Cele Eifert (Gamma Phi Beta) founded ASCAPA, with assistance from her local Gamma Phi Beta
alumnae chapter. Cele hosted the first gathering in her home on Saturday, February 3, 2001. It was a
"Get-Acquainted Brunch" attended by over 40 women representing at least 15 of the 26 member
sororities in the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). The event was primarily intended as a social
gathering where all could see the scope and depth of the alumna Panhellenic presence in the
Southern Crescent area and establish new bonds of friendship and sisterhood. We were very
fortunate to have support from the Atlanta Alumnae Panhellenic Association (AAPA) who donated
$50 to helpus get started. In addition, the then-president of AAPA, Kathy Spetz (Alpha Xi Delta) and
Vice President, Susan Dedyn (Chi Omega) came to the first event. There was one item of business
accomplished that day – those present voted to take the necessary steps to become an official
Alumnae Panhellenic Association affiliated with NPC.
A second gathering was held several weeks later at Cele's home and the bylaws she had written with
guidance from NPC were discussed and officers were elected, based on a rotation scheduled
suggested by Cele, namely the order in which the sorority alumnae chapter or a member of a
particular sorority contacted Cele to express interest in participating. The completed bylaws, charter
member list and officer roster were sent to NPC and we became an official NPC-affiliated association
on July 27, 2001. Becky Moeller (Delta Zeta) developed our first website. Our first three executive
boards followed this rotational order mentioned above until April 2003 when an amendment to the
bylaws was passed to allow open elections of officers.
We gave out our first scholarship of $500.00 in the spring of 2003. In 2004, we were able to give two
$500.00 scholarships and we continued giving out two $500 awards until 2008 when we gave three.
Membership is open to alumnae of any NPC sorority residing in the Southern Crescent area of
Atlanta defined as Fayette, Coweta, south Fulton, Henry, and Clayton Counties. The challenge for
our group is to have a representative from all 26 NPC Sororities. According to NPC Headquarters,
there are currently no Alumnae Panhellenic Associations that have representatives from each
sorority. We think that ASCAPA can change that! Please encourage any and all sorority women you
know or happen to meet to please join our group.