[AGDAlum]

Here's the history behind Alpha Gamma Delta's Skiouros. (Skiouros is the Greek word for squirrel.)

The mascot was chosen by Gamma Chapter in 1915 with this explanation: "In the days when Gamma first made the triple colors of red, buff, and green her own, some of her energetic number sought a mascot to symbolize the characteristics of the colors and progress of Alpha Gamma Delta. In the autumn tints, so beautifully dear to us in the song of that name, they received the suggestion, and the little squirrel, typical frequenter of autumn haunts, was chosen as the mascot. Our little friend, we find, is also nimble and agile--he leaps from branch to branch and accomplishes such progress to symbolize the spirit that never dies, the spirit of energetic alertness and progress."

For decades Skiouros was used as the title for an esoteric newsletter (as opposed to the exoteric Quarterly) circulated to those serving on Official Family (=province and council). Many NPC groups started to promote mascots in the late 1960's/early 1970's. Skiouros was reintroduced as a mascot at the 1972 Convention. (Brass replicas of founder Emily H. Butterfield's version of Skiouros were given as banquet favors. I still have mine--the beginning of my squirrel collection.)

AGDAlum

who echoes the concern about copyright violation on the part of those GLOs who choose Winnie the Pooh, Raggedy Ann, or another 'commercial' character as a mascot--do you have the resources for a legal defense if you get sued? or to pay the fine?