ELIZABETH “LIZ” BILLIES (Iota-Wisconsin) Treasurer (Greater Philadelphia Ivy Connection, 2006-present), Recruitment Advisor (Eta Iota-Pennsylvania, 2007-present) and CCA (Collegiate Chapter Administrator) current (Iota Iota-George Washington, 2018-present; Iota Chi-Yale, 2022-present; and Gamma Rho-Penn State, 2016-present)
Elizabeth “Liz” Billies joined Alpha Phi as a freshman at Iota-Wisconsin because she was looking for a group of friends like she had in high school. After an unfortunate off-campus housing situation that resulted in her moving into the Iota house her second semester, it was clear that she found the sisterhood she was looking for. “I was so thankful that Alpha Phi helped me during a not-so-great time in life, and I have always felt very loyal to the Fraternity,” Liz shared. “After graduation, I went to law school, and I honestly didn’t really have time to volunteer during that period. However, after that graduation, I joined the Greater Philadelphia Ivy Connection once I started working. Again, I was looking
Liz implored the importance of volunteering at a time in your life that works best for you. “For me, law school would not have been the right time,” Liz shared. “I had to be selfish during that period, and I was learning time management skills that I use now to balance everything that I didn’t have then.” Liz also emphasized the variety of roles available to volunteers within Alpha Phi that best fit their skill sets and commitment levels. “Women need to support other women in this world, and you have no idea what kind of an impact you can have on these younger generations of Alpha Phis through advising,” Liz expressed. “If you can’t volunteer on a long-term basis, that’s okay, too. There is still a place for you! You could offer your
“Women need to support other women in this world, and you have no idea what kind of an impact you can have on these younger generations of Alpha Phis through advising.” – LIZ BILLIES
for connection with other women in a bigger city. I ended up being the treasurer and met some great alumnae. This eventually led to me serving as the Recruitment Advisor (RA) for Eta Iota- Pennsylvania.” Liz credits her Alpha Phi sisters with opening the door for her to volunteer with the Fraternity. “I always tell people [that] sometimes people don’t think to volunteer; they just need to be asked,” Liz explained. “Sometimes that is because they don’t understand what the commitment entails, or they don’t think they have the right skills to be useful. I was definitely one of those people. I didn’t ask to volunteer for Alpha Phi; rather, someone approached me, and the rest was history. I’m so glad they did!”
services for resume workshops, mentoring in certain professions, doing programming at chapter meetings and more. There are lots of ways to say ‘yes’ to our chapters.”
Volunteering with Alpha Phi has enabled Liz to sharpen
organizational skills that apply to virtually every facet of her life, both personally and professionally. “My favorite mantra is, ‘It will all get done,’” Liz shared. “I say this a lot during recruitment season. And [it’s true] if you plan ahead.” Liz has also met women of all ages from a wide range of chapters that she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet without volunteering with Alpha Phi. In addition to the time she devotes to volunteering with Alpha Phi, Liz also volunteers as a child advocate for the Montgomery County Child
Liz admitted that she did not know her chapter's advisors very well during her collegiate years. She decided to volunteer because she wanted to show collegians that they can have older mentors who are more experienced in the organization and can help guide them toward success. “I’ve been references for apartments and jobs, written letters of recommendations, etc.,” Liz shared. “It shows our collegians that Alpha Phi really is a great network for life, not just college.”
Advocacy Project, where she serves as a volunteer attorney for children who are victims or witnesses to crimes or domestic violence. She was also named one of the 10 best “Family Law Attorneys for Client Satisfaction” in Pennsylvania by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys in 2019.
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