Citizenship within Alpha Chi Omega

Before reading the assigned chapter, I don't think I have ever actually sat down and thought about being a good citizen actually meant. My idea of a good citizen was voting in the elections, volunteering every now and then, and doing good somehow to the community.

Now I know that being an effective citizen means so much more than that. It's being actively engaged in your communkty/communities and providing postive progress or change for the greater good. I have become a more effective citizen within my chapter by constantly thinking about what can be done better and how to approach it to the chapter in the best manner. I think I took initiative last year as recruitment chair when our chapter was severely lacking in morale and sisterhood. Instead of basing workshops solely on recruitment, I incorporated bonding activites for all of us to realize the true meaning of why we are here and devote so much time into a sorority.

I'm becoming a better citizen in the chapter by staying engaged and having good communication with my executive board to ensure that any and all issues are being addressed. Finally, I'm planning SOE events that are actually going to be relevant and benefical to our chapter, so our women can actually feel like she learned something from these events.

My approach to citizenship is different to what I used to think it meant now in the fact that I'm constantly staying engaged. Citizenship is not picking and choosing the times you want to be engaged and deciding which day you want to be a good person and a good example. It's constantly striving for the best, not only for yourself, but for the greater good of the community or organization you are involved in.

I think overall our chapter has a decent perspective on citizenship, but they could definitely use some work. I think most think citizenship within the chapter means coming to mandatory events, such as philanthropy events and chapter, but they are moving a bit past this. Many have shown great citizenship by going above and beyond the required service hours or attending additional sisterhoods than what is expected of them. I think the biggest improvement the chapter can make towards citizenship is how they handle themselves at social events. Being a good role model and acting like a poised women I think is important for citizenship because it ultimately reflects on the image of the chapter and on the Greek community.