Installing Officer:
Grand President
Jo Ann Minor Roderick, Oklahoma Beta
Installation at Virginia Theta
The Initiation Ceremony was held in Lexington at the Seven Hills Inn, originally built as a men's fraternity house. Grand President Jo Ann Minor Roderick, Oklahoma Beta, conducted the ceremony and was assisted by Grand Vice President of Membership Carolyn Pavletich Lesh, Grand Vice President of Collegians, Beth van Maanen Beatty, Grand Vice President of Finance Carol Inge Warren and Grand Vice President of Program Development Sarah Ruth “Sis” Mullis. On Saturday evening the Installation Banquet was held at the Lexington Country Club. The theme for the banquet was "A Gathering of Angels." Dinner was served at 7:30 p.m. with Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg presiding as toastmistress. The tables, covered in wine and blue cloths, contained votive candles and small wooden angel favors for everyone in attendance.
Living at Virginia Theta
Virginia Theta’s house is located on Frank Parsons Way, along side the other sorority houses on the “row.” It was one of the earlier houses to be built, as construction began in 1998 and ended in 2000. Though it only houses twenty women in its eleven bedrooms on the third floor, all Virginia Theta women love spending time at the house, especially with their loving house mom. Members can be found meeting in the chapter room, curled up in the TV room, or sharing a meal in the dining room, but the favorite gathering place is around the living room fireplace, where members hold what they affectionately call “parlor hours.” The house feels like home for all members, past and present, with every composite since the chapter’s establishment decorating the walls and pictures of current members spread throughout the house, even in the napkin holders! The Pi Phi house plays a special role in the experience of every Virginia Theta member.
The house features a shadow box displayed in the living room that contains the badge of Marianne Reid Wild. Mrs. Wild was Pi Beta Phi’s Grand President from 1952-1958. The badge was given to the chapter during its installation to honor Ms. Wild’s son who was a student and fraternity member at Washington and Lee at the time of his untimely death.
Panhellenic Groups on Campus
Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Pi Beta Phi. The Kappa Delta chapter closed in 2017 and began a local organization known as Delta Society.
Virginia Theta’s main event in the fall is known as “Pie Wars.” It is held every October on campus in joint with a campus fraternity. Pi Phi’s and fraternity members have the opportunity to throw “pies” at one another, while also taking pies from other students on campus, in order to raise money for Read>Lead>Achieve. In the spring, Virginia Theta typically held and event called “Pi Beta Pancakes,” where they make and sell pancakes for students and professors to enjoy on a Saturday evening. In recent years, Virginia Theta has started “Ring Ching and Chicken Wings,” where students are able to place chicken wing orders from a local restaurant and Virginia Theta keeps part of the proceeds to donate to philanthropic initiatives. The chapter’s favorite event is “Lemonade for Literacy” where members dress up in lemon costumes while passing out lemonade and raising awareness.
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