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→The Early Years (Excerpted from The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity: 1870-1976)
==The Early Years (Excerpted from The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity: 1870-1976)==
During the weekend of November 15, 16, and 17, 1974, Epsilon Xi Chapter came to the San Fernando Valley. Thirty-one actives and 37 alumnae were initiated at the Gamma Xi house at the University of California at Los Angeles. Sixteen pledges exchanged the tiny golden owls that had pledged them to the colony for the blue Sigma within the Delta. Epsilon Xi is the newly installed Kappa Kappa Gamma chapter on the growing campus of the California State University at Northridge, California.
During the eight months following the colonization, members worked with their chapter adviser, Elinor Johnson Groom, Delta- Indiana, and Elizabeth Hawkins Pickett, Delta Tau- Southern California, the Kappa province director of chapters, struggling to assimilate the traditions and policies of their new group. During the hot summer evenings with the temperature at the house hovering in the mid 90s, they agonized learning Kappa songs for rushing and even included one created by Roseanne Horn, president, and Karen Kuhn, membership chairman.
In mid-September the Northridge campus of 24,000 students was deluged by well over twice the number of rushees than ever before. Taking time only for a quick gulp and doubling the punch recipe, the colony plunged into rush, emerging a week later with 15 marvelous pledges including its first Kappa legacy.
Under the capable leadership of the installation marshal, Janey Binda Walker, Gamma Zeta- Arizona, the San Fernando Valley Alumnae Association, and Denise Donmoyer Huddle, Delta Gamma- Michigan State, president of the Valley Alumnae Association, the vents of the installation, the banquet at the Sportsmen's Lodge, and the reception at the University Faculty Center flowed smoothly.
Lending great dignity and solemnity to the occasion were the installing officers, Marian Schroeder Graham, Beta Phi- Montana State, fraternity president; Kay Smith Larson, Beta Pi- University of Washington, director of field representatives; Betsy Molsberry Prior, Beta Nu- Ohio State, director of alumnae; and Elizabeth Hawkins Pickett, Delta Tau- University of Southern California, province director of chapters. The occasion was perhaps all the more meaningful since Marian Graham had been a long-time resident of the Valley and a member of the San Fernando Valley Alumnae Association. She reminisced that about 14 years ago a Kappa alumna, whose daughter had just pledged the local Alpha Omega sorority at Northridge, contacted her to suggest that Kappa might be interested in colonizing; but, Marian explained, Kappa was not expanding in California at that time...maybe later.
One of the most touching moments of the weekend came as Betsy Prior presented Roseanne Horn, Epsilon Xi president, with a particularly unique old president's key which had been salvaged several years ago from a Los Angeles antique shop by an alert Valley alumna. Carefully restored by Betsy's husband, James C. Prior, the lovely old turquoise and seed pearl key seemed to form a tangible link between Kappa's great tradition and her youngest chapter.
As momentous an occasion as was the initiation and installation, there was no time to relax, for the following weekend was Homecoming, and Roseanne Horn was Homecoming Chairman. At the end of the week the Kappas claimed not only first prize for their Homecoming float built with the engineering department, but Homecoming Queen Maureen Moran as well.
As this is written, Epsilon Xi chapter has just concluded its first election of officers. It seems fitting that in an area that once was exclusively orange groves and horse ranches now stands a community of 1,200,000 residents, and within this growing community grows the newest of the Kappa blue flower gardens.
==Highlights of 2011==
