2023 Induction - Philadelphia Girl Friends

PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER

The GirlFriends, Inc.

INSTALLATION CEREMONY

14January2023

Greetings
GF Melva Ware
Chapter President 2022-2024

Introduction of Inductees
GF Emily Pollard

On Friendship from The Prophet
GF Rhoda McKinney-Jones

Brief History of The Girl Friends, Inc.
GF Rosalyn Robinson

Traditions and Culture of the Philadelphia Chapter
GF Alycia Horn and GF Lavida Allen

An Essential Question: The Obligation of Membership
(Adapted from Do You Just Belong?)
GF Hope D’Oyley-Gay
Are you an active member, one who would be missed?
Or are you just content that your name is on the list?
Do you take an active part to help the work along?
Or are you satisfied to be the Girl Friend who Just Belongs?
Do you ever go and visit a Girl Friend who is sick?
Or do you leave the work to a few and talk about the clique?
Think this over Girl Friend
We all know right from wrong
Are you an active member or Do You Just Belong?

02 Philadelphia Chapter

Girl Friends’ Prayer
GF Desiree Wayne

Oh Lord, let us be companions in joy and comforts in
sorrow. Help each of us find the courage to say what needs
saying and the wisdom to know what doesn’t. Let us care
always and never fail to find ways to show how much. Let
each of us be the kind of person who can always be trusted,
confided in, counted on, in every true sense of the word.
Our prayer is to be true friends.

The Lighting Ceremony
GF Tina Coombs

We light our candles to acknowledge the commitment to
our values made today by Girl Friends Rhonda Crowder,
Jessica Golson, and Monica Jones. We recommit ourselves,
as these Girl Friends pledge fidelity to the values spoken in
the Girl Friend Pledge.

The Girl Friend Pledge
Chapter President and Inductees

Chapter President: In today’s world, chaotic with strife,
polarized by bigotry, threatened by economic demise
and other decadent symbols, real friendship is a priceless
commodity which grows dearer each year. The name
Girl Friends is symbolic, not of age, but of Spirit. These
candles are symbols of the Girl Friend Spirit. Please indicate
your commitment to the obligations of membership by
repeating after me in unison The Girl Friend Pledge:

Chapter President & Inductees:
I pledge:
To realize that every act reflects credit or discredit upon my
character.
To adhere to the highest social standards.
To be broadly national and not narrowly local in
character.
To strive to make my place as a link in the chain sound and
strong, realizing that the reputation of The Girl Friends

The Girl Friends, Inc. 03

PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER

depends upon the reputation established by each local
Chapter.
To make the name Girl Friends stand for dignity,
service, graciousness and conviviality.

Girl Friends Song

Written by Philadelphia GF Grace Stevens Hobson
Recited by GF Rose Singley

Girl Friends stand for devotion and
sincerity. We aim for noble
womanhood of superior quality.
Girl Friends are true,
Loyal thru and thru;
You may go north
You may go south,
The best friends you’ll meet
Are Girl Friends, no doubt.
May our happiness radiate
O’er the world
Our banner of friendship to all unfurl.
Our deeds proclaim our name to fame,
We come from far and near
With greetings ever dear
We have fun galore,
When our work is o’er.
No matter what, where or when,
We can always depend
On the loyal true devotion of the

Girl Friends.

The Toast to New Members Philadelphia Chapter

04

THE GIRL FRIENDS DIRECTORY

GF Lisa Suarez and GF Beverly Richards
Presentation of GF Symbols
GF Shannon George, GF Deborah Matthews, and GF
Melva Ware

Special Messages of Welcome
(All are invited to speak)
GF Phoebe Haddon, GF Julia Williams, and GF
Valaida Williams

The Girl Friends, Inc. 05

Rhonda Crowder
Jessica Golson
Monica Jones

Inductees

06 Philadelphia Chapter

Officers 2022-2024 Erin Coombs

Melva Ware Corresponding Secretary

President Lisa Suarez

Carolyn Lowe Treasurer

Vice President Marie Golson

Rhoda Financial Secretary

McKinney- Jones

Recording Secretary

Members Charisse Lillie
Deborah Matthews
Lavida Allen Stacey Middleton
Bert Asbury Emily Pollard
Linda Braxton Beverly Richards
Forrestine Coombs Rosalyn Robinson
Hope D’Oyley-Gay Rose Singley
Shannon George Valaida Walker
Charlotte Grant Desiree Wayne
Phoebe Haddon Julia Williams
Joan Hall
Valerie Harrison
Alycia Horn
Raye Johnson

Life Member
Patricia Beckett
At-Large Member
Harriet Hobson

The Girl Friends, Inc. 07

The Girl Friends®,

Incorporated