Conventions
Ella Irene French (Syracuse, 1877) was one of the delegates to the first Convention and would later become Grand President.
1883: The First Convention
On November 8 and 9, 1883, Gamma Phi Beta held their first official Convention. One delegate from Beta Chapter (Michigan) and 69 initiated members of Alpha Chapter (Syracuse) attended the Convention. Isadore Thompson Scott (Michigan, 1882) was the Beta Chapter delegate and Helen Mary Dodge Ferguson (Syracuse, 1874), Mary A. Fuller Fearon (Syracuse, 1883), Mary Whitford (Syracuse, 1878) and Ella Irene French (Syracuse, 1877) were the official Alpha Chapter delegates.
Several topics were discussed during the event. Expansion was the main focus, including the price of chartering new chapters. It was also agreed that the Constitution should be revised to instruct that Conventions be held on or as near as possible to November 11 and that they should be held in chapter order. The password, which is still used today, was also introduced during this Convention.
The first Convention Banquet was held at the home of Jennie Reals Baltzel (Syracuse, 1878). The entertainment at the banquet included piano solos, an essay, a poem and a prophecy.
