| Zeta Rho | |
|---|---|
| ZP | |
 | |
| Founded | March 19, 1988 |
| College | Colgate University |
| Location | Hamilton, NY |
| Homepage | Zeta Rho Homepage |
| Media related to Zeta Rho Chapter | |
1,310 initiates (as of June 2014)
Highlights of 2012
The 2012 calendar year was an exciting and successful time for the Zeta Rho chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at Colgate University. In the Spring, Zeta Rho participated and hosted a variety of philanthropic events, including the annual Birthday Club Party, a birthday party held for all local Hamilton area foster children. Around Valentine’s Day, we bonded during a sisterhood event of cookie decorating, and continued our philanthropic efforts with our annual fundraiser of Kappa Kisses, in which we delivered valentines of Hershey's kisses and raised money for our Birthday Club Party. In collaboration with local retailer Steph Boutique, we facilitated a shopping event for chapter members in which proceeds went to children’s literacy foundation, Reading is Fundamental. Our annual recruitment open house in the Spring proved to be a success, as the Fall was marked by the initiation of 65 bright new members, followed by a new chapter tradition of celebratory brunch at the Colgate Inn. Zeta Rho thrived in the Fall with these new members, co-hosting the successful Colleges Against Cancer Concert event with the Iota chapter of Theta Chi.
Individual Kappa members’ involvement on campus continued to be impressive, represented by Varsity Field Hockey players and four Konosioni Honor Society members, peer-selected for outstanding leadership and service to the community. Beyond this, Zeta Rho member Charlotte Myers was the head of the Colgate Activities Board, and Dana Paolucci and Kelly Curtis directed the successful and entertaining Fall Cabaret, a student-run musical performance. Finally, a proud and exciting moment in the past year for Zeta Rho occurred in the Fall with the elections of Kappa members Amara Wilson as Panhellenic President, and Tira Hastings as Vice President of Panhellenic Recruitment! We are looking forward to the continued growth and strength of Zeta Rho in the 2013 calendar year!
2012 marked a significant change on campus, specifically in relation to Greek life. The 1991 All-Bid Rule was abolished this last fall right before we began recruitment. This rule previously required that all women eligible and interested in Greek Life who fully participated in Recruitment must be extended a bid from one of the chapters on campus. Due to the rule being gone, we were able to more carefully match girls that would be the perfect fit for our sorority, and our pledge class was smaller than in previous years. No girls that participated in recruitment were randomly placed in any organizations as had been done before with the 1991 All-Bid Rule. Beyond this, Colgate welcomed new Dean of the Faculty, Douglas Hicks, and Dean of the College, Suzy Nelson, in the past year.
Highlights of 2013
The 2013 calendar year was an exciting time for the Zeta Rho chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at Colgate University. We won Most Improved Chapter at the Alpha/Rho Province Meeting in Hartford, Connecticut. We also were able to present Lucia Blackmore of the Gamma Omega chapter with her 75-year membership pin. Zeta Rho really worked on encouraging sisters to explore academic pursuits in many ways. Throughout the year, ten of our sisters were in the prestigious peer-selected Konosioni Senior Honor Society.
To promote academics, we offered weekly prizes for sisters who preformed exceptionally well on academic tasks. Academic presentations were also held to highlight different places on campus that provide academic assistance, such as the Writing Center, and the Career Services Center. A book club was also started, which we are very excited about, and will meet starting in 2014. Zeta Rho also held the bi-annual Professors Tea, where each sister invites her favorite professors to our house for baked goods in order to interact with professors in a non-classroom setting. Zeta Rho also maintained leadership positions within the Colgate Panhellenic Council, continuing the Kappa tradition of leadership.
Special educational programming events included a self-defense seminar to show us defensive tactics in case we ever find ourselves in a bad situation. We also had an LGBTQ Safe Zone Training session to create a supportive atmosphere for LGBTQ students by facilitating open discussions concerning gender and sexuality. Training for Intervention Procedure (TIPS training) was also held, which gives sisters the necessary training and confidence needed to recognize potential alcohol-related issues, and how to successfully intervene to prevent tragedies. Zeta Rho celebrated Founder’s Day on October 13th with dinner and Fraternity History trivia. Our chapter also kept with tradition and held a Graduation Brunch for all Zeta Rho sisters and their families during Graduation weekend. We celebrated our 25th Anniversary by combining the event with our Senior-Send-Off BBQ to celebrate our 25th year on campus while also presenting gifts to seniors.
Zeta Rho was extremely active with philanthropic involvement in the past calendar year. We held an annual Valentine’s Day card-making event for children at St. Judes Children’s Hospital, and ended up raising $1,600. We also sold Kappa Kisses again to benefit our annual Kappa Birthday Club. The Kappa Birthday Club is a party for foster children in the Hamilton area, and 15 children and their families were able to attend in 2013. Another event held to benefit the Hamilton Community was bringing DJ Jesse Marco to campus to raise money for the Hamilton Food Cupboard; we raised over $1,500.
Zeta Rho also kept with the tradition of supporting various groups promoting reading. A fundraiser at a local boutique donated a portion of profits to Reading is Fundamental (RIF). Two book drives were held through the Building Bridges foundation and also through Head Start, which provided books to over 50 underprivileged students in the Hamilton Community. For the Greek Life Day of Service, Zeta Rho volunteered at the local public library.
Other events included teaming up with two fraternities and the club, Colleges Against Cancer to hold a “Kick Cancer” kickball tournament. We also co-sponsored two events: a bone marrow drive on campus, and a PTSD awareness week with Semper Fi organization. In support of the Colgate Sustainability Arbor Day Initiative, we helped to plant trees on the Colgate Ski Hill. A 5K run was held to raise money for a cure for Alopecia Areata. Overall, the 2013 calendar year was extremely eventful for Zeta Rho, and we are so excited for 2014, and all that we hope to accomplish!
In the 2013 calendar year, Zeta Rho members have remained extremely involved all over campus. We have sisters who are Senators in the Student Government Association, play on varsity and club sports teams, and serve as Presidents or Vice Presidents for many clubs on campus whether the focus is philanthropy, leadership, performing arts, or recreation. Recruitment numbers continue to rise, and we are all hoping that the campus will be open to expansion very soon!