From Thursday, June 26 until Sunday, June 29, Delta Chi’s four representatives traveled to Orlando, Florida for Kappa Alpha Theta’s 2014 Grand Convention. The four girls were CEO Karen Pozo, CMO Carolyn Schaefer, Alumnae Liaison Mary Gray Johnson and myself. It was a beautiful setting and great weather to meet Theta sisters and alumnae from all over the nation. We were each randomly paired with a roommate from a different school, and it was a great experience swapping philanthropy ideas, t-shirts, and recruitment stories.
We all arrived on Thursday morning and spent lunch by the pool catching up on our summers and finding our way around the massive, 2,000-room hotel. We then had the Convention Kick-off and Welcome to begin the Convention.
On Friday morning, we focused on business and Leading Women. For breakfast and lunch we were placed at tables with women who shared our major or career interest. We also learned about each chapter’s founding during Nike. After a great luncheon discussing careers and college advice, Kelly Corrigan, a famous author and Theta at Richmond, delivered a hilarious and insightful speech on relationships and her struggles through life. That afternoon we had a little free time to meet other Thetas and relax by the pool. That night there was a big ceremony and dinner for Chapter Recognition where different schools were awarded Bronze Kite, Silver Kite, Golden Kite, the Soaring Kite Award, Founders Award, among others.
Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation started a Pansy Patch where participants could purchase $5 pansies to honor themselves or their Theta sisters. These pansies raised $86,500. Furthermore, Tory Burch (Beta Eta/Pennsylvania) donated two purses for a raffle, which raised $3,400. The proceeds were donated to the Friendship Fund, which provides gifts to Thetas experiencing financial hardship due to illness, job loss, disaster, or other devastating events.
Saturday began bright and early with a CASA Walk and Breakfast. After more business sessions and a formal Initiation, the Theta Foundation Luncheon introduced the “Give to Lead, Give to Learn” campaign for $5 million endowment for Theta’s educational leadership consultant (ELC) program. Over $3.1 million has already been raised for this during the 18-month silent phase leading up to Grand Convention. Later that night, we lined up by chapter with any advisors and alumnae from our schools for the closing Convention Banquet. It was a great, formal end to wrap up the Convention and honor the outgoing and new Grand Council members.
By Megan Porter (’17)