Martha Moore
Martha Hays Moore is the senior member of the Alpha chapter, joining right after high school in 1977.
She is from a long line of Tri Kappas: her mother, Susie Hays Voekel; her grandmother, Anna Ruth Wallace; and her great-grandmother, Martha Haworth. Her daughter, Emily Moore, makes the fifth generation of Tri Kappas in one family.
“My great-grandmother joined in the early days of Tri Kappa,” Martha says. “My grandmother started the Small Sacrifice (fundraiser).”
She is proud of her home chapter and just a little bit in awe over her sisters’ fundraising abilities.
“My gosh! The other day I hopped on a Tri Kappa email which said we needed help unloading four semis full of flowers,” Martha says. “Do you know how many flowers that is? This chapter rocks!”
A graduate of Bloomington High School South, Martha attended Indiana University to study elementary education. She got her master’s degree at Cleveland State. After teaching remedial reading and special education for several years, Martha retired to spend time raising her family.
Far from retired these days, Martha and her husband, David, own the Far Center for Contemporary Arts (Pictura Gallery) and The Elm restaurant on 2nd Street. They have three grown children, Andrew, Emily and Clara, who all live in Colorado, and a grandson, Lucas.
While most of her Tri Kappa history has been with the Alpha chapter, Martha did spend several years affiliated with the Corydon sisterhood.
“When we moved back to Bloomington in 1997, Angie Martin got hold of me, and she wouldn’t leave me alone (until I re-joined the local chapter),” Martha laughs. “My mom was still in Tri Kappa then, so I really enjoyed being involved.”
Martha served as recording secretary for the Alpha chapter and was active in the craft show at Binford Elementary School and the style show, both fundraisers that the local club doesn’t host anymore. She has loved the time she’s spent in the sorority.
“I’ve always enjoyed Tri Kappa,” Martha says. “That’s because I’ve always enjoyed the friendship of women.”
More About Martha:
Has been to both the North and South poles
Was Pi Beta Phi sorority mom to Nancy Gettinger
Sang and danced onstage with Elton John in Las Vegas
Loves to ride tandem bikes with her husband
Served as a youth and children’s minister for the United Methodist Church for 40 years