NPC knows how to Wordle!

Do you know what a wordle is? NPC does! A wordle is a piece of text which has been rearranged into a visual pattern of words. The bigger the word, the more times it was used in the original text. Usually, wordles contain different colors and fonts to help separate the various words from one another. These designs are also referred to as word clouds or text clouds.

At this year’s annual NPC Conference in Austin, Texas, NPC distributed its very own wordle! The wordle was made by collecting terms from each of the NPC Executive Council members and their mission statements. The wordle appeared on the front of a postcard, and when flipped to the back, individuals were introduced to the 2011- 2013 NPC Executive Committee. See the wordle and postcard below, and if you like it, try making your own!

The 1961 NPC Conference

In 1961, Mary Burt Nash, Alpha Theta '30, was the third Alpha Xi Delta to rotate into the role of NPC chair. Before Mary Burt Nash, only two other Alpha Xi Deltas served NPC in this capacity. Both Ella Leib and Lena Baldwin were only out of college for 10 years before rotating into the chairmanship. When it was Mary Burt Nash’s turn, she was different. Mary Burt Nash was out of college for more than a decade when she was installed, and she had a great deal of education under her belt. Mary Burt Nash held a B.A. in history, an M.A. in history and a law degree.

When Mary Burt Nash was installed, the conference was no longer referred to as the Intersorority Conference or the National Panhellenic Congress. Now, it was officially titled the National Panhellenic Conference. The 1961 meeting took place in Chandler, Arizonia, and this was the last time, before Jane, that an Alpha Xi Delta was installed as the NPC chair. The events of the 1961 NPC Conference and Mary Burt Nash’s installation were recorded in the January 1962 edition of The Alpha Xi Delta, the Fraternity’s magazine at this time.

To read the article that appeared in The Alpha Xi Delta on Mary Burt Nash and the 1961 NPC Conference, click here.

Jane's Installation Recap!

Alpha Xi Deltas had so much fun in Texas watching Jane Sutton become the National Panhellenic Conference chairman! The installation took place on October 15, 2011, during the weekend-long NPC annual conference.  For those of you who missed the event, we have plenty of photos and videos to keep you up-to-date on everything that happened in Austin, Texas!

Saturday morning was off to a busy start. NPC held various meetings to conduct NPC business. All of NPC's Panhellenic organizations were in attendance throughout the weekend to take part in the annual meeting. Once the meetings and sessions concluded, Alpha Xi Delta began the celebration for Jane and her new role as the NPC chair!

As many of you know, this event marked the first time in 50 years that an Alpha Xi Delta served NPC in this capacity. In order mark the occasion, Alpha Xi Delta had a “Xi-esta” celebrating Jane and 50 years of Alpha Xi Delta! Sisters from the Beta Alpha Chapter at the University of Texas and the Theta Lambda Chapter at Southwestern University were at the "Xi-esta" to show their support for Jane and Alpha Xi Delta.

The event was filled with Alpha Xi Delta spirit and excitement for Jane. There was lemonade and snacks for everyone to enjoy. As individuals walked around the room, fact cards provided them with a little Alpha Xi Delta history and some memorable pop-culture moments from the past 50 years. Sisters also had the opportunity to fill out their “Congratulation’s Jane” postcards and  meet Jane. Everyone had a great time.

Following the "Xi-esta," the day concluded with NPC's Closing Banquet. At the banquet, awards were handed out and Jane Sutton was installed, along with the other members of the NPC Executive Board. Once Jane was installed, she delivered her first speech as the NPC Chair!

After Jane’s installation, the weekend continued with a “Celebrate Jane” theme to honor Jane and her new NPC position.

Now that the weekend is over, be sure to check back to receive updates on Jane and NPC. Follow Jane on Twitter @NPCChairman, and before you go, check out the video below to see the moment when Jane was installed as the new NPC Chair!

NPC Facebook Icon

Have you seen Alpha Xi Delta's new NPC Facebook icon? You too can show your support for NPC and Alpha Xi Delta's NPC delegates. Upload the icon below and use it as your Facebook and/or Twitter profile pictures this week leading up to Jane's installation.

Every 52 years, Alpha Xi Delta has the opportunity to become the NPC Chair. Before Jane Sutton, only three other Alpha Xi Deltas, Ella Leib, Lena Baldwin and Mary Burt Nash, served NPC in this capacity. Let's show our support for these special Alpha Xi Deltas and NPC!

Tool Kits Now Available!

This NPC Tool Kit should be used to educate your Panhellenic delegate and additional chapter members on the National Panhellenic Conference. It contains information on what NPC is and what the conference does, information on Jane Sutton and the importance of her role as the NPC Chair, media samples, such as press releases, pamphlets and flyers your chapter can use.

If you have any questions about this tool kit, contact the Associate Director of Area Development for your territory, or Lauren Felts, Director of Communications and Marketing.

Send a Card to Jane!

On October 15, 2011, Jane will be installed as the new NPC Chair! This is a very exciting time for Jane and Alpha Xi Delta, as it is the first time in 50 years that an Alpha Xi has served NPC in this capacity. 

If you want to show you support and say congratulations to Jane, we made it easy for you! All you have to do is click on the “Contact Us” tab on the top of the page and download the congratulations card for Jane. Then, print it, personalize it and send it to Jane! 

Send your congrats now!

Meet our Previous NPC Chairman

Ella Leib

Ella Leib, formerly known as Ella Berry Boston, was born on November 21, 1877 in Knox County Maine, and began school at Lombard College in September 1893. She joined Alpha Xi Delta in 1894 and was highly active in the Fraternity. On October 29, 1902, Ella married Dr. John Robert Leib, and they resided in Springfield, IL. During this same year, Ella served as Alpha Xi Delta’s first Grand Secretary of National Council, which was then referred to as the Grand Chapter. During her time as Grand Secretary, Ella served with our most famous founder, Cora Bollinger Block, who was, at the time, Grand National President.  On May 14, 1904 at Alpha Xi Delta’s second annual Convention, Ella Leib was elected Alpha Xi Delta's Grand National President. 

Ella Leib served as the National Panhellenic Conference delegate, then called the Inter-Sorority Conference, in 1905. She attended the fourth Inter-Sorority conference on September 15, 1905, along with delegates from Kappa Alpha Theta, Delta Gamma, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Chi Omega and Alpha Omicron Pi. At this particular meeting, Ella Leib was declared Secretary of the Conference. Ella also attended the fifth Inter-Sorority Conference on September 14, 1906. This time the group was joined by a delegate from Sigma Kappa.

Lena Baldwin

Lena Baldwin joined the Eta Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta in October 1904. She was a junior at Syracuse University when she entered our Sisterhood. After graduating cum laude in 1906, Lena stayed involved with the Fraternity. She joined the Syracuse Alumnae Association and was Directress of Division III from 1909 – 1911. She went on to serve as Alpha Xi Delta’s Grand Secretary in 1911, and eventually became the National President on October 28, 1911 at Alpha Xi Delta’s sixth National Convention.

Lena attended the eleventh National Panhellenic Conference, no longer referred to as the Inter-Sorority Conference, on October 17, 1912 as an Alpha Xi Delta Delegate. At this meeting, Lena joined the Committee on Chaperones along with James H. Crann from Alpha Chi Omega. In 1913, Lena Baldwin joined the NPC Executive Committee as its Treasurer in 1913. She held this position from 1913-1914. She attended the twelfth National Pan-Hellenic Conference on October 16, 17 and 18, and this time she was placed on the Auditing Committee. Lena later became the first Alpha Xi Delta to serve as NPC Chair. During her time in this position, Lena composed the Panhellenic Creed, which all members of NPC still recite today.

Mary Burt Nash

Mary Burt Brooks Nash joined Alpha Xi Delta’s Alpha Theta Chapter at Northwestern University in 1930. She was dedicated to service for the greater good, and exemplified her dedication and leadership within the Fraternity. She served as Alpha Xi Delta’s National President from 1957 – 1962 and held the National Panhellenic Conference Chair from 1961 – 1963. Mary helped establish the Alpha Xi Delta Foundation in 1957, to help fund educational programming and leadership opportunities for the women of Alpha Xi Delta. 

Mary Burt Nash attended the 34^th National Panhellenic Conference in November 14 – 18, 1955 as Alpha Xi Delta’s National First Vice President. She was then considered to be the alternate NPC delegate. When she was installed as Alpha Xi Delta’s National President in 1957, Mary Burt Nash became Alpha Xi Delta’s NPC delegate. She was the National Panhellenic Conference Treasurer from 1957-1959 before becoming NPC Chair in 1961.