374
edits
Changes
→Highlights of 2014
•Guatemala Mission Trip:
Three members of Beta Theta raised money to go on a mission trip to Totonicapan, Guatemala. They worked with Habitats for Humanity and built two homes for those in need.
==Highlights of 2015==
Scholarship
• Spring 2015 GPA - 3.396
• Fall 2015 Member GPA - 3.361
Rank – 2nd Place
• Kappa Tutors
The Beta Theta chapter provides members with a Kappa-to-Kappa tutoring system in which members who tutor other members are paid per hour by Kappa. This tutoring system has shown to be a successful way for Kappa’s to grow academically and build relationships with fellow Kappas within their academic field.
• Adopt-a-Prof
In the fall of 2015, we spent time with our Adopt-A-Prof, Amy Davenport. Amy oversees and directs our campus wide workout facility. Our chapter has enjoyed getting to know her and her family. As a chapter, we send care packages, flowers, have dinners with her to form a special bond.
• Smart Cookie
Every week at chapter, our Vice President of Academic Excellence announces a “Smart Cookie” award to be given out to a Kappa who has received an “A” on a test or paper that week. Members can enter the drawing by placing their name or work in a folder. The member who is drawn receives a homemade baked treat. This unique way of positive reinforcement encourages members to succeed academically.
• Period of Support
Kappa established this program to support members after the member has earned a semester of concerning grades. These members are paired with a academically strong member on the academic excellence committee. This mentor encourages the member to use campus and Kappa learning resources. These members on Period of Support also meet regularly with the Vice President of Academic Excellence for encouragement and advice.
• Owl Groups
Our Vice President of Academic Excellence took up a chapter wide survey, identifying everyone’s major and minors. She then compiled them in a master list and passed them out to the chapter members. This gave the younger women in the house the opportunity to ask older members questions about their majors and use them as mentors and for study assistance.
Group Honors/Awards
University of Oklahoma
• President’s Trophy Award
• Campus Activities Council University Sing
• Soonerthon Miracle Network Award
• Campus Activities Council Homecoming
Special Events
• Soonerthon Miracle Child – Lucy
Each year, Kappa gets paired with a Miracle Child from OU Children’s Hospital. This year we were gladly paired with an eight year old girl, Lucy, whom we have been paired with in the past. The Kappas have developed a great relationship with her and her family and are happy to be able to support her again this year. This past semester we went to Andy Alligator’s with the Soonerthon group and then continued the fun back at the Kappa house! We had presents for Lucy and a yummy ice cream bar. We played for hours, painted each other’s faces, and shared a lot of laughs. We ended the night with a sleepover.
• Owl-O-Ween
For Halloween this year, we invited alumnae and their children to join us in trick-or-treating throughout the house. We also provided crafts, food and drinks.
• Dad’s Day
For Dad’s Day, Kappa held a lunch the afternoon before a home football game complete with pictures and a raffle.
• Mom’s Day
For Mom’s Day, Kappa hosted a brunch at our Kappa Hall and put on an incredible fashion show.
• Relay for Life
One of the members of Beta Theta’s mom passed away from cancer in early 2012. In honor of her mom, Kappa put a team together honoring her name and participated in Relay for Life at The University of Oklahoma for the past three years .
• Soonerthon
Soonerthon is OU’s Dance Marathon which raises money for OU Children’s Hospital. Kappa put together a very large team and participated in the 12 hour event.
• Big Event
Big Event is a campus wide community day of service where groups are designated to areas of service around the Norman/OKC metro. Kappa formed two teams that went to two different locations.
• University Sing
Beta Theta was paired with Beta Theta Pi for U-Sing 2015. The theme was "The Show Must Go On" and the chapter chose the Amazing Spiderman and built a performance around it.
• Homecoming
“Historical Moments from the 60s” was the Homecoming theme for 2015. Each group chose a historical moment from the 60s of their choice to build and create homecoming around. Beta Theta was paired with Phi Kappa Psi and Alpha Phi to the theme Moon Landing.
• Blue & Blue
Kappa’s have fun dressing up in all things blue and had a good time at Andy Alligators.
• Kappa Holiday Hoopla
Kappa's all dressed up as different holidays and had a fun evening in downtown Oklahoma City.
• Monmonth
Kappa’s and Pi Phi’s enjoyed a formal evening at Oklahoma City’s Remington Park. The event was formal with a Casino Royale theme; each girl brought a date and there was dancing, catered hors d’oeuvres, and various poker games to play.
• Sundaes with Steve
At one of our chapter events we hosted Steve Ashmore for Sundaes with Steve. The reason why he held the event is to understand a little bit more about Steve. He also spoke about how to better prepare ourselves in college in regards to social events. We got to discuss a little more with him about how to make wise decisions in college and in life after college. After the event was over we had Roxy’s Ice Cream come to serve ice cream sundaes to our chapter members and guests.
• Military Heroes Card-Making
This is our first year to partner with the Kappa Sigma fraternity for a philanthropic event! We are hosting a Military Heroes Card Making event in order to honor those who have served and still continue to serve our country. Each attendee will make five cards for the military heroes. Kappa Kappa Gamma is very excited to host this group service project at our home. We will be making new friends, while also honoring those who most deserve it before Veterans Day.
• Founder's Day
For our Founder’s Day we celebrate the beginning of Kappa Kappa Gamma with a ritual service every year. This year, we decided to spruce it up by asking alumnae to come and speak about their Kappa Days. We had Mollie Blackburn Andrews, class of ’85, come and speak about her experience in Kappa. She talked about how things are different and how they are the same. There were stories about recruitment then and now, and how the specific Kappa house has changed over the years. But then finished explaining that the one constant was the sisterhood in Kappa. She spoke of how her membership in Kappa has been there for life and how her friends and relationships in Kappa have been some of the sweetest in life. It was a very special time to celebrate the beginning of Kappa with a reflections and education from one of our wonderful alumna.
Philanthropic Involvement
• RIF Book Drive
Beta Theta hosts an annual book drive in the fall semester. Our members generously donate books for every grade level and both genders to give to several Title I schools in the Norman Public School District. This year we had the opportunity to donate to our local philanthropy, CCFI, also. They used the books in their Holiday Wishes gift drive. This year we collected over 2,000 books from both chapter members and other organizations on campus to give to several different elementary schools. We are now participating in a volunteer and mentoring program with one of the schools that received donations from us. The book drive was extremely successful this year and we are happy to spread the love for reading to children all around Norman.
• Kappa Kupcakes
"Kappa Kupcakes” is our public philanthropy event that takes place every spring semester. Last year we had it in April and this year it will be held on March 4th. At this event, the Norman and OU community have the chance to come to Kappa and eat cupcakes to support our local philanthropy, the Center for Children and Families, Inc. Attendees enjoy cupcakes and a cake-decorating contest, along with a photo booth and lovely outdoor seating. Last year we presented a check for $4,800 to CCFI. This year we aim to make above and beyond last year’s total. This event is not only full of yummy treats, but it benefits a great cause and provides wonderful community interaction.
• CCFI Diaper drive
Beta Theta hosts an annual diaper drive in the fall semester. Our members generously donate diapers of all sizes so that families without the means to cover the costs of diapers can obtain them for free. This year, we were also able to donate 5,700 diapers to our local philanthropy, the Center for Children and Families, Inc. They used the diapers to distribute to the community from their Diaper Pantry that they house inside of CCFI. This year we had an outstanding turnout donation wise, which was a great way to start the year! The diaper drive was a great community service event to introduce the freshman to CCFI and just a little taste of what they offer. We are grateful for the opportunity to support CCFI in any way. It was very neat for our members to be able to visit CCFi to personally drop off the diapers once the drive was over.
• Goodwill
At the end of each semester, we take up donations to give to Goodwill. It is something so simple that our house loves to participate in.
• Local Fire Department
When Beta Theta has excess unopened food from a catered special event, we donate it to our local fire department for the men on duty.
Chapter Goals
For the year 2015, our chapter goals were to:
Green Quadrant:
•Improve Chapter Council's understanding of chapter budget
•Prepare chapter budget and present to chapter
•The treasurer will hold office hours once a week
•Familiarize members with Panhellenic and encourage greater participation
•Provide incentives for attending weekly Panhellenic meetings
•Continue to nominate at least two individuals for Panhellenic office
•Increase member involvement with chapter events
•Utilize Chapter Council to individually encourage the chapter to support members who have planned events
•Improve attendance at campus events
•Have campus applications readily available in the house to encourage member involvement
•Post weekly campus events calendars around the house to remind members of opportunities
•Implement “Kappa on Kampus” to reward a member each month who has shown great involvement
Blue Quadrant:
•Increase chapter knowledge of History and Ritual
•Implement short ritual reminder of the week/kappa fact at each chapter meeting
•Enhance level of committee involvement
•Restructure committee chapters with a greater emphasis on the importance of committees
•VP - Organization will have a meeting with each committee head to discuss leadership strategy and plans
Yellow Quadrant:
•Motivate and encourage members in their academic endeavors
•Continue to update and organize the chapter’s test files
•Implement incentives program and recognition for individuals with a high GPA, not strictly those who receive a 4.0, like a weekly “smart cookie” award
•Reinstall academic excellence as a priority in recruitment
Red Quadrant:
•Further accountability of Standards and increase morale
•Pursue consistent and fair consequences for Standards violations
•Educate chapter on the Standards process and consequences
•Morale will plan and host sisterhood events to increase morale and bond within the chapter
•Improve chapter image within the community
•Promote positive PR through social media outlets, local newspapers, and community
•Promote positive PR throughout campus by hosting a social media awareness event
Challenges and How They Were Overcome
• PanHellenic ‘No Frills’ policy
The University of Oklahoma’s PanHellenic system has recently decided to adopt a ‘No Frills’ policy in accordance with National PanHellenic guidelines. In the Spring of 2012 this policy was put up to a vote of the chapters on campus. Kappa fully supported PanHellenic throughout this process but the policy did not pass by one vote. Although the policy did not pass, Beta Theta still decided to change recruitment by having a day focused on community service. Out of the OU PanHellenic system, Kappa was the only chapter to start moving in this direction. The policy was passed in the fall 2012 after recruitment. Beta Theta has continued to improve over the past three years and has expanded from a day focused on individual community service to the chapter's heart for philanthropy.
• PanHellenic Community Service Hours
PanHellenic has recently changed the minimum community service hours per member to 10 hours a semester. Kappa requires 15 hours of community service per semester, per member. We offer endless opportunities for our members to serve the community.
• Emergency Plan
Over the summer of 2014, a member of another sorority on campus died tragically while attending summer classes. Campus policies were strengthened and alcohol consumption was taken more seriously. The sorority involved was not aware of the rules and policies following an emergency situation. In reflection of this incident, Kappa informed its members of what to do should a crisis affect our chapter.
World/Local Events
• OKies for Africa
A member of Kappa, planned and organized a concert in Kappa Hall, where we raised money and sold shirts to assist an orphanage in Africa.
• Opportunity Boxes
Beta Theta paired with Delta Tau Delta to organize and put together opportunity boxes for children in Haiti. Kappa ending up sending over 100 boxes full of children’s toys.
• Guatemala Mission Trip
Three members of Beta Theta raised money to go on a mission trip to Totonicapan, Guatemala. They worked with Habitats for Humanity and built two homes for those in need.
