The Alpha Signal

Ritual Chairman Tips

1. Do a Ritual inventory by reading each ceremony and assuring that you have the necessary materials and all the needed Ritual books.
2. In conjunction of working with the chapter calendar, secure a location for each ceremony that will accommodate the entire chapter.  Be sure to inform the entire chapter of the location/time/date/dress code/etc. as soon as possible.
3. Secure proper storage for all ritual materials. Polish all silver and iron all cloth materials.  These will both help to keep all materials in good condition year after year.
4. Take pride in your position.
5. Include other chapter members or officers in the planning process.
6. Make sure any and all activities planned before and after a Ritual service are appropriate for the same day/night as the ceremony.
7. Practice!  In addition to securing locations for each ceremony include a time and date to practice before each ceremony.
8. Prepare for any questions that may arise due to the Ritual.
9. Work with the Collegiate-Alumnae Liaison to invite alumnae to attend.
10. Let initiated chapter members know they can borrow Ritual books to read if they wish.
11. Work with the Music Chairman to keep up to date copies of all music needed.
12. Ask questions when needed!

**All resources for National Ritual Week have been posted in the Ceremonies section of the Officer Resources website. They will continue to remain there for continued use by chapters.

Alpha Sigma Tau is a partner for National Ritual Week.  Additional information is available online at http://www.phimu.org/nationalritualweek

Ritual Jeopardy

This activity can be done at a chapter retreat or at a smaller, more specific workshop.

Instructions:

• Modeled after the TV show, facilitators should lead the participants as hosts of Ritual Jeopardy.
• Facilitator(s) should generate questions ranging from easy (100 points) to very difficult (500 points).
• Facilitator(s) should think of 5-7 categories such as “Founders,” “Colors,” “Mascot,” “Creed,” “Ceremony” all centered around Ritual.
• Once the Jeopardy board is set up, facilitators should then ask participants to split up into 2-5 teams (based on the number of participants) and have each team member participate in the activity.
• Facilitator(s) should keep score along with a willing volunteer to play scorekeeper.
• Before the game officially starts, facilitator(s) should outline the rules and remind participants that all answers should be in the form of a question!
• Once the game has begun, facilitator(s) should continue to play until a team has won.

Processing Questions:

• Ask participants if they had fun? (If they say yes, remind them that learning about the values, history and Ritual of your organization can be fun.)
• What categories were easy to answer? What categories were difficult?
• How did it feel when you knew the answer but your teammate did not?
• If you noticed a team member that answered a question correctly but not in the form of a question, ask the group how they felt when that happened? What correlations can you make this activity and the fraternity/sorority experience?
• Who does the host of Jeopardy represent in the fraternal world? Who is always questioning us?

**Based on groups enthusiasm and interaction, continue the processing questions until you feel ready to move on.**

*Created by Scott Clark & Rachel Westra Marsh

Alpha Sigma Tau is a partner for National Ritual Week.  Additional information is available online at http://www.phimu.org/nationalritualweek

Ritual: Consistent/Inconsistent Conversation

This is an outline of a conversation/reflection workshop that you can use in a variety of settings- either with an entire chapter, large/small retreat group, etc.

Supplies:

• White Board or flip chat
• Tape (if using a flip chat)
• Markers
• Index cards, one per participant

Instructions:

• Have members pair up with a partner and share why they joined their particular organization. Ask for a few volunteers to share their reasons.(Record answers on a board/flip chart)
• Have them name off the values of their organization as taught in their Ritual, (Write on board/flip chart)
• What are the things you and other members of your organization are doing to live up to the values of your organization? (Write on board/flip chart with the title, “CONSISTENT”)
• What are the things you are doing that are inconsistent with the values of your organization? (Write on board/flip chart with the title, “INCONSISTENT”)

Discussion Questions:

• How do you feel when you look at these two lists?
• Why do we do the things on the CONSISTENT list?
• Why do we do the things in the INCONSISTENT list?
• How have you seen things on the inconsistent list impact yourself? Your chapter? A sister?
• What would your founders say if they saw these lists?
• If you preach all of the consistent things and hide the inconsistent, what does it say about you and your integrity?
• What is it going to take to not just say you are a member of your sorority but to actually BE a member? (Write these responses)

Wrap-Up: Notecard Activity

• Hand out one notecard to each member present.
• On one side of your notecard ask them to write down at least one thing that being a member of the chapter has given you that no other organization has.
• Ask them to think for a minute about the following: When you come back to visit in 5-10 years what to you want to see from the chapter?
• With this in mind, what are some ways you can start helping make that happen? On the back side of your notecard write down at least one thing that you will do to help truly LIVE your life like you committed to do so at your initiation to ensure the chapter remains strong and successful in years to come. Think of it as your personal commitment to your organization.

“The world we live in is the legacy of those who have gone before us. The choices we make in it create a legacy for those who will follow”

Created by Scott Clark & Rachel Westra Marsh

Alpha Sigma Tau is a partner for National Ritual Week.  Additional information is available online at http://www.phimu.org/nationalritualweek

Ritual Discussion Topics and Questions

The following discussion topics and questions can be used at a chapter retreat, during a membership growth and development program, or even after a Ritual ceremony. The questions can be adapted to each chapter or discussion.

1. What is Ritual?
2. Who is responsible for Ritual in the chapter?
3. Why do you think our Founder’s wanted to have a Ritual?
4. What does having a Ritual mean to you?
5. What does having a Ritual mean to our organization?
6. What do you do each day to include our organization’s Ritual in your daily life?
7. Why do you think it is difficult for some members in our chapter to live by our Creed/Oath/Ritual?
8. What does it mean to be a values-based organization?
9. How does our chapter demonstrate to others that we are a values-based organization?
10. What should our chapter do to be a values-based organization?

Alpha Sigma Tau is a partner for National Ritual Week.  Additional information is available online at http://www.phimu.org/nationalritualweek

Ritual Review

The topics below can be reviewed with the entire chapter or they can be reviewed before or after a Ritual Ceremony with new members. Below are some suggestions, please feel free to adapt the topics to your chapter.

• Creed
• Songs
• Motto(s)
• Call/Response
• Flower
• Meaning of Greek Letters
• Knock
• Password
• Handshake
• Colors
• Formal Meeting Practices
• Crest/Shield
• Badge
• National Symbol

Alpha Sigma Tau is a partner for National Ritual Week.  Additional information is available online at http://www.phimu.org/nationalritualweek

As we kick-off National Ritual Week, we would like to remind and encourage all chapters/people to share their reflections and stories about their Ritual experience in their every day life or through their collegiate experience. We ask that you share these stories via our Facebook Fan Page – Alpha Sigma Tau National Sorority and continue to do so throughout the National Ritual Week Celebration.

Reviewing the Creed Activity

A look between the lines

This is a simple activity to do with the chapter, and a meaningful one.  Sometimes members forget the oath they took and what the Creed truly means.  Take some time to review your organization’s Creed with your chapter and find out what it means to them and what members do daily to include the Creed and Ritual in their lives.

Type the organization’s Creed in a file on your computer (example below).  After each sentence, insert a blank line that members can reflect upon that line and write what it means to them.  Once members have completed their reflections upon the entire Creed, ask members to share their thoughts with the chapter.

While asking members to share their thoughts about the Creed, ask for specific examples about how they include that line in their daily life or what the chapter has done to demonstrate that line.

You can also ask members to write down on a piece of paper the line in the Creed that means the most to them.  You can also ask members to write a line of the Creed that they commit to including in their daily life.

Example Handout:

Note: when making your handout, try to fit the entire Creed on one page with a line to write below each line.

Alpha Sigma Tau Creed

As a member of Alpha Sigma Tau,

I believe in the permanence and loveliness of its ideals.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

I believe in the values of friendship and fidelity to purpose.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

I believe in the fulfillment of self, and will strive to contribute my share to the progress of mankind.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

I believe in cultivating beauty of spirit and graciousness of living in all my contacts with others.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

I believe that faithfulness to these ideals will help me to live joyously and valiantly.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alpha Sigma Tau is a partner for National Ritual Week.  Additional information is available online at http://www.phimu.org/nationalritualweek