feature.

Loyalty – Despite the disagreements and issues we may have had together in the past, I maintain my loyalty to my line sisters because they have stuck by me.

Respect – Traveling can be exciting but it can also contribute to pollution. Respecting the earth by throwing trash away in their proper binsand leaving a vacation spot as you found it is instrumental to having a good experience.

Dedication – Contributing to The Jade Times allows me to show my dedication to the sorority as a whole throughout the year.

Integrity – The summer brings together families to celebrate themselves, rather than holidays. Despite the disagreements and dramatic reactions that occur within a family, the beauty of knowing who you are and being able to find peace with where you come from illustrates integrity.

Discipline – The warm weather entices us to go out and get our fair share of vitamin D from under the sun, but making sure to not stay out too long will help avoid possible sunburns and skin cancers.

Academic excellence – While there may not be any assigned readings to keep up with during the summer, reading books, magazines and newspaper help keep my brain exercised until the academic school year starts again.

Let’s dance! Show us your moves this summer for a chance to be in a music video with teen pop group Savvy!  Best Bones Forever! and Savvy are teaming up on the Let’s Dance Contest for girls ages 9-18! Grab your BFFs and submit your dance video today!

www.bbfletsdance.com

Sisters! Enter to win a Delta Phi Lambda line jacket, Tiki, or gift certificate to the DFL store!

Challenge: Take each of the 7 virtues and list a summer activity that lets you put the virtue in motion. Think of it as a summer activity recommendation for just us sisters! They can be anything from book recommendations, movies recommendations, places to visit, DIY projects, etc. Be creative!

How to Enter:

1. It’s up to you how you would like to show/tell us your “Summer Seven” list. Be creative! It can be anything from a video to an essay or somewhere in between. The more creative you are with your entry, the better your chances of winning!

2. All entries (ex. video, picture and essay, etc) must be submitted to newsletter@deltaphilambda.org. Subject line must read: “The Jade Times Summer Seven Contest”

3. All entries must be submitted no later than 11:59PM EST August 1, 2011 All entries will be judged by The Jade Times staff on originality, creativity, content and overall presentation.

Deadlines:

July 1st: Contest Begins

July 2nd – August 1st: Submission Period

August 1st at 11:59PM EST: Entries Due

August 2nd – Aug 16: Judging Period

August 24: Winners Announced

Rules/Eligibility:

1. All entries must be submitted no later than 11:59PM EST August 1, 2011

2. Only sisters of Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. are eligible to enter.

3. Video entries can be no longer than 5 minutes.

4. Picture/Essay entries can be no longer than 500 words. Pictures must be submitted in JPEG format.

5. By submitting your entry to newsletter@deltaphilambda.org, you give us the right to post your entry on the Delta Phi Lambda blog, Facebook page and Twitter.

6. Any entries with vulgarities, indecent material, etc., will be disqualified.

7. One entry per person.

8. Your entry is subject to review and will be disqualified if you violate any of the rules or entry requirements.

Prizes:

Grand Prize: Gray Line Jacket

1st runner up: Delta Phi Lambda Tiki

2nd runner up: Gift certificate to DFL Store

Any questions? Please feel free to contact us at newsletter@deltaphilambda.org

By Oanhie “Shinsen” Pham, Staff Writer and Copy Editor

Sisters at the University of Central Florida held an osteoporosis dinner on their campus to educate guests about the disease. Through donations at the door, the dinner garnered about $300 to support the Best Bones Forever Foundation.

Epsilon chapter embraced the 3 C’s of cooperating, collaborating and celebrating this semester.It cooperated with Chi Upsilon Sigma to clean up Wekiva Springs park. Epsilon chapter held its annual Iron Chef competition in which sisters collaborated with Knights Helping Knights, a UCF program that provides resources and services to help students succeed in college.

During their competition, sisters collected canned foods and monetary donations for Knights Helping Knights’ food and clothing pantry. In celebration, sisters worked with Pi Delta Psi for an event called Dance for Japan to raise money for earthquake victims.

During the Iron Chef competition, guests wait in line to grab a plateful of food -- free to those who donated to Knights Helping Knights' food and clothing pantry, a service for the UCF community.