Social Awareness
The objects of the Fraternity, as outlined in the Constitution, are "to foster high ideals of friendship among college women, to promote their educational and cultural interests, to create in them a true sense of social responsibility and to develop in them the best qualities of character."

A working knowledge of social behavior and customs and the principals of appropriateness and manners are essentials for an educated woman in today's world. A "true sense" of social awareness is the active expression of kindness, consideration and unselfishness. When one focuses on being kind and courteous to others, she moves beyond self-centeredness and enables herself to be more comfortable in any situation.

Gracious Living
Over the years, Delta Gammas have gained valuable experience in living together and in creating unity without conformity. A pattern of excellence has developed which is embodied in the objects of the Fraternity.

Delta Gammas are proud of this pattern. A member is selected because she meets the criteria for membership in the Fraternity. She is a woman of excellence. She will have the freedom to live and grow as an individual but her character and personality will enable her to accept the ideals that are Delta Gamma.

The keys to success in gracious living are simple. They also demand the best that one can give: moral strength, consideration of others, and the true courtesy of kindness and caring. If one hopes to receive tolerance, courtesy and sensitive understanding from others, one must offer those same gifts in return.

Women have special strengths with regard to gracious living. By exercising those strengths of self-discipline, kindness, gentleness and goodness, women make a significant contribution to improving their campuses and communities, the lives of others and their own lives.

Etiquette at meals
Interest in etiquette may run in cycles, but etiquette endures. It is still an important aspect of today's society. For example, many business interviews and conferences are now conducted over meals. If an individual does not know how to handle herself, she will be distracted by concern over what fork to use, rather than focused on the business at hand. She could potentially influence the outcome of her job search or a business deal because of her lack of etiquette. Delta Gamma gives an individual many opportunities to learn, utilize and perfect social skills. The practice of gracious living reflects on the level of growth and maturity of a woman.

Basic table manners:
• Upon being seated, the napkin should be unfolded onto your lap. If leaving the meal, place the napkin on your chair. After completing the meal, place your napkin on the table.
• Begin eating when everyone at the table has been served and, if in a group, when the hostess has lifted her fork.
• Spoon soup away when eating. Only oyster crackers can be placed in soup while all other crackers are to be eaten with the fingers.
• Always pass the salt and pepper shaker together. They are married and should never be divorced.
• Do not cut bread, bun or roll with a knife. Break gently with fingers and butter small pieces at a time.
• Do not use fingers to help scoop up food onto the fork.
• Always pass food to the right with the utensils toward the recipient.
• Eat small bites and never speak with a mouth full of food.
• Don't blow on hot foods or drinks to cool them off.
• All spoons should be placed on the service plate when finished. Never leave in the bowl, cup or parfait glass.
• Do not stack dishes when finished. Leave things where they are and place silverware diagonally across the plate.

Personal Pride
As one grows and matures, one's personal pride and attitude develops. Delta Gamma can help guide and assist members in making individual choices in their lives. The support the Fraternity offers is invaluable through collegiate years and will last a lifetime.

Introductions
Collegiate years, with their abundance of social activities, afford the opportunity to meet an extraordinary number and variety of people. It is very important to know how to make introductions correctly and with ease.

The rules are not as stringent as they once were, but the following general rules should be used:

• men are introduced TO women
• a younger person TO an older person
• a peer in another group TO a peer in your group
• a non-official person TO a person with a title or an office

Remembering names is important! Concentrate. First and last names should always be used in an introduction. After meeting someone in a business situation or someone older, use his or her last name until asked to do otherwise. If one can't remember a name, she should just say so. Everyone understands an occasional lapse.

Professional Introductions
Introducing people is one of the most important acts in business and social life, yet many make introductions in a haphazard way. Here are some techniques to give you the edge when making introductions:
• Stand Up
• Smile
• Always Shake Hands, and Firmly
• Make Eye Contact
• Repeat the Other Person’s Name

How to introduce a customer to your supervisor:
Look at and say the customer’s name first. Then look at your supervisor and say her/his name. Example: “Mary Comfort Leonard, I would like you to meet our department manager, Hannah Smith.”

How to introduce your supervisor to a job candidate:
Look at and say your supervisor’s name first. Then look at the job candidate and say her/his name. Example: “Eva Marie Dodd, I would like you to meet Hannah Smith, who is a recent alumni of the University.”

Mention something that is of mutual interest. Example: “Ms. Anna Boyd Ellington, our company president, is also a Delta Gamma.”

Seven Most Commonly Made Business Introduction Faux Pas
• Wearing your nametag on the left rather than the right side.
• Remaining seated rather than standing when someone approaches you.
• Not repeating the name of the person you have just met and using it at least once during the conversation.
• For Men: shaking women’s “fingers”, rather than her hand.
• For Women: giving a “dead fish” handshake, rather than one that is firm. And not shaking hands with business associates you meet outside a business setting – shopping malls, grocery stores – as you would during a business session.
• Not giving your business card after an exchange of rapport.
• Business introductions not being based on rank rather than on gender.

Moral attitude
It is important that one's moral attitude be self-defined and understood. One must decide what is right and do what is right. This requires constant self-examination as one matures, but the resulting strength of character is a mark of distinction. Delta Gamma standards are set high to assist each member in developing a strong and lasting moral attitude.

Drinking
There are local, state, provincial and federal laws as well as university regulations and Delta Gamma policies governing alcohol consumption. These laws and rules exist because underage or excessive drinking can be the source of serious problems. If, however, one is of legal age and does choose to drink, she should do so in a responsible manner. One should know what she is drinking and never drink to excess. She should be temperate and keep her dignity. If one doesn't care to drink, she should not feel forced to do so! If other people's drinking, results in a problem situation, one should seek help. Alcohol is not worth risking one's reputation or life.

Thank you
With life's busy demands, people sometimes forget to use two of the best-loved words in any language: "thank you." One should say it to family, dates, chapter advisers, roommates, sisters, and a person who holds the door open or to anyone who is helpful.

Receiving compliments
It is best to accept a compliment about oneself, one's clothes, one's actions, with a simple "thank you" or "thanks so much for saying so." There is no need for explanations or denials.

Delta Gamma Badge
The badge may be worn on a collar, on a dress, on a suit or on a blouse—as our Founders did. But it is usually worn over the heart. One's badge should not be worn with extremely casual clothes or in areas where alcohol is being consumed. Each Delta Gamma should wear her badge frequently and with great pride!

Helpful Hints

Do: You may be the only Delta Gamma an individual ever comes in contact with. Your voice on the phone may establish a lasting impression of your Fraternity. Speak clearly, carefully and courteously. Accurately take a message and be sure to deliver it to that member.

Don't: Let the phone ring 10 times before you answer it in a gruff, "what do you want?" then scribble down a message and never deliver it to the recipient.

Do: When you answer the door you become the hostess for your chapter. Welcome guests, assist them and stay with them until they find whomever they came to see. Take care of service and delivery people courteously.

Don't: Answer the door without a greeting and leave the guests alone to find their own way. It's especially unthoughtful to leave them on the doorstep in a blizzard or rainfall.

Do: The dining room should be a time for slowing down and enjoying friends as well as food. Good manners should prevail. If the dining room is not a place of peace and pleasure, it is up to you to create that atmosphere. If you are late to dinner, apologize to the house director or hostess.

Don't: Rush home from aerobics to grab a plate of food, eat in the living room in front of the TV, and finish dessert in your bedroom as you change for the library.

Do: Your room should be an expression of you as an individual. If it is clean, neat and well appointed, it will speak well of you. Have the utmost consideration for your roommate. This is a time and place to learn tolerance, compromise and cooperation.

Don't: Leave your dirty socks on the floor and pile your crusty dishes on your roommate's desk while promising you will bring them to the kitchen later.

Do: The Delta Gamma house, lodge, suite or room, which houses your chapter, is a special place. Treat it and its furnishings as if it were your personal responsibility, repairing or reporting damage, and being sure that everything is in order when you leave.

Don't: Prop your muddy shoes up on the coffee table while watching TV and carelessly spilling crumbs down the couch as you munch on a snack.

Do: Gossip is seldom constructive and can do great harm. Remember our Oath of Friendship.

Don't: Sit around in a large group and talk about "what your heard" your sister said the other day.

Do: Griping is a contagious and destructive way to express disagreement. It can undermine your chapter. If you have a complaint, discuss it privately with the proper person. If there is something you think should be changed, offer a constructive solution.

Don't: Retreat to your room after chapter meeting and complain to your roommates about the philanthropy event that you need to attend.

Do: The house director is your official hostess. She holds the exceedingly difficult position of having to act as mother, manager and friend. You should give her utmost respect and consideration. When she comes into a room you should stand and offer her a chair. She should be escorted to the dining room and be the first to sit down, as well as the first to leave. All guests should be presented to her. On special occasions, she should be remembered with flowers or a gift. She should be included in as many functions and outings as possible, taken to church and invited to movies, sports events, plays, concerts, etc. Be sure that she gets sufficient rest and sleep. A chapter with a happy house director is usually a happy and efficient home.

Don't: Complain to the house director about the horrible food after every meal, ignore her when she is unloading the groceries from her car and act amazed when she isn't tucked away in her room 24 hours a day.

Educational and Cultural Interests

The following are programming ideas to help further expose your chapter to etiquette:

Etiquette of Our Founders: Visit Emily Post’s original 1922 version of her widely popular Guide to Etiquette. Select a section and present it to chapter members. Lead them in a discussion on how and why etiquette of 1922 has remained the same and/or changed. Do chapter members feel that they could have lived by the etiquette rules of 1922? Why do they feel that some of these rules were put in place?

Your Own Chapter’s Etiquette Standards: So many individual chapters have their own rules of etiquette that all members and new members practice. After reviewing the standards presented within the Watchwords Collegiate Pursuit, your chapter may brainstorm as to exactly what these etiquette practices are. For example, are members discouraged from smoking in their letters? If you are of legal drinking age, does your chapter ask that you don’t drink alcohol while wearing your letters? Do all chapter members wait for your housemother to begin eating before you can eat dinner yourself? Is a chapter prayer offered before eating? Do you send Founders Day cards to the Greek sororities on campus, wishing them well? Share these standards for chapter etiquette – especially any new members – and perhaps brainstorm some new ones.