Ask Elizabeth. Those words solve all the problems of the Sorority whether it is to get a list of chapter presidents, a pattern for a robe or advice on ordering pins. They are the words uttered constantly by the thirty-two staff members of the national organization.

Elizabeth Wilson's activities are divided into three parts. She is first of all the devoted daughter of Mrs. Ralph Wilson with whom she lives in a lovely home in Glendale, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. There she relaxes with her knitting, books and friends. Her knitting is more than a hobby because she has donated many items to the St. Louis Alumnae Chapter and to conventions to sell for social service projects. In the summers she has enjoyed traveling and has visited the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, a number of times, on one occasion with Mary Alice Peterson and two St. Louis Alumnae - on the way to Convention of course!

Second, she is a professional. She obtained her A.B. degree from Harris Teachers College in 1936 and her M.A. from Washington University in 1946, and she has done graduate work at universities in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Denver and Boston. She is a trained remedial reading teacher employed by the St. Louis Public Schools and is a member of professional organizations.

Her third activity is directing the Central Office and answering questions for Alpha Sigma Tau. As a collegiate member of Pi Chapter, initiated in 1934, she became interested in the aims and activities of the local and national organizations. She was Treasurer and President of Pi Chapter, as she attended her first National Convention in Pittsburgh as collegiate delegate.

When Dorothy became National President in 1949, the Central Office Headquarters was moved from Columbus, Ohio, to St. Louis, Missouri. Elizabeth was always a key figure in the Central Office during her years as Alumnae Secretary and later as National President. She became the Director of the Central Office and a member of the National Council for a second time in 1974.

In 1964 at the Fifteenth National Convention in Detroit, when Mrs. Peterson retired as National President there was a question about her successor and someone said, "Ask Elizabeth." Tearfully but firmly Elizabeth assumed the responsibilities of the office and continued until August 1972. During those years she did double work acting both as National President and as Director of the Central Office. Since there is no special place in the history for executive secretaries, we do want to comment here on the splendid and efficient work of Dorothy Meyer who has worked many years in the Central Office. She has attended the Sessions for Central Office Executives at several National Panhellenic Conference meetings and every convention since 1968. The stencils that have produced fine bulletins and reports as well as many publications have come largely from Dorothy's typewriter.

Presiding as President at the Cincinnati Convention in 1966, Elizabeth opened the first meeting with her address "Key to the Future." She said, "The key to the future of sorority growth lies in the acceptance and responsibility by all members. Too few members, both collegians and alumnae are doing their part. Only when all members share in the interests and duties will we have a vigorous and dynamic group. You are familiar with the quotation:

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can so something. What I can do, I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the Grace of God I will do.

"No better philosophy for a growing organization was ever expounded."

In 1968 at the Seventeenth Convention in New Orleans she continued with a similar theme "Will Fraternities Accept Responsibilities?" She said, "We cannot afford to be obstinate in a changing world, yet changes must be made without compromising our principles and purposes." The responsibilities which she emphasized were to promote academic excellence, define and demand high standards of moral and social conduct and to provide leaders for service in the college and the community.

At the Toronto Convention in 1970, Elizabeth used as a theme for the keynote address "Seven Decades Later." She outlines the sorority's growth in each decade beginning with a quotation form Woodrow Wilson, "We're trying to do a futile thing if we do no know where we came and what we've been about." She closed by saying "You, who are here today will write the story of Alpha Sigma Tau for the coming decade. Let us hope that each of you will find a way to contribute your share, remembering a thought from Dag Hammershold, 'You have not done enough, so long as it is still possible that you have something of value to contribute.'"

Her final address was delivered at the Convention in Virginia Beach in 1972, based on the theme "Think on These Things." She mentioned the fact that the object of all fraternities was the "social, intellectual and moral improvement of its members." Elizabeth stressed the fact that 'social' did not now mean partying and socializing.

"It refers to the development of good personal relations - the ability to communicate with and serve others, the improvement of human relationships." She also stressed the basic needs of sororities, such as rush, officer training and programs that emphasize sorority values. The staff members, chapter delegates and visitors were impressed with their president as she advised them to "Think on These Things."

Besides making speeches at Conventions Elizabeth helped install chapters, inspected chapters and wrote the Central Office Bulletin. Later as Director of the Central Office she was also the business manager of THE ANCHOR because it was published in St. Louis. Since the last convention she had directed the mimeographing and distribution of the Constitutions, the Chapter and Staff Handbooks and the Pledge Manual. She also found time to work with Carrie Staehle and Beverly Bollard on a history of Alpha Sigma Tau and wrote the third section of the book, "National Expansion." She gets things done because of her relaxed philosophy. Once Mrs. Staehle said, "I write so fast you might no be able to read my letters." Elizabeth responded, "Don't worry. I read fast."

When Lillian Schippers introduced the National President in THE ANCHOR, she stated, "Miss Wilson's outstanding characteristic is her quiet, efficient, hard-working service. She shuns the limelight, and her tremendous contributions to Alpha Sigma Tau generally are not realized." Her leadership is reflected in her addresses at National Conventions; her efficiency, in the smooth running Central Office; her dedication, in four decades of continuous service. She is 'only one' but has done the work of many.

"If the readers of our history have questions that have not been answered, they will find the correct information if they write to the Central Office and 'Ask Elizabeth.'" - Carrie Washburne Staehle

Honors received: Ada A. Norton Alumnae Award (1964)