TO THE LONGEST BLOG EVER.... I THINK SO:)

What are the strenghts of your chapter and in what ways does your chapter need to improve?

Wow. I feel like this is a loaded question, but I do see a lot of positive attributes to Kappa Delta, and I am proud to be a Kappa Delta. However, I know our chapter is not perfect, and like everything in life, we all can improve. I think tonight is a good example when I was disappointed with the commitment of our chapter. Tonight, we had a sisterhood event with Alpha Xi Delta, and unfortunately, we had a poor turnout. I think we probably had 10-12 KDs at the event where as Alpha Xi Delta had about 20-25. Now, granted I did not literally count each individual at the event, but I feel that the ratio was 5-6 Alpha Xi Delta's to 1-2 Kds. So ok my math is a little off, but anyways to me this is discouraging.

From a chapter perspective, these are responses I believe would be expected:

1. We had dance team at the same time so X members were unable to attend. YET, how many women are on dance team? Probably 20-30. hmm still leaves about 70 plus members

2. X members had to study. True, we are at school to perform in the classroom, but what about time management. Did you sleep in today? or did you waste an two hours watching tv? The event was only 1 hour. You couldn't spare that. Maybe a study break...

3. Other obligations. Can't really argue that:)

But, lets look at the flip side....

How many members show up to an alcoholic event with a fraternity? How many members went to formal last weekend? How many more members were free to go out last Saturday night?

So what about this:

1. Maybe prioritized better and studied that Saturday night or studied more on Sunday? Now, granted who studies Saturday night? but, still i think it goes back to time management and prioritizing. We all can make time for things if we plan.

So how many women were at formal? probably >80% of our chapter. Granted big event and ton of fun but being a member of kd is more than just the social events involving alcohol. We made an Oath to uphold the values of our sorority. Below I have included our Creed to illustrate what we believe in:

Kappa Delta Creed

May We, Sisters in Kappa Delta, strive each day to seek more earnestly the honorable and beautiful things. May We each day through the love of those within our circle, Learn to know and understand better those without our circle. May the diamond shield that guards our love find us each day Truer, Wiser, More Faithful, More Loving, and More Noble.

So above illustrates what we believe in, and I think one thing to highlight is the part that says "May we each day through the love of those within our circle, Learn to know and understand better those without our circle"

Some people may read that and think hmm conceded? Kd has their own circle. but it is not meant like that it is about being committed to the women in our sorority and all kds and being so close and knowing what we stand for ourselves that then we can understand others better. So does that mean we do not understand ourselves? since we do not take the time to understand others?

I do think this incident is a concern for our chapter as another thing that makes me so mad is when people say they want to do certain events to win chapter of the year. UGH! It drives me nuts! We should strive to do things b/c we want to know others more and grow as individuals and as a chapter by better understanding others (hmm interesting how that is a reflection of our creed....) We should do things to grow as individuals--more service, more sisterhoods, more events and more activities about personal development. I truly believe that being apart of a sorority is about developing as an individual and becoming better individuals, better sisters/brothers. I also believe that sororities/fraternities provide this opportunity through the close relationships that we develop so that we can support each other and grow as individuals.

So I do believe that things need to change within Kd so that we can become a better sorority and change these weaknesses into strengths. I think this all goes back to Ritual we need to understand who we are and what we believe in so that then we can live our Ritual and teach others (our new members and other Greeks) and then expect it from others. I also know that I am not a perfect kappa delta and am not at every event!

LONG blog... maybe to long.. but keep going b/c I do love Kappa Delta, and the POSITIVE cannot be omitted.

1. I love Kappa Delta for the women that our in our chapter. Many of my best friends are Kappa Deltas, and they have made my college experience the best ever. These women will be my bridesmaids; they will be my best friends beyond our four year experience; they will be the ones I call when I get engaged, who I call when I am sad or excited; they are the ones I will go on trips with. They are not just my friends they are my SISTERS. and that is what Kappa Delta is to me it is my FAMILY away from HOME! When I think about being a senior, it makes me so sad b/c I live in my house and all i can think is how much I am going to miss my sisters next year. We are all going different directions, and it breaks my heart b/c I am going to miss our late night talks, girls nights out, just having a friend down the hall to get advice, friends to laugh with, cry with, become better people. It makes me cry b/c things are going to be different next year. Yes, we will all keep in contact and visit but it is just not the same. I cannot imagine not living with my best friend next year and not having the ability to just come home from class and not see her:(

2. Kappa Delta has helped me grow in all aspects of my life. I a better leader b/c of Kappa Delta. I have a PASSION for SERVICE b/c of Kappa Delta and being Greek. Kd provided me with opportunities that I would not have had had I not joined my sorority. I remember when I applied to be on our Exec Board to be PHA delegate, and I did not get the position, and all the seniors came up to me and personally sat me down and say we did NOT vote for you. I was first thinking well thanks good to know... but then they said we did not vote for you b/c we believe you can do more for the community. we think you should apply for PHA and with their encouragement and support I did. Where would I be if they had not done that? would i have applied for PHA? I really am not sure?

3. I am proud of many of my sisters. Their actions inspire me to be a better person, better leader, better sister. I can think of many selfless acts by my sisters, and it is the small things that make me think wow I am so glad you are my sister. I remember freshman year I did not have a ride to church in Worthington and my friend would always drive me! That's a sister!

4. One thing that KD prides itself on is SISTERHOOD, INVOLVEMENT, and ACADEMICS. My favorite of these is sisters, and I have really seen this this year. We are close, and I love how I close to the younger members and not just my pledge class. I love how we all can just sit downstairs together and have fun together.

Ok so before I write the longest blog ever I am going to go on to the next question! In short, yes, we can be better, and yes, I plan on saying something in chapter next week about how we need to reevaluate what we value and make sure we are being the best women we can be, but at the same time, I am going to say that I am proud to be a Kappa Delta b/c to me, KD is family!


What are the strenghts of your council and in what ways does your council need to change?

Strengths of our Council. Well, this kinda goes along with Tyler's blog about words. How do we really define Council? PHA as a whole? the representatives that come to PHA meetings? I think you all mean Panhellenic Association as a WHOLE b/c together we make up the COUNCIL.

So Strengths:

1. I think this is hard b/c i just see so many areas to improve, and b/c I do not feel that we are a COMMUNITY yet and that makes it hard to really know are strenghs b/c we do not know each other. I see strengths in individual chapters such as those that demonstrate their commitment to service and those that continually demonstrate success during recruitment. But, I guess this question is really hard for me b/c I feel like we really do not know each other well enough to know our strengths as a COUNCIL. yes, we meet the standards of excellence but do we just do that b/c it is a requirement? I am inclined to say yes....

So since I am struggling to define our community; maybe you do mean PHA as our exec board, directors, and delegates...

1. I think our strongest attribute is the trust and relationships that we have started to develop. I do feel that we are a really close council and I love that! I really think we talk every day together!

2. We are committed to change, and we have already started to demonstrate this by changing how councils operate.

3. We are passionate about the community. We care about the direction we are headed in, and we want to help our community grow as well as help the individuals within it grow.

WHERE DO WE NEED TO CHANGE:

1. We need to figure out how to engage the community. How can we get everyone excited about being apart of PHA and not just her individual chapter. This is a huge problem.

If we can help everyone understand that they are not just X chapter but apart of PHA then hopefully start to create more COLLABORATION among the chapters and promote positive change.

2. Though I think we are in the process of changing this, we need to develop our council so that we are promoting personal development among the women. How is what we are doing making them better individuals? better prepared for the future? how are we making them aware of our values and how are we holding them accountable?

3. More ORGANIZED and better PLANNERS. we are working on this too, but how do we get people to meet deadlines each time. Follow-up is key but this is still a working progress...

What are the strenghs of our community and in what ways does our community need to change?

Community Strengths:

1. We have 4 strong councils this year and I believe this is the perfect foundation to strengthen our community

2. Strong Brother/Sisterhood; unfortunately this is a weakness too as we need to extend this to outside Chapter letters

3. We are value-based; again a weakness, we need to start PRACTICING these values DAILY!!

4. We are PROUD. I think people wear their letters so much b/c they love their organization. Again, we need to help them start loving the COMMUNITY and not just their CHAPTER. However, it is a STRENGTH to be apart of an organization you love!

5. We all took an OATH to our organization, and our commitment is for lifetime. This distinguishes us from other organizations...

WHERE TO CHANGE:

Slightly mentioned above, but again...

1. We are value-based lets start living it!!!

2. We are a community not just chapters; we need to collaborate and get to know each other better. We need to stop stereotyping and start supporting each other!

3. ALCOHOL! We need to stop making this the focal point and instead be more responsible and hold others accountable

4. HAZING! breaking people down to build them up... THAT IS THE WORST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD! that is not how it works! we should be helping our members GROW and become better people through providing them with opportunities to grow and supporting them!

So i know that is long, but i think those are some loaded questions and there is a lot to say about them!