Delta Gamma
Template:Short description Template:Infobox Fraternity
Delta Gamma ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}), commonly known as DG, is a North American women's fraternity. It was established in 1873 at the Lewis School for Girls in Oxford, Mississippi. It has 151 collegiate chapters and more than 200 alumnae groups. The organization's executive office is in Columbus, Ohio.<ref name="Baird's Manual Online">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.</ref> Delta Gamma was one of seven charter members of the National Panhellenic Conference.
HistoryEdit
Delta Gamma was founded as a fraternity in December 1873 at the Lewis School for Girls in Oxford, Mississippi, near the University of Mississippi.<ref name=":03" /> It was called a fraternity because the term "sorority" was not yet in use.<ref name=":03" /> The group's founders were Mary Comfort Leonard, Eva Webb Dodd, and Anna Boyd Ellington.<ref name="Baird's Manual Online" /><ref name=":03" />
Delta Gamma's early growth was to women's colleges in the southern United States. Within a few years, it expanded into the northern United States and the East with the help of George Banta, a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and Delta Gamma's only male initiate.<ref name="franbecque.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Baird's Manual Online" />
In 1882, Banta married Lillian Vawter, a Delta Gamma at Franklin College.<ref name="phideltatheta.org">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In his later years, Banta helped rewrite the Delta Gamma ritual.<ref name="phideltatheta.org" /> He frequently visited Delta Gamma conventions, often as a guest speaker. He gave his last speech in 1934, a year before his death.<ref name="franbecque.com" /> Because of Banta, Delta Gamma retains close historical ties with Phi Delta Theta.<ref name="phideltatheta.org" />
Delta Gamma was one of seven charter members of the National Panhellenic Conference when the first inter-sorority meeting was held in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1891.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Delta Gamma and the six other charter members formally joined the National Panhellenic Conference in 1902.
In 2013, Delta Gamma founded the #IAmASororityWoman campaign for members of any sorority to start conversations about what sorority women truly value to combat common stereotypes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The organization's executive office is in Columbus, Ohio.<ref name="Baird's Manual Online" />
SymbolsEdit
Delta Gamma's motto is "Do Good."<ref name="DG Symbols">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Delta Gamma symbol is the anchor, representing hope.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its colors are bronze, pink, and blue.<ref name=":02">Template:Cite news</ref> Its flower is a cream-colored rose, registered as the Delta Gamma Heritage Rose with the American Rose Society.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":02" /> The Hannah Doll is its mascot.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its publication is the ANCHORA, which has been published quarterly continuously since 1884.<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":02" />
Before the adoption of the golden anchor, Delta Gamma's symbol was simply an "H" for "Hope".<ref name="DG Symbols" /> In 1877, the Hope badge was changed to the traditional symbol of hope, the anchor.<ref name="DG Symbols" /> Today's badge is a golden anchor with a raised cable wrapping around the anchor, with the Greek letters {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} on a white shield.<ref name=":02" /> Its new member pin is a white enamel shield with the Greek letters {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.<ref name=":02" />
PhilanthropyEdit
The Delta Gamma Foundation was formed in 1951.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It has three main philanthropic focuses: service for sight, grants to the fraternity for educational and leadership purposes, and grants to individual members.<ref name=":2" /> Members and local chapters contribute to its funds. Delta Gamma gives more than 150,000 volunteer hours to service for sight each year.<ref name="DG Philanthropy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The fraternity is one of the first recipients of the Helen Keller Philanthropic Service Award, given by the American Foundation for the Blind for assistance to those who are visually impaired and for sight conservation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was also the first recipient of the Virginia Boyce Award presented by Prevent Blindness America.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web
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Anchor Splash and Anchor Games are Delta Gamma's fundraising events hosted on college campuses across North America.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> The proceeds of these events go to Delta Gamma's philanthropy, such as service for sight.<ref name="ReferenceB" /> Anchor Splash is a synchronized swimming event.<ref name=":03">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The event has different campus organizations create a synchronized swimming dance. The dance is performed at Anchor Splash for an audience.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Each chapter decides how to implement these events on its campus; some host flag football tournaments or volleyball tournaments as their fundraiser.
MembershipEdit
Potential members must attend a college where there is a Delta Gamma chapter.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Members join through either formal recruitment or continuous open bidding (COB).<ref name=":03" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A COB can occur when a potential new member wants to join outside of recruitment. Joining outside of recruitment can happen at any time of the year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ChaptersEdit
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Delta Gamma has 151 collegiate chapters in Canada and the United States.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It has more than 200 alumnae groups in the United States, Canada, and England.<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref name="Baird's Manual Online" />
Notable membersEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}Delta Gamma has with over 250,000 initiated members.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
Template:Reflist Template:National Panhellenic Conference Template:Fraternities and Sororities