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Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.
[[logo]]
Specifically A COMMITMENT TO SERVE
Organized June 1929

IOTA PHI LAMBDAS CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF PROGRESS
  
Under the theme: Women Building for Tommorrow through Professional Enrichment and Economic Development: Meeting Challenges," Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., observed its Golden Anniversary Convention in August, 1979, Chicago, Illinois, home of its founding. Headquarters were at Chicago City Centre (Holiday Inn) where the remaining charter members, delegates, honorees, past national presidents and other members of the Iota family, including auxiliaries, gathered to pay homage to Mrs. Lola Mercedes Parker, the illustrious Founder, to engage in meaningful deliberation of today's issues, and to strategize for goals in the 80s.
  
The sessions were presided over by the National President, Dr. Fredda Witherspoon, St. Louis, Missouri, assisted by the National First Vice President, Mrs. Clarice E. Brown, Chicago, and the National Second Vice President, Mrs. Evelyn S. Peevy, Norfolk, Virginia. The Founder appropriately set the tone in the Opening Session when she gave the Keynote Address, recalling the early beginnings, the struggles and accomplishments, and pinpointing unfinished tasks yet ahead. A major highlight of the Convention was the Golden Anniversary Recognition Luncheon which honored not only Mrs. Parker, who founded the business and professional sorority in 1929, with seven friends engaged in business, but also the two remaining charter members, Mrs. Bridette Trigg and Mrs. Ethel T. Edwards.
  
Also honored were the other seven Past National Presidents who had served meritoriously during the past 50 years; these were: Mrs. Alice P. Allen, Birmingham, Alabama; Mrs. Jeanne Scott Rhodes, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Marion H. Jackson, Washington D.C.; Mrs. Florence Madison Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Ossie Ware Mitchell, Birmingham, Alabama; Mrs. Bessie Coston, Youngstown, Ohio; and Miss A. Lucile Reynolds, Los Angeles, California. The only deceased past president was the late Mrs. Mahala S. Evans, Chicago, who passed away earlier this year.
  
Among the several National Honorary Members in attendance was Mrs. Ruth Washington, Owner-Publisher, Los Angeles Sentinel. Also honored at the Recognition Luncheon were the recipients of the highest award given by the sorority: The Lola M. Parker Achievement Award. Honored recipients present who have received the award were: Mrs. Freddye Henderson, Atlanta, Ga.; Mrs. Ernestine Smith, Denver, Colo.; Mesdames Era Bell Thompson, Lois Golden, Ollie F. Cromwell, Dr. Virginia Lewis and Dr. Fredda Witherspoon.
  
Highlighting the Educational Program under the direction of Mrs. E. Grace Payne, Director of Education, Los Angeles, California, were special donations of more than $20,000 to worthy causes: $5,000 to NAACP Special Contributions Fund, $5,000 to United Negro College Fund which was accepted by Christopher Edley, UNCF Executive Director; more than $5,000 to scholarship recipients, and substantial amounts to NCNW, the Black Women's Agenda, and the National Black Leadership Roundtable. In addition to these special contributions, the Sorority also continued its annual donations in its regular substantial support of NAACP, UNCF, NCNW, National Urban League, and Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.
  
On hand to receive her $2,000 scholarship was Miss Elouise Smith, June '79 graduate of Central High School, St. Louis, Missouri, with a 4.0 average. She had been sponsored by Alpha Zeta Chapter, St. Louis, with Mrs. Dorothy Boulding as Scholarship Co-Chairman. Miss Smith experienced her first trip away from home when she came to Chicago to receive her award. She comes from a family of 12 and has enrolled in Drake University where she will major in Business Administration. Also present to receive scholarships of $500 each were Misses Donna Comegys and Sheryl Cossgrove, business majors at Chicago State University. 7 "Book Grants" of $50 each were given to seven undergraduate Sorors who had served commendably in leadership roles. There were also additional scholarship winners from the various Regions throughout the country.

Presenting substantial donations for the Sorority's Educational Fund were: William S. McEwen, Director of EEO Affairs, Monsanto; Henry H. Brown, Director of Market Development, Anheuser-Busch; Herm Willie, Vice President and Ms. Carolyn Hernandez, Affirmative Action Officer, Kraft; and Honeywell, Inc. The Sorority was extremely appreciative of the donations from these corporate donors who found the business sorority's scholarship programs sufficiently relevant to lend their tangible support and acknowledge their corporate responsibility.
  
The Educational Program was highlighted also by an electrifying address from the guest speaker, Mrs. Addie Wyatt, Chicago, International Vice President, Meat Cutters and Butchers' Union, and also a past recipient of Iota's highest award. This year's recipient was Dr. Geneva H. Southall, University of Minnesota.

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
March 7-8, 1980
Contact: Mrs. Thelma Small
Route 1, Box 225B
Winston-Salem, N.C. 27106

REGIONAL CONFERENCES
Northern and Western
Toledo, Ohio
Ramada Inn
April 25-26
Hostess: Alpha Iota Chapter
Southern
Savannah, Georgia
DeSoto-Hilton Hotel
March 28-29
Hostess:: Nu Chapter
Eastern
Hartford, Connecticut
April 18-19
Hostess: Beta Chapter
Southwestern
Jackson, Mississippi
Ramada Inn—S. Reynolds Road
April 4-5
Hostess: Alpha Pi Chapter
Farwestern
Los Angeles, California
April 18-19
Hostess:: Gamma Nu Chapter

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