F 0 UN D E R S'
Virginia Lee Boyd (Noell)
Juliette Jefferson Hundley (Gilliam)
DA Y M ES SAGE
Calva Hamlet Watson (Wootton)
Louise Burks Cox (Carper)
Mary Williamson Hundley
Celebrating 96 years of Alpha Sigma Alpha sisterhood BY SUZANNE KILGANNON PRESTON, BI National President
ere is a clispness in the air that has arlived very suddenly this fall, heralding in another autumn. Once again children are waiting at school bus stops, football games are being played and Halloween costume sales are in full swing. For Alpha Sigma Alphas, autumn means the anniversary of the founding of our sorolity. Founders' Day is a time for celebration as we gather together to reflect on the joys of our sisterhood. It is a time for reflection about what our sorolity stands for and to cheiish the timelessness of our unique bond. Virginia State Normal School was a very interesting place at the turn of the last century. It was already the unexpected site of the founding of three other sorolities. Each of our founders had received invitations to join the other sorolities, but accepting those invitations meant that they would be separated. Together they already had a strong bond they did not want to break. It was then that Alpha Sigma Alpha was founded - founded to preserve the ties the founders had with one another. It strikes me that these five young women were so determined to preserve
2 FALL 1997
Just like the fou~ders, each of us leaves
our imprint on this sorority. We are a sorority of women with many talents, of many backgrounds, with many pursuits. Each of us is valued because of the skills and talents we possess.
Every member
makes a
~ difference.
their friendships. Could they not have stayed good fliends even if they had joined the other sorolities? Perhaps, but they knew their relationships would truly flouiish only if they were bound to one another in a more significant way. Alpha Sigma Alpha provided them that connection. Those connections remain today. We are all bonded to one another by the vows we made and the founding plinciples that have withstood the last 96 years. Our new theme, "Every member makes a difference," takes on an even deeper meaning when put in this context. Just like the founders, each of us leaves our irnplint on this sorolity. We are a sorolity of women with many talents, of many backgrounds, with many pursuits. Each of us is valued because of the skills and talents we possess. Alpha Sigma Alpha is a fluid organization, constantly evolving to meet the needs of women. We are who we are because of every single sister. Every member adds to the special gift this sorolity is. We now have this legacy to pass on. We must nurture this gift as it has been nurtured in the past. Let us cheiish the connections we enjoy as we pause to celebrate our 96 years of sisterhood in Alpha Sigma Alpha.
THE PHOENIX OF ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA