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Beta Gamma Chapter Celebrates 66 Years of Service on
Founders’ Day 2018
Special to The Truth
On Saturday, May 26, 2018,
the Beta Gamma Chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta
Kappa, Inc hosted sister chapters from Flint, Saginaw and
Detroit, MI to celebrate 95 years of service for the
national sorority and 66 years of service for the Toledo
chapter. The Quad Founders’ Day 2018’s theme for the
occasion was “Celebrating Our Founders: Sisters of Vision.”
The program, held at
Macedonia Baptist Church, was opened by the mistress of
ceremonies, Linda Collins, Founders’ Day co-chairman, and
followed by the musical prelude, “Lift Every Voice and
Sing.”
Greetings were offered by
Toledo Chapter Basileus Dorothy Batson and Midwest Regional
Director Francine Blake, PhD. After an Ice Breaker by the
All “Quad” Sorors, national and local histories were
presented by Helen Sallee and Joan Harris. Sisters from all
four chapters offered a tribute to the founders and Yvonne
Turner sang “Wind Beneath My Wings” with accompaniment by
Carmen Carpenter.
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After lunch, the “What
Would Our Founders Think?” program was staged including
chapter highlights of Y.E.S. activities; a poem by
Charliemae Rose titled “You Have a Part to Play;”
acknowledgement of “special guests” by Jacqueline Quinn;
“special” recognitions by Paula Martin and others;
presentation of gifts by the Beta Gamma Sorors and closing
remarks by Batson.
The National Sorority of
Phi Delta Kappa, Inc, is a professional organization of
teachers dedicated to the task of training the youth of
America to cope satisfactorily and effectively with today’s
problems. Since its inception, in 1923, the aims established
by the founders have been the goals adopted by chapters
throughout the country: to stimulate professional growth
among teachers; to foster the true spirit of sisterhood; to
promote the highest ideals of the teaching profession and to
encourage the development of the potential of youth.
The National Sorority was
founded in April 1923 by nine future teachers in Jersey
City, New Jersey and was officially incorporated on May 23
of the same year. The second chapter was organized 17 month
later in Washington, D.C. and the sorority ultimately spread
throughout the country and to Liberia in West Africa. There
are currently 125 chapters and over 4,000 members in five
regions – Eastern, Southwestern, Southeastern, Far West and
Midwestern.
The Bate Gamma Chapter was
formed on May 23, 1952 when Lenora Williams Farrow and
Mayola Senior and sorors from Detroit, Michigan (Chi
Chapter), traveled to the old Douglas Center on the corner
of 11th Street and Pinewood Avenue. On that
evening 12 chapter members were initiated. They traveled to
Detroit the next day to celebrate Founders’ Day with the Chi
Chapter. Ann Marie Bolden, the last surviving member of the
12 original sorors passed away on February 26, 2018.
Among the visitors from
the three Michigan chapters were Gabrielle Patterson,
Basileus of the Chi Chapter; Tiffany Pritchett, Basileus of
the Flint Gamma Delta Chapter and Lillian Thomas, EdD,
Basileus of the Saginaw Gamma Kappa Chapter.
This year’s Founders’ Day
committee consisted of Co-Chairman Bea Daniels, Collins,
Batson, Martin and Sallee.
Other Beta Gamma sorors
are: Sherry Reed, grammateus; Rita Oliver, tamias; Clara
Brank, dean of pledges; Bessie Mack, public relations.
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