Delta Delta Delta

Contact

845 N. Sierra Street
Reno, NV 89503

(775) 785-3550

Mission

OUR PURPOSE

Written in 1888 by Sarah Ida Shaw, Boston

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.

Events/Philanthropy

Tri Delta’s national philanthropic focus is children’s cancer. In 1999, Delta Delta Delta, as a national fraternity, partnered with St. Jude Children’s Hospital. In fact, in 2006, Tri Delta on a national level pledged to raise $10 million in 10 years! Our Theta Theta chapter on UNR’s campus has pledged to raise $62,500 of that $10 million in 10 years.
Each year, our chapter of Tri Delta does three very popular events to raise money for St. Jude. Our most popular event is our semi-annual Delta House of Pancakes (DHOP); an all-you-can-eat pancake feed that the Tri Delta members put on. In the spring, Tri Delta hosts Frats at Bat; a softball tournament in which all the sororities and fraternities on campus enter a team to compete for the Frats at Bat trophy. The final event that Tri Delta does to raise money for St. Jude is “50 Names Fast.” Every Tri Delta member writes 50 letters about St. Jude to their family and friends in order to raise money to send to the hostpital.
Here are some of Tri Delta’s philanthropy dates for this semester!

DHOP- Pancake Breakfast
February 29th 2008

Frats at Bat
April 19th 2008

Current Officers

President- Jillian Urbani
VP Administration- Rachel Siekerman
VP Chapter Development- Jodie Garrison
New Member Educator- Jennie Miller
Assistant New Member Educator – Lindsey Stull
VP Finance- Christine Oar
Treasurer – Kellie Badalucco
VP Membership- Sarah Hinkley
Assistant VP Membership – A’Lesha Allred
VP Academics- Samantha Kertson
VP Public Relations- Sarah Bowers
Social Chair- Priscilla Salgado
House Manager-Shaquenta Perkins
Assistant House Manager/Chapter Correspondence – Lauren Hansen
VP Member Development- Ashley Spangler
Philanthropy Chair- Katie Dawson
Assistant Philanthropy – Melissa Brocato
Continuing Education Chairman – Jayna Lindholm
Licensing Chairman – Liz McKinley
Sunshine/Music Chairman – Lindsay Yenter
Activities Chairman – Jacqui Deal
Risk Manager – Lane Zarubi
Secretary – Janay Stevens
Panhellenic Secretary – Melissa Hamilton
Sponsor Chairman – Hayley Croop
Alumni Relations – Tracy Davis
Intramurals Chairman – Bree Clemmer
Reference Chairman – Kayla Terry

Theta Theta Chapter History

In 1900, the University of Nevada, Reno was lacking in clubs and organizations. In 1913, the first organization to ever be recognized by the campus was the Theta Theta chapter of Delta Delta Delta, the 40th installment of the national fraternity. But before the Theta Theta chapter came to be, it was a colony called Theta Epsilon and it had only 11 members. Theta Epsilon was formed in 1900, and held the same ideals as Tri Delta, but the colony never petitioned the fraternity until 1911. When they officially sent in their request to become a chapter, the Tri Delta executive board had yet to assign a Theta Epsilon chapter yet. Naturally, the colony petitioned to be named the Theta Epsilon chapter of Delta Delta Delta so that it could retain it’s name. Unfortunately, it took two years for the petition to process, and the colony became the Theta Theta chapter on February 22, 1913.

In the years that followed, the UNR Tri Delta chapter flourished, and even went house shopping. In 1925, Theta Theta bought 845 N. Sierra St. fully furnished, big enough for 12 women, for $16,000. This amounts to $193,547.89 in 2008. Since then, our house on Sierra Street has expanded and now houses 39 collegiate women, and one house mother.

Currently, Delta Delta Delta is very successful on the UNR campus. We are well ahead of schedule and on our way to achieving our $62,500 for St. Jude. Our fall 2007 recruitment was a very successful one, and we are anticipating another awesome rush for fall 2008. Our house just finished spring 2008 rush, and we are expecting to initiate our new members in the weeks to come. The sorority has many girls who are very involved on campus as far as our student government (ASUN), cheerleading and other UNR sports, foreign language clubs, etc. All of our girls are working very hard to enrich their college careers, better Tri Delta, and gain experience in the “real world.”

National History

Although there were three women’s groups represented at Boston University in 1888 (Kappa Kappa Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta and Alpha Phi), Sarah Ida Shaw saw a need for a group which would be different from the others. She said to her friend, Eleanor Dorcas Pond, “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.”

So 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.”

Not only did they found a fraternity, but at the same time they wrote the rituals and constitution, and designed the emblems. The choosing of the name was a joint decision. Eleanor suggested a triple letter and Sarah chose the letter and worked on the Greek mottos and passwords. Inspiration for these came from a variety of sources: Egyptian lore, Hindu mysticism, Greek and astronomy, reflecting the wide and various interests of Sarah Ida Shaw.

Never before had a sorority been founded so completely and with such depth of meaning from the very beginning, and the actual day of founding is beautifully described in Sarah’s words.

“At last, all was finished on Tuesday…November 27, 1888, but there was one more meeting of the two friends on the following afternoon before they separated for the Thanksgiving recess, at the top of the college building in what was then the Philological Library. It was there that the two girls embraced each other and said ‘Tri Delta is founded’…It is not strange that the hearts of these sponsors were full of emotion as together they went out of the college building, for each felt there were added reasons why her Thanksgiving should be a very happy one. When they came to the parting of the ways at the historic Boston Common, Miss Pond said, ‘We can make the girls we initiate promise secrecy, but what shall hold us two?’ So there in the shadow of the old Park Street Church, with a bright new moon and three brilliant stars nearby…the two faithful friends clasped hands and said, ‘In the presence of these myriads of witnesses, I swear eternal loyalty and fealty to Delta Delta Delta.’”

Alpha Chapter

After vacation they began the task of building the chapter. Senior Florence Isabelle Stewart, a high school friend of Eleanor’s, soon consented to join. Isabel Morgan Breed, another senior, was at first reluctant to join. She was deeply religious and felt fraternities were fundamentally wrong. When the girls convinced her that the aims of the society had strong Christian ideals and asked her to be the chaplain, she consented to join.

Three girls from the junior class, five sophomores and six freshmen were then chosen. Since there was such a short time before the Christmas holiday, initiation was postponed until January. The history of Alpha Chapter describes that initiation: “At the opening of the college term, on Friday, January 15, 1889, the new fraternity pins were received, and in Professor Browne’s room in the college building on Somerset Street, the other seniors, Belle Breed and Flora Stewart were initiated.”…followed later in the day by the juniors. The remaining 11 were initiated in the evening, bringing the chapter total to 18. “The first initiation service was quite elaborate…After the initiation we had a sumptuous banquet…followed by toasts and the shouting of our call.”

The appearance of a new sorority startled the other “society people,” who probably expected a weakling organization. The new chapter of Gamma Phi Beta had only 15 members, so they hastily initiated three more. But the Tri Deltas were determined to stay ahead of their rivals, and on March 7 initiated three more of their own, bringing their total to 21.

At 12 Somerset Street on Beacon Hill, Delta Delta Delta was not only created but was developed and expanded by the wise, successful and strong leadership of its two founders, as well as the early members of Alpha Chapter. Sarah Ida Shaw and Eleanor Dorcas Pond from the beginnings of Alpha Chapter included their two senior classmates, Isabel Morgan Breed and Florence Isabelle Stewart, as “founders.” Therefore, the Fraternity has always recognized the four seniors as Founders of Delta Delta Delta.

(from tridelta.org)

Accomplishments

With such auspicous beginnings, it comes as no surprise that Delta Delta Delta is honored as a leader in the Greek world. Read on to learn more about this incredible organization.

Because Tri Delta’s Founders were young women of great vision, the organization has been national in concept from its inception. Less than three years after its founding, Tri Delta was recognized as an established national organization and was invited to participate in the first panhellenic meeting. The Fraternity’s accomplishments through the years have placed it among the leaders of the interfraternal movement.

Tri Delta was the first women’s fraternity to be founded as a national organization with complete plans for governmental structure and expansion.
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.
Tri Delta was the first to plan and perfect an alumnae system.
Tri Delta pioneered chapter visitation in 1905, appointing an officer to visit all chapters.
Tri Delta was the first to publish a book-length history: A Detailed Record of Delta Delta Delta, 1888-1907.
Tri Delta was the first women’s fraternity to hold a national Leadership Conference.
Tri Delta was the first to establish a central office (now called Executive Office).
Tri Delta was a leader in financing proper housing for collegiate chapters and has a large investment in houses, lodges and suites.
Tri Delta has concentrated its national philanthropic efforts on higher education and has been praised by educators for these contributions through the Founders’ Anniversary Fellowships, the Zoe Gore Perrin Scholarships and the endowment of the National Humanities Center.
Tri Delta was the first NPC group to adopt a central accounting system for its collegiate chapters.
Individual Tri Deltas have made outstanding contributions in many fields. The History of Delta Delta Delta, 1888-1988 includes a chapter recognizing many “Distinguished Deltas,” and The Trident regularly features articles on our outstanding Tri Deltas.
More Recent Accomplishments

In 1999 Tri Delta joined with St. Jude Children’s Research hospital to form a partnership of the heart. In this very special arrangement, St. Jude assists Tri Delta chapters to plan and host successful philanthropy events that will benefit the children and research at St. Jude.

Tri Delta adopted a chapter accreditation plan to help Tri Delta’s collegiate chapters establish sound chapter management practices. The criteria of the plan are focused on five major areas of internal collegiate chapter operations: Financial Responsibility, Intellectual Life, Leadership and Collaboration, Member Recruitment and Retention and New Member Integration. Each area includes minimum standards that each collegiate chapter should strive to achieve in these areas.

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.

In 2004, Tri Delta partnered with Automated Payment Highway, a web based accounting system. Automated Payment Highway allows a chapter to monitor its budget and expenses online. It also allows members to view and pay their chapter invoices on line.

Information about the Theta Theta chapter is updated at least once a semester by the Continuing Education Chairman.