I had hoped to have a real post with some historical significance today. Not a chance! This is because I have been participating in a sleep deprivation study otherwise known as the 69th Biennial Pi Beta Phi Convention. We had our first convention in 1868, so the math doesn’t add up, but in the early years it was a bit difficult to convene conventions and they sometimes happened on a catch as catch can basis. There was the convention that spanned two years, it started in 1907 and concluded in 1908 (New Orleans over New Year’s Eve!!). Conventions were cancelled during World Wars I and II.
One of the most fun parts of convention is meeting new friends (shout out to @Tessa Betz) and catching up with old friends met at prior conventions (you know who you are!!).
I am always in awe when the countdown of conventions takes place. At my first Pi Phi convention in 1987, the competition was between Helen Lewis, Marianne Reid Wild, Evelyn Peters Kyle and Alice Weber Johnson. Today Sis Mullis and Jean Scott (past NPC Chairman) have taken their place. Sis has attended every convention since she became a member of Pi Beta Phi and she recently became a Golden Arrow, our name for a 50-year-member. Sis has also attended almost every chapter installation since she was initiated.
It was also fun meeting some of our National Panhellenic Conference friends at the Saturday luncheon. My new Sigma Kappa friend Susan is probably still shaking her head about our use of silverware during song (our Ring Ching Ching song is accompanied by the taps of spoons on water glasses or coffee cups – a story in itself).
Tonight is our Wine Carnation Banquet. Tomorrow most of us will head home and we’ll start counting down the days to the next one in 2015. Ring Ching!
With my new friend Tessa
(c) Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com, 2013. All Rights Reserved.
