Celebrate our Founders

Today we are taking time to celebrate the 235th anniversary of the signing the Declaration of Independence. Many of us celebrate this holiday in different ways. Some take a vacation to the shore, others may enjoy a BBQ, watch or participate in a parade, or enjoy fireworks.

For me, this holiday means so many different things. It was a birth of a nation. Our Founding Fathers, successful businessmen and leaders in their communities, took great risks. Had their mission failed, they would have been tried, convicted and executed for treason. But, their desire to create a new form of government, one that have never been tried before, resulted in the birth of a new nation and an idealogy that has worked for centuries.

Likewise, our Founding Sisters were leaders in their own right. Their desire to create something unique, in an age when women were denied the right to vote and encouraged to assume the role of wife and mother, meant going against the norm and taking risks. But these women found strength in the belief that they can be so much more. And, for over 167 years, women have joined the ranks of Panhellenic organizations, breaking barriers all the way.

On this 4th of July, not only am I thankful for the brave men who believed in the future of our country, and for the men and women who protect and defend the ideals found in the Constitution, but also for my Panhellenic sisters who continue to encourage and challenge me to strive for bigger and better things. It is this challenge that keeps me moving forward and allows for growth.

Currently, the PAAP Executive Board is hard at work preparing for another great year. We strive to honor the ideals set forth by our predecessors, and look ahead to new ideas and goals that will propel our organization to the next level, while remaining true to the spirit of sisterhood.