Tau Beta Sigma | |
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ΤΒΣ | |
Founded | March 26, 1946 Texas Tech University |
Type | Recognition, Service |
Scope | National |
Motto | "Tau Beta Sigma for Greater Bands" |
Colors |
White Blue |
Flower | The "American Beauty" Red Rose, long-stemmed |
Publication |
The PODIUM (1947–Present) The Baton (1947) |
Chapters | 144 active, 241 chartered |
Colonies | 2 |
Members | 3,800 collegiate 47,000+ lifetime |
Headquarters |
401 E. 9th Ave. Stillwater, Oklahoma USA |
Homepage | http://www.tbsigma.org |
White
The PODIUM (1947–Present)
Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority (ΤΒΣ, colloquially referred to as TBSigma or TBS) is a co-educational service sorority dedicated to serving college and university bands, promoting diversity, and empowering women in bands and the community. ΤΒΣ sisters share the ideals of leadership, educational achievement, appreciation of music, and strong moral values. The Sorority, headquartered at the historic Stillwater Station in Stillwater, Oklahoma, numbers over 3,500 active members in 145 active chapters, and over 40,000 alumni. Since 1946, Tau Beta Sigma has been recognized by Kappa Kappa Psi as "an equal affiliated organization with a parallel purpose, function and role in the college and university band setting", and the two organizations hold joint conventions and Tau Beta Sigma administers an alumni association open to members of both organizations. The two organizations contribute to a national publication called, The Podium.
Tau Beta Sigma was founded at Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) by Mrs. Wava Banes (Turner Henry). Due to corporation laws in the state of Texas at the time, however, the Texas Tech sisters surrendered their name, ritual, jewelry, constitution and Alpha Chapter designation in January 1946 to the local band sorority at Oklahoma State University. The Alpha chapter of Tau Beta Sigma was installed at OSU on March 26, 1946. This had the additional effect of locating both of the Alpha chapters of Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi at the same school. The founding members of the Alpha Chapter were: Rosemary Wright, Frances Martin, Ebba Jensen, Mary Belle Reece, Margaret Stanffer, Bernice Friend, and Maribeth Crist. Later, on May 4, 1946, the Beta chapter of Tau Beta Sigma was founded at Texas Tech.
In addition to the close relationship with Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma has historical and current relationships with several other organizations. One such relationship is with Sigma Alpha Iota, a international fraternity for women with a strong interest in music.