Stiver, Jolene L. Lessard

Excerpt from her article in The Crescent, 2014: When Joey Lessard Stiver was elected International President at Convention 1990 in Denver, she had just completed two terms as Collegiate Vice President. It was this Convention that delegates voted to change the name of Grand Council to International Council and Central Office to International Headquarters… During Joey’s term, Gamma Phi Beta became the second National Panhellenic Conference group to shorten the new member period from one semester, to six to eight weeks in 1992. “It was the way the fraternal world was moving, and we were on the cutting edge of it,” Joey says. “We tried to put it in a big picture perspective – why require such a long new member period when the new member has already accepted a bid and begun her lifetime commitment to the organization?” Joey asks. “Weeks before the International Headquarters dedication at a Council meeting, International Council all signed our names on the cornerstone before the mantle was adhered to the pink marble fireplace, ” Joey remembers. “At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, we held a ritual dedication. No one really knew, but I was wearing Founder Helen M. Dodge’s (Syracuse, 1874) badge. It was loaned to us by her family specially for the dedication, and it was a very moving experience and great honor I will always cherish.” Jolene ‘Joey’ Stiver served as International President from 1990-92.