First National Convention, June 13-15, 1907


Just three years after the Philomathean Society became chartered as Phi Mu, the fraternity held its first National Convention at the Monticello Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia. The Alpha Chapter had almost total control of the management of this first convention. Fourteen Phi Mus, representing five of the eight existing chapters, were in attendance. The primary concern of the delegates was to design the national structure of the organization and a plan for national officers. With the development of a national structure, Alpha would become just one of the growing number of collegiate chapters and would no longer bear the responsibility of governance. The Delta Chapter, particularly sisters Helen and Bonita Hinton, had devised a Grand Council consisting of eight members to be elected by the convention delegates from among the alumnae of various chapters, with no two to come from the same chapter. The Grand Council plan was approved by the delegates, and elections were held for the first national officers. Also at this convention, delegates approved a rule stating they would "not consider any Seminaries, Institutes, Schools, or D-rank Colleges until we get in three more University Chapters or A-rank Colleges." While some thought it would be easier to accept petitions from the lower ranked schools, it was essential that they maintained high standards if they were to be accepted into the newly formed National Panhellenic Conference (NPC).

Date

Jun 13th, 1907
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