Why did your chapter choose this organization(s) to support?
This is our national philanthropy that we support. We also support Big Brother Big Sisters because a lot of our chapter members on our own are involved with that making it a convenient way to give back!
==Highlights of 2016==
2016 was quite the year for Beta Rho! As the new calendar year rolled around, Chapter Council officers were smoothly transitioned into their new roles and were eager to serve their chapter. Beta Rho kicked off the new year with a Kappa Dog Night led by the new Philanthropy Chair, Ciera Woycke. Despite the cold, Kappa’s were out in full force promoting our philanthropy, wearing hot dog suits and selling hot dogs and hot chocolate on the front porch.
February was a busy month for the women of Beta Rho! To start off the month, Kappa’s attended the annual Sapphire Ball at the Madison Event Center, planned by our event chairman Meryn Ramunda. Everyone danced the night away and enjoyed a delicious sit-down dinner with their sisters and dates. Later in February, Kappa’s had a blast participating in friendly competition with other fraternities and sororities on campus during Greek Week, led by our very own sister and Finance Chair Grace Sprockett. We’re so excited keep Greek Week Chair in the hands of a Kappa, with Ashley Boggs taking the reigns next year. The highlight of the week was showing off our “Boy Band’s Through the Decades” themed step and dance routines at the Variety Show. Lastly, we celebrated sister Brooke Duncan being elected as Undergraduate Student Body Vice President!
March was a very social month for Beta Rho! To kick off the month of March, Kappa teed up with the men of Beta Theta Pi for a golf themed two-way. The next week, Kappa had a sisterhood event with the women of Kappa Alpha Theta. Everyone had a blast at the Kite & Key Sisterhood, enjoying some friendly kickball between the two chapters. Later in March, Kappa kicked off their annual Literacy Week at John P. Parker Elementary School. The children were thrilled to have Kappa’s reading and crafting with them for the week and were very appreciative for the many books Kappa donated. Finally, to close out the month, Kappa had a “Drop it like it’s Yacht” themed two-way with the men of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. We enjoyed the classic Cincinnati meal of Skyline and Graeter’s and had a great time making new friendships.
After Spring Break, the Beta Rho women enjoyed a Parent’s Day planned by the Public Relations Chairman, Delaney Spetnagel. Families gathered at the Kappa Palace to enjoy a nice meal and a Streetpops popsicle truck. Everyone had a blast and the parent’s loved spending time at Kappa!
To close out the year, Kappa hosted a Kappa Dog Day on Mainstreet. Kappas again heavily promoted philanthropy wearing their usual hot dog suits and selling corn dogs on campus. Shortly after the last Dog Day of the semester, Kappas hosted and participated in Kappa Kup, a soccer tournament, to raise money for their sisters attending the service trip in the summer. Co-ed soccer teams from various sororities and fraternities on campus had a blast competing for the title of Kappa Kup Champion. Additionally, Vice President of Standards Hannah Stamos was lucky enough to represent Beta Rho at Kappa Headquarters in Columbus for a weekend long workshop. Our sisters are so ambitious!
As celebration for the last day of classes, Kappa hosted a firefighter themed date party at Uncle Woody’s. Everyone enjoyed complimentary firefighter hats. What a great event to close out the school year year!
With finals the next week, Kappas hit the books hard with the support of their Vice President of Academics, Molly Hinken. Molly organized study tables and rewards for girls who achieved their goals for the semester. All of our hard work paid off when Kappa was named the second highest GPA in Greek life!
Before the year came to a close though, Kappa’s enjoyed a Senior Night planned by Education Chairman, Libby Hinken, honoring the graduating seniors. Everyone watched fun video footage that included all of the seniors’ favorite kappa memories. It was such a sweet and sentimental way to honor the seniors and to end a great school year!
Over the summer, a group of sisters participated in Kappa’s second annual service trip where they travelled to Washington D.C. During their trip, Kappa’s visited RIF’s headquarters and served people who were experiencing homelessness and poverty. Additionally, President Margo Ross and Chapter Council Advisor Emma Wright attended Kappa Convention in San Diego, California where Beta Rho was awarded the Excellence in Chapter Management Award as well as the Risk Management Award. It was an honor to receive national recognition for all of our hard work.
As August rolled around, Kappas all enjoyed a wonderful Fleur-di-Lis week planned by Membership Chairman Molly Talkers. It was so fun being back in Clifton for a photo-shoot around campus, for a fun filled day of activities and sisterhood bonding, for bumping practice with alumni, and of course for lunches from Eli’s BBQ and Skyline! It was a great way to reconnect with everyone and our values after a long summer. We also had a wonderful time welcoming our new house mom, Linda Doyle, to our beautiful house! Linda came from Purdue and we’re so excited to have her at Beta Rho!
The second and third weekends of September, Kappa participated in Panhellenic Recruitment and ended up adding 50 amazing new members. To celebrate the new members, we held a birthday themed bid-day planned by New Member Chair Darby O’Connor. We had such a blast dancing the day away on our front porch and celebrating “like its our bid day everyday”!
For the first social of the year, Kappa had a 2-way with Phi Sigma Kappa, a new colony on campus. This event was Phi Sigma Kappa’s first social ever and we were so honored to play a part in making their history. Later that week, Pike had their 4th annual cheese coney eating contest for the Karen Wellington Foundation, a foundation honoring the mother of sister Angeline Wellington. In just four days, Kappa raised $2,000 for KWF so they could send two families on a vacation, including one of our own Kappa sister’s family, Haley Fogleman. Beta Rho is so lucky to share such a strong sisterhood.
To start off October, Kappa participated in Sigma Chi’s Derby Days, led by Derby Days Chair Kelly Higgins. Throughout the week, Kappa’s attended numerous events and ultimately came in first place for the fourth year in a row! Later that week, Kappas attended a Greek Alumni Panel organized by President Margo Ross. Many notable alumni of the Greek community were active in the panel, including Kappa National President J.J. Wales. It was a once in a life time opportunity to speak with her in person and hear her insight about Kappa and professionalism.
The weekend after, Kappas celebrated Founder’s Day with a delicious brunch planned by Education Chair Libby Hinken. It was an honor being able to celebrate and recognize many Kappa Alumni for their strong loyalty. On October 11th, Kappa held the third annual Kappa Spelling Key honoring our philanthropy, RIF.
This year, Kappa paired with the men of PIKE to celebrate a “Bearcat for President” themed Homecoming. Thanks to our Risk Management Chair, Sarah Imhoff and our Homecoming Chair, Grace Jenkins, we all had a safe and fun week of events including a Teachers and Mythical Creatures two-way, a cookout and pomping, a Rock Stars and Groupies themed two-way at Millions in Mt. Lookout Square, and the annual Sigma Phi Ball. To top it all off, our Public Relations Chairman Molly Somerville planned a delicious Homecoming lunch from Maggiano’s for all of Kappa and their families to enjoy.
To end the month of October, Kappa’s celebrated Big Little Week. Each day, bigs surprised their littles with homemade crafts and all things Kappa to help prepare them for sisterhood. The week culminated with Big Little Reveal on Sunday after the littles’ new member meeting. The littles were so surprised and excited!
Kappas were able to celebrate a great semester with the annual Kappa Krush event. This year, Kappa Krush was held at Urban Artifact, a great new brewery in Northside. Between Adriatico’s pizza and a full dance floor, the event was a blast!
Finally, the time came to officially welcome our newest sisters and show them the true meaning of sisterhood. Our inspiration week, led and planned by Marshall Erin Walsh, consisted of family dinner dates, a roller-skating sisterhood, and Fireside Ceremony. The week culminated with a flawless initiation of 44 new sisters!
2016 was a busy year for Beta Rho and we could not be more grateful for our wonderful sisterhood and all we’ve accomplished. We are so excited to see what 2017 has in store for Beta Rho!