2009-10-14
Fraternity and sorority students from the University of Rio Grande spent the day learning about leadership and community service during the 2009 Greek Leadership Conference.
Held on Saturday, Sept. 19 on the Rio Grande campus, the day was an opportunity for students to talk with faculty and staff about campus issues, discuss community service projects they will be working on during the academic year and discuss numerous aspects of being in a Greek organization on campus.
The conference was sponsored by Jack Hagar, a 1977 graduate and a member of Alpha Sigma Phi, and Susan Burnside Hagar, a 1970 graduate and member of Chi Omega Alpha, who gave a gift to the Greek organizations to cover the cost of the event. They did this as a way to give back to the Greek organizations that they were a part of during their time at Rio Grande, and as a way to help the current students learn about leadership and community service. The Hagars are residents of Upper Arlington, Ohio.
The leadership conference also served as a way to bring the students from the different Greek organizations on campus together in order to form a unified group. By working together, the fraternities and sororities can work together on new community service projects and take on new challenges.
One project that was discussed during the conference, for example, is the five-year plan for fixing up the Memorial Park at the reservoir near the village of Rio Grande. The Greek organizations on campus have committed to work with the village to clean up the park, add new paths and facilities, and make great improvements that will benefit both the campus and the community.
“I think it’s a great way for the students to give something back to the village of Rio Grande,” said Jason Kellison, a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. Kellison, who is from Columbus, is a senior who is majoring in history and minoring in political science. Many students don’t even know that the park is there, and this project will raise awareness for the park, and could lead to more events being held there.
The students discussed the project with Rio Grande Mayor Matt Easter and Rio Grande Police Department Officer and Village Councilmember Aaron Metzler during the conference.
The conference also featured sessions on several other topics, such as how organizations can work together, how the students can work on fundraising and alumni relations, the work that officers do in Greek organizations, alcohol awareness and the benefits of being in Greek organizations.
Sara Stiffler, a senior who is a member of Lamda Omicron Psi, explained that while her sorority has a long history on campus, its members are always looking for ways to continue to improve and grow the organization. The leadership conference was very beneficial and will help the members in their work this year, said the social work major from Jackson. Her sorority planned several innovative projects last year that involved the campus and the community, and Stiffler said that new projects are also being planned for this year.
Andrea Rohrer, a junior who is also a member of Lamda Omicron Psi, said that being in a sorority opens the door to new learning opportunities for students. It’s also a great way to meet students from across campus, while also being involved in the community.
The students also received a resource guide and resource directory that will help them in their work throughout the year. Stiffler said that the resource guide is very helpful, and said that she was pleased with leadership conference as a whole.
“It’s a good start to a good year,” Stiffler said.
For more information on the leadership conference or on the Greek organizations on campus, call Marshall Kimmel at 1-800-282-7201.
back to top
