Alpha Phi - Michigan State University

BETA BETA CHAPTER of ALPHA PHI at MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY Fall 2019 T his summer was another busy season for the House Corporation Board (HCB) as we continued chapter house renovations. Last summer, we beautified the formal room and wanted to continue throughout the first floor, starting with a fresh coat of paint in the informal room. We replaced the old, drab carpet and brightened up the hallway leading to our beautiful new guest bathroom. The cornerstone of this project was the Feronian greeting space, named for our founding sisters, the Feronian Society. It is a beautiful space to welcome guests and was thoughtfully designed for collaborative study sessions and small group meetings. Outside the house, the side porch was furnished with chaise lounges. We replaced the front sidewalk, removed obstructive bushes, and brightened up the front walkway with new lighting, making our house a safe, welcoming home. Shoutout to our HCB volunteers, Lisa Luttman '86 and Nancy Weinert '79, who worked tirelessly this summer to finish up these projects in record time! We are lucky to have wonderful, productive HCB members and volunteers. What It Takes to Be a Leader There has been a lot of conversation lately about leadership. We have seen some of the good, the bad, and the ugly from politicians, educators, and business moguls. I often wonder what narrative our young people are forming about leadership. Pondering this topic, it occurred to me I owe a lot of my own leadership skills to my years as an Alpha Phi. When I think back to the chaos of freshman year, recruitment, campus, and schedule navigation (remember the pit!?), I marvel at the fact any of us lived to tell the tale. As I began to transform from a high school student to a collegian, I had no concept of how my decision to become an Alpha Phi, move into the house, and join this community would shape my adult life so significantly. The beginning of my leadership development was born in 616 M.A.C. Being a part of 50 other women cohabiting was challenging, but we always held ourselves accountable. This was one way to spread positive leadership. Taking on an executive role each year also provided a great opportunity to hone my leadership skills. Learning to live and work collaboratively set the tone for life after college. Whether in business, as mothers heading households, or in volunteer positions, good leadership requires empathy and consciousness of those around us. I am an even better leader because of my days at 616 M.A.C. Leadership is something we all do every day. It does not require managing a high-power team or owning a business to be a leader. Each of us leads by example, either consciously or by accident, inspiring those around us to be accountable and encouraging us all to be our best selves. This is a key reason I have chosen to give back to Alpha Phi and continue to stay active some 40 years later. I can tell you first-hand, the women of Beta Beta are quite amazing. They are learning to be organized and show leadership in all they do. Every day as an Alpha Phi provides these young women an opportunity to mature and inspire others. I am so thankful for sisters holding each other accountable as we lead our lives today and into the future. We would like to thank Kelly Benedetti Walsh '95 who decided to step down from her position on the board after guiding our group for many years. However, we will not be left empty handed as we welcome Melissa Wagasy '99 into the role of Alumnae Relations Chairman. She will also chair the Centennial Celebration. Missy served as ELC and chapter advisor after graduation in addition to working for Alpha Phi. We are excited to have her join the HCB and continue her support of Alpha Phi. As always, we welcome alumnae to come visit the chapter house whenever they find themselves in East Lansing. These renovations are truly spectacular. AOE, Joy Sayed Murray '77 House Corporation President ejoymurray@gmail.com The Ivy Summer Renovations Shine How Beta Beta Continues to Lead the Pack

• Cover