Pi Beta Phi - University of Colorado

P A G E 2 A ttending a private girls' school for the first two years of college didn't lend opportunities for Kay Knittle Brock '56 to join a sorority. She came from a small town in Iowa, and since many of her mother's friends were Pi Phis, Kay always had a positive feeling about Pi Phi. After deciding to transfer to the University of Colorado Boulder (CU), she went through recruitment. "I hoped I would have the opportunity to become a Pi Phi," she shared — and that's exactly what happened. Following graduation, it was a while before Kay got involved as an alumna. She was often moving as a Navy wife and physical therapist, and once they settled in Kansas City, she was busy raising her children. As her children got older and attended school full time, Kay got involved with Pi Phi again. After attending her first convention in Louisville, Kentucky, in the '80s as her local Alumnae Club President, she realized there was a lot happening in the organization beyond what she was seeing at the local level. Kay has since served in many Pi Phi roles, most notably Alumnae Province President – Kansas and Missouri, Director Membership and Grand Vice President Membership (GVPM). Within each of these positions, Kay has gained not only friendships, but confidence to speak in front of large groups and what it means to be active in something greater than oneself. She hasn't been active at the international level since 2003, but still remembers, "It's the friendships that have been most rewarding." One of the highlights of being GVPM was initiating Barbara Bush as an alumna initiate. Barbara did not have the opportunity to join while in college, and many of her friends are Pi Phis. "She was so excited that she said to her husband, George, 'I finally get to be a Pi Phi.' We had the pledging and initiation at her friend's house. e Secret Service brought her to the door," she shared. Kay performed the pledging ceremony and then took part in the initiation with two past Grand Presidents. ey all had coffee, cookies and tea, and Barbara talked about her grandchildren. "It was just like talking to my mother, aunt or best friend. It was a very special day." Kay now shares her love of Pi Phi with her granddaughter, Emma, whom she had the pleasure of pinning at her Kansas Alpha initiation. Kay is a strong believer in fraternities and sororities and what they offer to both collegians and alumnae. For her, even though her family includes seven different fraternities and six different sororities, Pi Phi will always come out on top. Kay's greatest advice to young Pi Phis? "You don't have to stay involved all the time," she shared. "ere's a time in your life when it fits in, and there are times when you have to take a step back, but it will always be important to you." Connect with Kay at kaybrock36@yahoo.com. ALWAYS A TIME FOR PI PHI Past Grand Council members Colorado Alpha Kay Knittle Brock, Texas Delta Carolyn Pavletich Lesh, Montana Alpha Maurine Hager Jones and North Carolina Beta Carol Inge Warren on their last trip to San Francisco together.

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