Changes
→Highlights of 2014
The President of Delta Eta has a badge that has been passed down since 2007. The back of the badge is inscribed with LRH. Several other women in the chapter wear their relative’s badges, and attached are the pictures of a few. Something special that the Salt Lake Alumni association does with badges is giving pearl drops to those girls with 4.0 GPAs to support academics. Also one member who went to the national convention in 2012 attained a charm that she also wears on her badge. Attached is Jessica Doucette’s badge, a member who has the pearl drop as well as the convention charm on her badge. On the back are her initials as well as her initiation date.
==Highlights of 2015==
The Delta Eta chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma has continued to grow and develop during the 2015 year. By the way of chapter population, we have been incredibly fortunate. During spring recruitment, we welcomed nine new members, and we celebrated as we initiated each of them. At the end of spring semester, our chapter watched as 24 members became Alumna when they graduated in May. Following fall recruitment, we welcomed 45 new women, including three legacies into our fraternity. It’s always an exciting time and a boost to sisterhood to see as the PNM goes through recruitment, receives a bid, becomes a full sister following initiation, and eventually gracefully transition to alumna status.
This year during Fall Recruitment, in an attempt to recruit more ‘real’ women, we engaged the potential new members directly in our philanthropy from the get-go. As a part of the parties on Chapter Pride Day, the second day of recruitment, we involved them in our fraternity-wide philanthropic organization of RIF, or Reading Is Fundamental, by coloring bookmarks. Each new member had the opportunity to get to know the women in our chapter and our commitment to philanthropy as they colored bookmarks. They also came to understand how our organization goes beyond four years and can support you for your entire life, as the bookmarks were donated to an alumna’s classroom in a Title 1 school.
Every year, one of the most anticipated and memorable days is Bid Day. We were so fortunate to have two this year, following spring and fall recruitment. There are many traditions that we routinely follow – The seniors collect all of our new members at the union, they each get a T-Shirt, we sit in a circle and introduce ourselves, etc. This year, we decided to add a new tradition. As all the new members come running down the street, the actives take them to the intersection in front of the house where the actives form a large circle around all the new members. We sing “Pat,” and at the chorus where we run to the center, we grab all of the new members and pull them out and teach them the song. It was successfully implemented during Fall Bid Day and was a sisterhood-building exercise.
This year, we combined the old with the new when it came to philanthropy. During the spring, we held a new event, called Kappa Kupcake. Those attending could have as many cupcakes as they could possibly eat for an entrance charge of five dollars. It proved to be very successful, and the money raised went to the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. In the fall, we had two philanthropy events. The first was called Kappa Klassic and it was a golf tournament. The enrollment was lower than expected, but those who did attend had an excellent time. We expect that with time, it will grow in popularity and should become a wildly successful philanthropy event in the years to come. The second philanthropy event in the fall, and by far more successful event, was Kappa Gobble. The premise, as always, is pie for all attendees. The entrance fee is five dollars and all the proceeds went to the Christmas Box House, our local philanthropy for Delta Eta.
As first and foremost college students, academics are always on our mind. Unfortunately, our record among the sororities on campus, has been decreasing. After many semesters as the sorority with the highest GPA on campus, during the spring we dropped to third, following both Chi Omega and Delta Gamma. This caused a new burst of motivation and dedication to our academics. Our Vice-President of Academic Excellence, Joyti Sharma started a new incentive program called, “Hey, Hey, I got an A.” As members got good grades on assignments, project, or tests, they wrote the achievement on a paper listed on a bulletin in the house. During chapter meetings, Joyti would read the names and their accomplishments and each recipient got a piece of candy. This program was wildly successful, and hopefully our grades for this semester will reflect the excitement over, “Hey, Hey I got an A.”
Delta Eta resides on the University of Utah campus and our members are always involved in many of the organizations. Whether it’s UPC, the Alumni Board, ASUU, Intramural sports, or TAing, it is likely that you will find a Kappa nearly everywhere! This spring, the University of Utah was fortunate enough to host Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, as she presented to the students and faculty on her personal experience with overcoming discrimination in her life. It was an incredibly opportunity for every member of the university,
student and faculty alike. Justice Sotomayor was exuberant and vivacious as she refused to answer the host’s questions and disregarded the security’s advances to remain on the stage as she went around the Huntsman Center, talking to students.
As mentioned before, Delta Eta has a commitment to our alumna. Not only do we have an incredible Advisory Board who help us daily, but there are other Kappas who we have been able to touch in remarkable ways. One such woman was found by a member of our Panhellenic community. She worked in a nursing home and one of the ladies she cared for was a Kappa Alumna from a different chapter. The old woman would often recount her collegiate days and how much Kappa had meant to her. Our chapter received word and we organized a trip to give
her a lavaliere and sing her a song. Following that trip, we learned that her birthday would be over Inspiration Week and we once again visited her, bringing along a few members of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, (her favorite fraternity) where they sang her their sweetheart song. This special connection with a sister, though many years apart in age, once again affirmed the sisterhood and connection that Kappa binds us with – one that we hope will be there for us when we are old and sitting in a nursing home.
At the beginning of the year, the chapter came up with a few goals to work towards. The first regarded Chapter Management. We had hoped to readdress the chapter goals every month and ensure that committee meetings always had a purpose. Unfortunately, this seemed to be forgotten as the year progressed. We hope to improve this in the following year. The second chapter goal regarded recruitment. It was expected that Kamp Kappa would be lengthened and that member morale would be improved during recruitment. This was heartily
addressed and was a successful change. Recruitment ran more smoothly and we had the largest pledge class on the row following fall recruitment. The final chapter goal regarded campus and community involvement. The chapter felt that we needed to strengthen our reputation in the community. In response to this, Nandini Deo, as Philanthropy Chair, informed members of a wide variety of community opportunities to volunteer and we increased our attendance at Panhellenic and Fraternity activities and philanthropies.
Overall, 2015 has been a success for the Delta Eta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Certainly, in the years after, with joy and with laughter, we’ll always remember 2015. Moving forward with such a great year behind us, we look forward to seeing what 2016 has in store.
==Highlights of 2020s:==
