Tribune staff reports
The 107th national convention of Delta Theta Tau Sorority Inc. was July 8 through 12.
Past National President Jean Brower with Gamma Pi chapter in New Paris, Ohio, served as convention coordinator for “Denim to Diamonds” at the Sheraton West Des Moines in West Des Moines, Iowa.
National President Beverly Edwards of Lambda Alpha in Tacoma, Washington, presided at the business meetings during the convention. Delegates from 71 chapters were represented.
Attending from the Theta Zeta chapter of Seymour were Jenny Pridgen, delegate, and Gerri Smith, nondelegate.
A combined total from all chapters donated to philanthropic projects during the past year amounted to $752,916.50. The members supported their communities with a total of 138,060.97 volunteer hours during the past year.
Of philanthropic interest to members is the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias and encouraging professionals in the area of guidance and counseling. Delta Theta Tau’s Educational Grant program enables students to continue their studies in the graduate field of guidance and counseling. The 2014 delegates allotted $5,000 for educational grants and $5,000 for ectodermal dysplasias. The 2015 delegates voted to donate $6,023.78 for the SON Foundation.
Awards were given to chapters with the highest total amount of money spent on philanthropy and also for the chapters with the most volunteer hours. Receiving the award for the highest amount of money spent for philanthropy was Tau chapter of Valparaiso. Receiving the award for most hours spent for philanthropy was Zeta Upsilon Chapter of Seneca, Illinois.
Social activities enjoyed by members included the “Little Bit of Denim” mixer, “Deltas in Denim and Diamonds” informal and the “Deltas in Diamonds” banquet.
Delegates elected Laura Gullett of Beta Nu Chapter in Winchester to serve as the new national president. She chose “Paint a Brighter Tomorrow” as her focus for her year at the helm of the organization. Delegates also voted to conduct the 2017 convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Delta Theta Tau, a national philanthropic sorority, was founded in 1903 in Muncie by five high school girls. The first national convention was conducted in 1908 in Elwood.
The 108th national convention will be July 13 through 17 at Waterford Estates Lodge in South Bend. Past National President Bonnie DeMeyer with Kappa Rho chapter in New Carlisle, will be the convention coordinator.