The temperature was mild for a winter Saturday in Kansas City. The high that Dec. 27, 1919, was an acceptable 45 degrees F. Still, the AOIIs in Kansas City undoubtedly bundled up to fight the chill as they made their way to gather for a joyous task: to found the Kansas City alumnae chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi.
Their enthusiasm was likely emboldened by recent advances for women. In Montana, only 2 years before, the first woman ever was elected to Congress. And, within months, all women would have the right to vote. Even women’s bodies were — literally — set free as corsets finally became passe. And all were celebrating the end of “The Great War” on Nov. 11.
You can imagine the faces of the AOIIs who gathered that day were fresh and young. After all, Jessie, Helen, Stella and Bess were themselves only in their early 40s.
And the collegiate chapters from which most of the Kansas City AOIIs had likely graduated were fairly new. Phi at the University of Kansas had formed only the year before, and Iota at the University of Illinois started in 1911. Graduates from Nebraska could have been among the oldest women; Zeta started in 1903.
From wherever those early KCAOIIs hailed, we are grateful for their eagerness to continue gathering with their AOII sisters after college. For, without them, so many of us would never have met. And so may wonderful philanthropic efforts would never have been achieved.
With that in mind, it is an honor to recognize these founding KCAOIIs’ efforts at our upcoming 100th Anniversary & Founders’ Day Celebration!
We invite you to join us Jan. 4 for a very special dinner! We’ll be joined by some special guests (including AOII International President Crystal Grafton Combs and our Outstanding Collegiate & Outstanding Alumnae winners ) so please mark your calendars and RSVP as soon as possible to help us plan for this memorable occasion!
