Changes
Chi
,→Highlights of 2020
|Image= [[File:Chi.jpg|200px]]
|Founded= {{start date and years ago|1880|04|21}}
|College= [httphttps://www1.umn.edu/twincities/index.html University of Minnesota]
|Location= Minneapolis, MN
|Homepage= [httphttps://chaptersumn.kappakappagammakappa.org/chi/ Chi Website]|Media= [httphttps://wiki.kappakappagammakkg.org/index.php?title=Category:Chi Media related to Chi Chapter]
}}
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'''2,595 734 initiates (as of June 20152018)'''
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Halloween parties and the Senior Picnic in the spring seem to be the only occasions that remain virtually unchanged from Chi's founding to this day. The chapter still celebrates Halloween, although the entertainment has altered in 90 years. The Senior Picnic seems not to have changed much at all, for the girls still enjoy skits, singing, baseball games, and occasional fortune-telling as their predecessors did. The picnic has customarily been held at the lake home of one of the active members, so from the earliest days, swimming and boating were enjoyed.
==Highlights of the 1910s==
For 60 years - through the 1930s - an annual houseparty was the highlight of each year. During the heyday of the hosueparty (1900-1920), it became a full week's sojourn at a resort near Prior Lake. One of the cottages was even named "Fleur-de-lis," honoring Chi's annual pilgrimage. Originally, both alumnae and actives (and chaperone, of course) went together for days of hiking, baseball, tennis, boating, bathing, and fun. The girls welcomed the arrival of their beaux for the final weekend, which was capped by dancing and hilarity. Alice Trimble (de Veau) recorded in 1908: "Chi has been an entrepreneur throughout the years. In 1890, the entire community was roused to support Kappa in its sponsor ship of Locke Richardson's readings of Shakespeare- in that time quite an unprecedented undertaking for a small group of young ladies. But the astonishing profit of $80 was realized, so well-patronized was the event. In 1891, Mr. Richardson's success was repeated, and in 1894 Chi sponsored a lecture by Swami Vive Kanadi, Member of the Parliament."
The chapter was asked to catalogue the cards for all nurses in Minnesota, a task which they accomplished with pride in just three weeks. They contributed to the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Fund for French war orphans; and they sewed chemises for those same orphans in the attic, which had been converted to a sewing room.
==World War II Era==
World War II brought similar emergency activities to the chapter, along with some more tangible necessities. Each girl was required to bring one cup of sugar to the house per month. Town girls were asked to eat at the house only twice weekly, due to the food shortage. Members were to bring fat and tin cans to the house for collections. Every Kappa signed up as a blood donor. Chis sold "warsages" (war stamp corsages) at the Homecoming football games.
After World War II, public awareness increased on campus, as it did across the nation. The university, itself, was bursting with new students, returning veterans, and new buildings. Organized activity reached its peak. There was Greek Week, during which all the Greek societies performed some sort of social service as well as had fun and entertainment. Homecoming activities greatly expanded, along with the university-sponsored Snow Week in the winter and Campus Carnival in the spring. "Formals," the housemother's tea, the dads' brunch and the mothers' tea were, by now, traditional. Annual chapter membership had grown during the war years to around 60. No longer were even the actives acquainted with each other in the intimate way that was possible earlier.
==Highlights of the 1960s==
The chapter house was nearly 50 years old by the 1960s. Its capacity had been stretched to the limit. Strict rules of seniority determined which actives could live in. In 1962, a large house on an adjacent lot was purchased and remodeled for use as an annex, so that nearly half the chapter could be housed in the two buildings.
It may well be that Chi's existence is more viable today than ever before. It provides a commonality of spirit, a sisterhood, in which each member is able to preserve her individuality while seeking an identity among the multitude.
==Highlights from the 1980s==
Chi celebrated their centennial in 1980. During the 1980s, Chi pledge classes ranged from about 19 new members to a high of 27 new members in 1987. Chi was usually one of only 5 sororities to reach quota. There were many girls who resigned each year, however. 1987 was also a year of chapter house renovations.
Chi was involved in many philanthropic activities during the 1980s, including Toast to the Twin Cities to benefit The Children’s Museum, Kappa Krush to benefit Students Against Drunk Drivers, Halloween parties with Pi Phis to benefit the Children’s Heart Hospital, and Campus Carnival benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as well as The Children’s Home Society for abused and underprivileged children. They also held activities to benefit Blaisdale YMCA. Chi has always had a strong philanthropic focus.
These weren’t totally easy years for Chi, though. 1980 - 1984 was a period of concern for scholarship, so improvement in this area was desired. GPAs were low, and Chi was placed on a Warning of Probation and eventually on Probation, and an overall improvement program was established. Chi became a Kappa Model Program, and they worked hard to improve their scholarship. Also the Greek system was not in favor with the university officials. All houses received a warning letter regarding scholarship, alcohol awareness, and finances. “Minnesota Greeks realize it is time to pull the entire Greek system together as a whole to become as positive as we have the potential to be.” Chi's efforts were rewarded in 1988 with a Removal of Probation.
==Highlights from the 1990s==
New Member classes continued to be between 19 and 23 each year, and in 1990 the chapter adopted the goal of “Improve membership though respect”. They had the 3rd lowest membership totals on campus in 1993, and Lara Meinheit was brought in as a Chapter Consultant. In the mid-90s, Chi struggled with spirit and morale, but in 1997 kudos were given to a wonderful PDC, Trish Pollak. Chapter Council positions of Public Relations and Alumnae Relations were added in 1998 - 99. Chi hosted Epsilon Province Meeting in spring 1999, but the end of the 90s was a time where chapter participation was low.
Philanthropy continued to be strong at Chi. They raised funds for Special Olympics, the Rose McGill Fund, Juvenile Diabetes, and underprivileged children and the homeless. They ran clothing drives for the needy, helped raise funds for Children’s Hospital, The Leukemia Society of America, and Camp Heartland for children born with AIDS, as well as participated in the March of Dimes Walk.
Focus on scholarship was rewarded when Chi won the the Greatest Scholastic Improvement Award at the 1994 Kappa Convention and the Best Scholarship Award from the University of Minnesota. The chapter members were very involved in other campus activities, and Chi always provided great social events. 1996 brought a campus effort to increase respect for the Greek system, and 1997 was a year of lots of chapter house upgrades, including new roofs, new plumbing, paint, etc. Chi also began Monmouth Duo events with the Pi Phis. Better relations with the university prompted the President of the University of Minnesota to say that the Greek System is an important and vital part of the University of Minnesota.
==Highlights of the 2000s==
Chi’s membership in the 2000s grew steadily, ranging from a very small new member class of 10 women in 2004 to a class of 56 new members in 2015! Even with the low new member numbers in 2004, Kappa was the largest sorority on campus with 79 total members for the first time since 1981! They hosted fall and spring recruitment until their numbers were up, and by 2010, they had over 100 members.
Philanthropic efforts included the KKG Foundation, Kappa Car Wash for RIF, Walk for Diabetes, Relay for Life, Light the Night Walk for Leukemia, food drives, blood drives (including 15 Chi Kappas donating blood for victims of the 9/11 tragedy), Cinderella Dress Project, Children’s Hospital, Marcy Open Homes School After School Project, and the Kappa Classic Golf Tournament as well as Breakfast at Kappa to fund the Girls Academy Pilot Program. Chi has been running a very successful Girls Academy since 2015.
Chi has received many awards and distinctions in the 2000s. At the 2004 Kappa Convention, Chi received awards for Finance, Panhellenic involvement, and Recruitment. In 2005 the University of Minnesota awarded them the New Member Program Award, and Chi received the Greatest Chapter Improvement and Standards awards at Kappa Province Meeting. University awards for Chapter of Excellence, Outstanding Academic Program, and Outstanding New Member Development were awarded to Chi in 2010.
In 2005 - 06, Chi helped to establish the new Eta Iota Kappa chapter at Creighton University. In addition to all of their philanthropic activities, Chi began to organize many more social and sisterhood events. Each year lots of Chi Kappas were chosen to be fraternity sweethearts. In anticipation of their 2010 100th anniversary of the chapter house, a Parents’ Association was founded. This helped to bring lots of chapter house improvements to Chi, including painting, new draperies, other window coverings, and bedspreads. Air conditioning was installed, gardens were landscaped, and a new website was created.
Campus trends included a greater awareness of sexual assaults on campus and efforts to prevent them and a new light rail system that was expanded in Minneapolis and St. Paul to help to connect the 3 separate campuses more safely.
==Highlights of 2011==
'''Campus:''' Over the past fall of 2011 Washington avenue has been under construction. They are renovating the streets and putting in a new light rail, that will connect to the existing light rail system and improve transportation on campus. There also has been a lot of other renovations to various buildings on campus.
'''Chapter:''' Over the past year our house has been renovated by an HGTV designer, the main living room, chapter room and kitchen has been renovated. Also our chapter has revised the standing rules and bylaws within each chapter council position and overall chapter council. III. Chapter Challenges: (Describe them and how the chapter met and overcame them.) One of the major challenges of our chapter is maintaining a high enough GPA to compete with the other sororities on campus. But this has become an issue that our chapter has taken very seriously. In order to strive for a high GPA and overall positive academic reputation our chapter has required study tables, and a log book to record and keep track of the hours that each member of the chapter has spent studying.
Recently there have been a lot of changes on our campus physically. The university is constantly looking for ways to improve the school and one way they are choosing to do so is building a few new things around campus. Currently they are working on building a light rail system through campus for fast and convenient transportation along with installing designated bike lanes on busy streets. In addition the new Rec center and Northrup Auditorium undergoing reconstruction and will be done in fall 2013. Finally, our campus is installing a number of new apartment buildings and even a new dorm for student housing on 17th Avenue. This new dorm will be filled for the most part with Greek students.
==Highlights of 2013==
During the fall of 2013, Chi Chapter brought Something of Value to the University of Minnesota for the very first time. Something of Value is a national program that encourages discussion of high-risk behavior that Greek communities partake in. The day included a mock trial, discussion of our values, and an opportunity to create an action plan in order to decrease and eliminate high-risk behavior. Chi Chapter invited two members from each pledge class to participate in this event. It was very influential for our chapter as well as the other sororities that participated. Also, Chi Chapter participated in a weekend-retreat for Girls Academy, having the opportunity to attend Northeast Middle school and empower young women. Overall, it was a very influential and impactful year for Chi Chapter. We feel as though we grew strong bonds within our chapter and with other Greek communities through our active participation in philanthropies.
We received the all around Greatest Chapter Award at the 2013 Province Meeting.
The University of Minnesota is constantly evolving. Currently, the University is building a light rail that runs through the campus that will connect downtown Minneapolis to downtown St Paul. The light rail has been under construction for four years and will be running in the fall of 2014; which is a very exciting event for all the students and faculty at the University of Minnesota. Also, the University of Minnesota has recently updated Northrop Memorial Auditorium. Northrop Memorial Auditorium is an enduring symbol of the University and the focal point of the Twin Cities campus. It has been under construction since 2011 and opening April 2014.
This year we have had a couple exciting changes to our campus. The light rail that runs from St. Paul to Minneapolis that they have been working on for a few years is finally up and running. This new an improved light rail doubles the size and scope of the old light rail. This new form of transportation runs through the center of our campus right down Washington Avenue. This gives students another way to get to and from West Bank, East Bank, and St. Paul, and makes our campus connectors (our university's transportation system) occasionally less crowded, especially during the cold winters. This new light rail also gives students easier access to the Twin Cities. We are now able to easily find our way to Mall of America, The Capitol, and everything further and in between. Another addition to our campus this year was having the Vikings play at TCF stadium. This caused major traffic and swarms of people in parking lots cheering and playing music relatively early on Sunday mornings. However, it also brought excitement to campus. It was fun to walk outside our dorms, apartments, and houses to hear the roaring of the crowd and the loud horn. It was weird to think while watching it on TV that the game was happening not even a mile away from you. Although you wanted to avoid being on the roads when the game started and ended, and music was playing outside your dorm on the one day you got to sleep in, hosting the Vikings was a pleasure and a exciting addition to campus.
Our chapter is filled with girls of diverse personalities who are friends with all different type of students on campus. Our chapter exhibits many different arrangements of hobbies, passions, and ideas which forms strong relationships between our girls and makes getting together a fun and exciting experience every time.
We hold our chapter meetings in our chapter owned facility. Our chapter owns two houses that give members the opportunity to live together. The first house is what we call the main house. This is where Monday night dinners are held, it is where the kitchen is, and where our chapter meetings are held. The main house is mainly where freshmen and sophomores live, but also occasionally juniors. The second house is what we call the annex. Opposed to the main house which fits 21 members, there are 19 girls who live in the annex. The annex is mostly filled with juniors and occasionally seniors. Both of our houses are owned by our chapter.
We were awarded the Academic Excellence Award at the 2014 Kappa Convention.
==Highlights of 2015==
Chi Kappa Kappa Gamma has had an exciting year full a new events and challenges. This year Chi chapter was awarded the Chapter Excellence award. We were also very happy to come in with the 3rd highest grade point average out of all the houses here at the University of Minnesota. Our grade point average requirement is a 2.7, and our current grade point average is 3.43. In 2015, Chi had the highest GPA on campus, and we won the university’s Chapter of Excellence Award again. Also, Panhellenic elections were recently held and two members of Kappa Kappa Gamma were voted on to the PanHellenic Executive Council taking the positions of President and Vice President of Recruitment.
Another event that we are very proud of is our recruitment process. This year, the University of Minnesota had the largest number of girls go through recruitment since Greek life began at the University. We, along with other chapters, received our largest pledge classes with 56 girls, and initiated 54 girls. We were also very proud of our recruitment process considering we had 100% retention rate after open house. This year, our recruitment chair started the position of new member recruitment assistant, which has never been done on campus. Our assistant worked along side our recruitment chair to help with any problems, learn the ropes of the process and be the liaison between the members going through recruitment process for the first time, and our recruitment chair.
Our chapter can be described as a diverse group of girls who have different personalities and interests, yet form one cohesive group that makes for a funny, caring, intelligent, goal-driven, friendly and diligent chapter. The differences between every individual are what make our chapter unique yet exciting.
Locally, we have done book drives for Marcy Open Homes School and for a semester girls would visit this school during an after school program and hang out with the kids, play games and do crafts. We also used a large amount of the money we raised to help us put on the weekend for Girls Academy.
Marcy open homes is a school very close to our campus, therefore the Chapter feels as though it is our responsibility to help this school reach it’s full potential. We hope to be able to supply this school with the tools and supplies they need to give these kids the education that they deserve.
==Highlights of 2016==
2016 was a year full of growth and prosperity for Kappa Kappa Gamma's Chi Chapter located here at the University of Minnesota. We have more than 150 members and can house 40 Kappas each year between the main chapter house and the annex next door. The women of Chi Chapter were rewarded for their dedication to their academics, leadership and philanthropy. Academically, Chi Chapter excelled by being recognized as the number one GPA out of the fourteen PanHellenic chapters on campus. Not only was that an amazing accomplishment in itself but Chi Chapter was able to achieve and maintain such a status for the second semester in a row with a GPA chapter average of 3.43.
Our Chapter has also been able to extend its success in the PanHellenic community by maintaining a presence on the executive board. This past November, the PanHellenic community elected two members of Kappa Kappa Gamma onto the University of Minnesota's PanHellenic Executive Council - taking the positions of Vice President of Public Relations and Vice President of Recruitment. Chi Chapter is composed of individuals who strive to better themselves and those around them which has allowed our Chapter to achieve all that we have. The individuals of Chi Chapter have built up such a chapter by being dedicated to their studies, developing their leadership qualities, giving back to the community and recruiting individuals who show promise in such areas. By living and practicing by such standards and rules expected from being a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma we were very fortunate to receive Honorable Mention for Recruitment, Public Relations, Finance, Gracious Living, House Board and Academic Excellence at the 2016 Chapter Convention. In addition our Chapter also achieved Adelphe Society Status for our cumulative donations being over $10,000.
Chi Chapter is proud of such honors but even prouder of the work that went into receiving them. This year, the University of Minnesota had its largest amount of girls go through recruitment thus far. As Greek life continues to grow and expand here on our campus so does our chapter. We were very fortunate to receive a pledge class of 48 wonderful girls in September and were able to initiate 47 girls into our sisterhood in November. Chi Chapter is not only proud of the women that encompass it but also the work that they do to better the community. This year our chapter put on the philanthropic events Breakfast at Kappa, Girls Academy and Kappa Karnations while also participating in various external philanthropies. Breakfast at Kappa is an event where family and friends purchased tickets to come and eat breakfast at our chapter's house. All the proceeds of ticket sales went to "Reading is Fundamental" and our other event Girls Academy. Our chapter holds Girls Academy extremely dear to our hearts because we are able to see the direct impact we have on the community. During Girls Academy members of our chapter set up a weekend long workshop to help develop girls into the strong, confident, ambitious individuals that they are. As a chapter we continue to overcome challenges presented and prosper while also living by the expectations set upon us by the women that have come before us so that we can create a better sisterhood, campus and world for the women to come.
One thing that has changed on campus since our last report is that the Minnesota Vikings no longer play in TCF Stadium. Last year, the Minnesota Vikings new home, US Bank stadium, was under construction but has since been completed. This change has decreased the amount of traffic coming in and out of campus on Sundays. Although the energy created by Viking fans will be missed it has made Sundays on campus more peaceful/quiet and thus easier to complete weekend assignments.
The University of Minnesota had the largest voter turnout across all Big 10 schools for the Presidential election between President-Elect Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in November.
Our chapter continues to partner with the Chanhassen Feed My Starving Children location. We have volunteered at this local Feed My Starving Children for as long as our oldest members can remember through large and small group exchanges. We have continued to work with such an organization due to the local and global impact. Locals come together in order to better the lives thousands of miles away. Our Chapter strives to push our members to make an impact on all scales and this specific philanthropy allows us to do so.
Our chapter continues to meet on Monday nights in the main house living room.
==Highlights of 2017==
2017 was a year of academic and philanthropic success for Chi chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Through new and exciting opportunities for growth and academic achievement, Chi chapter was awarded the third highest GPA out of 15 sororities on campus. In addition to this accomplishment, 86 members met our GPA goal of 3.3, achieving a chapter-wide GPA of 3.48. Also, 58 members made the dean’s list, and 15 earned a 4.0. These numbers are extremely high, and reflect greatly the amount of effort that all members put forth through their academics. Chi chapter is full of women who exceed expectations when it comes to both academics and philanthropic participation.
Chi chapter took on a new outlook on philanthropy this past year. There were many opportunities for girls to contribute their time and effort to enrich the community around them. In the spring, Chi chapter held multiple philanthropies, such as Kappa Karnations and Breakfast at Kappa. These were both very successful events, and raised money for GIRLS Academy and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. Another philanthropic event that Chi Chapter was very proud of was the Reading is Fundamental book drive that was held with Pi Beta Phi. Paired together, many books were donated by both chapters. In the fall, the annual Kappa Klassic was held, and raised the most money it ever has. Through donations and the fee for golfers, over $10,000 was raised for GIRLS Academy and Reading is Fundamental. There were also multiple opportunities outside of our chapter to volunteer that were new this year. Girls went to Arc’s Valley Village to sort and tag on clothing items for the thrift shop, and the Twin Cities Marathon to support runners in the city.
Here at the University of Minnesota, recruitment has gained a substantial amount of interest over the years. This recruitment season had the most girls signed up that it ever has. As a chapter, Chi revamped the philanthropy round in order to properly showcase how important these philanthropies are. Through these modifications, this chapter gained 46 amazing new members who were initiated on the 4th of November. The entire chapter is so proud of all of these women for perfectly embodying what a Kappa Kappa Gamma should be.
In the overall Panhellenic Community, Chi chapter has also taken an active role in order to make additions that positively benefit all sororities. One member was elected the Vice President of Recruitment and oversaw the entire recruitment process for all of the Panhellenic community. Her effort to make this a smooth and easy process really proves that our chapter is comprised of women who strive to better themselves and the community around them. Her efforts to help guide over 900 women and assist them in deciding which house was best suited for their needs is an inspiration to all of her sisters in this chapter. Overall, Chi chapter has greatly exceeded expectations this year, and looks forward to all of the new improvements and achievements to come.
A recent change on our campus is that the Panhellenic Council has worked with MSA and general U of M administration to improve student safety, especially for women, on campus. This includes extending the hours for the UMN Shuttle service called Gopher Chauffeur in order to give students the option for a free and safe ride home.
Another change that is coming up is that the Super Bowl will be held at US Bank Stadium this year. This is an exciting time for both UMN students as well as the state of Minnesota. This provides many opportunities for the Greek community to contribute and promote itself to a greater community. Our chapter continues to partner with the Chanhassen Feed My Starving Children location. We have volunteered at this local Feed My Starving Children for a very long time. We also recently have paired with Arc’s Valley Village, as well as the Twin Cities Marathon. We have continued to work with such an organization due to the local and global impact. Locals come together in order to better the lives thousands of miles away. The latter two organizations allow Chi chapter to better the community that is immediately around us, as well as have a global impact. Our chapter strives to push our members to make an impact on all scales and these specific philanthropies allows us to do so. Our chapter continues to meet on Monday nights in the main house living room. Although our chapter is continuing to grow we have been able to keep up such a tradition.
==Highlights of 2018==