Wednesday, May 14, 2003

Ground broken for new Phi Mu headquarters

Phi Mu Foundation, the educational and fundraising arm of Phi Mu Fraternity, sponsored a groundbreaking ceremony May 3 for a new national headquarters building in Westpark Office and Commercial Center in Peachtree City.

Despite the rain and previous night's dangerous storms, nearly 100 invited guests attended the ceremony, which marks the public phase of the Foundation's capital campaign, "The Campaign for Phi Mu: Turning Dreams into Reality" to construct the new 31,672-square-foot national headquarters.

Alumnae from as far away as California and as close as Fayette County, area collegians and Peachtree City officials attended the ceremony, which was held at the Wyndham Peachtree Hotel and Conference Center.

"We could not be more pleased with the fabulous design of the new Phi Mu Headquarters building," said Peachtree City Mayor Pro Tem Dan Tennant. "This beautiful building will enhance an already attractive network of handsome sights in the Westpark area of the city. The depth and beauty of the design will create a landmark of our city for decades to come."

Kathie Garland, Phi Mu Foundation's Executive Director from Lawrenceville, welcomed guests to this long-anticipated event. Leona Hughes, a 74-year initiate of the fraternity and past foundation president from Sarasota, Fla., gave a moving invocation.

Foundation President Claudia Nemir provided attendees with a "roadmap" of the 84-year journey from Phi Mu's first headquarters in New Orleans to the new Peachtree City site.

Phi Mu Fraternity President Kathy Williams of Oxford, Miss., followed suit with a description of how the five-acre site, located in Westpark, was discovered.

After the official presentation, guests were invited to enjoy light refreshments before boarding shuttles to the site on Westpark Drive. Upon arriving at the site, golden shovels were used to turn the ground, thus symbolizing the actual groundbreaking and construction to come.

Guests were given the opportunity to have their pictures taken turning the red Georgia soil while sporting white hard hats designed for the occasion. Afterwards, guests were able to enjoy a break in the rain and visit with one another under a large white tent decorated with festive ribbons, flowers and an architectural rendering of the completed headquarters building.

Phi Mu Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is conducting the capital campaign to raise over $4 million dollars to build the new national headquarters for Phi Mu Fraternity, a national social organization for women, with 118 collegiate and 160 alumnae chapters.

The new headquarters will primarily consist of office space, though a large leadership training center and museum will also be housed in the building.

Phi Mu Fraternity was founded 151 years ago at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, focusing on the social, mental and moral improvement of its members.

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