Portland and Lake Oswego-Dunthorpe Founders' Day

The Portland and Lake Oswego-Dunthorpe alumnae clubs celebrated our Pi Phi founders at Waverley Country Club. The Portland Alumnae Club planned the event this year and did a beautiful job. The display boards created by Lisa Walcott Frank were informative and fun to read. The newest Golden Arrow in attendance was Beverly Hobson (initiated in 1960) and the most senior G.A. in attendance was Elizabeth Duke (initiated in 1937).

Vancouver Alumnae Club Fraternity Day of Service

On March 2, 2010, members of the Vancouver Alumnae Club participated in a literacy event to commemorate Pi Beta Phi’s Fraternity Day of Service and Dr. Seuss’s birthday. The event, held at Harry Hooge Elementary School in Maple Ridge, B.C., included a Dr. Suess video for the Primary Grades, reading of Dr. Seuss books by members in the individual classrooms and refreshments. First Book bookplates were also distributed for the children to decorate.

In addition, a check presentation was made to the school to purchase additional books for their “Home Reading Cart”. The Vancouver Alumnae Club has supported the school for the past three years with donations of books and monies for the book cart. The purpose of the “Home Reading Cart” is to provide the appropriate level of books for the students to check-out for home reading. Many of these students do not have books at home to practice their reading skills; therefore, it is necessary for literacy progress to have access to these books.

Lake Oswego-Dunthorpe Alumnae Club Fraternity Day of Service

The Lake Oswego-Dunthorpe Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday and Pi Phi's Fraternity Day of Service by hosting an event with local Brownie Girl Scout Troop 42387. The Brownies decorated First Book® bookplates, divided into two teams for a First Book Speed Read™, and enjoyed cupcakes and juice provided by the alumnae club. The two teams were evenly matched and came within four seconds of each other!

Alumnae Organization Advertising Policy Change

Many alumnae organizations have chosen to sell advertising for fundraising purposes or to help offset the costs of printing and mailing. There are a number of issues that arise from this that has caused us to review this practice.
Unfortunately, because of potential legal and tax implications of alumnae organizations generating income that would be taxable and possibly have implications as to the status of Pi Beta Phi as a private organization, effective April 2010, we are no longer able to allow alumnae organizations to sell advertising. Continuing this practice may also increase liability exposure to the alumnae organization and its officers. This decision has been reviewed and recommended by the Fraternity’s General Counsel and Internal Legal Counsel.
This practice also applies to the selling of advertising on Web sites. In addition to the dangers of generating income that would be taxable and potentially cause us to lose our status as a private organization, there are dangers of privacy and security issues of members, as well as potential jurisdictional issues in the event a court becomes involved. Therefore, alumnae organizations may not sell advertising on Web sites.
With either printed or Web site materials published by an alumnae organization, advertisers may advertise for free and may donate financially to the alumnae organization. It is recommended to include a statement in printed or Web site materials that indicates no fee was received for any advertisements.
Please contact Maja or Cindy Svec, Grand Vice President Alumnae with any questions.