Page 26 - 1923 February - To Dragma

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 123

Founders, a task well done. But in the last analysis, it is they who re-
ceive f r o m A l p h a , rather than give. T h e y see as i n a glass d a r k l y , while
i t is the alumnae w h o must see, face to face, even as they are seen. T o
the alumnae of necessity must come the responsibility o f meeting the
broader w o r l d outside the college, no mean responsibilty. W e must be
the ones to give to our f r a t e r n i t y , to repay as we are able, something o f
that w h i c h A l p h a gave to us i n our days as active members, and i t is
our d u t y t o be certain that that w h i c h is seen, is w o r t h y o f o u r purpose.

This is an extremely critical time in our f r a t e r n i t y development, with
need f o r complete and hearty co-operation of every individual who ever
wore proudly an Alpha Omicron Pi pin. A definite, carefully conceived,
workable plan f o r national w o r k has been presented f o r our consideration.
The National W o r k Committee is w o r k i n g on this plan and is asking f o r
criticism and suggestions. N o plan f o r national w o r k can succeed unless
satisfactory to the m a j o r i t y o f o u r members, and each o f us, as an i n -
dividual, owes it to our fraternity to give an opinion on this subject.

D u r i n g our twenty-six years of life, we have become a large organiza-
tion, f a r too large f o r individual attention. O u r active membership is
easily reached. They f o r m compact, readily accessible groups. The
alumnae, in so f a r as they are unorganized are difficult to reach. Stop a
moment and recall the charge to which you pledged fealty at initiation
and again at every ritual meeting. Repeat your initiation pledge. A r e
you not bound to become a member of an alumnae chapter, where ever
possible? I believe that you are. I know that the chapter and your
fraternity need you.

In the past year I have learned much about alumnae activities, and I
am amazed at the variability of interests and the versatility of our members.
Alumnae activities range f r o m the maintenance of scholarships to the
management o f rummage sales, f r o m aid to active chapters to adoption o f
a poor family, f r o m sewing for the poor to work with undernourished
children. I n q u i r e what the chapter nearest you is doing. Y o u w i l l be
interested i n k n o w i n g . Perhaps there is no chapter near you. A r e y o u
certain though that there are not seven members of A l p h a Omicron P i
in your vicinity? Seven members are sufficient to f o r m an alumnae
chapter, the only other requisites being enthusiasm and remembrance of
the love you once bore your fraternity and the pleasure membership in it
gave you. Your District Vice-superintendent will give you the necessary
i n f o r m a t i o n as to f o u n d i n g an alumnae chapter. Those o f us w h o already
are members o f an alumnae chapter have a duty also. W e must seek
out the non-members and interest them anew. Perhaps their pet hobby
w i l l fit into y o u r chapter plans to r o u n d them to completion. I n any case,
in every case, there is some point of contact, i f we seek w i t h sufficient
diligence. Alumnae f r a t e r n i t y w o r k has proven to me intensely interesting
and absorbing, more so I believe than active w o r k appears i n retrospect.

For many years Alpha O m i c r o n P i has meant something to you.
This is the time, yours is the privilege, to make the name mean something