2,350
edits
Changes
→Colonization:
On May 6, 2013, Kappa Kappa Gamma made a presentation at Elmhurst College. Members of Kappa’s presentation team were: Fraternity President Julie Marine Leshay, Colorado College; Director of Chapters Collett Beers Rangitsch, Wyoming; Director of Programs & Education Beth Uphoff Black, Illinois Wesleyan; Fraternity Extension Chairman Barb Adams Goettelman, Syracuse; Leadership Consultant Jessie Pereira, Santa Clara; Extension Coordinator Lisa Lunney Thomson, Bowling Green; Membership Services Chapter Support Libbi Rettew, Virginia Tech; and Executive Director Kari Kittrell. At the time of expansion, the campus Panhellenic consisted of Alpha Phi, Phi Mu and Sigma Kappa.
==ColonizationEstablishment:==The chapter was colonized by Recruitment. Colonization Establishment Chairman was Suzanne Brown Mahoney, Kansas State. Two Kappa chapters participated in the colonization establishment activities: Loyola and Valparaiso. The Chapter Consultant appointed to assist Eta Phi was Jessie Pereira, and the Coordinator of Chapter Development appointed was Ann Moenius, Nebraska. Additional members of the colonization establishment team included Barb Goettelman; Leadership Consultants Cara Cook, Arizona State, and Iliana Garcia, New Mexico; Beth Black; Janet Meinheit, Wisconsin; and Loyola Membership Advisor Tracey Bien, Drake.
The first tabling event at the Elmhurst College Activity Fair was on August 29, 2013. Since the Fraternity’s name was not on the participants list, Greek Life Director Elizabeth Doyle quickly found us an open spot to set up our table. It was sunny and hot, but the Kappa team didn’t melt! It was obvious that our outstanding Chapter Consultant, Jessie Pereira, had made many strong connections on campus. Everyone was very welcoming, and the offers to assist were numerous.
The Kappas focused primarily on encouraging women to participate in Recruitment and told them that Kappa was going to be the newest sorority on campus. The potential new members were given Jessie Pereira’s business card which included the Be Kappa Facebook page address. Several women approached the table on their own, and we did our part to engage those who were a little more hesitant.
Overall, this was a great start to Kappa’s colonization establishment at Elmhurst College. The event ran smoothly, we had all the necessary materials, a great team helped and there was interaction with a lot of potential new members.
Recruiting alumnae volunteers to assist with establishing the chapter began in early August and continued for more than five weeks. It was made possible by the assistance provided by the local Province Directors of Alumnae: Epsilon South Province Director of Alumnae Beverly Hayes, Miami, and Epsilon North Province Director of Alumnae Nancy Greenstein Worsley, Illinois.
It was determined that it would be beneficial for members of the interview team to participate in a conference call to have a refresher course about the Membership Selection process. This call was facilitated by Director of Membership Susan Pile, Miami (Ohio), and Assistant to the Director of Membership Melissa Shearer, Vanderbilt.
Before colonization establishment began, wooden letters KKG were created to use during Recruitment, and we found a calligrapher to create the Bid Day cards who volunteered to make the centerpieces for the Preference dessert party. Floral arrangements for the interview registration table and the iris stems for the Formal Pledging Service were ordered. It was determined that we needed a basket with children’s books for the philanthropy display table.
Since the Valparaiso undergraduate members came to assist with the round one parties, snack bags were assembled by the Hinsdale Alumnae Association members for them to have on the bus ride home. Snack bags were also assembled for the young alumnae team assisting that evening as well as snack bags for the Loyola undergraduate members who came to assist with Formal Pledging and Bid Day.
Interviews began on September 27th. The college booked a room for us across from the common area of the student center. In their off-time, alumnae put together the snack bags for the Loyola women for Sunday, and these alumnae assisted Loyola chapter volunteers with crafting projects. Following the morning interview session, campus catering brought in lunch and the alumnae team ate while the membership selection meeting was conducted. This meeting was facilitated by the Field Representatives and Suzanne Mahoney. The Loyola membership adviser, conducted the final selection meeting, and by 8:30 p.m. the team had compiled a list of women to invite to the final party.
Bid day arrived on September 29th. The Loyola women and a team of six local Hinsdale alumnae joined the colonization establishment team for this exciting day. The party was very successful: 54 bids were extended and all attendees accepted them. These women were escorted to another room for the Formal Pledging Service. Beth Black conducted the service.
Following the service, everyone went back to the original party room where the new members received their bid day bags and Kappa T-shirts. The colonizing establishing class took photos and had fun together while a reception was hosted by the Fraternity for the campus Greek leaders and administration. The 54 new members then came to the reception after which they stayed for a pizza and salad dinner. There they all had an informational session about Kappa and participated in ice-breaker activities. This was an incredible experience and made memories for a lifetime.
==Installation:==
