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An excellent question. I would like to point out that this idea - that is, of chapters assisting other chapters - is a Beta First.
From almost the very start, Beta made it a point to see herself as a UNION of equal chapters, working in concert. (Others at that time had a "mother chapter" who tended to run things.) Remember that our magazine was begun as a means to enlarge this union - both through maintaining friendly relations among existing chapters, and by what we might consider "rush-in-the-large": the consideration of new places to begin chapters.
Indeed: chapters were ordered (by the Convention, NOT by alumni!) to communicate with the others by letter during the school year. That's why there is the difference in officers - the "CORRESPONDING secretary" writes these letters (and others); the "RECORDING secretary" writes the minutes of meetings. The book called Beta Letters (edited by Baird) is a collection of these - they give an amazing insight into chapter life of long ago.
And if you find it too tedious to write a letter (how much IS postage this century?) then use this electronic form! You can do good for others by keeping the "sisterhood of chapters" strong. As our first editor phrased it, Alere Flammam.
-kai-
Dr. Thursday
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