Tina Rosenbaum has been a member of Crown Point Tri Kappa - Gamma Theta since 2016 and currently serves as the president.
Each Tri Kappa chapter undertakes special projects to support their communities and contributes to statewide initiatives, offering scholarships at both state and chapter levels.
"Tri Kappa is unique to Indiana; it doesn't exist in any other state or country," said Rosenbaum. "It was established in 1901 at a college in Indianapolis. The organization expanded by having its members return to their communities to form local chapters, all dedicated to promoting charity, culture, and education. For example, our chapter in Crown Point is called Gamma Theta-Tri Kappa. We have around 100 members in our chapter, but there are also chapters in places like Lowell, La Porte, Indianapolis, and Bloomington."
Rosenbaum was invited by a friend to join the service sorority, and it has profoundly impacted her life, bringing significant personal growth.
"I was invited to join Tri Kappa by friends who were members back in 2016," said Rosenbaum. "They shared their experiences with me, and I even volunteered to help with some of their philanthropic work and projects before officially becoming a member. I quickly saw the impact Tri Kappa had on our community and the opportunities that emerged from the collective efforts of the other women working toward the same goals."
The organization quickly captured Rosenbaum's attention, leading her to become actively involved. She advanced through the ranks, ultimately leading to the position of president.
"I was drawn to the spirit of the organization," said Rosenbaum. "When you join, you naturally grow with it. You start by volunteering and serving on committees. As you learn more, you begin to lead committees, and eventually, you may be selected to serve on the executive board, which happened to me a few years ago. I first served as vice president for two years and am now in my second year as president. After completing this term, I'll continue to serve as an adviser to the executive board for the following two years."
Tri Kappa continuously finds ways to promote the sorority and highlight the significance of its chapter by showcasing community achievements.
"We continue to uphold Tri Kappa's mission of promoting charity, culture, and education, staying true to our roots while striving to grow as an organization and make a greater impact on our community," said Rosenbaum. "There are currently 216 chapters across Indiana, with over 8,000 members statewide. It's important to us to keep moving forward and to expand our impact, especially as the cost of living and the needs in our communities increase each year."
Tri Kappa makes significant contributions to the community through volunteering at events, supporting local restaurants, and getting involved in a wide range of community activities.
"We raise money that allows us to give back to the community through various projects," said Rosenbaum. "For example, we have a partnership with TownFair, where we earn money by working at the event. We manage the gates and collect entrance fees, and the hours we work contribute directly to our community efforts. Additionally, every other year, Crown Point Gamma Theta hosts a kitchen tour in which we sell tickets for community members and others to tour kitchens in local homes. Chefs from nearby restaurants prepare samples of their food – it is a great way to support local businesses and bring the community together."
One notable event that Tri Kappa hosts is its Easter project, where the sorority sells handcrafted Tri Kappa eggs.
"Another project we have is our chocolate Easter egg project, which we do around Easter. We hand-make chocolate eggs and distribute them to community members," said Rosenbaum. "They’re delicious, and we’ve been doing this for decades. Recently, we’ve challenged ourselves to make an even bigger impact, so we've added a new project that will take place this November—our first large-scale project in the community. All the proceeds from the hours we work on these projects go back into our philanthropy fund, allowing us to give back to the community. One of the significant things we do with these funds is provide over $11,000 in scholarship money to students."
In addition to the Easter project, Tri Kappa engages in numerous other community service projects that make a positive impact on the community.
"We give back in so many ways as we support St. Jude House, St. Clair House, South Shore Arts, Crown Point Library, and various reading programs,” said Rosenbaum. “We host a major art show at Crown Point High School, where we award scholarships. We also support our local fire department, music boosters, numerous initiatives at Crown Point High School, business professionals, and Unified Team Day. The list truly goes on and on, and we're very proud of the work we do in the community."
In addition to working full-time, she is married and a mom of five. She believes her ability to balance the two comes from her passion for being part of the organization, along with the support of her husband and the incredible women within the chapter.
"I'm on the executive board, and we have advisors who guide us and assist with any questions I have," said Rosenbaum. "Our board consists of five members, including myself. We work together to lead our chapter in the direction we want it to grow and continue expanding. My husband and family are also very supportive of the work I do, which makes balancing everything much easier."
She encourages people to join her sorority as they strive to build strong bonds, serve the community, and participate in meaningful activities together.
"Membership is by invitation, but we encourage people to reach out and express their interest in the organization," said Rosenbaum. "That's how I got involved—through friends who were already members. The more I learned about Tri Kappa, the more I realized how well it aligned with my personal goals and motivations. In addition to our local chapters, we are governed by a state council and have a state convention. We also have a presence online through our website, Facebook, and Instagram, where people can learn more about the organization and what we do."
For more information, visit its website at cp-trikappa.org, follow its Instagram page at @trikappaindiana, and find them on Facebook at Tri Kappa-State (official). You can also contact Rosenbaum at crownpointgammatheta@trikappa.org.