Stay Connected - Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc.

Member Engagement

It’s easy to see how a sister-to-sister connection is especially important in these days of social distancing. Virtual engagement will feel different, but there are plenty of ways to ensure the Gamma Sisterhood stays strong:

Chapter Meetings.
Keep meeting. Continue to host chapter meetings weekly by utilizing video conferencing software!

Zoom offers a great, free service with 40-minute meetings of up to 100 people!
Distribute minutes regularly. If you don’t already have a way to get meeting minutes out to your members, now is a great time to get the process in motion. Using resources like Google Docs, chapter listservs or GroupMe ensures you can get information out to your members and alumni quickly!

Virtual Sisterhood.
Schedule time to catch up. Some of the daily conversations and interactions you would normally have aren’t happening right now. Doing weekly “team check-ins” or scheduling a roundtable for sisters to share what is going on in their lives is important and can keep you feeling connected.

Watch a movie together. Turn on Skype or Google Hangout and put on your favorite movie or new release. Google Chrome has add an extension called Netflix Party that you can download and all view a movie. Added bonus: you can mute the sister who won’t stop quoting their favorite lines.
Go to a museum or the zoo. Google Arts and Culture has compiled over 500 virtual tours of museums and national landmarks. Explore some of the world’s most renowned sites and collections of art and history with your sisters.
Start a book club or conversation circle. The nice thing about a book club is you can read the book separately and save the conversation for those moments when you can come together. If you’re not much of a reader, choose a documentary or short article instead. There are also several fiction and short story podcasts you can use.
Reach out to a different chapter to connect virtually via Zoom or Google Hangout. This is a great time to meet sisters and create new connections. You may find valuable information that can help you advance your chapter’s goals!

Have Dinner With Sisters.
Missing some of the connection you felt at meal times? Schedule a lunch or dinner to group call or video conference your sisters while you enjoy your favorite foods. You can even set some conversation topics ahead of time for added engagement.

Organize a Trivia Night.
Programs like Kahoot allow you to create your own trivia games to play with friends online. Challenge your sisters to a little friendly competition and see who is a trivia champ.

New Member Engagement.
Continued connections amongst sisters is important, but they are critical for new members still finding their place in the sisterhood.

Attend a webinar together. Online learning and engagement is always growing and evolving. From things like TedTalks to webinars offered by subject matter experts, there is plenty to learn together, much of which can be easily connected back to our values.
Engage your seniors and recent alums. Learning from the leaders and experienced members of your chapter can be incredibly helpful for your new members and rewarding for your alumni and older sisters. A simple video conference or panel-style phone conference allows for presenters to share experience and new members to ask questions.

Graduating Seniors.
Even with classes happening online, graduating Gammas can still get the “senior send-off” they properly deserve.

Video testimonials. Many of our chapters encourage seniors to deliver testimonials to the chapter about their SLG experience. Think of it as a public reflection on your time in the chapter as an undergraduate. This activity is easy to do virtually using video conferencing. You can also have seniors prerecord their testimonials or even go live on Instagram to deliver their message to the chapter.
Virtual “thank you” cards. A great way to recognize seniors is to thank them for all they have done for the chapter as a collegiate member. The chapter can record short, 30-second thank you/recognition videos on their phones which can be sent to the member directly or compiled by the chapter and edited into a single montage for each graduating member.

Mental Health Resources

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or dial 911 in case of emergency.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or substance use problem, there are several resources available to find out more information or get connected with help. Check out some mental health resources below:

GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Mental Health America

National Council for Behavioral Health

National Empowerment Center

National Institute of Mental Health (Mental Illness Among U.S. Adults)

World Health Organization (Disability from Mental Illness)

National Alliance on Mental Illness

DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL INTENTIONS

American Association of Suicidology

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

Mental Health America