Convention 2022 Recap

After four long years and one missed Convention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 73rd biennial Alpha Phi Convention resumed in June 2022 amongst the picturesque Paradise Valley desert of Scottsdale, Arizona. With the McDowell Mountain Range as its backdrop the 2022 Convention welcomed members to celebrate 150 years of Alpha Phi, recognize the many achievements from the biennium and elect the new International Executive Board (IEB).

In its history, Alpha Phi has hosted 72 Conventions in locations like Chicago, Miami, Palm Springs, and now, of course, Scottsdale. It’s where collegians and alumnae come together to conduct Fraternity business, learn about new programs and initiatives and celebrate chapter achievements. This year’s Convention offered attendees the opportunity to network, commemorate the success of Alpha Phi Foundation’s Leading with Heart campaign, recognize our achievements over the past biennium, conduct important Alpha Phi business, celebrate 150 years of Alpha Phi and more.

“One hundred and fifty years truly is a celebration,” said Dakotah Lindsay (Beta Pi-USC), former director of marketing and communications for Alpha Phi, during her Carnival speech at Convention. “It is a time for us to recognize the enormity of what our Founders did when they created Alpha Phi in 1872. It is a time for us to honor the outstanding women who have come before us — the women who made our 25th anniversary possible, the 50th, the 100th, and so on. It is a time for us to celebrate where we are today — 150 years old — and it is a time for us to look to the future — the future members of Alpha Phi and the next 150 years.”

As a part of the 150th celebration, this year’s Convention offered a “Build Your Own Celebration Weekend” registration package option that allowed attendees to mix and match different Convention offerings to create a totally customizable experience. This option made it even more feasible for Alpha Phis who weren’t attending as delegates, but who wanted to be a part of the celebrations, combine Convention with a vacation or reunite with their sisters.

Fun times were had by all who attended the 2022 Convention dancing at the Westernthemed

Convention was held Wednesday, June 22, through Sunday, June 26, 2022, at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa in Scottsdale. Day 1 was kicked off with registration, arriving from across the country. Simultaneously, the Alpha Phi Foundation’s Hospitality Suite and Shop Alpha Phi opened with more than a dozen vendors. This also marked the opening of the 150 Years of Alpha Phi History Experience.

“Throughout our 150th Celebration, we have celebrated Alpha Phi’s incredible history of 150 years of brave women, of innovation and a pursuit of limitless excellence,” Lindsay said.

“We want to make sure that our history is preserved so that all Alpha Phi members — including those 150 years from now — can access it, learn from it, enjoy it and celebrate it.”

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022

The Welcome Dinner, sponsored by Holmes Murphy, was the first full-attendee event hosted later that night to kick off Convention. Followed by collegiate and alumnae receptions, this event was hosted by the 2022 Convention Committee. It was Western-themed (fitting for the location), and there was live music, a mechanical bull, Alpha Phi songs led by the Convention Chorus and line dancing led by Lauren Locke (Gamma IotaTexas Tech) and Camille Griffin (Iota Omega-Ole Miss). Every attendee also received a custom 150th celebration handkerchief.

Following the Welcome Dinner, an Award Finalist Reception was held for the first time where the officers and volunteers of the chapters nominated for awards received certificates recognizing their achievements from the 2020-2022 IEB. The Constitution Q&A was also held, followed by a collegiate reception sponsored by College Fresh at the hotel pool and an alumnae reception hosted by the Alpha Phi Foundation.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022

Day 2 kicked off with the new Finalist Breakfast, which was a breakfast with the IEB for any chapters who are finalists for any of the major Convention Awards, followed by all Convention attendees participating in Disney’s Approach to Leadership by the Disney Institute thanks to the generosity of Alpha Phi Foundation donors.

New to the Convention itinerary was the Lifelong Alpha Phi Luncheon, which was hosted by the Fraternity and the Foundation and celebrated members’ lifetime commitment to Alpha Phi. Dr. Kristen GwinnBecker, HistoryIT’s Founder and CEO, shared about Alpha Phi’s partnership with HistoryIT as part of the 150th celebration.

“We recognized all of the Alpha Phis who have attended many Conventions, including Martha Mast (Beta NuDuke), who has attended the most,” Lindsay said. “We recognized the past Board members who are 50-year members. We also shared the finalists for most outstanding advisory board and most outstanding chapter advisor and the winners of the alumnae community awards.”

Past Board members who are 50-year members include the following members:

• Susan Weiskittle Barrick (Beta Omicron-Bowling Green)

• Billie Coskey Battiato (Phi-Oklahoma)

• Kathleen Feeney Hiemstra (Delta Theta-Western Michigan)

• Karen McChesney Howe (Gamma Sigma-Wisconsin Stout)

• Linda Gardner Massie (Delta Alpha-East Carolina)

• Diane Spry Straker (Delta Alpha-East Carolina)

• Alin Hernandez Wall (Beta Delta-UCLA)

Throughout the afternoon of Day 2, the academies continued with Chapter Advisor Academy, Chapter President Academy and Alumnae Academy. That evening, the Foundation hosted a Leading with Heart Reception and a Leading with Heart Dinner to celebrate the success of their monumental Leading with Heart Campaign that resulted in over $43 million raised to endow the Alpha Phi experience.

Following dinner, the Volunteer Appreciation Reception was hosted and sponsored by College Fresh at the pool. There was also a Collegiate Social with karaoke and games.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2022

The entirety of Day 3 was sponsored by Herff Jones, Alpha Phi’s sisterhood sponsor. This morning kicked off Housing Academy and Convention Assembled, where the chapter presidents processed into the event along with Boards and Past Boards and Presidents.

“The Membership Department also hosted an incredibly fun Alice in Wonderland themed Collegiate Chapter Awards Luncheon full of super fun performances, videos, awards and Sally Grant (GammaDePauw) jumping out of a cake.”

The 150th Celebration was also hosted on the evening of Day 3 with a fun carnival that included games, a DJ, carnival food, live performers, and a special video commemorating 150 years of Alpha Phi.

The night concluded with the Order of the Ivy Reception for all past and current Educational Leadership Consultants.

SATUDAY JUNE 25, 2022

After breakfast, the final session of Convention Assembled was held, which was followed by the Service of Remembrance that recognized members who had entered the Silent Chapter. Past International President Nancy Wittgen Burks DeVoe (GammeDePauw) sadly passed away at the beginning of Convention, and there was special recognition of her at this time.

The Women of Achievement Luncheon was also held on Day 4 wherein all of the National Panhellenic Council (NPC) organizations were invited to send a representative to be thanked for their partnership.

“We also recognized our individual award winners

from the past two bienniums,” Lindsay said. “Corinne Zannolli — our MFC award winner — spoke and Allie Winkelman (Gamma Epsilon-Lake Forest) led a Q&A with 2020 FEW award Winner Amanda Nguyen (Iota Tau-Harvard), which was outstanding. Afterward, we held an award winner meet and greet where a few hundred Alpha Phis met Amanda.”

Alpha Phi also initiated seven alumnae on the afternoon of Day 4. They were all mothers, daughters, family members and friends of members at Convention.

Lastly, the Candlelight Banquet was hosted on everyone’s last night at Convention. There was a string quartet, and it was literally illuminated by candlelight. Kate Boyle Halfon (Eta Delta-CSU East Bay), the new International President, and the rest of the IEB processed into dinner and were installed following the meal.