In the summer of 1978, the Delta Alumnae Chapter in closest proximity to Orange County was Durham Alumnae. Six Deltas living in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community maintained active membership by affiliating with Durham Alumnae (Paula Woods, Joyce O’Rourke, Mildred Trent, Dot Carey, Ethel Jean Jackson, and Erma Smith). Sensing a need that a chapter located in Orange County could reach and serve more local people, plans unfolded for the establishment of a local chapter when Ethel Jean Jackson, Paula Woods, Erma Smith and Esther Vassar met in the basement of Dot Carey’s home to discuss the idea. From August 1978 to November 1978, Deltas in the area were identified and the application was sent to National Headquarters. While waiting for official sanction, the group named themselves the “Coordinating Council for Deltas in Orange County” and began traditional Delta programming. On November 21, 1978, a food basket containing a turkey and other foodstuffs was delivered to a needy family in Chapel Hill.
On January 24, 1979, the South Atlantic Regional Director, Norma Sermon, notified the group that the National Executive Board had served notice that the criteria for formation of an alumnae chapter in Orange County had been met. By February 22, 1979, the constitution and by-laws had been drafted, a slate of officers prepared, and a site for installation identified and reserved. Invitations were mailed to surrounding chapters and other activities were carried out in preparation for the chapter installation. On March 18, 1979, under the direction of the Regional Director, Norma Sermon and Carolyn Thornton, National Projects Chairperson, twenty-two graduate sorors were installed and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Area Alumnae Chapter was chartered. The ceremony was held at the YMCA on Airport Road in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Kappa Omicron of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Durham, Greensboro and Oxford-Henderson Alumnae chapters were represented at the ceremony. Gifts to the new chapter included a gavel from Durham Alumnae, a gavel and base from Oxford-Henderson, and African violets from Kappa Omicron. A banquet to celebrate the momentous occasion followed the installation.
Today, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Area Alumnae Chapter, with over 130 members, continues to implement the sorority’s mission of public service in a diverse array of programs and projects through its national five point program thrust: Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, Political Awareness and Involvement. A few accomplishments of the chapter include:
- Scholarship aid to 126 students primarily from Orange and Chatham Counties pursuing a college education
- Annual sponsorship of the MLK Blood Drive in collaboration with the American Red Cross
- Hosts of the Orange-Chatham African American Cultural Arts Festival
- Social action initiatives such as voter registration and education
- Delta Seminars for Teens focusing on test-taking skills, financial aid and scholarships, careers, college admissions, health, etc.
- Observance of World AIDS Day
- Creation of the African American Trailblazers Mural
- Annual food and personal care baskets to needy families and battered women
- Monetary donations to the United Negro College Fund, Habitat for Humanity, NAACP, Children’s Defense Fund, and other national non-profit charitable organizations
- Sponsorship of School America, a national reading program
- Donation of books to the Reading Center at Hargraves Recreation Center and Head Start
- Health awareness programs, such as breast cancer, clinical depression, and HIV/ AIDS
- Establishment of “Etiquette College” focusing on table manners, proper attire and other socially prescribed norms
- Orange County Women’s Partnership for Habitat for Humanity
Kneeling - Left to Right: Roslyn Moore, Ethel Jean Jackson - Chaplain*, Dot Carey – Recording Secretary, Paula Woods - President, Norma Sermon (South Atlantic Regional Director), Martha Flowers*, Rosemary Jackson, Sandra Renwick, and Carolyn Thorton (Chair, National Projects Committee)
2nd Row - Left to Right: Demetria Chavis – 2nd Vice President, Joyce O'Rourke*, Winona Peace*, Sheila White – Financial Secretary, Erma Smith – 1st Vice President, Carolyn Stroman - Treasurer, Esther Vassar, and Deborah Hall
3rd Row - Left to Right: Elizabeth Whitted - Custodian*, Alice Battle*, Irma Best, Phyllis Beane, Mildred Trent – Journalist-Historian, Pearl Caldwell*, and Joyce Roland - Sergeant-at-Arms/Parliamentarian
- Omega Omega