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HISTORY OF CHI ETA PHI SORORITY, INC.

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[[caption]] JOSEPHINE ALEXANDER, Historian, Mu Chi, Los Angeles [[/caption]]


An international sorority of registered nurses and student nurses, Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. was founded in 1932 in Washington, D.C. by Aliene C. Ewell, together with eleven other charter members.

Our Purposes are:
1. To encourage the pursuit of continuing education among members of the nursing profession.
2. To have a continuous recruitment program for nursing and the health profession.
3. To stimulate a close and friendly relationship among the members.
4. To constantly identify a corps of nursing leaders within the membership who will function as agents of social change on the national, regional, and local levels. 

Our program priorities include continuous recruitment in the health careers; scholarship to students enrolled in schools of nursing; development of skills bank profiles on members; increase political involvement on all levels by becoming more knowledgable in government affairs (on a non-partisan basis); continued liaison representation (NCNW, NAACP, ANA, NLN); increase membership by establishing more chapters.

At this time there are some 42 graduate chapters and 15 undergraduate chapters, with a total membership of about one thousand. Locally and nationally, the organization continues to concern itself with professional, civic, and cultural affairs, working through such associations as NAACP, NCNW, YMCA YWCA, and others. Contributions are being made to Federal Campaign Fund, NCNW, UNCF, NAACP, Urban League, Association for the Blind, Heart Association, Cancer Society, Sickle Cell Foundation, Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Cerebral Palsy Foundation, and others.

Chi Eta Phi has further participated in health care programs such as the detection, prevention, and control of high blood pressure, etc.; has provided gifts and entertainment to patients in convalescent homes, hospitals, and nursing homes, food and clothing to needy families, and recreational activities for select youth. Sorors have served as volunteers in PAP Smear screening and breast self-examination clinics, in mass immunization programs, in activities related to special olympics for retarded children. Also, sorors have actively been involved with American Nurses Association and National League for Nursing, and have participated in in-service programs for health care personnel at local health facilities.

Workshops are planned by Chi Eta Phi. Some of the recent workshops are (1) Health Problems in the Black Population; 2) Psychsocial Aspects of Aging; 3) Role of the Nurse Practitioner in Health Care Field; 4) Parliamentary Law; 5) Assertiveness Training and 6) Legislative Process.

The sorority has had as its leaders sorors Aliene C. Ewell, Sadie Spradley, Anita K. Bass, Fay O. Wilson, Moezell Dickerson, Minnie J. Whitfield, Fostine G. Riddick, Leota P. Brown, Helen S. Miller, and Verdelle Bellamy.

Moving on into our fifth decade our theme for a few years was "Challenge, Courage, and Change for the Seventies". With such a theme we witnessed many impressive developments. Just to mention a few that occurred in the recent past. 1) Our sorority house was listed among those visited by Bicentennial tourists, 2) The President's weekend in New York, sponsored by American Airlines and Americana Hotels, brought together Black national presidents of organizations representing more than 11 million Blacks. 3) Chi Eta Phi's invitation to participate and representation by immediate past supreme basileus in the opening night procession as platform guest to the 1976 ANA convention was a history making first for us as a sorority. 4) Chi Eta Phi's exhibit booth at convention was another first. 5) Our immediate past supreme basileus was the recipient of the highest NCNW award. "Bethune Illuminated Scroll Award".

Chi Eta Phi's history has demonstrated much growth, however, much is still to be accomplished. With the dynamic leadership of our supreme basileus and with program activities depicting our new theme selected at Boule 1976 "New Directions: Accountability and Responsibility" our accomplishments and contributions will ensure us a strong future.

To quote our immediate past supreme basileus, "With a sorority whose services are so essential to the progress of the community both local and national, and with the membership willing to join in such a noble undertaking, there can be no prospect except continued success..."

In this our 46th year, and when reflecting on health care needs of our nation, and the health care delivery system, we must continue to commit ourselves to do whatever we can in order to ensure better health care for all people.

Our 32nd Annual Boule was held in Atlanta, Ga. Several chapters received their NAACP Life Membership Plaque. In Atlanta a new leader came on the horizon, Soror Peola McCaskill. Under her dynamic leadership we will continue to make our impact on the health care system.

Again, Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. has a rich history and more than ever is committed to its motto, "Service For Humanity". 

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