Built for Sisterhood: Georgia Alpha

When you visit the Georgia Alpha chapter house at the University of Georgia, almost everything you see reflects the hands, eyes and hearts of Chapter House Corporation (CHC) members and Georgia Alphas COLLEEN SWEENY BRACKEN, PEGGY BATSON BALLARD, MEDIE ROOD CROCKETT, JOAN TODD DUNCAN, JUDY ELLIS HIBBS and BITSY URVAN MONTGOMERY. Even beyond the furniture, carpets and drapes, it's rare to find something in the facility that doesn’t have their fingerprints. For many years, these women — like so many CHC members — made caring for the Pi Beta Phi property in Athens, Georgia, their full-time volunteer job.

Considering the long-term needs of the chapter, the Georgia Alpha CHC determined a multi-million-dollar expansion of the chapter facility was inevitable. “As it stands, not all members of the chapter fit in the facility for meals or chapter meetings, and the chapter risks losing a housing competitive advantage on campus,” Joan said.

The CHC members explored the financial and human resources needed to take on a project of this scale and determined greater capacity was needed. So, they turned to the Fraternity Housing Corporation (FHC), conducted their due diligence on how FHC helped other chapters and gained the support of the Alumnae Advisory Committee and chapter. Though mixed emotions surrounded their decision to transfer ownership and management of the property to a new board, they knew Georgia Alpha needed the professional resources that came with FHC. “None of us on CHC have the experience FHC does," Peggy shared. "We aren’t contractors, architects or trained commercial property managers and we certainly don’t have the perspective of many different chapters and campuses."

Georgia Alpha CHC members talk Pi Phi housing with FHC representatives at convention. From left to right, Assistant Director of Housing SHANNON BREWER TYRRELL, Indiana Delta, BITSY URVAN MONTGOMERY, FHC President LISA GAMEL SCOTT, Colorado Alpha, PEGGY BATSON BALLARD and JOAN TODD DUNCAN.

These Pi Phis are an example of the many dedicated CHC volunteers who regularly put the chapter's needs above their own to make sure the housing experience they enjoyed in college is available and relevant for today’s collegians.

Senior Director of Housing LIBBY GILKISON CANNON, Missouri Alpha, appreciated the Sincere Friendship and care the Georgia Alpha CHC members put into their decision. “Pi Beta Phi is thrilled to continue the legacy of the many volunteers who served Georgia Alpha as members of the CHC over the years," Libby said. "FHC is proud to be a partner in serving all Pi Phi chapters and is always here to help. Now Colleen, Peggy, Medie, Joan, Judy and Bitsy can focus their volunteer time serving the chapter by assisting with a local capital campaign while FHC provides the planning and support necessary for a large renovation to be on budget and on time. It is a beautiful example of leveraging strengths to ultimately benefit the future of Georgia Alpha.”