Click here for a Flourish Slideshow.

Iota Alpha Is Alumnae Panhellenic President

Joyce Buckmaster Metcalf is president of the Clearwater (Florida) Alumnae Panhellenic. An initiate of Iota Alpha/Southern Methodist U, she has served on the Panhellenic Executive Board for five years.

Come to Eleusinia in Amhurst, Massachusetts

Iota Beta Chapter at the U of Massachusetts invites alumnae Sisters to join the collegians for an Eleusinian celebration on Saturday, April 5. Mark your calendars and watch your mailboxes for more information, or you may request details by e-mailing Jen Walton
McCormack, Iota Beta/U of Massachusetts, at jlwmccormack@yahoo.com.

Or Attend Eleusinia in Los Angeles

The Greater Los Angeles Chi Omega Coordinating Council invites all Southern California Sisters to an Eleusinian luncheon on Sunday, April 13, at the Pasadena Sheraton Hotel. Speaking will be the editor of the award-winning Eleusis, Christine Barnicki. Invitations will be distributed in February to members of local alumnae chapters. Otherwise, contact Bobbie Banazak Gleiter, Chi Beta/Purdue U for further information and invitations.

Chi Omegas Flourish

Harper Lee receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

Making a very rare public appearance, legendary novelist Harper Lee was present in the East Room of the White House on November 5 last year to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented by President George W. Bush. Established in 1963, the Medal of Freedom is the highest civil honor a United States president can bestow. It recognizes great contributions to the cause of peace and freedom, science, the arts, literature, and other fields. Each recipient holds a unique place in American history.

In his glowing remarks the President said, “The story of an old order, and the glimmers of humanity that would one day overtake it, was unforgettably told in a book by Miss Harper Lee. Soon after its publication a reviewer said: ‘A hundred pounds of sermons on tolerance, or an equal measure of invective deploring the lack of it, will weigh far less in the scale of enlightenment than a mere 18 ounces of a new fiction bearing the title To Kill a Mockingbird.’

“Given her legendary stature as a novelist, you may be surprised to learn that Harper Lee, early in her career, was an airline reservation clerk. Fortunately for all of us, she didn’t stick to writing itineraries. Her beautiful book, with its grateful prose and memorable characters, became one of the biggest-selling novels of the 20th century.

“Forty-six years after winning the Pulitzer Prize, To Kill a Mockingbird still touches and inspires every reader. We’re moved by the story of a man falsely accused, with old prejudice massed against him, and an old sense of honor that rises to his defense. We learn that courage can be a solitary business. As the lawyer Atticus Finch tells his daughter, ‘before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.’

“Years after To Kill a Mockingbird was put to film, the character of Atticus Finch was voted the greatest movie hero of all time. Gregory Peck . . . was said to believe the role brought him closest to being the kind of man he aspired to be. The  great actor count-ed Harper Lee among his good friends . . .

“One reason To Kill a Mockingbird succeeded is the wise and kind heart of the author, which comes through on every page. This daughter of Monroeville, Alabama, had something to say about honor, and tolerance, and, most of all, love—and it still resonates. Last year Harper Lee received an honorary doctorate at Notre Dame University. As the degree was presented, the graduating class rose as one, held up copies of her book, and cheered for the author they love.

“To Kill a Mockingbird has influenced the character of our country for the better. It’s been a gift to the entire world. As a model of good writing and humane sensibility, this book will be read and studied forever. And so all of us are filled with admiration for a great American and a lovely lady named Harper Lee.”

The citation for Harper Lee’s Presidential Medal of Freedom reads: “Harper Lee’s beautiful book is a meditation on family, human complexity, and some of the great themes of American life. At a critical moment in our history, To Kill a Mockingbird helped focus the nation on the turbulent struggle for equality. The novel became an instant American classic and earned her a Pulitzer Prize. Nearly half a century after its publication, her work con-tinues to captivate new readers who encounter its compelling power for the first time. The United States honors Harper Lee for her outstanding contribution to the great literary tradition of America.”

A reception in the State Dining Room followed for the eight Medal of Freedom recipients, their families and friends, the Congress, Cabinet, and other dignitaries.

Harper Lee is an initiate of Nu Beta/U of Alabama and a Malinda Jolley Mortin Woman of Achievement of Chi Omega award recipient.