They Stood Alone - Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

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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
3. Website Design and Hosting IssuesOkay, you have the guidelines, your theme, and even a chapter icon. Now, the hard part begins. Youneed to actually layout and design your website. If your chapter can afford it, you can hire an outsideagency to do this for you. Low on cash? Then it would be best to use companies like Yahoo or Tripod(Rho Sigma’s preferred website host) which offer free, ad-based websites that you can design online. Ifyou do not want to design “on-line”, there are software programs that you can use for this purpose, such asMicrosoft Front Page or Adobe Dreamweaver. After you have completed your pages, you can upload thefiles to the host’s online server.Note: “Ad-based” is just what it says: this means that visitors to your website will not only see yourchapter’s information, but ads for bicycles, vacations, home loans, and more. Usually, such ad-basedwebsites give subscribers a very long web address that may or may not be that easy to remember.This means that if you want a nice, neat, personalized web address or domain name (Example:ww.rhosigmadetroit.org), you will have to pay for it. Again, it is a matter of chapter preference, but mostof the “free” web hosting providers offer monthly or yearly plans that include a domain name of yourchoosing.4. Website Maintenance is Very, Very ImportantThe main key to having a great website is routine maintenance. A good website is has to be looked afterand taken care of. Links need to be checked for smooth navigation. Events need to be updated. Chapterrosters should be revised (Examples: name changes through marriage or even divorce; committeechanges, etc.). What about old pictures? Now, I’m not perfect. Not only am I the webmistress, but I am afull-time teacher as well. Website maintenance is hard work, but I try to stay on top of things by devotingat least 2-3 evenings per week for Rho Sigma business. The hardest part so far has been the developmentof the Photo Gallery. Right now, I have pictures posted from Slide.com, but for the upcoming 2007-2008sorority year I will be working more closely with dedicated Rho Sigma Epistoleus Dana Hughes to developa current online photo gallery. One word of advice: Become buddies with your chapter epistoleus-sheis a great resource for information both past and present regarding your chapter. Looking back, I thinkI called Soror Hughes everyday once I became a member and she always took time out to aid in thedevelopment of the website and gave me hard copies of our chapter’s history, event calendars, flyers,and more. I can remember meeting with her at Wayne State’s Undergraduate Library where she broughtalmost every piece of Rho Sigma information she could find. Thanks again, Dana (smile).Whenever I have the occasion to do so, I always tell people that my favorite part of being in Sigma GammaRho is the role I have in helping my chapter gain more exposure. Lately, it has been great receiving emailsregarding Rho Sigma membership and membership transfer, both important factors in chapter growth andsurvival. As the 2007-2008 sorority year approaches, I will continue to look for ways to make Rho Sigma one ofthe Internet’s best. Welcome to RhoTown. (www.rhosigmadetroit.org)With both a BA in Elementary Education and M.Ed in Education-K12 Instructional Technology fromWayne State University (Detroit, MI), Soror Erica M. Dean fell in love with technology at the age of8, when her parents bought her a Nintendo Entertainment System … instructing her to “hook it up” tothe television by herself.Today, at the age of 29, Soror Dean is a 6-year veteran of the Detroit Public School System, where shecurrently teaches Computer Applications …”hooking up” computers, VCRs, and more at Warren G.Harding Elementary School.Winter/Spring 2008 • The Aurora 33
Page 3 and 4: Volume 77, No. IThe official organ
Page 5 and 6: Dear Editor …Dear _______________
Page 11 and 12: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorpora
Page 13 and 14: air. He created man and woman, in h
Page 15 and 16: Committee for Education and was the
Page 17 and 18: Winster/Spring 2008 • The Aurora
Page 19 and 20: Soror Winifred J. Daugherty has exp
Page 21 and 22: Region NewsSOUTHWEST REGIONShowcase
Page 23 and 24: NationalPan-HellenicCouncilConventi
Page 25 and 26: Employee Stock OptionsSubmitted by:
Page 27 and 28: Victoria RowellThe Women WhoRaised
Page 29: They stood alone.Soror Brittany Kno
Page 32 and 33: the rebuttal“Why is the registrat
Page 36 and 37: NATIONAL EDUCATION FUNDANNOUNCESSCH
Page 39: Boule Call from the International G
Page 43: Winter/Spring 2008 • The Aurora 4
Page 47: Winter/Spring 2008 • The Aurora 4
Page 50 and 51: Candidate for International First G
Page 52 and 53: CANDIDATE FOR INTERNATIONAL GRAMMAT
Page 54 and 55: CANDIDATE FOR INTERNATIONAL GRAND E
Page 56 and 57: If you wear a seat beltevery time y
Page 58 and 59: It’s wrongIt’s prohibitedIt’s
Page 60 and 61: Other events hosted by the chapter
Page 62 and 63: Eta Xi Sigma Alumnae in recruiting
Page 64 and 65: Alpha Rho SigmaWaco, TexasKites Gal
Page 66 and 67: 2007 Torch Awardees are:• Hermene
Page 68 and 69: and advisor to their college studen
Page 70 and 71: 68difference and achieving positive
Page 72 and 73: Affiliate NewsALPHA XI SIGMA RHOERS
Page 74 and 75: Soror Lillian Cook MitchellGamma Ph
Page 76 and 77: Where ismy AURORA?The AURORA is pro
Page 78 and 79: SUBMISSION GUIDELINES. Email submis
Page 80: The Power of 1ONE4 EACH4 REGISTER4

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