Alpha Chi Omega - Purdue University

Lyre Letter 2 A Career to Volunteer How Sally Watlington '57 Contributes Her Time, Talent and Treasure to the Greater Lafayette Community W hen Sally Watlington '57 retired after 23 years in the U. S. Navy, she didn't want to start punching a time clock every day, and there was no chance she'd do nothing. She wanted to decide for herself what to do and when to do it. So, she began what would become a 36-year career in volunteer work. Sally was encouraged to this commitment by three women who greatly impacted her while a collegian at Purdue. The influence of Dean of Women Helen Schleman, Assistant Dean Beverley Stone and Assistant Dean Barbara Cook led her to service in the Greater Lafayette community. In fact, Sally would not have thought of a career in the military if it weren't for Deans Schleman and Stone, each of whom served in the armed forces in WWII. It began when she was tapped into membership of Mortar Board that inevitably became a lifelong love affair as she has served as secretary/treasurer of the Mortar Board National Foundation for the past 10 years. Through Mortar Board, she grew a relationship with Deans Schleman and Stone and learned about their experiences in the Coast Guard and Navy. With the deans' encouragement and support, Sally vetted each service branch and decided the Navy was where she was meant to go upon graduation from Purdue in 1960. Another group of women influenced her collegiate career: her sisters at Alpha Chi Omega. Late nights of playing bridge, studying together, or sitting on the floor sharing stories are fond memories for Sally. "We learned to work collegially to get a job done, to have fun and work on various projects." The opportunity to participate in philanthropy and campus projects would prove to serve her well in her given career. As a Navy captain, Sally had many men and women for whom she was responsible. In the 1960s, women in the military were fairly unheard of and a woman in command was even more rare. Sally never let that bother her, "I learned how to work within the chain of command that is made up predominantly of men." When men would arrive after months on their ship of all males to find themselves working for a woman, they were shocked, Sally recalls, but she'd remind them, "I don't bite!" After her successful Navy career, she moved back to the Lafayette area to follow in the footsteps of the three deans and began balancing a variety of projects to help the community. She began volunteering for the YWCA, whose project at the time was a campaign for a new domestic violence shelter. Sally immediately stepped in and became responsible for the project's paint crew. She was hooked and stayed active in the YWCA domestic violence program for 15 years and continues as a volunteer at the YWCA by serving on the YWCA Foundation board of directors. During the 1990s while serving on the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation, Sally's experience with the domestic violence program helped influence the decision to make domestic violence awareness its national philanthropy. In 1995, Sally was called upon by the president of the county commissioners to chair a task force to study the community's need for a larger community health clinic. As a result, the task force recommended that there be support for a new clinic facility to accommodate the many uninsured and underinsured in Tippecanoe County. Sally asked the leadership of St. Elizabeth hospital for use of a piece of land on their campus. This request was approved, and Sally set about raising $3.4 million for construction of a 19,000-square-foot building, which opened in May 1998 and is now a thriving community health center that has grown by leaps and bounds, expanding to two more buildings. Sally has an impressive resume that all revolves around giving back and helping others. Her 36-year volunteering career has "kept me off the streets and out of trouble," she jokes. There's still more Sally can do for her community and she has no intention of stopping anytime soon. Just as the three deans taught her, Sally urges her sisters and young women to realize the potential of volunteering and "cast your net and contribute with your time, talent, and treasure." I n past newsletters, we have shared alumnae updates and stories. Now, it's our hope to begin featuring alumnae who write blogs and books, host podcasts, have businesses and more. Below you will see a couple of young alumnae who are sharing their experiences and stories through social media. We hope you follow them and share your story! Claire Sullivan Trost '05 writes a blog called Bloom (www. theblogbloom.com). Claire is a wife, mom and small farm owner. She shares stories of growth through different seasons of life. She has recently been published in Edible Indy, Today Parents and The Everymom. Taryn Smalls Walden '07 hosts Audacity Rising, a podcast, with Taryn and her co-founder, born out of a desire to use their own strengths as educators, speakers, writers, creators and friends to encourage women from all walks of life. www.audacityrising.com If you would like to have your hobby, interest or business featured in the next newsletter, please send your submission to Katie Thomas Glick '04 at katie.mae.thomas@gmail.com. ALUMNAE NEWS ACW

• Cover