Yesterday was Founders’ Day for Alpha Chi Omega and Zeta Tau Alpha. How fabulous that the day was celebrated from A to Z! I spent the day at Pi Beta Phi Headquarters, where an Alpha Chi and a Zeta are on staff. Julie Wisbrock, an initiate of the University of Kansas chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, and Gabbie Rimmaudo (http://www.gabriellerimmaudo.com/), an initiate of the George Mason chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha visited me in the archives and both were dressed to the pin.
A ZTA and an AXO.
At HQ, I had the chance to congratulate the wonderful Betsy McCune, Programs and Operations Director for the Pi Beta Phi Foundation, on a recent television experience. For more than a decade, Betsy has completed her Christmas shopping before Halloween decorations come down. See http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/youre-already-done-your-holiday-shopping-how-aggravating-n442021
Here’s a fun Pi Phi sighting on the Today Show. Savannah Guthrie is a Pi Phi from the University of Arizona. She was also awarded a P.E.O. Scholar Award for 2001-02. She used her Scholar Award to attend Georgetown Law Center from which she graduated magna cum laude.
Last night at the hotel, I remembered to tune into the livestream of the Projects Night portion of the P.E.O. Convention. I have not previously stated on this blog that I adore Maria Baseggio, P.E.O.’s President of International Chapter, but I do. She is presiding at the Convention of International Chapter taking place in Indianapolis. She has done a fabulous job as International President. Before she introduced the nights events, she publicly thanked the P.E.O. sister who reached out to her on linkedin and started a conversation about livestreaming the event. Maria’s willingness to expand P.E.O. presence on social media has been appreciated by many, including me. Maria regularly comments on facebook posts and her willingness to go above and beyond her official duties is reflective of the love she has for the organization and her role as a true servant leader. Thank you, Maria, for all that you have done for the P.E.O. Sisterhood!
For more than a century, the only ones who knew of P.E.O.’s good works were initiated members of P.E.O. A decade ago, a concerted effort was made to let the members know that it was “O.K. to talk about P.E.O.” We need to do more than talk, we need to shout it from rooftops. The good that P.E.O. does for women needs to be recognized and applauded.
© Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com, 2015. All rights reserved. If you enjoyed this post, please sign up for updates. Also follow me on twitter @GLOHistory and Pinterest www.pinterest.com/glohistory/
