Farewell to 47 Olympia Drive

Dear Iota Beta Sisters,

“The best journey takes you home.”

The saying ‘when one door closes another door opens’ has never been truer.  As shared with the chapter members this evening, an opportunity has presented itself, one that is financially sound and better suits the needs of our chapter moving forward. 

We are pleased to announce that Iota Beta House Corporation has decided to purchase the original Chi Omega house at 315 Lincoln Avenue for our sisterhood. This opportunity came at a perfect time, as the chapter faced a challenging financial forecast, with the ongoing pandemic shutdown, as well as the ever-increasing expenses of managing and maintaining a large chapter facility, where the operating and repair costs outpaced the income generated by the house. We are excited about this unique opportunity to go back home, to a place that is rich in history, and will help ensure the viability of our chapter for years to come.

The Chi Omega Executive Headquarters is aware of and supports this decision as it aligns with a national trend towards maintaining smaller residential facilities and also brings us back home to a place that is special to Iota Beta’s history. 

This move will provide our collegiate chapter the financial flexibility to best meet their needs moving forward while still being able to have a house to call home. This decision was made after careful and deliberate consideration to help Iota Beta thrive in the future and ensure we have the ability to evolve alongside the sisterhood.  

This marks the end of an era in Iota Beta’s history as the house has been a pillar of the UMass Chi Omega experience for nearly 50 years. This change only continues to prove Iota Beta’s resilience and determination to create the best legacy for our chapter. 

We are excited to explore this opportunity for a house that is rich in Iota Beta history and allows the chapter to continue to succeed. We are actively working on the logistics that go along with the purchase of a new property and will provide further information regarding future plans for 315 Lincoln Ave. We recognize that this may be difficult news for our alumnae sisters and appreciate your support as we work with through the challenges ahead.

We invite you back one more time to say farewell to 47. You can sign up for a scheduled time using this link.

Should you have questions, we ask that you reach out to us via email at iotabetachiomegahousecorp@gmail.com.

Loyally,

Iota Beta House Corporation