Gamma Sigma Sigma
ΓΣΣ
The official crest of Gamma Sigma Sigma
FoundedOctober 12, 1952 (1952-10-12)
Beekman Tower, New York, N.Y.
TypeService
ScopeNational
ColorsMaroon   and White  
SymbolShepherd's Crook, Omicron
FlowerWhite Rose
JewelGarnets and Pearls
PublicationPerspectives
Chapters53 active collegiate chapters, 18 active alumni chapters
HeadquartersPO Box 248
Rindge, New Hampshire
USA
Websitehttp://www.gammasigmasigma.org

Gamma Sigma Sigma (ΓΣΣ) is a national service sorority founded on October 12, 1952, at Beekman Tower in New York City. It partners with charitable organizations such as March of Dimes, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Cancer Society, and Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.[1] It has 53 active collegiate chapters and 18 active alumni chapters.

History

The weekend of October 10–12, 1952, student 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 met at Beekman Tower in New York City. They decided on the name Gamma Sigma Sigma and the colors of Maroon and White, and charters were then given to these groups.[2][3] 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[4] 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.[5]

Service and organizational structure

Collegiate and alumni chapters are required to perform a defined number of service hours during the year as defined in their individual bylaws. Chapters/individuals may receive awards for their service or for participating in special emphasis projects.[6]

Collegiate chapters are led by an executive board with the following roles. President, Service Vice President, Membership Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Financial Secretary, Public Relations Coordinator, National Representative, and Alumni Liaison. All are elected by the chapter except for the Parliamentarian, who is appointed by the President.

The sorority's national governing body is the National Convention, held biennially in odd-numbered years. During each convention, the delegation elects the National Board of Directors, which coordinates the sorority's activities.[2] The delegation also chooses two service project areas for emphasis during the next two years. All members are encouraged to participate in these areas in particular, known as project I.M.P.A.C.T. (Individuals Making Progress Across Communities Together). The current I.M.P.A.C.T. areas are Heart Health and Teen & Young Adult Mental Health Awareness.

The sorority partners with other charitable organizations, with the longest standing partnership held by the March of Dimes. Other partners include: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Cancer Society, and Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.[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, as members.

Controversy

On February 2, 2021, a post on Twitter detailed a series of racist, nationalist blog posts made by a member of the University of Georgia's (UGA) chapter of Gamma Sigma Sigma. One offending post stated the enslavement of Black people in the United States “does not begin to compare to” Sept. 11, 2001. Another post stated that Black people should not get their own holiday celebrating independence because “July 4th is about America. Not about race. Without America, the slaves would still be under British control and who knows how long slavery would’ve lasted.” Other members of the chapter were outraged by the posts and demanded that the offending member be removed from her executive leadership position in the chapter.

The issue was brought up in a February 9 chapter meeting which was attended by members of the sorority's national board. The national board members' efforts to impair the recall of the offending member along with the discovery that the national board had been informed about the hurtful posts months prior and had ignored them increased discontent within the UGA chapter.

In the month directly after the chapter meeting, the majority of the UGA chapter's members and all but one member of the executive board resigned. A new organization has since been created on UGA's campus focused on the same ideals of Gamma Sigma Sigma while also emphasizing inclusive practices.[7]

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 [8]
1st Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois Jun 26, 1953–Jun 28, 1953 [8][9]
2nd New York City, New York Jun 24, 1955–Jun 26, 1955 [8]
3rd Detroit, Michigan Iota chapter Jun 21, 1957–Jun 23, 1957 [8]
4th Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Zeta chapter and Philadelphia Alumni Chapter Jun 19, 1959–Jun 21, 1959 [8]
5th Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts Epsilon chapter Jun 16, 1961–Jun 18, 1961 [8][10][11]
6th University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, Maryland Xi chapter Jun 14, 1963–Jun 16, 1963 [8][12]
7th St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota Alpha Beta Jun 18, 1965–Jun 20, 1965 [8]
8th Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri Alpha Gamma "Pioneers in Service" Jun 15, 1967–Jun 18, 1967 [8]
9th Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida Alpha Kappa "Giving Sunshine" Jun 20, 1969–Jun 22, 1969 [8]
10th University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut Nu "Season with Service" Jun 17, 1971–Jun 20, 1971 [8]
11th University of Houston, Houston, Texas Alpha and Houston Alumni Chapter "Our Hearts in Service" Jun 14, 1973–Jun 17, 1973 Esther Brenner [8]
12th Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana Gamma Omicron and Indianapolis Alumni Colony "Crossroads to Service" Jun 20, 1975–Jun 22, 1975 Dolly Melville [8]
13th University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts Alpha Theta "Unity ... Spirit ... Service" Jun 17, 1977–Jun 19, 1977 Margaret Kuster [8]
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 [8]
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 [8]
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 [8]
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 [8]
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* [8]
19th Rime Garden Inn, Birmingham, Alabama Delta Sigma and District IV "Celebrate Service" Aug 10, 1989–Aug 19, 1989 Mae Jemison* [8]
20th Sheraton AirportCharlotte, North Carolina District II "Magic of Service" Aug 8, 1991–Jun 11, 1991 P. Buckley Moss [8]
21st Grand Milwaukee Hotel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin District I "Servicefest '93" Aug 12, 1993–Aug 15, 1993 Pat Mitchell* aka "Auntie Litter" [8]
22nd Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland District III "Star Spangled Service" Jul 6, 1995–Jul 9, 1995 Ellen Q. Ahlgren* [8]
23rd Wyndham Greenspoint Hotel, Houston Texas District IV "Discover the Spirit" Jul 3, 1997–Jul 6, 1997 Patty Wetterling* [8][10]
24th Crown Plaza Hotel-Powers Ferry, Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta Alumni Chapter "Service on My Mind" Jul 9, 1999–Jul 11, 1999 Karolyn Nunnallee* [8][10]
25th Greenville Hilton, Greenville, North Carolina Delta Chi "Guiding Service through the New Millennium" Jul 19, 2001–Jul 21, 2001 Beatrice Gaddy [8]
26th Headquarters Plaza Hotel, Morristown, New Jersey "Pride in our Past, Faith in our Future" Jul 10, 2003–Jul 13, 2003 Amy Callahan [8]
27th Embassy Suites Hotes Cleveland-Rockside, Cleveland, Ohio "Service Rocks" Jul 6, 2005–Jul 10, 2005 Barbara Irvine[13] [14]
28th Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, Lincolnshire, Illinois "Spotlight on Service"[15] Jul 11, 2007–Jul 15, 2007 Liz Scott, Mother of Alex Scott (Alex's Lemonade Stand)[15] [16]
29th Fort Lauderdale, Florida "Destination: Service" Jul 9, 2009–Jul 11, 2009 Ann McGee (Miracle Flights for Kids)[17]
30th Westin Washington Dulles, Herndon, Virginia "Capitalizing on Service" Jul 13, 2011–Jul 17, 2011 Enitan Doherty-Mason[17]
31st Crown Plaza Clayton, St. Louis, Missouri "Meet Me In Service" Jul 17, 2013–July 23, 2013 Paula Goldberg [18]
32nd Nashville Airport Marriott, Nashville, Tennessee "Service: Music To My Ears" Jul 8, 2015–July 12, 2015 Carrie Newcomer
33rd Omni William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania "iServe" July 5, 2017–July 9, 2017 Viney Mosley [20]
34th TBA, New Orleans, Louisiana "TBA" July 17, 2019–July 21, 2019 TBD
  • The Woman of the Year also receives National Honorary membership.

Active chapters and colonies

As of February 18, 2023, Gamma Sigma Sigma has 38 active undergraduate chapters and 3 rechartering chapters.[21] It has 42 Active Alumni chapters and colonies.

Notable alumni

National Honorary Members

Chapter Honorary Members

  • Pat Nixon - Michigan State University honorary member - first lady.[22]

References

  1. 1 2 "Gamma Sigma Sigma - 2008 Alumni Press Kit" (PDF). Gamma Sigma Sigma.
  2. 1 2 "Gamma Sigma Sigma - Mission - History". Gamma Sigma Sigma.
  3. ↑ "History page for Gamma Sigma Sigma at Missouri State". Archived from the original on 2010-06-02. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  4. ↑ "Eight Founding schools or seven? (Change on Wikipedia) - Page 2 - GreekChat.com Forums". greekchat.com.
  5. ↑ University of Miami - Ibis Yearbook (Coral Gables, FL). 1961. p. 283. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  6. ↑ "Gamma Sigma Sigma - Service". Gamma Sigma Sigma.
  7. ↑ Reporter, Emily Garcia | Enterprise (30 April 2021). "Former UGA Gamma Sigma Sigma sisters create new service society after chapter reckoning". The Red and Black. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 "The Staff –– History (2003)". Archived from the original on March 3, 2012.
  9. ↑ Minutes of the First National Convention
  10. 1 2 3 "Gamma Sigma Sigma - Marvyn Glover". Gamma Sigma Sigma.
  11. ↑ "Gamma Sigma Sigma - Eta Chapter history". howard.edu.
  12. ↑ "Poughkeepsie Journal from Poughkeepsie, New York on May 8, 1963 · Page 46". Poughkeepsie Journal. May 8, 1963. p. 46.
  13. ↑ "Gamma Sigma Sigma - Fall 2003" (PDF). Gamma Sigma Sigma.
  14. ↑ "Gamma Sigma Sigma - Event Center". Gamma Sigma Sigma.
  15. 1 2 "Gamma Sigma Sigma - Perspectives - Spring 2007" (PDF). Gamma Sigma Sigma.
  16. ↑ "Gamma Sigma Sigma - Convention Landing". Gamma Sigma Sigma.
  17. 1 2 "Gamma Sigma Sigma -Mission". Gamma Sigma Sigma.
  18. ↑ "Gamma Sigma Sigma - National Convention page". Gamma Sigma Sigma.
  19. 30th National Convention of Gamma Sigma Sigma
  20. ↑ Woman of the Year
  21. ↑ "Gamma Sigma Sigma - Our Organization". Gamma Sigma Sigma.
  22. ↑ Benton Harbor News Palladium Newspaper Archives March 14, 1970 Page 3
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