THE BETA MU CHAPTER
OF GAMMA PHI BETA
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
THE PROPOSED $3 MILLION CAMPAIGN FOR GAMMA PHI BETA AT FLORIDA STATE
Our Gamma Phi Beta chapter house at its current location on West Jefferson Street has been a
wonderful home for the chapter since the 1960s. As our chapter has grown at a steady rate, Beta Mu has
outgrown the space. With 36 beds available, only 14% of the chapter has an opportunity to live and work
together in the house each year. The experience of living with your sorority sisters is invaluable and plays an
instrumental role in the growth and development of every Gamma Phi who has lived in the chapter house. We
must offer this opportunity to more women. With only 10,916 square feet of space in the current house, most
of it dedicated to private living quarters, there is not enough public space to hold chapter meetings,
recruitment events and social activities with the entire chapter present. It’s time to expand our sorority home
and better accommodate our growing chapter.
Many other fraternities and sororities on campus are facing similar problems as their chapters outgrow
their current homes. In the last four years, many competing women’s organizations including Alpha Delta Pi,
Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi and Kappa Alpha Theta have completed or are in the process of completing multimillion dollar renovations to provide better housing for their members. These chapters have benefited greatly
from the additional space: members are happier, safer and more comfortable, new recruits are eager to live in
the brand new homes, and there is enough space to conduct meetings, activities and social events that are at
the heart of the sorority experience.
To stay competitive and provide our sisters with a safe and comfortable home with enough space for
our growing membership, the house corporation has decided to complete a $2.9 million renovation to the
existing chapter house, with construction beginning winter 2015. The proposed renovation will add 5,935
square feet to the existing chapter house - increasing the overall square footage by 50%. The plans include
the addition of a brand new chapter room, expanded kitchen, dining room and courtyard, as well as 12
additional beds (expanding living quarters by 25%). The House Corporation will also bring the house up to
code and meet ADA requirements by adding an elevator and wheelchair ramp.
These renovations are a necessity if we hope to remain competitive on the FSU campus. With dozens
of new state-of-the-art apartment complexes and dormitories being built close to our chapter house, we are
also competing directly against FSU and private developers who are providing spacious, comfortable and
updated living space at a fair price. To avoid a sharp increase in rent and continue to offer affordable living, we
are seeking to raise $3 million in a capital campaign.
To determine the viability of our bold vision, the house corporation has commissioned a feasibility
study to solicit feedback and advice from our most valuable asset - our alumnae. To help guide us, we have
enlisted the help of OmegaFi, a nationally renowned fundraising company, with a successful track record of
managing Greek capital campaigns. With OmegaFi’s fundraising expertise, dedicated volunteer leadership and
a strategic fundraising plan in place, the Beta Mu Chapter is well positioned to embark on this monumental
campaign.
WWW.BETAMUAHC.COM
ON CAMPUS TODAY
Since 1950, Gamma Phi Beta has had a rich and impactful history
at Florida State University. Over the last 65 years the chapter has thrived
and grown immensely, initiating nearly 1,900 women, with an
astonishing 244 active members in the chapter today. With 88 new
members joining the sisterhood just this year, Gamma Phi Beta is a top
sorority on campus.
HOUSE CORPORATION OFFICERS
Maria Santoro, ‘82 – President
Gayle Carlton, ‘85 – Treasurer
Jessica Travis, ‘08 - Member
Liz Sicilia, ‘11 – Member
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
Lily Eyraud, Clemson ‘12
CHAPTER ADVISER
Katie Kolkmeier, Bellarmine ‘08
UNDERGRADUATE OFFICERS
Brooke Wiggins, ‘16 – President
Leighton Jaffee, ‘16 – Administrative VP
Madison Summers, ‘16 – Membership VP
Kristin O’Laughlin, ‘16 – Financial VP
Samantha Roth, ‘17 – Public Relations VP
Brittany Fehre, ‘17 – Panhel Affairs VP
With a 3.29 cumulative GPA and several members actively
involved in local and national honor societies, Beta Mu excels in the
classroom. Beta Mu sisters are also heavily involved on campus, with
members holding leadership positions in some of the most important
student organizations at FSU including the Vice President of Special
Programs for the American Marketing Association, President of the
Student Organization Advisory and Resource Board (SOAR) and Family
Relations Chair for Dance Marathon.
In addition to being leaders in the classroom and on campus,
Gamma Phi Beta has made it a priority to give back to the community.
The sisters of Beta Mu won Dance Marathon in 2015, raising over
$40,000 toward a campus-wide effort to raise over $1.1 million for the
Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and the FSU College of Medicine’s
pediatric outreach program.
In 2015, Beta Mu hosted two large philanthropic events on
campus, raising thousands of dollars for Girls on the Run and Camp Fire
USA, organizations that empower young girls to discover their unique
abilities and develop their leadership skills. In the spring, Beta Mu put on
“G Phi Joe” where fraternities and sororities competed in Olympic-style
games and this past fall, the chapter hosted the Crescent Classic, raising
over $3,500 at that event alone.
Tori McClintock, ‘16 – Education VP
Beta Mu’s leadership in the classroom, on campus and in the
community has received attention from International Gamma Phi Beta. For being a model Gamma Phi chapter,
the sisters of Beta Mu were chosen to help colonize the new chapter at the University of South Florida.
The Beta Mu chapter continues to promote Gamma Phi Beta’s core values of love, labor, learning and
loyalty in everything they do. They deserve our support.
WWW.BETAMUAHC.COM
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
When Gamma Phi Beta was colonized at Florida State in 1950
there were already 10 other sororities on campus, making it difficult for
Beta Mu to establish a presence on campus and attract the right
women to help grow our sisterhood. The chapter began as a small,
tight-knit group of young women. Despite their size, Beta Mu thrived
on campus and grew significantly over the next several decades.
The original chapter house was located on College Avenue inbetween Westcott Fountain and downtown Tallahassee. By the 1960s,
the house was noticeably aging and there was concern about the
safety, size and location of the house. Ultimately, the chapter relocated
to its current location on West Jefferson Street, much closer to
campus. The existing building on the new plot of land was demolished
to make way for the current chapter house. At the time, this house was
perfect for a young, growing chapter and served the needs of the
chapter well. In the 1980s, several Beta Mu alumnae worked with the
International Headquarters to facilitate the purchase of the plot of land
behind the chapter house, which is now the back parking lot for
Gamma Phi sisters.
GAMMA PHI BETA
ON CAMPUS & IN THE COMMUNITY
Beta Mu members are heavily involved in
dozens of organizations on campus and in
the community, including:
 Order of Omega Greek Honor Society
 University Ambassadors (Formerly
Seminole Ambassadors)
 Burning Spear
 Student Government
 Student Boosters
 Orientation Leaders
 SOAR Board (Student Activities)
 Student & Greek Conduct Boards
 Dance Marathon
 Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society
 Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society
The current chapter house has served as a wonderful home for
the past 50 years, but as the size of the chapter continues to grow, so
must the house.
 Club Tennis Team
HOUSING BETA MU’S FUTURE
Florida State’s Greek community continues to grow at a rapid pace and many fraternities and sororities
are pouring millions of dollars into providing updated, comfortable and safe housing for their members. As
sororities such as ADPi, Theta, AOPi and Alpha Phi take the initiative to build new multi-million dollar facilities,
Gamma Phi Beta must take action to stay competitive and provide the type of housing that will attract the
best and brightest women at Florida State.
The plans for the new Gamma Phi house include:
o An additional 5,935 sq. ft. (bringing the total square footage to 16,851 sq. ft.)
o Six new bedrooms, adding 12 additional beds to the house (25% increase)
o Two large renovated bathrooms and laundry room on the second floor
o A brand new chapter room with space for the entire chapter
o Expanding the kitchen, dining room, living room and courtyard
o Meeting ADA requirements by adding an elevator, wheelchair ramp and handicap accessible
restrooms
WWW.BETAMUAHC.COM
The house corporation has decided these renovations are so important, we have already drawn up
plans, hired a contractor and secured a loan for the construction. With the first phase of construction
scheduled to begin in the winter of 2015, we turn to our dedicated alumnae to support this momentous effort.
Without a fundraising effort to help reduce the financial burden on the house corporation, it is likely
much of this burden will fall on the undergraduate members through a significant increase in rent. While
Gamma Phi Beta currently has lower rent than most competing sororities, dormitories and apartment
complexes in the area, that will likely change in the coming years. With the financial support of our alumnae,
we will be able to provide our members with a safe, comfortable and affordable living environment where
Beta Mu sisters may establish lifelong friendships and grow as scholars, leaders and philanthropists for
generations to come.
WWW.BETAMUAHC.COM