400 Westpark Drive  |  Peachtree City, GA 30269

Mark Your Calendars!

Take a look at a few Foundation dates you’ll want to be sure are marked on your calendar for 2017-18!

October 24: 18 Hours & 52 Minutes of Giving

Join us for our first Day of Giving on October 24 when we’ll work for 18 Hours and 52 Minutes to raise funds to support Phi Mu women! More information on how you can join us to make history coming soon!

January 1: Phi Mu Foundation Scholarship Application Opens

More than 100 scholarship opportunities are available through Phi Mu Foundation for collegiate and alumnae members in good standing with the Fraternity. Applications will be live on our website from January 1 – March 1, 2018.

March 1: 2018 M3 Campaign Begins

Each year, Phi Mu sisters and friends dedicate the month of March to raising funds to benefit Phi Mu Foundation through the M3 Campaign. The top collegiate and alumnae fundraising chapters are eligible for a free sisterhood event in their hometown, hosted by members of the Phi Mu Foundation Board of Trustees and staff.

April 1: Check your Foundation Gift History

As the clock ticks closer to the 2018 National Convention, Foundation members may be close to the next giving level and eligible for recognition during the Phi Mu Foundation Business Session! To receive a gift summary by email, contact Stewardship and Engagement Coordinator Mary Askew.

June 11: Sisterhood Auction Items Due

The time to begin collecting items for the 2018 Sisterhood Auction is now! All donations must be prepared for Convention by June 11, 2018. Look for more information about how you or your chapter can support the Sisterhood Auction in the coming weeks.

July 3-8: 2018 Phi Mu National Convention

Don’t miss out on any of the fun! Members of our annual giving programs – 1852 Society, Legacy League, Carnation Club and Rose & White – receive invitations to exclusive events and meet and greet opportunities during Convention. Think about joining one of these programs (or even upgrading to the next level, if you’re already a member) to secure your spot.

#MeetTheMus: Trustee Pamela Ferguson Gaines, EA

We’re finishing up our multi-part series called #MeetTheMus today, where we’ve introduced one of our Phi Mu Foundation Trustees each week for the entire summer, giving you an inside look at what drives their passion for the lifetime development of Phi Mu women.

Our final Trustee spotlight for the summer is Pamela Ferguson Gaines!

What made your collegiate Phi Mu experience special?

Looking back, there were so many experiences ! One of my most fond memories was living in the house.  We had a beautiful house with an amazing house mother, Mrs. G, and a phenomenal team of women who helped to make our living away from home so special.  Living in the house allowed me to get to know many of my chapter sisters in a way that I wouldn’t have otherwise. While no one believes me that I was ever shy, my collegiate experience tapped into potential I didn’t know I had.  Being entrusted to the role of Membership Director was such an honor.  The skills that I learned from that experience are ones that I continue to use today.

What (or who) influenced you to give back to Phi Mu as an alumnae volunteer?

My Chapter Adviser, Cathy Evans-Moore.  Between Cathy and my Membership Adviser, Kathy Martin Weatherford, I had great examples of what it means to be a Phi Mu beyond the collegiate experience. When I graduated from college, I instinctively knew that my Phi Mu experience was just beginning.  I have had the wonderful opportunity to serve Phi Mu both at the local and national level in a variety of positions.

How has your journey in Phi Mu impacted the woman that you are today?

It has absolutely impacted the woman I am today!  (That would be a resounding yes if we were talking face-to-face!) Did I mention I was shy?  Recruitment gave me the confidence and ability to talk with people no matter what the situation is – interviewing, public speaking, awkward conversations, introducing myself, etc.  My membership in Phi Mu has also unlocked my desire to give back and “to lend to those less fortunate a helping hand.” Through my involvement in Phi Mu, I am inspired at how our alumnae and collegiate chapters give back to their communities.  Phi Mu instills that sense of caring for others in our members.

What legacy do you hope to leave for Phi Mu through your work with the Foundation?

My goal is to establish the Foundation’s ability to do more.  Give more scholarships to our collegians and alumnae, provide more assistance to our sisters struck with catastrophic live events, sponsor more leadership and life skill training to not only our collegians but our alumnae, and create more resources that record our rich history.

What would you tell a young alumna about why she should invest with the Foundation?

She is investing in herself, in her sisters now and those to come, and in ensuring that we can continue to develop and encourage women to tap into the potential they may not even know they have.

What is your favorite Phi Mu tradition?

Of course, it is Founders’ Day and Convention!  Both of those events are wonderful ways to reconnect with my Phi Mu sisters from around the country, recommit to the values of Phi Mu, and learn something deeper about our ritual.  No matter how many times I hear our ritual ceremonies, I leave with a renewed appreciation of our values – Love, Honor, Truth.  With my participation in Foundation, I have additional traditions that are my favorite such as M3, our annual Phonathon, and announcing how the funds raised throughout the year benefit our sisters through Leadership Programming, Scholarships, Member Assistance, and Historic Preservation.  As the second oldest sorority, we have a such an amazing history of innovation to develop strong and confident women.  I am proud to be a Phi Mu!

What is your favorite song on the radio right now?

Well … I LOVE Despacito! When that song comes on, I cannot help dancing to the music. It has such a bright and catchy beat. We dance to it in Zumba and use it during tennis drills. When it comes on, everyone starts to sing and dance.

What book is on your summer reading list?

My favorite book this summer was Station Eleven.  It is a science fiction about civilization’s collapse as a result of a pandemic. I know – it sounds dreary, but it is so interesting.  My book club is going to read it this year. I really think that it will drive an interesting conversation about how our lives would change and what we would do to survive!

Pamela resides with her family in Texas, where her 12-pound miniature poodle, Chloe, is the center of the household! Her favorite line of the Creed is “Believe that our given word is binding,” knowing that when she makes a commitment to someone, it is extremely important to her that she upholds that commitment. And a quick fun fact … while not a pilot, Pamela has flown a 737 aircraft. You’ll have to ask her about that at Convention next summer! 

#MeetTheMus: Trustee Jennifer Jardine, BT

We’re launching a multi-part series this summer called #MeetTheMus, where we’ll introduce one of our Phi Mu Foundation Trustees each week, and give you an inside peek at what drives their passion for the lifetime development of Phi Mu women.

Our Trustee spotlight for this week is Trustee Jennifer Jardine, Beta Tau!

What made your collegiate Phi Mu experience special?

As one of the few females majoring in Electrical Engineering at Drexel University, Phi Mu provided an opportunity for me to meet and become friends and sisters with so many other women who all shared a common bond. It was exciting to be able to hold leadership positions to help our chapter be the best it could be.

What (or who) influenced you to give back to Phi Mu as an alumnae volunteer?

My college boyfriend died of colon cancer a year after we graduated from Drexel. Phi Mu sisters that were still in college, sisters that had graduated, and even area officers cried with me, grieved with me, kept me company and were there for me when I needed it. This experience truly made me realize how special the Phi Mu bond is and made me want to continue to give back.

How has your journey in Phi Mu impacted the woman that you are today?

Volunteering for Phi Mu as an alumna has provided me with so many opportunities. The friendships I have made with Phi Mus from other chapters have been wonderful and are life long. Fun fact — before I became a Chapter Adviser and then an Area Officer, I was not very strong at public speaking. However, facilitating and presenting workshops, training sessions, chapter developments, and meetings helped me strengthen that skill and I am better at my real job because of it!

What legacy do you hope to leave for Phi Mu through your work with the Foundation?

I hope that we can make an impact on the future of Phi Mu and on Phi Mus of all ages.

What would you tell a young alumna about why she should invest with the Foundation?

Investing in Phi Mu Foundation is investing in the lifelong development of women just like you. Phi Mu doesn’t end after college.

What is your favorite Phi Mu tradition?

Founders’ Day Celebrations are definitely my favorite.

What is your favorite song on the radio right now?

Any songs by Luke Bryan or Kenny Chesney.

What book is on your summer reading list?

Anything easy to read on the beach … authors like Elin Hilderbrand, Liane Moriarty or Anna Maxted!

Jennifer lives at the beach with her husband, Scott, and they like to spend as much time as they can on the beach in the warmer months! She is passionate about travel and has visited over 40 countries and six continents.

Jennifer has worked for the U.S. Navy for 26 years as an electrical engineer (power generation and propulsion and machinery controls). One of the projects she has been working on for the past 14 years is the design of the Machinery Control System on the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford (CVN78).  CVN78 is the first in its class of a new aircraft carrier design and was delivered to the Navy at the end of May. Prior to delivery, Jennifer had the opportunity to participate in the Navy’s Acceptance Trials of CVN78 and was underway with the ship for several days!

Sail Away This October!

Come sail away with Gwen Erwood, Delta Epsilon, and President, Travel Concepts International, on a breathtaking French barge cruise on October 13-19, 2017, benefiting Phi Mu Foundation. You can try some yoga, relax on deck, dine elegantly, taste French wine, take a bike ride along the Doubs River and enjoy the camaraderie with sisters on board! This trip offers something for every type of traveler, especially those who enjoy giving back to Phi Mu Foundation.

  

Single supplements or a room share are available. Please contact Gwen Erwood at Gwen@SeriousTraveler.com or 530-621-3007 for more information or to reserve your spot today!