University of North Georgia, Gainesville Campus new member and Chapter Officer induction ceremony.
Many Sigma Tau Delta members, especially those serving as Chapter Officers, would agree when I say that creating and maintaining community is the hardest part of having a successful chapter—but also the most fun. These events, large or small, create the backbone of local chapters and help them thrive; they build community, increase recruitment, encourage teamwork, and can even support the chapter financially.
When I first joined my local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta (Alpha Upsilon Phi) in spring 2022, I wanted to become as involved as possible. The first step to becoming involved was going to as many events as possible, the first of which was the annual Blind Date with a Book event—preceded by a gathering that involved wrapping all the books in brown paper and giving them a fun description. This event solidified my idea of the chapter and how much fun it would be to join fully. In fall 2022, I officially joined Sigma Tau Delta and subsequently became my chapter’s Secretary. That year, the chapter’s executive board decided we wanted to start a new event for our chapter: the Common Reader Book Club. This was the start of our chapter’s rise in community building, and everything we accomplished that year eventually became the achievements that won us the Outstanding Chapter Award. The following year, I took over as chapter President and decided I wanted to continue the events we had started and work on maintaining the community we had built the year prior (so far, so good!).
The main point to remember when looking to create a new event, or keep an old event in the mix, is how will this event benefit our chapter and local community? That local community may include the general community around your school, the students at your school, or simply your chapter members. The benefits are broad as well: outreach, recruitment, enjoyment/fun, monetary, etc. Events such as Blind Date with a Book increase community outreach (within our university community as well as with our chapter service group, Books for Keeps), fundraise for our chapter, and each wrapping event makes for fun bonding time for our chapter members.
An event such as the Common Reader Book Club offers community building for our members within each meeting, prep for convention, exposure to new authors, etc. Other events that my chapter has held include a Holiday Party (cookie decorating and book exchange), our Scholars Night event (to celebrate graduates and includes community potluck), and our bi-annual Induction Night and Member Meeting (induction of new members, pizza night, and member get-together). This year, our list of events looks like:
- A table at a Community Book Fair our university is hosting (September)
- Fall Induction Night (September)
- Common Reader Book Club starts (October)
- Convention Paper Workshop (October)
- Our annual Southern Regional Conference (October)
- Holiday Party (December)
- Spring Induction Night (January)
- Paper Reading Practices start (January)
- Paper Presentation Night (March)
- International Convention (March)
- Blind Date with a Book (April)
- Scholars Night (May)
We have found that having some type of official event, outside of any off-campus events like dinners or hangouts, at least once a month has made a huge difference in building our chapter’s community and maintaining that community. Each event gives our members opportunities for networking, teamwork, leadership, recruitment, and most importantly, fun! As President this year, I am so excited to continue these events and leave my chapter with a full set of events they can turn to in the future to foster the community we have grown over the past few years.
Sophia Jockell
Student Representative, Southern Region, 2024-2025
Alpha Upsilon Phi Chapter, President
University of North Georgia, Gainesville Campus, Dahlonega, GA
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honor Society, was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. The Society strives to
- Confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies;
- Provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and the English language in surrounding communities;
- Foster all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language, and writing;
- Promote exemplary character and good fellowship among its members;
- Exhibit high standards of academic excellence; and
- Serve society by fostering literacy.
With over 900 active chapters located in the United States and abroad, there are more than 1,000 Faculty Advisors, and approximately 9,000 members inducted annually.
Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to the fields of language and literature.
