Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to our only October birthday, Ashley Kelly! Ashley celebrated her big day on the 21st and we hope it was a great one.

International Girl's Day

Did you know November 14th is International Girl's Day? IGD was created by Kappa Delta on behalf of the Confidence Coalition to celebrate girl's - all kinds of girls with all kinds of interests and abilities. It's an opportunity to build confidence in girls and help them realize their potential.

Numerous International Girls Day celebrations are taking place around the country on and around Nov. 14 (find the listing on www.celebrategirlsday.com)! Be a part of one already taking place or celebrate individually! Kappa Delta would also welcome your support in promoting the holiday:

•Send information to your pastor and ask him or her to address confidence in girls in a sermon on or around Nov. 14.

•Send an encouraging e-card through www.confidencecoalition.org.

•Post about International Girls Day on your facebook, twitter, website or blog.

•Place an International Girls Day ad in your school directory, church bulletin, or organization newsletter. Ads can be found on www.confidencecoalition.org.

•Give your daughter or another girl in your life an uplifting book of poetry or fiction. Write a special message on the inside cover of the book.

•Hang IGD posters in businesses around your community. Visit
www.confidencecoalition.org to download and print.

Check out www.celebrategirlsday.com and the IGD Planning Kit for more information.

Happy Founders Day

A chilly rain splattered against the windowpanes of the little dormitory room on Professional Hall, the dormitory floor where most of the seniors lived. Saturday meant no classes, and the dreary weather that hung over Farmville was a perfect excuse for the four friends to tuck themselves away in that cozy spot and talk for hours... It was that afternoon that Kappa Delta was born - October 23, 1897 - at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia."

-Ordinary Miracles: 100 Years of Kappa Delta Sorority

The thought that over 100 years ago four young women could just sit down and create a sisterhood as enduring as Kappa Delta sometimes defies understanding. But that's exactly what they did.

Kappa Delta's founders were four very different women. They ranged in age from 15 to 23, yet brought a singular sense of purpose to this particular endeavor. Their dream was to create something more lasting than a club -- a sorority! It was to be an entity that would grow beyond their own chapter at State Female Normal School. But they never dreamed that it would grown into an organization of nearly 200,000 women, over 200 chartered chapters and nearly 500 chartered alumnae associations nationwide.

The sorority still holds true to its original object adopted sometime before 1902...

"The object of Kappa Delta Sorority is the formation and perpetuation of good fellowship, friendship and sisterly love among its members; the encouragement of literature and education; the promotion of social interest; and the furtherance of charitable and benevolent purposes."

Kappa Delta's early leaders were women of vision. Today's women live that dream and keep the vision alive!

Kappa Delta's Four Founders...

Lenora Ashmore Blackiston was unconventional. She was a dreamer and an idealist filled with enthusiasm for new ideas. Nicknamed "Nora," she was a writer and a poet, able to put her thoughts into action. She was the one who first suggested the idea of forming a sorority, but was unable to put her lasting personal marks on Kappa Delta's beginnings because, after Christmas holiday, she transferred to Randolph-Macon Women's College.

Quiet and extremely intelligent, Julia Gardiner Tyler Wilson came from a distinguished and respected family; her grandfather was John Tyler, former U.S. president, and her father was the president of the College of William and Mary. She was characterized as capable, dependable and possessing considerable artistic talent. She illustrated most of the school's first yearbook and designed the Kappa Delta badge. After helping to found the sorority, Julia spent another year at State Female Normal before transferring to Dana Hall, a preparatory school for Wellesley College where she earned her AB degree in 1904. She joined her founding sister Sara at Kappa Delta's 50th anniversary celebration at the 1947 convention.

Daughter of a Virginia senator, Sara Turner White was gracious and friendly, but known as being a bit more straight-laced than most students. She enjoyed her friends and social activities more than she did her studies. Sara did not return to college after that first year, but remained steadfastly involved with Kappa Delta throughout her long life.

Mary Sommerville Sparks Hendrick was much loved and respected by all students at State Female Normal School. She was known for her fine character and gentle understanding. Mary had concern for others, perhaps because, at 25, she was more mature than the younger students. She was a Bible class leader. Mary stayed on and helped the fledging sorority through its early years.

KD Annual Fund

Many of you have probably received an email or a letter recently about the Kappa Delta annual fund. Some of you may have even responded already, but for those of you thinking about what to do here's some info.

The annual fund supports the KD Foundation. What does the Foundation do? Tons!

Your donations to the Kappa Delta Foundation make possible:

•Kappa Delta Scholarships. The foundation awards over $110,000 in graduate and undergraduate scholarships to Kappa Delta sisters each year.

•Leadership Conferences. With at least four national and regional leadership seminars each year, the Kappa Delta Foundation offers members a host of opportunities to learn leadership and interpersonal skills that help them become their best in college and beyond.

•KiDs Grants. Each year, the foundation awards $25,000 in KiDs Grants to Kappa Delta alumnae chapters to provide financial support for prevention-oriented social action programs in the local community.

•Collegiate Community Service Awards. The Kappa Delta Foundation provides a monetary contribution to local nonprofit organizations in honor of those Kappa Delta collegians who are recognized for their outstanding involvement in the community.

•Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Interns. In honor of one of its most notable alumnae, the foundation provides funding for three Kappa Delta interns for the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum’s Art and Leadership Program for Girls.

•Prevent Child Abuse America. Since adopting Prevent Child Abuse America as a national philanthropy in 1972, Kappa Delta members have raised over $7.1 million to make a difference in the lives of children at risk in communities across the country.

•Girl Scout of the USA. Not only do collegians and alumnae across the country serve as mentors, volunteers, and troop leaders for Girl Scouts, but the Kappa Delta Foundation contributes $10,000 in scholarships each year to the Girl Scout Gold Award Young Women of Distinction.

•Orthopaedic Research Awards. Donations to the foundation enable Kappa Delta to endow three prestigious orthopaedic research awards totaling $60,000 annually and $1.3 million to date.

•Children’s Hospital of Richmond, Virginia. Since adopting the hospital as its first national philanthropy in 1921, Kappa Delta has provided over $2.2 million, enabling the hospital to purchase much-needed equipment and supplies.

Join me in suporting the KD Foundation with a gift that is significant to you. Show your commitment today, visit http://www.kappadelta.org/makefoundationdonation to donate.

Breast Cancer Awarness Month

October is breast cancer awareness month. Many of you may have participated in the Run for the Cure or the Atlanta Three Day Walk.

About 207,090 breast cancer cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. This year approximately 39,840 women will die of breast cancer in the US. Also about 1,970 will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 390 will die. The most common symptoms of breast cancer are a change in the look or feel of the breast, a change in the look or feel of the nipple and nipple discharge. These are listed below:

• Lump, hard knot or thickening
• Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
• Change in the size or shape of the breast
• Dimpling or puckering of the skin
• Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
• Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
• Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
• New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away

For more information on breast cancer, self exams and how to donate to help find a cure visit www.komen.org.

KD Coming to the A!

National Kappa Delta announced this week that in 2012 more than 1,600 members will convene for Kappa Delta Sorority’s inaugural National Collegiate Training Academy February 10-12, 2012 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Every chapter will send its nine council officers plus the Panhellenic Delegate to “The Academy” where each will follow a specific meeting track for her office. Kappa Delta national leadership team members and professionals in various fields will lead attendees to identify their strengths, learn to work as a team, implement the programs and initiatives of the sorority, and successfully carry out their duties in the chapter.

“The skills our members will learn at The Academy and use in the chapter are ones that will serve them well throughout life,” said Kappa Delta National President Beth Martin Langford. “We are excited to be able to provide this opportunity for our collegiate leaders to be their best, for stronger members make for an even stronger Kappa Delta.”

The Academy will replace Kappa Delta’s Presidents and Emerging Leaders Conference that was previously held each February in Memphis, Tenn. More information on Kappa Delta’s National Collegiate Training Academy will be available soon at www.kappadelta.org.

Support Atlanta Day Shelter at Smith's Olde Bar

Damsel Productions is holding its Premiere Benefit Showcase at Smith's Olde Bar on Thursday October 14th at 8pm. The proceeds from ticket sales adn the Silent Auction will be donated to the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children. Five of Atlanta's top female indie artists will perform including: Kelly Andrews, Meredith MacDonald, Granville Automatic, Amy Zuspan Band and Sin Pretty.

Silent Auction items include Falcon's tickets, Alliance theatre tickets, a weekend getawayand more. There will be a free raffle with giveaways including t-shirts, cds and gift cards.

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. You can order tickets at www.smithsoldebar.com.

What: Benefit for Atlanta Day Shelter
When: October 14th at 8pm
Where: Smith's Olde Bar

Pottery and Sisterhood

Join us for Ladies Night at Wired and Fired in the Highlands. Studio time is half off and you can bring your own wine or other drinks. We are sure to have a great time at this Highlands staple.

When: Tuesday, October 12 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: Wired and Fired in the Highlands
994 Virginia Ave NE
Atlanta, GA

Meet Our Resident Blogger!

Next in our series of meet your Atlanta Night Officers, is our VP Operations, Beth Knott. Beth is actually the person who writes this blog, so I am switching to first person. As VP Operations, I work on our communications and serve as our treasurer. I am a proud University of Kentucky alumna and have lived in Atlanta for four and a half years.

I work as a fundraiser for Chi Phi Fraternity. In my spare time I enjoy playing with my dog, Otis, golfing, reading and spending time with family and friends. There is a lot to love about Atlanta, but my favorite thing is all the great restaurants. If you are ever looking for a dinner buddy give me a call!

I am always looking for info/ideas/stories for our blog. If you have anything you want to share (a new job, a wedding, a baby, new hair color) please send us an email (kdatlmembership@gmail.com).