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"Tri Delta" redirects here. For the transit agency in Northern California, see Tri Delta Transit.
Delta Delta Delta ΔΔΔFounded 1888
Boston University, (Boston, Massachusetts)Type Social Scope International Motto Let us steadfastly
love one anotherColors Silver
Gold
Cerulean BlueFlower Pansy Tree Pine Jewel Pearl Mascot Dolphin Patron Greek divinity Poseidon Publication The Trident Philanthropy Children's Cancer Research; Partners with St. Jude Children's Hospital Chapters 138 Members 186,000+ collegiate Headquarters Arlington, Texas, U.S. Homepage http://www.tridelta.org Delta Delta Delta (ΔΔΔ), also known as Tri Delta, is an international sorority founded on November 27, 1888, the eve of Thanksgiving Day. With over 200,000 initiates, Tri Delta is one of the world's largest NPC sororities.
Contents
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). Shaw 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 wrote the rituals and constitution and designed the emblems. Choosing the name was a mutual decision. Pond suggested a triple letter while Shaw chose the actual letter and developed Greek mottos and passwords. Inspiration came from Egyptian Lore, Hindu mysticism, Greek and astronomy, reflecting Shaw's wide and various interests.
The Founders of ΔΔΔ:[1]
Tri Delta firsts
Tri Delta was the first sorority founded as a national organization with complete plans for governmental structure and expansion. It was also the first sorority founded without the help of a fraternity.
Tri Delta was the first to:
- regularly publish its quarterly magazine, The Trident, published continuously since 1891.
- plan and perfect an alumnae system.
- pioneer chapter visitation in 1905, appointing an officer to visit all chapters.
- publish a book-length history: A Detailed Record of Delta Delta Delta, 1888-1907.
- hold a national Leadership Conference.
- finance proper housing for collegiate chapters and has a large investment in houses, lodges and suites.
- concentrate its national philanthropic efforts on higher education through the Founders' Anniversary Fellowships, the Zoe Gore Perrin Scholarships and the endowment of the National Humanities Center.
- adopt a central accounting system for its collegiate chapters.
Purpose
The PURPOSE OF DELTA DELTA DELTA shall be to establish a perpetual bond of friendship among its members, to develop a stronger and more womanly character, to broaden the moral and intellectual life, and to assist its members in every possible way.
IT SHALL ALSO BE THE PURPOSE OF DELTA DELTA DELTA to promote and develop mutually beneficial relationships between the Fraternity and the colleges and universities where the Fraternity has established chapters, to develop qualities of unselfish leadership among its members, and to encourage them to assume, with integrity and devotion to moral and democratic principles, the highest responsibilities of college women.
Traditions and legacy
Emblems:[2]
The coat of arms consists of a shield quartered, first and fourth quarters in blue on each of which is a silver trident, second and third gold on each of which is a green pine tree. Above the shield, the crest, consisting of a torse with six folds alternating gold and blue, from which rises a white, gold and blue pansy. Below the shield the open motto, "Let us steadfastly love one another," is inscribed in Greek on a scroll.
The colors of Tri Delta are silver, gold and cerulean blue. Green is also a significant color, symbolizing the union of the three colors.
Using the Greek alphabet the name Delta Delta Delta is depicted above. The Greek letter Delta is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet and is commonly seen as an isosceles triangle.
Symbols:[3]
Pearl The pearl is the jewel of Tri Delta. The one jewel that grows, it symbolizes the new member, developing from a tiny grain of sand into a thing of great value and beauty.
Pine tree The pine tree is a symbol of Tri Delta's collegiate members. As a tree able to grow in very challenging conditions, it represents the collegiate members ability to thrive in hard times and adversity.
Pansy 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.
Dolphin The dolphin is recognized as an additional symbol of importance.
Official insignia:[4]
New member pin
The new member pin is worn prior to initiation. It is a green and silver enamel badge described in the 1888 constitution as an “inverted Delta, surrounded by three Deltas.”
The Trident The trident symbolize the first degree of initiation and is returned prior to initiation into the Stars and Crescent degree. A gold trident may be worn as a badge guard.
The Stars and Crescent Three golden stars, crown set with pearls, within a gold crescent of three hundred degree bearing three deltas in black enamel is the official badge of the Fraternity. Tri Delta initiates receive a Stars and Crescent Badge with her initials, the Greek letters of her chapter, and her chapter Initiation number engraved on the back. The badge belongs to Tri Delta and is lent to each member during her lifetime or as long as she remains a member.
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 the three were combined to support Children's Cancer Charities as the designated philanthropy.
Many chapters observe "Sleighbell Day" on the first Tuesday of December, following the tradition of Sleighbell Luncheon, first held in the 1940s by 13 Southern California chapters to benefit a doctor researching blood diseases at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
In 1999, Tri Delta partnered with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. St. Jude (through the fundraising branch, ALSAC) assists Tri Delta chapters in planning philanthropy events that benefit the children and subsidize research costs at St. Jude. Many chapters coordinate fundraising activities such as pancake breakfasts and football tailgates on their campuses each year.
In 2002, Tri Deltas committed to raising $1 million to build a Teen Room at the St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Tri Delta fulfilled the commitment in 2005.
In July 2006, Tri Delta committed to raise $10 million in 10 years to build a new patient treatment floor focusing on brain tumor research at St. Jude. Tri Delta instead raised $10.4 million dollars in 4 years, which caused the title to be changed to $10 million by 10.
Tri Delta's new philanthropic goal is to raise $15 million in 5 years, by 2015.
March has now also been designated as St. Jude / Tri Delta month.
In addition to the national partnership, Tri Delta continues to raise money for local Children's Cancer Charities, including the long-running Sleighbell Luncheon.
Notable members
- Maryam Ahmadinia (Phi Kappa) - America's Miss Tourism 2009[5]
- Donna Axum (Delta Iota) - Miss America 1964, Public Service[6]
- Elizabeth Banks (Psi) - Actress[citation needed]
- Lee Phillip Bell (Upsilon) - Talk Show Host[6]
- Sara Blakely (Alpha Eta) - Founder of Spanx and Celebrity Judge[6]
- Lisa Boscola (Gamma Beta) - Pennsylvania State Senate[6]
- Betsy Boze (Theta Kappa) - President of The College of The Bahamas[7][8]
- Bobbe Bridge (Theta Alpha) - Former Associate Justice of the Washington Supreme Court[6]
- Dixie Carter (Delta Sigma) - Actress[6]
- Kathy Castor (Alpha Omega) - Democratic Congresswoman for Florida's 11th congressional district[6]
- Kiran Chetry (Alpha Pi) - CNN Anchor[6]
- Kellie Coffey (Theta Gamma) - Musician[6]
- Nellie Connally (Theta Zeta) - Former First Lady of Texas[6]
- Leanza Cornett (Beta Gamma) - Miss America 1993 and television host[6]
- Katie Couric (Beta Sigma) - Anchor, CBS Evening News[6]
- Catherine Crier (Theta Zeta) - Television personality and a former district court judge.[9]
- Mary Frances Crosby (Theta Zeta) Actress, Dallas[6]
- Meryl Davis (Iota) 2010 Olympic Silver Medalist Ice Dancer[citation needed]
- Elizabeth Dole (Alpha Omicron) - U.S. Senator from North Carolina, Former Secretary of Transportation[6]
- Caroline Fayard (Gamma Gamma) - Louisiana political figure
- Terry Gabreski (Delta Omega) - Vice Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base[6]
- Joanna Garcia (Alpha Eta) - Actress[6]
- Rita B. Garman (Delta Pi) - Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois[6]
- Cynthia Geary (Chi) - Emmy-Nominated Actress[6]
- Bethany Gerber (Theta Gamma)- Miss Kansas 2010
- Leeza Gibbons (Alpha Lambda) - Actress, Talk Show Host[6]
- Doris Kearns Goodwin (Alpha Upsilon) - Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian[6]
- Adele Khoury Graham (Alpha Psi) - Former First Lady of Florida (1978–1986)[6]
- Cathy Guisewite (Iota) - Comic strip author[6]
- Nicole Jordan (Delta Mu)- Miss Tennessee 2010
- Hoda Kotb (Beta Nu) - News anchor[6]
- Dominique Kruse (Theta Beta) - Entertainment Host [10] [6]
- Natalia Livingston (Alpha Omega) - Actress, General Hospital[citation needed]
- Vinita Nair (Upsilon) - News anchor[6]
- Deborah Norville (Alpha Rho) - News anchor[6]
- Kathy Orr (Omicron) - Meteorologist[6]
- Jaclyn Raulerson (Beta Lambda) - Miss Florida USA 2010[citation needed]
- Amanda Schull (Delta Omicron)- Jody in Center Stage, Sara and Katie in One Tree Hill[citation needed]
- Savitree Suttichanond (Beta Upsilon) - Singer on TrueVisions's Academy Fantasia[citation needed]
- Anne Rivers Siddons (Phi Theta) - Author[6]
- Molly Sims (Delta Gamma) - Actress, Model[6]
- Jaclyn Stapp (Alpha Delta)- Miss New York USA 2004 and Mrs. FL America 2008[citation needed]
- Sally Stapleton (Unknown) - Award winning journalist[citation needed]
- Beth Ostrosky-Stern (Pittsburgh) - Actress, Model, Wife of Howard Stern
- Robbin Wasson (Lambda)- Miss Kansas 1991
- Shawn Weatherly (Beta Theta) - Miss Universe 1980, Actress[6]
- Tyler Willis (Phi Eta) - Miss Texas USA 2005, Top 15 at Miss USA 2005[6]
- Kelsi Welch (Theta Beta) - Pretty Princess[6]
- Melissa Witek (Alpha Psi) - Miss Florida USA 2005, 4th Runner-up at Miss USA 2005[11]
- Peyton Wright - Reality TV (the Bachelor and Bachelor Pad 2011)
- Brittany Brannon (Gamma Rho) - Miss Arizona 2011, Top 15 at Miss USA [6]
Reflections: Body Image Program
Reflections: Body Image Program began at Trinity University when Dr. Carolyn Becker and an undergraduate student conducted a small study investigating a cognitive dissonance-based eating disorders prevention program with the local sororities on campus.[12]
Dr. Becker and Delta Delta Delta Fraternity formally partnered in 2005 to expand the program’s reach. After piloting Reflections in twelve chapters over the next three years, Tri Delta moved to implement the program on college campuses nationwide. Tri Delta collaborated with Oxford University Press and Drs. Becker and Stice to create the first published version of the program for wider dissemination.
As part of Reflections Tri Delta launched the first Fat Talk Free Week in 2008. Fat Talk Free Week is a five day public awareness effort sponsored by Tri Delta, The Center for Living, Learning and Leading, and many other generous partners. The campaign was intended to draw attention to the damaging impact of fat talk and the “thin ideal” on today’s women, and its slogan is "Friends don't let friends fat talk."[13]
References in popular culture
The sorority were famously parodied on Saturday Night Live in 1992 in a series of sketches written by Beth Cahill and Melanie Hutsell.[14] The skit angered many Tri-Delta members, with its executive director sniping that the show did not seek the sorority's permission beforehand to use its letters.[15] Hutsell defended the work saying "People who are secure with themselves can laugh at themselves."[15]
Notes
- ^ Tridelta.org
- ^ https://www.tridelta.org/AboutUs/Symbols,%20Emblems%20and%20Insignia/AboutUs/Emblems
- ^ https://www.tridelta.org/AboutUs/Symbols,%20Emblems%20and%20Insignia/AboutUs/symbols
- ^ https://www.tridelta.org/AboutUs/Symbols,%20Emblems%20and%20Insignia/AboutUs/insignia
- ^ "The International Miss Tourism Pageant". http://www.internationalmisstourism.com/.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag "Distinguished Deltas". Delta Delta Delta. https://www.tridelta.org/Alumna/Distinguished%20Deltas/. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
- ^ 1973 SMU Rotunda, p. 216
- ^ 1974 SMU Rotunda, p. 87
- ^ https://www.tridelta.org/Document/Alumna/Distinguished_Deltas_NewsMedia
- ^ IMDB
- ^ "Melissa Witek -About Me". Melissa Witek Online. http://melissawitekonline.com/About_Me.html. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
- ^ Reflectionsprogram.org
- ^ "?". http://www.endfattalk.org/.
- ^ "SNL Season 17 DELTA DELTA DELTA Girls 1992". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHelSmlzYeg. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
- ^ a b . The Daily Pennsylvanian. 1-14-92. http://thedp.com/index.php/article/1992/01/tridelt_sisters_in_snit_over_snl_skit. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
External links
Categories:- Organizations established in 1888
- Student societies in the United States
- National Panhellenic Conference
- Women's organizations
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