Sigma Kappa Handbook for the Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent 2020 FOREWORD "The purpose of Sigma Kappa Sorority is to provide women lifelong opportunities and support for social, intellectual and spiritual development by bringing women together to positively impact our communities." Article II, Section 1 Sigma Kappa Sorority Bylaws This purpose builds on the values of our organization: friendship, loyalty, service and personal growth, all bound by a promise. National council affirms that Sigma Kappa collectively can only grow through the prosperity of each individual chapter. Such prosperity must begin with sound and lasting leadership. Each chapter officer is provided a handbook designed to give her the information needed to perform the duties of her office and assist the chapter in achieving the Sigma Kappa Standards of Excellence. Serving as a collegiate chapter officer exemplifies Sigma Kappa's purpose and values. © 2020 Sigma Kappa Sorority Sigma Kappa Sorority . Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent Handbook page 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS The Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent 3 Resources 3 The Magazine 4 The Sigma Kappa Triangle Editor and Collegiate Editor 4 Writing for the Sigma Kappa Triangle 5 Article Content 5 Preparing Articles 6 Submitting Articles 6 Including Photographs 7 Sigma Kappa Triangle Awards 8 Standards of Excellence 9 Sigma Kappa Sorority Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent Handbook page 3 THE SIGMA KAPPA TRIANGLE CORRESPONDENT The Sigma Kappa Triangle correspondents are elected or appointed by their chapters and are responsible for the chapter's publicity in the Sigma Kappa Triangle magazine. By submitting articles and photos, she informs the magazine's readers (the entire Sigma Kappa membership, other fraternal organizations and college campuses) about the news of the chapter. The Sigma Kappa Triangle correspondent reports to the vice president of communication and operations (VPCO). The Sigma Kappa Triangle correspondent responsibilities are as follows: Read, comprehend and follow the Handbook for the Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent. Access and watch all training modules associated with the Sigma Kappa Triangle correspondent role located in SKILLab: Sigma Kappa's Interactive Learning Lab. Understand the purpose of the Sigma Kappa Triangle and its target audience. Be knowledgeable about all activities of the chapter so that a variety of news can be reported to magazine readers. Be knowledgeable about the members of the chapter and their activities. Write, prepare and submit copy to the Sigma Kappa Triangle collegiate editor. Take and submit high quality photographs to the Sigma Kappa Triangle collegiate editor. Write captions and identify members for submitted photographs. Update files and assist in the training of the next Sigma Kappa Triangle correspondent. Assist the chapter in meeting the Standards of Excellence (SOE) criteria by focusing on specific criteria that pertain to her responsibilities, as well as supporting other officers and chairmen. Sigma Kappa Sorority Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent Handbook page 4 Resources The Sigma Kappa Triangle correspondent must have certain resources and materials to properly do her job. Most of these can be found on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website in the annual supplies for the Sigma Kappa Triangle correspondent, or in collegiate general supplies. They are as follows: Sigma Kappa Triangle Submission Guidelines Sigma Kappa Style Sheet Past issues of the Sigma Kappa Triangle Notes from the previous correspondent Name and email address of the Sigma Kappa Triangle editor and collegiate editor The Magazine The Sigma Kappa Triangle is a quarterly magazine designed to inform and entertain both Sigma Kappa members and non-members. Topics in the magazine are chosen to help create positive awareness of Sigma Kappa, the accomplishments of our members, and our service and philanthropic activities. The target audiences of the magazine are: Alumnae Collegians Parents Collegiate and alumnae members of other fraternal organizations College Panhellenic associations, Alumnae Panhellenic associations and the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) Fraternity/sorority advisors and other university officials The magazine was first published in 1907. It relied then as it does now on collegiate and alumnae correspondents to provide news about the activities of Sigma Kappa chapters. The magazine is published in hard copy and electronically. The Sigma Kappa Triangle Editor and Collegiate Editor The chapter correspondents submit written articles and high-quality photographs directly to the Sigma Kappa Triangle collegiate editor. To determine the name and email address of the appropriate editor, refer to your annual supplies on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website. The Sigma Kappa Triangle collegiate editor works directly with the collegiate Sigma Kappa Triangle correspondents in each chapter and is the liaison between the magazine's editorial staff and the chapters. The collegiate editor is a Sigma Kappa Sigma Kappa Sorority . Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent Handbook page 5 alumna volunteer working under the direction of the national vice president for communication. The Sigma Kappa Triangle editor is responsible for the magazine. She works directly with the collegiate and alumnae editors and receives the chapters' written articles from them. She edits the articles and finalizes content for all issues. She is a staff member at national headquarters. Sigma Kappa Sorority . Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent Handbook . page 6 WRITING FOR THE SIGMA KAPPA TRIANGLE Article Content The Sigma Kappa Triangle is published quarterly. Collegiate chapter articles and photos should be sent for two issues. Deadlines are as follows: April 1 (spring term news) December 1 (summer/fall term news) Chapter submissions must be a 250-350 word article written about any of the following events/programs/individuals that make your chapter unique: Individual or chapter accomplishments/awards. Have your sisters been recognized for their academic or philanthropic achievements? We want to know! Campus or chapter fun facts. Does your chapter participate in or host any unique traditions on your campus? Write about it! Sisterhood or alumnae activities. While every chapter hosts these events, does yours do something truly amazing to engage our sisters? Philanthropy/fundraiser events. Did you blow a fundraising goal out of the water or host a unique event? The word limit in your articles are strictly upheld. To view examples, see the Sample Articles for the Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondents in your annual supplies on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website. The collegiate editor will contact the Sigma Kappa Triangle correspondents regarding the theme of each issue so the chapters can better tailor each article to the specific magazine issue. Select the chapter's most outstanding achievement or event as your lead sentence and describe it, telling the story of the achievement and the chapter. The magazine's audience wants to read about the successes and outstanding programs of the chapters. Please write articles in the third person (avoiding pronouns like "I," "my," "we" and "us.") Cite specific names when listing chapter members' accomplishments and achievements. Spell out abbreviations and give descriptions of special events or places that may be unique to your campus. Remember that you are writing for both collegiate and alumnae members of all age groups, from all over the world, as well as members of other organizations. It may be beneficial to compare previously printed articles to obtain a better understanding of what is needed by the editors. All high-quality photos are saved for use in other Sigma Kappa communications. Sigma Kappa Sorority Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent Handbook page 7 Preparing Articles In preparing articles, the Sigma Kappa Triangle correspondent should follow the Sigma Kappa Style Sheet. Check the article for misspelled words and verify all name spellings. The Sigma Kappa Triangle editor relies on you for the correct spelling of names, places and events. Most mistakes are made due to typographical errors. Having someone read your article before it is submitted may be helpful. An excellent person to review your article is a chapter advisor. Be sure to give the advisor ample time to review the article. Ensure that your article has met the required 250-350 word count. Submitting Articles Collegiate chapter correspondents should submit text and photographs in separate files sent directly to the Sigma Kappa Triangle collegiate editor. Include your chapter name in the subject line of the email and send your article on or before the deadline. A copy should also be kept for your officer files. Questions about magazine subscriptions, change of address or requests for extra copies of issues should be addressed to national headquarters by emailing info@sigmakappa.org. Sigma Kappa Sorority Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent Handbook page 8 INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHS Photographs Please submit at least three high quality photographs by each submission date. Submission of digital photos via email is preferred. Send all photographs, photo captions and articles in one email, if possible. Photos should be attached in JPEG or PNG format. Digital photo submissions need to be at least 300dpi (1200 X 1800 pixels) to be used (typically about 1Mb file size). Photographs from social networking sites, such as Facebook or Instagram, or some photo album sites are too small for printing in the magazine. Please submit original sized photographs taken directly from a phone or camera. Black and white or color photographs are accepted. Include your chapter name in the photo's file name (example: Alpha Alpha Chapter Pic1), and ensure a caption of each photo is included with your submission. Each picture should be saved in a separate JPEG or PNG file attached to the email. The article being submitted should also be attached to the email. Please include the photo captions in the attachment that includes the article text. Photographs should be clear, complementary and present an active and well-rounded chapter and/or individuals. Do not send photographs that include beverage containers or are distasteful in content. Additionally, please avoid sending photographs with members using hand signs. Images that resemble the use of a hand sign will not be published in the Sigma Kappa Triangle, on the Sigma Kappa website or Sigma Kappa social media outlets. The Sigma Kappa Triangle staff always welcomes high quality photographs. Space will not always allow use of all pictures submitted, but the staff tries to represent as many different chapters as possible. If photographs are not included in the issue for which they are submitted, they may be held for a future issue. Photographs submitted become the property of the Sigma Kappa Triangle and cannot be returned. Sigma Kappa Sorority Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent Handbook page 9 SIGMA KAPPA TRIANGLE AWARDS Sigma Kappa recognizes chapters who make outstanding contributions to the Sigma Kappa Triangle with the following awards. In addition, collegiate chapters receive Standards of Excellence points for their high-quality article and photo submissions. See the Standards of Excellence Brochure on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website for more information regarding the criteria for judging. The Frances Warren "Speed" Baker Excellence in Communication Award Every year, the Frances Warren "Speed" Baker Excellence in Communication Award recognizes a collegiate chapter for excellence in all areas of chapter communication. One criterion for this award is "receipt of Sigma Kappa Triangle submissions on or before deadline." Sending chapter news and photographs regularly, and following all preparation guidelines provided in this handbook and annual supplies will strengthen to your chapter's chances of receiving this award. In order to be considered, articles and photographs must be submitted on time. To be eligible for the award, you must submit high quality materials to the collegiate editor, be neat, concise, professional and on time. You must also follow the style sheet that is included on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website. Sigma Kappa Sorority Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent Handbook page 10 STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE It is the goal of Sigma Kappa Sorority that each chapter provides a quality membership experience for its members; it should be an experience that will extend far beyond one's academic career. This goal can only be reached if each chapter's level of performance in all areas of chapter life is exemplary. Because national council is committed to the pursuit of excellence for each collegiate chapter, the Standards of Excellence (SOE) program was developed to measure the health of collegiate chapters and to reward those chapters that excel on the campuses and within Sigma Kappa. The criteria that make up the SOE program are aligned with the following objectives: Essential: 12 essential criteria that all chapters must achieve Fundamental: 13 areas of fundamental growth that all chapters should achieve Chapters of Excellence: Where most chapters should fall Exceeds Excellence: Three Star chapters and Founders' Award finalists Standards of Excellence Judging The established SOE criteria gives national council a better assessment of each chapter and helps to identify the chapters who need additional assistance. National council is confident that each and every chapter can attain the essential and fundamental levels of achievement and are committed to providing the resources, as well as the support, to ensure a chapter's success. It is the goal of national council to notify those chapters that have not met the essential standards as early as possible in the spring term following the rating year. By doing so, the chapter has ample opportunity to develop a plan of action to ensure that all minimum standards are met for the current calendar year. Sigma Kappa Sorority Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent Handbook page 11 Please refer to the following resources available on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website for the most up to date SOE information: SOE Brochure SOE Helpful Hints SOE Judging Worksheet SOE Frequently Asked Questions Sigma Kappa Sorority Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent Handbook page 12 SIGMA KAPPA Live with Heart 695 Pro-Med Lane, Ste 300 Carmel, IN 46032-5323 317-872-3275 f: 317-872-0716 e: info@sigmakappa.org www.sigmakappa.org Sigma Kappa Sorority . Sigma Kappa Triangle Correspondent Handbook . page 13