Welcome to the International Council
Judy Huntley, International Council President and her 2008-2009 Executive Board
As we begin a new year, we once again honor the Founders of our wonderful organization to those who made the dream of Epsilon Sigma Alpha International possible. It is a privilege for me to honor these wonderful ladies and pay tribute to our organization that has existed for over 80 years and touched the hearts and lives of so many.
It all started in 1929 with Adelia Pritchard and a few of her friends. Adelia Pritchard was the national president of Business and Professional Women. She started a reading group for women. Their goal was helping women fulfill their dreams for personal development. This goal continues to be one of the cornerstones of ESA to this day.
In addition to Adelia Pritchard, the other early members each developed leadership skills to help them accomplish personal goals.
- Phoebe Kerrick Warner was national chair of Rural Women Clubs. She was classified as a pioneer who achieved international recognition through articles about the economic condition of rural women.
- Mary Redfield Plummer was an organizer, publisher, and an author who conducted classes on Parliamentary Law at Northwestern University in Chicago.
- Susan M. Rebhan was State Supreme Court Judge and was the campaign manager for getting America’s foremost woman judge on the Ohio State Supreme Bench.
- Daisy Birchfield was a junior high school economics teacher.
- Clara Leachwas an expert in building program excellence.
- Florence Sterling was a writer, editor and speaker.
- Florence Crawford was a business woman.
- Pearl Kidman and Althea Terry were both State Presidents of the Business and Professional Women organization.
Our Founders came from all walks of life and had a variety of interests. Just like today’s ESA members, they developed a common bond that has helped ESA become a leadership and service organization bringing good people together. These amazing women were able to go “Above and Beyond” the traditional roles of women in the 1920’s.
To reflect on all that ESA has accomplished in the last 80 years is breathtaking. We have grown from a small select group in Jacksonville, Texas to thousands of dedicated women and men across the country and Australia.
ESA continues to provide us with important educational opportunities. Our affiliation in ESA has helps us to develop leadership skills and grow in self-confidence. We consistently reach amazing new heights in our philanthropic efforts. But best of all, we have created a wonderful network of friendship and love.
I think our Founders would be very proud of what we have done with the legacy they left to us. But where do we go from here?
When I think about the increasing average age of our members and see the steady decline in membership, I sometimes become afraid that our daughters, granddaughters, and future members will not have the opportunity. It is the obligation of each one of us to make sure that future generations have this same opportunity we have had.
We need to spread the word of ESA, demonstrate true compassion and respect, lead by example, and sponsor new members. We need to continue to show the world who ESA is and what we care about.
Let us not forget our mission. Let us not forget how we got our start in 1929. Let us not forget that it took the hard work and dedication of a lot of women and some good men, to get us to this place in history.
We have set new goals for the future. We continue to believe in the ideas and truth to which we pledged. Our organization’s very existence and ability to further its work depends on the having new blood, new ideas, new energy, new members and most of all new chapters. The future for ESA is now. We need to go “Above and Beyond in ESA” to keep our organization strong.