Delta Delta Delta - University of Oklahoma

THETA GAMMA NEWS PAGE 2 C ollege students across the country have faced a lot of new challenges, coming up with innovative ways to navigate school this fall. As you will read in other articles in this newsletter, Theta Gamma Chapter has done a wonderful job of making everything fun, including the out-of-house members in activities and really thinking outside of the box during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter held a lot of their regular fun activities and incorporated some new ones this year. Our out-of-house members drive by twice a week to get their boxed dinners. They can wave at their friends or stay on the front lawn to enjoy visiting with their sisters while following social distancing guidelines. We are very fortunate to a have a large front yard. Drive-by activities are popular on our large circle drive. Our active members also did a Coke float drive-by, t-shirt pass- out drive-by, and many other activities. We are fortunate that our chapter house and lawn are in very good shape. The facility is already cleaned up from the recent ice storm and has been decorated for Christmas. Thanks to our decorators, Melanie Skaggs Russell '79, Jill Chaffin Splitt '85, and Claudia Bradford Robertson '74. Our chapter house is very stylish, appealing, and comfortable. Despite the positive aspects of our chapter house, additional space, including a study area and dance room, is much needed. As you know, we are in the middle of a capital campaign to raise money for this new addition, which will also serve as a safe room. The campaign also includes two major projects which will be finished by the beginning of second semester: upgrading the fire suppression system and purchasing new study hall furniture. It also includes some minor kitchen updates. Please consider including Theta Gamma in your year-end giving plans. I had a wonderful college experience at 1611 College, and I still treasure my Tri Delta friends. We want this current set of young ladies, and the ones who follow, to also have a great and safe experience at the University of Oklahoma. Other sororities on campus are also undergoing renovations and additions. Chi Omega recently competed major renovations, and Kappa Kappa Gamma is in the process of expanding their entire chapter house. I understand that at least two other sororities are planning to do major updates to their houses in the near future. Fortunately, our house does not need major renovations as it was built in the 1950s and has been very well maintained. However, we do need the large room expansion and kitchen updates. Our kitchen was designed for a chapter of approximately 140 members. We regularly have more than 300 members, and often cook for 800 people during OU activity weekends like Dads' Day. If you would like more information about this project, or how to give, please contact me or Alison McCord Counts '95 at alisonc@candid. com. I would love to show you the chapter house, but obviously that can't happen given the current circumstances. I can give you a tour over winter break or next summer if you would like to see the new updates. Please consider a pledge to our building campaign, or if you have already pledged, please consider raising your pledge. We did not expect a global pandemic, and it has caused some costs to escalate while delaying breaking ground on the expansion. Your pledge may be paid over five years, and if it is $25,000 or more, it can be tax deductible. There are also ways to donate stock. Our goal is $1 million in additional pledges by the summer and $1 million in pledges throughout the next school year. Thank you, loyal alumnae, for your continued generosity. We are thankful for every pledge and gift to the campaign! Delta Love, Marylee "Mrs. Tim" Trigg Strange '73 Theta Gamma House Corporation President (405) 623-6687 marylee.strange@gmail.com Global Pandemic Presents New Challenges House Corporation Outlines Future Plans for Theta Gamma Chapter THETA GAMMA'S VIRTUAL REALITY "Theta Gamma Chapter was able to hold our weekly new member meetings in the Jim Thorpe building. Here, we were all able to meet in person while socially distancing and wearing protective face masks. We also organized events over Zoom and held some outdoors where new members were able to meet one another while still putting safety precautions first. Each meeting or event had a Zoom option for anyone who felt sick or uncomfortable to meet in person." – Annelise Moore '18, Assistant First-Year Experience Coordinator "During this crazy season of change, Theta Gamma sisters have transitioned into being each other's support system over the screen and from a distance. The transition wasn't easy, but with the sisterhood events we have planned, we are able to ensure that social distancing and mask wearing are both required. We utilize technology as a huge asset to help lift each other up. Whether that's sending out texts in group messages or posting to our Facebook page, we haven't let this pandemic change our sisterhood!" – Caroline Workley '18, Sisterhood Chairwoman

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