reunion photos can be seen via slide shows on the photo page

you can view the photo presentation used as part of the Saturday banquet entertainment via the link below

News about the 50th Anniversary Delt Reunion:

What a weekend!! -- 125 plus Delt Alum and Actives met at Heidelberg for a wonderful reunion weekend. RELIVE, RENEW, REUNITE was the theme we started with, and that is exactly what happened July 27 - 29, 2012. Delt Alumnae and Actives from 1962 to 2012 had the chance to catch up with old friends (some women hadn't seen each other in more than 40 years), relive some dorm experiences (the evenings were nothing like we were permitted to do back when we were students) and reunite to sing many of the Delt songs we all know and love. We did discover that it takes a very long time to sing all of the verses for the Woman Song -- actually, took so much time after all the other entertainment on Friday evening that we had to call it a night not long after finishing the last chorus. Believe we made time for a rousing version of Give My Regards -- some of us still have a great kick!!

The weekend began with a reception that recognized the Delt Advisors over the years, and those who were able to attend were Mary Ellen Ford (one of the first official Delt Advisors), Dr. Ray Wise, Mary Palmstrom, Peggy George (current advisor) and Karen Miller (current advisor). All were our guests at the reception and picnic. In addition, Heidelberg University President Rob Huntington; Kathy Venema, VP-Alumni Relations and Lee Martin, Executive Director of Development were also the guests of Delta Sigma Chi at the reception. President Huntington presented the Delts with a 50th Anniversary Proclamation -- a copy of this will be posted later. The renewal of friendships and socializing begun at the reception continued while everyone enjoyed a yummy barbecue picnic in the Great Hall. This evening included the awarding of some great door prizes and eventually the singing of songs. Later, the after hours fun began in the new dorm and Williard. While some great gatherings were taking place in the dorms, a group of DDs (and one extra) toured the campus and made sure all the rocks were decorated with ΔΣΧ in beautiful blue and white. (The next night part of the DD's waded through the shallow waters of the Sandusky River to paint the large rock there. Hope they had a life guard present.)

After breakfast on Saturday, a large group of Delts were treated to an advanced tour of the new Saurwein Wellness Center. Thanks to the efforts of Mimi Treen, the Delts raised $50,000.00, and the East Lounge in the Wellness Center is now dedicated to Delta Sigma Chi. (This was an effort separate from the reunion.) Much of the afternoon was filled with enjoying boxed lunches and spending time getting together with friends from the various pledge classes. Many people had time to visit in Hoernemann -- just like the good old days, while some other groups met in dorm rooms and swapped life stories. A variety of group photos were taken, including one of all the Delts in their reunion shirts -- causal style. Before moving into the Campus Center to begin the Saturday evening celebration of our Founding Members, over 120 Delts posed for a formal group photo.

At the Saturday evening festivities, the women attending were treated to some wonderful hors d’ oeuvres and had more time to enjoy sharing memories as they continued to visit with many old friends and the new sisters just recently met. Part of the reception time also allowed people to spend more time checking out the displays for each decade and the various pieces of memorabilia brought back by some of the Alum. Old paddles, pledge books, photo albums, blankets and more were shared, and brought back many memories, as well as providing some big laughs.

Following the evening banquet -- another great meal held in the Great Hall -- the Women of Delta Sigma took time to honor the Founding Members of this great Society. Nine of the FMs were able to join us for the Saturday evening event: Jan Cooper, Anne Chidester Hamilton, Mary Jo Elder Lanzen, Cecie Grable Chaney, Sara Leis Keener, MaryAnn Keil Ahart, Zoe Mackil Wilcox, Kathy Reigle Baxter and Sue Sanderson Billings. (Linda Crawford-Cloud, another FM, was with us on Friday evening and for part of the day Saturday.) Joining the Founding Members at the reunion was Pat Timberman McWilliams, a member of the 1963 Pledge Class, the very first pledge class. Several of the Founding Members shared some thoughts and memories about their years as Delts, but probably what surprised everyone the most was when Jan Cooper produced the actual Pledge responsibilities book she created for Kay Allen Reardon, another member of the 1963 pledge class. If any of you ever had to write to a family member of you pledge boss, I believe we can thank Jan and other Founding Members for starting that tradition. (My pledge boss also had me write to her cat. Don't know when that started, but the reply letter from her cat was quite funny.)

The evening's extra entertainment began with a terrific slide show that presented a small portion of the visual history of the Delts -- 50 years is a very long time. Photos from every decade were included, and wow, what memories! (If you'd like to view this, a link has been provided below.) After this, the Saturday banquet concluded with the singing of pledge class songs. Once again, due to time constraints, only a small number of songs could be sung, but we chose some of the favorites. -- Sadly, we did not attempt the 1963 Pledge Class song, as with all the added verses, we'd have been in the Great Hall long past everyone's bedtimes. Once the singing was brought to an end, most women headed off for rest or parties in the dorms or off site. One group of woman from the 1980's toured Williard singing some of the pledge class songs we didn't get to after the banquet.

On Sunday morning, those alum and actives still around gathered together for a concluding service created by two alum who are ordained ministers. Emotions and memories peaked in Herbster Chapel as we were all brought together for a final celebration of Delta Sigma Chi and to begin the process of saying farewell to our old and new sisters. After the opening of the service a trio of women (and our pianist) performed Sister by Cris Williamson. This was followed by special activity that brought all of us together as we added pieces to a small watercolor quilt by selecting pieces that visually represented us or another Delt not present, or no longer with us, we might choose to remember. The process was described, and the initial pieces were added -- each representing one the 8Ds (Dainty, Dauntless, ...). A story of a Delt that typified each of those words was shared before these first pieces were placed. In another part of the service -- An Act of Remembrance, the women attending were given an opportunity to remember our Delt Sisters who have passed with a candle lighting ceremony. -- Very moving and touching. -- Softly As I Leave You, a song once used at the end of Sing Out was sung as this piece of the service concluded. Near the end of the service, Delts representing the Founding Members, the 25th Anniversary year and 50th Anniversary year were chosen to participate in a lighting of the candles from the Delt board before all of us were asked to retake the vows of membership. Amazing to hear that in unison, and to remember the meaning behind becoming a member of Delta Sigma Chi. The service closed with the women forming a circle around the chapel for the singing of White Mum and Let There Be Sisterhood. --- And, then a lighter note was added before all of the final good-byes were made, when a group of younger alum treated us all to a very fun and lively song. -- A perfect ending to the weekend as it added laughter to the many tears.

 

this file is on YouTube -- use the back button to return to this site

[my apologies for the iSkysoft watermark on the slides, but it was a free software and the original file needed to be converted for web use]
if you attended the reunion, the slide show is on the Reunion DVD -- that version has no watermark

 

And, finally many, many thanks to each and every person who helped in some way to put this reunion weekend together. There were quite a few of you, and this weekend wouldn't have happened or been so wonderful without the parts you played or the assistance you offered. No bit of help was too small.

 

 

Want to keep up with some of the Delt Alum and Actives from Heidelberg?

Great! We hope to continue keeping in touch with part of our sisters via this site, and the Facebook group. If you want to reconnect with some of your other Delt sisters, please also consider becoming a member of the following Facebook group:

Interested in the current Delt happenings on campus?

If so, then you need go no further than their website. There you'll find information on upcoming events, members and photos. They even have a guestbook if you want to get in touch with them.

 

Curious about what's new at Heidelberg?

Then check out this link, which contains several videos about Heidelberg and recent happenings.