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!

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."

The Recovering Sorority Girls' Favorite Phi Mu Memories

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!