(1907-2000)
Eleanor V.V. Bennet was 57 when she took over after Alice Barney’s deathHelen Snyder Andres (Steiner), and her ascension to Grand President Kappa’s first Field Secretary (1933-1935now Leadership Consultant) and first Director of Standards, was destined to make Kappa a prominent part of her life, having shared with the richly deserved pinnacle of 38 years of active Fraternity service that started at the University of Californiaher birthday, UC BerkeleyOctober 13.
Eleanor Van Syckle Vanderbelt Bennet had already been graduatedJust before her 90th birthday in 1997 Helen said, a commencement speaker and was studying for a master’s degree when Pi Deuteron Chapter was re-installed at Berkeley in 1897“I’ve lived Kappa. It’s my other family. But four years earlier” Kappa taught Helen many things, as an undergraduate, Eleanor had been part “but most of the group that petitioned all I learned how to appreciate people. Kappa for a chapter – a request is very good at that was rejected on grounds the Fraternity could not afford another chapter in the West. Because her signature was on the original petition, she was initiated with Pi Deuteron’s charter members when the chapter was finally reinstated.”
In California high schools, Helen assumed the presidency upon Eleanor taught EnglishBennet’s resignation, public speaking and parliamentary law, subjects that served her well she became a force in her Kappa lifeunifying Fraternity programs on standards, scholarship and Kappa – more so than finance during her profession – as Eleanor Bennet’s lifeterm (1935-1936). When Helen pledged Beta Pi Chapter in 1926 where she traveled, it was for Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board member and vice president of her class. She once said her “hobbies” were improving Fraternity imageattended the 1928 Convention as delegate and became a Co-organizer (the forerunner of Chapter Consultant) at Gamma Upsilon, British Columbia, talking to Kappas and reading their lettersin 1930.
As President In 1932, Helen became a traveling Field Secretary, an experience she later called “one of the Pi Alumnae Association, Eleanor was delegate to most significant of my life…I worked with dedicated Kappa officers who helped me bring the 1906 Convention. She wrote essays for The Key and in 1909 was made Business Manager. She was parliamentarian for the 1924 and 1926 Conventions, and from 1921-1927 was Vice President and then President best of Kappa Provincepractices to our chapters. From 1926-1930” In her 1932 report, she was National Director said she “stressed good chapter organization, correct ritual, fine standards, strong chapter discipline, good assimilation of Provinces pledges, individual responsibility, cordiality and good manners, scholarship in the last 18 months of that time visited 61 chapter and alumna groups, often for days at a time. Georgia Hayden Lloyd-Jones wondered if there was ever a Director of Provinces who was so intimately acquainted with its broadest sense…” – all the young women in two-thirds of the chapters but was practical enough to recommend that a Field Secretary (now Leadership Consultant) be hired for chapter visitswhich still apply today.
In 1930She met her husband, she was elected Grand Vice President and directed her efforts toward advancing the interests of alumnae associationsEugen Andres, Jr. (During this time, her recommendation for on a Field Secretary blind date; he was heeded – with the selection of Helen Snyder, Beta Pi, Washington)a field secretary for Phi Gamma Delta. Eleanor’s vice presidency was cut short, however, when she ascended to the office of Grand President upon Alice Barney’s sudden death He died in 19331975. Eleanor was elected Grand President at the Convention of 1934, which also saw the creation of a Director of Standards (again, Helen Snyder) and the elimination of Grand RegistrarLater she married Joseph Steiner.
During Eleanor’s presidencyWhen she became Director of Standards in 1934, a financial booklet was createdshe embraced “the fine idea of relating standards and ideals closer to actual existence.” It is singularly significant that Kappa chose to devote an office to standards and Fraternity education. As director, Helen wrote an article on chapter standards for each issue of The Key maintaining that the Fraternity had a magazine agency wonderful opportunity to make itself invaluable if it would cultivate fine standards and national vocational guidance bureau were established truly cultural living and the first fellowships were awardedthinking. A highlight “The greatest criticism of her term was fraternities is that groups are not realizing the restoration possibilities in the intellectual development of Alpha Chapter at Monmouth on October 13, 1934their members, attended by two living Founders – Louisa Stevenson Miller and Louise Bennett Boyd. But Eleanor herself was unable to attend, overcome by “pure fatigue” and admitted to a hospital. “Though you think I have no children…I do have them by the hundreds…even thousands – and all daughters!” she said, paraphrasing Mr. Chips, in a message to Alpha.
Her health failed During her short term as Director of Standards, Helen had much to improve and at do with the opening development of pledge education, chapter techniques and standards. When she became Grand President, the Grand Council nation was still in June 1935the Depression, Eleanor’s resignation was readand she credited Kappa scholarships with keeping many young women in college. Helen Snyder Andres Hearthstone was appointed to complete her term. Five years later, Eleanor died. “We will recall that valiant, white-haired little figure to whom two reestablished chapters, Pi Deuteron developing and Alpha Deuteron, are living memorials,” as written Helen saw its value for alumnae in The Keythe future.
Helen chose not to run for a full term of office; she had been pregnant during part of her term and gave birth to a daughter in December 1936. Yet she continued her service to Kappa. She became Panhellenic Delegate from 1936-1940 and Scholarship Chairman from 1940-1946, supervised Graduate Counselors (Chapter Consultants) from 1946-1948 and became Director of Chapters from 1948-1950. She was also Ritualist and served three years as President of the San Jose Alumnae Association, which she helped to start.
Helen also worked to further the petition and installation of Delta Chi Chapter at San Jose State University, where her daughter, Vivienne, served as President. Helen received the Loyalty Award in 1980.
“I only hope future Kappas may have the same influences from the Fraternity that I have had – the privilege of knowing top caliber women who can speak well, think well, give loving consideration to others, use their talents in an effective way and generally raise the quality of the lives they touch.”
Helen gently passed away January 6, 2000. She had seen the new century.
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