new member education program, with more in depth learning about Kappa Kappa Gamma, and
our chapter as a whole.
==Highlights 2016==
The Zeta Tau Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma, on Washington and Lee University campus, had an action-filled 2015 year. Our members are active leaders and participants in all aspects of campus, both extra-curricular and service-oriented. They are Johnson Scholars, varsity athletes, team captains, and Appalachian Adventure trip leaders. Members of our chapter actively participate and lead in many organizations on campus such as Fancy Dress Steering Committee, Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, and Generals’ Activity Board, University Ambassadors, LEAD, Williams’ Investment Society, and Real Estate Society. They participate in University Singers, Washington and Lee Dance Company, Jubilee Acapella group, Reformed University Fellowship, YoungLife, LIFE, and the University Big Program. Members have rejuvenated the Students’ Arts League on campus. Members serve as Panhellenic delegates and Peer Counselors. In March, we initiated twenty-nine new members into the chapter. This was an exciting moment for the chapter after all the hard work put into informal and formal rush. At the start of this academic year, we welcomed in a new house director. Out House Chair has done an incredible job getting her settled and acquainted to the Washington and Lee community, the members, and the advisors. We’re glad to have Mrs. Mary on board! Third Annual Concert For Kelsey, raising money for the Kelsey Durkin foundation. Kelsey Durkin was a member of our chapter who passed away in a fatal car accident. The chapter has dedicated a great deal of time and energy raising awareness on campus about the harms of drunk driving, a cause very near to their hearts. This coming spring we will host the Fourth-annual Concert for Kelsey, continuing to remember her legacy. This summer, three members attended the Kappa National Convention. They learned a lot about Kappa and have helped the Zeta Tau chapter implement many new ideas. They especially enjoyed the opportunity to take a photo with Beth Black! Following that convention, a member of the new pledge class attended the Kappa Leadership Council. She enjoyed getting to meet Kappas from all over the nation, sharing ideas, and exchanging Kappa memories. This fall we hosted a philanthropy event called "Tye Dye and Blue Sky" where students were invited to come make Tye Dye shirts and eat cookies from a favorite local restaurant. This was a successful event and we raised $1,558. As a chapter council, and an entire chapter, we are constantly working on improving our image on campus through social media, attendance at events (especially other sororities' events), and generally playing a more positive role throughout the campus.
Many improvements in organization and the general atmosphere of the chapter have been implemented in the past year. Our House Chair has made a huge effort to establish and clarify the rules for the house—a project that the entirety of the sorority has benefited from. The House Chair also planned a “Staff Appreciation Day” in which the cooking staff, cleaning staff, and House Director were given the day off of work and a well-deserved appreciation gift of cards and flowers. The Recording Secretary promoted and encouraged better attendance at chapter and all Kappa related events. Consequently, there was a huge improvement in attendance. She has also adjusted very well to the new system on KeyReports and encourages all of the chapter to review her minutes that she posts! This helps to keep all of our members on the same page when it comes to meeting details.
We have further developed relationships with other sororities on our campus. In fact, this year, our Panhellenic delegate coordinated with Pi Phi to coordinate our chapter’s first ever Monmouth event! The event was a huge success. Because both philanthropies have to do with childhood literacy, we decorated bookmarks for children as we enjoyed some hot apple cider and local doughnuts. We also contributed to and participated in “Meet the Greek” events such as bonfire smoores, dinners at houses, and ice cream socials!
We made huge improvements academically—we shot right up to the second highest GPA on campus, with an average of 3.535. Our Academic Excellence chair supported us in raising this GPA by passing around an “A” basket during chapter—a name is drawn out of the basket and awarded with candy. She also had pizzas delivered to the library during exam crunch time!
Our events and risk chairs have worked very hard to orchestrate safe and fun formals for us! We had a winter formal at the Robert E. Lee, a Spring formal at the Lime Kiln theater, and a fall formal at the Coupes Bar in Charlottesville. We’ve had sisterhood dinners—pizza at Salerno’s! Our chapter has had adapted well and accepted the new standards we have set for formals and Kappa events. The sisters of Zeta Tau most definitely make their positive mark on the Washington and Lee Campus. We are leaders, scholars, and athletes. It will be exciting to see where these women go next!
The Nature of the Zeta Tau Chapter has changed drastically this past year. Our Probation Status has called us to re-evaluate our Chapter's traditions and day to day organization. Our President, Vice President of Organization, Vice President of Standards, and Chapter Council as a whole have set a very positive tone as we strive to make these beneficial changes. Our LC visitors have helped to point us to specific ways we can continue to improve, whether large or small. We still have improvements to be made; however, we are getting there! It is our goal to continue our positive progression, to continue to make the overall nature of Kappa a healthier place where each Zeta Tau sister can be her best self!
Students Against Rockbridge Area Hunger (SARAH)
-Participate in Lip Sync (organized by the Fraternity Pi Phi)
-Members of the new pledge class are organized into random groups; each group makes up a dance performs it on lip sync night.
Project Horizon
-Through "Kappa Kollection," members donate used clothes and toiletries.
-All of the Donations go to Project Horizon, a women’s shelter in town for domestic abuse victims.
Reach out and Read (community engagement)
-Members meet with children at Rockbridge Health PLLC to read to them every Tuesday and Wednesday from 4-5 through a partnership with Dr. Schirmer
-Members donate books two times each year to Rockbridge Health PLLC
-We participate in this philanthropy because it perfectly aligns with out national philanthropy: Reading is Fundamental. Through promoting childhood literacy, we can connect with Kappas nationwide!
John Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Research Center
- In "Love for Liza," members sell Chickfila heart shaped biscuits in commons every February in honor of our former Zeta Tau member, Liza Haynie, who passed from a synovial sarcoma last year. Participating in this philanthropy is our way of remembering Liza and supporting Liza's family and those who are currently battling synovial sarcoma.
-The money we raise goes to the “Love for Liza Fund,” which goes towards the John Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Research Center. Last year was our first time holding the event, and we raised $1,083.11.
Kelsey Durkin Foundation
-Concert for Kelsey, Zeta Tau Chapter's biggest event of the year, is helf each spring. The chapter's third annual “Concert for Kelsey” was held last year. Kelsey was a member of the Zeta Tau chapter who died in a drunk driving accident in 2013. The concert honors and celebrates Kelsey Durkin’s life and promotes the prevention of drunk driving.
-Donations help fund the event which spreads drunk driving awareness. They are also donated to the Kelsey Durkin Foundation, established in Kesley’s honor. Through selling tickets, t-shirts, and receiving general donations, we raised $3,849. 44. We donated 90% to the Kelsey Durkin Foundation, and 10% to the Kappa Foundation.
Relay for Life
-Each year, Zeta Tau members participate in the Relay for Life walk on Canann green.
-Additionally, members participate in the banner challenge and cupcake challenge.
-We participate in this philanthropy in an effort to support other meaningful philanthropies that are happening on the Washington and Lee campus.
Komen Give Day
-Every October we set up a swipe machine and encourage students to swipe home donations for Breast Cancer research in an effort to support Breast Cancer survivors and help the mission to end Breast Cancer.
-We received over 800 donations last year, totaling approximately $23,000.
Reading is Fundamental
-At "Tie Dye and Blue Sky," our biggest event of the fall, we tie-dye tshirts and enjoy local Blue Sky pastries.
-This year we raised $1,558.20, which we donated to Reading is Fundamental
-We are also working on creating an event with a local Reading is Fundamental participant organization, such as the local elementary school, to create an annual event with community engagement and reading.
We meet in "The Chapter Room," which is in the bottom floor of the Kappa House.
Oral History:
Clara McCollam
mccollamc19@mail.wlu.edu
==Highlights 2016==