Interview: Delta Theta Tau Sorority

SHANNON CAINE: Please tell us a bit about how Delta Theta Tau got its start.

DELTA THETA TAU: Delta Theta Tau Sorority was founded by five young ladies, Nora Spurgeon Charman, Olive Spurgeon Gage, Ethel Busch Lesh, Betsy Gordon Gibert, and Charline Prutzman Rector, five members of the Muncie Indiana High School, on October 16, 1903. They were successful in organizing a sorority for the purpose of promoting common welfare. Ethel was chosen as their first leader, olive green and white were picked as the sorority colors, a constitution was drawn up and the motto chosen was "Grit Wins".

CAINE: People often associate Greek letter societies with colleges. Does one have to be enrolled in college to be a member of Delta Theta Tau?

DELTA THETA TAU: Since Delta Theta Tau Sorority, Inc. is not affiliated with any college or university, enrollment is not a requirement. Delta Theta Tau is a national philanthropic sorority with members of all educational levels.

CAINE: What is the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias, and how does Delta Theta Tau help support this foundation's work?

DELTA THETA TAU: The National Foundation For Ectodermal Dysplasias began in 1981 by Mary Kay Richter; she was trying to gain knowledge on ways to help her son Charlie, who has hypohydrotic ectodermal dysplasia. Today, over 150 heritable disorders have been identified that can affect the outer layer of tissue in a developing baby. ED Syndromes affect both male and females, all races and ethnic groups. The ectoderm contributes to the formation of many body parts, including sweat glands, hair, teeth, and nails. These symptoms range from mild to severe.

NFED helps families with medical and dental connections. They help financially when families need help. Delta Theta Tau has made NFED our National Philanthropy Project. We make an annual donation to NFED; many chapters make donations to help individual families with expenses, such as dentures, implants, or cool vests. Chapters that are close to NFED offices help by stuffing envelopes, attending Family Conferences, and doing child care. Delta Theta Tau has participated in Golf Tournaments, picnics and fundraisers to help this worthy cause.

CAINE: Do local Delta Theta Tau Chapters have their own charitable projects, in addition to the sorority's national work with Ectodermal Dysplasias?

DELTA THETA TAU: Yes, the local chapters choose how to spend the philanthropy dollars they earn. Most are spent on projects that benefit groups in their immediate area. The National Sorority is divided into Provinces, and each Province also chooses and supports an area project once a year. So along with NFED and Graduate Scholarship Grants as National Projects, the philanthropy is very widespread.

CAINE: What are the different divisions of the sorority?

DELTA THETA TAU: The different divisions of our sorority are: National Council and Board of Trustees (10 national officers), Delta Home Directorate (7 officers), Provinces (8 throughout the nation), Chapters: (106 nationwide), and Alumnae Associations (48 nationwide).

CAINE: How many Delta Theta Tau chapters are active in the United States?

DELTA THETA TAU: There are 106 active chapters, with the first chapter forming in 1903 in Muncie, IN and the most recent chapter installed in June 2009 in Albuquerque, NM. At one time, there were over 200 chapters. We have chapters in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Texas, California, Washington, Oregon, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and New Mexico.

CAINE: Who can join Delta Theta Tau?

DELTA THETA TAU: We are an organization made up of females. You must be a high school graduate or equivalent to join DTT, and usually it is by invitation only. Normally, a member of the sorority will learn that someone is interested, and then she will invite her to several meetings to see if this is something she might enjoy becoming involved in.

Also, there is a Delta Theta Tau website for informational purposes for those who may not know how to get in contact with a member.

If someone is interested, they would email our Director of Expansion and Growth for information. She then would make contact with a chapter in their area and someone would get in touch with the person showing an interest.
 

CAINE: What is Delta Home?

DELTA THETA TAU: Delta Home is a program that provides financial assistance for members 60 years or older who qualify and need help to maintain residency in a licensed home or private facility. In other words, it is Delta Theta Tau's way of helping its own senior members live as comfortably and worry-free as possible.

CAINE: Tell us a bit about the sorority's newsletter. How long has it been published?

DELTA THETA TAU: The first issue of GRIT was published in 1916 at a cost of $.50 per copy. The publisher printed 100 copies, and all were sold. The magazine was 6"x8", and contained 20 pages with pictures. This year, GRIT is 93 years old, and has progressed into a beautiful, glossy, colored 8 1/2" x10 3/4", 44-48 page newsstand worthy magazine.

Each member pays $10.00 a year and receives four issues, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The magazine contains articles on National and Province Conventions, Chapter News, Delta Stars, Births, Memoriam, National Nominations, Milestones/Celebrations, New Members, A Delta Moves (all submitted by each chapters Publicity Chairman), Directories for National Officers, Delta Home Directorate, Active Chapters, Alumnae Chapters, Past National Presidents, Convention Coordinators and chapter venders (chapters who have sorority related items for sell as a fundraiser). This is just some of the information found in the four issues. GRIT continues to document the path charted by national assemblies, dynamic province conclaves, and compassionate women across the nation who see themselves responsible for making changes in human conditions and bonded by sisterhood.

CAINE: Can a person be a member of this sorority even if they don't live in an area with an active chapter?

DELTA THETA TAU: Not an active member. Active membership requires attending meetings and working on fundraisers. Each chapter, according to the National Bylaws, must meet at least 12 times a year. So it is almost a must to either live in or near by a city with an active chapter. If you have been a member for 7 years and are in good standing and are moving to a city where there is no chapter, you can request Member-At-Large and still be associated with the sorority.

CAINE: What does your own membership in Delta Theta Tau mean to you?

JEAN CLAGGETT, National President of Delta Theta Tau: I have been a member of Delta Theta Tau Sorority for 33 years, and my mother for 53 years. Those years serving with my mom has meant the world to me. Not only is she my mom, but she is my best Friend and sorority Sister.

One of the main things I love about being a member of my chapter, Kappa Xi, is spending time with my Sisters while working on fundraisers, attending meetings and the social times we have together. These ladies are some of my dearest Friends. Another reason I love being a member of this type of organization is the great feeling of satisfaction you get after working hard on a fundraiser and then turning the money over to a very worthy philanthropy project knowing you may have just made someone's life just a little better. Our community truly appreciates us and we are very highly respected for everything we do and what we represent.

I cherish the friendships I have made while attending the National and Province Conventions, which are held all over the country. It's always so exciting to get to see each other, and share everything that has been going on in our chapters and communities.

I have served on National Council and Board of Trustees for eight years and am currently serving as National President. I will preside over the 2010 National Convention in July in St. Louis. My theme for the convention is: "Friendships Last Forever When Sisters Come Together" and when I think of these two words, Friendships and Sisters, I think of Delta Theta Tau Sorority.