I posted this in a Chi Omega forum a few months ago -- thought I'd add it here too:

Representation in Top Athletic Conferences
I found the recent threads on NPC representation in many of the athletic conferences very interesting. It made me very proud to see Chi Omega at (or near) the top of the lists!

SEC: 12/12

Big 12: 12/12

Pac 10: 9/10

Big 10: 10/11

ACC: 7/9

Big East (after this year's reallignment): 6/17 (tied for #1)

With collegiate chapters at 170ish campuses -- we are on large state schools, small private schools, commuter campuses, etc. We are in all regions of the country. The variety is important...and good.

It's a French word in origin....if it came out of the South, it's probably from all the French people who hightailed it down there from (what is now) French-Canada.

Main Entry: 1de·but
Variant(s): also dé·but /'dA-"byü, dA-'/
Function: noun
Etymology: French début, from débuter to begin, from Middle French desbuter to play first, from des- de- + but starting point, goal -- more at BUTT
1 : a first appearance <made her singing debut>
2 : a formal entrance into society

But did the French refer to their daughters' coming-out as "debutantes"?

Not exactly; the correct French word for the "coming out" itself is debut. Debutante (which is the feminine form; the masculine is debutant) can be either a noun or an adjective meaning "beginner." By some extension, it can mean either "one who makes a debut" (noun) or "having to do with a debut" (adjective). Thus, a woman who makes a debut is a debutante, and a ball or cotillion held for the purpose of debuts is a debutante ball or cotillion.

While these words are unquestionably French, their usage in the context of a young lady's "coming out" appears to have orginated in England and was later adopted in France.

Our representation in southern states:
(# of chapters)

AL- 0
TX- 3
FL-4
LA-4
GA-2
MS-0
Ark-3
TN-0
NC-9
SC-4
VA-6
KY-2

So we're no Phi Mu or Chi Omega by any means but I think we'll get there in time.
:)

I sort of figured that the ball was from your mom's chapter. A cousin of mine was presented in a Delta ball in Charlotte, N.C. I didn't participate in the ball that my chapter presents back in 1981 or so. :o

Correct! I made my "debut" in the 1999 season back home in New Orleans. It was quite fun. I was also presented by the Pass Christian, MS Yacht Club on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Most debs in New Orleans are in sororities and I would say that Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Chi Omega are always strongly represented. However, I know most sororities have been represented in some way or another. Kappa has had the most queens of Mardi Gras (Queen of Rex.)

Awww Jocelyn, you edited your post so many times that now your initial compliment to Chi Omega is gone. (Just wanted you to know I saw it & I appreciated it.) :)

Prom in your gym? WTF? That's not a midwestern thing at all - at least not in the urban areas. My prom was at a pavilion at the Zoo that's used for charity fundraising and the other proms I went to were at hotels or restaurants on the lake.

There are four Phi Mu chapters in Kentucky.

Kentucky has two Sigma Sigma Sigma chapters.

Cool! Mine was at an old department store restaurant that used to be a place that competed with hotels. It wasn't just your regular restaurant, as many events, including Toronto's first car show and auctions as well as radio broadcasts of the TSO were held there. Many Toronto area high schools held their formals there in the late 90s. These days, there are more venues, as many older movie theatres have converted to events theatres.

This is the Arcadian Court's website: http://www.arcadiancourt.ca/index1.htm

Our H S Proms were in the Gymnasium also. Big enough to hold two classes and dates.

Jrs., did the decoration and design in honor for the Seniors. This was in the Kansas City Metro area. All did it that way back in "the old days"! LOL!

Kansas City has two Debutante comings out yearly. Usuallky at the Nelson-Atkins Gallery of History and Arts.

One for well, I dont want to go into that. They are seperate because they want to be.

Missouri is also considered Southern along with Texas, Ks was a Free State in a lot of polotics played back in those days.

The first Battle of the Civil War was in and between Kansas and Missouri not at Fort Summter., the Gettysburg of the West was in KC Mo. Last major battle of the Civil War was in Ark at Pea Ridge.

The lists that most put on Site are from the Old Mason Dixon Line. Just a Survey at the time, not a divider from North and South. Actually, Maryland was considered Souther at the time.

I think it just showed a genteeler time then.:)

Hmm. I actually know four of the girls debuting in Mississippi...two Greek, two not.

We had ours in the Dayton Masonic Temple, but freshman year I went with a guy from another school and theirs was in their gym. I was really confused.