Serving Little Rock, Arkansas Since 1937
®
Janet Davis Tate served as the eighteenth president of Beta Pi Omega from January 1, 1995-December 31,1998. Tate is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a charter member of Epsilon Phi Chapter on that campus. She was initiated October 24, 1970. She has remained an active, loyal member since that time. She is a Silver Star and Life Member. She has served as the South Central Representative on the International Constitution Committee and the Arkansas Cluster Coordinator, a position she currently holds.
Under Tate’s leadership, the chapter’s membership increased to the highest in chapter history to that point. Emphasis was againb placed on the retaining and reclaiming of members. The transfer of under-graduates to the chapter upon graduation from college increased, and the undergraduates were assigned to serve as chairpersons and on key committees, thus serving to bridge the gap between graduates and undergraduates. Attendance at chapter meetings, chapter activities, area cluster retreats, regional conferences and Boule’ meetings increased during Tate’s term of office. The Beta Pi Omega Singers were invited to sing at the 58th Boule’ in Chicago, Illinois, and was the only choir to receive a standing ovation. An orientation and planning workshop was hosted by Tate for chapter officers, committee chairs, and co-chairs.
Tate designed the chapter binder for the membership directory and implemented the use of an official chapter banner. The 24th National President, Eva L. Evans, was honored at a Public Reception in the Arkansas State Capitol Rotunda in 1995. National Vice-President, Norma Solomon White served as the Founders’ Day speaker in 1995. Other Founders’ Day speakers included Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Andree Layton Roaf in 1996, Eva L. Evans in 1997, and South Central Regional Director Polly Sparks Turner in 1998. Other chapter firsts during the Tate administration included the first Scholarship Brunch and the first Pink and Green Dinner Dance (now the Ivy Ball), both of which were continued during her term of office and are continued today.
New Directions, a week long summer program for at-risk youth, was continued with some changes made. Workshops were presented on the following topics: self-esteem, personal hygiene, careers, goal setting, and arts and crafts. The program culminated with a field trip. Students received goodie bags with products contributed by various businesses and agencies in the community. Beta Pi Omega members continued to tutor, read and present workshops at Rightsell Academy, Beta Pi Omega’s adopted school. The chapter first adopted a kindergarten class which was followed and worked with through sixth grade. Small gifts and refreshments were provided during each visit.
Beta Pi Omega was recognized at the South Central Regional Conferences for 100% participation by our chapter members in the sorority’s Education Advancement Foundation (EAF) at the South Central Regional Conferences during Tate’s tenure. On the local level, the chapter awarded $6,000 in scholarships annually to graduating high school seniors and to undergraduate members of our sponsored chapters. Donations were also made annually to the UNCF and to many other community service organizations. During Tate’s tenure, Beta Pi Omega was represented and/or recognized at many community venues and events including the UNCF Banquet, Urban League of Arkansas Banquet, Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, National Conference of Christians and Jew, CARELINKS, Martin Luther King Magnet School and Rightsell Academy, Mt Pleasant Baptist Church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Bethel A.M.E. Church, Eighth Street Baptist Church, The Arkansas Territorial Restoration, Black Community Developers, and the Battered Women’s Shelter.