Mahoney, Beverly S.

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Liberty UniversityDigitalCommons@LibertyUniversityFaculty Publications and Presentations Department of Health ProfessionsFall 2007Reflections on 20 Years with Eta Sigma GammaBeverly S. MahoneyLiberty University, bmahoney@liberty.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/health_fac_pubsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Health Professions at DigitalCommons@Liberty University. It has beenaccepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Liberty University. For moreinformation, please contact scholarlycommunication@liberty.edu.Recommended CitationMahoney, Beverly S., "Reflections on 20 Years with Eta Sigma Gamma" (2007). Faculty Publications and Presentations. Paper 1.http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/health_fac_pubs/1. . . A Reflection . . .Twenty Years with Eta Sigma Gamma..J joined the Honorarythat Fall...my life wasforever changed as aresult.Beverly Saxton MahoneyWhen I was asked to contribute my thoughts for this40lh Anniversary issue. I initially thought of my time withESG as just a small fraction of the organization's longevity,but that turns out to be a misinterpretation on my part. I'veactually been a member for 20 years as of the Fall of 2007.half of the time ESG has been available to students andprofessionals. Wow! It's often difficult to quantifyexperiences we have in life, but I can vouch for my time withEta Sigma Gamma.As we know with research, however, often thequantitative information we acquire is greatly enhanced byadding qualitative information. That'swhat I'd like to share with you here, from ^ ^ _ ^ _ _ _ ^ ^ ^the perspective of one Gamman. and alate-comer at that. 1 fust heard about EtaSigma Gamma when I started graduatework in Health Education at Penn State,in 1987. and I joined the Honorary thatFall. It is not an overstatement to tellyou that my life was forever changed asa result. Honoraries, as we were calledback then, are numerous. Student honoraries or societiesare often characterized hy members who belong for two orthree years, but then leave the ranks as soon as theygraduate. Not so. with Eta Sigma Gamma. ESG can provideyou not only with great opportunities to move forward asstudents, but alst) with great professional connections forthe rest of your career. I am sure that many of my colleagueswould echo, from their own experiences, what I share withyou today.1 first became active in my chapter, and then, when Igraduated and became a faculty member. I volunteered to bethe Faculty Sponsor for Penn State's Alpha Xi Chapter. As afaculty sponsor, I began to network with others around thecountry, to leam what they were doing, what projects theyhad accomplished, what they hoped lo do. My interest grewand. when a person was needed to fill out a term for someonewho had to leave the national executive committee. I wasfortunate enough lo have that opportunity. I subsequentlyran and was elected to the presidential rotation, serving twoyears each as vice president, president, and past president.During those years I met and worked with many of ourprofession's brightest and most dedicated members. Wedeveloped new projects, modified existing projects, workeddiligently to establish a new. user-friendly strategic plan.and a host of other activities.I also was very fortunate to be able to communicatewith members through a column in the Vision, which was inits infancy at the time. My most valued experiences, however.were the many opportunities I had to travel to variouscampuses around the nation to install new collegiate chaptersof Eta Sigma Gamma. During ihose visits, I met faculty andstudents who had determined they also wanted theopportunity to contribute to and benefit from Eta SigmaGamma. I always came away from those times wishing I couldjust work with all our students, across the country, 1 metyoung people who were truly on fire for our profession, whowere willing to accept positions of responsibility in Iheirlocal chapters, and as a result, to benefit their university andlarger community through service, research, and teaching.Many of those students are nowprofessionals, and whenever I see themiit conferences, they remind me of theirinstallation/initiation ceremony.As a member of Eta Sigma Gamma,you have been handed a legacy unlikeany other in our profession. Throughthe dedication of countless healtheducators, across four decades, ESGhas been molded and developed toprovide you with a unique opportunity for professionalgrowth, learning how to conduct yourselves asprofessionals, and preparing yourselves for your newcareers. I see our organization continuing to grow andblossom as new students and professionals bring theirenthusiasm, dedication, and talents to ESG It's a winningcombination that is only going to get better; thanks to somany Gammans I've seen over the years, working tirelesslyfor you, the Gammans around the nation. ESG can do muchfor you, and the reverse is true as well. For me, it led toinnumerable lifetime professional contacts and friendships,as well as great opportunities for scholarship, teaching, andresearch. Wear that green and gold pin with pride, and if Ihaven't yet met you, I hope to do so before another 20 yearsgo by!Beverly Saxon Mahoney, RN. I'hU. CHES, is professor anddirector of Health Promotion at Liberty University,Lynchburg. VA. Bev was initiated into Alpha Xi Chapter atPenn State University in 1987. She sensed as ESG Presidentfrom 1997-1999.Fall 2007, Vol. :19. No. 2 The Health Educator - 40ih 61

Reflections on 20 Years with Eta Sigma Gamma

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