Writing a Reference
We are blessed that our alumnae wish to be involved in the reference process. It ensures the Tri Delta legacy continues as more wonderful young women join our sisterhood. Since new alumnae are writing references each year and the process and vernacular change year to year ("rush" is now "recruitment" and a "rushee" is now a "potential new member (PNM)"), we ask you to take the time to download and read, Frequently Asked Questions. This information sheet is designed to save you and the reference committee time, insures all copies submitted on time by the May 1 deadline, and gives your potential new member the best chance to be a Tri Delta.
Writing a reference is a great way to ensure that the ranks of Tri Delta will keep growing with each generation of bright, outstanding young women. We appreciate your time, careful consideration and attention to the instructions.
The Houston Alumnae Chapter Reference Committee processes 700+ references for PNM's who attend school (public or private) in Houston ISD and Spring Branch ISD only. Any PNM from another school district should contact her hometown DDD alumnae chapter, or area Panhellenic for guidance. Completed reference packets must be received by a committee member by May 1. If a college choice is not final, send to the Reference Chairman.
Tri Delta Legacies
Recruitment Donations
Reference Writing
What exactly is a legacy? Legacies are daughters, sisters or step-sisters of Tri Delta initiates. You can provide the Houston Alumnae Chapter with legacy information by completing a membership form. If you are not a current dues-paying Houston Tri Delta Alumna, please join online today. There is a spot on the membership form to enter legacy data. Once you are in our database through membership, the Houston Alumnae Chapter helps ensure that you and your daughter stay up-to-date on recruitment information once she is a junior in high school.
During recruitment, each collegiate chapter and each sorority handles legacies differently. Being a legacy does not guarantee membership in any way. As much as we would like each chapter to consider a legacy carefully, we have no control over the collegiate chapters and their policies regarding legacies. Also, please understand that even if a legacy goes to preference, she is not guaranteed an invitation to membership. Each chapter is different, as is their policy regarding legacies.
The Houston Alumnae Chapter hosts a party each year and includes area legacies. The Pine Party is held each year around the Christmas holidays and is held primarily in honor of current Tri Delta collegians and their mothers. High school junior and senior legacies and their mothers are also invited.
Houston Panhellenic hosts a Recruitment Roundtable each February for mothers and daughters to encourage participation in the recruitment and membership recruitment process, to educate prospective new members and to answer questions regarding the women's fraternity system.
In addition to your references and letters, we need your financial support. Many times we are asked to help support the collegiate chapters by providing meals during work week, and we ask for your financial donations to help us provide the meals and push our Houston girls! We thank you in advance for your support.
One of the privileges of membership in Tri Delta is the opportunity to submit a reference about a potential new member who is participating in recruitment. Please review the documents below to gain a full understanding of the Reference writing process. Thank you for your recommendation and support of Tri Delta!
Download Reference Packet Instructions >
Download the hardcopy Houston Reference Form >
Electronic Reference via DDD National website >
Reference Writing 2020-2021
Information You Need to Know
Deadline to submit references is May 1, 2020
PNMs (Potential New Members) should register online with HAPA http://www.houston-panhellenic.org and online with their college/university (Google the college/university name Panhellenic and/or college/university name Greek Life).
Online Tri Delta references from the national website can be found at https://www.tridelta.org/write-a-reference/ and are preferred with the exception of The University of Texas (Pam Goodson - UT Chair). Once you receive the confirmation email from nationals of their receipt of the online reference, please forward the email to dddhourecruitment@gmail.com.
If you are unable to submit a reference online, please send hard copies of the information and photos to Johnnie Taylor at 1006 Potomac Dr., Houston, TX 77057, except for references for The University of Texas and Texas A&M University which should be sent directly to Pam Goodson (Texas) and Mindy Bradley (A&M) at the addresses listed below.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING LEGACIES: While we all want our legacies to pledge Tri Delta, please know that legacies are treated like every other potential new member in the recruitment process. Below is an excerpt taken from the national website regarding legacies:
We take into consideration whether a PNM is a legacy – a potential member whose mother, sister, step-mother or step-sister is a member of Tri Delta. We value our members and love meeting legacies. Being a legacy does not guarantee membership. The Fraternity policy states: “Chapters are encouraged, but not required, to entertain legacies for a minimum of one invitational event if possible.” It also goes on to specify that, “voting on legacies must be conducted at the same time and in the same manner as voting on all potential new members.”
The Reference Committee is available to assist you with any questions you may have. The Committee's main duty is to make sure all references get to the appropriate collegiate chapter recruitment team.
Reference Committee Officers
Reference Chairman
Mimi Leasure Butler
11723 Legend Manor Drive, 77082
713-562-6355
University of Texas at Austin
Pam Alt Goodson
13703 Perthshire, 77079
713-252-5094
Asst. Reference Chairman
Johnnie Skalla Taylor
1006 Potomac, 77057
713-502-8026
Texas A&M University
Mindy Bradley
12438 Huntingwick, 77024
713-244-4212
Reference Team Members
Jennifer Doland Blomquist
7902 Meadow Lake Lane, 77063
713-952-2654
Tracy Taylor Christie
4918 Braesvalley, 77096
713-825-5314
Patty Kallmayer
3746 Darcus Street, 77005
713-205-6921
Elizabeth Mills More
201 Vanderpool Lane #64, 77024
713-408-7104
Katherine Boone Phelps
3617 Inwood, 77019
832-545-8865
Inga Laughlin Smith
222 Stoney Creek Drive, 77024
713-254-5947
Terri Greaves Tarwater
12214 Boheme Drive, 77024
214-808-0905