Kappa Quill Spring 2023

T b C te t

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Mis o S ate e

The purpose of Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority, Inc. shall be to promote academic achievement, to encourage community involvement through philanthropy, and to cultivate the everlasting bonds of sisterhood. We shall fortify the values of leadership, generosity, charity, and integrity within our sisters through guidance at both the chapter and national level.

N tio a F nde

Pat Ouellette

Angie Parker

Kathy Luciano

Dee Tzovarras

Tricia Crosby

Laurie Beckwith

Joanne Lobozzo

Becky Ritter

Joyce Welch

Renie Mountain

Bridgett Burtchell

Bonnie Griener

Nancee Brearly

Debbie Therriauly

Barbie Richard

Eileen Coombs

Karen Kulikowski

Kathi Gleason

Jan Spaulding

Sharon Soles

Sue Caron

Leslie Vartabedian

Mimi McBride

Me i & Mate ial C mi e

Editors: Lauren Porter and Robyn Sarette

Designer: Christina Rose

Social Media: Robyn Sarette

Webmaster: Allesyn Wesner

Letters from the Executive Directors D

I want you to close your eyes and envision how the media portrays sororities in movies and TV shows. What comes to mind? Is it ditzy, halfbrained, pretty girls that party a little too much, and have pillow fights? We all know that these portrayals of sorority life are not an accurate depiction of what being in a sorority is like. What the movies and shows do not show the world, is that being a part of a sorority is an empowering experience. Sororities provide us a space for like minded individuals to gather, share ideas, and improve communities. Sororities allow us to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.

I want you to close your eyes again for me and I want you to focus on Kappa. What comes to mind? Is it philanthropy? Service hours? Friendship? Traditions? For me it is the intangibles that come to my mind when I reflect on my time in Kappa. The friendships that I’ve developed are so much more than just the standard friendships I have in other aspects of my life. My sisters are not only my best friends, they are also my biggest cheerleaders. Their constant support and encouragement that they supply me with gives me the confidence to keep pushing myself to excel in my career, personal, and sorority life.

Prior to joining Kappa I was very reserved and not likely to advocate for my needs whether it was in my career or personal relationships and just suck it up if something was bothering me or not meeting my needs. After joining Kappa I found myself contributing more in group settings because I had gained the confidence that my ideas were worthwhile and that people wanted to hear what I had to say. Kappa is the first place I had where I could present my thoughts and contribute to productive problem solving where I did not have to be worried about being interrupted by a male counterpart or not being taken seriously because of my looks or assumed skill sets. The empowerment I found from Kappa extends beyond the professional realm. I gained the confidence to be vulnerable with my emotions and to share who I truly am with my sisters.

So how do we continue to make sure Kappa and sororities as a whole continue to provide an empowering space? Personally, I think it starts with continuing to perpetuate our ideals, particularly kindness. Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Environments where we are considerate of others feelings and stories we create room for them to grow and develop confidence of their own. Kindness provides us the space to be ourselves without fear of judgment and allows us to develop our ideas. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes about kindness from Ralph Waldo Emerson “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”

In Kappa,

Amanda Roberge Co-Executive Director

One of the things that I appreciate most about Kappa is that my sisters have always been supportive of me and the things that I do. My sisters lift me up and encourage me. They remind me that I am capable of so much more than I think I am. When I first joined the Board I was greeted warmly by my fellow Board members. I looked to the more senior members for guidance and support. They encouraged me to speak up and share my thoughts during meetings. They acknowledged the work that I did and made me feel valued. They lifted me up when I struggled to believe in myself.

Over the last few years I watched my sisters do so many incredible things. Some of my sisters have started new jobs, others have gone to graduate school, and some have grown their families. They are accomplished and hard working. They remind me that women are capable of doing anything that they put their minds to.

In 2021, I entered the field of social work and quickly fell in love with it. I started a brand new career and my colleagues encouraged me to go back to school. Each day I get to help people. Most days the job is difficult, but some days are filled with smiles, laughs, and so much hope for the future. That is what motivates me to work hard and do my homework, even when I’m tired or would rather watch the latest episode of the Real Housewives.

During difficult times my sisters are there and they brighten my day with words of encouragement, corny jokes, pictures of their pets, or Taylor Swift memes. They remind me to be as kind to myself as I am to others. They empower me to be the best me that I can be. That is the true power of Kappa and sororities in general, they empower women because they give us a network of like-minded individuals who build each other up and want to see each other succeed. And for that I am eternally grateful. MTSND.

In Kappa, Courtney Stevens Co-Executive Director

Letter from the President

H l S s e !

As I have recently passed my 10th year of becoming a sister of Kappa Delta Phi NAS, I have been able to think of the impact of Kappa on my life. I know in my heart that I would not be the person I am today without this organization. In thinking of the theme of this year's Kappa Quill, empowerment, I know Kappa has empowered me into the women I am today.

Throughout my experiences in Kappa in different leadership roles, I was encouraged to grow and find empowerment in my voice and my ideas. When we joined this organization, we were all working toward making our chapter the best it can be. As I took on more responsibility, the sisters in my chapter helped encourage my voice. They supported my ideas, and gave me the confidence to take on even more leadership roles. This would eventually allow me to give back to those finding their voice in the chapter as well. By finding empowerment in ourselves, we are allowed to empower others around us.

Now in my career as a teacher, I allow my students to feel empowered in their voice. They are allowed to talk to me about what is happening in the world and in their everyday life. My students use information to have discussions with their peers, but they are never allowed to diminish the ideas of others if they do not agree. By doing this, they grow empowered in having challenging conversations, but be empathetic to the people around them. A balance of confidence and empathy are needed to be an empowered leader.

As President, I want everyone to find their voice and know that they are supported by the leadership of this board. New ideas are out there, and as future leaders of this organization it is imperative that you are empowered to find and share those ideas. You need to empower the other members of your own chapter as well as the other chapters of this organization. As a National Organization, we should constantly be working towards this goal. I know that you all have the capacity to help us achieve this, and I cannot wait to see how you will make a difference.

In Kappa,

Marysa Mitrano-Zuber National President

2022-2023 Meeting� Re��� Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) Annual Meeting

By Amanda Roberge, Co-Executive Director

December 2022 saw Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority’s return to attending in person the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) Annual Meeting. AFA provides our board members the opportunity to network with other Greek Life organizations, schools that host our chapters, and potential expansion schools. Due to budget constraints this year from the residual impact of the pandemic we were only able to send two board members. This year myself and fellow Co-Executive Director Courtney Stevens attended AFA which took place Wednesday November 30th to Saturday December 3rd at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor Maryland.

In addition to networking with other headquarters staff we were able to connect with a number of our schools that were also in attendance. Over the course of the conference we attended over 15 educational sessions. There were two main themes of the educational sessions they were hazing prevention, and diversity, equity, inclusion, & accessibility.

One of my favorite sessions was “Negotiating Femininity - Lesbian, Queer, & Bisexual Woman Navigating Gender sexuality and identities in Sororities'' by Pietro A Sasso & Kimberly R Davis which a session that presented research findings on the motivation of why Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer women join sororities and the types of struggles faced in a sorority while navigating their sexuality. During this session we got to hear the stories of a number of women who participated in the study. My other favorite session was “Enough Already! Understanding the Impact of Unrecognized Organization Trauma” by Tara Fuller. In this session we learned about how unhealed trauma in an organization can perpetuate trauma to continue within the organization. Additionally we learned how our own traumas can feed into organizational trauma.

Courtney’s favorite session was “Everything is NOT a Workshop: Creating Meaningful Educational Opportunities on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” by Nicki Joiner and Lindsy Perry. This session helped participants reframe how we think about and conceptualize Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI). It discussed the importance of looking inward and assessing your own biases as well as the importance of integrating these concepts into all aspects of operation, not just DEI workshops or blog posts.

When our conference days were over we did our best to take in as many sites and history in our nation’s capital at night. We fit in many of the Smithsonian museums and national monuments. We both agreed that visiting the United States Holocaust Museum was the moving part of our trip.

2022-2023 Meeting� Re���

Northeast Greek Leadership Association (NGLA)

NGLA was a fun, educational, and overall wonderful experience to say the least! It truly opened my eyes to a world of new information within Greek Life and I am so excited to be able to share everything within my chapter and with the national organization as a whole!

There were many different education blocks you could attend, looking at many different subjects such as becoming a leader, DEI information, how to strengthen sisterhood, and even some information regarding different forms of Greek Councils. One that I attended emphasized the importance of having a sense of belonging and how authentic connection between sisters is what makes an organization so strong. The speaker gave us some great ideas to continue to make connections with each other such as interest groups or study sessions among majors. These are great ideas to get different members of our chapter together that may otherwise not get to know each other.

Another session I attended was all about equity and how we can actually make our organization more inclusive and

This year, I was fortunate enough to be picked as the Kappa Lambda representative for NGLA, and this opportunity was everything to me.

From the beginning, I immediately became more bonded with sisters within the Kappa community as they picked me up from the airport and communicated with me beforehand. We attended keynote meetings that discussed mental health, motivation within a chapter, conflict resolution, and more! What I found most valuable from NGLA was their session about leadership and how to lead authentically. This speaker taught me that being a leader is about creating your own path in your position and not following in the footsteps of others.

equitable for all members, without just making performative acts for the sake of being “diverse.” This was a great talk to attend as we all strive to make our spaces feel as inclusive and welcoming as possible but we want to make sure we are making meaningful changes that will make a difference.

One last topic I attended was about COB recruitment which is something our chapter does not currently do! It was so interesting to get more information on a recruitment topic I am not as well educated on. UMass Lowell does not have a formal recruitment process so it was very cool to see how we could implement different aspects of COB into the way we currently handle our recruitment process. There was so much I learned, and a paragraph could simply not suffice to explain all of the amazing things I experienced while attending NGLA. I am so grateful for the opportunity to attend and can’t wait to see what kind of positive changes will come into our national organization from this experience!

—Makayla Hoffman

Meeting other organizations outside of Kappa Delta Phi NAS was also an excellent opportunity. We were able to bounce ideas off one another, and I will bring these back to my chapter. Bonding was a large part of NGLA, and we were able to have dinners with one another, and Kappa chapters were able to talk about how excited we were for Convention and Summer Leadership Retreat.

Overall, this experience is one I will never forget, and I will take the skills I learned with me in future leadership positions and in my position as President of Kappa Lambda.

—Madison Phillips

The Northeast Greek Leadership Association was an amazing experience. There were a multitude of amazing speakers and topics being discussed, it was incredibly diffi cult to chose which topic to attend. The first discussion I attended was how to create and accomplish goals as a woman in a position of power. Erica Music taught us the power of being pretty in P.I.N.K. We learned how to persevere, to have integrity, to network, and to have knowledge. Erica Music taught me, if I want change in my life I must make it happen. I learned how to let go of my ego to get the same result regardless of the path I may take. My thoughts of what constituted a “safe space” were conflicted with the talk about performative activism and how education leads to accountability. There is no way safety can be guaranteed during and after talks about controversial conversations. However, this does

not mean we should not have them. We should invite people to have these conversations with bravery and to create a brave space. Mental health in teens and young adults is a common struggle, especially in a large community such as Greek life. Learning how the community could help one another through these struggles gave an amazing insight into the potential of our community. This can start with creating a safer environment through conversation and mindset is how to combat poor body talk.

NGLA was the most educational and pleasurable experience I have ever had in my life. Meeting different organizations and talking with sisters of different chapters will always remind me that sisterhood does not just stop at Kappa Delta Phi NAS, but branches through every sorority.

—Sofia Viviani

This year I got to be the chaperone for NGLA, which was hosted in Pittsburgh, PA. The main focus for this year’s conference was about how to rebuild our chapters and make them strong. There were sessions on recruitment and how to use new technologies to connect each other. The three actives who attended this year, Sofia, Makayla, and Madison have a very strong devotion to making their chapters the best they can be. It was great learning how they are leading their chapters and how they want to become better leaders. From my time with them and the conference I learned that great things happen when we reconnect with each other. The connections are what bring us tougher and what makes Greek Life great.

—Nicole Hallahan, Associate Board

To learn more about the Northeast Greek Leadership Association, visit ngla.org

Makayla Hoffman, Kappa Upsilon

Madison Phillips, Kappa Lambda

Sofia Viviani, Kappa Upsilon

Hayley Condrack, Kappa Alpha Iota

Jaelynn Laudenbach, Kappa Chi

Kristen Maniaci, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Maia Manigault, Kappa Alpha Iota

Jess Pehush, Kappa Alpha Nu

Taylor Sajecki, Kappa Alpha Omicron

Elysa Salgado, Kappa Alpha Omicron

Chloe Wieleba, Kappa Sigma

Sp in 2023

Ashley Aguilar, Kappa Alpha Xi

Jennifer Araneo, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Kasey Arnold, Kappa Sigma

Adryana Campusano, Kappa Alpha Nu

Yuna Chi, Kappa Alpha Nu

Dana Coffey, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Kaelyn Correia, Kappa Alpha Nu

Olivia Faenza, Kappa Alpha Iota

Susan Fernadez, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Emilie Fiore, Kappa Chi

Jamie Flanagan, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Kileen Forte, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Noelle Forte, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Amanda Giladi, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Breanny Guerrero, Kappa Upsilon

Karolyn Ho, Kappa Upsilon

Melissa Iannucci, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Arianna Ingraffia, Kappa Alpha Nu

Isabella LaForte, Kappa Alpha Nu

Kathleen Landry, Kappa Chi

Madison Laughman, Kappa Alpha Iota

Mary Lewis, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Delia Lopez, Kappa Alpha Nu

Taylor Lupis, Kappa Alpha Nu

Grace McIlhenny, Kappa Alpha Iota

Jordyn Mckinnon, Kappa Chi

Jillian Meyers, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Felicia Molina, Kappa Alpha Iota

Gabrielle Montalbano, Kappa Alpha Omicron

Kayla Nicholson, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Felisha Olmstead, Kappa Lambda

Reghan Pakrad, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Olivia Parkin, Kappa Alpha Nu

Juliana Plimley, Kappa Alpha Nu

Alyson Ratcliffe, Kappa Alpha Xi

Kaitlyn Reil, Kappa Omicron

Claire Riis, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Hannah Robitaille, Kappa Chi

Lauren Searle, Kappa Alpha X

Kaitlin Shanley, Kappa Alpha Iota

Haley Starzec, Kappa Alpha Nu

Shania St. Hilaire, Kappa Alpha Nu

Alexis Suarez, Kappa Alpha Nu

Kelly Talty, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Olivia Waszczak, Kappa Alpha Nu

Barbara Watterson, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Drew Zuckerman, Kappa Alpha Gamma

Join the National Board of Directors

W a e n As at B r Me

By Nicole Ransden, Vice President of Administration

After dedicating your time and energy to Kappa for four years, you may find yourself suddenly wondering “now what?” As you approach graduation, you may feel a sort of hole in your life where Kappa has been. You get a new job, or maybe you apply to grad school, or even take some time off to figure out what you want to do next. Everything is shifting and you may find yourself unsure of what to do with some of your new free time. While there are many different things that you could take on, few will fill that Kappa sized void. That’s where the associate board comes in!

What is the Associate Board?

The associate board is a group of Kappa alumnae who have chosen to continue their dedication to Kappa by volunteering for the national board. Associate board members apply and are appointed to 1 year terms, and they may apply for renewal each consecutive year.

What does the Associate Board do?

All kinds of things! The associate board supports the national executive board and the active membership by serving on committees, working as a chapter consultant, and taking on a support role like recording secretary or assistant

What is committee work?

The national board currently has 8 active committees: awards, media and marketing, merchandise, philanthropy, internal materials, expansion, meetings, and women’s issues. Committees are comprised of a committee chair or co-chairs, who oversee and coordinate the projects and tasks of the committee, and committee members who help support various tasks throughout the year. Associate board members are able to serve as committee chairs or committee members!

What does being a Chapter Consultant entail?

Chapter consultants are responsible for maintaining an open line of communication with the active chapter that they are assigned to. You are there to support them in anything they may need. From filling out treasurer forms, to working on their new member education program, or brainstorming fundraising ideas, you are their first and most important resource from the national board. You will visit the chapter each semester to sit in on chapter meetings and collaborate with school officials.

Do I have to do all of these things?

Not at all! You may choose to take on as few or as many roles as you can handle. Each associate board member is asked to serve on at least one committee or work as a chapter consultant for at least one chapter. Beyond that, you are welcomed and encouraged to volunteer wherever you can.

What are other responsibilities of an Associate Board member?

Aside from chapter consulting and/or committee work, you will be responsible for attending at least half of the national meetings each year (Convention, Spring Board, Summer Leadership Retreat, and Fall Board). You are also asked to attend bi-monthly zoom meetings with the entire board and are encouraged to share your ideas and opinions about topics discussed.

I learn more?

The Vice President of Administration, or VPA, oversees all associate board members. You are welcome and encouraged to reach out to her with any and all questions you may have at VPA@kappadeltaphinas.org.

I am interested in being a part of the Associate Board, but I’m still not quite sure if I am ready to commit. Where can

Join the National Board of Directors

You can also talk to any of our associate board members, past and present, and ask them to share their experiences with you. If you’re not sure where to start, your chapter consultant is also a great resource.

Okay, I am ready to be a part of the Associate Board! How do I join?

Associate board applications can be found on our website at kappadeltaphinas.org. Click on the link to fill out an application, which will give us an idea of what you are interested in and why you want to be a part of the board. Once submitted, your application will be brought to the National Executive Board where we will discuss and vote to approve or deny your application. After your acceptance, you receive your formal acceptance email from the VPA welcoming you to the board and giving you all the details you’ll need to get started. Your term is good for one school year (June-May), but you may re-apply each spring if you choose. Starting for the first time this spring, we will be accepting applications on a rolling basis, with applications being reviewed and voted on bi-monthly.

Being a part of the associate board can be a fun and rewarding way to keep your Kappa flame alive long after you graduate. The board is always looking for new ideas and perspectives from sisters across all chapters to help us continue to make our sorority the best it can be! Joining the associate board was the best decision I made after graduation, and it led to me eventually running for (and winning) a voting board position. I have continued to grow, network, and lead over the past four years on the board, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to give back to the organization that gave so much to me as an undergrad. I hope to have you join us next year!

W a o o b n h atio a r ?

I'm able to keep living out and promoting the values we hold within Kappa, and I find great meaning and purpose in supporting our undergraduate active members as they grow as individuals and make a di erence in our community.

—Laure P te

W a e dv c e e h r ?

W i n h s at r ?

I joined the associate board because I wanted to help out with the chapters since they were a huge part of my college experience. I also wanted to help make sure that the voices of the active members were being heard more because as an active member I did not feel like I was being heard.

—N c H llaha

W a o o b n h atio a r ?

Advice to someone just joining the national board is to follow where your passion is because that is ultimately going to be your driver for what you can accomplish. It's okay to make a smaller contribution and do it well than to overwhelm yourself!

—C ris Ry

I love being a chapter consultant! I really enjoy working with the active sisters and getting to travel to unique places!

W a o o b n h atio a r ?

The people that I have met (both active and on the board)! Some of the women that give back on the board are the kindest, funniest people I know.

—Mary Mitran

W a e dv c e e h r ?

I didn’t join the board right after I graduated and that is okay! Kappa will always be there for you even if you need to step back and focus on yourself for a few years.

—Ro S re

W i n h s at r ?

I wanted to join the associate board to continue giving back to an organization that has provided me with life long friends, memories, and opportunities.

—Alle W e

W a e dv c e e h r ?

Be curious and ask questions. Also don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and make new friends.

—Amand Ro

W i n h s at r ?

I joined the associate board to support my own chapter. At the time, there were a few things that needed to be worked out. I ended up falling in love with helping the chapters And it went from there.

—Andre

McKe

W a o o b n h atio a r ?

I have learned and grown so much in the short time I have been on the board. I love being able to be a part of running and bettering our organization, as well as being able to be a support to our active membership. I really love working with all of the amazing members we have on the board.

—J y e (H ndle ) McKe z

W a e dv c e e h r ?

I would advise to be yourself and be open to new things and never be afraid to voice how you feel, because someone else might be feeling the same way too.

—H le S lliv

—An ic Mas

Board Committee Updates

Meetings

We are happy about hosting a full year of in-person events! We have revamped the Convention schedule in hopes that it will make the weekend more enjoyable for all members attending. We cannot wait to be hosting Summer Leadership Retreat at MCLA this upcoming August.

Chairs: Marysa Mitrano, Nicole Ransden

Internal Materials

The internal materials committee is working hard to go over all of documents to ensure uniform language. We are also currently working on a statement of commitment to put on our website. Our goals this semester include ensuring language consistency, grammatical updates, and making bigger goals for the upcoming year. We are making sure we as a board are providing a clear understanding of the ideals of Kappa sisters!

Chair: Rebecca Fransman

Awards

We are excited to see all of the chapters that will be applying for awards! We added a new service award to start recognizing individuals that achieve specific hours in all the philanthropic events they do.

Chair: Marysa Mitrano

Media and Marketing

The media and marketing committee has been very hard at work! We are continually seeking content for the Kappa Quill and social media. We love promoting our chapters on social media and seeing what our active membership is up to. We will be looking to revamp the website in the coming year and are searching for a new graphic designer for the board. If you are interested in helping out, please reach out to editor@kappadeltaphi nas.org. Our group is small but strong and we would love to see what skills you could bring to our committee.

Chair: Robyn Sarette | Webmaster: Allesyn Wesner

Social Media: Robyn Sarette, Rebecca Fransman

Kappa Quill: Lauren Porter, Christina Rose, Robyn Sarette

Women's Issues

The committee is working on adjustments to the activities and plans to make it better support women's issues while promoting diversity and inclusion. This includes philanthropy partnerships, outreach, blog/social media posts about current events, and many more ideas.

Chairs: Nicole Hallahan, Lily Gibbons

Merchandise

The merchandise committee has been busy with lots of behind-the-scenes work this year. We are preparing to roll out an online platform with on-demand ordering abilities, so no more waiting for Convention or for the pop-up store to open! We would like to have things up and running next school year. In the meantime, we still have lots of great merch for you to purchase, so stop by our table at Convention!

Chairs: Christina Rose, Nicole Ransden

Expansion

We are working on updating our expansion processes and documents so if an opportunity arises for expansion that we are prepared.

Chair: Courtney Stevens

National Philanthropy

The philanthropy committee has been focusing on supporting our chapters in planning a variety of events, including campus walks and other fundraisers for AFSP, volunteer events, and mental health awareness activities. We established new service hour parameters as the first step in the roll-out of the multi-tiered individual service award which we will present for the first time at Convention 2023. We continued to raise awareness around important mental health topics at a national level utilizing social media and the blog as platforms. At Convention, we will host another AFSP workshop around suicide prevention and have lots of materials available for actives. We’re so excited about our permanent partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the future of this relationship!

Chair: Lauren Porter

"There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish."

—Michelle Obama

H Kap p ?

Kappa empowers me by allowing me to always be myself and never apologize for who I am. Throughout my many years as a Kappa sister, I have always felt like I belonged here. From the beginning, I was drawn towards Kappa, and never doubted my place in it. I have always felt empowered by Kappa because I was always in a place where I felt welcomed and where I belonged. Every story, every moment shared, and every conversation I have had with my sisters allows me to see how strong and how amazing every sister is and it empowers me to do the same. The dedication from each kappa interaction empowers me to be a better sister and a better person.

It can always be difficult to remain confident in yourself. Self doubt takes us captive and our feeling of empowerment and confidence over anything can be quickly evaporated. Over the years, Kappa has brought me that confidence that I need. It was brought to me by my sisters. The actions of my sisters are the empowerment that I need to set new goals and challenge myself to do more with myself. Anytime that I have self doubt or feel run down and lost, the sisters of kappa bring me back. The close knit and empowering environment that kappa gave me, and has given so many others is indescribable. Just knowing that my sisters are not far away when I need them gives me the confidence and empowerment to take on anything. Kappas really can be powerful in numbers, because anytime I am with my sisters I can accomplish anything.

—Haley Sullivan, Associate Board Member

To be a leader in all ways possible!

Kappa and my sisters give me the confidence to dream big knowing my sisters have my back.

To know it can be fun to make new friends.

By facilitating conversations between incredible women.

To be the best version of me. I’ve made amazing friendships and am a leader in my community.

Encouraging self advocacy!

Kappa allowed me to work with multiple personalities and value each other for it.

Surrounded me with sisters who make me feel phenomenal by just being myself.

Introduced me to life changing people.

Being able to see the strong beautiful women that came before me.

To view things from a new perspective.

By reminding me to always better myself! When women want and help other women to succeed… that’s empowering af!

To be brave!

By encouraging me to give back to my community!

Through leadership and professional growth opportunities.

Inte natio a W e ' D

By Isabella Murphy, Associate Board Member

March 8th

International Women’s Day, March 8th, was created to recognize and celebrate women’s achievements across the globe despite the obstacles they face. It was first recognized by the United Nations in 1977. The first ever International Women’s Day was celebrated on February 28th, 1909, in honor of the 1908 garment worker’s strike in New York against poor working conditions.

On March 8th, 1908, approximately 15,000 women came out to protest in the streets of New York so they could have better pay, shorter hours, and voting rights. On June 4th, 1919 then ratified on August 18th, 1920, white women were granted the right to vote in the United States. Despite this success, it would still be almost 50 years later until all black women gained the right to vote. States enacted hurdles and obstacles for women, but especially black women, that would make it far more difficult to vote than men. In Georgia, they made it so you were required to be registered to vote at least six months in advance, which effectively stopped all women from voting in 1920.

Why do we still celebrate International Women’s Day?

Statistically 1 out of every 3 women is likely to experience violence in her lifetime. This number can increase depending on sexuality, race, gender identity, and where you live, as well as other factors. In the United States, only approximately 38% of management positions are held by women, and the wage gap is still ever present. It is estimated that it will take 132 years to close the gender pay gap. It wasn’t until 1974 that women in the United States could open a bank account, and yet there are still 72 countries in which women cannot have their own. It was only in 2021 that a woman, Kamala Harris, was elected as Vice President of the United States. Despite how far we’ve come, there is so much work to be done for women’s equality.

What can I do to help women’s equality?

We can all help women by speaking up against misogyny in all its forms. Speaking up can include going to rallies, amplifying other women’s voices when possible, and engaging directly against misogyny when we see it. Another way to help is to provide funding to causes devoted to women, whether it is to protect them against violence, fund their chance to get education, or to get them the necessary supplies to live. Empowering women can even just start in your everyday life by supporting the women around you.

E p me ro g Pre anc n B

By Andrea McKevitt, Vice President of Membership

At some point in your life, you might find yourself in a situation where you are pregnant, your partner is pregnant, sister, best friend, you get the jist. And you might be asking yourself where do I go from here. Well have no fear, here are some tips that helped me feel empowered during my pregnancy with my daughter.

The first that I was unaware of because no one tells you is, even when you see those two lines or the words pregnant on a test, your daughter will not want to see you until you hit 8 weeks gestation. The reasoning behind this is our technology is not powerful enough yet to detect a baby on an ultrasound machine, so bringing you in before 8 weeks wouldn’t allow you or your doctor to see your tiny human, causing more stress. What the doctors don’t realize is that, coming in at 8 weeks and not a moment before most certainly does cause stress. How can you take this moment back? Enjoy it. Take a breath, you are pregnant and potentially at this moment just you and your partner know. It’s your very own secret, the time will come when you can no longer hide your pregnancy. We aren’t Kylie Jenner, it will eventually come out! That wait of 8 weeks is almost as painful as the 2 week wait. But what you can do is start looking into various things about giving birth and what choices you do have.

So many choices, so little time. Everyone says you are pregnant for 9 months, but in reality it’s 10. And it seems like FOREVER, but the truth is, those 40 weeks fly by.

During that time, you will be tired, happy, sad, motivated, nesting and everything else in between. But a sure fire way to feel empowered during your pregnancy is to know your choices. There are more that you think that you will have to make. Let’s start with your doctor. One of the main things I did was research the c-section percentage for my Doctor. For me this was an area of concern, although I do not personally feel that it matters how you bring your baby into the world, for me, a major surgery was out of the picture, there are various reasons but the most important being the amount of time it takes my body to heal from surgeries. Once I was informed of this percentage I felt more confident in making an appointment with the doctor I picked. You can ALWAYS leave your doctor during pregnancy and find another, just know this can be a very long process but NEVER feel like you don’t have a choice. You do. The next choice you are going to have to make is whether or not you will do ALL of the genetic testing. In my case, because I was getting to be into my mid thirties, they do recommend completing the testing. Have a conversation with your significant other about these tests. For many, if the test reveals a medical complexity or a potential for an intellectual disability there are more choices to be made and more research to do. These conversations should happen before, so you are both informed on what may be to come.

The next choice you will have is to complete the glucose test. Many people do not feel this is in the plan

for them. There are other options, I did not do as much research on the glucose test, because I did not know there was a choice, until after my daughter was born. Here is one time where I wish I was more empowered to take back my own pregnancy. I did, however, participate in the glucose test and luckily all was well.

Through your pregnancy you are going to be faced with decisions that will need to be made, cervical checks, blood work, ultrasounds, hospital vs home birth, doctor vs midwife, pain medication vs no medication, natural vs c-section (some individuals have a choice). All of these decisions will lead to other decisions. Do your research, take back your pregnancy at any point if you do not feel people are listening to you. Feeling empowered during pregnancy is about knowing what you can control and what you can’t. And taking what you can control and making it your own.

Another way to feel empowered during this time is to create a birth plan and clearly communicate your wishes with your significant other and your doctor. I did not write mine down, I did however tell my husband, mother and doctor what I would like and how I felt about certain things. My doctor and husband were aware that I wanted to labor as long as possible without medication and in the ways that I wanted to and felt comfortable. COVID did take some of that from me, but not enough that I didn’t feel in control on the day that my daughter was born. Would I do things differently if we were to have a second baby? Absolutely, while in triage I made the choice to get IV pain medication, I will not be making that choice again. When I did my initial research, this was an option I came across to help get some sleep, for me it actually created more anxiety. My husband was NOT ALLOWED in triage (due to COVID), and I was afraid that I would progress too quickly and he would not make it back in time. Ultimately, my

decision did play out, because I was able to get some sleep and I did not progress during that time.

The biggest decision that many people face during this time is epidural or no epidural. This is where being informed is a must. Many hospitals now will offer an epidural, but did you know you can request the amount of medication to be less to just “take the edge off ” or to just allow for minimal pain relief? Many hospitals have what I have found to be called “Walking epidurals”, this is where you are still given the medication but you have the ability to still move your lower extremities, this allows for more movement during your laboring process. Some hospitals are now offering the use of nitrous oxide to patients as well. In order to make an informed decision you have to do your research. With each form of medication there are risks. Having a totally unmedicated birth is also an option, and doing research on what tools you will use during this time will help you feel in control and more empowered.

During my labor, my choices were simple, allowing my husband and I to do our thing. I will let you know when we need support. I did make the choice to get an epidural, and the main part of this choice was my daughter was sitting so low, that during every contraction she was pushing on a nerve causing numbness down my right side, this meant that I was already a fall risk and I would be closely monitored. By getting an epidural, my body was able to relax enough and I was able to progress. Now for many people, an epidural can slow down labor, each person is different, that’s why research is so important. Due to my family history of quick births, I was not worried about stalling out my labor. For me, the initial timeline of four hours was enough epidural for me to progress and have my daughter. I did not “push the button” to release more meds and ended up delivering my daughter with full motion and feeling back. While again this was the choice I made, it does not work for everyone. You need to be able to speak up and speak out while you are in labor. Having a conversation with your support system ahead of time is crucial. Your partner knowing and understanding your wishes is incredibly important, they are your advocate if you need something. This can be a heavy conversation for many but it needs to be done.

I know that this article does not give you specific ways to feel empowered during your pregnancy and during your birth, but that’s the thing about empowerment, it starts with you. What do you want your experience to look like and take control of? Do you want to have a homebirth? Okay, let’s research the laws in your areas (yes some states have laws that you need to follow), find a midwife and start to prepare. Do you prefer to have a hospital birth at a center that is more holistic minded? Do you want to use acupuncture as a pain relief option? It’s your birthing process, and your choice. Don’t be afraid to say no, and don’t be afraid to say what you want. Now postpartum empowerment, I will report on that once my child allows me to have full access to my brain again.

S p o . S p Kap .

A Thousand Suns Photography

Photography

Lindsey Morrissey, Kappa Lambda lindsey.morrissey4@gmail.com

Bass River Kayaks & Paddle Boards

Water Activity Rentals

Ashley Smith, Kappa Sigma capecodkayaking.com

Care of Sarah Small Business Tech Consulting

Sarah Flagg, Kappa Iota

Instagram: @careofsarah

Coolidge Family Farm

Maine Wedding & Event Venue

Misty Lee Coolidge, Kappa Lambda coolidgefamilyfarm.com

Creating Action Initiative

Social Justice Initiative Consulting

Sarah Bujno, Kappa Iota sarah@creatingaction.org

CSW Officiant & Consultant Wedding Officiant

Christine Schaffer, Kappa Upsilon Instagram: @cswofficiant

Dear Jenna Photography Photography

Jenna McFarland, Kappa Iota dearjennaphotography@gmail.com

Ella Envisions

Paintings

Ella Suters, KO

Instagram & Etsy: @ellaenvisions

Geriatric Resources, LLC

Geriatric Care Management & Referrals

Crystal Littlejohn, Kappa Sigma geriatricresourcesaz.com

Granite State Creative

Social Media Marketing & Custom Art

Becca Morse Colavito, Kappa Sigma granitestatecreative@yahoo.com

Haus of Poise

Photography

Alicia Rackley, Kappa Iota facebook.com/hausofpoise

I Do Personalized Wedding Ceremonies

Wedding Officiant

Susan Dyer Taylor, Kappa Mu meofficiant.com

In The Wright Light

Photography

Photography

Gabrielle Wright, Kappa Iota inthewrightlight.com

Jill & Co Realty Group

Real Estate

Delinda Robinson, Kappa Sigma delindarobinson.jillandco.com

Kaia Cosmic Co.

Spiritual Virtual Assistant & Copywriter

Kaia Groneng, Kappa Lambda kaiacosmicco.com

KC Arnold Art

Commission Artwork

Kasey Arnold, Kappa Sigma

Instagram: @kcarnoldart

Maine Elite Field Hockey Club

Youth Sports Club

Jessica Brox, Kappa Iota maine.elite.fh@gmail.com

Nashua Sew and Vac

NH Sewing Machines & Vacuums

Chrissy Ryan, Kappa Chi nashuasewandvac.com

Pride Events & Design Co.

Wedding Coordination & Rentals

Courtney Pride, Kappa Lambda rossc@husson.edu

Rou-Mi Candles Candles

Prisca Mbiye, Kappa Upsilon

Instagram: @roumicandle

SAMM Photography

Photography

Samantha Marquis, Kappa Eta sammphotography.com

Spicy Stitch Designs

Custom Embroidery

Casey Swenson, Kappa Iota Instagram & Etsy: @spicystitchdesigns

Stacey Carson Wedding Co.

Photography

Stacey Carson, Kappa Chi staceycarsonweddingco. mypixieset.com

The Knotted Finds

Tropical Plants & Gift Shop

Taylor Pelletier, Kappa Sigma theknottedfinds.com

Wild Rose Collective

Tarot Reading

Ashley Rose, Kappa Iota 617-548-9698

Wildwood Studios

Photography

Stephanie Norwood, Kappa Iota wildwood.me

Have a small business or know a sister who does? Let us know at editor@kappadeltaphinas.org

H p Anni s r !

5 r

5 r

Kappa Alpha Nu received their charter on April 14, 2018

Marysa Mitrano (National President), Robyn Sarette (National Treasurer) and Courtney Stevens (Co-Executive Director) joined the National Board in Spring 2018

Kap D t Ph NAS n

A Me���� �ro� ��� AFSP Re�re�e�tati�

Hello Kappa Girls!

I hope this message finds you happy, healthy and well. It’s hard to believe another year has passed. I cannot tell you how much we enjoy our philanthropic partnership with you and how appreciate we are of all that you do the raise awareness and much needed funds for mental health and suicide prevention!!

The work you do on your campuses IS making a difference! Whether it’s raising funds, handing out stickers or talking about mental health, you’re showing your classmates and you community that mental health is just as important as physical health. You are a true demonstration of our motto to #BeTheVoice.

The NH Chapter of AFSP has had tremendous success over the past year thanks in part to your contributions. The funds you have raised and donated have helped provide suicide prevention education programming to over 2,000 individuals at no coast to the participant. AMAZING! We have trained students, teachers, professionals from OSHA, first responders, State of NH staff, and many many more! We were able to host the Gizmo’s Pawesome Guide to Mental Health Read Along to over 400 elementary school-aged children introducing them to mental health and self care. We offered a variety programs and support to more than 250 survivors of suicide loss. We hosted a safe and inclusive bowling and games night out to 18 LGBT youth.

I’m so excited to share that AFSP NH was recognized by our National Leadership Team as the Small Market Chapter of the Year at our annual Chapter Leadership Conference in January. Our partnership with Kappa Delta Phi was highlighted in our Nomination and we could not have achieved that without you!

The funds you raise every year also make it possible for our Chapters to provide FREE mental health resources and giveaways to: help individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide; support those who personally struggle; offer guidance for those who support a loved one who struggles. Many of these resources shine light on factors that increase a persons risk for suicide, highlight the warning signs are for someone in crisis and offer skills to intervene and save a life through conversation and care.

It is our hope that next year, we can invest more of the funds you’ve raised directly on your local campuses! We would love to bring education programming, resources, awareness nights and more. We are incredible proud of the work that we are doing, together, and truly hope that you are, too. Please know that your AFSP Chapter Staff Partners are ALWAYS here for you. You are not alone.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for choosing the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention as your Charity of Choice. We are so grateful for your efforts to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.

Shamera Simpson

By Lauren Porter, National Philanthropy Chair

AFSP History

This past year at Summer Leadership Retreat (SLR) 2022, a motion was introduced to permanently establish a philanthropy partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). After reviewing compelling data of the incredibly successful relationship and sharing stories of how meaningful this cause is to our membership, the motion passed unanimously. A permanent philanthropy was chosen for the first time in Kappa Delta Phi N.A.S. history.

A rotating national philanthropy partner was first established for the sorority in 1986 as a way to unite philanthropic efforts. Prior to this, chapters raised funds for different organizations independently selected. Since the establishment of a national unified philanthropy effort, the nonprofit partner has regularly changed, most often on an annual basis. While the heart behind this was “spreading kindness far and wide,” it was clear that centralizing our efforts and working with a nonprofit for multiple years to constantly improve, refine, and grow the relationship was the most effective for both the organization and our sorority.

Unlike previous philanthropic partnerships where the focus was often one-sided, the AFSP has made a continuous effort to reinvest the funds we’ve raised into suicide prevention and mental health promotion on our university campuses and within our chapters. Whether showering us with resources, apparel, and staff support or providing mental health nights with pizza and raffle baskets, they’ve consistently valued the importance of mental health in our actives and view them as champions of suicide prevention in their communities. This mutually beneficial partnership aligns with best practices in philanthropy and has proven year after year to be in the best interest of everyone involved.

As we celebrate the establishment of a permanent partnership and plan for the endless possibilities in the future, it’s an apt time to look back on the history of how this partnership came to be.

At Convention 2016, Kappa Alpha Nu chapter proposed the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention as our philanthropy for the 2016-2017 year, which passed among our membership. We had shocking and unexpected success going from $9000 raised the year prior to over $20,000 in our first year with the AFSP. At the time, Andrea McKevitt had been serving as the National Philanthropy Chair since 2013. She reflected on the early partnership with the organization and how at the time, multiple board members were directly affected by suicide losses and the rippling impact this had in their lives. Andrea reflected on how her experience as an educator and seeing the mental health challenges of youth furthered her commitment to this cause. The National Board raised their fundraising commitment from $500 per year to $1000 and then $2000. We initially worked with AFSP volunteer Lisa Riley while the organization was smaller with even fewer staff than they have now. Andrea noticed the comradery that we felt, as a smaller sorority partnership with a smaller nonprofit. “It just felt like the partnership would work, and they made it really easy to get resources to people.” This was critical as it became clearer over the years how important it was to promote and support the mental health of our actives. Andrea discussed how they noticed “a huge need with our own members that there was a lot of conversation about mental health and there was a lot of conversation about what do we do and how do we support them?” At this time, we were still limited in how many resources we were reinvesting onto campuses and inter-organization efforts on mental health, but this would grow in the future when we continued on in a multi-year partnership and established mutually beneficial goals.

Following historical precedent, the following year we switched philanthropies to the Alzheimer’s Association for 2017-2018. At Convention 2018 after reflecting on the incredible impact we made in the first year with the AFSP, the National Board presented a philanthropy proposal for another year with the organization, which passed and began our second non-consecutive year

with the organization. After another year of exponential philanthropic growth, Andrea talked with Kappa Iota chapter about proposing another year. At Convention 2019, Kappa Iota chapter introduced a motion for an indefinite partnership with the AFSP seconded by Kappa Sigma chapter. After a long discussion with some hesitation sprinkled in about such a radical change, the motion was amended to establish a three-year partnership and then reassess. Kappa Rho chapter seconded the motion, and it passed. We set out to embark on a total of five years with the AFSP.

“Seeing the fire and the passion that the individual chapters had for the AFSP really pushed us to realize we were doing the right thing. Seeing our contributions go from $4000 to $20,000 in five years was astronomical. We were blown away by the support, and we realized that we hit the nail on the head.” —Andrea

McKevitt

In May 2020, Lauren Porter eagerly stepped into the role of National Philanthropy Chair and took over managing the partnership with the AFSP. At SLR 2021 in preparation for revisiting the philanthropic partnership the following spring, a motion was introduced to extend for another year by Kappa Iota chapter and seconded by National Board Member Christina Rose. After discussing best practices in philanthropy and how ongoing partnerships yield higher benefits for both parties, strengthen civic responsibilities and community ties more than episodic partnerships, and allow for better tackling of large and complex social issues, it passed unanimously, and early conversations started about establishing a permanent partnership in the future. During the year, leaps and bounds were made as we continued strengthening and extending our partnership, and at SLR 2022, the National Board introduced a proposal to work with the AFSP as our national philanthropy partner permanently. Kappa Lambda chapter formally motioned for permanency, and it was seconded by Kappa Chi chapter. After unanimous support, Kappa officially entered a permanent partnership with the AFSP.

It’s hard to capture the success of the AFSP partnership, especially using only quantitative evidence, but even these numbers speak volumes.

• From 2005-2016, the average annual amount raised for our philanthropy partner was $4,000.

• In our first year partnering with the AFSP, we had record-breaking fundraising and reached $20,000. More than double the amount of fundraising the previous year.

• For the five years of partnership, the annual totals have been: $20K, $20K, $18.3K, $13K (peak COVIDera), and $21K.

• Our average annual donation to the AFSP is approximately $18,500. This is a 460% increase in the average donation in the modern era of our organization.

Philanthropic Fundraising, 2005–2022

Although Andrea has moved past her initial role in the early fostering of the partnership, she has continually inspired by the work that’s happening today and “watching the

H�� Y��� D��atio�

H�lp� AFSP Pre� �� Suicide

$10 distributes AFSP wristbands to help build mental health awareness

$50 provides suicide prevention education materials to 25 people

$100 brings "It's Real: Teens and Mental Health" education program to a local high school

$250 recruits and trains field advocates on public policy priorities

$500 trains a new "Survivor of Suicide Loss" support group facilitator $1,000 provides funds for youth suicide prevention outreach and programming $2,000 hosts a "Research Connection" event to share how AFSP-funded research helps prevent suicide $5,000 institutes an "Interactive Screening Program" (ISP) at a school or workplace

chapters develop and create [mental health and suicide prevention efforts] on their campuses.” Seeing chapters provide resources and planning or participating in Out of Darkness Walks. She loves the freedom and diversity of ways to support the AFSP in a way that best matches the chapter’s passions.

“We always felt like just another contributor with the big organizations, but we didn’t feel like that with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. We felt like we were part of something bigger.” —Andrea

McKevitt

In our partnership today, we work with our outstanding representative, Shamera Simpson, who sees the inherent potential in our membership to further mental health in their communities and prevent suicide. She works alongside our National Philanthropy Chair to support our chapters in this cause and support their efforts on campuses. We have dreams for the future to continue hosting Campus Out of the Darkness Walks on more and more campuses, host annual mental health nights at our universities, hold spaces for mental health conversations with our chapters, and increase the success and value of the partnership for both the AFSP and for Kappa. of the partnership for both the AFSP and for Kappa.

IN 2023, WE SURPASSED $100,000

TOTAL RAISED FOR AFSP

P�rs��a� Re�le�tio� �ro� �he N�tio�a� Philanthro�� C�ai�

AS OF SLR 2022, AFSP IS THE PERMANENT

NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY OF KAPPA DELTA PHI NAS

When I first joined Kappa, I liked that we regularly switched philanthropies. I thought it was a good way to allow us to make a little impact in a lot of different areas. After studying non-profit management in my postgraduate studies, I learned that this structure is not the most beneficial for either party and that for us to have a more significant impact in the world and develop a meaningful relationship, we had to commit to one cause, foster the partnership, improve it year after year, and contribute to each other’s growth. This academic knowledge mixed with the undeniable evidence of how successful our work with the AFSP was gave me the foundation to push for permanency with the organization. I was even more convinced when I saw the AFSP's commitment to reinvesting resources within our chapters and in their universities. They didn't just want us to mail a check at the end of the year and then move on to the next group that’s fundraising for them. They want to be involved in our mission while supporting our actives and their mental health, and they see the promise in our members to be change agents in their communities. They provide ongoing support and resources for all of this so that we can reach our full potential. Of course, our funds keep their work going, and they have a critical impact. But with the AFSP, it goes so far beyond that. We are truly partners for the cause. For this, I am eternally grateful and endlessly hopeful for the future. In the realm of philanthropy, I am indubitably sure that we have found our “why” with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. We have teamed together as a collective power to improve mental health and reduce suicide within our membership, on our campuses, in our communities, and throughout the world. —Lauren

Porter

I really love our philanthropy because we are able to raise money and awareness for people who may need extra love and support! I also love the fact we get to help keep critical and important services and resources open!

I love AFSP because as someone who struggles with depression and anxiety, it is nice to feel like you have a voice and can reach out for help if you need it. I have had classmates take their lives. Each one of us makes this world a better place. We need to support each other and spread kindness.

AFSP gives my sisters and I the opportunity to support those who may be struggling and in need of help. It makes me feel incredible to know that we are making a positive influence in the world and are making a di erence in people's lives.

I love AFSP because this is a cause that is close to my heart.

AFSP and the work with this organization brings awareness to the importance of mental health and treating it just as you would with any physical health issues. I am thankful that AFSP provides this education and resources for our membership.

AFSP helped me, and I believe they can help others.

AFSP gives back to those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts and also helps those who have lost a loved one from suicide. Mental health is extremely important.

I’m a huge advocate for mental health. It’s something that I think should never be taken lightly, and nobody should ever feel that they are alone.

I especially value the work of the AFSP because they prioritize research and advocacy to create sustainable and long-term impacts on suicide prevention and mental health policies.

9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

From American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

What is 988?

988 is the new, easy to remember three-digit dialing code connecting people to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline), where support from trained crisis counselors is available 24/7 nationwide for anyone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis or any other emotional distress.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, administered by Vibrant Emotional Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is active across the United States as of July 16, 2022.

What do I need to know about 988?

Three Ways to Access Support: Call 988

Text 988

Chat 988lifeline.org/chat

The pre-existing Lifeline number, 800-273-8255 (TALK), will continue to function indefinitely. If a life-threatening crisis is underway (such as a suicide attempt in progress), call 911.

• When you call 988, your call gets routed to a local Lifeline network crisis center based on your area code. If the local crisis center is unable to take the call, you’ll be automatically routed to a national backup crisis center.

• Trained crisis counselors help you through the crisis, and if appropriate, connect you with resources in their community.

• Veterans, active military and their families can call 988 and press option 1. This process is the same as it has been in the past for Veterans; however, it’s now simpler with the shortened 988 number.

• When you reach out to 988, the Lifeline crisis counselor who responds to you will know your phone number if you call/text, or your IP address if you use chat. Beyond that, they will not know who you are or where you are located. You are not required to provide any personal information to receive support from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Numerous studies have shown that most 988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE callers feel significantly less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed and more hopeful after speaking to a Lifeline crisis counselor.

• Currently, text and chat functionality are only available in English. Phone service is available in English and Spanish, with translation services available in 250 additional languages.

• The long-term vision of 988 is to expand access to comprehensive crisis care services, offering people someone to talk to, someone to come to them and somewhere to go, as needed.

• Similar to how the 911 infrastructure developed over many years, the capacity of 988 to deploy mobile mental health crisis teams in the near term will be based on each community’s current crisis care infrastructure.

• Establishment of the 988 number was an important first step, and although much work remains, 988 is already expanding access to services. The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline saw a 45% increase in overall Lifeline volume (calls, texts, chats) in August 2022 compared to August 2021.

More than 98% of Lifeline interactions are resolved WITHOUT involving 911.

How does 988 compare to 911?

• 988 was established to improve access to crisis services in a way that specifically meets our country’s growing needs related suicide and mental health crises.

• 988 provides easy access to the Lifeline, a network of over 200 local, independent and state-funded crisis centers and related resources equipped to help people in emotional distress. This objective is distinct from the public safety purposes of 911, where the focus is on dispatching emergency medical services, fire and police as needed.

Nationwide network to route calls

No, calls to 911 only go to the single public safety answering point in any specified area. There is no backup network or other routing to ensure calls are answered.

Yes, calls to 988 are routed through a central administrator to regional crisis centers and, if needed, a national backup network to ensure calls are answered quickly.

References: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (n.d.). 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/ default/files/988-factsheet.pdf. | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2022, Sept. 2). 988 Frequently Asked Questions. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/faqs#about-988. | The National Council for Mental Wellbeing. (2022, July 13). 988 Implementation and Future Priorities. https://www. thenationalcouncilorg/resources/988-implementation-and-future-priorities.

T�� � �� S�rvic� �ro���c�

AFSP C�re V�lue�

Passion

We are fueled by the desire to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.

Community

We are a diverse community made stronger by our common determination to stop suicide.

Harmony

We all have a role to play in preventing suicide. By working together, there are no limits to what we can achieve.

Impact

We strive to achieve bold goals in our pursuit of saving lives and work to strengthen mental health in all we do.

Well-being

We lead by example in practicing self-care and supporting healthy behaviors for ourselves and one another.

Why We Walk

Once a year, thousands join together to walk through the night to fight suicide. The connections people make last a lifetime, and the funds you raise will save lives.

The Experience

As you walk over 16 miles from dusk till dawn, you'll find support and understanding in a community of others a ected by suicide. Together, we will help put a stop to this leading cause of death.

Register Today

Washington, D.C. Overnight Walk June 3, 2023

TheOvernight.org

Chapter Reports

Kappa Lambda

H s Uni s t , B ng , Main

Kappa Lambda has been having a great spring semester! We have been focused on having more sister bonding events, planning philanthropy and fundraisers, and, as always, recruiting new members! We had a beautiful Snowflake Themed Info Night and RUSH this semester, and we had 2 lovely ladies accept bids from us! We have New Member Education coming up after Spring Break, and we can’t wait to bring our 2 New Members into the Sorority. Our Sisters are so excited to be growing our Sisterhood here on campus!

This is my third year of being Kappa Lambda’s chapter consultant and every second of it, as always, has been a pleasure. The sisters are committed to growing their chapter and making their sisterhood stronger. They are currently working hard to grow the chapter with recruitment, and have been spending a lot of time pursuing philanthropy projects in the Bangor area. I am always impressed with their commitment to Kappa. Keep up the great work!

H le S lliv

In addition to having New Member Education coming up, our Sisters are excited for an Honorary Degree Ceremony for our newest Honorary Sister, Christine Mihan! Christine exemplifies what it means to be a Sister. She is Loyal, Kind, Devoted, and she is an individual that has supported our Chapters at Husson University and will wear our letters with Pride.

This semester, we’ve gotten together to make Candy Grams to raise money for our National Philanthropy, tabled in the Campus Center for Philanthropy, had our 2nd Annual Galentine’s Day social where we all give each other Valentine’s, had a Pizza social, and held a Donation Drive for PATH, which is a program that helps people who have been affected by homelessness. In addition to all this, we already have a Doublegood Popcorn Fundraiser planned to help us raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, as well as our Chapter!

As we are nearing Convention, we are hopeful to reach, or surpass, our goal of $350 dollars to donate to the AFSP. Not only have our Sisters been working hard as a Chapter to raise money for our National Philanthropy, but we have also been working hard to be more involved in the campus community through volunteering with other organizations here on campus. We are so proud of all the volunteering our Sisters have accomplished, already, this semester, and we can’t wait to see what else we’re able to accomplish!

We’re also excited to announce that we have a surprise member who will be attending Convention with us- Ernet! That’s right, our long lost lady crow has been found and we will have her at our table for everyone to enjoy! We’re looking forward to returning to Convention this year and sharing this experience with Sisters who haven’t been yet. Can’t wait to see you all!

Facebook: Kappa Delta Phi NAS-Kappa Lambda Chapter

Instagram: @kdpnas_hu

TikTok: @kdpnas_hu

Kappa Omicron

Mas c us C le Li a Art , N t Adam , Mas c us

This past semester, Kappa Omicron has been working very hard to rebrand our chapter. We are currently holding our spring new member program, and are excited to soon be welcoming two new girls into this organization. We did not have a fall class, but that was for the better seeing how much closer we all got. We have made it a priority to hold more sister bonding events to get back to our roots. We have done a movie night, game night, as well as just hanging out to get to know each other better. Our most favorite event was our sister potluck where each sister brought in different breakfast foods.

We, along with our potential new members, did our school’s community day of service where we got to help out at the local community center. We cleaned up the church, cut and washed veggies, and learned more about what they do to help the locals. We are also hoping to hold an Out of Darkness walk at our school in the near future since doing one in Pittsfield last semester.

So far, we have done a rice krispy fundraiser to raise money for our chapter. In the near future, we will be holding a raffle basket fundraiser with items from small-businesses in the area as well as items from alumni. We plan to donate all of those earnings to AFSP.

Kappa Alpha Iota

Kappa Alpha Iota has been working hard this year. I am so excited to be back with them and get to know this new group of sisters. I am proud to say they have a group of three Potential New Members with the chance to continuously bid throughout the semester. They are always pushing the envelope to try new things and they are never afraid to come to me when they need help. Keep up the amazing work.

—Andre McKe

I am so proud of you ladies for pulling together and working so hard to rebuild your chapter. I hope that each of you is relighting your Kappa flame as you remember your "why" and come together as sisters this semester. Keep up the great work, and remember that we are always here to support you!

—N c Rans e

During the spring, we had a bake sale for our local philanthropy, which went really well. Our local philanthropy chair is planning a sticker sale, a Dodgeball for Diabetes event, and other events to raise money and awareness for American Diabetes Association. Our philanthropy chair is planning a mental health sticker sale, a "trash your insecurities" table, and other events for AFSP.

Kappa Sigma

Ply o t S at Uni s t , Ply o t , N H mp ir

Kappa Sigma has been having a fun time in the snow. Last October, we put on our second Out of the Darkness Walk for AFSP bringing in over $9,000 for this great cause. We welcomed a new class of five women in the Fall of 2022.

To promote sister bonding, we did our annual Kappa Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful meal and shared thanks in a special way. In December, Kappa sisters held our Winter Formal hosted at Fosters in Plymouth. Finally, we were able to have dates and sisterhood bonding sharing stories, and welcomed our alumnae that were able to join us. We had our Secret Sister Christmas swap. It was nice to see how our sisters picked gifts for each other and had some hot cocoa that was given to us by our alumnae.

Starting the spring semester right, we had four rushes, including all Greek, PJs and Pamper, Rock and Roll, and our classic “Classy Girls Wear Pearls." We felt the love of being able to dress up on theme with our sisters and take photos together. We were able to hand out three bids this spring and are excited to welcome them. These girls have shown so much devotion coming to the rushes and are excited to be sisters. This semester we are also volunteering again at Bell of the Ball in Boston, helping girls find and choose prom dresses and accessories. Thank you Kasey and DD for your hard work and we will be sad to see you graduate this Spring.

This strong group of sisters is continually striving to be better every single day. Either through academics, giving back to their community, or supporting each other, they want to better everything around them. I am always impressed by their dedication and watching them work through strife. I couldn’t be happier to be their mentor, aide, and friend. I can’t wait to see your impact on the world, I know it will be great!

(Kappa Alpha Iota, continued)

Our sisterhood chair planned a valentine’s sisterhood, where we all gave each other valentines. She is also planning other sisterhoods at a go carting place, movie nights, and other fun events! The Kappa Alpha Iota Chapter welcomed three wonderful potential new members this spring and will be continuing to recruit throughout the semester. Big/ little reveal will take place around midMarch. Our recruitment theme was bees!

Instagram: @shipkdphinas

TikTok: @shipkdpnas

Facebook: Kappa Delta Phi N.A.S Kappa Sigma Chapter

Instagram: @kappa plymouthstate

Kappa Upsilon

Uni s t Mas c us Lo , Lo , Mas c us

During the fall semester of 2022, our recruitment drive was centered on the idea of ‘KY Strikes Again,’ and our efforts resulted in two new members joining our sorority. Our philanthropic efforts included our sorority’s president, Makayla Hoffman, and sister Sofia Viviani doing a breast cancer awareness walk in conjunction with one of our campus’ fraternities. Sisters Sofia Viviani, Mya Winslow, and Karolyn Ho helped to build a playground with other members of our school’s Greek Life community. Kappa Upsilon also participated in ‘UML for St. Jude,’ which was an effort by our university’s Greek Life to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. The drive raised a total of $23,511. Lastly, we also sold ribbons corresponding to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) honor beads. The proceeds of the drive went to the organization, and raised awareness of their efforts. In regards to sisterhood, multiple sisters graduated and have transitioned to alumni status within the sorority.

Our efforts in the spring semester of 2023 began by amending the chapter’s bylaws to increase efficiency considering our relatively small number of members. For recruitment, our theme was ‘Falling in Love with KY,’ and after hosting several events, we successfully recruited four new members who are undergoing the new membership education process. This process, like our bylaws, had to be adjusted. Some traditions could not be continued with our smaller number of members, but we evolved in the face of this challenge by creating new traditions we trust will become just as strong, if not stronger, as our new sisters carry them on.

In terms of philanthropy this semester, chapter president Makayla Hoffman is spearheading a charity night for the AFSP that our chapter will host and which will be open to our whole campus. We also started an American Red Cross Blood Donation team which is open to enrollment by any member of our campus’ Greek life. Filling the space between these larger efforts, we have supported many smaller acts of online philanthropy. For fundraising, each sister has come up with their own ideas for events or efforts, but we would like to draw special attention to our popcorn selling drive which will run from March 1st through March 5th. Our actions to strengthen sisterhood are connected to the efforts described above to reshape our sorority. Since our smaller number of members required more individual efforts, we combined roles and overall refocused our sorority on running less like a business and more like a sisterhood. Part of this was allowing new prospective sisters to participate in unity events, which more quickly integrates them into our sorority. Two of our sisters participated in the Northeast Greek Leadership Association’s conference that was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and have been utilizing all the skills and ideas they learned there to increase the strength of our sorority’s foundation.

This is my third year being Kappa Upsilon’s Chapter Consultant and I have enjoyed every minute of it. Since I’ve been with them, I’ve seen the chapter grow and evolve and come back to their roots of discovering who they are and who they want to be. I’m so proud of them for growing every day and discovering what works best for each group of ladies as the years go on. Always so proud of all of you and your determination to never lose the passion for Kappa you all have. MTSND, Congrats to the seniors!

Facebook: Kappa Delta Phi NAS - Kappa Upsilon Chapter

Instagram: @kdpnas_uml & check out @kappawellness

TikTok: @kappaupsilon_ kdpnas

Kappa Chi

S the N H mp ir Uni s t , Manc e e , N H mp ir

Working with Kappa Chi this year has been a great experience. I am so proud of all the hard work these sisters have put in to help strengthen their bonds this year. They have worked hard this year to continue instilling the sorority ideals in their sisterhood and their members. They have had another successful year and I am excited to see the continued growth of this chapter in the future. So proud of you all!

Kappa Chi has been working very hard this year to focus back on our goals. We have taken on new challenges as our campus has consistently struggled with involvement as a whole over the last year, so finding ways to get students interested in what we were offering is what we’ve been working on. We had two incredible recruitment chairs this year who made super fun and welcoming events. Our fall recruitment theme was “You’re So Golden”, and our spring recruitment theme was “Falling In Love With Kappa Chi”. Fall semester we recruited six incredible new girls, but we chose to take a break for a semester and refocus and work on internally bonding. Our sisters over the past year have participated in countless philanthropy events. Most notably there was our first semester’s Greek Day Of Service where our school's Greek community went to a local elementary school to help them revamp their facility and give the school a new life. It was so awesome to be able to give back to a community that gives so much to us. We are also looking forward to this semester's philanthropy projects as well!

This year we really tried to take a new focus on fundraising efforts, and our wonderful fundraising chair has really kickstarted us in an incredible way. She has planned both incredible on campus events as well as online fundraisers that are accessible to our loved ones that want to support us but can’t make it to campus. We have put on our classic events such as Pie a Chi, but have also put on both candy and flower gram fundraisers to spread some joy in our community as well. Our fundraising chair also set up an online cookie fundraiser, and we have a gala fundraiser set up that we are extremely excited for. We are very proud of our sisters for the efforts they have put in to raise money for AFSP. AFSP has always been something that has bound our sisters together, but this year we have been trying to find some more connections within the sisters of our organization. Our girls have worked hard to go out of their way to get to know more about their sisters this year, and we have planned more bonding events to try to spend more time together. Most recently we did a sister paddle swap for the holidays, and every paddle came out beautiful. We have also done a Family Feud style game night with our brothers that was incredibly fun. Overall, we are so proud of the work we have done this year and look forward to what next year has to offer for us!

Facebook: Kappa Chi Chapter

Instagram: @kappa_chi

TikTok: @kappa_chi

—J y e H ndle

Kappa Alpha Gamma

S at Uni s t N Y N P lt , N P lt , N Y

Our spring semester for the sisters of the Kappa Alpha Gamma chapter has had a wonderful start! We have been having really great events hosted by some of our chair positions. Our Diversity and Inclusion Chairs, JP and Veronica, hosted an event for Black History Month where sisters presented a Black artist that is important to them. It was a great way to learn about a new artist that we might like ourselves while also highlighting the impressive contributions that Black artists have made to a variety of different art fields. Our Alumnae Secretary, Nicole, has been making fun newsletters for our chapter’s alumnae that are getting the active sisters more involved to make them more personal. So far she has sent one with some sisters’ new year’s resolutions and valentines! We also held a philanthropy fundraiser at our campus’s farmer’s market, which was great for making our sorority more seen and active on campus while also being able to support our philanthropy! Each sister has been bringing her own beautiful spark to our chapter this semester, and it is really lovely to see how everyone builds off one another to create our chapter’s fun dynamic.

Instagram: @kdphinas_ newpaltz

TikTok: @kdphinas newpaltz

We just finished up our recruitment season which was a “Rounding up the PHInes” theme! We had amazing events hosted by our incredible recruitment chair and committee. Some of the favorites were bingo night, board game night, playing Just Dance, and singing karaoke together. We also had a really fun painting night and took some pictures at that event that made us all laugh, it was a very pure sisterly joy moment! Last semester, we welcomed our beautiful new sister Veronica who we are so happy to be in our sorority. She is such an important part of our sisterhood already. We are looking forward to this semester’s new member education process and the excitement that will come along with that.

This semester we will be sending off 11 sisters who are graduating. We are so proud of each and every one of them in everything they have and will accomplish in Kappa and also in their own lives. It will be so exciting to see each of them thrive in their lives after college in graduate school, law school, teaching abroad, and in new jobs!

Working with Kappa Alpha Gamma has been a great experience so far. Their passion for sisterhood is something that I have taken to heart and try to do every day. This semester they are focusing on studying and keeping up their GPAs. Congratulations to all of the graduating seniors!

—N c H llaha

Kappa Alpha Nu

Uni s t Alb n , Alb n , N Y

Kappa Alpha Nu continues to work hard at maintaining their chapter. They continue to use social media as an Avenue to reach new people. Keep up the great work.

—Andre McKe

The Kappa Alpha Nu chapter of Kappa Delta Phi NAS has been working hard to make an example in the community. This past semester (Fall 2022), we have placed a huge emphasis on partnering up with other fraternities and sororities within our council to make an impact. Kappa Alpha Nu, along with the other members of Greek life and the school, have hosted park clean ups, food drives, attended walks for breast cancer awareness, and so much more. We have also taken part in hosting several programs on campus to not only help educate other students, but also get our name out there to aid with recruitment. Some of these programs include, but are not limited to, alcohol awareness, study tips, prioritizing mental health, healthy relationships, and hazing prevention. By focusing on our bond with other members of our council, we have been able to reach so many more students on our campus.

After COVID, it was difficult for us to have sisterhood events. As everything is getting back to normal, we have put in a lot more effort in bonding with one another. As an organization, we have already done dinners together, had a SuperBowl potluck, and are in the process of planning a trip for us to go on this semester alone. In the past, we have done spring break trips together, gone to Canada, and stayed in a cabin in Dippi - an area near Lake George. On a smaller scale, most of our sisters meet up daily in the library to get school work done while spending time together. From the large trips we do all the way to the casual dinners, these are memories we will never forget. We have taken great pride in our fundraising efforts throughout the years. We aim to raise at least $1500 a semester and we are typically successful. We hold bake sales on campus, we partner up with local restaurants, we post bingo boards on our social media accounts, and reach out to family and friends. We are also constantly trying to find new ways to raise money. Our current Philanthropy chair has thought about selling merchandise from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. We are in the process of figuring out more about it and are looking forward to the possibilities!

Instagram: @kappa_ ualbany

TikTok: @ualbany kdphinas

Kappa Alpha Xi

C le , Utic , N Y

This semester the sisters of Kappa Alpha Xi have been very busy! Starting off we dove right into our recruitment week where we had events with the other Greek life on our campus as well as our own events. We collaborated with others for Meet the Greeks and a Joint Sorority Informational Night. We then held two very successful informational nights, as well as a movie night, and then ice skating that correlated with our recruitment theme, “Ice Ice Kappa”! Following recruitment, we started our New Member Education Process where we have been teaching nine girls in our Lambda Class about our amazing sisterhood!

We have held two very successful fundraising events and continue to plan more throughout our semester. We first held a Valentine Gram Fundraiser and Raffle to spread the love around our campus for Valentine’s Day this year. People had the option to buy a student or faculty member a special care package where the Sisters delivered them around campus on Valentine’s Day. We have also hosted our annual Pizza Taste Off event where we had nine local pizzerias donate pizzas for students to try! Students were able to come and try some pizza, enter in our raffle, and vote on the different pizzas, all while raising money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Our sisters also collaborated with another Greek organization on campus that holds an annual week long event to raise money for the American Cancer Society. We had the pleasure to make S’mores, bond, and support them and their amazing cause. We are continuing to plan more fundraising events where we can spread awareness and raise money for our philanthropy! Our next big fundraising event of the semester is our annual Mystery Prize Board Event where local businesses in the area donate prizes that students can donate money to AFSP to win that special prize! We are also planning to volunteer with other Greek life on our campus in a Spring Clean Up Event for the community. We have loved all of the fundraising and philanthropy events we have been able to attend and hold, and can’t wait to continue with more for the rest of the semester!

As we have continued to grow, sisterhood bonding has become very important to us! Our numbers have continued to rise and our bonds have only gotten stronger. We have done multiple bonding activities such as roller skating, ice skating, bowling, seeing musicals together, paint nights, and so much more to strengthen the bond in our sisterhood! We also love planning fun sisterhood events that coincide with the holidays as well, such as Secret Sister (Santa) and Galentine's!

We are so excited to see what the rest of the semester brings for us and can not wait to see everyone at convention!

Utic

This is my second year working with KAXi! These ladies are kind, outgoing, and adventurous! They make my job easy. I love working with them and I look forward to seeing them continue to grow!

Instagram: @kdphinas_utica

TikTok: @kdphinas_utica

VSCO: @kdpnas-utica

Kappa Alpha Omicron

S at Uni s t N Y O ,

It’s been a pleasure seeing KAO grow this year. They continue to show great leadership skills and strive to make a difference. I’m looking forward to seeing the members at Convention! Thankful for this opportunity to work with such wonderful ladies who I know will continue to make a difference in the world!

—Alle

W e

This semester has been like no other here at Oswego. Our chapter has excelled in new leadership positions and we’ve seen so much growth all around! We just had our NPC formal spring recruitment where we welcomed 7 new members for our theta class! This recruitment was honestly one of our best recruitments we’ve ever had so far, our rooms looked the best they ever have and we overcame so many challenges that were thrown at us that weekend! Our bid day theme was Hannah Montana, which was really fun to collaborate with and it looked amazing!!

As far as Philanthropy we’ve been able to do some tabling and we’re currently in the process of planning our 2nd annual campus walk for the spring with AFSP. We had our first one last Spring and though the turnout wasn’t what we expected it to be, we have so much more planned for this time around! Leading up to the walk we plan on tabling more, a bottle drive, and bringing back “Pie-a-KDPhi(NAS)” which brought in a lot of donations last year. With Fundraising we have been able to host some karaoke nights at a local bar, and looking forward we’re planning a fundraiser with Tully’s Tenders at the beginning of April and potentially (weather permitting) a Kappa Car wash in early May in collaboration with another organization on campus.

We’ve had so many sister bondings this semester, from canvas painting to time capsules and we recently were able to include our new members in some of them! We’ve really been trying to emphasize sister bonding and togetherness in our chapter, though we’re all unique in our own ways, we all bring something to the table in this organization and were all different pieces of a puzzle that fit together perfectly! Our new members will be starting their education process soon and we plan on having them in just in time for KappaCon this April!!

Instagram: @kdphinas oswego

TikTok: @kdphinas oswego

Kappa Delta Phi NAS Alumnae Association, Inc.

D S s e KDPNAS, In .

Welcome back to school, to the promise of Spring, and to the excitement of the upcoming Kappacon 2023. It is a semester filled with expectation and anticipation. Many of you are looking forward to graduation. Some of you are anticipating transfers to other colleges or universities to finish your degrees or to pursue further education. I am confident that all of you are looking forward to summer jobs and/or relaxation with family and friends. Still others might be anticipating some travel abroad. Whatever you do, wherever you go, don’t forget to keep Kappa close to your heart.

In this issue of the Kappa Quill, I’m addressing ‘empowerment.’ The Oxford Dictionary gives us these two definitions of empowerment: 1). “The authority or power given to someone to do something,” and 2). “The process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights.” While both of these are accurate, I choose the second simply because I feel it (best) describes Kappa in my life.

I know that I am much older than most of you, and in some cases as old as your grandparents. Physically and mentally, this woman has passed a goodly number of life’s benchmarks. My spirit still thinks I’m young. I’m on campus at the University of Maine Presque Isle where you could get in hot water for missing curfew, having a member of the opposite sex in the dorm after parietals, or being in the guy’s dorm after parietals. It was the 70’s, 1974 to 1978 to be exact. There was the excitement that comes with living on campus and the awe of watching the members of the two sororities go about their lives dressed in their colors and jackets. I can’t tell you what it meant to open my bid, my invitation to attend an informational gathering with all of the Kappa Mu sisters.

Somewhere in the universe a door opened, and I took that first step to what would become an incredible journey that has lasted forty-seven years. I affi liated “pledged’ in the Spring of 1975 and just a few months later, an opportunity beckoned to join all the “little sister chapters” into a bona fide (genuine) independent NATIONAL organization. We were a handful of chapters empowered by faith, a belief in our collective selves, and supported by KΔΦ National Fraternity, Inc. On May 7, 1977, I stood with a dozen sisters from various chapters, Fred Randall, and Paul Collette (the outgoing and incoming Executive Directors of ΚΔΦ National Fraternity, Inc.), and members of their brotherhood attending their national convention in Rutland, VT. We had arrived! We grabbed hold of the “empowerment” given us, and in two short years built the infrastructure of the sisterhood we love so much today.

The ensuring years have been a marvel to watch and be a part of. I didn’t stop being a sister when I graduated from UMPI. I didn’t stop being a sister when I became Vice President of the National Board, or when I became

its first female Executive Director. I didn’t stop being a sister when I married and later became a mother. I didn’t stop being a sister when I returned to USM to pursue a master’s degree in the 90s. In my forty-five years as an educator, I haven’t stop being a sister. I was given accolades for my work in education, but I didn’t stop being a sister. Now that I am a grandmother, I haven’t stopped being a sister. I doubt that retirement (if I ever really get there) will have much of an effect either. You see, once empowered there is no limit to what or where your autonomy, independence, and strength can take you in a lifetime. We never stop being sisters!

I ask you to think about your individual and collective empowerment as you savor these quotes from women who have taken those first steps. While their journey may have made more headlines, or they may have been quoted in text and verse, theirs is not greater than the empowerment each of us has been given as a sister of Kappa Delta Phi National Affiliated Sorority, Inc. As President of KΔΦ National Affiliated Sorority Alumnae Association, Inc., I invite each of you to join your alumnae in continuing a legacy of empowerment for all years to come.

I’m looking forward to welcoming those graduating seniors who would like to join us, and to strengthening our bonds of sisterhood through our ideals of Kindness, Devotion and Pride. It is a lifetime of empowerment. I’d like to think that I “shook the table.” I’ll be waiting for you in Danvers, MA at Kappacon 2023. May the Spirit Never Die!

In the spirit and love of Kappa, Susan M. Dyer Taylor

Kappa Mu, 1975

President, KDPNAS Alumnae Association, Inc.

Cooking with Jeanette

D amite

We used to serve dynamites at the combined socials, back in the day, at conventions. You can customize this recipe by varying the ratio of meat to vegetables; the amount of red pepper flakes; the size of the cut vegetables, etc. There are as many variations as spaghetti sauce recipes. It is all up to you!

2 tsp canola oil

2 lbs ground beef

1 lb onions, sliced into

1 x 1 1/2 inch strips

1 lb green peppers, sliced into 1 x 1 1/2 inch strips

6 oz can of tomato paste

8 oz can tomato sauce

1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste

1 tsp granulated sugar

1 dozen Torpedo/sandwich rolls for serving

Heat the oil in a frying pan. When simmering, break up and add the ground beef to the pan. Cook until all of the meat is brown. Remove the meat and put it into a crock pot. Add the onions, peppers, tomato sauce, red pepper flakes, and sugar to the crock pot. Cook on high until onions and peppers are tender. Split the rolls lengthwise. Use a slotted spoon to fill the rolls.

Show off your Kappa Pride

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