A message from Alexa, a member of our newly initiated Alpha Class!

Winter Rush is fast approaching!! I hope you're all as excited as we are :) We recently initiated our Alpha Class and have a message from our newly initiated sister, Alexa, to anyone who is interested in Rushing!

First of all a loud shout out to all of the Rushes that are interested in becoming a part of Alpha Pi Phi!!!!! I first found out about Alpha Pi Phi during the summer before this term started. I was a first year that barely new anyone here and I was very doubtful that my first year would be very special. I had struggled a lot with myself over the years and had been through a whirlwind of events that left me feeling quite alone. When I met the founding sisters for the first time I felt this instant connection and this flicker of happiness that I knew had always been inside me and it started to reappear.
Learning about Alpha Pi Phi more and participating in Rush really reinforced my need to be a part of the sorority. The other pledges at the time and my now new sisters are the most amazing people I could have ever asked for. I never thought that a sisterhood could bind people together as closely as it has for me. The sorority and the sisterhood are sacred and they are the most important aspects to my life today. I feel like the sorority keeps me together when I feel like I’m falling apart.
I wanted to join to meet new people, get involved in the community, and put my academics first but I found out so much more about myself and my sisters. This experience doesn’t end after four years of university. After that it’s only the beginning because lifelong friendships, secrets, love, and loyalty are not for a moment but for forever. I am proud and ever so happy that I know what having best friends forever feels like, as cheesy as it sounds.
I know the founding sisters are excited to start Rush as well as myself and my sisters in Alpha class. We can’t wait to meet you and bring out the best in every one of you.
Φ love,
Alexa K β-013

Adopt-A-Child

Our chapter recently adopted a 13 year old girls through World Vision from Mali. Congratulations to our new honorary sister Minata!

Alpha Pi Phi welcomes our new AMPP's into our organization!

A big congratulations goes out to our VERY FIRST pledge class! 
We're so proud of you ladies, we know you all will make an amazing Alpha Class :)
Congratulations to our Alpha Chapter who recently just pinned their Epsilon Class!
Phi Love!

Alpha Pi Phi- Beta Chapter- Alpha Class

Shinerama 2011

At Shinerama, our very first philanthropy of the year, our site at Macs in Niagara Falls raised $702.38 for Cystic Fibrosis Research! 
Thank you to everyone who came out and helped! 
Altogether at Brock we raised over $18,000 on Shineday!

Fall 2011 Rush!

Alpha Pi Phi, Brock University's newest and only national Sorority, would like to extend an invitation to the ladies of Brock University to come out for Rush in September 2011!

We are looking for undergraduate women attending Brock University who are interested in and dedicated to: achieving academic excellence, expanding their experiences with philanthropy by giving back to the Niagara Region and Brock community, forming the lasting bonds of friendship and sisterhood and gaining strong leadership skills.

Our Mission Statement: The purpose of Alpha Pi Phi is to promote a sisterhood united through love, loyalty and friendship; to foster confidence in young women, and to aid in the development of their leadership skills; to encourage its members to conduct themselves with grace, dignity and moral integrity; to cultivate academic excellence and nurture generosity through active philanthropy for the betterment of the community.

Fall Rush/Recruitment 2011 Schedule

*times are subject to change

Attending one Meet and Greet as well as events marked with a * are very important if you want to receive a Bid. Remember to Rush hard and get to know the sisters and what Alpha Pi Phi is all about!

Monday September 12

*-9pm-10:30pm- Meet and Greet! Come by a classroom on campus for some snacks and a chance to really get to know us. All five Founding Sisters will be there to answer any and all questions or concerns. Information about our history and year calendar will be available as well as a thorough explanation of all dues and where your money goes. Friends and parents are all welcome to join and ask questions.

Tuesday September 13

*-12pm-2pm- Meet and Greet

*-9pm-10:30pm- Meet and Greet

Wednesday September 14

*-8pm-11pm- Poker, Spoons and Crazy Eights. Come out for our first Sisterhood of the year! Join us for an evening of card games and bring your best poker face to win some prizes!

Thursday September 15

-Pub Night- 7:30pm meet at the Alpha Pi Phi chapter house - 10:00pm-10:30pm- meet at Isaac’s. Those of you who aren’t 19 yet are still welcome to come to the chapter house before the bar. Isaac’s is on campus so if you’re going back to residence you won’t have to travel alone and can come with us on the bus.

Sunday September 18

*-Philanthropy- 2pm- Today we'll be making bracelets to be sold on campus (on a separate date) to raise money for our official philanthropy The Alzheimer's Society of Canada. Come out, make some jewelery and support a great cause! 

Monday September 19

-11:30am-1:30pm- Lunch at the Marketplace. Join us for lunch and afterwards, weather permitting, Frisbee in Jubilee Court

Tuesday September 20

*-7pm-9pm- Bowling! Parkway Lanes, budget about $15 for this

Friday September 23

-Mini road trip! Details to come

Saturday September 24

*-1pm-Whenever- Men's Rugby Game then Dinner on Campus! Come out and support our men's rugby team and join us after for a late lunch/dinner on campus! GO BADGERS!

(Staying for dinner is not mandatory)

Sunday September 25

-1pm-3pm- Pref Party- Invitation Only – Your final chance to show us what you’ve got before Bid Day!

Monday September 26

-5pm- 8pm- Bid Day! Today we hand out Bids, formal invitations to become an Alpha Pi Phi Pledge. If you’ve Rushed hard and shown us that you embody all that Alpha Pi Phi stands for, today, between 5 and 8pm, is when you will receive your Bid. You have until Bid Dinner to decide whether or not you choose to accept!

Wednesday September 28

-9pm- Bid Dinner- You will find out the location when you receive your Bid – Attending this dinner is how you will formally accept your Bid.

Friday September 30

-Pledging  Ceremony! Mandatory for those of you who receive and accept a Bid

New Positions for 2011-2012 :)

The Active Beta Chapter Sisters just had a Skype meeting!
We now have our 2011-2012 Executive and Chair Positions for the school year!
Congratulations to Allison for becoming our very first Alumna :)

Executive Council-

President- Miranda

Vice-President- Stephanie

Treasurer- Miranda

Secretary- Kerri

Social- Jenna

Membership Recruitment- Stephanie

Pledge Educator- Miranda

Chair Positions-

Philanthropy Chair- Kerri

Historian Chair - Miranda

Sisterhood Chair- Jenna

Formal Chair- Jenna

Paraphernalia Chair- Kerri

Public Relations & Social Media Chair- Stephanie

Keeper of the Ritual Chair- Stephanie

Don't forget to check out our FB group if you're interested in Rushing!

http://www.facebook.com/groups/109331529157050/

Fun Facts About Alpha Pi Phi!

About Our External Motto and Greek Letters

The Greek-Lettered Symbols "Alpha", "Pi" and "Phi" were not chosen by our founders accidentally. While they represent a number of values and meanings sacred to our Ritual, they also represent our external motto: Love, Loyalty and Friendship. If you take our external motto, translate it into greek, and take the first letter of each word, you'll find yourself with the greek letters "Alpha", "Pi" and "Phi". These letters signify as a reminder to our sisters and other members of the greek community that our sorority's name and external meaning literally stems from the qualities of "Love, Loyalty and Friendship" - the foundation of what our founders believed a true sisterhood should be created upon.

About Our AMPP (Pledging) Pin

Our AMPP, or Active Members in the Pledging Period, pin is in the shape of a golden cygnet (baby swan). This pin, which all AMPPs must wearing during their pledging period, symbolizes the growing and transformation which our new members make during their pledging period, in adjusting to life within our sisterhood. Our AMPPs receive their pin during the first part of Initiation (Cygnet Ceremony) a.k.a. "pinning", and the pin is returned to the chapter before being fully initiated into the sisterhood.

About Our AIM Pin

Our AIM, or Active Initiated Members, pin is a gold greek "Phi" symbol, studded with seed pearls around the exterior, and amethysts down the middle. The "Alpha" and "Pi" symbols are etched in gold on the inner left side of the "Phi" symbol, opposite a gold swan on the inner right side, over a black background.

Only members who have been fully initiated into our sisterhood are allowed to own and wear this pin.

About Our Coat of Arms

Alpha Pi Phi decided to follow in fraternity and sorority tradition, and created a Coat of Arms. Our greek letters "Alpha", "Pi" and "Phi", along with our external motto, are incorporated into it.

Certain organizations choose not to have a coat of arms or crest, because they believe that coat of arms/crests/shields represent medieval or masonic traditions, and not that of greek heritage. Alpha Pi Phi feels that it is a tradition within the greek community, across North America, for an organization to have of coat of arms and we proudly bear ours!

 

 

*this post is borrowed from our Alpha Chapter's blog
check it out at www.alphapiphi.blogspot.com

Interested in Rushing Alpha Pi Phi Brock Chapter?

Alpha Pi Phi, Brock University's newest Sorority, would like to extend an invitation to the ladies of Brock University to come out for Rush in September 2011! 


We are looking for undergraduate women attending Brock University who are interested in and dedicated to: achieving academic excellence, expanding their experiences with philanthropy by giving back to the Niagara Region and Brock community, forming the lasting bonds of friendship and sisterhood and gaining strong leadership skills. 


Our Mission Statement: The purpose of Alpha Pi Phi is to promote a sisterhood united through love, loyalty and friendship; to foster confidence in young women, and to aid in the development of their leadership skills; to encourage its members to conduct themselves with grace, dignity and moral integrity; to cultivate academic excellence and nurture generosity through active philanthropy for the betterment of the community. 


So if you think you have what it takes, come out for our Fall Rush beginning on September 12th 2011! 
More event details TBA! 

Please feel free to email us with any comments and questions at: Rush@alphapiphibrock.com 

or

join our rush group and search "RUSH ALPHA PI PHI SORORITY AT BROCK UNIVERSITY" on facebook :)


Make rushing Alpha Pi Phi your priority!

Relay For Life!

Alpha Pi Phi Beta Chapter is participating with Omega Sigma Chi in St. Catharine's Relay for Life on June 24th, 2011. This event is to help raise money and promote awareness for the Canadian Cancer Society.

If you are interested in donated to our team, "Brock Sororities," please click on the link below or contact any of our sisters!

Click here to donate! (this link will take you directly to the donation page for our team)

Thanks in advance!

Academics and Alpha Pi Phi

The reason why we're all at school is because of Academics, which is why Academics is one of Alpha Pi Phi's main priorities. It is very important that all of our members have an average of at least 65%. We aim to have our overall chapter average above 70% every semester.

Every month, it is mandatory for each sister to complete at least 3 study hours with her sisters in the James A. Gibson Library at Brock University. Having your sisters to support you academically with any challenges you may face in any of your classes or with exams is a great way to stay motivated to do well in your classes.

So far, Alpha Pi Phi Beta Chapter has accomplished having an overall average of 72.6% and in April alone we've spent over 150 sister study hours in the library. Many of the founding sisters' averages have also increased since the founding of our chapter.

First Summer Meeting :)

Alpha Pi Phi Beta Chapter had their first summer meeting tonight to work on planning rush and to finalize our by-laws. Miranda could not attend but was on skype for the meeting at the chapter house.

My Alpha Pi Phi Experience

When I first came to Brock University I had made a last minute transfer here from UWO. At UWO I had established my university family as most students do in their first year at school. So as you can imagine, transferring to Brock, where I knew very few people and was not living in residence, was a bit of a shock to my social life. I was finding it very difficult to get involved with the Brock community as most students here had already found their university family, and it’s really awkward to introduce yourself into an already established group of close friends.

However, in my second semester things started looking up. Through a friend from home I was introduced to Allison. In January, Allison and Miranda, already two very close friends, approached me about forming a new sorority at Brock. I was honestly sooo thrilled with the idea. It was the perfect way to get involved socially, philanthropically and academically. Basically everything I was looking for all wrapped into one. Very shortly after, Kerri and Jenna became a part of our group and we formed the Beta Chapter of Alpha Pi Phi.


But most importantly, in the short time that we had between meeting and becoming an initiated Chapter, we became Sisters. I felt such immediate acceptance with these girls and an immediate close and loving friendship. We have been together nearly every day since we met in January and now that we’re all home for the summer, it’s only May and I cannot wait for the end of August when we’re all back together.

The forming of Alpha Pi Phi Beta Chapter was based on such acceptance and strong friendship that it truly warms my heart. SOOO lame and cheesy I know… but it had to be said. We all came from such different places in our lives, some of us as previous best friends, some as acquaintances and some as complete strangers. That is what Alpha Pi Phi is all about.

As Alpha Pi Phi Beta Chapter’s very first Recruitment Executive, I cannot wait to take the Love, Loyalty and Friendship the five Founding Sisters have for each other and introduce it to our Alpha, Beta and every class to come!

RUSH ALPHA PI PHI!!!

Phi Love Forever,

Stephanie G.
Recruitment Executive, Public Relations Chair and Keeper of the Ritual Chair.

How much do you know about Greek Life?

When you ask many students at Brock if they know about fraternities or sororities, many will give you generic answers based off of movies such as Animal House or House Bunny. According to many people, Greeks are students who lack morals, love partying, all look the same, buy their friends and are horrible students, but that is definitely not the case.


In many Canadian Universities, Greek Life is an amazing opportunity to get involved in around campus. Although some may see Greek Life in a negative way, it has done nothing but enrich its member’s lives not only socially, but academically and mainly philanthropically. Being a part of Greek Life gives people the chance to participate in philanthropic activities as a group, making them more fun. Some sororities and fraternities have monthly study hours that are mandatory, which helps in furthering their academic endeavours. A lot of our sisters would not be as involved in the community or around Brock if it wasn’t for Greek Life. It’s amazing to know that you have a group of sisters, who are essentially a second family, which you can count on to be there for you at anytime for anything.


Currently at Brock University there is one Fraternity, Zeta Psi, and two sororities, Alpha Pi Phi and Omega Sigma Chi and Greek Life is continuing to grow!


An important aspect of Greek life is Philanthropy. Volunteerism and fundraising are intrinsic to Greek life! Greek Life at Brock supports various Philanthropies such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, CIBC Run for the Cure, Alzheimer Society of Canada and many, many more!



An important thing to keep in mind is that Alpha Pi Phi (and other sororities and fraternities) have a strict policy on anti-hazing. Hazing is what we believe to be anything that would put an individual in an uncomfortable or harmful situation. Alpha Pi Phi is very strong in our stance against hazing, as we believe all it does is create division among the pledge class and the active members instead of fostering friendships. Our pledge period involves activities, otherwise known as pledge tasks, which are designed to create a stronger bond among the pledges and to the sorority. These tasks have since been described as fun, and help each new member in their pledging period to adjust to Greek life.


Some of the positive outcomes of Greek Life include (but are not limited to); community and school involvement, study buddies, academic help, leadership, social skills, support network, business connections, philanthropy, lifelong friends and people who are there for you when you need them. Through many positions within a sorority or fraternity, one also can build on skills such as event planning, budgeting, networking and more!


Some fun facts about the GREEK communities:

• College graduates who belong to a sorority or fraternity tend to be more successful financially than other college graduates.
• Student members tend to participate more often in co-curricular campus activities. Nationally, $7 million is raised for charity by Greek organizations.
• Fraternities and sororities provide a viable option for leadership development and extracurricular involvement.
• Forty-three of fifty of the largest North American companies are headed by fraternity men and sorority women.
• 85% of Fortune 500 executives (past and present) belonged to a fraternity or sorority.
• Greeks volunteer 850,000 hours yearly across North America.
• All the Apollo 11 astronauts were fraternity members.
• More than 7 million men and women in the United States and Canada are Greek, which is only a fraction of the population.

GREEK TERMS

(INFORMATION TAKEN FROM http://www.valdosta.edu/stulife/greek/GreekTermsandFunFacts.shtml)

Many sororities and fraternities are different, some use different terms and processes for recruitment.

Types of Members- 

Potential New Member: A non-member who is eligible to participate in the recruitment process, visiting Greek organizations with an interest in possibility affiliating with one organization.
New Member: A new member of a fraternity or sorority aspiring to become an initiated member.
Active: An initiated collegiate member who is currently paying dues to an undergraduate chapter.
Alumna: The graduate members of a Sorority. Plural: Alumnae.
Alumnus: The graduate members of a Fraternity. Plural: Alumni.

--------------------------------------

Bid: A membership invitation extended to a prospective member.

Bid Day: The last day of recruitment where a potential new member accepts the bid to become a new member.

Big Brother/Big Sister: An active member chosen to assist and advise a new member.

Chapter: The local group of undergraduate students on a particular campus recognized by the university and/or the (inter)national organization.

Initiation: A ritual based ceremony that marks the acceptance of a lifetime commitment to the fraternity or sorority.

Legacy: Someone who’s mother, father, sister or brother is a member of a particular Greek-letter organization. Being a legacy does not guarantee membership.

Mixer: A themed party between a fraternity and sorority.

New Member Educator (Pledge Educator): A sister or brother responsible for overseeing the development of new members and their preparation for initiation. This individual serves as a liaison between the new members and the chapter.
Philanthropy: An effort to promote human welfare. Philanthropic activity is one of the foundations of Greek-letter organizations.
Pinning: See Pledging.
Pledging: The ceremony in which an individual begins to become a member of a Greek organization. 
Recruitment: The organized period of selecting prospective new members. It is a mutual selection process. 
Rush: See Recruitment.

Officially a Chapter :)

This past weekend our five founding sisters took a road trip to Carleton to see our Mother Chapter. As of March 6th, 2011, Alpha Pi Phi Beta Colony was initiated to become an official Alpha Pi Phi Chapter.

We had an amazing time hanging out with the girls throughout initiation and we even got to attend an executive meeting as well as a sisterhood at Carleton's pool.

We want to thank our fellow sisters at Carleton for opening this amazing opportunity up to us and letting us be a part of the Alpha Pi Phi sisterhood. It's been absolutely amazing so far and the best is yet to come!

Walk for Memories

Today we participated in the Walk for Memories at The Pen Centre in support of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario and overall our team raised $615! Special shout out to Steph who raised $405 :)

Welcome!

Welcome to the Alpha Pi Phi Beta Colony at Brock University's blog! We are currently the Beta Colony of the Alpha Pi Phi Sorority at Carleton University. At the moment we consist of our five founding sisters; Allison, Miranda, Steph, Kerri and Jenna. Our goal is to expand Greek life at Brock University and make a positive impression of Sororities in the Brock and Niagara community. Tomorrow is our first philanthropic event as a colony and so far we've surpassed our goal of $500 for the Alzheimer Society of Ontario! We hope that this accomplishment is the first of many successful endeavours to come! xo