Letter from the Executive Director

Dear Sisters and Friends of Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority,

I hope this letter finds you well and you and your loved ones healthy and safe. Fifty years ago in 1971, bell bottoms and polyester were all the rage, Richard Nixon was President, Disney World only just opened, the 26th Amendment passed lowering the voting age to 18, and gas cost $.40 per gallon. John Lennon, James Taylors, The Doors, The Who, and The Jackson 5 were some of the popular bands, while The Odd Couple, The Partridge Family, All My Children and Mary Taylor Moore were what was popular on television at the time. Something else significant also happened in 1971— our organization was born!

This year Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority celebrates our Golden Anniversary, 50 years (If you are reading this and the year you were born starts with the number 2 there is a chance your parents were not even born yet). A lot has changed in the fifty years since we were founded—face masks are part of our daily outfits thanks to a global pandemic, Kamala Harris is the first woman Vice President of the United States, Disney now owns 12 parks across the world, and gas costs $3.30 per gallon. Some of today’s biggest artists include Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, and Lady Gaga, we stream music on Spotify, we are binge watching shows like Tiger King, The Witcher, The Mandalorian, and Wandavision. Trends might have changed through the years but the one thing that has remained constant over the past fifty years is love that we all share for the sorority.

I joined Kappa Iota chapter ten years ago in the fall of 2011. I was initially drawn to the lifelong bonds and the work that they were doing in the community. I think that what drew most of us towards Kappa, the idea of being part of something bigger than ourselves. When I started this journey I had no idea where it would bring me, but I’m thankful for everything it has. It has brought me my best friends, future bridesmaids, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on and so much more. When I first joined the sorority I was quiet and willing to let others take the lead. Going through new member education helped me to find my voice as a leader, which I took with me through my time as an active member. Then joining the board I once again found myself in a position where it was not always comfortable speaking up, being new to the Board I was learning how this part of our organization operated, and it took time to just listen and learn. I think that is part of being a good leader—being able to listen and always wanting to learn more. And thinking of my mentors I’ve had in Kappa that are the two things they all have in common. I’m also really thankful for them having the belief in me and giving me small nudges to keep working on taking the next steps in my journey.

Becoming the head of the sorority has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in my Kappa journey thus far, and unfortunately one of those challenges is the disappointment of not being able to celebrate together in person for the second year in a row. I wish that we could be celebrating this milestone together in person, but that was just not in cards this year with the global pandemic still ongoing. This year’s convention is just one event on a long list of events and milestones that have had to be re-envisioned; graduations were anything but traditional, and weddings were shrunk or canceled. Although there is a sadness to the fact we can not safely gather together in person to celebrate fifty years of sisterhood, the Kappa Spirit burns on.

Anyone who knows me knows that I like numbers, so I want to take some time to go over some significant numbers of our organization. Throughout our fifty years

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