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'''Omicron Deuteron, Simpson College'''
Charter members: Ida Alexander, Nellie Lydia Boyd, Edna Cooke, Jeannette Hastie, Mary L. Hastie, Laura Hoffman, Rose A. Kimball
'''Reinstated as Omicron Deuteron in 1990'''- 38 charter members of Omicron Deuteron 417 initiates (as of June 2012)
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Simpson Centenary College (now Simpson College), established in 1860 in Indianola, Iowa
Omicron Chapter Founded April 10, 1880; Closed February 10, 1890; 72 initiates (as of closure 1890)
Omicron Deuteron Chapter February 10, 1990
417 initiates (as of June 2012)
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'''Some of Omicron Deuteron’s Outstanding Alumnae:''' (If you have chapter alumna who have received recognition in any of these three categories, please list them with the date(s) of recognition.)
'''Fraternity Council Officers:'''
'''Fraternity Loyalty Award Recipients:'''
'''Fraternity Alumnae Achievement Award Recipients:'''
'''Additional Outstanding Omicron Deuteron Alumnae:'''
Nicole Downing (Faust), Chapter Consultant 1999-2000
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==The Early Years (From The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma 1870–1976)==
A quote from the Phi Gamma Delta quarterly appeared in the December, 1889, issue of The Key: “Kappa Kappa Gamma has revoked the charter of her Omicron…this chapter has existed for about 10 years and we can merely conjecture that the status of the institution failed to keep pace with the fraternity’s advancement, and so representation there became undesirable. The fraternity has made good its loss by placing a chapter in the University of Pennsylvania…the first to organize the newly-established Woman’s Department…”
The Omicron letter that month was cheerful as ever: “Simpson opens this year with a new president and three additions to the faculty…the financial outlook of the school was never brighter—our chapter has eight active members.” Omicron’s June, 1889, letter reported 330 students in the college and a faculty of five…and that very little was accomplished by Omicron in the way of literary work “owing to the shortness of the term.” A few years earlier, December, 1885, the chapter had complained of feeling isolated from her sister chapters and has mentioned attending the national convention. (Omicron did not send delegates in 1881 or 1884.) In June, 1883, The Golden Key carried the chapter’s letter about the many chapter marriages…”What will we do with our girls?” This letter was signed “Bob Proudfoot.”
If Omicron had acted diplomatically, the chapter might have been saved. But Omicron’s next move was to ask to be excused from paying tax to the Fraternity because the girls had been paying for the new science hall at Simpson.
The Grand Council decided that Simpson was not an institution where a chapter should be, and the 1889-90 province vote resulted in the recall of Omicron’s charter. Kate Cross, (Shenehon) then grand president, mentioned, “reports extending over a number of years as to the low standard of the college…” Omicron’s objection, stating that the college had improved since the chapter was placed, was true. The answer was that Kappa, too, had changed, and standards had been raised. Other reasons for withdrawal of the charter included “repeated statements by Omicron regarding faculty opposition”…and “a belief that Omicron was apart…in spirit.” No Omicron delegates attended the 1881 and 1884 Conventions. Moreover, there had been a bad example in 1888 when the delegate arrived late, left early, and showed lack of interest. The Grand Council was sorry and said the decision to remove the charter was not personal but “a desire… to consolidate the Fraternity body so that it might work unitedly…” This was done February 10, 1890, and the charter and archives were sent to the Grand Council on March 7. Omicron had 10 years of relative insignificance.
However, the chapter had one shining star, a member born in Ireland September 25, 1865. This was Kate Shelly, a student at Simpson during 1882-1883. The May, 1883, issue of The Golden Key announced her initiation and referred to her as “our brave girl.” Through her own efforts Kate had saved a train-load of people on the night of July 6, 1881. Kate Shelly came to Simpson as a nationally known heroine…actually internationally known, for she has letters from England, Scotland, and Ireland. She had a medal awarded by the legislature, a handsome gold watch and chain from the Burlington Road, and a beautiful silver lantern from the Chicago Northwestern.
Kate Shelly became a Kappa as a member of soon-to-die Omicron chapter. She stayed at Simpson only a year. During this time as an active, she is described as “perhaps a little below medium height, with dark hair, blue eyes, small even teeth, a shapely figure, and a pretty hand and foot.”
In the words of the Omicron correspondent to The Golden Key, “As an example of one of the highest aspects of courage, we are glad and proud to record…Kate Shelly, the heroine who saved an express train at night under circumstances of great danger to herself, whose noble deed was chronicled throughout the country and perpetuated in the popular declamatory verses bearing her name…(is) a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma.” It is good to remind ourselves that in Kate, Omicron had its moment of glory.
The previous information was excerpted from The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity, 1870-1976. The information that follows has been gleaned from available resources including Chapter History Reports, chapter meeting minutes, letters and comments from chapter members and alumnae, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity Archives, and The Key. Each chapter is expected to update its history record annually. Contact Fraternity Headquarters at kkghq@kkg.org with questions.
==Highlights of the 1990s==
On February 10, 1990, an historic date for Kappa Kappa Gamma and Simpson College, the charter was returned to Omicron Chapter exactly 100 years to the day since it had been surrendered to the Fraternity.
Founded in 1866, Simpson is a liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church in Indianola, Iowa (20 miles south of Des Moines), that offers an atmosphere of support and congeniality among the administration, faculty, and students. A longstanding tradition exists between the Greek letter organizations and the College and Kappa is proud to join Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, and Pi Beta Phi women's fraternities. The Interfraternity Council is composed of Alpha Tau Omega, Lambda Chi Omega, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Kappa Theta Psi, a local fraternity.
The weekend of celebration began with an informal gathering of members of the installation team, advisers, initiates and pledges of the colony. Fraternity President Kay Smith Larson, Washington, spoke about Kappa installation traditions and the Fraternity's pride in welcoming the young women to membership. The undergraduates then shared their many accomplishments and achievements since becoming a colony, including their overall 3.1 G.P.A.
Other members of the installation team were: Vera Lewis Marine, Colorado College, Director of Alumnae and Council Officer for Omicron Deuteron; Virginia Anding La Charite, William & Mary, Fraternity History Chairman; Marian Klingbeil Williams, Missouri, Chairman of Extension; Martha Galleher Cox, Ohio Wesleyan, Coordinator for Chapter Development; Valerie Nelson Renner, Indiana, Omicron Province Director of Chapters; Sally Kiehne Kelby, Minnesota, Omicron Province Director of Alumnae; Fraternity Field Representatives who assisted were Omicron Deuteron's Chapter Consultant, Barbara Sterner, Missouri, and Traveling Consultants, Linda Finnegan, Washington State; Linda Hoffman, New Mexico; Amy Mendenhall, Clemson/Indiana; and Denise Rugani, UC Davis. The Big Sisters were from the four chapters of Omicron Province: Chi-Minnesota, Beta Zeta-Iowa, Gamma Theta- Drake, and Delta Omicron-Iowa State.
The men of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and their advisers hosted an evening reception attended by other Greek groups, campus friends, administrators, and faculty members in their chapter house to honor the new chapter. KKG balloons, blue and blue streamers, welcoming banners, and bouquets of iris, served as a festive setting for this gracious occasion.
The installation began on Friday evening with the Fireside service followed by a reception at which many gifts were presented to the new chapter from alumnae and chapters of Omicron Province, the Kansas City Alumnae Association and individual Kappas. Indianola alumnae, who also served as advisers Edie Sowars Butler, Iowa State; Sally Fulton Kirtley, Drake; and Ann Chase Clodfelder, Washington U., gave each initiate a gift made for the occasion. When the Fraternity President returned the charter to the chapter President, Paula Sliefert, during ceremonies Saturday morning, the colony became Omicron Deuteron Chapter.
More than 200 parents, relatives, friends, faculty members, administrators, and representatives of other Greek organizations, attended a reception for the chapter given by the Fraternity. Beautiful bouquets of flowers from Simpson College, the Alumni Association of Simpson, and each of the campus men's and women's Greek groups contributed to a warm and joyous welcome to Kappa Kappa Gamma.
The program for the Installation Banquet included introductions and appreciation to the local alumnae by Marty Cox, and special welcomes to the new Kappas and everyone who had been so supportive of our return to Simpson. Highlighting the evening were the announcement by President Jennings that a house had been purchased that day for the chapter and would be ready for occupancy by fall 1990; presentation of the chapter history 1880-1890 which was prepared by the Fraternity History Chairman; and presentation of the President's badge. This historic golden key with the Omicron guard attached belonged to Berta Sabina Swope, initiated in 1886, and will be worn by the Presidents of Omicron Deuteron as a symbol of the chapter's unique and honored place in the history of the Fraternity.
'''Summer, 1990, The Key'''
That first year Omicron Deuteron focused on sisterhood as a new chapter of independent women. The first formal rush went smoothly, pledging eight women who all became active in the chapter. They recorded the second highest G.P.A. of the four Panhellenic groups on campus and won Greek Week.
An extensive renovation of the new house was scheduled for the spring of 1991, as soon as the ground thawed! It was to be completed by the start of the fall term and included completely gutting the original structure and putting on an addition, as well as turning the attic of the house into a sleeping dorm. When the chapter members returned in the fall, the remodeled house could hold 37 women.
By 1995, Kappa was firmly reestablished on the Simpson campus and won several awards, including Outstanding New Member, Outstanding President and Outstanding Greek Woman of the Year.
==Highlights of 2000-2010==
Kappa’s reputation at Simpson was strong in the 2000s, with women highly involved and setting the standard for others. In the early 2000s, several members were named to the Dean’s List, the President’s List and the National Dean’s List, and many more were in honor societies. Omicron Deuteron had a great academic reputation and went eight consecutive semesters winning the Grade Cup on campus – something members considered their proudest achievement!
New member retention was a priority for Omicron Deuteron, and the chapter retained 91% of the women who pledged and were initiated.
The members were active in campus events and consistently won the Simpson Greek Week championship. They worked hard on maintaining good relations with alumnae and advisers, increasing communication to get alumnae more involved in the house and chapter activities.
Omicron Deuteron won many Convention awards during the decade, including honorable mentions in Philanthropy, Finance, Scholarship, Rose McGill magazine sales, Panhellenic, Heritage and Chapter Management
==Highlights of 2011-2019:==
(From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.)
'''Housing:'''
'''Philanthropy:'''
'''Chapter Convention Awards:'''
(From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.)
'''Philanthropy:'''
'''Convention Awards:'''
'''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.