2,350
edits
Changes
→Highlights of 2021
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At the end of the Spring 2021 semester, our Gamma Zeta chapter received recognition for #1 GPA amongst all UA Panhellenic chapters. We recruited a class of 112 new members in the fall. Gamma Zeta held a virtual Founder’s Day and a lovely brunch celebration in the Kappa Kitchen post-meeting. We were recognized with academic achievement for the fall of 2021 with an average active member GPA of 3.46. We held a special date dash event which was Golden Globes themed at a local Tucson restaurant and were shuttled to and from in buses.
In the spring of 2021, Gamma Zeta supported Pathway to Work as our local philanthropy. This foundation was proposed by an active member, Lauren Dill of PC ‘19, whose adult brother has Autism. When faced with the challenges of the next step after schooling, her mother organized a program for individuals with developmental disabilities to gain a solid footing to enter the workforce. Our donations of over $8,000 allowed this foundation to purchase a brand-new vehicle for staff members to assist program members in job interview searches.
Since Kappa changed its national philanthropic focus from Reading is Fundamental to mental healthbased organizations, Gamma Zeta voted on the JED Foundation. This nonprofit founded by Tucson parents who lost their son named Jed to suicide protects the emotional health of the nation’s teens and young adults through the implementation of programs in high schools, colleges, and universities to prevent suicide. We supported this philanthropy through our annual Krispy Kreme with KKG evening fundraiser with a mask mandate. This was a wonderful event with nearly 3,000 donuts sold, designed sweatshirt & beanie merchandise, a DJ, streamers, balloons, and an igloo photobooth. We raised over $15,000 for the JED Foundation!
Kappa Kappa Gamma members expanded their awareness on DEI initiatives under the education of our newly elected DEI chairman. We had the opportunity to learn with short weekly educational
sessions at the end of our chapter meetings on various topics proposed by our active members via Google Forms. Our primary social media platform, Instagram, was used to promote anti-hazing week and suicide prevention week with encouraging posts. Additionally, our chapter attended a few informational sessions on anti-hazing and promoting growth within Greek life. Gamma Zeta no longer recognizes legacies during the recruitment process to create a fair recruitment process for each potential new member. Grade risks are dealt with privately and no longer voted on as an entire chapter, to preserve the integrity of each student and respect their academic record.
During the spring and fall of 2021, all live in members were required to wear masks while indoors. COVID-19 was under control due to our high regulations. We had several rooms allocated for active members to quarantine for up 14 days after exposure or testing positive. Food was delivered to their doorsteps each day by kind volunteering members to avoid any face-to-face interaction. Our chapter was fortunate to still meet weekly for in-person chapter meetings amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Students with prior obligations or illness were able to attend chapter virtually via Zoom. In the spring of 2021, our philanthropy chairman held a virtual auction with donated items and raised nearly $8,000 in funds for our local Tucson foundation, Pathway to Work. Our recruitment was half virtual. Short 1-minute-long videos were shown for Set 1, while Set 2 and 3 were held on Zoom. Set 4, Preference, was held in person since girls were paired up by twos. One of the biggest changes to the recruitment process was the timeline. Instead of sorority recruitment taking place one week prior to the start of school, recruitment began over a weekend and finished the following weekend. The first week of school with in-person classes broke up the flow of recruitment. Our lovely princess-themed bid day was held in person with a bounce house, DJ, tent, personalized napkins, catered food, watercolor face-tattoo artist. Our shirts were labeled “Kappaly Ever After,” with pink accents, and masks were encouraged since this event was held outdoors. Initiation in the fall was completely in person and masks were worn. During I-Week, we held sisterhood bonding events at the house. We held our annual Kappa Kappa Grammys where girls thought of kind awards for different Kappas in their new member class. For example, some ideas included, “Most likely to hold the door open for another Kappa” or “Most likely to be on Broadway.” Kappa Campfire consisted of all chapter members sharing stories in small circles of their best memories with other Kappas. We adjusted by eliminating the overnight portion of the ceremony and creating smaller ceremony groups. Alums were still able to attend and serve as readers. This initiation
was a unique experience for PC 20 since their initiation took place online the previous year. They played a key role in the behind-the-scenes activities such as bracelet making. Our key pin shipments were delayed several months due to supply chain issues from COVID-19. We distributed temporary key badges and distributed flower arrangements and personalized sweatshirts for the Member Class of 2023.
==Highlights of 2022==
'''Note to Chapter Registrar:'''
Please refer to your chapter archives including chapter meeting minutes and back issues of ''The Key'' to fill in any gaps in the above historical highlights. If your chapter archives are not complete, please research your university library, campus newspaper and yearbook archives for newsworthy information about your chapter. Please double check your work for accuracy. Contact chapter Advisory or House Board members, local Alumnae Association members, or your Province Director of Chapters for assistance.
Your efforts will ensure a complete and accurate history of your chapter for future generations to enjoy!