Famous Sisters
 

Hey everybody,

I was thinking about a post I saw a while back on the AOII website, and thought I'd propose the question here: who are some of our famous sisters?

I know what international says about listing famous members, but I'm sure that this is something that most of us have wondered about at some point. So....let's use this thread to see if we can compile a list.

I know the former director of the Air and Space Museum is an AOII from Northerwestern (Rho Chapter). I can't remember her name of the top of my head right now, though.

I hope to some day be famous (definitely not rich, though!) *grin*

Well, I think that Debbie Matenpolous(she was on the first season of The View and now does a show for TV Guide) is an AOTT and Margaret Bourke-White(Famous photographer) is also an AOTT. And I agree with Sarah(Beryana)--I want to be famous, so maybe someday me!!

Re: Famous Sisters
 

Does your Nationals dislike announcing famous alumni because of certain reasons? Quite interesting...just curious!

Re: Re: Famous Sisters
 

To paraphrase the policy, each sister is "famous" in some way and therefore, it does no good to point out certan members.

I'm like, OK, then why have individual awards or point out specifically that Margaret Bourke-White's photographs hang at international headquarters? :rolleyes:

Not being picky ... but we are International ... only 14 NPC groups are :D

... that and it hurts the Canadian sisters feelings when AOII is referred as 'national' ;)

Thanks, diva queens!!

Sorry neonpi, it just didn't look right saying international's for some reason. I'll change it :)

One of the Miss Americas, Heather Whitestone, was an AOPi , I am not sure which school. It is in her autobiography. She was the deaf Miss America.

If I may clarify a bit here :)

Heather Whitestone McCallum indeed was an AOII new member, at Jacksonville State U. She did not initiate due to her duties with the Miss America organization. It is my understanding that she never has initiated :( I hope her area alumnae chapter would contact her and invite her for alumnae initiation one day!

She also was the first deaf Miss America, and I recently read that she had a cochlear implant! Here's a link: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/G...hitestone.html

Roses,
Christin

Yes, actually she was a New Member she never got initiated due to time constraints.

I almost hate to say this - but I rather like our IHQ's response to famous alumnae. It can be frustrating at times when other groups promote one person or another. I like to think that we are all "indivdually unique, together complete" and that's what makes us who we are as women and as a Women's Fraternity.

I know that it's great the we think our PIPs are the most important women to serve our Fraternity, instead of someone who became famous through hard work or luck.

And I'd also like to think that a women who devoted time and energy to a worthwhile cause is just as special as the first CEO in an industry. Without all different types of people within our organization, we might become cookie-cutters.

So, when you're next asked who are famous women in your sorority don't forget about mentioning yourself. I think your pretty special for being my sister.

Heidi

Lambda Chi's theme party this year was based on the idea that every sister is a star in AOII. The new members even made hand prints and added them to our AOII walk of fame! It was very cute! We aren't allowed to do skits anymore on our campus so we had a portion of the night where we described some things that set a particular sister apart from the crowd and then that sister would stand up and they would go on to the next. It was a good way for the PNM's to see what types of things our girls are involved in and what makes each of us special! It was fun for the sisters too!

Roses,
Sarah

I don't disagree with IHQ, but you know when you're watching a movie and you see a star that you just think is absolutely beautiful or you watch a news conference and you see a woman and you think wow she's got it together? I think it would be nice to look at that woman and know - we share a common bond, she is my sister. It also kinda helps to think that they also started out in the same place as you. I'm in no way trying to say that any one of our sisters is less special it's altogether an association thing with everyday names :)

famous aoii's
 

Someone verify this for me if you can. I had NEVER heard of any "notable" so to speak AOII's until just last night when our president and I were speaking. She told me that the reason a Coke can is red and white is because the guy responsible for making tha can (i dont even know if that was the pres of coke or just somebody in charge of making the can design), his daughter was an AOII. Origionally the design was green or something, but she asked him to make it cardinal red and white. Also, i was told that if you go to the Cocacola museum that there is a decorative fountain there, and if you know to look, the fountain spurts and the trees or landscaping around the fountain make an AOII. Anybody know if there is any validity to this??
justhey

That's the first time I've ever heard that one! Beryana, you've been in the archives, ever see or hear like this?

I heard that a very funny lady named Phyllis Diller is an AOII... Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Never heard of anything about that! I'm going to assume it is an 'urban legend' which can be verfied with some info. . . when was Coke founded and when was the earliest Georgia chapter founded (I'm going to assume a GA chapter but that could be wrong, too. . . ). It would be interesting if it were true, though! :)

Sarah

Jess, I have heard that one but have never ever been given any facts to support that rumor. (Yes, I know I could be wrong though!)

I'm sure we have plenty of famous AOII connections out there, like every other GLO does. Just remember that our Fraternity believes that each one of us is notable in our own way. No sister is held in a higher esteem within the bonds of AOII due to her personal celebrity, fame or fortune. Do ya'll know how much I truly love that about us?

Earliest GA chapter was at UGA in 1935. This still makes it difficult to know for sure because even though coke has been around since the 1880's it was originally just sold at soda fountains and pharmacies. It was a long time before it was bottled and sold nation/world wide. I can't find a specific date for the red and white logo design for Coke. Maybe someone else might know. I'll also try to see what I can find out next time I go to the World of Coke!

Roses,
Sarah

After reading this thread, I got curious (also bored to tears at work!) and looked at the Coke website. I sent out an email asking for information about this, so as soon as I hear back, I will let you all know!

Coke's reply:

Almost from the beginning, the colors red and white have been used in visual advertising for Coca-Cola to dramatize the trademark. The earliest use of red in our advertising was by Atlanta drug stores selling Coca-Cola. They would hang a white oil cloth sign on the store front or awning with slogans printed in red that stated "Drink Coca-Cola, Delicious and Refreshing 5 cents" or "Coca-Cola Sold Here 5 cents."

In 1890, the trademark "Coca-Cola" began to appear in red in
newspapers. During the late 1920s, the trademark "Coca-Cola" was used in white on a "Standard Red" background. The color arrangement of red on white and white on red has been used alternately over the years. In 1970, the Dynamic Ribbon Device was introduced, and the "Standard Red" became brighter.

During my chapter's last Founder's Day celebration I heard the story about the Coke connection to AOII. The Alumnae Relations chair themed our lunch around a "Coke Date." If I'm remembering correctly, the story about the Coke connection was learned at last year's Leadership Institute and the women wanted to bring it back and utilize it somehow. Do you guys want me to doublecheck with my collegians? Did anyone here attend last year's LI?

AOP

LI
 

I never heard that at LI....But, then again, I was so overwhelmed with the whole awesome experience that it may have just gone over my head. :p
Silver

We do have some connections to the Coke family. We have a transfer AOII who joined our chapter this fall. She was from U of LA at Monroe. She told me how there was and still is a very prominent family in Monroe, the Bedienheimer(spelled wrong) and they were bottlers of Coca Cola. Their daughter left her home to become a historic landmark. However, she was an AOII. At her home, her badge is on display and her garden resembles some very familiar AOII stuff. Anyway, I think that is where our Coca Cola connection came from. And hey, my father worked for 15 years for Coca Cola in New Orleans, does that count?

Also, Heather Soriano was in Miss USA and Miss America pagents representing the great state of Mississippi. She was a member of AOII at Nu Beta chapter at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).

Here is her picture - courtesy of http://www.globalbeauties.com/gb/cov...a02_gowns2.htm
http://www.globalbeauties.com/gb/cov...ssisssippi.jpg

Famous AOPis
 

THe Chi Psi Chapter of AOPi at Cal Ply has a link on their site to famous greeks. It lists Phyllis Diller as an AOII

Hi guys. I'm from Jackson, MS, and while I'm not an AOII I am a member of another Panhellenic sorority (try and guess!). Anyways, I was searching for "Mississippi" and I came across this thread.

The family to which you are referring is the Beidenharn family. Several Biedenharns also live in Jackson & I know two Biedenharn girls from horse back riding with them (they also used to go to my school). I wasn't aware of their family connection to AOII though, although I was aware of their Coke connection. Emily Biedenharn (my friend my year, aka collegiate class of 2006, and part of the Coke family) is a member of Chi Omega at Vanderbilt. Her younger sister Caroline is a freshman this fall at Sewanee.

ive heard about the coke thing too. not that the fountain looks like aopi tho.... but since our university is one block away from the coke museum, maybe i will check it out tomorrow!!!

Is it true that the two girls that were most featured in MTVs True Life: I'm a cheerleader (the squad from Kentucky) pledged AOPi at their schools?

Are they still active?

Just curious.

I believe that is true, but I don't know if either are still actives. I'm thinking one went to UK and another to WKU, or maybe Murray State? I do not know 100% on this one, though!

How long ago was that show taped?

Christin

There is a lady in Denver that works at NineNews and does the NineNews Investigates. She's an AOII.

I heard the woman who played "Marcy Darcy" in Married with Children was an AOII. I don't know if it's true though.

Yes, indeedy. One of my blood sisters is married to a Biedenharn family member (different last name because he's related on his mom's side). Coke was 1st bottled in Vicksburg, Mississippi. There is a Biedenharn museum in downtown Vicksburg.

I know of one of them who is still active at WKU. She is currently the chapter president.

I read her book after her yr as Miss America and she was at jackson state. Though i think she depledged if i am not mistaking from what the book said.

I met her once when she was miss america. My roommmate was a KD and was deaf and they grew up together and when she came to campus i got to meet her, She is the nicest person you will ever meet.

Laura

Thanks for sharing trhat info cutie!!! I wish we could say she was a sister, but it is great that she was briefly an AOPi.

BTW...APhi is a strong sisterhood here at ECU!

Joe Biedenharn was the first bottler of Coca cola. His daughter Emy-Lou was an AOII. I have never heard that she asked him to make the label Red and white, but who knows? Emy-Lou was an active alumna member of AOII, who let her home be used for Preference party for the NLU or now ULM chapter of AOII (Lambda Tau.) As the story goes, she would sit at a window overlooking the ELsong gardens where the lovely sisters of AOII would stand and sing for rushees. I was in the last group of rushees allowed to use the site for preference party. We still used it for other events, but all rush parties had to be on campus after 1993. There indeed is a fountain that is in the shape of the badge. An A surrounded by an O of potted plants is secured to a red brick wall. The PI is a fountain (that I never saw working) that would shoot out water to complete the symbol. Emy-Lou's will stated that AOII would always be allowed to use her home, which is now a museum, for special events. Her badge and other AOII paraphenalia is on display in the museum.

Yep! The lovely ladies of Lambda Tau took me there when I was a CC as a sisterhood event. It's an amazing home.

Everyone knew the story ahead of time so everyone was on the lookout for sheafs of wheat in crown molding or roses in wallpaper and paintings. Even though every thing is what you make it and we really got carried away (Is that a picture of a panda, no just the family dog!) it was a great time. I don't remember the fountain as vividly though... they were my last chapter of the year and the memories sort of blur together by that point. But I do remember their amazing hospitality and they held formal chapter in a church so my last ritual of the year was in such a beautiful place, quite fitting.

And I believe that the family was a major manufacturer of coca-cola and distributor which is different than being at their corporate office. So this is why coca-cola's stance is what it is.

Also some more random stuff that I just thought of:

- I had heard that Sheryl Crow's sister is an AOII (although Sheryl is a Theta).

- Frank Capra (director of It's a Wonderful Life, pretty big in the golden age of Hollywood), his wife was an AOII (Kappa Theta, UCLA chapter). I believe, but don't quote me, that she is the one that came up with PiOA concept. If you look in old To Dragmas there is mention of PiOA's, which are the reference to AOII's husbands or significant others - because when an AOII hugs her husband with her badge on, it makes Pi - on top of the O on top of the A. The reverse of our badge. I always thought that was really cute.

And Phyllis Diller was not an AOII nor was Mary Tyler Moore for some reason those are the most ill-quoted.

The neighbor from Married with Children is also an AOII. And of course there is an AOII who was on the Apprentice and on Survivor.

I'd heard she was an AOII from Pi chapter at Tulane.

As for It's a Wonderful Life...my dad is obsessed with that movie. My older sister and I watched it so many times that we tied at a church lockin for a prize about It's a Wonderful Life trivia (they showed the movie and then asked really specific question like what was on the mailbox infront of the old house in the scene where she loses her dress.) We had actually fallen asleep during the showing, but we knew the movie by heart! Ha! Nice to know Capra was a IIOA!