Kappa Quill Spring 2019

Kappa Quill

SPRING 2019 VOLUME 46 ISSUE 2

Letter from the Executive Director Dear Sisters and Friends of Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority, “Ambitious women: lifting as we climb” was the name of an educational session I recently attended at the annual National Association of Student Personnel Administrators conference (better known as NASPA). On the panel sat five women at various stages of their careers in higher education. They ranged from Vice President of Student Affairs, to Professor to an Assistant Director. In the 50 minutes that I sat through their panel, I was motivated and inspired in a way that surprised me.

Here was a group of women with vastly different backgrounds, experiences and styles, and yet they all wholeheartedly embraced their ambition and weren’t afraid to talk about it, and even outright encourage it.

Even though it’s 2019, it still somehow surprises me when I hear a woman express her ambition in such a direct way.

Now I want to be clear, I am an ambitious person. It’s a little scary typing that aloud as it’s not something I usually do except around a select number of people. Why you ask?

It’s because society teaches us that for women, "ambition" is a dirty word—an undesirable trait that isn’t attractive.

In a study by Georgetown University in 2005, a group of professors asked candidates to evaluate male efficiency versus female efficiency in politicians. Respondents to the survey were less likely to vote for power-seeking women than power-seeking men. They perceived ambitious women as looking out only for themselves.

Twelve years later in 2017, a psychiatrist named Anna Fels interviewed a number of women for her book, “Necessary Dreams: Ambition in Women’s Changing Lives.”

She found that even though all of her interviewees were highly educated, none of them would admit to being ambitious. She noted that they associated ambition with selfishness and manipulation of others. Dr. Fels concluded that a person’s willingness to admit ambition is related to whether that person thinks they’ll be able to achieve the goal and what the value of the rewards are. The

rewards piece, she noted, is problematic for women. Women see far less reward for public success than men do because the recognition they get for those successes is poorer and less predictable.

We must address this fallacy! We have to change the idea that a woman with ambition is out only for herself. If you’re an ambitious young woman, don’t be afraid to say so! Set goals and pursue them without feeling selfish. Seeing other women define whom and what they want to be is so incredibly powerful. This all brings me to the second focus of the panel discussion I attended and that is that as women, we must lift each other up as we climb the ladders of success.

The panelists spoke of a woman or women who opened doors for them, presented them with opportunities and/or encouraged them to embrace their ambition. Kappa is a sisterhood that is meant to support and encourage each other. Undergraduates, seek out alumnae who you admire and can mentor you. Alumnae, share your path to success with sisters younger then you. Be that driving force that helps to propel a new wave of women forward. Too often, we fall into the trap of thinking we have to compete with each other, that in order to succeed it’s at the expense of other woman. However, it doesn’t need to be that way.

Women should succeed because of other women, not in spite of them. Imagine what women could do if they were just a little bit more brave in pursuing their ambition! This article is my first step forward in being more open about my ambition. Will you join me in being just a little more brave?

In Kappa,

Liz Jason Executive Director Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority

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Table of Contents Thank Pg. 06

u o Y

Pg. 16

 Happy Anniversary, Liz!

 Chapter Reports

Our fearless leader celebrates her 15th year on the National Board, and we couldn't be more grateful for her. Liz, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Find out what your fellow chapters were up to during spring semester and get inspired for the upcoming school year!

Letter from the Executive Director................1 Letter from the President...................................3 Letter from Kappa Delta Phi.............................4 Kappa on a Resume................................................5 Congratulations, Liz!............................................6-7 Get to Know the Board of Directors......8-11 AFA Recap................................................................ 12 NGLA Recap............................................................ 13 Philanthropy Update...................................... 14-15 Chapter Reports..............................................16-29 Alumnae Spotlight...........................................30-31 Cooking with Jeanette........................................31 Alumnae Association....................................32-33

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Due May 1, 2019 to Liz Jason Please visit www.KappaDeltaPhiNAS.org for the full application process May 31-June 2, 2019 Plymouth, MA July 25-27, 2019 Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH November 16, 2019 University of Rhode Island Kingstown, RI

Letter from the President Dear Sisters, Welcome to the last few months of the spring semester! I hope that everyone is ready for a fun-filled Kappa weekend. I just want to take a moment to thank all of those who have worked so hard on this weekend. We appreciate all that you do in order to make this weekend what it is, and I hope that we all can take a moment and pause. Not many organizations hold their Convention like we do. Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority is one of a kind. We invite all of our actives to join in the celebrations from the year. We hope that you take this time to make connections, ask questions and, most of all, recharge for the remainder of your year.

With that being said, I would like to take a moment to recirculate a phrase from a few years ago: #makegoodchoices. We all know that the weekend being with sisters and brothers can get away from us.

We are excited to see friends that we may not have seen over the year and elated to make new memories.

Please remember that although we are here to enjoy ourselves, we are still representing our organization, as well as all of the other Greek Life organizations out there. Be kind, be smart and take care of each other.

I hope to see all of your smiling faces, and remember we are all here because we want to be apart of something—something bigger, something better. Continue to find your “why” and walk through life with that in your back pocket.

Enjoy this time together, and #makegoodchoices.

In Kappa,

Andrea McKevitt National President Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority

Mission Statement The purpose of Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority, Inc. shall be to promote academic achievement, to encourage community involvement through philanthropy, and to cultivate the everlasting bonds of sisterhood.

We shall fortify the values of leadership, generosity, charity, and integrity within our sisters through guidance at both the chapter and national level.

National Founders Pat Ouellette Angie Parker Kathy Luciano Dee Tzovarras Tricia Crosby Laurie Beckwith Joanne Lobozzo Becky Ritter Joyce Welch Renie Mountain Bridgett Burtchell Bonnie Griener

Nancee Brearly Debbie Therriauly Barbie Richard Eileen Coombs Karen Kulikowski Kathi Gleason Jan Spaulding Sharon Soles Sue Caron Leslie Vartabedian Mimi McBride

Media & Materials Committee Designer/Editor: Christina Rose Copy Editor: Mackenzie Brogan Webmaster: Brittany Baldwin Social Media: Lindsey Morrissey Emma Wenig Liz Jason Lacy Cyr Andrea McKevitt Marysa Mitrano Amanda Cronin Jenn Jackson Alex Nestro 03

Greetings Sisters, We have had a wonderful year thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Brothers, Board of Directors and our volunteers. Our Board is continuing to grow and expand. As always, if you would like to help out in any way we ask that you contact us at National@KappaDeltaPhi.org.

We held a very successful Summer Leadership Workshop to start the year off. David Zamansky from the University of New Hampshire attended and spoke to our members on leadership and the importance of working together.

We have seen what a great impact we can have as a unified group with our combined philanthropic work. Last year, we exceeded our overall donation to Homes for our Troops with a donation of $34,000, bringing our five-year total to $107,969.62!!!

A few days before Convention last year (March 27th), we received an email from a gentleman at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania asking to become a new chapter of Kappa Delta Phi. At the time we didn’t know much about this group, and honestly, I wasn’t even sure how the name of the school was pronounced (admittedly, we pronounced it wrong right up until we colonized them). This interest group put forth a great deal of work in order to become recognized on campus and go though our education and membership program. Ten months later to the day, on January 27th, twelve men became the Founding Fathers of Alpha Kappa Colony. With less than a semester under their belt, their Alpha class has been admitted with ten more brothers bringing this new colony to 22 membersstrong. We wish them the best and hope to see them prosper and grow into a great chapter.

We have been focusing our efforts on expansion this year since it has been some time now since we have brought new chapter into our Fraternity. Along with Kutztown, we have also been working with Plymouth State University (Sigma Chapter). The interest group is gaining speed and has now become recognized on campus and we are working diligently with the school in order to restart this chapter. Our hopes are that by the end of this school year we have Sigma chapter again in our record books.

As we continue to grow, we once again look to our Brothers for help. We are still actively looking for two undergraduate representatives to join our Board and we are always in search of new expansion possibilities.

We wish all of our members a very successful year in all you do. Live the Kappa values everyday of your life and lead by example.

May The Spirit Never Die! Jon Kadel Executive Director Kappa Delta Phi National Fraternity

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Kappa on a Resume

by Ashley Rose, Kappa Iota, Fall 2013 Graduating—or leaving—college is a big step in your life. You are leaving what has been your comfort zone for the last four-or-so years, and stepping out into unknown territory. Whether you are moving back to your hometown, staying in your college town, or moving half-way across the country, there is one thing everyone is going to be doing at the same time—sending out resumes in hopes of securing their dream job. The best way to secure that dream job, or any job really, is to have a resume that stands out from the rest. You will want to add any significant college involvement, and if you are anything like I was, there was a lot of campus and community involvement to include, with the most valuable involvement being Kappa! Here is how I used my experience as a Kappa sister to boost my resume:

Talk About Your Responsibilities Let’s be honest here; unless a job recruiter was actively involved in Greek Life, there’s a slim chance your letters will stand out on a resume—if they do, the words “partying” or “hazing” may go through their head. It is something a lot of us have dealt with even during our undergraduate years. What many people do not realize is how a sorority is both a sisterhood and a business.

Talk about, or at least list, some of the positions you held in your chapter—especially if you were on the Executive Board. Positions like President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Public Relations are roles that every company possess. Even other positions will catch their eye and give you a chance to talk about all the great things you were able to do within your chapter!

List Your Philanthropy Work As Kappas, we pride ourselves on our community involvement—so why would you not list it on your resume? While you do not have to list every walk or canned food drive you participated in, you can list a few you were more actively involved in because of Kappa.

During my active years, I volunteered every Welcome Weekend to help move new residents into their dorms, and frequently volunteered at the local soup kitchen.

Volunteer experience stands out on a resume because most people stop their community involvement once they leave high school. Volunteer work shows high levels of dedication and integrity, and a strong work ethic—all things employers are looking for in a candidate.

Highlight Any Awards or Recognitions Did you receive an award from Nationals or your chapter? If so, make sure to add a section to your resume where you can list these achievements. At Kappa Iota, both the active chapter and our local Alumnae Association give out awards at our annual formal. This is not only a great way to support and raise our sisters up, but also gives them a chance to highlight their dedication to the sorority—and who wouldn’t want to hire someone so dedicated that they received various awards?

Use Your Network You know how we like to say "it's not four years, it's for life?" Well, it is true. Not only have I asked some sisters to give me letters of recommendation or to be used as a reference, I have also turned around and written letters and been a reference for my sisters. We make incredible bonds with our sisters, who, for the most part, have watched us through all of our achievements, making them the perfect person to speak highly of you to a future employer.

If you read all of this and still cannot think of something that would stand out from your active years (which I highly doubt!), then remember, even saying you were a member of a national organization is a big deal. Who knows, maybe the person reading your resume was in Greek Life and wants to give a fellow Greek member a chance! The worst thing you can do is not try.

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Congratulations on 15 years, Liz! being an 15 years. I remember of our organization for ar pill mbers. I a me en be se s tho ha of Liz e Welp, , and Liz being on ard Bo the h wit et there. me ing to ember Liz be active and having g the meeting, but I rem rin du d sai s memwa ard at Bo wh r g can’t remembe mber and Votin ive, Associate Board me act her. an nk as tha e d tim an my nt t me ou Through to take a mo nstant—Liz. I just want re co we e on ere Th en be ay. s tod ha re am I the ber, would not be where I , nce tie pa find d an me d nce Without her guida ard was for me. Liz helpe an t sure if being on the Bo air position. Liz, you are many times when I wasn’ for the Philanthropy Ch e the lov for my u yo ter e fos sid d ng an my niche have served alo m and I am thankful to ection. We amazing asset to our tea ssomed under your dir blo ly tru ve ha n tio iza an org is last nine years. Th ough.

—Andrea McKevitt can never thank you en

Liz, thank you for embodying everything a Kappa woman should aspire to be. I have enjoyed my time on the Board with you and am so thankful to have had the opportunity to work alongside you on the expansion committee. You are an incredible role model for all Kappa women and I am blessed to call you a friend.

Congratulations on 15 years!

—Desiree Beal

Hi Big!! Thank yo u for always believing in me! Yo u have been a great role model and support system throughout m y undergraduate, graduate, and no w professional ca reer. I appreciate all the guidance you have provided , whether it was during our long tre ks to Oswego or during our endles s text messages!

Thank you so muc h being an amazing Big and for yo ur commitment to Kappa Delta Ph i NAS. We are so lucky to have you!

143!

Love, Hollywood —Caitlin Daley

for Kappa Liz was assigned to be the field rep Second semester of my senior year rep visit field r, Liz made the trip up to USM for her Iota. Midway through the semeste lunch to ting mee Life getting her from our Greek and somehow I was responsible for I had and ard E-Bo the on n't ter meeting. I was and then back in time for our chap had y The rs. siste r olde from ies stor really heard t never really talked with her—I'd only –no fied terri idating she was and, honestly, I was talked about how scary and intim nd arou her e driv to together, but because I had because we were spending the day drive, but up at Chipotle and we survived the ed end We h! and pick a place for lunc versation con the er emb rem t can' I ld be. While it wasn't as bad as I thought it wou , I have then e to talk to and very supportive. Sinc exactly, I remember Liz being easy her if to go ys alwa and a role model. I know I can e considered Liz to be both a friend ther AYS ALW is she pa, Kap onal or related to I need anything—whether it be pers that and Liz for en't wer it if am I on ld be the pers for me. I honestly don't think I wou this amazing you for all you have done for me and nk Tha . ther toge t spen we afternoon 15 years! organization! Congratulations on —Chynna Klaas

07 d with Liz since 20 known and worke inu nt co en th I have personally d an active sister an s wa I ile d. wh ar g Bo beginnin the National y last ten years on d ing throughout m ue and friend, an ag lle co a superior, is Liz r. fo t ec I have seen Liz as sp t re o I have the utmos she is someone wh and she has dedi n io at niz ga or r ou of ne d. sto ee er cc the corn Phi NAS su eing Kappa Delta cated her life to se a sister looks to pp Ka y el that ever She is a role mod y years of service u Liz for your man emulate. Thank yo niversary!! n! Happy 15th An to our organizatio —Jenn Jackson

You all know Liz. She tells us, “Make go pushes us to od choices!” be better, to every Conve do better, re character, an ntion, minds us we d is overall ge are women ne Liz officially rally intimidat of when I joined ing. Or so I th ought. I met the Board in thought she th e spring of 2 was intimidat 013 and I too ing right up un with her on til I spent five our drive to S hours in a ca ummer Lead a lot about r ership Retrea Liz that wee t 2017. I learne kend and eve her is true—sh d rything I first e is a strong thought abo , smart wom But what I al ut an 100% dedi so gained w cated to Kap as a friend an Congratulatio pa. d a road trip ns on 15 year buddy for lif s, Liz! It’s be getting to kn e. en a pleasure ow and learni and an hono ng from you! Ju stick around r st know we al for 15 more... l want you to —Kazia B en nett

Thank you Liz for your dedication to our sorority. Not only have you implemented great improvements to our organization, but you have inspired the members of the Board to do the same. I love working with a group of such inspirational women, and always appreciate your positive attitude and words of encouragement and wisdom. Thank you again for all that you have done, and inspiring me to be the best Kappa women that I can be!

—Amanda Cronin

I wanted to take some time to congratulate Liz Jason on 15 years of service to the National Board—it is an impressive feat. Liz was on the Board well before I affiliated in 2011. My first memory of Liz was my second convention (2012)—it was my senior year and Liz was the National Treasurer. She was going over the income statement, and you could tell she took her position very seriously, seeming very no-nonsense. I didn’t know it at that meeting but Liz was going to be crucial to my development on the Board. A few short months after that Convention, I joined the Board.

I didn’t start working closely with Liz until I had been on the Board a couple years and started taking on more responsibilities, but looking back I wish I would have made the effort to get to know her sooner.

It was around the time I became Member-at-Large that Liz slowly stopped being this intimidating enigma and I realized she had a sense of humor. One day, Liz, completely straight-faced and without saying a word, cues up Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors"—I had no clue what she was doing, and only after she let it play did she explain we were doing a team builder called "True Colors". She kind of chuckle d as we grumbled about having to reflect about ourselves. Later that year at Convention, it was confirmed to me again that Liz had a sense of humor when she and Sara Hauser lost a bet to the Brothers and wore pink bunny suits during the awards dinner. To this day, it is one of my favorite memories of Liz. Liz has helped to guide me through all my major positions—Mee tings Chair, Vice President, and National Treasurer. She is wealth of knowledge, and I owe a lot of what I know about the sorority to her.

She has a knack of helping Board members find their fit and helped me find mine. I often find myself asking “what would Liz do?,” as this usually leads me to the right answer. If I can develop into half the leader Liz is and inspire half as many sisters as Liz has, I know I’ll being doing alright.

—Amanda Roberge

Get to know us...

Board of Directors 2019 Executive Board

Liz Jason Kappa Iota, Spring 2002 Years on Board: 15 Position: Executive Director Residence: Boston, MA Profession: Assistant Dean of Fraternities, Sororities & Independent Living Groups at MIT What is your "why"?

I missed being part of a group of women who shared a common goal. I had this through sports and wanted that same sense of comradery in college.

Amanda Roberge

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Kappa Iota, Fall 2010 Years on Board: 7 Position: Treasurer Residence: Hollis, ME Profession: Office Administrator What is your "why"?

I lacked a sense of belonging in school. The work I do gives me a sense of purpose, and I want to inspire the future leaders of this organization.

Andrea McKevitt

Amanda Cronin

Chynna Klaas

Kappa Sigma, Spring 2005 Years on Board: 9 Position: President, Field Rep., Philanthropy Chair Residence: Wappingers Falls, NY Profession: Special Education Teacher What is your "why"?

My why is for the future generations of Kappas and how we can support women.

Kappa Chi, Fall 2010 Years on Board: 6 Position: VP of Administration, Media/Materials Chair Residence: Nashua, NH Profession: IT Sales What is your "why"?

I love giving back to the organization that has given me so much. I hope that the work that I do today helps create similar experiences for current and future sisters.

Kappa Iota, Fall 2012 Years on Board: 4 Position: VP of Membership

Kazia Bennett

Alex Nestro

Kappa Lambda, Spring 2010 Years on Board: 6 Position: Secretary, Awards Chair Residence: Fall River, MA Profession: Social Worker for MA What is your "why"? I’ve seen the difference we make and how powerful a feeling connected to such an organization is, not only in the lives of our active members, but the communities we serve.

Kappa Chi, Fall 2011 Years on Board: 4 Position: Member-at-Large, Field Rep., Meetings Chair Residence: Manchester, NH Profession: Faculty Systems and Credentials Specialist at SNHU What is your "why"? My sisters were my home away from home, and I wanted to help be a part of that for the future generation of women.

Residence: Old Orchard Beach, ME

Profession: Health Care Rep. What is your "why"? I was looking for a group of friends after I moved to Maine. I didn’t have the experience I was expecting as an active and joined the Board to help incoming sisters have a better experience than I did.

Meredith O'Donnell Kappa Chi, Fall 2015 Years on Board: 1 Position: Member-at-Large, Field Rep., Digamma Chair Residence: Smithfield, RI Profession: Traveling Nurse Recruiter

What is your "why"?

I wanted to be apart of something larger than myself and give back to the organization that had given me so much.

Associate Board

Anna-Lisa Richardson

Brittany Baldwin

Caitlin Daley

Christina Rose

Courtney Stevens

Kappa Sigma, Spring 2014 Years on Board: 2 Position: Field Rep. Residence: Boston, MA Profession: Front Office Manager at Omni Parker House What is your "why"?

I feel like I belong to an extended family, always having the support of my sisters and brothers during both the good and bad.

Kappa Chi, Fall 2014 Years on Board: 2 Position: Webmaster Residence: Atkinson, NH Profession: Marketing Manager What is your "why"?

Joining Kappa introduced me to so many amazing women I get to call my friends. I love helping make the sorority the best that it can be.

Kappa Alpha Mu, Fall 2009 Years on Board: 3 Position: Field Rep. Residence: Buffalo, NY Profession: Student Housing Coordinator at Canisius College What is your "why"?

I joined when I transferred to NEC, wanting to find a friend group and feel like I belonged on campus. I ended up finding a family.

Kappa Alpha Gamma, Spring 2014 Years on Board: 3 Position: Merchandise Chair, Kappa Quill Editor Residence: New Paltz, NY Profession: Graphic Designer What is your "why"?

After graduating, I felt I had more to give back. I am always filled with an overwhelming love and joy for the positions I hold on this Board.

Kappa Upsilon, Fall 2013 Years on Board: 1 Position: Field Rep. Residence: East Boston, MA

Desiree Beal

Emma Wenig

Holly Garcia

Jayme Cyr

Kappa Lambda, Spring 2014 Years on Board: 3 Position: Field Rep. Residence: Bangor, ME Profession: Behavioral Health Professional What is your "why"?

I wanted to expand my horizons and join something much bigger than myself. I love being able to guide the chapters and new sisters into their roles and help them develop!

Kappa Alpha Gamma, Fall 2014 Years on Board: 2 Position: Field Rep., Women's Issues Chair Residence: Binghamton, NY Profession: Graphic Designer What is your "why"? I wanted to become more involved on campus and meet new people.

I joined the Board because I felt like I still had something to contribute.

Kappa Chi, Fall 2009 Years on Board: 4 Position: Committee Member Residence: Everett, MA Profession: ABA Therapist for Everett Public Schools What is your "why"?

I really admired Kappa's emphasis on philanthropy. I enjoy staying involved with Kappa and seeing all of the amazing work that the actives now do.

Kappa Iota, Spring 2014 Years on Board: 2 Position: Field Rep. Residence: Evans, GA Profession: Nanny What is your "why"?

I went to a rush event only looking to make friends because I was far away from home, but I happily found another family that has been right there with me since that rush!

Profession: Revenue Integrity Specialist at DanaFarber Cancer Institute

What is your "why"?

I wanted to be a part of a group of women committed to doing good and making a difference.

Jennifer Jackson Kappa Upsilon, Spring 2006 Years on Board: 10 Position: KY Mentor Residence: North Andover, MA Profession: Assistant Compliance Officer at Lowell Five Bank What is your "why"? It was my passion to see KY thrive. I have an unconditional love for Kappa—it made me who I am today.

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Associate Board (continued)

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Kate Kim

Lacy Cyr

Kappa Alpha Iota, Fall 2008 Years on Board: 3 Position: Field Rep. Residence: Chambersburg, PA Profession: Early Childhood Educator What is your "why"?

I immediately felt a connection with each sister. After I graduated, I was my chapter's local advisor until Sara Hauser asked if I wanted to join the Board.

Kappa Rho, Fall 2013 Years on Board: 2 Position: Field Rep. Residence: Houlton, ME Profession: Emergency Communications Specialist (911 Dispatcher) What is your "why"?

I found where I belonged. Kappa, and my sisters, helped mold me into the strong young woman I am today. I continue on the Board to give back.

Lindsey Morrissey

Mackenzie Brogan

Kappa Lambda, Fall 2016 Years on Board: 1 Position: Social Media Coordinator Residence: Bangor, ME Profession: Behavioral Home Health Specialist What is your "why"?

Kappa was completely different than the stereotypes. The Board was such a good resource for me and my chapter and I wanted to be a part of that for actives.

Kappa Iota, Spring 2014 Years on Board: 2 Position: Field Rep. Residence: Portland, ME Profession: Administrative Specialist at USM's Admissions Office What is your "why"?

Between philanthropy and friendships, being a Kappa sister has been extremely fulfilling and I wanted a chance to give back to the organization.

Marysa Mitrano

Robyn Sarette

Kappa Upsilon, Fall 2012 Years on Board: 1 Position: Recording Secretary Residence: North Andover, MA Profession: 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher What is your "why"?

I had a family at school in Kappa. I want women to find themselves within the organization as well.

Kappa Sigma, Fall 2005 Years on Board: 1 Position: Committee Member Residence: Campton, NH

Victoria Hogan Kappa Alpha Alpha, Spring 2012 Years on Board: 3 Position: Field Rep. Residence: Lowell, MA Profession: Management at Washington Savings Bank What is your "why"?

Kappa has given me friends, roommates, and now bridesmaids, and I owe it to Kappa to volunteer my time back into the organization that has given me so much.

Profession: Engineering & Plant Services Coordinator at NH Electric Co-Op

What is your "why"?

Kappa's strength will always be within me.

I hope to help women build each other up.

Vita Gould Kappa Lambda, Spring 2012 Years on Board: 2 Position: Committee Member Residence: Bangor, ME Profession: Payroll Specialist for Bangor Savings Bank What is your "why"?

I am proud of what Kappa stands for. It gave me the skills I needed to succeed and a group of women who I share some of my best memories with.

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2019 Meetings Recap: AFA Annual Conference

by Amanda Cronin, Vice President of Administration This year, the AFA Annual Conference was hosted at the J.W. Marriott in Indianapolis, Indiana. Four Board members were able to attend including Liz Jason, Alex Nestro, Jayme Cyr, and myself. This event allows us to network and learn from other organizations and industry leaders.

Our days are filled with break-out sessions and other functions such as Fireside Chats.

For the break-out sessions, we divide and conquer to cover as many relevant topics as we can. I thought that the most interesting topic of the week was Generation Z. You may be surprised that I chose this topic, but a few speakers made some very good points. Many of the new members that we will be bringing into our organization now will be associated with Generation Z, as many of our active membership already is. This generation is noted as the generation of problem-solvers, entrepreneurs, and do-ityourselfers. They are very independent and don’t want to be labeled. Knowing this, it makes you think…"what can Kappa offer to this new generation?!" Right now, this is not something that I’m going to answer; however, it is a great concept to keep in mind when setting future plans for our sorority. It is important that we as an organization stay relevant and be the group that all can find refuge in.

Alex Nestro (Member-at-Large), Liz Jason (Executive Director), Amanda Cronin (VP of Administration), Jayme Cyr (Associate Member)

There were also different events where our group represented our great organization. The best one, in my opinion, were the Fireside Chats. This event allows sorority and fraternity organizations to set up a table and appointments to speak with college campuses. We had the pleasure of speaking to five colleges and universities, including Shippensburg University, UMASS Lowell, UMASS Amherst, Union College, and Tufts University. This time was most valuable as we were able to have some great conversations with fraternity and sorority campus staff about the great successes that our chapters are having on campus. Not only is it great to hear about our chapters, but we are also able to establish a better connection with these leaders. This allowed us to keep a more open line of communication with the college and university staff, which is priceless. We also spoke to some colleges and universities where we do not currently have a presence. These conversations focused on the current state of the campus’ Greek life to see if Kappa would be a good fit. Overall, there are no promises, but these conversations certainly propped the door open for us.

All in all, the AFA Conference was very productive. It was a time to develop our own network of Greek professionals, as well as develop the connections of Kappa to other organizations. We were able to share some best practices and other ideas that could help us better our organization. It was also an amazing time to enjoy each other’s company and bond with our Brothers.

To learn more about the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, visit www.afa1976.org

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NGLA

by Andrea McKevitt, President

NGLA was again an amazing experience for both our active sisters and our Board members. With all of the amazing break-out sessions, it is hard to talk about just one.

The keynote speaker this year was truly engaging and made us think about how we are looking at sexual assault, and how one can overcome such a horrible experience and grow from it. Sessions ranged from discussing the #MeToo movement and the fraternity role within this movement, to learning how to "drop the drama" and develop your resume to better fit your future job.

Our actives were able to see so many of the sessions that their notes will soon be shared with the rest of the membership.

One of the attendees said, in regard to the weekend: “I learned a lot from NGLA this weekend and I feel like it improved my leadership skills and redefined what my

NGLA 2019 Scholarship Recipients Morgan Tierno, KY Rebecca Allard, KL

Leandra Nault, KS Mikaela Shea, KL

definition of a good leader looks like. I am very excited to bring back what I learned to my chapter in order to create some positive change.� Lovely job at NGLA, ladies.

To learn more about the Northeast Greek Leadership Association, visit www.ngla.org

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Philanthropy Update: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Hello Sisters, Each year, I am mesmerized by the work that is being done around us—from service trips, to walks, to bake sales and more. You ladies work philanthropy into everything that you do. This year we continued to work with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This organization has a special place in my heart, as it does for many of you. I can not thank you enough for the work that you put in this year for this organization. I truly believe that we will reach our goal this year.

My only request is, moving forward, we have 100% participating for the Kindness Award. There are so many of you putting in the hours, we just need you to submit the paperwork. Ladies, continue to work hard and smash that glass ceiling.

As your Philanthropy Chair and your President, I thank you. —Andrea McKevitt

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Spring 2019

Kappa Chi Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, New Hampshire Hi everyone! Kappa Chi has been crazy busy this semester, working on philanthropy, fundraising, and recruitment. We are now up to 47 active members and have transitioned to our new half-year positions!

We started off the semester by going to the Greek Fair hosted by IGC, where we kicked off the recruitment season and got to meet some amazing potential new members for the first time. Our Affiliate Educator used a tropical theme to create fun and interactive recruitment events such as Pizza and Paint Night, Craft Night with Chi, and Sister Speed Dating. Once recruitment was over, we ended up giving bids to six girls and then eventually had those six join our Affiliate Education program in early February.

As we transition into the full swing of Affiliate Education, we are working hard on our fundraising efforts.

We did our annual Carnation Grams fundraiser for the week of Valentine's Day, where we sold carnations for the SNHU community to gift to their loved ones. We will also be doing a Cornhole Tournament as an endof-the-year event to try and finish out the school year strong in raising money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

In addition, we have put on events on campus such as Trash Your Insecurities, where students everywhere can come up and put down what makes them feel insecure and they can throw it in the garbage to make a statement that it does not need to affect us.

We also have been putting ourselves out there with a lot of community service in this area. We’ve been doing creative events such as Outfitters Thrift Shop, Caregiver’s Cupboard, Kids Cafe, SNHU Buddies and Inner City Food Drop. We hope to do a lot more philanthropy and finish out the year strong just in time for awards season!

Overall, this year has been a major year of change and growth for the chapter and we have been trying to revert back to our ideals. We’ve been doing a lot of sister bonding by participating in Sister Self-Cares where we make face masks, or Sister Study Hours to

hang out in the library together. We also have spent this semester going out bowling, celebrating birthdays with one another, and hosting bonding events with the other sorority on our campus.

This spring has been an excellent semester so far for us and we hope to only continue that trend. We have a lot to look forward to with Affiliate Education, Convention, SNHU Awards Banquets, and finally our transition to next year's officers. We hope for nothing but the best for all of the other chapters as they finish off the spring semester.

Love you all! MTSND In Kappa, The Sisters of Kappa Chi

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Kappa Iota University of Southern Maine, Portland/Gorham, Maine Kappa Iota has been very busy with our several chapter philanthropy events, recruitment, sister-bonding, and so much more. We have been hard at work during fall and spring recruitment to boost our numbers beyond 300! Greek Life at the University of Southern Maine has decided to recently start working harder and harder together through events to increase not only our recruitment but help other Greek organizations on campus.

Kappa Iota has had another fantastic year with philanthropy! To date, our small chapter of 10 has already achieved 650+ volunteer hours! We have raised over $750 for our National Philanthropy, primarily through our annual philanthropy t-shirt sale, as well as bake sales and other fundraisers. Our alumnae have also raised nearly $500 for the National Philanthropy!

We have done some great events, including the AFSP walk, the Alzheimer's Association walk, and the breast cancer walk. Our sisters have also done a variety of individual and group projects, such as Partners for World Health, the Frannie Peabody Center, Preble Street Soup Kitchen, and more! We've also been inviting our alumnae, other Greek students, and friends to volunteer with us, and they have completed over 40 hours with us to date!

As far as fundraising, Kappa Iota has had some great bake sales, a Yankee candle fundraiser, a t-shirt fundraiser, and Krispy Kreme fundraiser. We're also planning to do Pie-a-Kappa and the sister auction in the spring.

We have a total of ten strong, hard-working women and we have extended five bids to some lovely, spirited, and devoted women this semester. We are excited for our Affiliate Education program this semester and to welcome new sisters into our chapter!

See you all at Convention!

May the Spirit Never Die! In Kappa, The Sisters of Kappa Iota

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Kappa Lambda Husson University, Bangor, Maine Kappa Lambda had a great year of recruitment bringing in nine strong new sisters who uphold all of our precious Kappa values. Through the Affiliate Education process we were reminded again of the true values of Kappa and the meaning of our letters.

On top of two successful semesters of recruitment, we have been working on making our bonds of sisterhood even stronger by planning more social events, sister hours, and continuing our traditions.

Every semester, our sisters set their sets on raising as much money and awareness for our National Philanthropy.

In the fall, our sisters participated in the Out of Darkness Walk in Bangor, Maine with Kappa Alpha Alpha chapter to raise awareness and support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Our two chapters collaboratively raised over $800 towards the cause. Shortly after, we held our annual 5K which was a costume run. Our community members, sisters, alumnae, and brothers all came out to participate in the race and raised over $1,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

As well as raising awareness and money for our National Philanthropy, our sisters help out in our local community.

We helped move freshmen students into their dorms and welcomed them into a positive environment. Our sisters have also continued to volunteer at the Maine Veterans Home in Bangor every week where they participate in activities with the residents. We also have participated in several random acts of kindness in our community such as handing out flowers to students and campus cleanups.

As the 2018-2019 school year comes to its last stretch, the sisters of Kappa Lambda are proud of the work we have all put in towards our fundraising and philanthropic efforts during the fall and spring semesters. We look forward to all our future adventures within our sorority, and are excited to see the success of our chapter grow and to spread more kindness wherever we go.

May the Spirit Never Die! In Kappa, Kappa Lambda

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Kappa Omicron Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, Massachusetts The Kappa Omicron sisters have been very busy this year participating in a variety of sister bonding activities, philanthropies, event planning, and fundraisers!

We kicked off the semester with a Valentine’s Day Party where all the sisters bonded with each other by making cupcakes, sharing beauty tips, and listening to music. We also started a new sister bonding activity called “Sister Movie Night” where we host a movie in a sister’s apartment every month. The sisters also worked on a new sister banner and have done paint nights during these movie nights. We have also attended different sports games together in support of our sisters who are on teams. Many sisters work together on MCLA's Dance Company and the rest of us always attend the shows in support.

For philanthropy, one of the sisters created a program for the local girls in the neighborhood and some of our sisters are the volunteers of the program. Our sisters get to sit down and advise the young girls about women empowerment, self-love, and how to deal with everyday conflicts.

The sisters have volunteered at the Community Day of Service, where they were able to clean up and help the

community of North Adams. We participated in Helping Hands move-in day, where we help new incoming students move into their dorms, as well as doing a Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Every spring, our sisters help at and participate in the Cystic Fibrosis 5K at MCLA. We are also planning different ways to get involved with the community and have decided we want to focus our attention on donating books and school supplies for underprivileged kids as part of our next philanthropy. For fundraising, our sisters enjoy doing food events such as Kappa Pizza Bagels, Kappa Smoothies, and cookie dough!

We look forward to new philanthropies, fundraisers and sister bonding events throughout the rest of the school year. We are excited to see everyone at Convention and to hear about the wonderful things each chapter has done this year!

In Kappa, Kappa Omicron

Kappa Rho University of Maine at Fort Kent, Fort Kent, Maine We wanted to give a warm welcome to our new sister that joined last semester and our three outstanding affiliates that are joining this semester. We are so excited to see our chapter grow with these four amazing ladies.

They are all amazing additions to our family.

This year, we have raised awareness for our National Philanthropy and suicide prevention on our campus by participating in “Fresh Check” events in conjunction with our on-campus counselor and the residential

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life team. While initiating fundraisers, we were able to educate our campus while raising money for suicide prevention.

The sisters of Kappa Rho are so excited to see you all at Convention this April. We wish you the best of luck with the rest of your spring semester.

In Kappa, The Sisters of Kappa Rho

Kappa Sigma Plymouth State University, Plymouth, New Hampshire The sisters of Kappa Sigma chapter have had a very busy, yet very exciting, year!

Last summer, we had sisters volunteer at a two-day NASCAR event and at Gatherfest to help end hunger!

Sisters both volunteered and showed off what Kappa is really about! In the fall, sisters volunteered at Applecrest Farm, collecting apples and making pies for the homeless.

We welcomed our new class with eleven new sisters in October, and that same month we participated in a walk for our philanthropy, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In November, sisters donated turkeys and made Thanksgiving baskets to donate to the homeless. Later this month, sisters will be traveling to Boston to help volunteer at Belle of The Ball—an event to help people who cannot afford prom dresses, to find the perfect dress that has been donated!

Kappa Sigma has had quite the eventful year, and we cannot wait to see what the future has in store for us!

May the Spirit Never Die! In Kappa, Kappa Sigma

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Kappa Upsilon University of Massachusetts at Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts Our family tree is growing rapidly and the Kappa spirit is alive and well. In the fall, we welcomed seven wonderful new girls into our family. Our recruitment period this semester was 90’s themed and overall, a huge success!

We have ten promising affiliates who have just signed their bids and started their journey towards sisterhood.

Big and Little pinning was a great and exciting time for everyone and many sisters were able to take on twins.

Upsilon means unity, and we have shown unity during this past semester in the form of coming together to accomplish great things with our philanthropies. This past February, our Social Chair put on ‘Galentine’s Day.’ This is an event for all sororities on campus to bond. We ate breakfast foods and made Valentine’s Day cards for a local nursing home. We also used Valentine’s Day as a way to help fundraise. Our Fundraising Chair put on a bake sale to raise money for the National Philanthropy, AFSP. The sisters are excited for Project Smile, an event in which we create and donate Build-A-Bears to children in need. We are also looking forward to fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides walk we participate in every year. Cystic Fibrosis is an extremely important

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cause to Kappa Upsilon. We have an active sister with CF and unfortunately lost as alumnae to the disease in 2012. Each year, we give out the Ashley Dias Award in her honor.

For sister bonding, we have done several of events each month to help as a constant reminder of our sisterly love. Sometimes it is as simple as writing anonymous compliment jars for each other. Other times, we take field trips to arcades, museums, or other places. We recently had the most fun at a sleepover where we all watched reality television together.

Our new position of Wellness Chair is thriving. Our Wellness Chair this semester is a new sister who has brought many fresh ideas to the chapter, including a healthy barbecue are having in April.

Overall, the sisters of Kappa Upsilon are proud with what we have accomplished and are ready to see what challenges and triumphs this spring will throw our way.

In Kappa, The Sisters of Kappa Upsilon

Kappa Alpha Alpha University of Maine at Orono, Orono, Maine Here at Kappa Alpha Alpha chapter, we are doing exceptionally well. We just finished our spring recruitment and now have two affiliates! We also went down to help Kappa Iota in the beginning of February to help with their recruitment—we had a lot of fun with our sister chapter!

This coming month, we as a chapter will be participating in Dance Marathon for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Since the beginning of the semester each sister has raised money to help with this organization. We also will be putting on our big philanthropy event, Bingo for Suicide Awareness. We are expecting a great outcome!

We also will be volunteering at the Bangor Homeless Shelter and the Ronald McDonald House.

We are excited for Convention and can’t wait to see everyone!

May the Spirit Never Die, Kappa Alpha Alpha Chapter

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Kappa Alpha Gamma State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, New York The Kappa Alpha Gamma chapter has been having an amazing spring semester.

We had a very successful rush season this spring! Our theme was Kappa Carnival! We had a carnival game night, popcorn/bingo night, temporary tattoo night, and much more! From our rush season, we have eight affiliates! This is our biggest class yet and we are really excited to welcome them to this amazing sisterhood!

Speaking of sisterhood, we have been having so much fun bonding. We’ve done sisterhoods that involve writing cards for hospitalized children, working on our Gift of Love, and going to IHOP in pajamas! We are so excited to see what other amazing sisterhoods our Sisterhood Chair has planned! We also brought in a new factor to our weekly sister dates we do with each other!

We have a sisterhood journal that we will pass off at every sister date we do and will write funny jokes, life updates, motivating messages, etc. Along with sisterhood, we are grateful of our growing relationship and support from our brothers of the Alpha Gamma chapter at SUNY New Paltz.

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We’ve been doing great as far as philanthropy goes!

This semester we have tabled for our local philanthropy, Family of New Paltz, by running a food drive on campus! We are also planning to run a food drive in front of our local supermarket for the Family of New Paltz. We also have recently participated in a campus event called “SUNY’s Got Your Back.” We made comfort bags for survivors of violence. We are looking forward to participating in the campus Out of the Darkness Walk in April! Even though we haven’t yet gotten to raise too much awareness for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention yet as a group, all of our sisters have been raising money on their own time for this cause!

Since last semester we have raised over $1,500 and we are so excited to be contributing to this great cause.

We also have four sisters graduating this semester!

We are very grateful for the time they gave to Kappa and we will miss them dearly! We wish them luck out in the real world!

In Kappa, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Kappa Alpha Iota Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania During the first few weeks of this semester, our chapter was busy with recruitment! We are excited to announce that we have seven new affiliates: Chaela Williams, Hayley Condrack, Veronika D’Amore, Madison Groninger, Nicki Hargan, Amber Osborn, and Felicia Molina. They will be our Spring 2019 class—the Alpha Epsilons, and we can't wait to have them on board!

This spring we have a lot of exciting activities planned.

Our biggest one was our Founder’s Day on March 30th, which is our 60th anniversary of being on Shippensburg’s campus! We are also having our Dodgeball for Diabetes event for the American Diabetes Association that hopefully our alumnae and others will come out and support!

For the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, this semester we have a guest speaker from the Foundation to spread awareness on our campus.

Our chapter would like to give our sister Julia Taylor a big shout out for becoming our campus' Panhellenic Treasurer!

Love, Kappa Alpha Iota Chapter

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Kappa Alpha Mu New England College, Henniker, New Hampshire This year has been very busy and full of changes. Ashlie and Rebecca graduated in December 2018, and at the start of the semester we took in two new sisters, Priscilla and Phyllis. Recruitment has been very successful this semester and we are looking to extend two bids after spring break.

goodies and sent an e-mail blast to parents with a link to purchase one for their students. It was quite the adventure assembling them, however with the help of our new advisor and all the sisters, we got the job done! We also sold carnations for Valentine’s Day, which was very successful—we even ran out and had to go get more!

Our events outside of recruitment have been fairly successful too! This fall we held an Alumnae Pizza Party, which as a great opportunity for active sisters to bond with alumnae. We also did our annual Halloween Care Packages for students, in which we put together various

Finally, we want to offer a congratulations to our alumnae Melissa and Donna, Karli, and Miranda on getting engaged, as well as Timisha and Annie on their weddings!

Love, the Sisters of Kappa Alpha Mu

Kappa Alpha Nu University at Albany, Albany, New York Kappa Alpha Nu is continuing to enjoy this school year and are looking forward to Convention this April where we plan to propose the ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Association. This hits home for Kappa Alpha Nu as one of our sisters had a father pass from the disease.

Currently we have 29 actives sisters on campus and two studying abroad—our sister Jaycee is studying in Spain while our sister Leah is studying in Australia and both are having an amazing time. Sadly, this spring, 15 of our active sisters will be graduating from the University at Albany.

Campus involvement has been going well as we’ve organized several programs on topics such as hazing prevention, downtown safety, and study tips. We also tabled to raise awareness for our National Philanthropy and volunteered with the All-Greek Council. We are also looking forward to upcoming events to support our philanthropy such as our bake sales, fundraisers, and community service events like the Suicide Prevention walk. For more community service hours, we will be participating in the “We Care” project on campus, in which we pack and deliver “survival kits” for women who are victims of sexual assault.

In addition, we will be volunteering at the Take Back the Night Walk, which raises awareness on sexual violence.

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Our sisters are continuing to grow academically as our chapter has established an Academic Chair position.

Many sisters have been inducted into honor societies on campus such as Gamma Sigma Alpha and Rho Lambda.

We continue to strengthen our sisterhood through various events such as our Super Bowl potluck and Oscars viewing party. We are currently organizing a trip to DippiKill, a wilderness retreat owned by the student association.

We wish a great rest of the semester to all our sisters and we look forward to seeing you all at Convention!

May the Spirit Never Die! In Kappa, Kappa Alpha Nu

Kappa Alpha Xi Colony Utica College, Utica, New York A warm hello and welcome from the Kappa Alpha Xi Colony! We would like to give a shout out to the Kappa Alpha Omicron colony for being the newest colony in our awesome sisterhood! Our colony is so pleased to be able to continue to share and spread our values of leadership, charity, generosity, and integrity to others and especially to strong women who have now become a part of us!

Kappa Alpha Xi colony currently has 21 active members and our bonds continue to grow everyday. We have started a system in which we allow sisters to have an opportunity to coordinate a social and bonding activity of their choosing. We call this a “Gold Card”—when a sister pulls a gold card they have the ability to tell the sisterhood what they want to do! Whether it be bowling, a craft night, apple picking, or a photo shoot, we have made many great memories and we highly recommend doing this. Although we have had so much fun with gold cards, nothing makes us more excited than taking in a new class of affiliates! We have five new affiliates this spring semester and we are ecstatic to be able to show them the ropes, instill our love and values, and help them reach their full potential.

Last semester we made great strides in our philanthropic efforts. We had a “Pizza Taste Off” event in which we had a dozen pizzerias in the area donate a few pies.

Then we had community members pay for a ticket to try the pizza from each of these places, and then they would vote on their favorite! We raised a great amount of funds from this event that will all go towards our National Philanthropy for suicide prevention. We also banded together our fellow Greek life members on campus by coordinating a “Days for Girls Week.” Days for Girls is a philanthropy that raises money and awareness towards helping females in third-world countries have access to menstrual products so that they do not have to miss out on education. Many Greek organizations on our campus came together to have talks, bake sales, and even put together an informational video about the topic. This

semester we will be participating in the Heart Run and Walk, Relay for Life, and The Vagina Monologues which will be a play about sexual assault. We also will be having a “mystery prize board” event. For this event we asked many different businesses in the area to donate prizes, then we will set up a board in which numbers will coordinate with a prize. Participants will pay for a small, medium, or large prize and pick a number, then they will be surprised with a random gift!

Lastly, one of the highlights of our year was the opportunity to help the Kappa Alpha Omicron Colony come to be. We visited SUNY Oswego on two different occasions and helped our new sisters to learn about Kappa Delta Phi NAS, and understand the value of our sisterhood.

We are so proud of these amazing women and cannot wait to see the great things that they do!

Convention is so close, and we are stoked to see all of your beautiful faces! Good luck to all of our sisters near and far with the end of our academic year. We hope that this year has brought you love, happiness, and sisterhood!

May the Spirit Never Die! In Kappa, The Sisters of Kappa Alpha Xi Colony

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Introducing...Kappa Alpha Omicron Colony State University of New York at Oswego, Oswego, New York Hello from the Kappa Alpha Omicron Colony!

We are the newest colony and we established last semester with a founding class of 14 strong sisters. We have been working hard this spring semester to establish ourselves within our community and to strengthen our bonds of sisterhood.

This semester we have five new affiliates. We are thrilled to be able to help them learn and grow within the sisterhood both individually and together. We currently have 12 wonderful active sisters who dedicate their all to expanding our colony and keeping the spirit alive!

We have been working very hard this semester doing as much as possible to both fully establish who we are and to spread our philanthropy. Our biggest event so far this semester would be our “Bracelets Save Lives” campaign.

As a group we created beaded bracelets and key chains which we sold on campus in order to raise money for AFSP. This was an incredibly successful event and in just one day we were able to raise $70 for the cause.

Our sisters also created an event in which we worked alongside other on-campus organizations this semester

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in order to create St. Patrick’s Day-themed goodie bags to be donated to children in Syracuse-area hospitals. This event had a massive turn out and we were able to create numerous goodie bags filled with prizes to brighten the children’s days. Our last big event we held this semester was with a multi-cultural sorority on campus in which we held an informational session on the issues surrounding dating violence, stalking, and abusive behaviors.

We plan on doing more events later on this semester relating to philanthropy, including recreating the “Bracelets Save Lives” event again and working more closely with other Greek organizations and the philanthropic events that they will be holding.

Our sisterhood has grown stronger than we ever thought possible over this past semester. We have been working hard to keep our colony growing and to establish our firm footing as sisters and as a group on our campus. We’re so excited to see what comes next for us as a colony!

May The Spirit Never Die, In Kappa, Kappa Alpha Omicron Colony

Alumnae Spotlight: Sara Hauser

Kappa Alpha Iota Chapter, Spring 2006 "How Sisterhood Transformed Me"

You’ll hear sisters in our organization say they never thought that they would join sorority, and for me, I thought the same thing. That all changed spring semester my sophomore year. I was a Resident Assistant and one of my residents was pledging the local sorority (Alpha Sigma) on our campus. I was curious to learn more about sororities and what Greek Life was all about.

At the time, I was separated from my family—I felt totally alone and adrift, not sure of who I was or where I was going. After spending a few hours with the women at a rush event, I immediately knew I was home. A few weeks after I joined, my chapter decided to join a national sorority. That sorority was Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority, and I was now a member of the founding class.

Flash forward 13 years. I have had the opportunity to serve in various roles on the National Board of Directors including Secretary, National President, and now, National Advisor. If I thought joining a sorority was crazy, the idea of serving in a leadership role for one was almost unimaginable. I am an introvert through and through, and I tend to be a little awkward—not qualities you think of in a leader, but this sisterhood and the women who are a part of it have mentored, championed, and supported me every step of the way.

I’ve traveled to conferences on behalf of Kappa Delta Phi NAS, led national business meetings, ran development workshops, and even helped start new chapters. With the steadfast support of her sisters, this shy weirdo from a chapter in South Central Pennsylvania found her voice and a confidence she never knew she had. It’s a strength I take with me beyond Kappa and I carry through to my professional life.

a sister For there is no friend like In calm or stormy weather; s way, To cheer one on the tediou ray, ast To fetch one if one goes n, To lift one if one totters dow s. nd sta To strengthen whilst one —Christina Rosetti

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To me, that is what being in sorority is truly about and what makes the idea of sisterhood so powerful—finding a group of women who share the same values, who lift each other up, and cheer for one another. There’s a part of a poem (left) my Big wrote on a poster for our Big/Little reveal, and it’s one of my absolute favorites (I quote it often) because it so beautifully sums up this idea of sisterhood and how it can transform you.

Alumnae Spotlight (p. 28) Photos: Top Left Sara with Mary-Honora Samoylo and Emily (Smith) Smoker. Top Right AFA Annual

Meeting 2016. Bottom Left Board members all dressed up. Bottom Right Sara and Jenn at Summer Leadership Retreat 2015.

Cooking with Jeanette Asparagus Frittata 1 pound of fresh asparagus 1 medium onion 2 tablespoons olive oil

Trim the asparagus, removing the ends. Cut the asparagus in half and dice the onion. Heat the oil in a 10" nonstick skillet. Saute the asparagus and onion until asparagus is cooked to your liking and shallots are translucent, about 5 minutes. Season with salt in moderation and pepper.

2 tablespoons milk

While the asparagus cooks, whisk the eggs and milk together in a large bowl.

Pour the egg over the asparagus-onion mixture and reduce to low heat. Place asparagus tops around the frittata like spokes in a wheel. Top with cheese.

½ cup of your favorite cheese, shredded

Cover the skillet and cook until eggs are cooked through, about 15 minutes.

Flip frittata onto a large plate and cut into slices.

8 large eggs

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Kappa Delta Phi N.A.S. Alumnae Association Dear Sisters of KDPNAS, Inc. Welcome to spring and welcome to the 2019 Kappa Convention. I am happy to be attending along with so many alumnae and active sisters. Let us not forget our Kappa Delta Phi, Inc. alumni and active brothers as well. I am looking forward to a busy, but fun weekend.

In the whirlwind of various activities, please don’t forget to stop by the alumnae table to say hello.

For this edition of the Kappa Quill, I was asked to talk about Kappa in the workplace and how being a part of an organization has touched the professional aspects of my life. Perhaps the best way for me to approach this topic is through a “then and now” analysis.

It goes without saying that Greek life has changed tremendously since my undergraduate years (19741978). The large sororities of the south and Ivy League schools were much different from the kind of sorority that took root in northeast and elsewhere. Our sorority was comprised of New England-based colleges and universities where chapters of Kappa Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc. already existed. The chapters of the early '70s were started by our brothers and, for awhile, we were considered “little sisters of the fraternity.” Now some might be a bit uncomfortable hearing that, but it was not meant in a derogatory way. The college women who became sorority sisters were the girlfriends of brothers. Some of the men in leadership positions supported the idea that there might one day be a “national sorority” affiliated with Kappa Delta Phi National Fraternity, Inc. Such men were Charles (Ned) Foster of Lambda Chapter, Fred Randall of Beta Chapter, Ed Webber of Iota Chapter, Bob Stomski of Gamma Chapter and Paul Collette of Epsilon Chapter—just to mention a few.

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There were also many “honorary brothers” who held positions among the faculty and administration at our local sites and who served as advisors to the local brotherhood. Many of these had sons and daughters who became undergraduates.

At University of Maine at Presque Isle, it wasn’t uncommon for one of my male professors to frequent the local pub or join the underclassmen at weekly sing-a-longs where Greek and non-Greek enjoyed the comradery of their professors immensely. It didn’t take long for our newly-formed sorority chapters to follow suit and induct many of our female professors, administrators and a few locals into our individual Kappa chapters. They were proud to be a part of us, and we them. In some cases, husbands and wives became brothers and sisters.

One such family was the St. Onge family of Presque Isle. They owned the Village Pub—it was a favorite place to be. I even worked there one year. Their two sons, Butch and Terry, were Mu brothers. Conrad Sr. and Joanne (the ‘rents’) became Mu and Kappa Mu. Butch’s wife, Liz, had a younger sister attending UMPI from Honduras. Maria Caraccioli Hines became my one and only Little.

Professionally, those who were our administrators, professors and community figures became our colleagues for those who found employment among the ranks of the professionals at UMPI. Others were called upon to provide references for those of us who would seek positions outside of the Northern Maine Community.

When I came to Portland in the late 1970s, I carried with me references from my former professors at UMPI and, in several instances, they were known among the University of Maine Portland-Gorham faculty and administration (now the University of Southern Maine).

Though in those days there were only chapters at Fort Kent, Presque Isle, Machias, Husson College, Thomas College and UMPG, they were mighty.

Leadership skills gained at the local chapter were immensely important to any sister’s resume. There were few collegiate opportunities otherwise. Kappa was in an optimal position locally and nationally to provide leaderships skills. My chapter responsibilities included holding the offices of Corresponding Secretary and Affiliate Educator. In between was the opportunity to work with the brotherhood on the Temporary Board of Directors identifying other chapters of our sorority and unifying them as the National Affiliated Sorority we have today. It was a lot of hard work—work we could not have done without the fraternity and the support of our local professors and administrators. Not every chapter ratified the constitution and by-laws. Some came on board later while other fraternity chapters were quick to express an interest in having sisters on their campus. For me, I was a sister and Board member of KDPNAS, Inc., and a teacher making her way in the professional world. Each time I was asked to submit my resume, Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority, Inc. was listed among my affiliations. To this day, my resume has Kappa highlighted: Field Representative, Vice President, President, Executive Director (Emeritus), Advisor and President of the KDPNAS, Alumnae Association. The Susan M. Dyer Scholastic Achievement Award is also listed among my achievements.

Most of us will not attain the heights of fame or infamy that will be included in all the information systems of the world, but modern technology helps. Have you ever Googled your name? Give it a try now and give it a try later as well. You’ll be amazed where you’ll find yourself. Dr. Seuss captured it best in his book titled, "Oh, the Places You’ll Go." You have no idea where Kappa will take you, or how many doors will be opened because you started building leadership skills as a sister of Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority, Inc. In my forty-four years, I have stepped over many thresholds and I have always been thankful that my Kappa experiences came with me.

Now about Convention 2019…

I want to encourage everyone to collect personal hygiene items to be donated to Florence House, a shelter for homeless and transitioning women of all ages. Florence House is in downtown Portland, Maine, managed

by the Preble Street Resource Center and supported by caring citizens like you. The shelter needs personal hygiene items of all types—shampoo, conditioner, hair brushes and combs, hair ties and clips, deodorant, body wash, bar soap, baby powder (corn starch type), body lotion, cotton swabs, nail clippers and nail files, tooth brushes and toothpaste, tampons and feminine hygiene pads of all kinds. We will be collecting these donations at the alumnae table. Products of all sizes are welcomed; full size, personal and travel sizes will be greatly appreciated. The KDPNAS Alumnae Association, Inc. has supported Florence House for several years. What we can share with your help really does make a difference in the lives of so many who need it.

Thank you in advance.

I also want to encourage each of you to help support our Calling All Angels Fund. The fund was established to support sisters and brothers in a time of need— death of a family member, prolonged unemployment, illness, loss of property due to natural disaster, and more. Every dollar raised or donated to the Calling All Angels Fund goes directly to those in need. Funds are allocated based on availability and need. To date, we have given more than $2,000.

We are selling sweatshirts again this year (zip front, hooded with pockets bearing the sorority shield and professionally embroidered) for $40. This year we also have tote bags designed and personally applicated by KI Alumnae Larissa Ryerson for $10. Lastly, we will also be selling tickets for our 50/50 raffle. Someone will be going home with half of the proceeds raised. Find our members at the Alumnae Table or out and about on the floor to get yours. You are only one number away from winning!

Sisters of all ages are encouraged to renew and/or join the KDPNAS Alumnae Association, Inc. We will have forms available. Come see us.

Thank you for this opportunity to share a bit of my history with each of you. No matter where you go, or what you do, take your Kappa sisterhood and experiences with you. You'll be thankful you did. May the Spirit Never Die! In the spirit and love of Kappa, Susan M. Dyer Taylor Kappa Mu, Spring 1975

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Show off your Kappa Pride Contact Merchandise Chair at merchandise@kappadeltaphinas.org