DELTA DELTA DELTA

'Delta Delta Delta' ('ΔΔΔ'), also known as Tri Delta, is a national collegiate sorority founded on November 27, 1888.

Contents

History

Famous Firsts

Traditions and Legacy

Philanthropy

Trivia

Notable alumnae

References

External links

History

Delta Delta Delta was founded by Sarah Ida Shaw, Eleanor Dorcas Pond, Florence Isabelle Stewart and Isabel Morgan Breed at Boston University.
Three women's groups were already represented at Boston University in 1888 (Kappa Kappa Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta and Alpha Phi). However, Sarah Ida Shaw saw a need for another group which would be different from the others. She enlisted the help of Eleanor Dorcas Pond and told her: "Let us found a society that shall be kind alike to all and think more of a girl's inner self and character than of her personal appearance."
The two young women began the work of creating a new national fraternity. Later Sarah wrote, "...The two enthusiastic friends were unaware of the fact that there was something stupendous about the task they had set hands, heads and hearts to accomplish. They were working for a principle, and it never occurred to them that there could be such a thing as failure. Earnestness of purpose, energy and enthusiasm had brought them both success in college and why should not these same qualities bring assurance of good fortune to the new venture."

Shaw and Pond not only found a fraternity, but also wrote the rituals and constitution as well as designing the emblems. The choosing of the name was a mutual decision. Eleanor suggested a triple letter while Sarah chose the actual letter and developed Greek mottos and passwords. The inspiration for these came from a variety of sources such as Egyptian Lore, Hindu mysticism, Greek and astronomy, which reflected the wide and various interests of Sarah Ida Shaw.
'The Founders of ΔΔΔ:'

sarah ida shaw.jpg Sarah Ida Shaw	eleanor dorcas pond.jpg Eleanor Dorcas Pond
florence isabelle stewart.jpg Florence Isabelle Stewart	Isabel Morgan Breed.JPG Isabel Morgan Breed

Famous Firsts

★ First women's fraternity to be founded as a national organization with complete plans for governmental structure and expansion.

★ First to plan an alumnae system.


★ First to publish a book-length history: A Detailed Record of Delta Delta Delta, 1888-1907.

★ First women's fraternity to hold a national Leadership Conference.

★ First to establish a central office (now called Executive Office).

★ First women's fraternity to have a social networking tool online. (InCircle)

★ Tri Delta was the first NPC group to adopt a central accounting system for its collegiate chapters.

★ Tri Delta pioneered chapter visitation in 1905, appointing an officer to visit all chapters.

★ In 2002, Tri Delta created a life member program (Life Loyal) to recognize members who want to support the continued growth and development of the Fraternity.

Traditions and Legacy

★ The pearl is the jewel of Tri Delta. It was chosen to symbolize the new member because it is the one jewel that grows, developing from a tiny grain of sand into a thing of great value and beauty.

★ The pine tree is a symbol of Tri Delta's collegiate members because it represents growth and lofty aspirations.

★ The pansy is Tri Delta's flower. It is a symbol of alumnae membership and the third step in the lifetime development of Delta Delta Delta's members.

★ The dolphin was considered a good omen by the ancient Greeks. It symbolized rebirth, friendship and leadership. In Tri Delta the dolphin is symbolic of clear skies and smooth sailing and has special significance for Fraternity leaders.

★ The patron Greek divinity of Tri Delta is Poseidon, god of the sea and one of the three rulers of the universe.

★ Tri Delta's colors are silver, gold and cerulean blue. Green is also significant for Tri Delta as it represents the union of the three colors.

★ Each newly inducted member receives a hand made gold pin with three deltas painted on a crescent moon. Above this are three stars; each holds a small pearl inside.

★ Tri Delta began regular publication of its quarterly magazine earlier in its existence than any other women's fraternity. The Trident has been published continuously since 1891.

Philanthropy

In the early 1970s, a national survey established that Tri Delta chapters were interested in "children", "hospitals" and "cancer". At the 1974 Tri Delta Convention, it was decided to combine the 3 and support ''Children's Cancer Charities'' as the designated Philanthropy.
Individual chapters were encouraged to select a national or local children's cancer charity to support. Many chapters would also observe "Sleighbell Day" on the first Tuesday of December. Sleighbell Day followed in the tradition of the Sleighbell Luncheon, which was first held in the 1940's by 13 Southern California chapters to benefit a doctor researching blood diseases at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
The month of September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
In 1999, Tri Delta joined with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to form a national partnership. With this arrangement St. Jude (through the fundraising branch, ALSAC) assists Tri Delta chapters to plan philanthropy events that will directly benefit the children and subsidize research costs at St. Jude. In less than four years, Tri Deltas across the nation raised over $1 million dollars to build a Teen Room at the Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
In March 2007, Tri Delta made a commitment to support St. Jude's through a "10 in 10" campaign. This campaign is focused on raising $10 million dollars in 10 years, to build a new floor that will focus on patient treatment and brain tumor research.
Tri Deltas are committed to helping St. Jude's in every way possible. To date, Tri Delta has raised $3.5 million for St. Jude's. The month of March has now also been designated as St. Jude / Tri-Delta month.
In addition to the national partnership, Tri Delta also continues to raise money annually to support various local Children's Cancer Charities, including the long-running Sleighbell Luncheon.

Trivia

★ Upon death, a Tri Delta's badge is supposed to be returned to Executive Office.

★ The Tri Delta Badge should never be altered as a collegiate member, but after graduation it can be turned into a ring or pendant.

★ While wearing her Badge as a collegiate member a Tri Delta is never allowed to wear informal clothing such as jeans and flip flops.

★ Tri Delta has been featured by Saturday Night Live in a series of short skits, where a sorority member answers the telephone "Delta Delta Delta, can I help ya, help ya, help ya?"

★ Anne Hathaway's character in ''Brokeback Mountain'' is a Tri Delta.

Notable alumnae

★ Donna Axum (Delta Iota) - Miss America 1964, public service^[1]

★ Lee Phillip Bell (Upsilon) - talk show host¹

★ Lisa Boscola (Gamma Beta) - Pennsylvania State Senate¹

★ Dixie Carter (Delta Sigma) - actress¹

★ Kathy Castor (Alpha Omega) - Democratic congresswoman for ¹

★ Kiran Chetry (Alpha Pi) - news anchor¹

★ Kellie Coffey (Theta Gamma) - musician¹

★ Nellie Connally (Theta Zeta) - former First Lady of Texas¹

★ Leanza Cornett (Beta Gamma) - Miss America 1993 and television host¹

★ Katie Couric (Beta Sigma) - TV personality¹

★ Catherine Crier (Theta Zeta) - judge, TV personality¹

★ Mary Frances Crosby (Theta Zeta) - actress¹

★ Elizabeth Dole (Alpha Omicron) - U.S. Senator from North Carolina¹

★ Joanna Garcia (Alpha Eta) - actress¹

★ Cynthia Geary (Chi) - actress¹

★ Leeza Gibbons (Alpha Lambda) - actress¹

★ Doris Kearns Goodwin (Alpha Upsilon) - Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian¹

★ Cathy Guisewite (Iota) - comic-strip author¹

★ Hoda Kotb (Beta Nu) - news anchor¹

★ Deborah Norville (Alpha Rho) - news anchor¹

★ Kathy Orr (Omicron) - meteorologist¹

★ Anne Rivers Siddons (Phi Theta) - author¹

★ Molly Sims (Delta Gamma) - actress, model¹

★ Mindy Burbano Stearns (Theta Delta) - television entertainment anchor and reporter; radio personality¹

★ Shawn Weatherly (Beta Theta) - Miss Universe 1980, actress¹

★ Tyler Willis (Phi Eta) - Miss Texas USA 2005, Top 15 at Miss USA 2005¹

References

1. Distinguished Deltas Directory

External links

★ Tri Delta National Web Site