KD Connect

KD Connect

August 1, 2009

FEATURED IN THIS EDITION:

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Alumnae President's Leadership Conference - Learning, Networking, Leading

A world of opportunity - Jenna Faulkner

KDs Donate Purses to Women in Need

UCF Alumna Rachael Todd Wins Miss Florida Pageant

Connect with Kappa Delta on YouTube!

Sigma Sigma - Iowa State Members Celebrate Friendship

Beat the Summer Heat!

Helping while Searching!

RENEW, RENEW, RENEW--Wouldn't you rather have your money go to Kappa Delta?

I volunteered to be Class Coordinator...Jana Broadbent

Nu - Oklahoma State Planning Anniversary Celebration

Events and Opportunities

Alumnae President's Leadership Conference - Learning, Networking, Leading

The 1st annual Alumnae President's Leadership Conference (APLC), funded by the Kappa Delta Foundation, opened on Saturday, June 27, 2009 to Margaret Watson, National Vice President - Alumnae, providing an overview of the exciting events included in APLC, encouraging each participant to open their mind to the new ideas that would be shared among the alumnae chapters, council members and the alumnae national leadership team. And with that, the attendees from across the country begin a whirl-wind ride on the Kappa Delta alumnae chapter train. Topics covered ranged from increasing membership in the alumnae chapter to planning events appealing to all ages and learning how to use technology such as the Kappa Delta Web sites, Facebook and Twitter to their advantage.

Thoughts from APLC attendees:

Dot Mears, Greater Atlanta Day, Ga., Alumnae Chapter--I enjoyed the APLC very much because the panel presentations were very useful. Things that impressed me about this program included: Practical suggestions were made by the participants on how to improve or enhance the operations of an alumnae chapter. Corre Stegall did a fantastic job discussing the role of an Alumnae leader, it was truly inspiring. Her talk really made you want to be a hard working and effective leader. I gained important hints on working with the various alumnae officers on my executive board and how to successfully involve them in creating a better alumnae chapter. In addition, I gained important insight about community visibility and how the internet can be use as an aid in recruiting new members. I think the APLC should become a permanent fixture at future national conventions. It is an effective and personal way to inspire participants to strive for national goals of Kappa Delta. Margaret Watson, National Vice President for Alumnae did a great job in developing this program.

Rachel Lipsey, Central Arkansas Alumnae Chapter--I liked hearing about what other AC's are doing in their communities, with collegiate chapters, and programming in their own AC. It's hard to get a since of how many members each AC has, and being able to chat with these people in person helped me to understand what works with other KD groups. I also really enjoyed meeting my national officers for the next two years. I think the biggest thing that I learned is that I should always recruit members. It can't just be a once a year membership drive, but takes constant drive to keep my eyes and ears open to the various opprotunities to connect with alumnae Kappa Deltas in the area. I also think that attending the conference gave me certain goals that I want our AC to achieve. I learned that numbers aren't everything, and that I have to delegate and make sure the goals and dreams are for the whole AC and not just myself or even just the officer board.

Sharon Kaufman, St. Louis, Mo., Alumnae Chapter--I liked hearing about what other alumnae groups are doing in regards to programming and membership. I also appreciated the opportunity to meet and get to know alumnae presidents from our division as well as our new AMS and AOS. I have already used the www.whenisgood.net site that other alum groups use to schedule their officer/planning meetings, so I was happy to see we were on track with that. I am excited to bring some new programming ideas to our group too.

Lucy Medvec, Shreveport/Bossier City, La., Alumnae Chapter--Participating in this year’s APLC was just the boost I needed to give me energy for my Alumnae Chapter (Shreveport-Bossier, LA). We came from across the country to share our Kappa Delta Alumnae experiences, learn new and exciting ideas, but most importantly to learn that overall, our passion for Kappa Delta is even stronger now as Alumnae. We learned that as a national organization, we are making even more of a difference in the lives of children and in our community, through our Shamrock Projects, Girl Scout programs, and the many ways we work to build self-esteem among girls and young women. We celebrated on a local level what our alumnae can accomplish when we come together. It has been 20 years since I graduated, but I loved the fact that I could remember Kappa Delta songs after all of these years. I loved being one of the ones standing at the Friendship Luncheon, when asked if a KD sister had been in my wedding party, attended my wedding, and was someone who shared good and sad times in my life. I learned a lot from the many APLC discussion panels, but I learned the most when given the opportunity to share our ideas among each other. This was a wonderful experience and I look forward to seeing it offered again in the future.

Donna Cary Sibley, Maine State Coordinator--The most motivating part of APLC was hearing Corre Anding Stegall's address, she is such an inspiration. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to meet with alumnae leaders from all over the country - what a think tank! It was also so nice to feel how important National Kappa Delta believes each of it's alumnae chapters are. Margaret Watson and her team really did a great job in launching this new leadership conference. I will be making sure that our new alumnae chapter president will be attending the next one.

A world of opportunity - Jenna Faulkner

Never a person to stay in one place, Jenna Ruth Faulkner recently spent four months in Europe and several weeks teaching gifted students in Illinois and Maryland. The Virginia Tech senior took a couple of weeks from her busy summer schedule to visit family and friends in Bland County.

“It’s going to be a short summer,” Faulkner said during a recent interview. “But these experiences are something I will never forget.”

In fact, her work with Envision EMI teaching gifted elementary students in DeKalb, Ill., and Chevy Chase, Md., has prompted Faulkner to consider teaching as a career. The for-profit agency creates programs that provide select students with the skills and resources they need to succeed and reach their full leadership potential.

“I worked with rising third- through sixth-graders, ages 8 to 10 years old,” Faulkner pointed out. “I did a lot of one-on-one work with them. I have been looking at teaching as a profession.”

Broadcast journalism is another option. “I work for VTTV, Virginia Tech’s student-run television station,” she noted. “I’m the entertainment anchor and director. I really like doing that.”

Faulkner will receive a degree in political science at the completion of her upcoming senior year at Tech. She is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and a volunteer coach for Special Olympics Bowling.

A highlight of her Tech stay was the university’s four-month study program in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland. It allowed her to visit 11 countries and complete a minor degree in humanities and a minor degree in history.

“It was amazing,” Faulkner commented. “The way it happened was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It doesn’t change who you are but it makes you aware of who you are.”

She was among the 28 liberal arts and 14 architectural students from Tech qualifying for the most recent university-sponsored study program abroad. They lived in a Tech-owned 200-year-old villa in Switzerland where classes also were held. “We had to learn Italian,” Faulkner said. “They have three national languages – German, French and Italian.” The group spent weekends traveling across the country by train. Students visited various sites of interest and sampled the local cuisine.

KDs Donate Purses to Women in Need

Kappa Deltas from across the country traveled to National Convention carrying hundreds of “pre-loved” purses to donate to women in need. Little did they know that this purse drive was the launch of Kappa Delta’s Go Confidently! Collection, a purse collection drive unlike any other. Kappa Delta’s Go Confidently! Collection was unveiled at convention and the nearly 250 purses collected were given to Epsilon Omicron chapter at the University of Central Florida to distribute to BETA Center, a local nonprofit agency in Orlando that provides services to support children and families, increase family functioning and prevent child abuse and neglect.

As women, we realize that a new purse can make any woman or girl more confident. The purpose of the Go Confidently! Collection is to help girls and women facing difficult situations “carry confidence” with them. Chapters and alumnae are encouraged to hold purse drives in conjunction with National Women’s Friendship Month celebrations and recruitment events.

The Go Confidently! Collection is part of the Confidence Coalition, which Kappa Delta Sorority created to address the issue of encouraging self-esteem in women and girls. The Confidence Coalition brings together all those groups and businesses that have campaigns centered on self-esteem. By banding together, we are creating a movement that helps girls and women become confident and ready to take on the issues that chip away at our self-esteem. When women and girls have confidence they can stand up against all of those things that keep them from reaching their goals and living the lives they’ve imagined.

Sigma Sigma - Iowa State Members Celebrate Friendship

On the 19th, 20th, and the 21st of June, twenty-five Kappa Delta sisters from the 1962–1966 graduating classes of Sigma Sigma chapter at Iowa State University gathered in Minneapolis for a mini reunion. On Friday evening, they enjoyed pizza and drinks, but the highlight was sharing updates of everyone’s lives.

After a continental breakfast on Saturday morning, the sisters took in a variety of activities: visiting an old mill, browsing at a farmers’ market, shopping at the Mall of America, and touring the Guthrie Theater. Saturday evening was the closing night of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. The Theater was celebrating 40 years of making memories; for some of the sisters, it was 50 years. A late night cookies and coffee session included the singing of KD songs—exuberant even though occasionally off key.

After a Sunday morning brunch, the sisters parted ways to head for home, planning to gather again in Kansas City in 2011. Until then, Moonbeams falling soft above, stars are shining bright. Gentle breezes drifting low, kissing the earth goodnight. Kappa Delta memories shifting through my dreams. One white rose and three bright stars, memories and moonbeams. (submitted by Joyce Loftus Shaffer)

UCF Alumna Rachael Todd Wins Miss Florida Pageant

Rachael Todd, a spring UCF graduate from Oviedo, won the Miss Florida pageant July 12 in St. Petersburg and will go on to compete in the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas in January. Rachael competed as Miss Suncoast, and her platform is “The Changing Face of Homelessness.”

While at UCF, Rachael served as vice president of the Kappa Delta sorority. She was a Pegasus Silver Medal Scholarship winner and was on the Dean’s List.

Joining her in the competition were six other UCF students and recent alumni: Dasha Gonzalez, Sara York, Danielle Mueller, Mandi Jo John, Tara Szczepanski and Jaclyn Raulerson.

reprinted from www.today.ucf.com

Connect with Kappa Delta on YouTube!

Kappa Delta now has a YouTube channel where you can view and share our favorite videos. Visit us to see the latest videos from Convention you may have missed or want to see again. We’re continuing to add videos weekly, so check back often. The 2007-2009 State of the Sorority will be up soon.

Help Promote Bone Health!

Children ages 9-18 are in their critical bone-building years and need more calcium and vitamin D than at any other time in their lives.

Sadly, as many as 9 out of 10 girls don’t get enough calcium, which puts them at increased risk for osteoporosis later in life.

Best Bones Forever! encourages girls to get more calcium and vitamin D and bone-strengthening physical activity. Through the campaign’s partnership activities, Web site, materials, and media outreach, girls (and their BFFs) will be encouraged and motivated to support each other and build strong bones together.

Kappa Delta’s long-standing support of the Kappa Delta Orthopaedic Research Awards makes the sorority a natural advocate for bone health. We are helping to spread the word about this campaign sponsored by the U.S. government’s Office on Women’s Health.

Launching this summer, the campaign is looking for pre-teen and teen girls to help promote the message of eating healthy and being active. Does your daughter, niece, granddaughter or younger sister have a story to share?

Does a girl in your life inspire her best friend to stay active and healthy?

Does she have a parent or grandparent with osteoporosis who encourages her to make bone-healthy choices?

Do you as a mother encourage your pre-teen or teen daughter to eat more foods with calcium and get lots of exercise?

Share your stories about bone health! E-mail Sheryl Rhoads at Sheryl.Rhoads@mail.ps.net.

Helping while Searching

Do you spend a lot of time on Google or Yahoo searching for information on the Internet? Now there is a place you can go to search the Internet while helping the Kappa Delta Foundation. www.GoodSearch.com is a new search engine, which donates 50 percent of its revenue to charitable organizations and schools that its users designate (the other 50 percent is what it uses to run the company day to day). You use GoodSearch.com like any other search engine - the site is powered by Yahoo! - but each time you do, money is generated for philanthropic causes, such as the Kappa Delta Foundation.

Here's how it works:

1. Go to www.goodsearch.com (which is powered by Yahoo!)
2. Type Kappa Delta Foundation into the "I support" box and click on "verify"
3. Since GoodSearch shares its advertising revenue with charities and schools, every time you search the Web at GoodSearch, you'll be earning money for the Kappa Delta Foundation.

Organizations earn an estimated penny per search. Hence, if 500 people searched four times a day on behalf of one organization, it would earn $7300 in a year. Think how much we could raise if we all used it!

The company launched in November 2005 and has been covered by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Variety and other publications: www.goodsearch.com/Press.aspx. GoodSearch does not require that users sign up and does not collect any user information. They only ask that organizations and supporters help spread the word.

GoodSearch was founded by a brother/sister team, both of whom have extensive and successful Internet company experience, in memory of their mother who passed away from cancer. They wanted to create an organization which gave back to the community in her honor. Their dream is to write millions of dollars worth of checks every year to good causes.

Take advantage of this very simple way to give back to the Kappa Delta Foundation. Every search will help to continue to provide leadership opportunities for collegians and alumnae and help children across the country. Every penny counts!

Beat the Summer Heat!

Click here to shop the Kappa Delta Boutique!

I volunteered to be Class Coordinator...

by Jana Broadbent, Sigma Gamma - Kansas State

I was interested in being a class coordinator for a couple of reasons. First, I want to stay involved in Kappa Delta in some small ways here as I am a recent alumna of the Sigma Gamma chapter at Kansas State University. I know these first few years out of school are going to be very busy as my life is changing and my job gets more involved, so being an advisor or taking on other large roles is going to be a few years away. But Kappa Delta has been so influential on my life that I cannot just walk away, I have to do something. My pledge class will expect nothing less from me; I usually am trying to stay busy and always have been.

The second reason I volunteered to be a class coordinator is exactly what I hope to do for the rest of my life: keep in touch with my Fall 2003 pledge sisters. Our pledge class was the best thing that ever happened to me during my collegiate years. We are all so close and some of us are the best of friends. I think we are a strong part of our chapter’s history. So I look forward to keeping us all in touch and all of our class working towards an even better Kappa Delta.

Help us keep in touch with the KD sisters from your pledge class. You are probably already keeping in touch with many of the sisters with whom you graduated. We’d like your help in contacting those sisters when we plan KD reunions, state days and other events in your area.

Just send us an e-mail to let us know that you would like to be a class coordinator. Thanks for your commitment to Kappa Delta!

RENEW, RENEW, RENEW--Wouldn't you rather have your money go to Kappa Delta?

This year the focus in the magazine agency is going to be renewals. When you renew your existing subscription through the Kappa Delta Magazine Agency, nearly 50% of the proceeds of your subscription money goes to the chapter house fund. If you renew directly with the publisher, all of the money goes to the publisher, and Kappa Delta gets none of it. You are paying the same amount of money, either way, wouldn't you rather have your money go to help Kappa Delta?

Studies show that the average household spends $200 per year on magazine subscriptions. If every KD alumna renewed her subscriptions through the Kappa Delta Magazine Agency, it would help Kappa Delta immensely.

Important point: You did not have to purchase the initial subscription through the Kappa Delta Magazine Agency in order to renew through the Kappa Delta Magazine Agency.

QSP has a wide selection of magazines. They have over 750 magazine, book and music titles to choose from and it accepts Master Card and VISA. Because QSP is the largest publisher clearinghouse in the United States, it can offer more choices and lower prices than any other vendor.

Follow the instructions below to take you to the QSP Web site dedicated to Kappa Delta Sorority so you can process your renewal.

Ready to start shopping? 1. Go to kd.efundraising.com
2. Type the name of your collegiate chapter or alumnae association.
3. Click on the “Find” button.
4. When "Search Results" are displayed, click on the name of your chapter or alumnae association.
5. This will take you to your chapter’s or alumnae chapter’s personalized Web page.
6. Click on “Shop for Magazines” to access the online store.
7. Choose the magazines you want (be sure to check renewal) and proceed to checkout.

Visit kd.efundraising.com and have a fantastic time choosing your favorite magazines while helping Kappa Delta.

If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Mize at 901-371-6357 or by e-mail at magazineagency@kappadelta.org.

Nu - Oklahoma State Planning Anniversary Celebration

Members of Nu chapter - Oklahoma State will be celebrating the chapter's 90th anniversary on August 29, time to be announced at the White Barn Estates - 2421 North Marine Road - Stillwater, Okla. For more information, contact Alice Maroney Denison at kdnu90@att.net.

NATIONWIDE - Events and opportunities are now being posted for August, September and October. Send your information directly to Kappa Delta by the 15th of each month for inclusion in the KD Connect.

ARKANSAS

ARKANSAS - Join the Central Arkansas alumnae chapter on July 29, time and place to be announced as members prepare recruitment care packages for Zeta Gamma. For more information, contact Rachel at centralarkansaskd@hotmail.com.

ARKANSAS - Join the Central Arkansas alumnae chapter on November 16, time and place to be announced as members put together Christmas gifts for the women and children at the local Women's Shelter. For more information, contact Rachel at centralarkansaskd@hotmail.com.

CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA - Join members of the Beta Rho -San Diego State University chapter as it celebrates its 60th year anniversary. The event will take place on October 17, 10 a.m. until 12 noon at the Beta Rho chapter house. Join your sisters for refreshments as members look back on the past 60 years with memorabilia and a slide show. The founding members of the Beta Rho chapter will also be honored. RSVP to Marissa Johnson at marissa.johnson33@hotmail.com. Please submit pictures to be included in the slideshow to Marissa Johnson at marissa.johnson33@hotmail.com. Kappa Delta memorabilia from throughout the years will be displayed at the event – We would love if you could bring something to contribute and share with your fellow sisters.

CALIFORNIA - Join members of the Long Beach, Calif., alumnae chapter on August 10 at 11:30 a.m. for a luncheon at Shirley Girardin Gibson's home. BYOS (Bring Your Own Sandwich) - Shirley will provide everything else. Helen Winkler will be reporting on convention. This will be a great opportunity to celebrate our awards and give each other well-deserved pats on the back. For more information, contact Shirley at jb-shirl@verizon.net.

CALIFORNIA - Join members of the San Diego, Calif., alumnae chapter on August 2 at 2 p.m. for the SDKDAA Day at the Races in Del Mar. Invite the family, friends, and your KD sisters. Bring a dish to share and all your KD luck! We have a reserved spot in the infield with tables, chairs, betting window, bar and it's right next to the track! Tickets are $5 per adult and $1 per child (17 and younger). Please RSVP and mail a self addressed stamped envelope to the SDKDAA at 7131 Rock Valley Ct. San Diego, CA 92122. See you at the races! First post is 2 p.m. For more information, contact sdkdaa@yahoo.com.

CALIFORNIA - Join members of the San Diego, Calif., alumnae chapter on August 22, 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. for the Summer Jazz & Wine Tasting Festival?and High School Scholarship Fundraiser, hosted by the San Diego Alumnae Panhellenic. For more information, contact sdkdaa@yahoo.com.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - Join the Washington, D.C., alumnae chapter on August 23 at 12 noon, location to be announced, for the WDCAA book club. The next selection for the book club is "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman. To RSVP, contact Kim at lauerk@gmail.com.

GEORGIA

GEORGIA - Join the Atlanta Night, Ga., alumnae chapter on August 16 at 2 p.m. for its Open House for new members. Come meet the alumnae chapter council and members and find out what is going on in 2009! For more information, contact Amy at amyreinmeyer@gmail.com.

GEORGIA - The Greater Atlanta Day, Ga., alumnae chapter invites Kappa Delta alumnae to attend the KD Summer Fest on August 15, time to be announced at Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Margaret Watson, National Vice President for Alumnae will be the featured speaker. Representatives from all Atlanta alumnae groups will be present to provide information about their groups. This will be a fun way to meet sisters from all over the country. For more information about this event please contact Chris Adams at cadams30041@yahoo.com

GEORGIA - Join the Greater Atlanta Day, Ga., alumnae chapter on September 21 at 10:30 a.m. at the home of Jan Lammert. Get your school colors ready for the kickoff meeting. For more information, contact Dot at jmclendon@mindspring.com.

ILLINOIS

ILLINOIS - Join the Chicago Northwest Suburban, Ill., alumnae chapter on August 10 at 7 p.m. to celebrate the chapter's awards handed out at the 2009 convention. Dinner will take place at Tapalpa Mexican Restaurant. For more information, contact kdcnwsaa@gmail.com.

ILLINOIS - Join the Chicago Northwest Suburban, Ill., alumnae chapter on September 12, time and place to be announced for its National Women's Friendship Month event. More details to follow. For more information, kdcnwsaa@gmail.com.

ILLINOIS - Join the Chicago Northwest Suburban, Ill., alumnae chapter on October 12, time to be announced for its Founder's Day event. More details to follow. For more information, kdcnwsaa@gmail.com.

OKLAHOMA

OKLAHOMA - Members of Nu chapter - Oklahoma State will be celebrating the chapter's 90th anniversary on August 29, time to be announced at the White Barn Estates - 2421 North Marine Road - Stillwater, Okla. For more information, contact Alice Maroney Denison at kdnu90@att.net.

OREGON

OREGON - Join members of the Portland, Ore., alumnae chapter for a get together on August 2 at 3:30 p.m. at the home of Beth Proctor. For more information, contact Beth at bethproctor@windermere.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA

SOUTH CAROLINA - Join members of the Florence/Palmetto, S.C., alumnae chapter on August 29 at 7 p.m. for a luau at the home of Angela Gensel. More details to follow. For more information, contact PalmettoAAofKD@hotmail.com.

TENNESSEE

TENNESSEE - Join the Nashville, Tenn., alumnae chapter on August 1 to promote Kappa Delta's new partnership with American Girl to prevent bullying. This event will be held at the Girl Scout Center, 4522 Granny White Pike in Nashville from 1-3 p.m. For more information on volunteering, please visit the calendar of events section of www.nashvillekdaa.com.

TEXAS

TEXAS - SAVE THE DATE! Texas State Day 2010 will be held on March 6, 2010 at the Gateway Center at University of North Texas. More details to follow in the coming months! For information, contact Patti Roberts Smith at prsmith@live.com.

VERMONT

VERMONT - Join Kappa Delta alumnae in the Burlington, Vt., area for a "meet-and-greet" on October 18 at 1 p.m. at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library (21 Library Ln, Williston, VT 05495) in the Community Room. Once in the library, follow the long hallway to the back of the building, enter the children's area, and the room is to the left. Amy Levi, cell 802-233-9098 and home 802-899-2428, is the hostess for the event. To RSVP, contact Amy at sweetpea91899@yahoo.com.

VIRGINIA

VIRGINIA - Join the Greater Fairfax/Loudoun County, Va., alumnae chapter on August 1 at 11 a.m. for Tarara Winery's Big Chill Wine Fest, which includes everything from wine tasting to blackberry picking to Shadow Lake floats. For more information, contact Whitney at whitney.richardson@yahoo.com.

VIRGINIA - Join the Greater Fairfax/Loudoun County, Va., alumnae chapter on August 10 at 6:30 p.m. for KD movie night. Members will meet at Jackson 's in Reston Towne Center before heading to the movie theatre. For more information, contact Mindy at melinda.sawyer@verizon.net.

VIRGINIA - Join the Greater Fairfax/Loudoun County, Va., alumnae chapter on September 19, time to be announced as members celebrate National Women's Friendship Month at the Reston Zoo. More details to follow. For more information, contact Whitney at whitney.richardson@yahoo.com.

VIRGINIA - Join the Greater Fairfax/Loudoun County, Va., alumnae chapter on October 24, time to be announced as members celebrate Founder's Day at Lansdowne Resort. For more information, contact Whitney at whitney.richardson@yahoo.com.