DEAR BROTHERS Knight Commander's Message The Order and its chapters are thriving! I am proud to share with you some exciting news in that regard: ACADEMICS. Our chapters continue to thrive academically. The average chapter GPA this past spring was 3.1, continuing a streak of six semesters higher than 3.0, our stated Order-wide goal. RECRUITMENT AND MEMBERSHIP. After a fall 2020 semester membership decline of nearly 20 percent Active Chapters posted a 24 percent increase in new members this past fall. That’s a quarter of growth, erasing the previous loss. Our undergraduate membership sits just short of its all-time mark, currently at 7,381 men, in 118 chapters, with an average chapter size of more than 60 members. LEADERHIP EDUCATION. In January we returned to our traditional model for all Number Is to be trained together. We also recently completed education for our chapter leaders with five regional Officer Training Conferences held in Phoenix, Lexington (Virginia), St. Louis, Atlanta, and Dallas. More than 1,100 chapter officers received inperson, standardized training on their role in leading their chapters.
C. Douglas Simmons III (Beta Tau– Mississippi State ‘95)
“We also recently completed education for our chapter leaders ... More than 1,000 chapter officers received in-person, standardized training on their role in leading their chapters.”
CHARTERINGS. I was pleased to present both the Zeta Alpha charter to an outstanding group of new brothers at the University of Colorado and the Alpha Kappa charter to the deserving men at the University of Missouri. KAOEF FUNDRAISING & SUPPORT. Five years ago, the KAOEF embarked on a truly historic initiative for our Crimson & Gold Society. The lofty goal was to acquire 1,000 donors giving $1,000 in unrestricted, annual support. I’m proud to announce that we have indeed smashed our goal and confirmed 1,025 members of the Crimson & Gold Society in 2021. However, we must continue to meet this same goal for the fiscal year end on June 30, 2022—we still need your support. With this support, we have already begun to further assist our members further. By reallocating resources, we were able to: provide nearly $70,000 in COVID-19 Relief Grants to 65 young KA brothers, triple the E. Fleming Mason Internship program, from five brothers in Washington, D.C., to fifteen by adding interns in both Atlanta and Dallas, and increase our scholarship program to more than $100,000 along with increased grant support for enhanced leadership education. Personally, I want to thank the donors of the Crimson & Gold Society. Each of you brothers, many KA roses, and friends of the Order, are making a MAJOR difference in the lives of our young men. OUR SPIRITUAL FOUNDER. Thousands of good young men, fathers, husbands, brothers, and friends are members of our Order. We teach and they believe that KA’s purpose is to be a Moral Compass for the Modern Gentleman while acknowledging Robert E. Lee as spiritual founder. Why? It was his spirit of gentlemanly conduct and faith upon which we build our values: reverence, gentility, knowledge, leadership, brotherhood, and excellence. To be clear, I am proud that Lee is our spiritual founder. I am also proud that we are providing education, combatting racism, and providing a values-based experience for our members. You know by now that I am very proud to be a KA. I remain steadfast in my conviction that the Order will meet any challenges, push back any threats, and thrive into the future. Fraternally,
2
KAJ_Sp22_C1-C2_01-23_P4.indd 2
The Kappa Alpha Journal (ISSN #0888-8868, USPS #014-747) is an educational journal published four times a year by Kappa Alpha Order, 115 Liberty Hall Rd., Lexington, Virginia, 24450. Periodicals postage paid at Lexington, Virginia, and additional mailing offices. The Kappa Alpha Journal seeks to reflect the Kappa Alpha experience by presenting news of active and alumni chapters, individual members, and the national organization; by addressing current issues facing the Greek system and the Order; by educating and entertaining those interested in the welfare of Kappa Alpha; and by serving as a historical record. The Kappa Alpha Journal has been published since 1879. From 1883 to 1885 it was known as The Magazine of Kappa Alpha. Kappa Alpha Order was founded in 1865 at Washington College (Washington and Lee University) in Lexington, Virginia. Today, Kappa Alpha boasts 125 undergraduate chapters and more than 60 alumni chapters across the nation.
W W W. K A P PA A L P H AO R D E R .O R G
3/21/22 5:10 PM