Celebrating Zeta Every Day An Interview with Centennial Finance Director Arlene “MJ” Taylor
By Izetta N. Thomas National Publications and Communications Team Member Throughout my short 16 years as a Zeta, I’ve been immensely blessed to sit at the feet of some of the most amazing finer women. Of those, my chapter soror and Centennial National Finance Director Arlene Taylor is one of the finest women I know. I’m grateful to learn from her and to be able to bring you a bit of her personal journey to (and through) Centennial. Arlene “MJ” Taylor began her journey to Finer Womanhood on Dec. 7, 1974 at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Eta Beta Chapter. Izetta: Did you ever think of Centennial in 1974? Arlene: That never even crossed my mind. Just think, in 1970 they had just celebrated the 50th. My sister is a Zeta and had become a Zeta in 1970. So, you know, I got to hear her talk about the 50th and stuff before I
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became a Zeta. Even listening to her, you never think about the hundredth. We weren’t even thinking about the 50th like “Oooh, we’re almost a hundred years old.” When you’re that young in Zeta, you’re not thinking that far ahead. Soror Taylor went on to discuss her experience as National Budget and Finance Director during the 75th celebration. She talked about how even during the 75th celebration, the thought of the 50th and the 100th anniversaries of our beloved organization were too far off to consider. Izetta: How did you become the National Finance Director for Centennial? Arlene: I served as the National Budget and Finance Director in the early nineties and that was under Past Grand Tearte’s administration. When she was selected by Past Grand Wright to be the chair of Centennial, she reached out to me and asked me to be the finance director. Soror Taylor shared her initial hesitation. Having held several leadership positions within her 40-plus years as a Zeta, she was at the point in her journey to relax and pass the leadership roles to others. After further discussion and conversation with 20th International President (Past International Grand Basileus) Jylla Moore Tearte, she agreed to accept the position in 2014. Izetta: How was it working with PIGB Tearte for Centennial versus having worked with her in the nineties? Arlene: You know, it wasn’t much different. She has always been a person who listens, listens to other opinions, and that is very objective. [PIGB Tearte] has also served as National Tamias, so she very much understands finances and the need to have them under control, to stick to a budget and to also do proper forecasting. From that standpoint, it was very good! The difference with Centennial and from when I served as National Finance Director was that we knew how much
THE ARCHON MAGAZINE • SPRING & SUMMER 2021 REMEMBERING CENTENNIAL 100 (1920 – 2020)
