==Highlights of 2021==
Chapter Summary
In the past year our chapter has done some great things even with The Eta Tau Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at Georgetown University welcomed 4 new members in the restrictions Spring of the pandemic placed upon us. Academically speaking our chapter has done a tremendous job bringing up our chapter wide GPA 2021 and rank52 new members in Fall of 2021. This fall semester we They were ranked 5 of 6 of all the sororities in average GPAsuccessfully initiated and have already contributed so much to our chapter. This past winter semester, we placed 2 of 6 with an average GPA of 3.659. We currently have 6 open Merit-Based scholarships. Operationally speaking, we have held some awesome fundraiser two successful signature philanthropy events that our DEI heads planned and are currently working (one raffle each semester) to plan our yearly tradition philanthropy fundraiser event raise money for Active Minds. We wanted to make sure that the promise committee at our school which works to prevent drinking and driving on campus. Aside transition from this, we hope online to hold a fun run philanthropy event in person events between the fall. We had a solid rush year Spring and received 4-5 quota additions taking in 30 new members. Following a solid recruitmentthe Fall went smoothly, and overall we held our ritual and initiation for all new members to be inducted into were happy with the chapter. We have an exciting senior kickball event coming up that is being held through our panhellenic council. This event is a fundraiser chapter’s excitement to donate return to a Gofundme for a member on our campus who recently became paralyzed due to a serious accidentin person events. One By the end of our chapter wide goals this year is to increase our DEI efforts the Fall, we were functioning almost exactly like we were pre-pandemic (although we had masks at most indoor events and work to get some new and fun philanthropy and sisterhood events in! occasional Zoom options).
Chapter PhilanthropyOur chapter supports We have supported many of the Children’s Literacy Foundation through fundraising events Georgetown campus community service initiatives by volunteering our own time for them, and we hold on campushave raised money for a local organization called Martha’s Table. AdditionallyGentrification-driven displacement and food deserts are a pressing issue in DC, we work with the Rockbridge County and elementary schools Martha’s Table is working to raise money alleviate food insecurity in our city, which is why we feel strongly about their mission.We held two raffles (one each semester) where we asked local businesses for supplies donations and school supplies then sold raffle tickets for childrena chance to win these donated prizes. We are planning Chapter members buy tickets themselves and reach out to do a few events in the fall with friends, family, campus organizations in , and their social media community to sell tickets to the area that event. All profits go to Active Minds (we voted as a chapter to support DEI efforts as wellActive Minds specifically).
With the recent shift to focus on mental health and well-being advocacy, our chapter has been working to brainstorm some new ideas for events to fundraise for and support some of these organizations. We are hoping to hold events in the fall to support Active Minds, NEDA, Jed Foundation, and Mental Health America. Some current plans we have is to hold a fun run, a “food fuel” event during our finals week, a yoga event and more!
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion We added a DEI chair for the 2021 Chapter Council and have begun incorporating DEI education into our chapter programming.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
While it was difficult to operate as a chapter during the pandemic, we have really been working to get back to our normal operations and have been specifically focusing on DEI efforts and philanthropy events. We plan to hold many philanthropy events in the fall since our philanthropy chair is currently abroad. As far as DEI, our chapter makes strong efforts to increase engagement in diversity engagement and inclusion. Our DEI heads lead meetings every week following chapter to talk about a specific weekly topic which helps raise awareness around such topic. We also have done a collaboration with an organization campus to promote racial equity and inclusion. We held a fundraiser to raise money for children’s school supplies that promote all skin colors (crayons, band aids, etc) as well as posters for the classrooms. We are looking to do some other collabs this spring as well as in the fall. Additionally, we have held chapter wide DEI events in the past year where some outside members came to speak to our chapter on various topics.
Operating in a Pandemic
Operating during In the pandemic Spring of 2021, Georgetown was a challenge for our completely virtual so we had all chaptermeetings and sisterhood events virtually. For a long period of timeIn the Fall, we were having transitioned to do everything virtually (in person chapter, rush workshop, rush, initiation, meetings and hybrid sisterhood events(at the beginning). It was most difficult to hold rush virtually due to By the technical difficulties we encountered. The inorganic feeling end of getting to know someone through a screen made it a challenge for both our members and the PNM’s. While we tried to make it as natural as possibleFall of 2021, we felt the experience would have been much better for the PNM’s if it were every event was happening in person. Chapter and other operations were tough to hold virtually as sometimes it was hard to have effective and solid conversation. However, I think our chapter did a great job trying to make some virtual sisterhood events fun so that we could relax and still get to be together as a chapterwith Covid modifications like capacity limits or masks.