About Us

The Beginning

On April 6, 1949, twelve alumnae members of Sigma Alpha Iota met at the home Lynette Blanchard to discuss possible organizing an alumnae chapter. The officers elected were:

  1. Lynette Blanchard, President

  2. Ethel Green, Vice President

  3. Marian Merriman, Secretary

  4. Evelyn Carlson, Treasurer

Plans were made to meet one Thursday night each month, beginning in October 1949, to meet the qualifications necessary for becoming an official alumnae chapter. The first meeting, held on October 6, 1949 was followed by a musicale. Each person volunteered to participate in a musicale and to act as hostess/co-hostess once during the year. At this time a petition to become an active alumnae chapter was drawn up and signed.

Chapter Installation

First chapter members

On January 19, 1950, the active initiation service and installation of the alumnae chapter took place at Harper Maybee Hall on the campus of Western Michigan College. The first chapter included fifteen members:

  1. Dorothy Anderson

  2. Mrs. James Bell

  3. Margaret Beloof

  4. Lynette Blanchard

  5. Evelyn Carlson

  6. Caroline Casler

  7. Irene Davis

  8. Mary Doty

  9. Ethel Green

  10. Helen Loomis

  11. Marian Merriman

  12. Dorothy Phillips

  13. Margery Ruby

  14. Dorothea Snyder

  15. Lottie Suydam

First elected officers

The first officers elected for the newly installed Kalamazoo Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota were:

  • President, Lynette Blanchard

  • Vice President, Ethel Green

  • Corresponding Secretary, Dorothy Anderson

  • Recording Secretary, Caroline Casler

  • Treasurer, Evelyn Carlson

  • Chaplain, Dorothea Snyder

  • Editor, Dorothy Phillips

  • Magazine Chairman, Margery Ruby

  • Yearbook Chairman, Marian Merriman

  • Membership Chairman, Helen Loomis