Ethics for positive change
F R ATE R N IT Y VALU E : P H I L ANTH RO P I C S E RVI CE TO OTH E RS
S U G G E STE D FACI LITATO R : VI CE P R E S I D E NT O F P H I L ANTH RO PY
Goals: • To engage members in a conversation about the harm or unhealthy competition within the chapter and Greek community; and
• To explore what it takes to stand up to a group and to stand up for one’s personal values/the value of the organization.
Room set-up/materials needed:
• Audience should be seated comfortably with enough room to break into eight small groups
• Make enough copies of the Notable Pi Phis pages for the group.
•
Getting Started
Talking points are indicated with a callout bullet (). Please use these as speaking guidelines but be sure to jazz up the
presentation with your own personality. Facilitation instructions are indicated with an arrow ( ) and serve as hints you might
find helpful when administering the material. Most importantly, have fun!
Instructions
As the facilitator, it will be important you read through the program and have an idea of what’s to come in advance of
beginning the seminar.
Begin a discussion about becoming a change agent.
 Perhaps you’ve heard of the famous quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “You must be the change you want to
see in the world.” Members of Pi Beta Phi live up to these words every day. Just look at our founders — 12
women who fought against the stereotype that women didn’t need to go to college or earn a degree. They were
pioneers for all of us as we pursue higher education.
 Pi Phi has a long history of progressive, visionary women beginning with our founders. Who do you consider
to be an exemplary Pi Phi? Someone who has made a positive impact on the Fraternity? Why did you choose
that person?
Divide the large group into eight smaller groups. Pass out the Notable Pi Phis sheets and assign one to each group.
Have each group:
1. Read the paragraph about the woman they were assigned
2. Talk about what it was about her that made her a notable Pi Phi and change agent
3. Share with the chapter about the woman they were assigned and some things they discussed about her.
 These women are change agents - women who stood up for what they believe in, even if it wasn’t the popular
choice. They passionately believed in a cause and worked to make a difference. They are role models for all
of us.
 We are all change agents. When we raise awareness about literacy on our campus and in our community
through Read > Lead > Achieve®, we are change agents. When we give to The Literacy Fund at Pi Beta Phi
Foundation, which supports all Pi Phi reading initiatives, we
are change agents. When we choose not to participate
in hazing rituals, we are change agents. As
Pi Phis, we are agents for positive
change.
Possible Activities
In small groups, choose one of the following notable Pi Phis to research and share your findings with the chapter:
1. Emma Harper Turner
2. Marianne Reid Wild
3. May Lansfield Keller, Ph.D.
4. Amy Burnham Onken
5. Carrie Lane Chapman Catt
6. Marjorie Chalmers
7. Olivia Smith Moore
8. Jean Wirths Scott
Invite a local alumna whom you consider to be a notable Pi Phi to speak at a chapter meeting.
As a group, make a list of the top issues facing society today. Then have each member write down three issues they care
most about. Ask them to answer the following questions: Why do I care about this issue? If I had $1 million to fix
this problem, what would I do to help? If I only had $1 to fix this problem, what would I do to help? Ask individual
members to share answers.
Individual self-reflection:
1. Who do you consider to be a change agent? Why? What have you learned from this person?
2. When have you acted as a change agent? Describe the situation. How did you feel while it was happening?
How did it impact you? How did it impact others?
3. Think about a cause you care about. What is being done to promote positive change? Find out how you can
get involved.
Final Wrap-Up
 As members of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity, a premier organization for women, we are all responsible to ourselves
and to each other for being change agents. Just as notable Pi Phis have gone before us and led the way, we
too can be stewards of positive change. William James (often attributed to Marilyn Ferguson) once said, “The
greatest revolution in our generation is that of human beings, who by changing the inner attitudes of their
minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” What will you do to be an agent of change?
Thank everyone for coming.
Evaluation: Don’t forget to help the Fraternity asses this program. The program facilitator, as well as a member of
each class, should be asked to visit the Leading with Values website, www.pibetaphi.org/leadingwithvalues, to fill out
a quick survey. Remember, the name of this seminar is Ethics for Positive Change.
The chapter’s Vice President of Member Development should remember to record the presentation of this program
in the chapter’s monthly region report.
Notable Pi Phis
Carrie Lane Chapman Catt
In 1859 in Ripon, Wisconsin, Carrie Lane Chapman Catt was born. At the age of 12, she discovered women could not vote,
and she became determined to work for women’s rights. She championed for 50 years to give women the chance to have their
political say.
In the fall of 1867, Carrie entered the Land Grand College (now Iowa State University) in Ames, Iowa. There was a newly
formed chapter of I.C. Sorosis (now Iowa Gamma), and she was the first initiate after the chapter’s chartering. She worked with
Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton, both of whom were honorary I.C. Sorosis members. Carrie was twice President of
the National Women’s Suffrage Association, and she founded the League of Women Voters.
Carrie was always loyal to Pi Beta Phi, especially her Iowa Gamma Chapter. After a chapter house fire, she gave them financial
aid for rebuilding. In 1946 at the Swampscott Convention, the convention body voted to establish Chapter Loyalty Day on
January 9, Carrie’s birthday. In 1947, she passed away.
Marjorie Chalmers
Marjorie Chalmers came to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, during the great Depression. Marjorie, the school nurse at the Settlement
School, soon became loved by the people of Gatlinburg. Pi Phi showed its love and appreciation by initiating her as an Illinois
Beta-Delta at the 1959 Swampscott Convention.
In 1948, Pi Phi’s dream of a new health care center became a reality. This became a busy and active facility until the character
of the Settlement School changed, and Arrowmont became a focus. Gatlinburg, too, has changed, but the people are deepdown much the same.
Marjorie Chalmers retired and passed away in Gatlinburg, but her contributions to the school, the community and the Fraternity will remain always an important era for Pi Beta Phi.
May Lansfield Keller
Dr. May Lansfield Keller was born on September 28, 1877, in Baltimore. On January 9, 1897, May was the first initiate of the
Maryland Alpha Chapter at Goucher College. She was also the first Chapter President as well as her class President. Her A.B.
Degree was conferred in 1898, and she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa when it was established at Goucher College in 1905. She
wished to go to Europe and study; she was one of the first women at Heidelberg University in Germany.
In 1908, she was elected Grand President of Pi Beta Phi. The Settlement School was her greatest achievement, and her proudest moment was dedicating the new school building in 1913.
In 1914, she became Dean of Westhampton College, a new college that was to be a part of the University of Richmond. She
was resolute that Westhampton College should be a true college and not another “finishing school.” She ran the school for 32
years and became known as the “Iron Dean.” She died in 1964.
Olivia Smith Moore
During her years as Grand Treasurer, Olivia Smith Moore’s shoes became legendary in the Fraternity. At conventions, Pi Phi
collegians considered it a great treat to be invited to her room to see the shoes she “needed” for the week (usually about 40
pairs) lined up on the top of a chest of drawers. Later, she presented the Silver Slipper Award, given each year to the chapter’s
outstanding Vice President of Finance. The award was a replica of one of her shoes and included a plaque for the recipient’s
name and chapter to be engraved.
Olivia was a Missouri Alpha and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Missouri. As an alumna, and especially
after she married Henry Moore Jr., she continued to be active in Pi Beta Phi. She served as Province Vice President from 1936
to 1946. From 1946 until 1951, she served as Treasurer of the Settlement School Committee. In 1952, she was elected Grand
Vice President Finance and served in that office until 1967. At the 1967 Centennial Convention, she was named Grand Vice
President Emerita. She was also Treasurer for the Board of Governors of Arrowmont.
Olivia kept a very careful eye on the Fraternity’s money. She watched closely the Fraternity’s investments and was proud there
was enough money in 1961 to manage a national workshop in Gatlinburg for all Chapter Presidents and later enough to
finance an extra convention to celebrate the Fraternity’s Centennial.
Amy Burnham Onken
Amy Burnham Onken was described by L.G. Balfour, of jewelry’s Balfour Company, as the greatest fraternity woman of all
time. On September 24, 1885, the youngest daughter of John and Fanny Onken was born in Chapin, Illinois. In the fall of
1904, she entered Northwestern University and was initiated into the Illinois Epsilon Chapter.
At the age of 36, she was elected Grand President and held the office for 31 years. During her tenure, Pi Phi grew from 65
chapters and 13,000 members to 97 chapters and more than 56,000 members. She installed 38 chapters, 36 of those as Grand
President. From 1928 to 1953, Amy was Pi Phi’s NPC Delegate. She served as NPC Chairman from 1945 to 1947.
In 1934, she received an honorary degree from Monmouth College. At the conclusion of Pi Phi’s 1952 Houston Convention,
the title of Honorary Grand President was conferred upon her. She died in October 1963.
Emma Harper Turner
Emma Harper Turner had been a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, but Kappa decided, after a series of misunderstandings,
that its Nu Chapter at Franklin College would be withdrawn. Emma asked for an received honorary discharge from Kappa.
She immediately applied for an I.C. Sorosis charter for Franklin College. It was granted and is today Indiana Alpha.
She was initiated in 1888, and a few months later she went to the Ottumwa Convention as Delegate. Two years later at the
Galesburg Convention, she was elected Grand President. Her crowning achievement was the establishment of the first women’s fraternity alumnae association. At the 1893 Chicago Convention, Emma resigned as Grand President to become the first
President of the alumnae association.
At the 1910 Swarthmore Convention, as a Washington, D.C., Alumnae Club representative, Emma presented a plan for an altruistic project. The plan was to establish a Settlement School in the Appalachian Mountains in honor of the founders. Emma,
Anna Pettit and Grand President May Lansfield Keller made many trips to Tennessee to find a location. Dr. Keller chose Gatlinburg. After being the honored 1931 Asbury Park Convention guest, Emma retired and moved to Glendale, California. In
1934, she passed away. She was almost 80 years old.
Marianne Reid Wild
Marianne Reid Wild became a member of Kansas Alpha in 1924. Her official Pi Phi duties began in 1931 as Province Vice
President. She served next as Assistant Grand Vice President for 12 years and as Grand Vice President until 1952. During her
six years as Grand President, she installed seven chapters. She served as NPC Delegate and was honored by the Fraternity in
1966 when she became Grand President Emerita.
A Pi Phi for 67 years, Marianne’s devotion to our ideals and her contributions to the strength of the Fraternity are legion. She
always considered carefully what had been done in the past before she suggested changes for the future. Tradition played a large
part of her life. She honored the many past customs that had provided continuity. The flight of Marianne’s arrow ended on
June 21, 1991.
Jean Wirths Scott
Pennsylvania Beta Jean Wirths Scott was a leader in her chapter and served as Chapter President. She earned a Bachelor of Arts
in English and journalism from Bucknell University. Since her chapter days, she has continued to serve as a leader in Pi Phi and
the fraternity world, and her leadership skills helped shape their transition to the 21st century.
In 1975, she was elected Grand Vice President of Philanthropies and served two terms in that office. In 1979, she became
Grand President and served three terms. After she retired as Grand President, she served her last term as Grand Vice President
Membership. In 1985, she became Pi Phi’s NPC Delegate. She served as NPC Chairman from 1995 to 1997 and as Pi Phi’s
Panhellenic Delegate until 2003.
She also served as a Trustee of Pi Beta Phi Foundation and was President from 2005 to 2007. At the 2003 Convention, Jean
was surprised when Grand President Sis Mullis named Jean as Grand President Emerita.