June Alumnae Spotlight: Karyn Nishimura Sneath

By Karyn Nishimura Sneath, Delta Sigma,Western Illinois University

Karyn Nishimura Sneath (right) with Marsha Carrasco Cooper at the 2010 national convention.

I believe every Sigma Kappa should have at least one "Wow!" national sorority moment. There is nothing like going to College Officer Training School (COTS), a new chapter colonization, an extension presentation or our national convention to help you understand and appreciate the bigger picture of Sigma Kappa's significance.

As a workshop presenter, my hope is that you take advantage of the "Wow!" of the 2012 convention. Numerous presenters have prepared to offer their knowledge, expertise and perspectives through the various educational programs. I'm very excited to play a small part in the "Leadership for Life" track that National Vice President for Programming Jennifer Challender Rainey, Alpha Gamma, Washington State University, and the programming team have developed. Past National President Angela Guillory, Delta Mu, Northwestern State University, and Jennifer recruited Sigma Kappa's former executive director, Dr. Tisa Johnson Mason, Epsilon Kappa, Transylvania University, and longtime Sorority volunteer, past National Panhellenic Conference delegate and past national council member, Mary Alice Sullivan McNeil, Lambda, University of California Berkeley, to teach in this track. These women are respected, dynamic and whip-smart. They are personal "she-roes" of mine and I can't wait for you to see them in action during that educational track.

As a team member presenting a workshop, I want you to learn a lot at convention. Collectively, we want you to meet other fabulous Sigma Kappas, both young and "experienced." We want you to dig in and recommit to the values of the Sorority. We need you to recommit your gift of treasure to ensure quality leadership development programming in our future. The Sigma Kappa Foundation was created to support the Sorority and underwrite the educational components to our leadership programming. The competition-driven women (and we hope you, also) will make a donation to the Sigma Kappa Foundation during the District Challenge. It’s important that we remember to continue that gift giving after convention.

Jennifer and National Vice President for Alumnae Amy Crowley Denson, Theta Chi, West Virginia University, have worked together to shape the RECONNΣΚT Package. This programming package is exclusively for alumnae (non-delegates) and includes discounted registration fees for Thursday through Saturday, including Thursday’s Building Our Legacy luncheon, Friday’s Leadership for Life luncheon and the Confirmed Conventionite Celebration. The Sorority is trying to get as many Sigma Kappas as possible to experience convention.

The final piece of the convention experience I'm most excited about is the opportunity to spend time with about 20 alumnae and collegiate members participating in a focused conversation about Sigma Kappa's impending - and significant - rotation into the leadership chair role of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC – the umbrella organization for the 26 inter/national sororities).

As you may know, each NPC member group is equally represented by a delegate and up to three alternate delegates. The delegate acts as a liaison between her sorority and the other NPC groups, as well as a board of director for the Conference. Currently, Donna Crane King, Epsilon Rho, Eastern Washington University, serves as Sigma Kappa’s NPC delegate.

In 2013, Sigma Kappa will take the vice chair position for two years and then serve as chairman from 2015-2017. Taking the leadership helm in NPC happens approximately every 50 years, as the leadership rotates among the 26 NPC sororities based upon year of entry into the Conference. During our focused conversation we will co-create ways to share this exciting and important news with our own sisters, collegiate and alumnae Panhellenics, and other important Sigma Kappa stakeholders.

I’m looking forward to seeing longtime friends, bask in some Sigma Kappa pride alongside hundreds of sisters, and experience the “Wow!” of convention! I hope to see you there!