Page 26 - 1914 February - To Dragma

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 137

HISTORIES OF OUR ALUMNyE CHAPTERS

THE NEW YORK ALUMN/E CHAPTER

In the spring of 1 9 0 5 a group of the alumnae of Alpha and N u
chapters, feeling that they might in time lose touch with fraternity
affairs unless some more direct connection than one dependent on
a sufficiently burdened active chapter secretary were devised; peti-
tioned Grand Council for a charter for a New York Alumnae Chap-
ter. They felt that such a graduate organization would have the
added advantage of bringing the alumnae of Alpha and N u more
closely together. I t now serves a third purpose. A t the time the
charter was granted, the membership of A O I I was comparatively
small, and we met few sisters from distant chapters except at con-
vention time, and our connection with other chapters was so purely
official that members from other parts of the country visited or
studied here without coming in touch with sisters from either
New York chapter. I t is now the duty of the secretary to get from
To D R A G M A or other sources, the names and addresses of members
of other chapters visiting or residing in or around New York
and invite them to join the chapter or to attend meetings whenever
possible. Then, too, the undergraduate members felt the need for
alumnae guidance in college and fraternity affairs, and with an
alumnae organization which would keep more up-to-date records of
change of address and movements of graduates than an active
chapter secretary could do, they hoped to increase alumnae attendance
at Pan-Hellenic meetings, rushing parties, initiations and general
college functions. This has proved to be the case.

The first alumnae chapter meeting was held at the home of Miss
Jessie Ashley. A l l eligible members of the classes of 1 9 0 2 and 1 9 0 4
at Barnard, as well as many alumnae of the New York University
Law School Chapter signified their desire for membership in an
alumnae chapter, and swore to the By-laws of the chapter. I t was
decided to hold four meetings a year, on alternate months from
November to May. The object of the chapter, as set forth in the
By-laws, was to continue the social intercourse between associate
members of A O I I to keep members in helpful touch with under-
graduate chapters, and to promote the interests of these chapters.
Soon after the merging of Delta Sigma and Alpha in 1 9 0 8 , the
chapter had the pleasure of initiating Mrs. Lough of Delta chapter,
and Mrs. Hanabergh of Gamma into fraternity membership. These
two sisters were the first Alphas from outside of New York that
we had the privilege of meeting as fellow workers. Mrs. Lough