Rooted in Leadership: A Look Back at the Inaugural NER Leadership Retreat

This August, the Northeastern Region made history by hosting its Inaugural Leadership Retreat, a weekend dedicated to the growth, connection, and development of our Basilei and Anti-Basilei. Designed as a space to reflect, learn, and plan intentionally, the retreat brought together chapter leaders committed to strengthening Sigma Gamma Rho from the inside out.

Hosted by Madam Syntaktes Dawne S. Stanton and co-hosted by Dr. Jasmine Robinson, Northeastern Region Membership Chair, the retreat set the tone for collaborative leadership and forward-focused strategy. A Weekend of Purposeful Engagement

Held August 22–24, 2025, the retreat blended sisterhood with substance. The weekend opened with a Sisterhood Social, allowing leaders to reconnect and build community before diving into sessions centered on vision, governance, and chapter sustainability.

Throughout the retreat, participants engaged in meaningful conversations around:

• Vision and goal-setting at the local, regional, and national levels

• Executive board dynamics and effective leadership collaboration

• Membership growth, engagement, and retention

• Chapter finances, budgeting, and forecasting

• Strategic planning for long-term chapter stability

Interactive breakout sessions created space for Basilei and Anti-Basilei to share challenges, exchange ideas, and learn from one another’s experiences.

Leadership That Listens and Learns

One of the most impactful elements of the retreat was its focus on honest dialogue. Through SWOT discussions, retention strategy sessions, and leadership breakouts, attendees explored real-world challenges facing chapters and, more importantly, practical ways to address them together.

The emphasis on communication, transparency, flexibility, and recognition reinforced a shared understanding: strong chapters are built when leaders feel supported, informed, and connected.

Strengthening Chapters Through Intentional Leadership

From discussions on reclaiming sorors and sustaining legacies to building leadership pipelines and maximizing financial health, the retreat equipped leaders with tools they could immediately take back to their chapters. The goal was clear: empower leaders to lead with intention, empathy, and strategy.

Looking Ahead

The Inaugural NER Leadership Retreat marked the beginning of a renewed investment in chapter leadership development. By creating a space specifically for Basilei and Anti-Basilei to grow, collaborate, and plan together, the region affirmed its commitment to strong leadership as the foundation of a thriving sisterhood.

With visionary hosting by Madam Syntaktes Dawne S. Stanton and intentional co-leadership from Dr. Jasmine Robinson, this retreat set a powerful precedent, one rooted in preparation, partnership, and purpose.