Tau Delta Phi

Infobox Fraternity
letters=ΤΔΦ
name=Tau Delta Phi
crest=
colors=Navy Blue,White
flower=White Chrysanthemum
address=120 East Main St
city=Ramsey
state=NJ
country=US
symbol=Pyramid
founded=1910
birthplace=City College of New York
type=Social Fraternity
scope= National
homepage=http://www.taudeltaphifraternity.org
free_label=
free=

Tau Delta Phi (ΤΔΦ) is a national social fraternity founded on June 22, 1910 in New York City. Its members are known as Tau Delts. Since its inception, dozens of chapters have been founded and thousands of men initiated into its membership. Today, Tau Delta Phi fraternity operates five active chapters and one colony located primarily in the northeastern United States. Tau Delta Phi members strive for academic achievement and community service. Tau Delta Phi has stood together for over 95 years sharing one common goal: the love and preservation of the fraternity.

Background

Founding

Tau Delta Phi began on June 22, 1910. First known as a local fraternity, Phi Sigma Beta, they started at the Community Center of the Greenwich section of New York as a fraternity for Jewish men who were otherwise barred from fraternity life at that time. The Alpha class was initiated on July 16, 1914. Gus Schieb and Leo Epstein created the Beta class at the New York School of Dentistry. Maxime Klaye, Samuel Klaye, Ben Gray and Mac Goldman created Gamma at N.Y.U. (School of Commerce). Soon to follow were a string of chapters and pledges. The 1910s saw a steady increase in membership and idealism. The Pyramid grew and expansion took its course from a local to a national level.

Founders

* Al Siegel
* Milt Goodfriend
* Maximilian Coyne
* Gus Schieb
* Leo Epstein
* Maxime Klaye
* Samuel Klaye
* Benjamin Gray
* Mac Goldman

Fraternity Structure

The Grand Chapter of Tau Delta Phi Fraternity is the highest power. It convenes at every national convention and governs every aspect of the Fraternity. It is composed of the Executive Council members, two delegates from each chartered chapter, the past living Grand Consuls, and one delegate from every alumni association in good standing.

The Executive Council is the Board of Directors of the Fraternity. In between conventions, the Executive Council governs the Fraternity. It is composed of all the Grand Officers, members of the board, and the undergraduate members of the board.

The Tau Delta Phi Management Company is a for-profit arm of the Fraternity. It manages the finances of and provides support services to each House Corporation and issues a service contract for those services.

The Chapter House Corporation Each chapter should have a house corporation. House Corporations evaluate the property needs of each chapter and to try to either rent, lease, or purchase a chapter house for each chapter. Each House Corporation has its own Board of Directors which are usually composed of fraters from their respective chapter.

The Tau Delta Phi Foundation is the non-profit arm of the Fraternity which seeks to support the educational mission of Tau Delta Phi and offer scholarships and grants to fraters of the Fraternity.

The Executive Council

The Executive Council of Tau Delta Phi is the supreme legislative authority between conventions. The board is composed of all the Grand Officers, the Members of the Board, and the Undergraduate Members of the Board. The Executive Council runs the business side of the Fraternity while managing the chapters and what each one needs.

Basic Obligations of a TauDelt

* I will strive for academic achievement and practice academic integrity.
* I will respect the worth and dignity of all persons.
* I will respect the health and safety of all human beings.
* I will respect my property and the property others. I will neither abuse nor tolerate the abuse of property.
* I will meet my financial obligations in a timely manner.
* I will assist in the recruitment of new members.
* I will neither use nor support the use of illegal drugs. I will neither abuse nor support the abuse of alcohol.
* I will acknowledge that a clean and attractive environment is essential to both physical and mental health. Therefore, I will do all in my power to see that the chapter property is safe, properly cleaned and maintained.
* I will know and understand the ideals expressed in my Fraternity Ritual and will incorporate them into my daily life.
* I will exercise compassion and understanding in dealing with persons.
* I will challenge all my Fraternity members to abide by these fraternity obligations and will confront those who violate them.

Notable Alumni

* Len Berman, Sportscaster, NBC
* Geraldo Rivera, Broadcast Journalist
* David Sarnoff, First General Manager of Radio Corporation of America, Founder of NBC
* Marvin Lender, Former Owner/President of Lender's Bagels
* Hubert Humphrey, Former Vice President of the United States
* Sammy Davis Junior, Entertainer
* Jerry Stiller, Actor/Comedian
* Gil Cates, Producer/Director
* Colonel Bernard Bernstein, World War II Medal of Honor Recipient
* Floyd Little, former NFL player
* Kinky Friedman, musician, humorist, novelist, politician

External links

* [http://www.taudeltaphifraternity.org/ Tau Delta Phi Fraternity Official Site]