They Stood Alone - Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

SGR CHAPTERChat • SGR • SGRRhoTown TechBy: Soror Erica M. DeanWebmistress, Rho Sigma Alumnae Chapter-Detroit, MichiganBlessed to secure membership in Detroit’s Rho Sigma Alumnae chapter in March 2006, I was happy for theopportunity to use my technology skills on behalf of Sigma Gamma Rho. My first task as webmistress was toredesign and maintain our chapter’s existing site, which is not as easy as one may think. It seemed that everyother month, Rho Sigma’s internet home went through a complete makeover, brought upon by midnightrevelations and a desire to make the site look its absolute best.It was during these times that I visited a wide variety of websites for both NPHC and non-NPHCorganizations. Of course, I wanted to see what others were doing, while at the same time helping Rho Sigmaattract more visitors to our site. I looked at how Sigma Gamma Rho chapters throughout the nation were usingour color scheme, add-ons such as photo galleries and calendars, and the use of password-protected pages,which is becoming a must-have website tool. Fast forward one year late, and here I am working harder than everin RhoTown, which is scheduled to play host to Sigma Gamma Rho’s International Boule in 2008. Wanting torevise our website yet again, I was able to summarize what I think it takes to build a great web presence for yourchapter.1. Sigma Gamma Rho Website Design ProtocolBefore I could even lay the groundwork for Rho Sigma’s website in 2006, two illustrious Sigma women,Soror Claudia M. Clark (2004-2006 chapter basileus) and Soror Jacquelyn M. Moore (current chapterbasileus), directed me to the Sigma Gamma Rho Website Design Guidelines document, located onSigma Gamma Rho’s national website under the “Sorors Only” section. Within this document, I foundimportant information that discussed how a Sigma Gamma Rho website should reflect “Greater Service,Greater Progress”, showing our chapters, sorors, and the sorority as a whole in a positive light. Anyonewho has a hand in creating your chapter’s website should be aware that refusing to adhere to the presentedguidelines and protocol could result in a request for the removal of the website from the Internet. Bottomline: You never know who is visiting your site, so make it right!2. Overall ThemeWhat to make your chapter stand out in the crowd? Why not develop a chapter theme? I have seen thisthroughout our sorority and it can really help guide the design of your website. Example: Unofficially,I decided to nickname our chapter, RhoTown. Since we are located in Detroit, Michigan, the home ofMotown, it was really easy to apply that to our chapter…and it sounds good when you say it, too. Next,I found a little piece of clip art that could alter using graphics editing software to reflect not only RhoSigma, but Sigma Gamma Rho as a whole. I call her “Ms. Rho”, and she can be found throughout ourweb pages. I also bring out “Ms. Rho” whenever I have an opportunity to create a flyer or other artworkfor the chapter as part of the Rho Sigma Promotion Team (RSPT), excellently lead by Soror DarleneHouse, Rho Sigma Publicist.32