Sigma Alpha Iota

Summer 2020 6 P A N P I P E S C oronavirus. Covid-19. e Rona. Whatever you may call it, there is no question that life has changed a great deal since the World Health Organization declared the outbreak to be a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Our communities, workspaces, schools, and homes have all felt the impact of varying degrees of shut-downs and stay-at-home orders. Despite the restrictions and difficulties that closures and social distancing have created, SAIs have adapted to maintain connections with their sisters and to continue making, supporting, and teaching music. Numerous chapters and even wider groups of sisters have utilized digital platforms, such as Zoom, Facebook, or GoToMeeting, to meet online and continue with Fraternity business. Some have met to simply finish out the year's tasks and socialize, while others have planned more involved events. e Lambda Chi Chapter at California State University, Fullerton, for example, held a meeting via Zoom on March 30, 2020, and President Jasmine Powell said, "Since we will likely be virtual in the fall, we are getting creative in finding new ways to adapt and stay active." Along those lines, many SAI members from all over the country met for a few rounds of online trivia games, organized by Chicago Alumnae Chapter member Cheryl Graff. e New York Alumnae Chapter held a Virtual Musical on May 17th (see Sidebar). Sisters from Regions VII and VIII established an online book club to stay connected during quarantine. Mallory Potter (Iota A PO), Rebecca Sepulveda (Sigma D PO), and Michelle Werner (Phi B PO) started the group, which meets every third Wednesday over Zoom to discuss a book chosen by a sister in the group. Titles have included Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, Verity by Colleen Hoover, and Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano. Sisters from other regions are more than welcome to join the group at: https://www.facebook. com/groups/306076013712094/ "e sisterhood has not stopped since social distancing began," shared Olivia Joi Morton of the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter. "Animal Crossing is how I've stayed connected…I was even able to connect with active sisters from my collegiate chapter via Instagram because of Animal Crossing." She and other sisters from across the country have been connecting on the social simulation video game—using it for sisterhood, togetherness, and friendship. Want to join in on the fun? Visit the SAI Facebook page, find the Animal Crossing post, and share your friend code to find other SAIs. With the cancellation of live performances SISTERHOOD W hen cities locked down months ago, many were daunted by the isolation. e loss of being able to meet friends for dinner, celebrate life events, or visit family was jarring, and we scrambled to adapt. Happy hours turned to Google Hangouts, and the conference room became a Zoom link. e New York Alumnae Chapter took these changes in stride. Despite the inability to gather in person, our sisterhood has held meetings, social events, and even a Musicale all while meeting CDC guidelines. By using Zoom as a platform to host our meetings, we are able to reach our sisters no matter where they are. Sisters who have moved to different states, or have not had the availability to come to our in-person sessions, are now logged in and sharing in the love and roses. In some Sisterhood at a Social Distance Connecting During the Pandemic In Animal Crossing, the following sisters are represented (from left to right): Sarah Saxton ( Theta Mu/Knoxville Alumnae); Hannah Lillibridge ( Theta Mu/Knoxville Alumnae); Emily Easley (Beta Chi); Olivia Joi Morton (Beta Eta/ Philadelphia Alumnae); Elizabeth Porco ( Theta Kappa/Northern New Jersey Alumnae); Misty Lawson (Iota Chi). Members of the New York Alumnae Chapter meeting via Zoom.

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