The Association of Fraternity Advisors (AFA) was founded on December 1, 1976. The momentous occasion took place in Williamsburg, Virginia, during the 1976 Bicentennial gathering of the National Interfraternity Conference.
AFA began with 35 members. AFA offers professional growth and development opportunities to the men and women who advise fraternity and sorority members. John Mohr was the organization’s first President. In 1978, Barbie Tootle, who was at the Ohio State University, was AFA’s first female president
Barbara Oliver Tootle, “Barbie” to most about everyone, receives the 1987 Panhellenic Woman of the Year Award from Pi Beta Phi Grand President, Jean Wirths Scott. As a collegiate member of the Pi Beta Phi chapter at the Ohio State University, Barbie was a co-winner of Pi Phi’s highest individual award. She and future Grand President of Pi Beta Phi, Sarah Ruth “Sis” Mullis, shared the 1965 Amy Burnham Onken Award. Barbie served as AFA’s first female president.
A happy belated birthday to the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). NIC is the trade association for 75 men’s fraternities; it was founded as the National Interfraternity Conference on November 27, 1909 at the University Club in New York City. Brown University President W. H. P. Faunce, a member of Delta Upsilon, invited representatives from the men’s fraternities. The 26 men’s fraternities who attended the meeting and are considered founding members are Acacia, Alpha Chi Rho, Alpha Delta Phi, Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Theta Pi, Chi Phi, Chi Psi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Delta Phi, Delta Tau Delta, Delta Upsilon, Kappa Alpha Order, Kappa Alpha Society, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Kappa Sigma, Phi Sigma Kappa, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu, Sigma Phi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Theta Delta Chi, and Zeta Psi. Alpha Sigma Phi is also considered a charter member. Hamilton Wright Mabie, Alpha Delta Phi, was NIC’s first chairman. Beta Theta Pi Francis W. Shepardson was its first secretary.
