Threads of Friendship and Purposes Everywhere

In celebrating Women’s History Month, I am revisiting the historical records of the founding of NPC and many of our member organizations. It is remarkable to track the progress made by our founders and early pioneers to form women’s-only organizations. These women were bold, ambitious and strategic in establishing chapters from coast to coast — all of this achieved through personal letters, Western Union telegrams and visits by train to campuses in college towns. The early leaders would be amazed at the evolution of our organizations.  

I read this from one of the historical journals, to paraphrase: We are a society of college women devoted to fine friendship and progress. While this historical account tells the story of this progress, we find the threads of friendship and purposes everywhere.

Have we remained true to these purposes? What would our early leaders think of us now?

I honestly believe that our early leaders would be very pleased at the state of sorority in today’s world. You find threads of friendship and purposes everywhere illustrated in pictures of sorority women linked arm in arm posted on Facebook and impact reports of our community outreach. Sorority women are scholars, servant leaders and philanthropists. We make a difference today in our communities by putting our values into action.  

That said I also believe that our early leaders would be troubled with how sororities are being depicted in the media without full consideration of the enrichment that sorority membership adds to the college experience. I have not lost heart in the sorority experience, despite recent news stories. Actions of a few are incongruent with our values and founding principles; it is unfair to use a broad brush to paint all of us with allegations of anything to the contrary of what we stand for. These are indeed challenging times. As sorority women, we must stay the course and continue our efforts to do good and do better.

Friends, we have been entrusted to honor the legacy of our founding principles and pass it on to future generations. I recall a quote from one of my Chi Omega mentors, Kirk Bell Cocke Hassell. She said, “Leadership at its finest is by example. You can show your campus and world what we stand for and, at the same time, enrich your own life.” 

Our shared commitment as a unified coalition of sorority women will allow us to perpetuate the goodness that is embodied in our organizations. Just as our founders were determined to establish a presence on campuses, we are charged with the responsibility to see to it that our women’s-only organizations continue to flourish.  

We must stay true to our ideals. And lead by example.