Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.

Far Western Region

The first National Convention was held in Chicago, IL, August 18 - 20, 1933.  During this convention the first four Regional Directors were elected, Northern (Mildred Miller, Epsilon Chapter), Southern, (Odessa Williams, Delta Chapter), Eastern (Florence Williamson Norman, Gamma Chapter) and Western (Fuchsia B. Miller, Alpha Chapter).

Originally, the Constitution had provided for four regions, North, South, East and West.  Under the leadership of National President, Alice P. Allen, a revision of the constitution in 1946 increased the number to six regions Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, Southwestern and Far Western and it designated the states to be included in each.  

Far Western Region (FWR) National officers in 1946 were: H. Corinne Lowry, Alpha Omicron (1946- 1948) Dean of Pledgees and Thelma S. Freeman, Alpha Omicron (1946-1949) the first Far Western Regional Director.

Region Established: 1946

Geography Today:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado,  Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

First Chapters Chartered:
Alpha Omicron (Denver, CO) – established 1940; Alpha Phi Los Angeles, established 1945 were the first chapters of the FWR region.

Region Highlights:

• Host to nine anniversary conventions of the membership (1949 Los Angeles, CA – Alpha Phi, 1955 Denver, CO – Alpha Omicron, 1962 Seattle, WA- Beta Kappa, 1970 Oakland, CA- Beta Mu, 1976 Denver, CO – Beta Nu, 1987 Fresno, CA – Gamma Eta, 1997 Los Angeles, CA – Gamma Mu, 2007 San Francisco, CA – Gamma Nu, 2017 Long Beach, CA - Gamma Mu).