Changes
Highlights of 2021
Although the Fraternity at large had previously endured the hardships witnessed during the year of 2020, the sisters of Epsilon Gamma found themselves in unchartered territory. Through the series of unexpected highs and lows, Epsilon Gamma discovered the resiliency of sisterhood and the ties that bind us to one another. The distance placed between sisters led to more intentional inter-chapter contact and communication with nationals, creating a vibrant and loving sisterhood despite the miles that separated us.
2020 was certainly a year to be remembered both for Epsilon Gamma and the world at large. A year filled with uncertainty, fear, and separation tested the sisterhood of Kappa Kappa Gamma and showed sisters just how strong the bonds between us are. Despite all of the challenges this year has brought, Epsilon Gamma remains a chapter filled with love and sisterhood. We look forward to continuing into 2021 with joy and strength.
==Highlights of 2021==
Our main goals for this year was to focus on member involvement, philanthropy, and DEI. For member involvement, we focused on being able to have safe in-person events as well as work toward in-person bid-day/initiation and opening our bottom floor for out-of-house members. Please look at the questions below for more information on how we reached out philanthropy and DEI goals.
Epsilon Gamma supports multiple local organizations.These organizations include the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, Club Nova, Earlier.Org, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Orange County. All of these organizations have missions that our sisters support for numerous reasons. For example, Club Nova and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Orange County are both mental health and wellbeing chapters that strive to help those impacted by mental illness in the local community. Our sisters recognize the significance mental health can have on one’s daily life and thus strive to help those impacted.
In 2021 Kappa Kappa Gamma transitioned national philanthropies from Reading is Fundamental to Mental Health and Wellbeing. In the spring semester of 2021 (Jan-May) we supported Reading is Fundamental through reading virtually and having virtual pen pals with a local elementary school (Pearsontown Elementary. Additionally, we organized a book drive that was donated to Durham Book Harvest. In the fall semester of 2021 (August-November) we organized a kitchen supply drive to a Mental Health and Wellbeing local organization, Club Nova. In addition, we hosted Q for a Cause, a dinner fundraiser, and a bake sale on campus for an organization founded by an Epsilon Gamma alumna, Earlier.Org.
New DEI chair was placed. The committee set plans for programming chapters in the future, including educational training on anti-sigmatism. The committee kept close ties with the PR committee to ensure that religious holidays were included and observed. The committee found speakers to come present to the chapter the following semester. The committee has multiple passion projects to implement in kappa, including solving accessibility concerns. The committee has organized itself into various subcommittees to become more efficient. Not only did the committee focus on preventative education, but sources were complied to address current concerns.
Spring Bid Day, big little reveal, and initiation were held on zoom
We were able to open our dining room in April 2021
Our Formal, held in April 2021, was our first in-person event since the pandemic began. It was outdoors, members were split into groups to keep numbers lower, everyone was masked, and everyone was required to turn in a negative COVID test to attend. Because this event ended with no COVID spread, we used it as the protocol for events in fall 2021.
Fall 2021 Bid day, big little reveal, and initiation were able to be held in person (masked and separated into groups).
We were able to hold many more events in the fall; all were masked and required negative COVID tests to attend.
The bottom floor of the house opened up to out-of-house members in the fall.
Outdoor events were common and encouraged. We did multiple sisterhood events entirely outside.
=Highlights of 2021==
