2021 Founders’ Day Proclamation

Founders’ Day Proclamation April 30, 2021 Founders’ Day Proclamation Founders’ Day Proclamation April 30, 2021

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 and friends of Theta Phi Alpha honor our founding at the University of Michigan on August 30, 1912. Theta Phi Alpha was established to provide a home for Catholic women, Michigan on August 30, 1912. Theta Phi Alpha was established to provide a home for Catholic women, 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 Phi Alpha eliminated the requirement to be of the Catholic faith, which formally removed any discrimination against women in our membership requirements. However, it was a change that ultimately took quite a few years to be adopted fully throughout the organization. As we celebrate Theta Phi Alpha’s founding on April 30, 2019, our 107th year of sisterhood, I am in awe of this organization. Our ten Founders gathered at the University of Michigan in 1912 to create what we have come to know and love as Theta Phi Alpha. Today we are over 33,000 members strong and derive from north to south, east to west. As I reflect on our journey from 1912 to today, I have faith that our Founders are proud of today’s Theta Phi Alpha—our sisterhood. Our service. Our commitment. 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 Phi Alpha eliminated the requirement to be of the Catholic faith, which formally removed any discrimination against women in our membership requirements. However, it was a change that ultimately took quite a few years to be adopted fully throughout the organization. Similarly, today, while our membership policy explicitly prohibits discrimination against anyone who Similarly, today, while our membership policy explicitly prohibits discrimination against anyone who identifies as a woman, we still have work to do to be inclusive of all the members in our organization in identifies as a woman, we still have work to do to be inclusive of all the members in our organization in practice. While our formal policies are inclusive, how can we do better to include all sisters equally and practice. While our formal policies are inclusive, how can we do better to include all sisters equally and respectfully? We must continue to ask ourselves this question and grapple with the truth that we can and respectfully? We must continue to ask ourselves this question and grapple with the truth that we can and must be better. To be a strong organization is to be a diverse organization, which will only be true if we must be better. To be a strong organization is to be a diverse organization, which will only be true if we honestly value the diversity of identities, voices, and experiences of our members. And to do this, we 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. must first acknowledge where we have fallen short. It is my hope that all members can see themselves valued by and represented in our membership, in our It is my hope that all members can see themselves valued by and represented in our membership, in our volunteers, and in the leadership of our organization. So, we will put our time and resources into 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 inclusive of all members. efforts to be the strong organization that is inclusive of all members. As we gather to celebrate Founders' Day and honor Dorothy, Katrina, Mildred, Selma, Otilia, Amelia, As we gather to celebrate Founders' Day and honor Dorothy, Katrina, Mildred, Selma, Otilia, Amelia, Camilla, Helen, May, Eva, and Bishop Kelly, who all had the courage to establish Theta Phi Alpha in Camilla, Helen, May, Eva, and Bishop Kelly, who all had the courage to establish Theta Phi Alpha in 1912, I ask you to make courageous choices. Be the example for your neighbors. Have respectful 1912, I ask you to make courageous choices. Be the example for your neighbors. Have respectful conversations, whether you agree or disagree with one another, and continue to work together, love, and conversations, whether you agree or disagree with one another, and continue to work together, love, and value one another. Be accepting of others, no matter the differences. Be supportive and empower each value one another. Be accepting of others, no matter the differences. Be supportive and empower each other. Recognize wrong and stand up for what is right. other. Recognize wrong and stand up for what is right. We can honor our Founders every day with our words and deeds, our values and purpose, and with the We can honor our Founders every day with our words and deeds, our values and purpose, and with the Theta Phi Alpha Creed, written in 1933 by Mildred Connely. We recite our Creed to ground ourselves in Theta Phi Alpha Creed, written in 1933 by Mildred Connely. We recite our Creed to ground ourselves in Theta Phi Alpha’s values and purpose. So I ask you, “how do you live our Creed every day?” Theta Phi Alpha’s values and purpose. So I ask you, “how do you live our Creed every day?” In 2021, we celebrate our 109 years of sisterhood as Theta Phi Alpha. We have survived for this long In 2021, we celebrate our 109 years of sisterhood as Theta Phi Alpha. We have survived for this long because we met the challenges of the times and recognized the need to evolve with our membership. We because we met the challenges of the times and recognized the need to evolve with our membership. We will continue to do so in order to be here for generations to come. I look forward to seeing the evolution will continue to do so in order to be here for generations to come. I look forward to seeing the evolution of Theta Phi Alpha, the evolution that the members here today will create. of Theta Phi Alpha, the evolution that the members here today will create. Happy Founders’ Day! Happy Founders’ Day! Yours in the bonds of sisterhood, Yours in the bonds of sisterhood, Tracey Liphardt, Alpha Nu Tracey Liphardt, Alpha Nu National President National President

As Betty Comer McDaniel, Tau, Past National President, wrote in her 1965 proclamation, Founders’ Day is “to honor those 10 courageous women who, with counsel of their far-seeing adviser [sic], brought our beloved sorority into existence.” How do we honor our Founders today and every day? We can do this in many ways, including serving as a chapter, association, or National Officer; paying our dues and donating to the Fraternity and Theta Phi Alpha Foundation; showing our Theta Phi pride by wearing our letters; reaching out to a chapter sister with whom you have lost touch and letting them know that you are thinking about them; and, coming together on Founders’ Day each year. All these things, and more, bring honor to Theta Phi Alpha and our Founders in their own way as they sustain our sisterhood. 2019 marks one hundred years since Mildred Connely convinced the collegians and alumnae at the University of Michigan to take a chance on expansion. One hundred years have passed since those brave women ventured into a new world, creating what became a national organization for women, welcoming sisters at Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon Chapters. A century of sisterhood. It is a wonderful occasion to laud the members of the Epsilon Chapter, who have been active continuously since their installation in June 1919. We extend heartfelt congratulations to the chapter and her collegians and alumnae for their ever loyal, ever lasting commitment to Theta Phi Alpha. We encourage all collegians to take care of your chapter so that you and your successors will have this achievement one day. As we gather to celebrate our Founders’ Day, I ask you to recall what led you to Theta Phi Alpha. In these tumultuous times we have a choice to make. We can be the example for our neighbors. We can respectfully disagree with one another and continue to work together, to love and value one another. We can be accepting of others, no matter our differences. We can support and empower one another. We can recognize wrong and stand up for right. We can honor our Founders every day by our words and our deeds. As Mary R. Ammon, Kappa, Past National President, stated in her 1960 proclamation, this celebration is “a day to renew friendships, to relive happy times, to remember once again the ideals and purposes of our Founders, and to renew our determination to do our part in fostering those ideals and purposes.” Enjoy this celebration and may the joy of the day stay with you always. Yours in the bonds of sisterhood, Tracey Liphardt, Alpha Nu National President