Jan McDermott leaves impact on Beta Tau Delta after 50 years

By NICOLE HASEK nhasek@iowainformation.com

Jan McDermott joined the Beta Tau Delta sorority in 1974 for companionship and to serve the youth in her community. In her 50 years of membership, she has held every position within the sorority, which has been active for over 100 years. 

“She’s the go-to person for history and traditions,” said Carole Custer, lead publicity chair. “If any of us have had any questions about how things have been done in the past, or how things might be done in the future.” 

McDermott said she has been a part of every committee within the sorority, including community concerns, ways and means, annual appeal, publicity, nominating, children’s champion, auditing, social, courtesy and mailings. 

“Our whole emphasis is to do it for the youth of Greene County,” McDermott said. 

McDermott used to be a chair for the Charity Ball, planning and decorating for the annual fundraiser previously held at the Elks Lodge, before it was made into a virtual fundraising event nearly 10 years ago. 

“The money we made from that went to take care of kids’ needs,” McDermott said. “We’d buy boots and coats and snow pants and whatever these kids needed, and we would take them with us and they could pick out what they wanted.”

Custer referred to McDermott as the “driving force” behind the Charity Ball event when she was the chair, crediting her for bettering the “first holiday event in Jefferson” that lasted over 60 years. With this event and mail-in donations, the organization is able to raise between $10,000 and $15,000 annually to give back to children’s projects.

Everything raised goes directly to supporting Greene County youth to provide necessary supplies and opportunities that may not be available otherwise. McDermott said every year $1,000 scholarships are given to three graduating seniors from Greene County Community School District and one to a Paton-Churdan graduate.

Projects that are funded by the sorority are decided on by the community concerns committee, currently led by Pat Rusnak, after receiving information on what the community needs support on.

The sorority has also funded the Blank Park Zoo trip elementary students take as a way to provide a field trip to students. They also fund admission for the Bell Tower so Greene County youth always have an opportunity to experience that aspect of town. Custer said the sorority has also helped pay for children’s dental bills if their parents are unable to afford it. An annual coat drive also offers kids needed winter wear.

“The whole idea of raising money to help kids programs has really been that steadfast vision for the sorority for all those years,” Custer said. “It really is a passion that all of us have to help kids in our county.”

McDermott is still involved in the sorority, with the annual appeal committee being her most recent involvement, but has taken a step back from committees and planning. Her niece, Teresa Green, is now the sorority president.