ESA Founder's Day: A Celebration of the Past and Future of ESA

1. ESA FOUNDER’S DAY The past is the way to our future!

2. ESA is born in 1929 • Founder: Adelia Prichard • The original program focused on “The Writings of Mankind” • Moved to its own “What to Read” program. • 1938 ESA holds its first National Convention • ESA supports various charities – including the USO during the war. • After the war – March of Dimes, Mother’s March to cure polio. • 1948 ESA goes International.

3. 1930 ESA comes to Kansas • Early years chapters were islands unto themselves with no connection with each other. • Iota Kappa and Iota Mu hosted the 4th National Advisory Council convention in Wichita. Many states were represented. • After 1941 ESA in Kansas takes an upswing. Chapters began working together – new chapters – contending with the war – and members became better acquainted. • Only gasoline and tire rationing will prevent ESA members from accomplishing more during the war years.

4. 1941-1947 - Hildagard Jager Brooke Due to the war officers in ESA will be frozen from 1941 to 1947 when another National convention is held in Oklahoma city. ESA begins as an educational interest and soon expands into charitable projects and a social and leadership organization for women.

5. Kansas – 1946- 1953 Z.C. Dipman 1946-47 Grace Stoner 1949-50 Jessie McAdoo Little 1951-1952 Pauline Cowger 1948-49 Mildred Keller 1950-51 Beryle Elliott 1952-1953

6. Kansas State Council will be officially organized in 1946 at Hutchinson. Zura Crockett-Dittman will be the first president and will serve two terms. The first constitution and bylaws will be adopted in 1948. • Our state newspaper began production in 1945 as a one page mimeograph bulletin. 1947 the News & Views was adopte4d as the official state publication. The production began without any budget to produce and mail it so money raisers had to be held to pay for expenses. • In 1948 a state dues paid by members was approved to pay for the publication. The State President was appointed to edit the paper during her term of office. – this was later changed and became the responsibility of the Jr. Past President. Later it will become a board appointment. Our state newsletter has been consistently recognized in the top ten in International Competitions. • An ESA Home for ESA members is proposed.

7. ORGANIZATION OF KANSAS • In 1948 the state of Kansas divided itself into 8 zones according to proximity of the chapters. - 1948 it grew to 12 zones and in 1956 -13 zones were established. … Finally in 1966 - 12 zones were defined. Each zone elected its officers and the zone chairman began to be installed at the state conventions. In 1996 the title of the zones will be changed to DISTRICTS with letters in place of Numbers - Today we are losing districts. 1949 – Pauline Cowger will set aside a “Remembrance hour” at convention - Irene Ramsey will appoint the first IC chaplain in 1955. The first ESA Sunday will be observed November 1955.

8. Kansas – 1953-1958Honoring our past Faye Jordan 1953-1954 Irene Ramsey 1955-1956 Jerry Phillips 1957-1958 Hazel Hayes 1956-1957 Kay LaVelle 1954-1955

9. 1953-1958 • Wichita chapters will host the 1955 International Convention in Wichita at the Broadview hotel. – Jessie McAdoo Little – Dodge City was installed as International President at this convention. • First Non-denominational Memorial service held at the 1955 IC convention in Wichita. • 1957 KSC joins the Ks Council of Women to support programs of common interest. • 1957 Past State Presidents of the KSC form Lamplighters. begin meeting twice a year. Today they meet once a year at convention. • 1955 ESA Disaster Fund is initiated.

10. Kansas – 1958-1963Honoring our past Lois Mayall 1960-1961 Louise Woods 1962-1963 Mary Booe 1958-1959 Mildred Foley 1959-1960 Betty Guthrie 1961-1962

11. 1958-1963 • 1965 Kansas began to support the Emergency Service Action fund to provide assistance to IOL clients experiencing financial difficulty. • 1964 - $5000 a year was being place in the fund by KSC providing the only funds for the IOL without restrictions. • ESA reached 1000 paid chapter in 1957 • Men of ESA is established in 1958. • 1960 Juniorettes is established by HQ – replaced by VIA program – replaced by the DESA program. Members younger than 18

12. Kansas – 1963-1968Honoring our Past Bonnie Gunter 1963-64 Dee Quade 19665-66 Kathleen Lutz 1967-68 Velma Harness Foley 1964-65 Katy T Mills 1966-67

13. Kansas – 1963-1968 • In 1966 Irene Ramsey will be elected International Council President and installed at the International Convention in Kansas City Missouri. • The first Kansas Leadership conference was held in 1966 by the Headquarters staff out of Colorado. In `1974 and 1975 there were two conferences held one in the east and one in the west to accommodate chapters in each section of the country. • At the 1965 IC convention in San Antonio a Kansas Resolution was passed that ESA International observe the first Sunday in May as ESA SUNDAY. Prior to this it was observed in November started by a Kansas IC president. • ESA charters in Australia • The first Zeus Award is presented by ESA. • First State Presidents Leadership held in Loveland 1965 – it continues today.

14. Kansas – 1968-1973Honoring our past Gladys Shook 1968-69 Maxine McKeever 1970-71 Jean Wells 1972-73 Lorita VonNeiderhauser1969-70 Anne Langenfeld 1971-72

15. Kansas – 1968-73 • Pallas Athene Program initiated by Headquarters in 1966. • First Youth Award given in 1967. • Men of ESA is initiated. • 1973 “Fun in the Sun” was launched at the IOL to improve the playground area. • Diana Award inaugurated • The Guardians of ESA was presented by Headquarters. • The ESA World Center was formed with Joan Monson as a founder. • Danny Thomas will attend his first ESA convention in 1970 • 1970 POW-MIA letter writing campaign for Viet Nam Prisoners of war

16. 1971-1973 • ESA is incorporated in 1971 and becomes a recognized non-profit by the IRS in 1973 • Kansas state dues $2:00 per member + $5.00 chapter booster fee • ESA initiation fees are raised to $44.00 up $10.00 - 1973 • Ks Convention Committee offered members a “Convention Savings Club” to pay to go to convention.

17. Kansas – 1973-1978 Betty Spicer 1973-74 Mary Daniels 1975-76 Joan Friend 1977-78 Dotty Keenan 1974-75 Florence Ellis 1976-77

18. 1973-1978 • 1971 – St Jude adopted as an International project. • 1976 First $1 million ( - 4 years) presented to St. Jude • 1978 – Circle of Life department is formed at ESA Headquarters. • 1978 – ESA Foundation adopts the Lindamond reading program. • First $1 million raised in one year presented to St. Jude. • 1974 – Save our country Day – to bring attention to environmental problems. • 1974 – First joint meeting of IC and ESA headquarters. • 1973-74 – we charter in Korea. • 1974 Association of the Arts program initiated . • 1978 – Kansas Care & Share love fund is established.

19. Kansas – 1978-1983Honoring our past Jean Beetem 1980-81 Marilyn Herren 1982-83 Opal Reiger 1978-79 Joyce Marrs 1979-80 Judy Ary 1981-82

20. 1978-1983 • 1979 Kansas members received the Martin F. Palmer Humanitarian award. The highest honor presented by the IOL for outstanding service and contributions. • A large delegation will attend convention in 1980 to install Joan Friend as International President. • 1979 The ESA Foundation Scholarship Program is adopted. • 1980 – joint project ESA HQ and IC “The Reach Out Seminars.” • Easter Seal is adopted as the second Philanthropic Project by the International Council • 1985 – ESA Headquarters hires BJ Clark as its Executive Director – she will retire in 2014.

21. Kansas – 1983-1988Honoring our past Shirley Campbell 1987-88 Kay Ross 1985-86 Geri Benton 1983-84 Joan Bourn 1984-85 Verneene Forssberg 1986-87

22. 1983-1988 • 1984 – Pauline Cowger will be recognized as a 50 year member at IC convention. • 1986 – Easter Seal and Goodwill are joined in Kansas. This will last until 2013 when they separate and Kansas will add Goodwill Industries as a Second State Project in 2014. • 1986 – The 6th degree is added to the Pallas Athene program. • 1987 - ESA is honored with its own ESA court at the Institute of Logopedics • 1987 – 1st Kansas State Council Endowment established with ESA Foundation (grew to 5)

23. Kansas – 1988-1993Honoring our past Charlene Hanson 1990-91 Coleen Cape 1988-89 Donna Dawson 1992-93 Margaret Shook 1991-92 Kay Foster 1989-90

24. 1988-1993 • First Collegiate chapter chartered in Indiana. Ks will get 3 collegiate chapters – currently we have one at KU. • First DESA chapter chartered in Florida 1987. • (1992) Hope for Heroes Program introduced • First Million Dollar bike ride from Memphis to Little Rock 1987. • Associate Member program initiated by HQ. • ESA Junior Assemblies were co-ventured for HQ and Cotillion Director Jon Williams. • The Horizon Challenge Camp was introduced through HQ and held in Denver. • First Easter Seal training seminar held.

25. Kansas – 1993-1998 Shelah Goyer 1993-94 Mary Hill 1995-96 Karen Lowery 1997-98 Susan White 1994-95 Helen Stitt 1996-97

26. 1993-1998 • 1991 - First Vision Award – given to Danny Thomas (posthumously) • 1992 Care Connection program initiated by HQ – Hats for Hope 1992 • (1996) 1st St Jude Walk at Kansas Convention $6000 • First $2 million check presented to St. Jude in 1993. • 1992 – first long range planning meeting for all ESA members held by HQ – called the “ESA Super Summit” • ESA celebrates $25 million to St Jude in 1996. • Legacy Program initiated by HQ • 1996 Warm Welcome Program”

27. Kansas – 1998-2003Honoring our Past Cindy Rodman 1998-99 Connie Hoch 2000-2001 Phyllis Wheaton 2002-2003 Linda Schmidt 1999-2000 Susan Winters 2001-02

28. 1998-2003 • Walkin the Dog program to raise funds for St. Jude introduced by HQ. • First Junior and Senior Youth awards presented by IC in 1998. • 1993 – the Institute of Logopedics changes its name to HEARTSPRING. 1998 it will move to its new campus.

29. gets a new look and opens its membership to men. • The changes have always been gradual. The most recent began in the 90s - • ESA has adapted to the new technologies and rapid changes in the world today.

30. Kansas: 2003-2008 Denise Masterson 2005-2006 Maureen Wells 2003-2004 Pam McElvain 2007-2008 Karen Knorp- Brown 2004-2005 Charlotte Combs 2006-2007

31. 2003-2008 • Circle of Life – changes its name to ESA for St. Jude. • Heartspring activities are expanded to include a PROM – Parents Weekend – as well as the Day of Love • Goodwill Birthday Bash

32. Kansas: 2008-2014 Joy Thornbrugh 2008-2009 Pat Josey 2009-2010 Kim Kummer 2010-2011 Marsha Barnes 2011-2012 Phyllis Simmons 2012-2013 Judy Ahrens 2013-2014

33. 2008-2013 • The Heartspring Playhouse project was started in 2010 and was completed in 2014. • (2012) “1st Cookin for the Kids” made over $7000 for St. Jude – adopted by Headquarters • (2012) Santa America – adopted by 2014 IC President • (2012) 1st Jewel Pinning at State Convention • (2014) Kansas State Council adds Goodwill Industries as a State Project.

34. 2015 We are now ready to make and pass $200 million donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital KANSAS ESA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LEADER IN ESA and PARTICIPANT IN THE PROGRAMS OF ESA.

35. Kansas continues to lead in ESAIC Presidents from Kansas

37. ESA continues more than 80 years later to meet the challenges of its mission to promote education, leadership and service. It is an organization that makes a positive difference in the lives of all that it touches.