Beta Delta
| Beta Delta | |
|---|---|
| BΔ | |
 | |
| Founded | October 2, 1890 |
| College | University of Michigan |
| Location | Ann Arbor, MI |
| Homepage | Beta Delta Homepage |
| Media related to Beta Delta Chapter | |
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Beta Delta Chapter, University of Michigan Founded October 2, 1890 University of Michigan established in 1817, Ann Arbor, Michigan 3,055 initiates (as of June 2015) Charter Members: Lucy Durfee Clark, Alice Harper Damon, Mildred Hinsdale, Helen Maude McGregor, Caroline Crosby Penny, Jessica Vaughn Penny, Bertha Edna Pritchard. Blanche Skinner, Laura Eunice Sprague.
Florence Burton Roth, 1960
Helen Bower, 1950; Frances Sutton Schmitz, 1962; Phyllis Loughton Seaton, 1974; Shelby Dietrich Rector, 1984 & 1994; Gloria James Kerry, 1972; Martha Seger, 1986; Robin Wright, 1980
ContentsThe Early Years (Excerpted from The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity: 1870-1976)In the spring of 1890, two rival groups at the University of Michigan petitioning the Grand Council of Kappa Kappa Gamma were brought together harmoniously, and nine persons from the two groups were listed on the Beta Delta charter. Six returned to college for a fall initiation at the home of one of the initiates - the other three were initiated later- and the first golden keys caused a campus sensation. Three faculty wives (the patroness custom was continued at Ann Arbor until about 1950) became loyal friends and sponsors of the young chapter. In the spring of 1893 a series of Sunday patroness teas enabled the girls to plan for chapter headquarters, established that fall. Other early chapter events included the establishment of a Panhellenic, a Beta Delta Alumnae Association informally organized during 1894-1895, a June 1895 reunion, and the entertainment of the 1902 National Convention. In the fall of 1895 six Kappas moved to Beta Delta's first chapter house at Washington and Ingalls Streets. There were six more moves before the $19,000 house was built at 1204 Hill Street. Ground had been broken April 1910, and 22 girls were housed in the unfurnished building that fall. Beta Delta's Grand President Florence Burton Roth was guest of honor at the housewarming. World War I brought meatless, wheatless days of sacrifice and service, Red Cross knitting, farmerette duties and many forms of thrift. On Armistice Day an impromptu Kappa dance brought in servicemen and a jazz band. A highlight of the year 1924 was the wedding of Theodosia Burton Stewart, X - Minnesota, daughter of the university president. The entire chapter, dressed in pastel formal gowns, adorned the balcony of the elegant new Clements Library where the ceremony took place. They also attended, with such luminaries as Henry Ford, the reception that followed in the president's residence next door. Visits from Dorothy Canfield Fisher, BN-Ohio State, and Robert Frost, while he was the university's Poet-in-Residence, were also of great interest to the chapter. Highlights of 2012During the previous calender year, the Beta Delta chapter has excelled in many aspects. Academically, our chapter received an academic excellence award for schools with fifteen or more sorority houses at Convention of 2012. Kappa also had the highest GPA on the University of Michigan campus for this past year with a 3.5 average GPA. In addition, many sisters of our chapter were recognized for their outstanding work. Hannah Okonow was nominated for the position of Junior of the Year, our chapter's previous president, Megan Miller, was voted President of the Year by the Panhellenic Association, our current president, Emily Long, was voted Junior Panhel Representative of the term, and Emily Goor was voted to be Panhellenic President for 2013 year. For Michigan's annual Greek Week competition, Kappa placed top three in both Variety and Sing competitions and placed top five over all. Kappa also participated in Relay for Life in 2012 and was one of the top three teams in raising money for the cause. Kappa was extremely involved in philanthropy this past year. Our chapter's annual "Kappasta" event, a pasta dinner created to raise money for our national philanthropy, Reading is Fundamental, was unbelievably successful. We also partnered with the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity for our Home for the Holidays event, where we buy gifts for children from a less fortunate elementary school in Detroit and invite them to our house to open their gifts and celebrate the holidays with all of us. Our chapter also put on a lemonaide stand in order to raise money to send children from Mott Children's Hospital to summer camp. Lastly, in the fall we had our first ever concert at Kappa given by our own Hannah Gross, where the money we raised for admissions also went towards our philanthropy, Reading Is Fundamental. During the past year, both the University of Michigan and the Beta Delta chapter have developed major changes and improvements. On a campus-wide scale, Michigan has created large social media connections. By means of various social networks, including websites like Facebook and Twitter, students can connect with one another as well as with Michigan alumni by joining group pages pertaining to anything from campus clubs to general interests. An example of a group formed by the University of Michigan is called "Hail it Forward." This page proactively connects students with Michigan alumni by means of Facebook and Linked-In and provides various career opportunities to students. In addition, Michigan has implemented an ambassador program, where students volunteer as ambassadors to help run and promote safety at campus wide events, including football games. Lastly, the University of Michigan created a campaign known as "Beyond the Diag," which created a group of students who live off campus to support one another and promote safety within the community. Our chapter is comprised of caring, welcoming, hard-working, and selfless women. As a chapter, every sister is bonded to one another through our diversity, abundant sisterhood and philanthropy events, and our strong connections with Kappa traditions. The most recent addition to our chapter, the 2102 pledge class of 57 girls, brings many unique qualities to our chapter. With recruitment numbers growing every year, our chapter was allowed a bigger intake of new members. Accordingly, our chapter is proud to declare that the 2012 pledge class is larger than ever before, and we hope to continue our growth for years to come. Highlights of 2014Last spring we had a very successful Greek Week, our overall Greek Life raised a little more than $13,000 to donate to various charities and foundations. We are proud to say our chapter placed third in the Greek Week Variety show, and we had a great turnout once again for Kappa Kickball. Our former president, Madison Romney, and current president Justine Miller attended the 2014 KKG national convention and received Honorable Mentions. In the fall, Recruitment went very well and we gained 65 new freshmen sisters. We worked with Pi Beta Phi and Alpha Epsilon Phi to practice and support them as well. We also threw a very successful new philanthropy event called Hungry Hungry Kappapillar, in which teams competed in a pie-eating contest and donated children's books for our Reading is Key philanthropy. Our next philanthropy event, Kappasta, went very smoothly and we were pleased with the turnout. This year, we've been getting more involved with the overall Greek community and have attended various other philanthropy events and charities hosted by other houses. Additionally, we held our annual Home for the Holidays event with Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, when we host children from an elementary school in Detroit to open gifts and celebrate the holiday season. This fall Michigan added a new sorority to campus, Gamma Phi Beta, who is our sister sorority. We're looking forward to getting to know our new Greek Life sisters and hope to organize a joint-council dinner with their council soon within the next week or so. Our chapter has grown more involved in Greek Life and we're very supportive of other philanthropic events thrown by our fellow Greek Life members. As a whole, Michigan's Greek Life is trying to become even more involved in giving back to our community. As a council and a house in general, we're very supportive of each other. Our chapter consists of many hardworking and devoted women. We're strengthened by our diversity and sisterhood, increased by our new fall 2014 pledge class of 65 wonderful young women. Our chapter holds meetings in our house, usually the dining room for Formal Chapter. Our chapter owns a house on campus. Right now we have about 65 sisters living in it, and the sisters can move in during their sophomore year.
Highlights of 2015Our chapter has been developing more and more philanthropy events over the course of this past year. We again participated in our campus’ Greek Week, which raises and donates money to various charities and foundations in the Ann Arbor area. This fall, we held our Second Annual Hungry Hungry Kappapillar pie-eating contest including a donation of children’s books, all going to our Reading is Key philanthropy. Kappasta, our charity pasta dinner, again had an amazing turnout and went very smoothly. We recently held our Home for the Holidays event with Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, in which we host children from an elementary school in Detroit to open gifts and celebrate the holiday season. Our former council 2015, and current council 2016, have been working on organizing Girls Academy, an event to be held next Spring in which leaders from our chapter host team/character building events at a chosen middle school for young teenage girls. We’re very excited for this event, as this will be the first time we’re hosting it and we can’t wait to see what the next year will bring. President Schlissel has been working with the head of the Interfraternity Council and the head of the Panhellenic Council in order to promote an overall more positive view of Greek Life. Our chapter tries to contribute to this goal by supporting our fellow Greek Life members in attending other houses’ philanthropy events and working with each other during Recruitment to improve the overall Recruitment process. As a chapter, we work together to have council meetings and house events run as smoothly as possible. This fall, we’ve gained 56 new incredible young women already they’ve brought many strengths and diversity to our chapter. Chapter Philanthropy: What organization(s) has your chapter historically/traditionally raised money for, or donated hours to, in your community? Our chapter traditionally raises money for Reading is Key, yet we support a large variety of causes on campus, such as American Cancer Society with Relay for Life, and groups that support mental health and awareness. Why did your chapter choose this organization(s) to support? We support groups whose issues touch the lives of many of our members. These issues are important to us and we give them our full support. |
