Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Spring 2023 13 remained on the field after the event to meet and pose in family and participant photos. A large part of the sisterhood's involvement stems from the act of serving as mentors and role models for not only prospective Redcoat members, but also prospective University of Georgia music students. After the session, sister and Co- Philanthropy Chair Lauren McClary, a music therapy major, was approached by a high school student curious about the music therapy program within Hugh Hodgson School of Music. She shared that "It all started off talking about why he was interested, because he loves music and he wants to help people. It sounded like a reason a lot of us are in the major. It was also a great opportunity to educate people on what music therapy is and what music therapists do. Upon talking about the general music programs at UGA, I connected him with the contact information of the admissions director for the HHSOM and director of the music therapy program." Throughout the day, an informational trifold and past SAI yearbook was displayed for attendees to learn more about the Fraternity. Dreaming of the Redcoat Band Day has grown to mean so much to the sisters of the Iota Zeta chapter and has shaped the chapter's attitude toward recruitment, as well as music. Maggi Hines, an Iota Zeta alumna and current music teacher at both Centralhatchee Elementary School and Ephesus Elementary School, elaborated on what the event means to her: "I worked it as the trumpet section leader for almost every year that I was in SAI. I taught trumpet players that ended up marching alongside me in Redcoats, one of whom even became one of my best friends. I promoted the event as much as I could to my [students] because we are a part of a very small, rural community and I wanted them to be a part of this amazing opportunity." Hines indicated that she had many colleagues and students attend: one of her first-grade students, her coworker's daughter, four middle schoolers and three high schoolers from Heard County, and the Heard County Middle School's band director's children. "It meant so much to me to have my school system represented at Dreaming of the Redcoat Band Day; we had one of the biggest groups there! I taught a lesson about the Redcoat Band in the fall, and so many of my students have told me that they want to be a Redcoat one day," Hines said. "I am so grateful to have an event like this that not only supports Sigma Alpha Iota but is also an amazing and extremely affordable opportunity for students across the state of Georgia." This event is so powerful for our chapter because of the importance of football on our campus and the number of sisters in the Redcoat Band. Although many sisters in our chapter are not in the marching band, they acknowledge the importance of it on campus and within our Fraternity. There is nothing more powerful than doing service through music, and our chapter and Redcoat sisters have learned and continue to learn that lesson through this event. Iota Zeta President and Redcoat Band drum major Sarah Secrist summed up the event: "Not only does [Dreaming of the Redcoat Band Day] provide for the students of the Athens community and beyond, but the money raised goes towards our philanthropy funds as well; the event raised a total of $1,900. A portion will be donated to SAI Philanthropies, Inc., and the rest will be used to fund our annual Be Bold Bash in the spring, with our local branch of Extra Special People, Inc. Dreaming of the Redcoat Band Day not only inspires future Redcoat Band members, but it also sparks interest in studying music and joining SAI one day. We are so proud of the growth this event has seen over the years and we look forward to seeing what future SAI sisters do with it." Editor Miya Bleth is a third-year student at the University of Georgia, double majoring in Digital Marketing and Economics. Initiated in Spring 2021, she has previously served the Iota Zeta Chapter as Merchandise and Social Chair. Music Education " There is nothing me powerful than doing service thrgh music"

• Cover