4,269
edits
Changes
→2012
(See Chapter History Report) Highlights (scholarship, honors/awards, special events, philanthropy and service projects, etc.):
==Highlights of 2011== Beta Omicron began 2011 with a strong bond of sisterhood, culminating in a successful spring recruitment period. We welcomed a new pledge class of over 50 bright, charismatic and involved new members who quickly settled in to life at the Kappa house. The older girls really enjoyed getting to know and bond with the newest pledge class, with sisterhood events such as tye dying tank tops, laser tag and a visit to the haunted houses of New Orleans. In addition to these events a line could be found winding out of the chapter room as girls came in for dinner on Monday nights before Chapter meeting, and lunch on Thursdays. Our social calendar took off at high speed with mixers and a disco themed date function. Formal was a highlight of the year, downtown in the picturesque French Quarter. The fall brought more bonding with various mixers, crush parties, the creation of an all star flag football team and a new garden party with the Kappa alumna of New Orleans. Along with new parties, 1033 Audubon St. also received a new roof, and the chapter room was updated with a new coat of paint and floor. Kappa paired with Alpha Epsilon Pi during Greek Week, and performed a fully choreographed routine for the Greek Sync Competition. Even though we didn’t win, we had a full team of girls which increased the participation of our chapter, and our enthusiasm levels for the rest of the semester. Beta Omicron also raised the participation of the chapter in Philanthropy events to a new level, with the entire chapter participating in Habitat for Humanity, and working shifts at Kappa Kollection, which raised over $11,000 for the St. Bernard Project. There was also a clothing drive at the same time, which collected clothing for the Metropolitan Center for Women and Children, a local women’s center. Even though home is on Audubon St., Beta Omicron participated in Beautify Broadway, helping clean up one of the main streets around Tulane’s campus. A literacy event that the chapter participated in at a local elementary school was named a RIF program of the month. The majority of the chapter participated in over 3 philanthropies each in the past year, which shows the increased level of involvement of Beta Omicron on campus and the area around it. We also did a special Halloween philanthropy called Owl-O-Ween with another sorority that shares the Kappa symbol of the owl, Chi Omega. We carved pumpkins and made Halloween cards for St. Anna’s Residence for the elderly. There has never been a better time to be a Kappa at Tulane. '''Campus:''' Tulane University is private university located in the uptown area of New Orleans, with an undergraduate student population of a little over 6,500. The Panhellenic Council has been growing on campus, with more than 30% of women involved in a Greek organization. This year we were very lucky to have a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma serve on the elected executive board, along with several Kappas serving as recruitment counselors and panhellenic delegates. '''Chapter:''' Kappa Kappa Gamma is one of seven NPC-recognized sororities on Tulane’s campus, with the recent addition of Phi Mu. However, our chapter does not go unnoticed, as the majority of our members are actively involved on campus through clubs, sports, or organizations—such as the entire executive board of Up ‘til Dawn (in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital), Tulane Emergency Medical Service, Peer Health Advocates, and the Student Conduct Board. The women of Beta Omicron balance all of these activities with academics, achieving an increased average GPA of 3.346 for Spring 2009—the same as the all sorority (3.346), and higher than the all greek (3.286), all women’s (3.278), and all student (3.226) average at Tulane. One of the largest challenges that faced our chapter this year was at the first event of the semester, where we had a minor infraction involving several active members. However, Beta Omicron reacted quickly by re-evaluating their risk management policies, and having the members that were responsible provide an educational program about alcohol consumption for the chapter at meeting. As a result, we also improved our communications with Nationals, as well as our local advisers. The lack of social events did not dampen spirits though, but helped to enforce the sisterly bond that we all look to in our sorority. Beta Omicron has not had any problems since, which shows that our new risk management policies have been extremely successful. ==Highlights of 2012==
Although the year got off to a rough start with problems at Bid Day leading to a Council Action, 2012 ended up being a good year for Beta Omicron as a whole, as many problems that had plagued the chapter for a while were brought to light and began to improve with the help of many individuals from the Fraternity.
Overall, 2012 has seen a positive, though difficult, change in the attitudes of both members and officers. With continued efforts and much welcome help from Nationals, we hope to return Beta Omicron to the standards and expectations of the fraternity.
==Highlights of 2013==
The spring of 2013 got off to great start with an amazing recruitment. Although there were some problems with Bid Day last year this year Bid Day went off without a hitch. For the first time Bid Day was held of MLK day, which is usually a day of service of Tulane Students. Bid day was held late in the afternoon so all Greek women could still participate in the day of service. Many of our members participated in local service activities throughout the New Orleans community.
All actives were on their best behavior during Bid Day to make sure that the new members felt welcome and comfortable. As we continued to strive to meet the standards and expectations of nationals set out by our focus letter our members took an active role in becoming positive role models for the new members. Before our first social event, Glo Kappa, all members met at the Kappa House to watch a brief presentation on alcohol safety. Due to the super bowl and carnival season coinciding Mardi Gras was early in the semester this year. Mardi Gras is always a great way for the new members to bond with the actives. The New Member Chairs put together an excellent presentation the meeting before Mardi Gras that went over safety and proper behavior.
Before initiation our new member met with the standards committee individually to discuss their progress so far and their future expectations as an initiated member. Inspiration week started on April 1st. We were lucky enough to have our LC Charlotte visit our chapter to make sure initiation went smoothly. Throughout the week new members continued to bond with the active’s through nightly pledge class activities. Our marshal had been holding ritual reviews sessions throughout the semester, which helped the actives be fully prepared for the day of initiation. We were lucky enough to have alumni be a part of our initiation, and we held a brunch at the house after initiation for the entire chapter and the alumni.
The last chapter of the semester was dedicated to the senior class. Our education chair gave each senior a gift and the juniors put together a slide show of pictures in honor of their bigs. Classes resumed in August and the entire chapter was excited to continue improving our standings with nationals. The sophomore class came back to school early to help with Freshmen Move-In. On august 24th Chapter Council had a full day retreat where they discussed ways to improve the chapter as a whole. Throughout the semester the sophomore class met once a moth to prepare for our spring recruitment.
In the month of September we had one senior event at Saint James Cheese Company where the seniors were able to taste all different types of cheeses. Our philanthropy chair held a dress drive for a local women’s shelter, and we had a sisterhood event where we watched a Saints game together with was a lot of fun. On October 7th we held a founders day dinner at the house following formal chapter. We had many local alumni attend, which definitely added to the event. Before Halloween all members attended our annual Reading is Fundamental Fall Festival, which is our chapters philanthropy. On Halloween day we had a sisterhood even where we carved pumpkins. Throughout the fall semester we had both fun and safe social events. This years Red Hot Mamma date party was by far the best event of the year. Our Event Chair was able to get a photo booth with was the highlight of the night.
The month of November was filled with philanthropy events. On the 9th we held our biggest event, Kappa Kollection. We had a lot of new vendors this year, which was exciting, and we were able to raise money for the New Orleans Womens shelter and The Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. We also participated in a Habitat for Humanity build. After electing a competent nominating committee our chapter was presented with a new slate on November 11th.. Member voted to approve the entire new slate the following week.
After received a new focus letter our Academic Excellence chair began holding weekly study hours to try to improve our chapters GPA. Every week member’s signed up to attend study hours for at least three hours a week. We are trying very hard as a chapter to improve our GPA. During the first week of December our LC Charlotte visited again. She held a few fun and educational events including a Kappa history talk and a review of the bylaws and standing rules. Our outgoing officers held great officer transition meetings for our new chapter council. The newly elected Chapter Council was eager for the spring semester to star so they could continue the great work of our previous officers in continuing to better our chapter as a whole.
In the fall Tulane welcomed a new sorority, Alpha Delta Pi. Our chapter tried very hard to make sure the women of Alpha Delta Pi felt welcome at Tulane. During the workweek of recruitment we held a “mock recruitment” with them so they would feel comfortable speaking to potential new members during formal recruitment. Kappa was the only sorority on campus that did this with Alpha Delta Pi. Being placed on Council Action in the spring of 2012 both chapter council and all of our members have worked to improve the Beta Omicron Chapter in many ways. Chapter Council has introduced many new ideas in order to improve sisterhood, ritual, academic excellence, philanthropy, and over-all chapter dignity and respect. Our monthly sisterhood events, study hours, ritual reviews, and new exciting philanthropy opportunities have not only made us bond as a chapter, but has also allowed us to make strides to become a better chapter. Our members have taken an active role in helping Chapter Council make sure Beta Omicron reaches its full potential. The sophomore, junior and senior classes all understand that we are the role models for the new members. As upperclassmen we have discussed numerous times that we are responsible for setting a good example for them. All older members have taken this responsibility very seriously and are aware that the new members will uphold our chapter ideals if we do as well.
==Highlights of 2020s==