June 26, 2004
Ten years ago today I was initiated into Gamma Phi Beta.
I knew that it would be a good experience; but, I really had no idea what Gamma Phi Beta would come to mean to me. It all started when one woman saw the potential in me and implored me to consider her beloved sisterhood. Having met her and several sisters around town, I knew I was in the right place. You just know. And before I knew it, she was standing by my side, guiding me through my initiation ritual in front of 600 sisters at convention. She continues to stand by me today. Thank you, GPhiBLtColonel, for being to me an outstanding example of a Gamma Phi Beta who gives her best to her sorority.
Being an alumna initiate is not without its controversies, I suppose. There's always a question about if the person is "deserving" or not or if their reasons for coming into the sisterhood were legitimate enough. I couldn't tell you if I was ever truly deserving; though, I suppose the sorority thought well enough of me to invite me to membership. What I can tell you is that not once has a Gamma Phi Beta ever treated me poorly or differently for being an alumna initiate. I have been loved and accepted the same as any other sister - my contributions valued and recognized.
I started off the first year getting my feet wet by attending alumnae chapter events. The following year I joined the House Corporation Board, on which I continued to serve for 8 years. Back at my alumnae chapter, I was elected to the position of Membership Vice President. We still laugh about it today; but, I only found out that I had been nominated and voted in as MVP when I opened the newsletter and saw my name on the executive board list! I was then elected to President and served two terms in a row, which comes out to four years straight. Amongst the many adventures I have had were volunteering at formal recruitment every year, serving as a delegate at the 2008 convention, being a faculty-staff adviser and, yes, I even lived in the chapter house for a couple of months as House Mom to fill in while we hired a new lady. In 2006, I received the Region 7 Clara Worden Award for outstanding contribution by an alumna initiate. This past year I received the IIKE Award for meritorious service on the local level. No, I'm not special or wonderful. It's easy to give your best to something you believe in and you have a lot of great women to work with.
And what of the sisterhood? How can I even begin to describe all of the neat and wonderful women I have come to regard as friends? You know, I lost my mother when I was only 21 years old. What a blessing it is to have women in my life who can offer words of wisdom when I need them. If I were to have a family of my own someday, it's comforting to know that I wouldn't have to wing it alone if I was flustered about how to handle the baby's teething or some such situation. More than that, they are a source of encouragement and inspiration today. For example, a number of years ago, I had toyed with the idea of becoming a firefighter. I figured I was too old and that it was probably a silly idea. Then I saw an article in The Crescent magazine, spotlighting a sister out of Oklahoma who was a Fire Captain. Like me, she had gotten a late start to the fire service in her early 30s, but she still rose to success. I contacted her and thanked her for sharing her story. We struck up a friendship. She encouraged me to reach for my dreams and that, no, I wasn't too old. When I took some firefighter classes at the community college, she even helped me with a homework assignment that I had gotten stuck on! Well, wouldn't you know it, I ended up getting hired as a full-time firefighter. Just last week I interviewed for a job as a Fire Captain. We have come full circle and I have a Gamma Phi Beta sister to thank for it.
I can also tell you how impressed I have been with the sorority's genuine efforts to provide positive programming for the collegiate and alumnae members. It is easy to look through our website and magazine and be proud. I see what our collegiate members are accomplishing and I feel proud. Indeed, I am proud to be a part of such an outstanding sisterhood.
Being an alumna initiate has been a learning experience, yes. I do hope that I have earned my place in the sisterhood and that the efforts of my sisters to sponsor my membership was not a waste. 10 years is a long time; but, it is really only a beginning.
.
Hybrid Mode
