Sixty-eight new Alpha Phi pins were in evidence Saturday, April 24, 1976, at Eastern Illinois University at Charleston, Illinois, when the new initiates signed their names to the charter that opened the Zeta alphabet in Alpha Phi’s roll of chapters. It was to have been sixty-nine, but one of the potential new members became ill late Friday night after the Court of Ivy and had to be hospitalized. She was initiated later at Convention at Pheasant Run.
Installation weekend began April 23 with the Court of Ivy ceremony conducted by Delta Pi (Indiana State), with the assistance of Beta Alpha (Illinois) and Beta Tau (Indiana) helping with initial recruiting.
Saturday’s events were on schedule all the way, thanks to two local alumnae, Marlys Kennard Fallen (Beta Alpha-Illinois) and Mary Ann Dunn Uphoff (Beta Alpha-Illinois).
The banquet featured a talk with Barbara Wasser Melchert (Omicron-Missouri). Welcomes were given by Dr. Arlen Fowler, representing the university; Helena Coulthard (Iota-Wisconsin), Judy Rinne (Gamma-DePauw), and Karen Augsburger Campbell (Delta Pi-Indiana State), president of Delta Pi chapter. The response was given by Cynthia Hamilton Iverson (Zeta Alpha-Eastern Illinois), president of Zeta Alpha.
The initiates were introduced by Margaret Donnelly, and Debbie Day presented the gifts. Sonja Nicely acknowledged the gifts, and Helena Coulthard conducted the Loving Cup Ceremony.
Demonstrating real Panhellenic spirit, the chapter’s recruitment adviser, Sue Cook (Illinois Wesleyan), wore a Kappa key. She and her husband, Don, the EIU Panhellenic adviser, were enthusiastic supporters of Alpha Phi’s advent on the EIU campus, and the local alumnae welcomed her as an affiliate member of their chapter.
Alpha Phi Field Secretary Margaret Donnelly Leonard (Epsilon Theta-Northern Iowa) and Extension Coordinator Sue Rainer (Gamma Gamma-Drury) first visited the campus in January 1976 in response to a letter from Audrey Romo (Epsilon Alpha-Eastern Illinois) of Downers Grove, Illinois, a junior at EIU who felt there was a need for another sorority on the campus. Original contacts with the university were made by Alpha Phi in the summer of 1975, but the ball really started rolling in February with a flurry of activity that saw the organization of an alumnae chapter in mid-month and recruiting during the week of February 29-March 6 that culminated in the welcoming of sixty-four women. In spite of spring break and the Easter holiday, the enthusiastic new members completed their training in record time under the leadership of Pamela Brunsman Budde (Delta Chi-William Woods). They also held a second recruitment, taking eighteen more new members, entered Greek Games, Spring Sing and a Sigma Chi-sponsored trampoline marathon and still were ready for initiation in seven weeks. The chapter ended the year rated Number One in campus scholarship. While Pamela Budde was busy training the new members, Sonya Jones Nicely (Gamma-DePauw), doubled as the chapter financial adviser and seeker of suitable quarters for the new chapter. Many Alpha Phi husbands deserved awards for their patience and service to the Fraternity, but none more than Sonya’s husband, Jim, a speech pathology professor at EIU. His efforts in escorting contractors, electricians, plumbers and painters through properties earned him not only one, but two Bordeaux Beau awards.
1013 Greek Court, Charleston, Illinois
Judy Ethell Glatz – Foundation Board
• Dyana Korkosz Pisani - 1994 Women of Distinction Award Winner
• Linda Bonk Colello – 2000 Michaelanean Award Winner
• Judy Ethell Glatz – 2004 Ursa Major Award Winner
• Patty Hendrickson – 2018 Michaelanean Award Winner
Apr 24th, 1976
$90,437.39
