On June 22, I arrived in San Diego for Kappa Kappa Gamma’s 71st Biennial Convention completely oblivious to how much of an influence it would have on my life as a sorority woman.
I spent five days 1,000+ undergraduates and alumnae, learning valuable lessons that I could not keep for myself.
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1. We are part of something so much bigger than our own individual chapter.
During the Welcome Dinner on the very first night of the convention, there was a Parade of Flags in which every chapter’s delegate strutted the catwalk with their customized university/chapter flag in hand. In an instant, I realized just how many people all across the United States and Canada are part of an organization I hold so close to my heart.
Yet it was during closing ritual when we all came together, united by the same words and songs, that I realized we are all part of one giant sisterhood that extends so much further beyond our own colleges. It was a truly incredible realization to have.
2. You are never too old to make a ridiculously awesome “sorority” video.
The 2014-2016 Fraternity Council welcomed everyone to San Diego with a “Brady Bunch” type video.
3. Even though we are all part of the same organization, we still have a lot to learn from each other.
A woman from my chapter had the extreme pleasure of sitting with a few members from Delta Omicron at Iowa State at dinner one night. It was then she discovered that Delta Omicron frequently uses the Minerva Journal she gifted to their chapter.
Our chapter at Creighton consistently uses the Minerva Journal to enhance the bonds of sisterhood among our members. One sister will write a note to a member of the chapter who has had a positive impact on their life. They will then read that message at chapter, and the recipient of the letter will go and write about another member of the chapter who impacted her life.
At convention, Josie discovered that she had greatly influenced the lives of the women at Iowa State, and I realized that though we are part of the same organization, we each have individual traditions that we can share with others.
4. Wanting to stay involved in your sorority after college isn’t weird. In fact, it’s highly encouraged.
The very last session I attended was about how to become a Field Representative for Kappa. After having such an incredible meeting with our Leadership Consultant (LC), Alyssa, this spring, it was something that I heavily considered. My one worry was how it would affect my life plan.
I’m a journalism major and my dream is to work at a magazine, so part of me assumed that I couldn’t be an LC because I wasn’t an education major.
Little did I know that the traveling, problem-solving techniques and people skills learned as an LC could transfer to just about any type of job.
And even if I decide that the LC thing isn’t for me, there are still regional and local positions wherever I end up, that allow me to stay involved.
5. Our chapters all face the same kinds of problems.
Everyone wants to raise their GPA. It’s difficult to get people to show up to sisterhood events. Snapchat is an absolute nightmare. Yet the comfort is that no individual chapter council is facing these problems alone; every chapter struggles with the same types of things.
6. Eight salads in four days is too many salads.
Salad #16 !!! Love it! #KKGSanDiego pic.twitter.com/PeDlAXXsNn
— Meredith Scott (@MeredithScott16) June 26, 2016
7. You don’t have to be a movie star to wear a gorgeous dress.
You just have to aspire to be Beth Black, Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Fraternity President.
8. The gender bias in the workplace is often perpetuated by women.
Jessica Gendron Williams, CEO of Phired Up, claimed that she never really experienced gender biases until she became CEO, but when she experienced it, the hatred and harshness came from other women.
“Sorority women can show women how to lift each other up,” Williams said. “We are a part of the most important organization we can be a part of because you have a group of women rallying behind you.”
9. People join people, not organizations.
When Williams spoke, she addressed the changing faces of sororities,and one of her first points was addressing how ridiculous “values-based recruitment” is. Recruitment should be “values focused,” striving towards creating a “safe space for [women] to grow and learn and be surrounded by people who support [each other].”
10. Our founders did not gather in 1870 and decide to be average.
They decided to be great and to consistently improve, so when inviting new members into Kappa, we should constantly try to find women who are better than us. Those women will push us and help us better ourselves. When that happens, the result is women who are more empowered than they have ever been.
11. The faces of sororities are changing.
“I believe sorority will be less about what you look like and more about your character,” Williams said.
More about Philanthropy. Less about quotas and awards.
“Sorority will become a driving force in the world,” she said.
12. In-N-Out isn’t all it’s hyped up to be.
It’s more about the experience than the quality of food.
13. We must inspire women to change the world in bigger and better ways.
To do this, we must measure success by the number of lives changed.
This year, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) turned 50 years old. Since 1966, RIF has provided 412 million books to children in need.
Kappa Kappa Gamma, in their 12 years spent partnered with RIF, has donated $661,000 to the organization. RIF has used that money to purchase over 220,000 books, changing the lives of thousands of children across the country.
14. It’s not four years, it’s for life.
On our very first day in San Diego, the women from my chapter headed down to the Gaslamp District for lunch with our advisor. As we were getting off of the hotel shuttle to walk downtown, a group of women stopped us by shouting “Kappas!”
To our utter amazement, the women on the benches outside of our stop were 80-year-old Kappas from Sigma at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. There were not in San Diego for convention but were on their yearly summer getaway.
Every year, a handful of their pledge class meets in some part of the country for a vacation together. They’ve gone to places such Colorado, Florida and Massachusetts, and they just so happened to be in California during the biennial convention.
It was heartwarming and encouraging to see women so close 50+ years after college. The friendships you make in Kappa will stay with you for the rest of your life.
15. Sorority is a gift.
It is an honor and a privilege. It is a gift that pushes others to do great work in the world.
16. “There is no one more capable than a busy woman.” 一Punch Hutton
If there is something you want to do but you don’t think you have time for, “take it on,” Hutton said. “Don’t say you’re too busy. There aren’t enough hours in the day, but you’ll figure it out.”
You make time for what you want to make time for,” she said.
Go out and live a fulfilling life instead of sitting around and wasting free time because you’re too scared to be busy.
17. Sorority women go on to do incredible things.
Punch Hutton served as a deputy editor at “Vanity Fair.”
Donna Tartt won a Pulitzer Prize.
Gretchen Carlson is the anchor of “The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson” on Fox News Channel.
Beverly Eaves Perdue is the governor of North Carolina.
Being in a sorority does not make you less intelligent or less driven in life.
18. Sororities change the world.
During our Panhellenic Luncheon on Saturday, we watched a video about all of the amazing things sororities have done for their chosen charities. Together we have raised millions of dollars, donated thousands of books, built houses, changed lives and so much more.
19. “We’re Kappas, ladies. We can do it all.” 一Governor Beverly Eaves Perdue
20. No matter where life takes you, or how far away you wander, you'll always have a place to call home.
