Page 79 - 1930 October - To Dragma

78 To DRAGMA O

the past, we are told, and so we believe, and growth has taken place. We look m
forward to a future of real service. Chicago Alumnae chapter does not minimize s
the importance of keeping up old associations by means of the chapter, nor does
it minimize the stimulating power of our meetings to us personally, but most of all, t
this chapter wants to have a real reason for existence; and that reason, that purpose,
that scheme must be something that we gladly do to benefit others, something T
outside ourselves. This can be done only through the unified action of our com-
ponent parts. Our president meets with each group alternately. Reports are given su
to the group of the other groups so each may know what the other is doing. I t a
is imperative that the president keep in close touch with all members of the chapter, n
so far as possible. Chicago Alumna? chapter does not believe that its organization b
is infallible, but it believes it has solved a problem to the advantage of the chapter th
as a whole. What the future has waiting for us remains to be seen, but we are on d
our way, and know to some extent where our path is leading." in
g
The chapter news letter has been a much discussed thing. A few_ chapters B
have tried an annual letter and felt it was of little value; alumna; chapters have
felt that it did not benefit them. Read what Margaret Melaas Spengler (Eta), M
Great Lakes District Superintendent, has to say of Eta Clips. By the way, this SO
little paper is fulfilling the need of alumna; notes among Eta alumna;, hence the B
very short space used by Eta in To DRAGMA. Eta Clips is without doubt the D
finest chapter publication we receive. su
n
" I know so little about the early history of Eta Clips, our little paper, that I rt'P
must hurry over that. I believe Marian Roth, a journalism student, was re- w>
sponsible for the sheet's name and that Garnet Kleven (Mrs. Willard Lowe), and
Marian published the first issue. Just how the first funds to finance Eta Clips were 01
raised I am not able to recall, but I will tell you of its existence and mission in
our circle today. Pi
an
"Eta chapter alumna; association sponsors the publication of Eta Clips. First,: to
I might mention that our alumnae association is organized without constitution or to
by-laws and has no dues assessed. Any member of Eta chapter automatically th
becomes a member when she becomes inactive in collegiate chapter, and if she W
desires Eta Clips, the group's news letters, she pays two dollars a year to the treas-
urer of Eta alumna; association. There are two regular meetings of this association
a year; one at homecoming and one at alumnae banquet in June when officers for
the ensuing year are elected. We find the alumnae most willing to offer constructive
criticism at these times, and donations from time to time have been forthcoming
through suggestions stressed at these meetings. I think the organization has two.
motives and justifies its existence to the fulfillment of these. The first is that
through these two reunion meetings we have been able to create a longing to return
to the chapter, and it is surprising to what efforts some of the old girls will go
just to be back to see everyone on these two occasions. The second mission is the
publication of Eta Clips which keeps all those, unable to come back, in close touch
with Eta chapter and the Eta alumna; group. The paper is a four-page sheet pub-
lished in October before homecoming; again before Christmas; then after prom and
the opening of the new semester, and lastly in May at which time all the announce-
ments of reunion plans for June are made and a special appeal is sent to all to return.

"Wilma has asked me if I would recommend the publication of a paper of thisj
nature for alumnae chapters. I cannot see that there is the need for a paper for
these groups. Their meetings ought to be attractive enough to have everyone there
to talk the news over. Publishing the news of these groups seems like adding more
work to the already 'overworked' and also adding to the financial obligations of the
group. However, I cannot stress too strongly the benefits active chapters or,
associations such as ours would derive from publishing a paper similar to Eta Clips-
Chapters anticipating building new homes especially would arouse the interest oi,
their older girls by keeping them informed of the chapter's activities and the
whereabouts of their graduates. Action for the publication of such a paper, no
doubt, could best come from within the active chapter, and when the alumna-j
realize the joy of receiving the paper, they no doubt would organize as we did *
take over the responsibility of publishing it.