Omicron Eta Chapter History

By Charter Member Vanessa Raynor

In the beginning, there was Spring 1997 of the Northeast Region Chapter at UNC- Greensboro. Those inductees included Lavonne Lloyd, Renee Bracey, and Andrea Smith. These ladies were inducted into the Sigma journey with members of the Rho Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, as Omicron Eta had yet to be established at UNC-Greensboro. The chapter at UNC-Greensboro was referred to as a colony of the Northeast Region Chapter at UNC-Greensboro. Can you imagine having to write that on each and every communiqué to Nationals: The Northeast Regional Chapter at UNC-Greensboro?

Upon their arrival on campus, the ladies immediately organized an interest meeting in the library. I remember it like it was yesterday. The room was filled with so many young ladies who were interested in this organization. However, the current members were interested in young ladies who were of quality and who could sustain that eminence throughout history. Many came, but only two were chosen. The new inductees could not be simple ladies, they had to be ladies who were worthy of such a quality organization. And who were those two ladies you might asked….Shlakia Miller and myself. We joined the organization in the Summer of 1997.

Under the direction of Soror Linda Mann of the Alpha Mu Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. all of the necessary paperwork was completed and filed with nationals. The paperwork was extremely demanding. On November 15, 1997 , we received confirmation from Nationals that our chapter was indeed truly chartered. Because we were originally inducted into the NER Chapter at UNC-Greensboro, we were all re-inducted into the Omicron Eta Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

So that was the beginning of the OH Chapter, the rest is history. But before I take my seat, I would like to share with you the following reasons as to why you should not become a Sigma Woman:

If you are not interested in a life long commitment to my organization, you are not needed.
If you are interested in becoming a letter wearer, you are not needed.
If you wish to demean yourself on video, internet, photographs or any other form of communication, you are not needed.
If you are not genuinely concerned about the youth of today, you are not needed.
If you are only interested in giving your money and not your time, you are not needed.
If you love wearing royal blue and gold, but insist on looking like anything less than a lady of quality when wearing my colors, you are not needed.
If you are not interested in every phase of education, faith, hope, and love, you are not needed.
If you are not interested in devotion to humanity, you are not needed.
If you are interested in cliques, you are not needed.
If you are not strong beyond all definition defying place, time, and circumstance, you are not needed.
If you do not intend on being your sisters’ keeper, you are not needed.