If you attended Convention 2015 in Chicago, you may recognize Michigan Epsilon Carla Hashley. As the representative for the Nation’s Capital –D.C. Alumnae Club you could not keep her in her seat during the Awards Ceremony. The club won multiple 2014 awards including Club of Excellence, Excellence in Communication (Regional), Excellence in Programming (Small Group) and the prestigious top award: Premier Club-Small Group,

Carla does not fail to give credit where the credit is due. She informs me the awards were won not just because of the work of last year’s executive board, but that there was also a big effort of leadership from last several years. In fact, these awards were 5-6 years in the making with each executive board building on the last group. Strivig to achieve Premier Club status kept the club really engaged. Carla says, “The entire club feels ownership over the awards because so many people played a hand.”

Carla is one of these members who helped the club succeed. She has been active since she moved to Washington, D.C. six years ago. Like Carla, the club members are from diverse chapters, backgrounds, university experiences and they have so many different careers, interests and activities. The women are organized, outgoing and see the benefit of being a member of the club. As a club, they do different activities throughout the year. The members are interesting, dynamic individuals and there is no lack of conversation when they are together.

Carla’s friends who are not Pi Phis know how much the Fraternity means to Carla and are often impressed with her involvement. To Carla, this speaks to how much Pi Phi is a part of her life. It’s not quantifiable how much Pi Phi provides support, opportunity and skills in her life.

As she continues to get to know other club members, Carla’s understanding of Pi Phi beyond her chapter, Michigan Epsilon, continues to expand. Last fall, when the Michigan Epsilon Chapter closed, Carla was upset. She worried she would no longer be a part of Pi Phi. But that wasn’t the case, as Carla realized she has many new Pi Phi sisters in the Nation’s Capital-D.C. Alumnae club. And moreover, the club is thriving in part because of her hard work. Hearing her explain her “aha moment,” I thought it was very similar to Carla’s life motto: I cannot promise it will be easy, but it will be worth it.

I know Carla and my paths will cross again. In fact, she and Michigan Epsilon Elizabeth Seckler Foley are planning to be roommates for Convention 2017. See you in St. Louis!