Stella Maher
| Stella Maher | |
 | |
| Name | Stella Maher |
| Chapter | Delta Chi Lehigh |
| Date Inducted | Dec 3, 2001 |
| Roll Number | ΔΧ 2 |
| Alumni Chapter/Assoc | NYMAAC |
| Honorary Member | |
| Major | BA - Theatre, MEd - Secondary Education |
| Birthdate | Sept 28, 1982 |
| Spouse | |
| Nicknames | |
| Awards | Chapter Service Key |
Stella Maher (born Sept 28, 1982) is an Alumna of Delta Chi Chapter (2) at Lehigh University.
Contents
Early Fraternity Life and Career
Stella Maher received a letter in the fall of her sophomore year inviting her to make history by helping found a new honor fraternity on Lehigh's campus. After missing the first info session, she skipped a night of play rehearsal to attend an info session, which she thought would last about 30min. 2 hours later she had been elected Recording Secretary of this new Chapter and was given a binder by Hoyt Craver as she and the rest of the new e-board were wished good luck!
A few months later she and her fellow Alpha classmates were inducted as the first Delta Chi brothers at Lehigh University.
Collegiate Years at Delta Chi Chapter
After serving as Recording Secretary for the first year (01-02), Stella won the election for Vice President (02-03) and represented Delta Chi at our first Grand Chapter (Knoxville, TN 2002). This was a tremendous turning point in her fraternity career. What had previous been a resume builder suddenly became a life of brotherhood as she met amazing alumni brothers such as Drew Volturo, Jonah Goodman, John Finnegan, Ryan Marquiss, Matt 'Freshboy' Nicoletta, and many others. She describes this as her favorite moment of her fraternity career: walking into the regional event Friday night and suddenly being in a room with hundreds of people who all were connected to you through common goals and experiences and all wanted nothing more than to get to know you that weekend and become your friend.
As business progressed the next day she was overwhelmed by this parliamentary procedure and shocked at how fast and efficient yet serious and well organized Grand Chapter was under Chair, Britt Marder (Josh was absent for the first day). She quickly became friends with the alumni at lunch when she agreed with them that Alumni Chapters should have the right to vote, and stood up in front of the Grand Chapter to make a 'motion to reconsider the alumni vote'.
Encouraged by the fellowship she experienced in Knoxville, Stella dedicated herself to making her Chapter like the great ones she met that weekend.
Modeled on many of Alpha Eta's documents, she proposed numerous changes to Delta Chi's bylaws when school reconvened that fall as well as proposing Operating Policies that she drafted over the summer. She found alumni brothers in the East Region to adopt all of the Alpha Class brothers that were still undergraduates. Though she met resistance, she pushed the brothers of Delta Chi to form a real fraternity and step up to the plate - work that would eventually earn her a Chapter Service Key.
Despite the setback of losing the 03-04 Presidential election to Jeff Samuels, she saw this as an opportunity to focus on the lifeblood of the Chapter and served as Initiate Advisor creating powerpoint presentations, study materials, and a real initiation program that continues to be used today. She also ramped up the Ritual making it more true to the nature of the ceremony and a memorable experience.
After graduating in 2004, Stella served as Alumni Advisor during her fifth year at Lehigh.
Alumni Years to Present
After graduating with her masters from Lehigh, Stella ran for Council in a special election for VP of Chapter Development. The loss coupled with a move back to NC and starting a new career discouraged her from National involvement for a few years. However, she continued to serve Delta Chi as Alumni Advisor and also served as Alumni Advisor for Beta Nu Chapter at [Cornell University].
In the summer of 2007 Stella had enough of NC and moved back north to NYC, where she enthusiastically became reinvolved with Phi Sigma Pi through NYMAAC. Seeking out Andrew Berman (whose Tori Amos CD she still had in her possession since the road trip to Pittsburgh for Grand Chapter) she met the other NYMAAC brothers and began to also reform bonds with Delta Chi alumni and brothers in the area.
Ready to return to the National scene, Stella was elected Alternate to represent NYMAAC at the 2008 Grand Chapter/Convention and was touched by the same fellowship she had experienced years ago as a new brother. She is currently running for election to the NYMAAC board as Recruitment Coordinator and is looking forward to reconnecting with all the non-active PSP alums living in the tri-state area to drag them out to NYMAAC events.
National Involvement
- Grand Chapter Delegate 2002 Knoxville
- Grand Chapter Delegate 2003 Villanova
- Grand Chapter Alternate 2004 Richmond
- Candidate for VP of Chapter Development 2005 Pittsburgh
- Constitution & Chapter Standards Committee 2003-2004
- Chapter Development Committee 2004-2006
- Attended SPARK leadership training conference
- Member of NAA/NYMAAC
- Grand Chapter Alternate 2008 (NYMAAC)
Conventions Attended:
Regional Involvement:
- Attended Tripod 21 2003 - awarded "Most Spirited Brother"
- Helped Organize SSIP 2003 and 2004 (Service & Scholarship in Philly).
Bigs and Littles
Stella Maher's Big Brother is Drew Volturo, from Alpha Eta Chapter, who adopted her after the 2002 Grand Chapter.
Stella Maher has 5 Little Brothers:
- Jess Maurer, Alumna
- Alex Schwendeman, Resigned
- Jenn Elliott, Alumna
- Jackie Lanzon, Alumna
- Mark Grabarits, Alumnus
Notable Other Family Members include:
- Matt Lapovsky, Grandlittle, Alumnus
- Jeremy Tallman, Great-grand-little, Alumnus
Further Resources
Other Interesting Facts
Stella does not know how to add photos, but did at least update her basic history! :)
