Alpha Delta Pi Executive Office and Memorial Headquarters
Executive Office, which is also known as Memorial Headquarters, has been located in Atlanta, Georgia since March, 1955 when Alpha Delta Pi formally opened and dedicated the facility. The first office was established in Ames, Iowa in 1925, and it was known as the Central Office. Mary Kelly Shearer, Pi—Iowa State, operated it out of her home. It was then moved to Berkeley, California in 1934 to the hometown of the new director, Eleanor Abbott Harris, Psi—University of California at Berkeley. In 1948, it was moved to Kansas City and the name was changed to Executive Office. It was located there until the sorority acquired the permanent site.
Located in the Historic Druid Hills Section of Atlanta, the Original Stately Red Brick, Southern Colonial Mansion sits on almost three acres of sweeping, wooded grounds. Also on the grounds is a lovely area known as Hubbard Memorial Gardens. Named for former National President Minnie Allen Hubbard, Rho—Boston, the gardens are dedicated to the memory of International Officers and other loyal members and friends of Alpha Delta Pi. In 2003, a new executive office building was completed and renovations began on the original memorial headquarters building.
Executive Office provides a variety of vital services to the sorority, and houses auxiliary organizations such as the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, Inc. and Gift Mart, Inc. Grand Council and Committee Meetings, Leadership Consultant Training, and social functions are also held there.
Executive Office is headed by an Executive Director. The current Executive Director is Linda Welch Ablard from Alpha Omicron Chapter at Oklahoma State University. The Executive Director and staff process all chapter and alumnae records, maintain membership files and mailing lists, and perform functional correspondence of the sorority.
The archives of Alpha Delta Pi are housed in the archives room at Memorial Headquarters. Displays include early adelphean badges, early records, portraits of founders and other leaders, convention pictures, books by Alpha Delta Pi authors, and other sorority memorabilia.
Executive Office and Memorial Gardens are open for tours during the regular office hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.
The address for Alpha Delta Pi Executive Office is 1386 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 and the phone number is 404-378-3164.
Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, Inc.
The Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, Inc. was added to the sorority’s family in 1983. The foundation is a separate 501 (C)(3) Corporation, which accepts tax-deductible gifts, as allowed by the law. The resources are then used to fund a variety of programs that benefit Alpha Delta Pi and its members as well as external philanthropies. Some of the programs the foundation supports are:
- Scholarships to members enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and continuing education programs
- Abigail Davis Emergency Grants to Collegians
- Clasped Hands Fund Emergency Grants to Alumnae
- Van Akin Leadership Development Grants to Alpha Delta Pi sorority for leadership training
- Educational programming at international conventions, volunteer leadership seminars, and district leadership conferences
- Leadership training for collegiate and alumnae members
International Philanthropy – Ronald McDonald House
Alpha Delta Pi has long been involved in philanthropies. At the Grand Convention in 1979, the convention body voted to adopt the Ronald McDonald houses as the new International Philanthropy. The Ronald McDonald Houses are located throughout the world near hospitals, and provide a “home away from home” for children suffering from serious illnesses, along with their families.
Collegians and alumnae volunteer their time and sponsor fundraising events for the houses. Since beginning its association, Alpha Delta Pi has contributed over $2 million to this worthwhile effort.
At the 2003 Grand Convention, in celebration of the foundation's 20th anniversary, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile project was added to our national philanthropy focus. The Ronald McDonald care mobiles provide diagnosis, treatment, referral and follow-up for medical and dental conditions, as well as health education for children without access to high quality health care. The first ADPi foundation-sponsored care mobile started operating in January 2004. It is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and is under the direction of the University of Massachusetts Medical System.
Six alumnae members (one from each district) work closely with the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation and all chapters as part of the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation Philanthropy Committee. These volunteers guide, direct and oversee all fundraising activities throughout their respective districts. The committee members are available to collegians to answer questions, give suggestions and monitor fundraising events. There is also a 7th committee member who functions as the resource person for all alumnae fundraising events. It is her job to guide, direct and monitor all alumnae fundraising events. The committee members are readily available to Alpha Delta Pi sisters and want to be an integral part of all fundraising efforts. They bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to all ADPi philanthropy and service projects.
Grand Convention
Grand Convention is held every two years at a site selected by Grand Council. Grand Conventions are the supreme governing body of the sorority. The voting delegates include one delegate from each collegiate chapter, alumnae association, house corporation, and advisory board, as well as past Grand Council members and International Officers as specified in the bylaws. Other collegiate members, alumnae and families are encouraged to attend. The business meetings include election of grand council, amendments to the bylaws, and appropriate resolutions. In addition to business meetings, workshops are held which address a variety of topics of interest to collegians and alumnae. Motivational speakers, entertainment, sisterhood activities and ritual, as well as other time-honored traditions, round out our fun-filled conventions.
The first grand convention was held in 1906 at the home of a Macon Alumna. Since that time, the number attending convention has continued to grow and conventions are held at popular hotels and resorts.
Leadership Seminar
Leadership Seminars are held in the years when Grand Conventions are not. International Officers, collegians, and advisors attend LS to participate in workshops and training sessions pertinent to their roles and professional development.
District Leadership Conference
District Leadership Conferences take place each year in each district during the months of January or February. These conferences focus on leadership skills for officers and other chapter members.
Bylaws of Alpha Delta Pi
Most organizations are subject to several classes of laws and rules, which are known as governing documents. These documents consist of the Corporate Charter, Bylaws, Rules of Order and Standing Rules. All organizations are subject to applicable procedural provisions of national, state, and local laws. The Bylaws are a document that contains the most fundamental rules of an organization. It defines the primary characteristics of the organization, stipulates how the organization should function, and includes those rules and directives that the members consider so important that they can not be suspended and can be changed only through a prescribed procedure that is usually included in the document.
The Bylaws of Alpha Delta Pi were originally adopted in 1851 and have been amended over the years to meet the changing needs of our sorority. The Bylaws can only be amended at Grand Convention, providing that proposed changes are submitted to the bylaws and resolutions committee by February 15th of the convention year. A two-thirds vote of Grand Convention Voting Delegates is required to amend the Bylaws.
In addition to the Bylaws of Alpha Delta Pi, each chapter and alumnae association must also adopt their own Bylaws. Bylaws of chapters and alumnae associations cannot be in conflict with the governing documents of the international organization and are subject to approval by supervising international officers. It is important to become familiar with these documents as they have a direct bearing on your rights, duties and privileges as a member.
Alpha Delta Pi Statements of Policy
Since our founding, Alpha Delta Pi members have worked to attain and to represent the highest ideals possible in every phase of college and personal life. Our ability as a sorority to reach that goal depends upon the standards and dedication of our members and our chapters. Alpha Delta Pi has a proud tradition in the quality of its membership. Our mission states, “Established in 1851, Alpha Delta Pi is committed to Sisterhood, Values and Ethics, High Academic Standards and Social Responsibility.”
To encourage these high standards, we have statements of policy regarding the following topics:
- Expectations for chapter performance
- Academic performance
- Membership
- Legacies
- Wellness
- Alcohol for collegiate chapters
- Hazing
- Illegal drugs
- Sexual harassment
- Visitation for collegiate chapters
- Out of town parties and dances for collegiate chapters
- Media, websites, and the internet
- Information that is not to be released
It is the expectation of Grand Council that all members and chapters understand and abide by each Alpha Delta Pi statement of policy. Any chapter found to be in violation of any Alpha Delta Pi statement of policy is subject to disciplinary measures as provided in the Bylaws of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.
Chapter Operations Book and Other Manuals
The Chapter Operations Book (COB) contains the information utilized by every Alpha Delta Pi chapter in its organization and operations. It is a policy and procedures manual that defines areas such as privileges and responsibilities of membership, officers and duties, boards, teams, and committees, initiations, elections, and chapter bylaws. The chapter president is responsible for the COB, but it is available to every initiated member.
Alpha Delta Pi manuals outlining duties and responsibilities are also provided for each officer. Manuals are regularly updated as roles and responsibilities change within our organization. Chapters can purchase manuals through executive office.
International Publications
The Adelphean of Alpha Delta Pi
The sorority’s official magazine is The Adelphean of Alpha Delta Pi. Commonly referred to as simply “The Adelphean,” it is published quarterly and mailed to all members of the sorority. The initiation fee, paid by all alpha members prior to initiation, includes a subscription to the magazine.
The Adelphean was first published in March 1907. Today the magazine features articles on chapter and alumnae activities, and highlights special sorority events such as Grand Conventions, District Leadership Conferences, Installations of New Chapters, and State Days. It also contains feature articles on outstanding alumnae and collegiate achievers, and addresses current issues of concern to the membership.
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