Changes
Chi
,→Highlights of 2020
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==Highlights of 2021==
Although the COVID-19 pandemic carried into the 2021 calendar year, Chi’s chapter council was extraordinarily resilient and eager to make Kappa as exciting as possible this calendar year. With almost a full year of our sisterhood being held completely virtual within our individual homes, the chapter council was able to remain headstrong in making our sisterhood stronger than before. Virtual workout classes, a Kappa Kahoot night, and a Galantines charcuterie competition were great events that kickstarted the spring semester and connected members with one another. History nuggets were shared monthly at virtual meetings to keep members familiar with Kappa’s history and values. This spring, Chi welcomed nine new members to the Freshman pledge class. Initiation was held virtually, but with restrictions loosened by the time of Initiation, Chi could continue Initiation traditions safely. Bigs gave their Littles gift baskets and went out to brunch while following local COVID- 19 guidelines.
Even though the University of Minnesota continued e-learning throughout the spring semester, academic excellence was still essential to Chi. KKGenius and a self-care challenge during finals week were held virtually to ensure that members continue to succeed academically through personal growth and motivation. By encouraging one another and sharing academic achievements virtually, Chi had 65 members make the Dean's list, and 25 had a 4.0 GPA. These members were later celebrated in the fall with a Dean's List Dinner.
Fall recruitment was held through a hybrid method as the first two rounds were conducted via Zoom and the last two were in-person at the house. With this, Chi was able to prepare for recruitment in person. During K-Week, VP Membership and our President worked incredibly hard to incorporate fun activities and daily dress-up themes to get members excited about an in-person semester. Due to low local positivity rates, Chi had an in-person bid day with a KappaWorld theme in relation to Travis Scott’s Astroworld album. We welcomed 31 new members who were later initiated in person this past October. By having an in-person Initiation and Inspiration Period, members could fully understand the ritual and meaning behind what being a Kappa truly is.
Excelling academically was an important reminder for our members as we shifted back to an in-person semester. Our Academic Excellence Director shared a presentation at our first Monday Night Meeting. She shared effective study skills, methods to maintain a healthy balance with school and social life, favorite campus study spots, study playlists, and many more ways to ensure academic success. Monthly study nights were held socially distanced at large lecture halls to provide a quiet study space for members.
Founder’s Day was celebrated at our house, and Chi invited alumni to our Tea Party-themed celebration. Members were voted for by the whole chapter in displaying Kappa values. This was a great way to show appreciation to our Founders and current members who embody what it means to be a Kappa.
Chi Chapter's local philanthropy organization that we support is Girls Academy. This spring, we were able to conduct a Kappa Kandygrams fundraiser. Members encouraged everyone in Greek life to buy a candy bar for $1 which included a personalized note to someone in another sorority or fraternity. Members safely dropped off the notes and candy at each house with receiving members around Valentine's Day. Chi typically partnered with St. Anthony's Middle School and held various events with middle schoolers throughout the year. As Covid was still of concern, St. Anthony's was no longer willing to have in-person or virtual events. As a result, our Girls Academy Director was able to plan an in-person event with the Boys and Girls Club this November. This seminar included an ice breaker game called Common Thread. Groups were instructed to write out things they had in common on a poster board and then present them to the big group. After discussing their commonalities, small group discussions were led by Kappas about womanhood along with highs and lows. Although the event was not with St. Anthony's, this shows how empowered our members are to help teenagers instill confidence throughout this period of their life. By encouraging middle schoolers to believe in themselves, members can see their work in action through this relationship development and trust.
2021 was an exciting year for Chi in supporting Kappa’s philanthropy. In the spring, Chi held our first annual Kappa Klassic golf tournament. This was held at Theodore Wirth Golf Course to fundraise for Reading is Fundamental. Around 120 golfers participated in the event, and low Covid rates allowed this to be held in-person and socially distanced. Through the collection of raffle baskets, a silent auction, ticket sales and selling customized Kappa golf merchandise, Chi raised $8,693. Additionally, this fall, Chi planned and executed another first annual event of Sapphire Ball. With the national philanthropy shifting to supporting mental health awareness, Chi raised money for an organization of our choosing-Mental Health America. This event was held at the Graduate Hotel in Minneapolis, and Kappas were dressed in dark and light blue elegant dresses. Guests bought tickets for $50 that included dinner and the ability to bid on the silent auction and purchase raffle tickets. We had a couple of members share personal stories on how these efforts toward mental health advocation sincerely mean so much to them. Everyone is fighting their own battle, and Chi was honored to raise money and awareness for such a relatable cause. Like Kappa Klassic, a silent auction and raffle baskets were organized through donation collection to support Mental Health America further. Additionally, there was a balloon pop fundraiser where attendees could purchase a balloon for $10. Inside each balloon was a number corresponding to an envelope with either a gift card or a note thanking them for their donation. At the end of the presentation, those with a balloon were instructed to pop it simultaneously. Guests were then able to redeem their envelopes. After weeks of endless preparation, Sapphire Ball was incredibly successful and a total of $15,451.19. Our external department and our members are very eager to continue planning our annual philanthropy events for 2022.
The addition of a DEI officer allowed for a continuous conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion globally and within our own chapter. Our officer shared a DEI moment of the week every Monday night that touched on positive changes or movements happening worldwide to make a change. This spring, our DEI director planned a movie night where members could come to the house and pick up a care package that included a face mask, popcorn, and a candy bar of each member’s choosing. Members were then instructed to watch a movie independently or with their Kappa roommates from a provided list. After watching, members wrote a reflection about the chosen film by sharing what they learned and how they will apply these lessons to their own life. The members who participated were then entered into a gift card raffle. Additionally, our officer provided various book and podcast suggestions throughout the year to help educate the chapter on an array of issues our world is facing today. Educational workshops were conducted, and members were invited to virtual workshops about the power of pronouns, social identities, and the circle of influence. She continuously reminded members of the chapter that there was free access to counseling services as our national philanthropy changed and other resources members could utilize. This past October and November, our officer also collected shoe donations at the Kappa house. These shoes were later donated to local families within the Minneapolis area. It was important for Chi to continue this awareness through social media with all of this being said. Our Public Relations Director did a phenomenal job advocating for change and raising awareness on societal progress, or lack thereof, and diversity. These genuine efforts allowed Chi to stay educated and compassionate throughout the year.
As previously mentioned, this past year posed significant challenges to our chapter council as we worked proactively to make Kappa “normal” within the “new normal.” During the spring semester, various chapter council members helped plan a scavenger hunt for the freshman pledge class. This involved making Tiktoks, MS seminars, ritual stations and taking pictures at some of the most popular spots around campus. This was a great way for the freshman pledge class to bond, safely and with masks, after an entirely virtual fall semester. This fall, Chi was able to hold our New Member Retreat for our 2021 freshman pledge class. This was a special weekend up north camping and bonding with the freshman PC and our President, New Member Director, VP Membership, and VP Member Development. In terms of sisterhoods, local covid levels allowed us to have private shopping events with Aerie and Aritzia at the Mall of America, as well as attending a socially distanced Minnesota Twins baseball game.
This fall, the University of Minnesota held in-person classes, and we were able to have in- person Monday Night Meetings and sisterhoods once again. In September, we had a Painting in the Park event where members could tap into their craftiness by painting canvases and making friendship bracelets. In October, Chi had a sisterhood event at Pine Tree Apple Orchard where members did a corn maze and could buy apples, apple cider, and freshly baked pastries. During November, Chi attended a Gopher hockey game, an exciting way to kick off hockey season. Upcoming in December, Chi is having a White Elephant Holiday sisterhood that will include a gift exchange, hot chocolate, cookies, and an opportunity to make holiday cards to be delivered to patients at Children’s Minnesota Hospital.
Unfortunately, Chi could not hold a date party or formal this past spring, but our Events Director could safely plan and coordinate sisterhood events such as Top Golf and a Ben & Jerry’s food truck. This event was used to help promote Kappa Klassic on social media that was happening later that semester. Fortunately, Chi was able to have a date party this October with a country theme. We are excited to have our formal at the beginning of December since it has been almost two years since our last formal. After the whirlwind of 2020, we are all incredibly proud of the ’21 chapter council for reigniting the sisterhood after nearly a full year apart.
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