Founders’ Day Proclamation Founders’ Day Proclamation April 30, 2021 AprilDay 30, Proclamation 2021 Founders’ This time each year, sisters and friends of Theta Phi Alpha honor our founding at the University of April 30, 2019
This time each year, sisters andTheta friends Theta was Phi Alpha honortoour founding at the of Michigan on August 30, 1912. PhiofAlpha established provide a home forUniversity Catholic women, Michigan on August 30, 1912. Theta Phi Alpha was established to provide a home for Catholic women, th who that they could live authentically of existing Weinwere As found we celebrate Theta Phinot Alpha’s founding onwithin April the 30, framework 2019, our 107 year oforganizations. sisterhood, I am who found that they could not live authentically within the framework of existing organizations. We were exclusive to all other religions for many years. At the 1960 National Convention in Pittsburgh, Theta awe of this organization. Ourfor tenmany Founders gathered at theNational University of Michigan in 1912 to Theta createPhi exclusive to all other religions years. At the 1960 Convention in Pittsburgh, Phi Alpha eliminated the requirement tolove be of the Catholic faith,Today which we formally removed any discrimination what we have come to know and as Theta Phi Alpha. are over 33,000 members strong Alpha eliminated requirement torequirements. be of the Catholic faith, which removed any discrimination against women in the our membership wasjourney a formally change that ultimately tookI have quite a and derive from north to south, east to west. As However, I reflect onit our from 1912 to today, against women in our membership requirements. However, it was a change that ultimately took quitefaith a few years to be adopted fully throughout the organization. thatyears our Founders are proud of today’s Theta Phi Alpha—our sisterhood. Our service. Our commitment. few to be adopted fully throughout the organization. Similarly, our membership policy explicitly prohibits against anyone who Day As Bettytoday, Comerwhile McDaniel, Tau, Past National President, wrote indiscrimination her 1965 proclamation, Founders’ Similarly, today, while ourstill membership prohibits against anyone whoin identifies as a those woman, we havewomen workpolicy towho, do explicitly towith be inclusive oftheir alldiscrimination the membersadviser in our [sic], organization is “to honor 10 courageous counsel of far-seeing brought identifies as a woman, we still have work to do to be inclusive of all the members in our organization inour practice. While our formal policies are inclusive, how can we do better to include all sisters equally and belovedWhile sorority into existence.” How do we honor our today every day? Weequally can doand this in practice. our formal policies are ourselves inclusive, howquestion canFounders we do to and include sisters respectfully? We must continue to ask this andbetter grapple withpaying thealltruth that weand candonating and many ways, including serving as a chapter, association, or National Officer; our dues respectfully? We must continue to ask ourselves thisa diverse questionorganization, and grapple with the truth that we can and must be better. To be a strong organization is to be which will only be true if we to the Fraternity and Theta Phi Alpha Foundation; showing our Theta Phiwhich pride will by wearing our letters; must be better. To be a strong organization is to be a diverse organization, only be true if we honestly value thea diversity of identities, voices, of our members. And to doyou this,are wethinking reaching out to chapter sister with whom you and haveexperiences lost touch and letting them know that honestly value the diversity of identities, voices, and experiences of our members. And to do this, we must first acknowledge where we have fallen short. about them; and, coming together on Founders’ Day each year. All these things, and more, bring honor to must first acknowledge where we have fallen short. Theta Phi Alpha and our Founders in their own way as they sustain our sisterhood. It is my hope that all members can see themselves valued by and represented in our membership, in our It is my hope that can see themselves valued by will and represented ourresources membership, in our volunteers, and in all themembers leadership ourMildred organization. So,convinced we putthe our timeinand intoatthe 2019 marks one hundred years of since Connely collegians and alumnae the volunteers, and in the leadership of our organization. So, we will put our time and resources into the efforts to be the strong organization that is on inclusive of allOne members. University of Michigan to take a chance expansion. hundred years have passed since those brave efforts to be the strong organization that is inclusive of all members. women ventured into a new world, creating what became a national organization for women, welcoming Assisters we gather to celebrate and Chapters. honor Dorothy, Katrina, Mildred, Selma, Otilia, Amelia, at Beta, Gamma, Founders' Delta, andDay Epsilon A century of sisterhood. It is a wonderful occasion As we gather to May, celebrate Founders' Day and honor Dorothy, Katrina, Mildred, Selma, Otilia, Amelia, Camilla, Helen, Eva, and Bishop Kelly, who all had the courage to establish Theta Phi Alpha in in to laud the members of the Epsilon Chapter, who have been active continuously since their installation Camilla, Helen, May, Eva, and Bishop Kelly, who all had the courage to establish Theta Phi Alpha 1912, ask you make heartfelt courageous choices. Be the example forand your respectfulfor in JuneI1919. Wetoextend congratulations to the chapter herneighbors. collegiansHave and alumnae their 1912, I ask youwhether to makeyou courageous Be theone example forand your neighbors. Havetogether, respectful conversations, agree or choices. disagree another, continue to work love,ofand ever loyal, ever lasting commitment to Thetawith Phi Alpha. We encourage all collegians to take care your conversations, whether you agreeoforothers, disagree one and continue to work together, love, and value one so another. Beand accepting no with matter theanother, differences. Be and empower each chapter that you your successors will have this achievement onesupportive day. value another.wrong Be accepting ofup others, no matter the differences. Be supportive and empower each other. one Recognize and stand for what is right. other. Recognize wrong and stand up for what is right. As we gather to celebrate our Founders’ Day, I ask you to recall what led you to Theta Phi Alpha. In We cantumultuous honor our Founders withto our words and values for andour purpose, and with the these times we every have aday choice make. We candeeds, be theour example neighbors. We can We canPhi honor ourCreed, Founders every 1933 day withMildred our words and deeds, recite our valuesCreed and purpose, and with the in Theta Alpha written Connely. ground respectfully disagree with onein another by and continue to workWe together, our to love andtovalue oneourselves another. Theta Phi Alpha Creed, written in 1933So by Mildred We recite ourCreed Creedevery to ground ourselves in Theta Phi be Alpha’s values purpose. askdifferences. you,Connely. “how do our day?” We can accepting of and others, no matterIour Weyou canlive support and empower one another. Theta Phi Alpha’s values and purpose. So I ask you, “how do you live our Creed every day?” We can recognize wrong and stand up for right. We can honor our Founders every day by our words Inand 2021, celebrate our 109 years of sisterhood as Theta Phi Alpha. We have survived for this long ourwe deeds. In 2021, we we met celebrate our 109 years sisterhood as Theta Phi havewith survived for this longWe because the challenges of theoftimes and recognized the Alpha. need toWe evolve our membership. because we met the challenges of the times and recognized the need to evolve with our membership. We will do so inKappa, order to be National here for generations to come. I look to seeing thecelebration evolution Ascontinue Mary R. to Ammon, Past President, stated in her 1960forward proclamation, this is will continue to do so in order to be here for generations to come. I look forward to seeing the evolution of“a Theta Phi Alpha, the evolution that the members here today will create. day to renew friendships, to relive happy times, to remember once again the ideals and purposes of our of Theta Phi Alpha, the evolution that the members here today will create. Founders, and to renew our determination to do our part in fostering those ideals and purposes.” Happy Founders’ Day! Happy Founders’ Day! Enjoy this celebration and may the joy of the day stay with you always. Yours in the bonds of sisterhood, Yours in the bonds of sisterhood, Yours in the bonds of sisterhood, Tracey Liphardt, Alpha Nu Tracey Liphardt, Alpha Nu National President Tracey NationalLiphardt, PresidentAlpha Nu National President
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