Phi Sigma Sigma

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Michelle Snyder Ardern, Executive Director
(410) 799-1224 x21

New Community Alignment and New Community Archons Announced

Elkridge, Maryland (August 9, 2006) – Supreme Council is pleased to announce the Fraternity’s expanded pilot of the community structure and the appointment of nine women to lead the communities. The Organizational Structure Task Force and the Chapter Services Committee each recommended to Supreme Council that the Fraternity retain the community model that has been in a pilot phase in regions 1, 4, 5, and 12 and expand it to include all regions. Supreme Council voted to implement this recommendation at its June 2006 meeting. The communities will provide local support to all collegiate and alumnae members in all areas that pertain to Fraternity business and membership activities.

Under the new structure, each regional community will be under the supervision and guidance of a community archon (CA). The community archon, partnering with our Headquarters staff, will be responsible for developing and implementing a support system to provide for the health and well- being of her assigned community, including our collegian and alumnae chapters. Community archons will oversee all activities within their communities and will work directly with Headquarters and Supreme Council to manage the daily operations of Phi Sigma Sigma. The CAs will report directly to Supreme Council.

“Today, we are taking the first step in implementing a new structure to provide the best possible service to Phi Sigma Sigma’s membership,” said Grand Archon Sandy Grossman. “Supreme Council looks forward to partnering with the CAs over the next year as we pilot the proposed structure and make modifications based on members’ feedback and performance results.”

In addition to expanding the community structure, Supreme Council accepted a recommendation of the Chapter Services Committee to change the alignment of our geographic regions. Currently, collegiate and alumnae chapters comprise 12 regions internationally. Effective immediately, these regions have been realigned to form nine communities.

Congratulations to Phi Sigma Sigma’s new community leaders:

Holly Alperin, Upper New York & Upper New England
Gayle Riquier, Lower New England & New York City Area
Tracy Johnson, North & Central NJ and North & Central PA
Kathi Burroughs, Western NY & Pennsylvania
Katie Vlietstra, South NJ, Southeast PA, DE, MD & DC Area
Vanessa Freeman, South & Central Virginia to Florida
Robyn Paige, Michigan & Wisconsin
Jennifer Lenhart-Rogish, Midwest
Joanne Barrick, West Coast

To learn more about each CA, click here.

To see a complete breakdown of the chapters in each community, click here. Supreme Council is proud of the work done by the Organizational Structure Task Force and Chapter Services Committee to bring forth the beginning of a great future for Phi Sigma Sigma. Both committees are extremely excited to have worked with the Fraternity’s membership to bring about these changes.

Phi Sigma Sigma is an international women's fraternity founded in 1913 at Hunter College in New York City. Currently, Phi Sigma Sigma has over 55,000 initiated members worldwide, with 110 collegiate chapters and colonies and more than 100 alumnae groups across North America. More information about the organization can be found at www.phisigmasigma.org.

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