Alumnae Perspective

On Friday, February 5, 2010, tens of thousands of people all around the country wore red to support the fight against Heart Disease, which is the number 1 killer of women. This event was just the kick-off to National Heart Heart Health Month.
Coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart disease. Usually referred to as simply "heart disease", it is a disorder of the blood vessels of the heart that can lead to a heart attack. A heart attack happens when an artery becomes blocked, preventing oxygen and nutrients from getting to the heart.

Historically heart disease was thought of as a predominantly male disease but current statistics show that 1 in 6 women die from Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) making it this country's biggest killer.

More women are dying from a heart problem than breast cancer - in fact every year almost half the women who die will do so from heart and blood vessel disease. Women of any age can develop heart disease but for those approaching the menopause, when estrogen levels drop, it is even more important to take care of your heart.

Major cardiac risk factors include raised cholesterol, high blood pressure, family history of heart disease, smoking, diabetes and lack of physical exercise.

Heart disease prevention is easy, if you follow a few simple tips:
• Don’t smoke or if you do, quit.
• Exercise, exercise, exercise
• Eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight
• Get regular health screenings
• Use alcohol only in moderation

This is an issue that is near and dear to the hearts of Alpha Phi's everywhere because our very own Alpha Phi Foundation supports programs that advance leadership development, encourage academic excellence, support sisters in need, educate about the value of philanthropy and...yes, improve women’s heart health.

If you haven't made a donation to the Foundation this year, consider doing so this month as a part of the fight against heart disease in women.

-Lori Lyman-Losee (Beta Rho-Washington State)

90 New Sisters in Denver!

Last month, local Alpha Phi volunteers and staff worked tirelessly on our colonization at the University of Denver and welcomed 90 amazing women to membership! These fantastic women are leaders on campus, honor students, members of the Student Government, DU Cheerleaders and fantastic representatives of Alpha Phi to the campus community. Since colonization, the members have jumped in head first participating in sisterhood, social and campus philanthropy events. You can learn more about Alpha Phi at DU by visiting their Web site: www.dualphaphi.com. Welcome Pioneers!

Quarterly Review

In honor of national heart health month, here's a great cover featuring
Alpha Phis hosting their "Have a Heart" fundraiser.

On the Road

Emily Bunch (Theta Iota-James Madison)
Second Year ELC

Before I started this job I submitted the fact that no one knows I secretly love to read. Spending the last few months on the road has brought back my love of literature, classic and contemporary. I originally fell in love with classic literature during AP English my senior year of High School, since then I have not had the opportunity to read for pleasure. With all of the time on airplanes and sitting in airports I have been able to catch up on some of the novels I’ve been putting off. My high school English teacher always gave me recommendations to read and I continued to add to the list throughout college. I have now had the opportunity to check quite a few off the list.

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

Cocktails for Three and The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham

Confessions of a Shopaholic , Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Shopaholic Ties the Knot, Shopaholic and Sister and Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

Goat: A Memoir by Brad Land

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards

The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls

While not every book I read was lighthearted, educational, or inspirational, I have enjoyed reading each and every one.

Foundation Update

The North Central Midwest and South Central Regions were recognized for raising over $170,000 during the 2008-09 school year at their Regional Conference in January.

The top three contributing chapters for the NCMW were Illinois (Beta Alpha) with over $16,000, Drake (Gamma Omicron) with over $14,000, and Indiana (Beta Tau) with over $13,000. The top three contributing chapters for the SC were Texas (Omega) with nearly $27,000, Missouri (Omicron) with over $17,000), and Nebraska/Kearney (Delta Xi) with over $8,000.

Their accomplishments were celebrated with a Foundation reception after dinner Friday evening.

Get ready for a Foundation reception to celebrate your chapter and region during the upcoming Regional Conferences in February!

Congratulations and THANK YOU to the NCMW and SC Regions!!

Alumnae Perspective

Each month, we'll be having our collegiate and alumnae blog writers post about their Alpha Phi experiences. Want to write for the Alpha Phi blog? E-mail aschuman@alphaphi.org

As we start the new year, it means a new crop of Alpha Phi collegiate officers who are ready to take their chapters to the next level and that means tis the season of Regional Conferences.

So far, there have been three regional conferences with five more to go through the end of February. If you are attending as a collegiate or as an alumnae, regional conferences are the best way to reconnect with those sisters you only see once or twice a year while learning how to be a stronger leader.

If this is the first conference you are attending you are in for a treat. The Regional Teams and Conference Coordinators have worked tirelessly to provide a weekend of fun and education. The ultimate goal is for officers to come away with a better knowledge of Alpha Phi and how to perform their position to their best ability by providing them with the resources to ensure they are successful.

If you are an alumnae, don’t worry there are still ways of getting involved with Alpha Phi. Some Regional Conferences are even offering alumnae programming. For example, at the Southwest Regional Conference they are providing a Professional Development series. The goal is to expand alum’s professional network, learn how to stand apart from other candidates on the job market and develop professional skills needed to take off in their career.

For more information about Alpha Phi’s Regional Conferences, go to www.alphaphi.org and click on Regional Conference under Events.

-Lori Lyman-Losee (Beta Rho-Washington State)