The Jade Times

This month we’d like to celebrate the accomplishments of the sisters who were recognized for their tremendous efforts at this past Convention. Join us in congratulating the winners of this year’s national awards:

Academic Excellence Scholarship – Jemi Puno (ISU)
Academic Excellence Award – Jennifer Tsai (GT)
Mission Award – Julienne Kung (GT)
Alumnae Award - Jennifer Albesa (UWF)
Sister of the Year – Katie Chan (GSU)

Blue Rose - University of Central Florida
Best Philanthropy – Grand Valley State University
Jade Award – Grand Valley State University
Chapter of the Year – University of West Florida

Read on for details about their great accomplishments and be sure to share your favorite Convention moments with us here on the blog in your comments!

Happy Reading,
May “Mosaic” Advincula
Editor-in-chief

Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. will host its annual national convention from Friday, August 10, 2012 to Sunday, August 12, 2012 in Washington, D.C. All of the activities will be held in Hyatt Dulles, minutes from the Dulles International Airport.

The goals of the Convention meeting are:
- sisterhood bonding
- leadership education
- celebration of accomplishments
- volunteer training

Speakers that have already been confirmed include: Linda Akutagawa from Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc., Best Bones Forever!, and APIA Vote.

The National Board hopes that through early planning, chapters can organize their members and increase attendance to this spectacular event. After reviewing your concerns from the 2011 Convention Evaluation, this year’s convention will increase our sisterhood activities, provide more training to our members and allot time for sight seeing.

Alumnae are encouraged to plan their reunions at this event. Convention will tailor programs to suit the interests of alumnae. Alumnae volunteers are especially encouraged to attend to receive their chapter adviser training and team building.

Sisters will receive more updates throughout the year in regard to registration, speakers and other pertinent details.

Mark your calendars! See you in DC in 2012!
Please address all questions or feedback to convention@deltaphilambda.org

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This year’s convention marked an important milestone for our sorority, our 10th annual convention. As such we planned our programming and workshops to center around what really matters most: our sisterhood and our Ritual. We hope everyone has thoroughly enjoyed our workshops and keynote guest speaker, Dr. Juan Guardia, and are teeming with ideas on how to live our ritual everyday and reflecting on the meaning of lifetime membership. This year marked another breakout year for Delta Phi Lambda and we are pleased with all the hard work that our chapters have put in. National Board would like to thank the convention planning team and hosts from the University of Central Florida, Epsilon Chapter, for making sure all attendees were comfortable and properly accommodated throughout the duration of our national convention.

Chapter Advisors Program
This year we are introducing a Chapters Advisors Program in which chapters will be paired with an alumnae chapter advisor. Chapter advisors are appointed by mutual agreement of the chapter and the National Executive Board for a one year term commencing this upcoming September. Chapter advisors serve as a mentor to the collegiate women and the alumnae and ensure our collegiate women and alumnae represent the organization and promote behaviors consistent with the policies, procedures, and seven virtues of Delta Phi Lambda. A chapter advisor online training session will be held on October 16, 2011 at 5pm. More information will be announced shortly. If your chapter has not yet chosen a chapter advisor, please contact Hannah Seoh at president@deltaphilambda.org immediately.

Convention 2012
We are very fortunate to have a few dedicated individuals volunteer to plan our Convention 2012. Both have served on National Board previously and are very experienced in planning logistics and programming for national events. Lillie Madali and Gyn Wei are proud to announce that Convention in August of 2012 will be held for the first time ever, in our nation’s capital, Washington D.C.!

Our Newest Lettered Chapter: Georgia Institute of Technology, Zeta Chapter
Over the past 4 years we have seen great strength and resiliency from this group of young women. From their days as a visiting interest group at Midyear 2007 to their progression to Associate Chapter status at Midyear 2009, their chapter journey has now come full circle. This chapter not only has continued to go above and beyond the call of duty, but also continues to garner the unwavering support of their alumnae members. This chapter not only gets accolades from organizations on their campus, but also from their Greek advisors. We are pleased to announced the Zeta Chapter of Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., Georgia Institute of Technology.

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

Delta Phi Lambda was established at the University of West Florida in the spring semester of 2010, which was also when Jennifer “Salomé” Albesa graduated with her BA in psychology. Although she became an alumna shortly after the sorority’s establishment, it didn’t stop her from being actively involved within Delta Phi Lambda. Her dedication to the sorority was recognized at Convention X, where she was chosen as the recipient for the Alumnae Award.

“Just because you go into alumnae status doesn’t mean you should dust your hands off and think, ‘Well, I’ve done my part and that’s all I can do,’ especially when there’s so much room for growth!” Albesa said.
She said receiving the award was like being recognized for being as active as an active-status member should be, and being interested in the growth of the sorority and fulfilling its mission.

Albesa is now a graduate student at UWF and also works at the Office of Admissions on her campus, which she said gave her more reason to be involved.

Juliette ”Optyc” Albesa, also a charter from UWF, praised her biological sister Jennifer Albesa for keeping a 3.4 GPA as a graduate student, working part-time and being the assistant member educator for the chapter’s Alpha class. She said Jennifer Albesa has put in as much time and effort as active undergraduate sisters.

“We just wanted to let her know that we appreciate everything she has done and what she continues to do for us,” Juliette Albesa said.

Receiving an award for Chapter of the Year came as a surprise to UWF chapter’s charter Honey “Joie” Nguyen, who said earning the award makes her chapter want to work even harder to strive for better and more recognition.“We do not want just the recognition, but we want others to know we worked hard for what we have earned,” Nguyen added.
Juliette “Optyc” Albesa said that because her chapter is the most recent addition to Delta Phi Lambda, a lot of bars were set before them and people had expectations of them.

“Having won Chapter of the Year, we were able to show anyone that ever doubted us that we are a very dedicated group and that together, we can accomplish anything,” Juliette Albesa said.

Jennifer “Salomé” Albesa said the chapter at UWF works diligently, and is advanced when it comes to operations and organization. She explains that everything is planned well in advance, especially meetings.
At their events, Greek-lettered organizations from all councils attend. The chapter has gained not only the support from other organizations (both Greek and non-Greek) on campus, but it also has support from others in the community.

Jennifer Albesa said each sister provides her own talents and experience to the growth and promotion of the sorority through various ways such as baking, organizing, networking and designing graphics.

“For many weeks out of the year, you will find them outside selling some type of food or other goods to raise money for philanthropies and to get the name Delta Phi Lambda out there,” Jennifer Albesa said.

Nguyen said they have planned out most of what they’re doing for this semester and the next semester. In addition to recruiting more members, Juliette Albesa said UWF chapter plans on doing more philanthropic work, and possibly trying to start an incentive program so that alumnae can reward hardworking sisters with monetary donations toward sorority-related expenses.

“This year will be a great year,” Nguyen said. “If possible, we may consider going up for status, if everything goes well.”

By Kristine “Sumitra” Aguilan, Staff Writer

After an especially eventful year of dedication and discipline, demonstrating two of our sisterhood’s seven virtues, Julienne “Melodee” Kung has rightfully sowed what she reaped: having been one of the selected sisters to join the Order of the Omega for the previous 2010-2011 academic year in March, 2011, graduating with the class of 2011 from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering, and for winning the 2011 National Convention Mission Award, the award granted to one sister throughout the nation that displays the very essence of what it is to be a sister of Delta Phi Lambda.

Kung was also President as well as a part of helping develop the chapter, which was also given the honor of becoming the Zeta Chapter at Convention as well. And through all the stress and hard efforts, she still manages to look her best in our proud letters.

Now a recent alumnae, the summer proves itself to be quite the busy one. After all the hard work and perseverance of the last four years geared towards demonstrating academic excellence, it is certainly one she deserves to enjoy. Though Kung was unable to attend the 2011 National Convention to receive the prestigious award personally, she returned from a trip to South Korea to only find out after the fact that she was honored with the accolade. After returning from her journey to Asia, she immediately begins working for her oldest sister, Joyce, planning and executing a wedding as the Maid of Honor. During the reception, I took some time aside to pose some questions to her amidst the joyous occasion we attended together.

TJT: You were not present at the 2011 National Convention; how did you know that you had won and how did it make you feel to have received the Mission Award?
Melodee: I actually did not find out about [the nomination] until I came back from traveling and visited sisters for the first time at a [Georgia Tech] recruitment event and MGC BBQ. I felt honored that I was the one to be nominated and to receive the award because I know that others in our chapter have also worked hard to branch out and participate in other cultural organizations.

TJT: During your time with Georgia Tech, what kinds of activities or events do you feel help you to earn the Mission Award?
Melodee: Helping to host our chapter’s events, including the 3C’s events and D Phi L Week events […] was an educational and fulfilling experience. Also, I attended other cultural organizations’ meetings and got to know great students who were also hosting other Asian or cultural events. Not only does this create more of a friendly atmosphere among the various cultural groups, but participating in other organizations’ events is also very informative, and we learn so much about the groups in our community.

TJT: How does your chapter feel about you winning this award?
Melodee: I asked the new president Karen “Murrina” Cheng about this, she said, “[We are proud and honored] to have Julienne ‘Melodee’ Kung win this award. [...] We want to thank this sister for her passion and dedication.”
TJT: Will you continue to be active within Georgia Tech or even on a national level with Delta Phi Lambda?
Melodee: I hope to continue to be active with [Delta Phi Lambda]; for now, my days vary, and I am an alumna advisor to my home chapter. Once I settle down, it will be easier to see how I can stay involved.

TJT: What will you do now that you have graduated and join the ranks of alumni sisters? What are you looking to pursue or do you have a career already lined up for you?
Melodee: I was ecstatic to find my dream job with a company in Virginia, which has so many interesting projects, a great company atmosphere, and such wonderful people. Currently, I am not working because a couple of the projects that I was going to work on involve information from the government, and my employer needs to request security clearance from them. I heard horror stories about the amount of time it could take to obtain even the temporary passes, so once I return to Atlanta at the end of September, I plan to find some temporary employment in electrical engineering. Does anyone need some help?

Again, even after all that she has accomplished at this point, she is still willing to be the helping sister we should all strive to become. Congratulations, Melodee – you are a shining example of excellence in our sisterhood!

By Gaoli Moua, Staff Writer and Copy Editor

Georgia State University senior Katie “Ruby” Chan will admit that Gamma chapter has experienced several bumps in the road last year. Fortunately for that, Chan was compelled to accept the challenge to help lead her chapter through its trials and ultimately won the Sister of the Year award at Convention X in Orlando, Fla.

Chan said she has learned that “even when things get difficult and aren’t going my way, my dedication and determination helps me pull through and [I] do the best I can.”

As last year’s vice president and co-formal chairperson, Chan looked after the officers and sisters of Gamma chapter. Often times, Chan took on the role of president in the absence of their president. While Gamma chapter organized the Delta Phi Lambda National Convention IX and worked on a regional formal and induction ceremony in addition to their regular events and activities, Chan said, “Being able to view things in many different perspectives and being understanding allowed me to lead this chapter.”

“It was not an easy year, but I managed to pull through all the stress with the encouragement of my mama [new member educator], papa [assistant new member educator], biggie, line sisters and other Georgia chapters; they encouraged me to be stronger and believed in me,” said Chan.

Chan is currently the president of the Gamma chapter and anticipates graduating with a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems in May 2012.

Sydnie’V0RTEX’ Schneider, Contributing Writer

As the sunny days of summer trips, employment, summer school or lounging around come to a close, it’s that time again to commence recruitment!

During convention, Elizabeth Thai spoke to attendees about how to maximize recruitment time to ensure a good turnover. Thai shared ‘8 steps to limitless possibility’ that members can use to build a healthy, self-sustaining, values-based organization that will achieve great success.

The first and most important advice Thai stressed was to know your basics. During recruitment, always keep in mind the purpose, the mission and the values of Delta Phi Lambda and seek prospective new members who will uphold and embody DFL beliefs.

Keep in mind when you are looking for new members that, as the recruiter, you need to understand and to sell the organization, to be aware of who your audience is and to help motivate others in your chapter get involved in the recruitment process. Passion is contagious and when others see how dedicated you are to your organization, they will be more likely to come out and see what it can offer them.
Recruitment is our chance, to not only build relationships, but also maybe even find a new sister!

During Delta Phi Lambda’s National Convention in August 2011, the Blue Rose Award was given to the Epsilon chapter at the University of Central Florida, who also hosted convention. The Blue Rose Award is granted to the chapter that shows the greatest improvement among all sorority aspects from the previous year through philanthropy, social events, academics, etc., while also conveying the seven virtues in every activity. Receiving this award gave Epsilon chapter sisters a great sense of accomplishment and acknowledgment for their hard work and dedication.Lillie “Premier” Dao said it was a very proud moment for her chapter. Being the host chapter for a national event is always stressful. The receipt of the Blue Rose Award not only affirmed their hard work for the national event, but for their contributions to the sorority, the Greek community, and the UCF campus throughout the year.Epsilon chapter sisters are known to put in 110 percent in everything they do, helping each other along the way. Christina “Dream” Chu reflected on her chapter’s emotions after the announcement, stating they worked really hard to improve their chapter for the better and be on top again.