Phoenix (AZ) Alumnae Chapter

Charter Members

The Original Phoenix Alumnae Chapter
Bertha H. Autenreith* Zoe Reid Beeaff* Elizabeth E. Bell Marilyn K. Boyd* Joy J. Butler Hilda C. Byer	Kathryn H. Capps Eunice W. Cole* Margaret S. Cook** Frances W. Fletcher Harriett E. Frissell Agnes M. Holst*	Juana G. Jacobsen Elizabeth G. Jerles* Henrietta M. Jones Roberta Smail Lee Mona F. Lofgreen Adalyn H. MacFarlane*	Julia Rogers Lillie King Shaw* Linda W. Sheldon Jan Stewart Evelyn E. Taylor

*Denotes Deceased Member **Denotes Active Member

Chapter History

On April 27, 1959, twenty-three initiated members of Sigma Alpha Iota gathered together and were presented as Charter Members of the Phoenix Alumnae Chapter. The chapter was installed as a part of Delta Province by Sigma Alpha Iota's National President Jeannette Kirk, National Secretary Myrla Smith, and Past National Chaplain Dorothy Hamilton. The installation, which included the installation of Gamma Mu Chapter at Arizona State University, was a first ‘double installation’ for the national organization. Later, through growth in the number of members and chapters in the state and in the region, Arizona became part of Omicron Province.

Today, Omicron Province encompasses all of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and the westernmost part of Texas. In 1965, the Valley Patroness Chapter was organized. Also at that time an annual scholarship program was established to benefit the college chapter members. It remains in existence today through the hard work of the Alumnae Chapter's Executive Board and the generosity of the members. Because of the vastness of the Metropolitan Phoenix Area, the West Valley Branch was organized to meet the needs of those sisters living in the Sun Cities area and has since merged with the Phoenix Alumnae Chapter.

The Phoenix Alumnae Chapter regularly supports community outreach through its Ways and Means projects. Beneficiaries of this support are the Sigma Alpha Philanthropies, Inc. and Radio Station KBAQ. Each year the chapter holds a Silver Musicale which provides revenue for scholarship assistance to deserving college members of chapters within the province. The Phoenix Alumnae Chapter is a thriving, vital organization of over fifty women which prides itself in over fifty years of association with the national organization. It is our hope that its members will leave a lasting legacy which will carry us into the next century.