Recruitment Ready - Gamma Iota chapter at University of Florida

Wishing our Gamma Iota Sisters a great pre-recuitment week and FANTASTIC recruitment 2013! We love you!

Gamma Iota Recruitment Video 2013

If you need an Alpha Chi Omega Recruitment Recommendation Form, remember to check the Headquarters' website or contact ETE!  

Domestic Violence in Florda

We were so busy in October we missed posting about Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVA and DVAM), but sadly, DV happens year, so we want to make YOU aware of it and what you can do.

Two articles from Florida papers:

Domestic violence can happen to anyone, victim tells Clearwater students

By Danielle Paquette, Times Staff Writer
Danielle PaquetteTampa Bay Times In Print: Friday, November 2, 2012

CLEARWATER — The young woman who survived 32 stab wounds, a stroke, a slashed voice box and a broken heart kept repeating the same four words: I'm just like you.
Before a crowd of Countryside High School students early Thursday, Melissa Dohme, 20, described the night police say her high school sweetheart, the love of her life, tried to kill her.

I'm just like you.

Before he was accused by police of knifing her hands, head and throat Jan. 24 near Clearwater's Crest Lake Park, before he was charged with attempted first-degree murder, Robert Lee Burton Jr. kissed Melissa by her locker, took her to prom, sent her wake-up texts: "Good morning, beautiful."

I'm just like you.

Some students in the Media Center Thursday began to cry. Everyone was silent.

Anna Savchuk, 16, thought of her cousin and inwardly gave thanks. The cousin dated a controlling guy, once — a guy who slapped and punched her. After pleading from friends and family, she ended it two months ago.

Sure, Anna had been worried. But she never considered the relationship truly life-threatening. She didn't think someone so young, bright and well-off could be a victim of domestic violence.
But there, behind the podium, was Melissa: smart, beautiful, "Student of the Year" at St. Petersburg College. Melissa, with a penchant for white, lacy dresses and a dream to become a nurse.
Melissa, with 32 stab wounds.

I'm just like you.

A few rows behind Anna, Kim Florio, a Countryside drama teacher, watched her students in awe. They were so quiet, transfixed by Melissa's story.

Was this the same bunch who chucked pencils at each other? Linked arms and cackled down the hallways?

How tremendously important, Florio thought. Sometimes, girls approached her with confessions after class. Recently: "My boyfriend — he's jealous and angry and I don't know what to do."
Of course, she takes action. Sometimes, the girls grow angry. Some thank her.

Florio felt Melissa, a Clearwater High graduate, was reaching them. These kids, she thought, need to hear every word of this.

Chad Herman, who works at the Haven of RCS, a domestic violence center in Clearwater, thanked Melissa and took the microphone.

"Now you know the warning signs," he said. "You know it can happen to any of you. Any person in this room."

It starts subtly, Herman said.

Warning signs of an abusive boyfriend or girlfriend, according to the pamphlets printed for students by the Haven of RCS and partners, include early requests for serious commitment, extreme jealousy, possessiveness, violent outbursts and a tendency to criticize friends and family.
It's easier to prevent abuse, Herman said, when you recognize the early symptoms.

He walked the aisles, voice rising to compete with the end-of-period bzzz.

"It doesn't have to happen. We can beat domestic violence."

Danielle Paquette can be reached at dpaquette@tampabay.com or (727) 445-4224. To write a letter to the editor, go to tampabay.com/letters.

 *******

Thumb down: Domestic violence remains a major problem in Florida 

By Editorial Board 

Posted October 26, 2012 at 4 a.m.

FAMILY VIOLENCE: Last year, in Florida, there were 111,681 reports of domestic violence. Clearly, there were many more such situations that were not reported. Of those that were reported, 192 individuals died from that violence, representing almost 20 percent of all homicides in the state.

...

 

 

In the paper - TWICE in one week! ... SS

It is always exciting to see a sister quoted in the paper for work or a happy occassion. Thank you Cynthia (Beta Eta, FSU) for being a Real. Strong. Woman. role model.

Fla. Lottery secretary touts contributions to education
By Kate Schofield
Democrat writer
11:16 PM, Jul. 29, 2011|

Ending her speech in front of the Economic Cub of Florida on Friday afternoon, Cynthia O'Connell had one simple request — she asked the audience to buy lottery tickets.

O'Connell, appointed secretary of the Florida Lottery by Gov. Rick Scott on Feb. 9, spoke to the club about the mission behind Florida's Lottery: to give funds to Florida education and to aid the Florida economy as a whole.

Last fiscal year, the lottery brought in more than $4 billion, and about $3.9 billion of that was injected into the state's economy, O'Connell said. That is the first time the lottery has brought in that amount since 2008.

The Florida Lottery has contributed $22 billion to education since 1988. O'Connell and her staff of 24 aim to reach the $23 billion mark by October or November.

For every dollar spent on Florida lottery tickets, she said about 62 cents are returned to players as prizes. Thirty cents gets transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF), 5 cents are returned to retailers for commissions and bonuses, 1 cent is paid to game vendors and 2 cents are used for other operating costs (including staff salaries, advertising and all office operations).

The lottery also has funded a half-million students' Bright Futures scholarships, she added. Even with the recent changes the Legislature has made with Bright Futures, O'Connell said the mission to fund education is still at the heart of the Florida Lottery.

"The Florida Lottery is still important for education regardless of the changes the Legislature makes," she said after her speech. "It is our mandate to help fund education and we will continue to do that."

She said the Florida Lottery will use more social networks and mobile apps to expand demographics and be part of the 21st century world.

"We want to move Florida Lottery into the modern day we live in" she told the audience. The Economic Club of Florida tries to meet once a month and has had more than 400 speakers in its history including former Sen. Bob Graham and Clark Hoyt, public editor for The New York Times, said club chairman John Kurowski.


Lt. Gov. Carroll headlines panel featuring women in government

By Dana Edwards
Special to the Chronicle
Jul 27, 2011|

Jennifer Carroll told more than 300 Girls State delegates that being Florida's first African-American lieutenant governor was "never part of my personal plan — but, sometimes, you have to be open to higher plans."

Speaking on a panel organized by the James Madison Institute (JMI), Carroll retraced the steps that led to her election last November. She described her years serving in the Florida House, and how her early experience in the Navy helped prepare her to head the Florida agency in charge of veterans affairs.

She also admitted that public speaking came easily to her — after she had practiced in front of a mirror.

Carroll's remarks highlighted the James Madison Institute's annual "Women in Government" panel at Florida Girls' State.

This year's forum took place at FSU's Moore Auditorium and also featured Rep. Marti Coley of Blountstown, Florida Lottery Secretary Cindy O'Connell and Leon County Judge Nina Ashenafi Richardson.

Coley advised the young women to recognize that being a mother can aid one's experience rather than stifle opportunities. And Coley admitted that she, too, had never imagined running for public office — until the unfortunate death of her newly elected husband in 2005 prompted her to run for his House seat.

O'Connell noted that the diverse backgrounds of the JMI panelists — military, education, business, law — showed that there are many different routes to public service. She also shared her time-management techniques and how she weighs commitments in her personal and public lives.

Similarly, Richardson encouraged the students to invest time in something besides their future careers, offering her participation on the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra Board as an example. She said the key to a successful career is choosing something you enjoy doing every day.

Each panelist advised the girls to take time for themselves each day, whether that is prayer, exercise or something else. Taking time for yourself, they said, helps you to be at your best for all the people in your life.

Alpha Chi Omega to head the Florida Lottery

On Wednesday, February 2nd, Florida Governor Rick Scott named Alpha Chi Omega alumna Cynthia O'Connell (Beta Eta, FSU) to head the Florida Lottery! Please join us in sending her our congratulations and best wishes for her new position!

Press release:

Today, Governor Scott named Cynthia F. O’Connell as Secretary of the Florida Lottery. O’Connell has an experienced record in lottery management, communications, and higher education that will allow her to improve the agency’s efficiency and core mission of raising revenues for Florida public education.

O’Connell has previously served as a Division Director of Research and Promotions for the Florida Lottery, where she developed the promotional launch of the Lottery’s instant and online games, and oversaw a staff of twenty with a multi-million dollar budget authority. She most recently served as CEO at O’Connell Consulting, where she managed consulting contracts for clients seeking significant re-branding communication programs.

Previously, she served as a Senior Vice-President/GM at Hill & Knowlton, where she oversaw communications strategies for major national and Florida accounts. In addition, she served as the Information Manager for the Olympic Athletes Villages and Southeast US manager of the Torch Relay for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. She has vast experience as a branding, marketing, and communications executive with financial companies and higher-learning institutions.

Aside from her previous experience at the Florida Lottery, O’Connell has a long history of public service to Florida. She is an inaugural (2001-2011) Board of Trustee member of the University of Florida, where she oversaw committee assignments including educational policy and public relations including brand management. She has been a catalyst for numerous statewide philanthropic interests including the development of the Stephen C. O’Connell Supreme Court Reading Room at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law. She serves as the Chairwoman of the Florida House in D.C, Florida’s embassy on Capitol Hill, where she oversees Florida House’s important mission of showcasing Florida’s cultural and economic resources to the nation’s capital.

“Cindy brings an impressive record of leadership and brand management to the Florida Lottery and will improve the agency’s important mission of maximizing revenues for the enhancement of public education in Florida,” Governor Scott said.