Each year, Kappa Delta Sorority provides a unique leadership training opportunity to all chapter presidents and one emerging leader from each chapter. The Presidents and Emerging Leaders Conference is designed to help attendees develop the skills necessary for successful chapter leadership, from creating a vision to working with the chapter council and much more. The emerging leader is chosen as a chapter member who shows potential for future leadership in the sorority and is not presently sitting on council. Candidates possess attributes such as campus involvement, high academic achievement, and leadership capabilities.

The 270 presidents and emerging leaders converged on Whispering Woods Hotel and Conference Center, in Olive Branch, Miss., on January 31, excited to be attending the conference, prepared to learn from the national leaders of Kappa Delta and humbled to be chosen to participate in a learning opportunity that ultimately provided them with the tools to lead their chapters and their campuses to heights unexpected. From the moment they were welcomed to PELC by KD National President Bonnie Warren until they hugged new friends good bye, the event was a whirlwind of learning, touring Kappa Delta headquarters where they soaked in the history of KD to meeting KDs from across the country and making new friends, and finding that something in themselves which they would take back to their world - their chapter and campus, something that would make a difference in the lives of people they touched.

What did it mean to the participants?

Megan Wendland, Eta Beta - Bradley -- If many of the women who attended PELC were asked to talk about their most memorable moment, I think they would probably discuss visiting national headquarters. That beautiful building that sits on Players Lane can be matched by no other. However, my most memorable moment is a little different. Since meeting her at NLC last summer, Corre Anding Stegall has always astonished me with her presence. She is a woman who has seen Kappa Delta through its biggest triumphs and really shaped it into the sorority it is today. Her speeches are some of the most uplifting messages I have ever heard. My favorite speech, in particular, was the one that discussed our founders and the vision they had for their organization. She put their ideas in a perspective that helped me see how we are still living out their mission today. Through the G-R-E-A-T workshops, I was able to match the path of our sorority's future to the ritual and the events of its past. My weekend at PELC has made me a better leader in my chapter, and I will never forget the fun I had or the impact it made on me as a person.

Anna Garcia, Beta Chi - North Carolina -- As a chapter president, I found the Presidents and Emerging Leaders Conference to be an invaluable experience. At no other time during the year do you get the best and brightest of the sisterhood in one room to share ideas on how we can help one another to continue to strive for the greater and better Kappa Delta. Not only was the information presented by HQ extremely helpful, but it was a great forum for the sharing of ideas between chapters. I know I sure walked away with a bunch of great new ideas to keep my chapter fresh! Furthermore, since there were fewer people at the conference, there was more opportunity to interact with the members of the national leadership team. The women who run our sorority are the backbone of our beloved organization. The passion that each brings to her job is truly inspirational, and while they had much advice to give and much to teach, just listening to them speak about that passion was my favorite part of the conference. After PELC, I am better able to articulate the place that KD holds in my own heart, a definition which has helped me to better serve my chapter and continue to strive for that which is honorable, beautiful, and highest.

Anna Crousillac, Mu - Millsaps -- The Presidents and Emerging Leaders Conference was an event that I will never forget. It was an amazing opportunity that allowed me to meet national leadership team members and other Kappa Delta sisters. I have only been initiated for a few months, but by attending this conference I was able to appreciate the rich history of Kappa Delta and gain a better understanding of our ritual and philanthropic activities. I really enjoyed all of the speakers. Learning about leadership from others made me realize how Kappa Delta has an impact on everyone in our community on a local, state and national level. I was blown away by Corre Anding Stegall and Bonnie Purvis Warren. They carried themselves so well and are the perfect examples of everything Kappa Delta stands for: honor, beauty, class, charity and friendship. I unfortunately have never met my great-grandmother, Anna Bechtold Bass, but hearing about her from Corre Stegall made me even prouder to be Kappa Delta and her great-granddaughter. This was more than just a leadership conference, it was an eye-opening experience that helps me grow in Kappa Delta and with my sisters in Mu chapter everyday.

Mary Frances Klebon, Xi - Pittsburgh -- Things that I learned at the conference about myself was that I would consider myself both a leader and a follower. Corre Anding Stegall spoke about either being one or the other but when I really thought about it, I realized that I was both. I love hearing other peoples ideas and contributing my own but my ideas aren't always the best so I'm fine with taking the passenger's seat occasionally however, I prefer to be the leader. I learned so many things about Kappa Delta my favorite was hearing about the history and the personalities of our founders, it just made me wish I could have met them even more. Sometimes I find that I get wrapped up in Kappa Delta Xi chapter, and I forget that Kappa Delta literally is everywhere and its so awesome to hear about other campuses recruitment and philanthropy ideas. Lastly, hearing Corre and Bonnie speak that whole weekend was so inspiring. I've never felt prouder being a Kappa Delta, they were amazing. After the weekend, I realized how being in Kappa Delta is truly an honor and it's so much more then a sorority. It's a family and as sisters and friends we need to create opportunities for each other, support each other, and make an impact in our communities, country, and world.