Annual Meeting 2020

The Alpha Chapter celebrated its annual meeting and initiation ceremony on Saturday, November 7, 2020, convening via Zoom. 42 graduates were initiated into Beta Phi Mu, including 17 who joined us in person from across the United States: Amy C. Brokaw, Raegan Leigh Carter, Ben B. Chiewphasa, Tina A. Cowsert, Marilyn G. Creswell, Catherine Moon Dudley, Linden Daniel Galloway, Monica Kate Tucker Hoh, Thom M. Jencks, J. Nicole Miller, Shubhanshu Mishra, Kathryn R. O’Conaill, Chrissy L. O’Grady, Kayla Lee Ann Phillips, Patty A. Templeton, Ryan Wang, and Amanda J. Weber. More than 30 alumni also joined via Zoom from as far away as Boston and San Francisco. Following the initiation, attendees heard a presentation by Diane Foote, Executive Director of the Illinois Library Association (ILA) and Alpha Chapter member, who gave an inspiring talk reflecting on the relevance of the Beta Phi Mu motto Aliis inserviendo consumor (“consumed in the service of others”) in the context of the current pandemic.  

President-Elect Sharon Comstock, Past President Christine Cahill, Secretary/Treasurer Linda C. Smith, and Alpha Chapter Faculty Advisor Emily Knox. The meeting that followed the initiation ceremony included topics such as a report of chapter finances, announcement of the recipients of two awards supported by the Alpha Chapter: Ben B. Chiewphasa as the Anne M. Boyd Award recipient and Monica Hoh and Jimi Jones as the Kathryn Luther and William T Henderson Award recipients, approval of proposed revisions to the Alpha Chapter bylaws to allow undergraduates to be invited for membership, and election of Pia Hunter as incoming Vice President/President-Elect.

At the conclusion of the meeting, all new initiates were invited to join the Alpha Chapter officers for a group photo in Zoom. Given the success of this first virtual annual meeting and initiation ceremony, Alpha Chapter officers anticipate incorporating more opportunities for virtual participation in future meetings.