For Niki Letterio-Voyles, Epsilon Omicron – Central Florida, one of her main goals as CAB chair for the Epsilon Omicron chapter is to bring the chapter back to the basics. “We have noticed at the chapter meetings the attendance is getting less and less each year,” she explains. “We can't blame them. With e-mail, texting and Facebook, the members can get the information discussed at meetings through these resources. But nothing can replace a meeting. It's where everything begins.”

That is the stepping-off point for the CAB. According to Niki, “the CAB will be helping the council bring life to the meetings and make the members want to come again.” As a group, the CAB decided that each CAB member would attend one meeting a semester. “With 15 of us, that is almost every meeting,” Niki says.
Another goal is to make sure each position the CAB advises incorporates sisterhood into their area. “With our chapter getting bigger each year, it is harder for the girls to stay connected to everyone,” Niki says. “In January, we will be holding our first CAB sisterhood night. CAB will be planning the entire event. We want to show the chapter that they don't need to have socials or get all dressed up to have a good time. Being at the house all together is all we need to have a strong sisterhood.”

The CAB meets once a month throughout the entire year. They also have a dinner during the summer with council and house corporation members. “Even though our schedules are full, some members try and meet up for dinner before or after our CAB meetings,” Niki explains. “Other than our meetings, the easiest way to communicate is through e-mail.”

Niki notes that the CAB has constant interaction with the entire chapter. “They all know they can call us at any time with any issue,” she says. “At the beginning of each semester CAB has a sign-up sheet for each chapter event other than meetings. We try and attend at least 80% of their functions.”

A great way to communicate with the chapter the CAB has found is to get access to their e-mail system. “It's a great source to get information to the chapter fast and often if you need to,” Niki states. “Not only can you communicate with the chapter but you can see what e-mails the chapter sends out. I know it's hard for some CAB's but there's nothing that beats face-to-face communication. Make it a point to attend meetings. It's the best way to get a feel for the chapter and what they need help with.”

The CAB also makes their presence known by participating in the chapter’s Shamrock Event, helping out with Girl Scout activities and attending sisterhood events. “We always come and meet the families during Family Weekend,” Niki notes. “We try and attend all of spirit week, go to Bid Day and participate in Recruitment, as needed.”

Of course, like anything, improvement is needed for all aspects of the organization. The CAB is working to improve its overall knowledge of Kappa Delta. “The members today are so over-programmed in everything they do,” Niki says. “They are expected to excel in all areas of their life. With everything that is asked of them, it's easy to forget KD heritage. We need to make it a priority that they don't forget where KD began. Our history.”

Niki says a great achievement for the CAB is always having a full, active board. “We are constantly bringing in new members, and having them co-chair positions so one day they can take over when members leave,” she says proudly. “We support one another’s positions, just like we ask our council to support each other through busy times. We do the same. We feel that the Recruitment advisor can't do it alone. It takes the entire CAB to help out during recruitment to make it as successful as possible. We do the same with the New Member advisor.”

The CAB knows one overwhelming issue facing today's collegian their self-image. “The women try to dress the best, have the best body and are easily influenced by men,” she says. “It's important to teach them to remember to always have a healthy lifestyle and to protect their integrity.”

The CAB has also noticed a trend of collegian women setting out to get one another. “They aren't nice to their peers,” Niki notes. “Since this issue is getting worse, we asked a PR professor on campus, who happens to be a CAB member, come and talk to the chapter. She spoke about the important of inner beauty. How good PR comes from within. She also stressed the point that women can be so powerful if they work together and not as separates.”

The CAB members have proven to be outstanding role models for the chapter members through lives outside of the CAB. “Our CAB members show the chapter that you can be a multi-faceted woman,” Niki stresses. “We have many CAB members who are stay-at-home moms. Two members work for UCF in alumnae development. The PR advisor is a PR professor at UCF. The finance advisor is a CPA. There are numerous teachers on the board. One member works for the Homeless for the Orlando school board, and another is the Florida Director of Income for the American Cancer Society.”

Niki encourages every KD to volunteer with a CAB. “Even though it takes a lot of time to be on CAB, the rewards are endless,” she explains. “It's so rewarding seeing a member achieve a goal like getting into grad school, or getting an A in a class that she has been studying so hard for. It's nice to get letters from recent graduates telling you how you have made a difference in their life. It's hard to find another volunteer opportunity where you will impact so many women at one time. We can help them Live Great!”

The “Live Great” moments for the chapter and the CAB bring Niki pride like nothing else. “When the chapter sets a goal and achieves it, I am as proud as can be”, she says. For example, Epsilon Omicron hasn’t had a member on the Panhellenic executive board in more than three years. They made it a goal to get a member on the board within a certain number of years. They were so excited when in just one short year, they accomplished that goal.”

Niki offers another example of pride in her CAB. “I was at a meeting this past week and a chapter member came up to me and explained that the CAB PR advisor, Ryan Sheehy, had changed her life,” she recalls. “Ryan gave a workshop on good PR, and it moved the member so much she changed directions in her field of study. It's amazing to hear how CAB members have that effect on the collegians.”

“KD is everything to me,” Niki says proudly. “It's hard to find an area of my life that KD has not impacted. As a collegian it taught me how to manage my time. It taught me how to plan events and the importance of community involvement. As an alumni, KD taught me to always give back and to have patience. KD has also taught me how to work with all different personalities. On a personal level, it has given me the greatest friends I could ask for. They are the friends I call with good news, and the ones I need in times of sorrow.”

With those friends come lots of KD memories. “My favorite memory of all time is when my sister joined KD,” Niki notes. “There's nothing like pinning your own sister and having her share in such an amazing organization. Another special memory is from Convention in Palm Springs. I roomed with my college roommate who I hadn't seen in a few years. And of course, being on council as vp-membership was an amazing experience.”

And Niki takes all the things she has learned from KD and returns them to the chapter members of Epsilon Omicron. “I love CAB for so many reasons,” she explains. “I love to have an excuse to get together once a month with my friends. I love what KD stands for and am honored that I get a chance to show the collegians how amazing KD is.”

As CAB chair, Niki hopes to exert a little influence on the chapter members. “I hope to show the members, through my example, that KD is not just for 4 years,” she says. “KD impacts your life forever.”