HISTORY AND GOVERNANCE OF SIGMA ALPHA IOTA
Sigma Alpha Iota was established on June 12, 1903, at the University School of Music in Ann Arbor, Michigan, by seven music students:
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Mary Storrs Andersen
Frances Caspari
Elizabeth A. Campbell
Nora Crane Hunt
Leila Farlin Laughlin
Georgina Potts
Minnie Davis Sherrill
Today, the fraternity is comprised of eight regions, subdivided into a total of sixty-three provinces. Each region is overseen by a Regional Officer, and each province is overseen by a Province Officer. Each province is made up of collegiate and alumnae chapters. There is also an International Chapter, formed in 1995. There are currently 222 active collegiate chapters and 121 active alumnae chapters. The National Convention, to which each active collegiate and alumnae chapter sends a delegate, is held every three years at varying locations.
2018-2021 National Executive Board of Sigma Alpha Iota
Leslie Odom Miller, National President
Mary Frances Bushong, National Vice President, Alumnae Chapters
Jessica Chichester, National Vice President, Collegiate Chapters
Jennifer Zerangue Mistretta, National Vice President, Extension
Christine Hall, National Vice President, Development
Keri Flowers, National Vice President, Finance
Tracy Wygal Withrow, National Vice President, Ritual and Fraternity Education
Heidi Frankson, Chairman, Board of Directors, SAI Philanthropies, Inc.
Ruth Sieber Johnson, Executive Director
Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, Inc.
Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, Inc. was created in 1974 to administer the International Music Fund and the SAI Foundation. The International Music Fund offers worldwide service through music. The SAI Foundation supports projects such as the "American Music" issue of the fraternity magazine, Pan Pipes, and provides scholarships of various kinds to collegiate and alumnae members. SAI established and continues to maintain Pan's Cottage at the MacDowell Colony for Creative Artists in Peterborough, New Hampshire.
Chairman, Board of Directors, SAI Philanthropies, Inc.
Heidi Frankson, Chairman, Board of Directors, SAI Philanthropies, Inc.
Colorado Springs Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota
On June 20, 2015, Colleen Christiansen, Elizabeth LeFors, Rebecca MacNamee, and Stephanie Thompson met at a restaurant in Colorado Springs to discuss the project of starting a new Sigma Alpha Iota alumnae chapter. Up to that point, the only chapters for sisters living in Colorado were in Denver and Boulder - too far to be practical for many sisters living in southern Colorado. The four sisters began recuiting other sisters in the area, and the first official meeting of the Sigma Alpha Iota Interest Group of Colorado Springs was held on August 23, 2015, in the ENT Conference Room at Library 21C.
On June 20, 2015, a meeting was held at Phantom Canyon Brewery on Cascade Avenue to start coming up with a plan. Stephanie designed postcards that would be mailed to the membership list that Colleen had received from SAI National Headquarters. A month later, they met again to address and send out the postcards. On August 23, 2015, an interest meeting was held at Pikes Peak Library District Library 21c. The Colorado Springs Alumnae Interest Group was formed and held its first meeting at the home of Elizabeth LeFors on September 13, 2015. The following officers were appointed: Colleen Christiansen, President; Elizabeth LeFors, Vice President; Stephanie Thompson, Treasurer; and Rebecca MacNamee, Secretary.
Following the extension guidelines, the interest group met monthly. After completing a service project with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and gaining ten members for the interest group, the group was renamed the Colorado Springs Alumnae Colony of Sigma Alpha Iota by Beth Lopez, NVP Extension, on December 21, 2015.
In a letter dated June 15, 2016, Sigma Alpha Iota announced the acceptance of the Colony’s petition to become an Alumnae Chapter. On September 24, 2016, formal installation was held and the Colony was officially chartered as the Colorado Springs Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, Xi C Province, Region I.
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2015-2016 Officers of the Interest Group of Colorado Springs
Colleen Christiansen, President
Elizabeth LeFors, Vice President-Membership
Sharon King, Vice President-Ritual
Rebecca MacNamee, Secretary
Stephanie Thompson, Treasurer
Glenda Hegr, Editor
Xi C Province Officer
Megan Nugent
Region I Officer
Mayalisa Bordenkircher
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Charter Members of the
Colorado Springs Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota
September 24, 2016
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Kaitlyn Chase
Colleen Christiansen
Lisa Fowler
Sylvia Hale
Glenda Hegr
Brittany Joerger
Sharon King
Anna Langr
Elizabeth LeFors
Rebecca MacNamee
Lori McKellar
Kate Myers
Cynthia Pisor-Zapel
Julie Seibert
Audrey Szychulski
Stephanie Thompson
Mary Vincent