Chi Omega
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Chi Omega (ΧΩ) |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Founded | April 5, 1895 University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, Arkansas) |
| Type | Social |
| Motto | Hellenic Culture and Christian Ideals |
| Colors | Cardinal |
| Symbol | Owl, skull and crossbones |
| Flower | White Carnation |
| Jewel | Pearl, Diamond |
| Publication | The Eleusis |
| Philanthropy | Make-A-Wish Foundation |
| Chapters | 171 |
| Members | 300,000+ collegiate |
| Headquarters | 3395 Players Club Parkway Memphis, Tennessee, USA |
| Homepage | http://www.chiomega.com/ |
Chi Omega (ΧΩ, also known as Chi O) is a women's fraternity and the largest member of the National Panhellenic Conference.[1] Chi Omega boasts 171 active collegiate chapters and hundreds of alumnae chapters.[2] The fraternity's headquarters is located in Memphis, Tennessee.
Contents |
[edit] History
Chi Omega was founded April 5, 1895 at the University of Arkansas by Dr. Charles Richardson (an initiate of Kappa Sigma Fraternity), Ina Mae Boles, Jean Vincenheller, Jobelle Holcombe, and Alice Simonds. In 1915, Chi Omega established its executive headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky, pioneering the use of office space among all national women's fraternities, before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1926. Since 1995, the Fraternity's executive headquarters has been situated on 1.5 acres (6,100 m2) in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Fraternity's colors are Cardinal and Straw, the flower is the white carnation, the mascot is the owl, and the symbol is the skull and crossbones.
Chi Omega made the Make-A-Wish Foundation its official philanthropy in 2002.
[edit] Purposes
In 1895, the six purposes of Chi Omega were established in order to preserve and enhance the values of each member. The six purposes are friendship, high standards of personnel, sincere learning and creditable scholarship, participation in campus activities, career and personal development, and community service.
[edit] Organization
The fraternity's day to day business activities are overseen by the Governing Council which consists of five elected members. Each individual chapter of Chi Omega receives at least one visit per year from a National Consultant who aids in the development of the young women. Furthermore, each chapter gets additional support from Chi Omega alumnae, national volunteers, professional staff and resource manuals.
[edit] Chi Omega Symphony
"To live constantly above snobbery of word or deed; to place scholarship before social obligations and character before appearances; to be, in the best sense, democratic rather than 'exclusive' and lovable rather than 'popular'; to work earnestly, to speak kindly, to act sincerely, to choose thoughtfully that course which occasion and conscience demand; to be womanly always; to be discouraged never; in a word, to be loyal under any and all circumstances to my Fraternity and her highest teachings and to have her welfare ever at heart that she may be a symphony of high purpose and helpfulness in which there is no discordant note."
Written by Ethel Switzer-Howard, 1904, Xi Chapter
