Page 14 - To Dragma May 1934

24 To DRAGMA
« ^SPONSIBILITIES»
of Superintendents <^4re increased
AL U M N A SUPERINTENDENTS have always held an important
position, but with the coming of the state plan of alumnae ott
ganization, their responsibilities have increased, and on them and
the state chairmen rests the burden of bringing scattered alumna; into
mobilization. The Executive Committee has considered their selection
carefully, and we are glad to allow friends to introduce our new officers.
Annette M . Harvey ( A ) , has worked with Alice Spear, the Atlantic
District Alumna; Superintendent:
"Ever since freshman days, Alice Spear's (A '12), relations with college and fra* situation. She has patience and persistence, without antagonizing others.
ternity affairs have been characterized by service and loyalty in good measure
pressed down and running over. Steady, faithful, day by day devotion to the
job in hand has gradually made her known to the whole general alumna; body
of Tufts College, as well as to the members of the Boston Alumna; chapter of
Alpha O, and our great fraternity at large. Alice has served in many capaci-
ties on all sorts of college and fraternity committees, and has served cheerfully.
She has not sought for the conspicuous office, but has been content to do her
particular bit as well as possible. And, as a result of her steady accomplish-
ment, the conspicuous office in turn has sought her.
"Alice Spear radiates good-natured ability. Whether she is found washing,
dishes behind the scenes of a Delta chapter rush party, or selling stacks of
Christmas cards personally to raise money for the alumna; chapter scholarship
fund, or conferring gravely with President Cousens of Tufts College in regard
to the latest project of an endowed alumna; hall, Alice is right there, on time,
bringing to each endeavor the same cheery thoughtful attention. Yet, in spite
of being efficient, she does not antagonize people by an insistence on her own
point of view on the business in hand. She gives full consideration to any opposi-
tion, gladly concedes a point well taken, and proffers her own comment with
a modest smile, and 'Do you think, perhaps?' More often than not you do sec
it her way.
"Her four years as president of Boston Alumna; chapter, her frequent at-
tendance at fraternity conventions, and her years of service as delegate to the
Boston City Panhellenic Association, have given Alice a broad experience that
serves her in good stead in the offices that are crowding upon her. In May, 1930,
she was elected president of Tufts Alumna; Association for three years. At
our AOEI convention in June, 1931, she was appointed to the office of District
Alumna; Superintendent.
"Our national organization has known this Boston girl as an ardent attendant
at conventions and a faithful, effective worker on minor and major committees,
including her recent job of overseeing magazine subscriptions for National Work.
I n New England, local alumna; have been amazed and delighted by the number
of stray visiting alumna; from other chapters that she has been able to locate,
to welcome, and to interest in the Boston chapter.
Hereabouts we can't help feeling that the alumna; chapters are fortunate
in securing the cheerful, tactful, devoted service of this sister, so interested by
disposition and many-sided endeavor in the happy solution of their problems-
Josephine S. Pratt ( A ) , recalls her meeting with Alice Smith Thom-
son.
JANUARY, 1932 25
"One day early in October, 1901, another freshman and I were sitting on
the same chair, translating German preparatory to going to class. I read out
'schatz,' and heard a voice behind me say 'sweetheart.' I looked up to see a girl
with clear laughing eyes, in the whitest, stiffest shirtwaist (according the dictates
of the day). She at once took command of the situation and rapidly and correctly
finished the translation. After class we found we were both walking home the
same way, and so began a friendship which has lasted all these years. Circum-
stances have forced us to live far apart, and to see each other only occasionally,
but I know Alice Smith is there and just the same as that day thirty-one years
ago.
"Alice Thomson ( A ) , is true, she is capable, conscientious, a clear thinker
and a person who accomplishes the things which she sets out to do. She has a
sense of humor, and even better, an ability to make others see the humor of a
"The Great Lakes District is to be congratulated on its new Alumna; Superin-
tendent."
"P.S. I have no idea who the other freshman was."
"Vivian Strahm Smith, our new Alumna; Superintendent of the Ohio Valley
District, is a native of Lawrence, Kansas. She received her higher education at the
University, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree with chemistry as her major, and
later doing post graduate work for her Master of Science degree in medicine. She
was a charter member of Phi chapter.
"After spending three years working in the biological department of the Uni-
versity, she married Dr. Lester A. Smith, also a native Kansan. His work with
a Medical Unit during the World War took them to Washington, D . C . , and also
to Louisville, Kentucky. After the war they located in Chicago where Dr. Smith
did graduate work, and Vivian served as bacteriologist in Cook County Hospital
"Why the Smiths decided upon Indianapolis as their future home I do not
know. The important thing to us here is that they did. Dr. Smith is associated
with some leading doctors in town as an X - R a y specialist. Vivian has also served
as bacteriologist in the Indiana University Medical Unit here in the city.
"Her efforts as an alumna of Alpha Omicron Pi have been many. She has
served as president of the Indianapolis Alumnae chapter and as delegate to our
local Panhellenic Council. For two years she served on the Fellowship Award Com-
mittee and for six years gave unsparingly of her time, thought and energy to
colonize Beta Theta chapter and mothering it as alumna adviser during its in-
fancy.
"Too much cannot be said of the esteem with which she is regarded in I n -
dianapolis. She is not only an efficient and thorough person, one who can always
pe relied upon to give an honest opinion and constructive help, but also is a charm-
fej] ,^ess> knows a joke when she sees it and I may say 'an all around good
f • j ^ e r e x P e r ' e n c e , tact and sympathetic understanding will endear her to her new
mends m her new work."
So Mary Gertrude Manley (B$), writes of our Ohio Valley District
A|umna; Superintendent.
M " / U ^ a ^ km a n e ( Z ) , is an undergraduate who knows and admires the
Midwestern Alumna; Superintendent.
i.'-He p .t n e University of Nebraska campus, the Assistant Dean of Women,
^sist th°rC* ^ ' P e r 1 5 k n o w n and loved by many girls, for she is always ready to
ing (j, ? e n e e d i n g it by helpful suggestions and valuable advice. Last year, dur-
W o m e n ° - P P »o f H He ner Miss PP i e r
06 f Dean Amanda
served as Acting Dean
with th yg r C a t m a n Alpha O's outside of the Mid-Western District are familiar
y^eeafrloswsThh- n ame Elsie F o r d Pipe r fr o m th e fact t hat Elsie F ord has be en o n the
*A w a r c Committee for four years, serving as chairman the past two
d mp«>t ° k ° 'a n on remember hearing her report
-0Se f you vy were at convent
the year if ' yh e r Lambda girls know her as she lived at Lambda's house
Man
she did graduate work at Leland Stanford University.