The 108th national convention of Delta Theta Tau Sorority Inc. was July 13 through 17.
Past national President Bonnie DeMeyer with Kappa Rho Chapter in New Carlisle served as convention coordinator for “Heartland Heritage” at the Waterford Estates Lodge in South Bend.
National President Laura Gullett of Beta Nu Chapter in Winchester presided at the business meetings during the convention. Delegates from 73 chapters were represented.
Attending from the Theta Zeta chapter of Seymour were Gerri Smith, delegate, and Jenny Pridgen, nondelegate.
A combined total from all chapters donated to philanthropic projects during the past year amounted to $558,349.40. The members supported their communities with a total of 133,246.84 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 2015 delegates allotted $5,000 for educational grants and $5,000 for ectodermal dysplasias and $5,814.15 for the National Paraplegic Power Soccer Team.
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 Omicron Psi chapter of Red Bud, Illinois. Receiving the award for most hours spent for philanthropy was Omicron Pi chapter of Bethel, Missouri.
Social activities enjoyed by members included the “Kickoff to Convention” mixer, “Hoosier Living” informal and the “Palais Royale” banquet.
Delegates elected Linda Dressen of Zeta Theta chapter of Pana, Illinois, to serve as the new national president. She chose “Bake the World a Better Place” as her focus for her year at the helm of the organization. Delegates also voted to conduct the 2018 convention in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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 109th national convention will be July 12 through 16 at Embassy Suites Albuquerque Hotel and Spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Past national President Judy Beall with Lambda Gamma chapter in Wichita, Kansas, will be the convention coordinator.