Phi Mu - Louisiana State University

4090 News FALL 2023 PHI MU AT LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY S ince 1964, generations of Phi Mu sisters have walked through the doors of 4090 W. Lakeshore, roamed the same halls, and spent time together in the same rooms where they studied, shared stories and laughs, and developed lifelong friendships. Whether we lived in the house or visited during our free time, we all created countless memories of our Alpha Eta home that sits first on Greek Row and take pride in the beautiful, historic design by architect A. Hays Town. Our home, however, was built for a small Chapter, and over the past 20 years, Alpha Eta has increased to a consistent membership average of more than 300 women. There is simply not enough space for all our sisters to gather comfortably for meetings and activities, and we must take action to accommodate our growing sisterhood. In 2017, we began discussing the need to increase the space in our home, and in 2019, we surveyed alumnae about whether we should move forward with a renovation or a complete rebuild. The women surveyed expressed an attachment to and pride in our A. Hays Town-designed home, and it is important to alumnae that we keep the architectural integrity of his design while providing the spaces needed for Alpha Eta. With this in mind, we are thrilled to announce the 4090: First on the Row, First in Our Hearts capital campaign to renovate and expand our beloved Chapter House. This project will provide more functional space to meet Chapter needs, including a new Chapter room, which will allow us to reconfigure the downstairs living area into modern dining, study, and community areas. Our home, which will see nearly a 30% increase in square footage, will maintain its historic beauty and have a modern style. These upgrades will allow us to not only provide for our sisters but also remain competitive with Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma, Chi Omega, and Alpha Phi, who have already completed or are in the process of completing major renovations, and ensure our home complements our strong recruitment efforts. What's Next? Our campaign quietly began in 2022 after the completion of a feasibility study and will be a multi-year process. Construction is on track to begin this December, when our members will move out and live in the Phi Kappa Psi house until December 2024. The total cost of this project is $3 million. The house corporation board has $1 million in savings and is able to finance another million. It will take support from every sister to help us reach the third million (half of which has been raised!), but we have every confidence that we can. The more we raise, the more we can achieve to ensure Phi Mu has a top-tier house at Louisiana State University. As you receive more details on the campaign over the next few weeks, I encourage you to reflect on why you joined Phi Mu. Each of us committed to being Steadfast in Sisterhood when we were initiated, and the lasting impact our membership has had on our lives is immense. Now, as Faithful Sisters, it's on us to ensure future generations of Phi Mu women can experience similar benefits as we did. Here's to the next chapter of Alpha Eta! Yours in Our Bond, Judy Mowad Mahtook '87 Lana Sonnier Venable '89 Campaign Co-Chairman Campaign Co-Chairman judymahtook@lusfiber.net lana@continuumstrategies.com (337) 298-6615 (225) 328-8826 PRESERVING OUR HOME WHILE PROVIDING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS Alpha Eta Announces $1 Million Capital Campaign

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