Louisiana Northshore Alumnae Club

The History of the Louisiana Northshore Alumnae Club

The Louisiana Northshore Alumnae Club was chartered on December 17, 1979 after beginning as a pocket club in 1976. Unfortunately, the club’s records and scrapbooks were damaged beyond repair by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, and so the early history is constructed according to the memory of charter member Madge Ernst. Madge remembers, “There were seven or so ladies including Barbara Miltenberger, Rosalie Robinson, Evelyn Chalaron, Ginny Beu and me. The group met at the Covington home of Barbara Miltenberger to charter an alumnae club for Pi Beta Phi on the Louisiana Northshore." Rosalie Robinson was the primary organizer and first President. Most of the new members of the Louisiana Northshore Alumnae Club had been members of the New Orleans Alumnae Club.

In addition to Rosalie, other early club officers were Vice President Barbara Minnis, Secretary Barbara Miltenberger, Treasurer Jerry Jackson and Recruitment Chairman Madge Ernst. The club’s main focus was recruitment.

The Louisiana Northshore Pi Phi Alumnae Club started the Panhellenic Tea for high school senior women; the event was held at Rosalie’s plantation, Sunnybrook. Only Pi Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma alumnae participated for the first three years until more sororities became involved. From 1990 to 1991, there were 30 dues-paying members and the club’s programming for the year included New Decorating Trends, a Holiday Luncheon and Style Show, Christmas Creations, a Ponchatoula Outing for lunch at the Bavarian Restaurant, the spring Panhellenic Tea at the New Covenant Presbyterian Church in Mandeville and a Founders’ Day Celebration at the Shadows Restaurant.

In 1993, Tedie Cahill was initiated as an alumna initiate at Louisiana Alpha. In the meantime, a Slidell Alumnae Club was chartered on March 17, 1997 in Eastern St. Tammany Parish. Leslie Patrick led the club as its first President and the club flourished after its chartering; Elizabeth “Libby” Bentson was serving as President when Hurricane Katrina caused destruction all across St. Tammany Parish in 2005. After this tragic event, club cohesion was difficult. Both alumnae clubs struggled to hold their organizations together. The Slidell Alumnae Club decided to return their charter on December 11, 2013 and became part of the Louisiana Northshore, Louisiana Alumnae Club. The Louisiana Northshore, Louisiana Alumnae Club then represented all of St. Tammany Parish. During the 2015-16 Fraternity year, the Louisiana Northshore, Louisiana Alumnae Club received Superior Club status and had 45 dues paying members. Member Suzanne Inabnet was awarded the Alumnae Region Two Evelyn Peters Kyle Award.

Philanthropic Service

The club has hosted Champions Are Readers^® for the past three years, sponsored three alumna initiates, and received four Pi Beta Phi Foundation Fraternity Day of Service 500 book grants for St. Tammany Parish school students. The alumnae club has offered support to these three chapters: Louisiana Alpha, Louisiana Beta, and Mississippi Alpha.

Awards and Club Recognition

• Club of Superior Performance

Evelyn Peters Kyle Award - Alumnae Region Two

• Suzanne Inabnet
• Barbara Henry