Essay On Kappa Membership

Kappa Membership, a Gift for a Lifetime
What did you aspire to be when you pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma? The time as a new member is a very exciting experience. Meeting new Kappa sisters, participating in chapter activities and being welcomed into a community of leadership, scholarship and friendship are the reasons women aspire to be Kappas. These traditions continue after graduation as an alumna and last a lifetime. The sisterhood developed with chapter members and members from other chapters at other universities is a lasting influence and will be of assistance in finding your new place in the world.

What do you aspire to be as an alumna? The alumna experience can be just as exciting and rewarding as collegiate life and every alumna is encouraged

to remain an involved member of the Fraternity. There are many ways to remain involved, such as joining an alumnae association, advising a local chapter, serving on a House Board, participating in a chapter-sponsored philanthropy, continuing to pay the annual per capita fee to support our programs and donating to the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation, just to name a few.

After leaving school, an alumna’s first priority is to stay connected to Kappa Kappa Gamma by keeping her contact information up to date. Fraternity Headquarters should be kept informed of any address changes through the Kappa Kappa Gamma website. You can update your member profile by logging into www.kappa.org/members, and clicking “Edit Profile.” If you need help logging in, contact [e-mail]. Updating your information will ensure you continue to receive The Key and are able to access information like the Kappa website
Kappas Connecting With Kappas
Our alumna members exemplify the standards and ideals of Kappa Kappa Gamma and are role models in business, community and family. Alumnae aspire to be different roles in society, but it is the diversity of our experiences and individual involvement in Kappa that strengthens our bonds and associations. These unique experiences become interwoven with the shared experiences all Kappas had as collegiate members to build new bonds and friendships. Alumnae associations aspire to be resources for alumnae through excellence in programming, which includes social events, educational opportunities, Kappa-specific information and philanthropic activities.
Alumnae Associations
The purpose of an alumnae association is:
• To provide friendship and support to all members.
• To provide support to collegiate members.
• To provide opportunities for self-growth and intellectual development of its members.
• To recommend potential new members.
• To provide support to the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation, local communities and Reading Is Fundamental.

Kappa Kappa Gamma alumnae associations may:
• Have as few as 10 members or as many as 900 members.
• Meet a minimum of four times per year or meet monthly and have many interest groups such as Night Owls, Kappas with Kids, Hiking, and Lunch Bunch groups.
• Support the Foundation, Reading Is Fundamental and many other philanthropies
• Support a chapter with advisers and House Board members who live a distance from the chapter or who live in close proximity.

Joining an Alumnae Association
Joining your nearest alumnae association, where you will meet Kappas of various ages and experiences from all parts of the United States and Canada is a great way to stay involved and connect to a local network. To find an association near you, use the association locator on the Fraternity website. If there is not an association near you, contact Fraternity Headquarters. Kappa has more than 250 alumnae associations internationally and more than 13,000 paid alumna members who make up one of the largest alumna Greek-letter networking groups. An alumna will find a Kappa sister wherever she resides!

My local alumnae association:
Alumnae association contact:
Name of the alumnae association that I will be relocating to:

Annual Membership Fee
Annual membership fees are determined by every alumnae association and include the per capita fee paid to the Fraternity.

Alumnae who wish to join more than one association may do so by paying the local dues of each association. Alumnae who live in an area that does not have an association are welcome to pay their per capita fees directly to Fraternity Headquarters through Dues Direct. To do so, log into www.kappa.org/members, and click “Pay Dues Now.”

What is the Per Capita Fee?
When you pledged Kappa, you promised to accept the responsibilities of lifelong membership. Part of that responsibility is supporting Kappa through payment of the per capita fee (i.e., alumna dues). The per capita fee can be paid through your local alumnae association or via Dues Direct. To be considered a Kappa member in good standing, your per capita fee should be paid annually.

The per capita fee helps support:
• Our chapters and alumnae associations.
• Educational opportunities for collegians and alumnae.
• Publication of our award-winning magazine, The Key.
• Fraternity Headquarters operations, and

more!
Convention and Kappa Leadership Conferences
In even years, Kappa holds a Convention for all members. In odd years, Kappa Leadership Conferences are held across the country. At these events, important Kappa business is covered, educational workshops are held for collegians and alumnae, and opportunities to connect are provided. All Kappas are welcome to attend and registration information can be found on the Fraternity website. In addition, every alumnae association is encouraged to send one delegate to attend business meetings and workshops and become better acquainted with the workings of the Fraternity. As a representative of her association, she is entitled to vote.
Chapter Support
There is no better way to give back to Kappa Kappa Gamma than to support an active chapter. Chapters need all forms of support, whether it is supporting their philanthropy event, being a chaperone or becoming involved as an adviser or House Board member. If you would like to find out more about how you can support a chapter, contact the Advisory Board Chairman, House Board President or Coordinator of Chapter Support of the nearest chapter by accessing the chapter locator on the Fraternity website.
Submitting a Reference
Alumna members are natural sources of information about potential members whose aspirations exhibit the Kappa qualities of leadership, scholarship and friendship. It is the responsibility of alumnae to bring women who exemplify the ideals of the Fraternity to the attention of collegiate members by submitting a reference on the Kappa website. Chapter members shall have the responsibility of selecting members.
The Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation
For more than a century, Kappa Kappa Gamma has made remarkable contributions in philanthropy and advancement of higher education for women, providing services in ways the earliest chapters probably never imagined.

The Mission of the Foundation is:
To support the lifetime development of women through the funding of educational programs, financial assistance and the preservation of Kappa heritage.
The Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation was established in 1989 to serve as the nonprofit arm of the Fraternity. The Foundation raises dollars to support charitable and educational initiatives that empower inspired women.

How the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation Supports Members and Heritage:
• Grants: Help fund educational and leadership programming and events for Kappas and the community.
• History: The Foundation fundraises to preserve our heritage through digitization, archival resources and storytelling.
• Rose McGill Aid: For emergency assistance, medical assistance and ongoing assistance for collegians and alumnae. Associations and chapters can get involved through the Holiday Program.
• Scholarships
The Foundation’s philanthropic programs are possible because of the generous annual gifts of members, chapters and alumnae associations. To learn more about the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation, visit www.kappa.org/foundation.

Ways to Give
Tax-deductible donations to the Foundation strengthen all of Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Donations may be made by credit card on the Fraternity website or by check payable to:
Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation
P.O. Box 38
Columbus, OH 43216-0038.

Additional ways of supporting the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation are:
• Assisting in an association’s fundraising efforts.
• Signing up for your company’s matching gift program.
• Including Kappa in your estate plans and joining the Omega Society.
• Contributing to educational programs, scholarships, financial aid or heritage.
• Donating to the Annual Loyalty Fund, which supports the area of most critical need at the time of your gift.
• Offering to volunteer for the Foundation.

Questions may be directed to the Foundation office by calling toll-free 866-KKG-1870 or email [e-mail].

Welcome to alumna life in Kappa Kappa Gamma! Aspire to be an active Kappa and stay connected by keeping your information up to date with Fraternity Headquarters, paying your annual alumna dues and getting involved however you can. May this new chapter in your life be filled with great aspirations and adventure!