Gamma Sigma Sigma
| Gamma Sigma Sigma | |
|---|---|
| ΓΣΣ | |
| Founded | October 12, 1952 Beekman Tower, New York, NY |
| Type | Service |
| Scope | National |
| Motto | Unity in Service |
| Colors | Maroon and White |
| Symbol | Shepherd's Crook, Omicron |
| Flower | White Rose |
| Jewel | Garnets and Pearls |
| Publication | Perspectives |
| Chapters | 53 active collegiate chapters, 18 active alumni chapters |
| Ideals | Service, Friendship and Equality |
| Headquarters | PO Box 248 Rindge, New Hampshire, USA |
| Homepage | http://www.gammasigmasigma.org |
Gamma Sigma Sigma (ΓΣΣ) is a national service sorority founded on October 12, 1952 at Beekman Tower in New York City by representatives of Boston University, Brooklyn College, Drexel Institute of Technology, Los Angeles City College, New York University, Queens College, University of Miami, and the University of Houston. Their intention was to form a nationally-based service organization. The purpose of Gamma Sigma Sigma is "to assemble college and university students in the spirit of service to humanity and to develop friendships among students of all races and creeds".
Contents
Historical background
On October 10–12, 1952, representatives from eight colleges and universities met at Beekman Tower in New York City.
Represented were groups from Boston University,Brooklyn College, Drexel University, Los Angeles City College, University of Miami, New York University, Queens College, and University of Houston. During the weekend, the representatives from these groups decided on the name Gamma Sigma Sigma, the colors of Maroon and White and charters were given to these groups. .[1][2] As the group from University of Miami did not commit to membership at the founding meeting, they are not counted as a founding group.
| School | Original Group Name | Assigned Chapter Name |
|---|---|---|
| University of Houston | Alpha Gamma Chi | Alpha |
| Brooklyn College | Booster Squad | Beta |
| Los Angeles City College | Alpha Gamma Chi | Gamma |
| New York University | Women's Service Organization | Delta |
| Boston University | Omega Service Sorority | Epsilon |
| Drexel University | Gamma Sigma Sigma | Zeta |
| University of Miami | Sigma Lambda Phi[3] | Eta [a] |
| Queens College | Phi Gamma | Theta |
a. ^ Sigma Lambda Phi from University of Miami did not attend the final day of convention. Eta Chapter was reserved for this group. They later joined as Upsilon Chapter in 1958.[4]
About Gamma Sigma Sigma
All chapters, collegiate and alumni, are required to perform a defined number of service hours during the year as set forth in national and chapter bylaws.
Projects range from nationally sponsored causes to individual dedications, and chapters/individuals may be awarded for their efforts. Each member of the organization brings individual talents, skills and ideas to the organization, uniting in the spirit of service.
Each individual University chapter is led by an executive board. The officers of the chapters hold the offices of President, Service Vice President, Membership Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Financial Secretary, Public Relations Coordinator, National Representative, and Alumni Liaison, all of whom, except the Parliamentarian, shall be elected by membership. The President shall appoint the Parliamentarian.
At each National Convention, two special project areas are chosen by the delegation for special emphasis during the following biennium. These areas, known as Project I.M.P.A.C.T. (Individuals Making Progress Across Communities Together), encourage participation by all members, and help to establish relations with other national charitable organizations.
In addition to Project I.M.P.A.C.T. area suggestions and individual chapter projects, Gamma Sigma Sigma, as an organization, partners with charitable organizations to provide a combined, concentrated level of service to the nation. These affiliations are many, though the longest standing partnership is with the national March of Dimes. The sorority's national service partners include: March of Dimes, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, and MADD.[5]
Chapters/Members participating in special emphasis projects are given recognition for their service through award competitions and certificate presentations.[6]
The governing body of Gamma Sigma Sigma is the National Convention, held biennially in odd-numbered years. The National Board of Directors, elected at each National Convention, coordinates sorority activities in accordance with organizational bylaws and policy. National staff members assist in administrative functions.[1]
Membership
Gamma Sigma Sigma is not selective. The sorority does not discriminate based on race, sex, or gender nor do they tolerate hazing in any form. Membership is determined by guidelines set by each chapter, within guidelines set by the national organization and academic institution. These tasks are in direct relationship to both chapter and national service programs. Members-in-training are not required to perform personal services for members, or any activity that can be construed as hazing. Gamma Sigma Sigma also accepts individuals who are members of other organizations, including social sororities, into its membership.
National Conventions
| Number | Location | Host | Theme | Dates | Woman of the Year | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beekman Tower, New York City | Organization and Constitutional | Oct 10, 1952 – Oct 12, 1952 | [7] | |||
| 1st | Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois | Jun 1953 | [7] | |||
| 2nd | New York City, New York | Jun 24, 1955 – Jun 26, 1955 | [7] | |||
| 3rd | Detroit, Michigan | Iota chapter | Jun 21, 1957–Jun 23, 1957 | [7] | ||
| 4th | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Zeta chapter and Philadelphia Alumni Chapter | Jun 19, 1959–Jun 21, 1959 | [7] | ||
| 5th | Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts | Epsilon chapter | Jun 16, 1961–Jun 18, 1961 | [7][8][9] | ||
| 6th | University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, Maryland | Xi chapter | – Jun 15, 1963 – | [7] | ||
| 7th | St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota | Alpha Beta | Jun 18, 1965–Jun 20, 1965 | [7] | ||
| 8th | Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri | Alpha Gamma | "Pioneers in Service" | Jun 15, 1967–Jun 18, 1967 | [7] | |
| 9th | Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida | Alpha Kappa | "Giving Sunshine" | Jun 20, 1969–Jun 22, 1969 | [7] | |
| 10th | University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut | Nu | "Season with Service" | Jun 17, 1971–Jun 20, 1971 | [7] | |
| 11th | University of Houston, Houston, Texas | Alpha and Houston Alumni Chapter | "Our Hearts in Service" | Jun 14, 1973–Jun 17, 1973 | Esther Brenner | [7] |
| 12th | Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana | Gamma Omicron and Indianapolis Alumni Colony | "Crossroads to Service" | Jun 20, 1975–Jun 22, 1975 | Dolly Melville | [7] |
| 13th | University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts | Alpha Theta | "Unity ... Spirit ... Service" | Jun 17, 1977–Jun 19, 1977 | Margaret Kuster | [7] |
| 14th | University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia | Chi and Atlanta Alumni Chapter | "Service with a Smile Southern Style" | Jun 15, 1979–Jun 17, 1979 | Dr. Ethel Allen | [7] |
| 15th | University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota | Alpha Iota and Northern Lakes Region | "Seeways to Service" | Jun 19, 1981–Jun 21, 1981 | Margaret E. Kuhn | [7] |
| 16th | Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky | Beta Sigma and Bluegrass Alumni Chapter | "Run for the Roses" | Jun 17, 1983–Jun 19, 1983 | JoAnn Verner | [7] |
| 17th | Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri | Delta Xi, Gateway Alumni Chapter, and the Frontier Region | "Service: The Finest Frontier" | Jun 20, 1985–Jun 23, 1985 | Sharon Wenz | [7] |
| 18th | University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware | Beta Gamma, Philadelphia Alumni Chapter, Mid-Jersey Shore Alumni Chapter, and District III | "First in Service" | Jun 11, 1987–Jun 14, 1987 | Barbara Bush* | [7] |
| 19th | Rime Garden Inn, Birmingham, Alabama | Delta Sigma and District IV | "Celebrate Service" | Aug 10, 1989–Aug 19, 1989 | Mae Jemison* | [7] |
| 20th | Sheraton AirportCharlotte, North Carolina | District II | "Magic of Service" | Aug 8, 1991–Jun 11, 1991 | P. Buckley Moss | [7] |
| 21st | Grand Milwaukee Hotel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | District I | "Servicefest '93" | Aug 12, 1993–Aug 15, 1993 | Pat Mitchell* aka "Auntie Litter" | [7] |
| 22nd | Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland | District III | "Star Spangled Service" | Jul 6, 1995–Jul 9, 1995 | Ellen Q. Ahlgren* | [7] |
| 23rd | Wyndham Greenspoint Hotel, Houston Texas | District IV | "Discover the Spirit" | Jul 3, 1997–Jul 6, 1997 | Patty Wetterling* | [7][8] |
| 24th | Crown Plaza Hotel-Powers Ferry, Atlanta, Georgia | Atlanta Alumni Chapter | "Service on My Mind" | Jul 9, 1999–Jul 11, 1999 | Karolyn Nunnallee* | [7][8] |
| 25th | Greenville Hilton, Greenville, North Carolina | Delta Chi | "Guiding Service through the New Millennium" | Jul 19, 2001–Jul 21, 2001 | Beatrice Gaddy | [7] |
| 26th | Headquarters Plaza Hotel, Morristown, New Jersey | "Pride in our Past, Faith in our Future" | Jul 10, 2003–Jul 13, 2003 | Amy Callahan | [7] | |
| 27th | Embassy Suites Hotes Cleveland-Rockside, Cleveland, Ohio | "Service Rocks" | Jul 6, 2005–Jul 10, 2005 | Barbara Irvine[10] | [11] | |
| 28th | Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, Lincolnshire, Illinois | "Spotlight on Service"[12] | Jul 11, 2007–Jul 15, 2007 | Liz Scott, Mother of Alex Scott (Alex's Lemonade Stand)[12] | [13] | |
| 29th | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | "Destination: Service" | Jul 9, 2009–Jul 11, 2009 | Ann McGee (Miracle Flights for Kids)[14] | ||
| 30th | Westin Washington Dulles, Herndon, Virginia | "Capitalizing on Service" | Jul 13, 2011–Jul 17, 2011 | Enitan Doherty-Mason[14] | ||
| 31st | Crown Plaza Clayton, St. Louis, Missouri | "Meet Me In Service" | Jul 17, 2013–July 23, 2013 | Paula Goldberg | [15] | |
| 32nd | Nashville Airport Marriott, Nashville, Tennessee | "Service: Music To My Ears" | Jul 8, 2015–July 12, 2015 | Carrie Newcomer |
- The Woman of the Year also receives National Honorary membership.
Active Chapters and Colonies
The currently Active Chapters and Colonies (both Collegiate and Alumni) as of March 12, 2014[17]
Current Active Collegiate Chapters and Colonies
- Alpha - University of Houston
- Zeta - Drexel University
- Tau - Pennsylvania State University
- Chi - University of Georgia
- Nu -University of Connecticut
- Alpha Iota - University of Minnesota Duluth
- Alpha Kappa Reactivating Chapter - Florida State University
- Alpha Pi - University of Wisconsin, Stout
- Alpha Psi - Southeast Missouri State University
- Beta Gamma - University of Delaware
- Beta Delta - University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
- Beta Zeta - Tuskegee University
- Beta Sigma - Western Kentucky University
- Beta Chi - Lebanon Valley College
- Beta Psi - Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Gamma Delta - Duquesne University
- Gamma Theta - Stephen F. Austin State University
- Gamma Kappa - University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Gamma Pi - Carson-Newman College
- Gamma Phi - St. Francis University
- Gamma Rho - University of Pittsburgh
- Delta Gamma - University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
- Delta Nu - University of Maine-Orono
- Delta Xi - Missouri State University
- Delta Sigma - Samford University
- Delta Phi - Dillard University
- Delta Chi - East Carolina University
- Epsilon Beta - Clemson University
- Epsilon Lambda - Alabama State University
- Epsilon Nu - Bethune-Cookman University
- Epsilon Xi - Moravian College
- Epsilon Psi - Tennessee State University
- Zeta Epsilon - Austin Peay State University
- Zeta Theta - Jacksonville State University
- Zeta Iota - Prairie View A&M University
- Zeta Nu - Slippery Rock University
- Zeta Xi - North Georgia College and State University
- Zeta Omicron - Georgia College and State University
- Zeta Sigma - McDaniel College
- Zeta Tau - Georgia State University
- Zeta Omega - Clark Atlanta University
- Eta Alpha - Georgia Southern University
- Eta Delta - James Madison University
- Eta Epsilon - University of West Georgia
- Eta Zeta - Spelman College
- Eta Theta - University of Central Florida
- Eta Iota - University of Texas at Dallas
- Eta Xi-Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
- Eta Omicron - Elizabeth City State University
- Eta Pi - Gannon University
- Eta Rho - Old Dominion University
- Eta Sigma - William Peace University
- Eta Tau - Pace University-Pleasantville
- Eta Chi - Roanoke College
- Colony - Wright State University
- Colony - Lamar University
Active Alumni Chapters and Colonies
- Atlanta Metropolitan Alumni Chapter- Georgia
- Bluegrass Alumni Chapter - Kentucky
- Cherry Blossom Alumni Reactivating Chapter - Washington D.C.
- Delaware Diamonds Alumni - Delaware
- First Coast Alumni Chapter- Jacksonville, FL
- Gateway Alumni Chapter - Missouri
- Gemini Alumni Chapter – Philadelphia/Tri State Area, Pennsylvania
- Greater Atlanta Alumni - Georgia
- Greater Baltimore Alumni Chapter - Maryland
- Greater New England Alumni Chapter - Vermont/New Hampshire/Massachusetts
- Houston- Bayou City Alumni Chapter - Texas
- Lone Star Alumni Chapter - Dallas, Texas
- Mid-Jersey Shore Alumni Chapter - New Jersey
- Nutmeg Alumni Chapter - Connecticut
- Omicron Alumni Chapter - Tallahassee, Florida
- Philadelphia Alumni Chapter - Pennsylvania
- River Region Garnets and Pearls Alumni Chapter - Montgomery, Alabama
- Serenity Rose Alumni - Texas
- Steel City Alumni Chapter - Pittsburgh, PA and western PA
- Twin Cities Alumni Chapter - Minnesota
- Yellow Rose Alumni Chapter - Houston, Texas
- White Rose Alumni Chapter - Tennessee
- Tarheel State Alumni Chapter - North Carolina
- Tri-State Alumni - New York
- Lebanon Valley Alumni* - Pennsylvania
- Pine Tree Reactivating Chapter* - Maine
Notable alumni
- Dr. Janette Hoston Harris - Alpha Delta - civil rights activist, DC Government Official
- Jessye Norman - Alpha Eta - opera singer
National Honorary Members
- Barbara Bush - National Honorary Member (1987)- first lady
- Mae Jemison M.D. - National Honorary Member - first African-American woman to travel to space
- P. Buckley Moss - National Honorary Member (1991)[7] - Artist
- Pat Mitchell - National Honorary Member (1993)[7] - "Auntie Litter"
- Ellen Ahlgren - National Honorary Member (1995)[7] - Founder of ABC Quilts
- Patricia Wetterling - National Honorary Member (1997)[7] - Founder of the Jacob Wetterling Foundation
- Karolyn Nunnallee -National Honorary Member (1999)[7] - President of MADD
- Beatrice Gaddy - National Honorary Member (2001)[7] - Founder of Bea Gaddy's Family Center
- Amy Callahan -National Honorary Member (2003)[7] - Founder and President of the Better Days Foundation
- Barbara Irvine - National Honorary Member (2005) - Founder of Alice Paul's Institute/Women's Rights
- Liz Scott - National Honorary Member (2007) - Founder of Alex's Lemonade Stand
- Ann McGee - National Honorary Member (2009) - Founder and National President of Miracle Flights for Kids
- Enitan Doherty-Mason - National Honorary Member (2011) - Founder of Eduwatch
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ History page for Gamma Sigma Sigma at Missouri State
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- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 7.27 7.28 7.29 7.30 7.31 7.32 7.33 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 30th National Convention of Gamma Sigma Sigma
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
