Two Gamma Delta Sisters Share More Than the Bond of Phi
Mu.
For Deandra "Dandi" Brooks and Kristina "Morgan"
Rose, it all started in college. A friendship forged through
Phi Mu has turned into a business relationship, all thanks
to the experiences gained in Phi Mu.
Dandi, a Congressional Liaison with the Federal Aviation Administration,
and Morgan, an attorney with the Department of Veterans Affairs,
were college roommates and Gamma Delta Chapter Sisters at
American University in Washington, D.C. By planning recruitment
parties and social events as collegians, Dandi and Morgan
developed the know-how to write their first book about party-planning,
The Recovering Sorority Girls' Guide to a Year's Worth
of Perfect Parties. While the road to publication hasn't
always been easy, the two have achieved their desired end
result: their book is scheduled for release by Andrews McMeel
Universal Publishing in March 2005.
The
preliminary feedback to the book has been overwhelmingly positive.
Reporters have contacted Dandi and Morgan, and there is great
interest among sorority girls and non-Greek women alike. Their
website has seen averages of 1,000 hits a day. Their close
relationship is no doubt helping Dandi and Morgan manage their
time and the demands of book promotion. "I think our
relationship as sorority sisters made us more committed to
writing and selling a book," Dandi says. Morgan echoes
her sentiments: "We both bring different skill sets to
the table, which makes the book more richly textured."
Despite their increasingly busy schedules, Dandi and Morgan
still make time for Phi Mu. Dandi serves as Gamma Delta Chapter
Adviser, and Morgan is involved with the online Gamma Delta
Chapter Association. Both women have great faith in and hopes
for Phi Mu Fraternity and Phi Mu Foundation. "Not everyone
realizes the role Phi Mu Foundation plays in making Phi Mu
Fraternity a leader within the National Panhellenic Conference,"
shares Dandi. Morgan adds, "In addition to providing
educational support to worthy members, the Foundation, through
its leadership work, promotes what is to me one of the most
important and positive aspects of participation in the Fraternity:
giving young women the leadership skills they will need to
excel in business and personal development."
So what does the future hold for these two self-described
recovering sorority girls? They're working on the proposal
for their second book, The Recovering Sorority Girls' Mixers
for Adults. Phi Mu definitely did not end for Dandi and
Morgan after graduation, and they have the successes to prove
it!
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Deandra "Dandi" Brooks and Kristina "Morgan"
Rose, both Gamma Delta, pose for the book jacket
photo for their comprehensive party planning book The
Recovering Sorority Girls' Guide to a Year's Worth of
Perfect Parties. Morgan says the two Phi Mu Sisters
work well together, because "without me, there
would be no critical discussion of the best way to open
champagne, and without Dandi, there would be no breakfast
casserole for the brunch featured in chapter 4."
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The Recovering Sorority Girls'
Favorite Phi Mu Memories
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Deandra "Dandi" Brooks: I
have a lot of favorite Phi Mu memories: getting the
Big Sister I wanted; watching her get married 10 years
later. Sitting in the chapter room telling stories about
our families; sitting in the living room and keeping
each other updated about our families. Building homecoming
floats; watching the current collegians at the homecoming
parades. Being initiated; watching my mother become
an alumna initiate. Phi Mu is not a moment in time;
it's not a singular memory. It's the little pink smile
that shines on me every day.
Kristina "Morgan" Rose: In
1993, American University dramatically increased the
quality of homecoming during the school's centennial,
and campus organizations were invited to compete for
the first ever Homecoming Cup. Phi Mu was not the largest
Greek organization on campus, but by organizing ourselves
and truly working as a unit, we were able to resoundingly
win the cup. I still remember all of us on the floor
of Bender Arena celebrating the announcement during
halftime of the homecoming basketball game! |
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