Zeta Phi Beta

Iota Pi Chapter

Marshall University's Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. chapter is Iota Pi. Iota Pi was chartered at Marshall on March 1, 1997 at 6:00pm in the Memorial Student Center. Before the chartering, ladies who wanted to become members of Zeta Phi Beta had to join through a nearby college that had a chapter at that school. The five ladies who chartered Iota Pi at Marshall were:

President - Tamiko Ferrell

Vice President - Tamika Oden

Treasurer - Aisha Byrd

Secretary - Stephney Riley

Parliamentarian/Historian - Kimberli Layne

The ceremony was performed by Eastern Region Director Ms. Eloise Melvin and Executive Director Mrs. Vercilla Brown. The advisor to the newly chartered Iota Pi Chapter was Ms. Marsha Dalton.

The History of Zeta Phi Beta

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was founded on January 16, 1920, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, DC as the sister organization to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Five women chose not to embrace the tenets of established black sororities, and chartered Zeta Phi Beta Sorority to encourage the highest standards of scholarship through scientific, literary, cultural, and educational programs; promote service projects on college campuses and in the community,- foster sisterhood; and exemplify the ideal of Finer Womanhood, A private nonprofit organization, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority is incorporated in Washington, DC and in the state of Illinois.

Since its inception, the sorority has chronicled a number of "firsts" among the established black sororities. In addition to being the only organization constitutionally bound to a fraternity, the sorority was the first to charter international chapters, those in West Africa and Germany,- to form adult and youth auxiliary groups, the Amicae, Archonettes, Amicettes and Pearlettes; and to organize its internal affairs within a central, national office administered by a paid staff.

Zeta Phi Beta's purpose is to foster the ideals of service, charity, scholarship, civic and cultural endeavors, sisterhood, civic and cultural endeavors, sisterhood and Finer Womanhood. These ideals are reflected in the sorority's national programs for which its members and auxiliary groups provide countless hours of voluntary service to staff community outreach programs, fund scholarships, support organized charities and promote legislation for social and civic change.

PROFILE

CLASSIFICATION

Non-profit service organization

MEMBERSHIP

80,000+ college-educated, professional women

STRUCTURE

8 regions with more than 500 chapters located in the domestic U. S., Hawaii, Alaska, West Africa,

West Germany, Bahamas Islands, Virgin Islands, South Korea, and Italy.

AUXILIARIES

Amicae - women who assist local chapters with activities (established in 1948)

Archonettes - high school youth group

Amicettes - 9-13 year old youth group

Stork's Nest Charity Fund - 501 ( c )( 3)

Pearlettes - 4-7 year-old youth group

Zeta Male Network, the men in the lives of Zeta

HEADQUARTERS

1734 New Hampshire Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20009

202-387-3103

202-232-4593 (fax)