HISTORY OF RHO
PHI LAMBDA
During the early
1980's Dr. Roger Warren (N.C. State University) and Dr. Jean Mundy (Florida State
University)
were serving together on the SPRE Board of Directors. It was leaned
that two
honorary fraternities, Rho Phi Alpha and Sigma Lambda Sigma, existed.
Sigma
Lambda Sigma began at Florida State University about the same time as
Rho Phi
Alpha and had 11 additional chapters scattered throughout the United
States. In 1982 Doctors Mundy and Warren
talked informally about the possibility of merging the two fraternities
and
information including constitutions and by-laws were exchanged. The
members of
the SPRE Board discussed the concept of a national honorary fraternity,
and
although no formal action was taken, the concept along with the idea of
merging
the two
existing
fraternities was encouraged.
Following the 1982 meeting in
Louisville, Dr.
Frances Cannon, Department Head at Florida State University, asked a
graduate
student, Mr. Andy Holdnak, to analyze the differences in the
constitutions and
by-laws of the two fraternities. This work was completed during the
summer of
1983. Dr. Cannon and Dr. Warren agreed to meet during the 1983 NRPA Congress in Kansas
City and attempt to draft a constitution and by-laws for a merged
fraternity. The
meeting was held October 3, 1983 at the Phillips House Hotel. Also
present at
this meeting was Ms. Sondra Kirsch. The following agreements were
reached at
this meeting: The fraternity would be named Rho Phi Lambda since this
would be
a fraternity for Recreation/Park/Leisure students. Chapters would be
named
according to the date the chapter was initiated. Dr. Cannon agreed to
draft a
Constitution and By-Laws as agreed upon during the discussion at this
meeting.
Following this meeting individual chapters were contacted to get
reactions to
the merger concept. No objections were raised by any chapter. Draft
copies of
the Constitution and By-laws were distributed to the Chapters in the
spring of
1984.
The second merger meeting was held
on October
21, 1984 at the Orlando Marriott Inn. All chapters were invited to send
representatives to this meeting. Rho Phi Alpha chapters represented
were: N.C. State and Texas A
& M. Sigma Lambda Sigma chapters represented were: Florida State,
Fairleigh
Dickinson, Kent State, University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse, Southwest
Missouri
State, University of Missouri-Columbia, and East Carolina University.
Dr.
Cannon presided at the meeting. She and Dr. Warren reviewed the history
of the
two fraternities and of the merger talks to date. The draft
Constitution and
By-Laws were discussed in detail. All chapters represented were very
positive
about going ahead with the merger. Ron Havard was asked to work on an
emblem
design that would include elements of both of the merging fraternities.
It was
agreed to ask chapters that were not represented in Orlando to provide
input
regarding the Constitution and By-Laws to Dr. Cannon for a final draft
to be
sent to all chapters for their approval.
The merger vote was held during
the spring of
1985 with no dissenting votes. Chapters joining in the merger were:
From Rho
Phi Alpha; N.C. State University, Slippery Rock University, California
University of Pa., East Stroudsburg University, Clemson University, and
Texas
A&M University. From Sigma Lambda Sigma; Florida State University,
Brigham Young University,
University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Purdue University, Cheyney State
College,
University of Missouri-Columbia, Fairleigh Dickinson University,
Southwest
Missouri State University, Arizona State University, Kent State
University,
University of North Carolina-Greensboro, East Carolina University.
The first meeting of Rho Phi
Lambda, national
honorary recreation, park and leisure services fraternity was held on
Sunday,
October 27, 1985 in the Houston Room, Sheraton Hotel, Dallas, Texas,
The
following chapters were represented: N.C. State, Florida State,
Wisconsin-Lacrosse, Missouri-Columbia, Fairleigh Dickinson, Southwest
Missouri
State, Kent State, UNC-Greensboro, Clenson, East Carolina. Dr. Frances
Cannon
was elected temporary President and Treasurer. Dr. Roger Warren was
elected
Vice-President and Secretary.
The first permanent
National Officers were elected in the spring of 1988 as follows:
President Robert
McClellan, Clemson University
Vice President
Carol Love, N.C. State University
Secretary
Roger Warren, N.C. State University
Treasurer
Frances C.
Cannon, Florida State University