Difference between revisions of "Helen Snyder Andres Steiner"

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Eleanor V.V. Bennet was 57 when she took over after Alice Barney’s death, and her ascension to Grand President (1933-1935) was the richly deserved pinnacle of 38 years of active Fraternity service that started at the University of California, UC Berkeley.
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Helen Snyder Andres (Steiner), Kappa’s first Field Secretary (now Leadership Consultant) and first Director of Standards, was destined to make Kappa a prominent part of her life, having shared with the Fraternity her birthday, October 13.
  
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Eleanor Van Syckle Vanderbelt Bennet had already been graduated, a commencement speaker and was studying for a master’s degree when Pi Deuteron Chapter was re-installed at Berkeley in 1897. But four years earlier, as an undergraduate, Eleanor had been part of the group that petitioned Kappa for a chapter – a request 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.
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Just before her 90th birthday in 1997 Helen said, “I’ve lived Kappa. It’s my other family.” Kappa taught Helen many things, “but most of all I learned how to appreciate people. Kappa is very good at that.”
  
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In California high schools, Eleanor taught English, public speaking and parliamentary law, subjects that served her well in her Kappa life, and Kappa – more so than her profession – as Eleanor Bennet’s life. When she traveled, it was for Kappa. She once said her “hobbies” were improving Fraternity image, talking to Kappas and reading their letters.
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Helen assumed the presidency upon Eleanor Bennet’s resignation, and she became a force in unifying Fraternity programs on standards, scholarship and finance during her term (1935-1936). Helen pledged Beta Pi Chapter in 1926 where she was Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board member and vice president of her class. She attended the 1928 Convention as delegate and became a Co-organizer (the forerunner of Chapter Consultant) at Gamma Upsilon, British Columbia, in 1930.  
  
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As President of the Pi Alumnae Association, Eleanor was delegate to 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 of Kappa Province. From 1926-1930, she was National Director of Provinces and 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 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 visits.
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In 1932, Helen became a traveling Field Secretary, an experience she later called “one of the most significant of my life…I worked with dedicated Kappa officers who helped me bring the best of Kappa practices to our chapters.” In her 1932 report, she said she “stressed good chapter organization, correct ritual, fine standards, strong chapter discipline, good assimilation of pledges, individual responsibility, cordiality and good manners, scholarship in its broadest sense…” –  all of which still apply today.
  
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In 1930, she was elected Grand Vice President and directed her efforts toward advancing the interests of alumnae associations. (During this time, her recommendation for a Field Secretary was heeded – with the selection of Helen Snyder, Beta Pi, Washington). Eleanor’s vice presidency was cut short, however, when she ascended to the office of Grand President upon Alice Barney’s sudden death in 1933. 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 Registrar.
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She met her husband, Eugen Andres, Jr., on a blind date; he was a field secretary for Phi Gamma Delta. He died in 1975. Later she married Joseph Steiner.
  
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During Eleanor’s presidency, a financial booklet was created, a magazine agency and national vocational guidance bureau were established and the first fellowships were awarded. A highlight of her term was the restoration of Alpha Chapter at Monmouth on October 13, 1934, 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.
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When she became Director of Standards in 1934, she 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 wonderful opportunity to make itself invaluable if it would cultivate fine standards and truly cultural living and thinking. “The greatest criticism of fraternities is that groups are not realizing the possibilities in the intellectual development of their members,” she said.
  
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Her health failed to improve and at the opening of the Grand Council in June 1935, Eleanor’s resignation was read. Helen Snyder Andres 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 and Alpha Deuteron, are living memorials,” as written in The Key.
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During her short term as Director of Standards, Helen had much to do with the development of pledge education, chapter techniques and standards. When she became Grand President, the nation was still in the Depression, and she credited Kappa scholarships with keeping many young women in college. Hearthstone was developing and Helen saw its value for alumnae in the future.  
  
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[http://wiki.kappakappagamma.org/pages/Category:Helen_Steiner Media related to Helen Steiner]
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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.
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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.
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“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.”
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Helen gently passed away January 6, 2000. She had seen the new century.
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[https://wiki.kkg.org/pages/Category:Helen_Steiner Media related to Helen Steiner]

Latest revision as of 09:26, 19 April 2018

Helen Snyder Andres Steiner, President 1935-1936

Helen Snyder Andres Steiner, Beta Pi Chapter, Washington (1907-2000)

Helen Snyder Andres (Steiner), Kappa’s first Field Secretary (now Leadership Consultant) and first Director of Standards, was destined to make Kappa a prominent part of her life, having shared with the Fraternity her birthday, October 13.

Just before her 90th birthday in 1997 Helen said, “I’ve lived Kappa. It’s my other family.” Kappa taught Helen many things, “but most of all I learned how to appreciate people. Kappa is very good at that.”

Helen assumed the presidency upon Eleanor Bennet’s resignation, and she became a force in unifying Fraternity programs on standards, scholarship and finance during her term (1935-1936). Helen pledged Beta Pi Chapter in 1926 where she was Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board member and vice president of her class. She attended the 1928 Convention as delegate and became a Co-organizer (the forerunner of Chapter Consultant) at Gamma Upsilon, British Columbia, in 1930.

In 1932, Helen became a traveling Field Secretary, an experience she later called “one of the most significant of my life…I worked with dedicated Kappa officers who helped me bring the best of Kappa practices to our chapters.” In her 1932 report, she said she “stressed good chapter organization, correct ritual, fine standards, strong chapter discipline, good assimilation of pledges, individual responsibility, cordiality and good manners, scholarship in its broadest sense…” – all of which still apply today.

She met her husband, Eugen Andres, Jr., on a blind date; he was a field secretary for Phi Gamma Delta. He died in 1975. Later she married Joseph Steiner.

When she became Director of Standards in 1934, she 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 wonderful opportunity to make itself invaluable if it would cultivate fine standards and truly cultural living and thinking. “The greatest criticism of fraternities is that groups are not realizing the possibilities in the intellectual development of their members,” she said.

During her short term as Director of Standards, Helen had much to do with the development of pledge education, chapter techniques and standards. When she became Grand President, the nation was still in the Depression, and she credited Kappa scholarships with keeping many young women in college. Hearthstone was developing and Helen saw its value for alumnae in the 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.

Media related to Helen Steiner

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