Kappa Kappa Gamma

A final look at Kappas at the Winter Games

Kappas from Gamma Upsilon chapter, British Columbia, have been out and about enjoying the various venues during the 2010 Winter Olympics, wearing their nation’s logos and showing their pride.

Gamma Upsilon actives, Randi Crace, Jessica Katzin and Meredith Radke are bundled up in Olympic colors for a night out at the Olympics.

American and Canadian Kappas Lauren Stevens, Meridith Radke and Jessica Katzin watch Canada take home the Gold against USA during the men's final hockey game.

From left, actives Jennifer Liu, Jessica Katzin, Yvonne Ho, Meridith Radke and Holland Stuart volunteered at the ice hockey games, selling 50/50 tickets which helped raise $1.1 million for Own the Podium, which sponsors amateur athletes in Canada.

Torchbearer, alumna Chrissy Jean Young, British Columbia, enjoys her moment in the spotlight prior to the Opening Ceremonies.

By: Claire Collins, Epsilon Epsilon, Emory

You may have noticed that March 1 was International Badge Day.  Every year the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) encourages its members to wear their badges with pride on this day.   This is one of the few times that I, as an alumna, wear my Kappa key other than at a meeting or Convention.  And as usual, this year it went unnoticed by my co-workers, though it gave me a happy Kappa glow all day long.

I have several badges to choose from, as thanks to eBay and my affiliation with the Golden Key Alumnae Association, I’ve established a small collection of keys.  The keys all have stories, and for too many it seems that they ended up being sold after the death of their original owners by relatives at an estate sale.   Maybe Kappa hadn’t been part of the member’s life for a long time, or the family just didn’t understand the significance of that cute key pin in the jewelry box. It’s not just a piece of jewelry it’s an emblem of membership.  It is for reasons such as this that we all should take care to have a Badge Disposition Form, available at the Kappa Web site (see “Protect Your Badge” under the Community heading on the home page) filled out and stored with our badges.

Part of my collection of keys. Mary Lou's is at the top, and the other three are from 1938, 1942, and from my own chapter, Epsilon Epsilon, from 1966

Sadder still, to me, is seeing members selling their own badges.  The eBay listings might even include in the description, “Not worn in 20 years, in great condition.”  As odd as it may seem, there are non-members who collect Greek Letter Organization badges.  Some buy them at auction and re-sell at a profit to other collectors.

What should you do if you see a Kappa badge for sale on eBay? First, do not bid. This only drives up the price of the auction, and it’s very likely that members of the Golden Key Alumnae Association who monitor eBay closely already have this badge “on the radar” and are attempting to contact its owner.  To make certain that they are you can fill out the information form at www.gkaa.org and a message will be sent to the group. If you are interested in acquiring the badge up for auction, this is how you can ensure that there are not Kappas bidding against Kappas.

In the unlikely and unfortunate event that your badge is stolen, it’s important to file a police report. Should it ever end up on eBay it can be identified as stolen property and steps can be taken to end the auction.

If you are ever in need of a replacement badge or would like to acquire a vintage key, the Golden Key Alumnae Association members maintain a list of “adoptable badges” available for sale.

This year I celebrated International Badge Day by wearing a beautiful plain gold matte finish key from 1930. I don’t know much about its original owner, only that her name was Mary Lou and she was member of Beta Theta chapter at the University of Oklahoma. I don’t remember how many years ago I won the key at auction and adopted it, or how much I paid for it.  To me, it’s priceless. But then, aren’t they all?

Kappas Carry Placards in Parade of Nations

Priscilla Chan, British Columbia, writes….

Leading a country’s athletes during the Parade of Nations, I’d be the first person that three billion TV watchers and 60 000 spectators saw as a representative of that country. No pressure right?  Carrying an 8 pound sign at an exact height while maintaining an excellent posture, walking at a steady pace is not as easy as it looks! I was elated to be selected to lead Morocco and it’s small athletic contingent, so small that it only consisted of one athlete and one coach!

The morning of the opening ceremonies, as the athletes lined up next to our dressing room we began cheering for every country that walked by. At first, there was a shocked expression on the athletes’ faces but soon they were cheering and waving and even giving us little presents! One Czech Republic athlete gave me his Olympic pin! The biggest cheers were for the Georgian athletes. Although saddened at their loss, some of them managed little waves and smiles.

Priscilla Chan, British Columbia, carries the Moroccan flag during the Parade of Nations. She also participated in the closing ceremonies.

As country after country walked into the stadium, I waited impatiently for my athlete and his coach to make their way to the front of the line. He was excited beyond belief as this was his first Olympics. He collected his flag and we quickly introduced ourselves.  Looking up the ramp, I saw the four brightly lit totem poles in the center of the stadium, the flashing lights of thousands of cameras, heard the deafening roar of 60 000 spectators, and began walking.

I only spent four minutes on that field, the quickest four minutes of my life. Before I knew it, my athlete was being shown to his seat. My role in the opening ceremonies was over but in as a little as two weeks, I would be back for the closing ceremonies.

Alumna Priscilla Chan, British Columbia and active, Lia (Emily) Loukas, British Columbia, get ready to lead athletes into BC place during the Olympic Opening Ceremonies.

Have you taken a few minutes to check out the educational programs and resources Kappa offers on our Web site? Beyond resources for officer training and senior programming, the Education tab on the Kappa Web site includes the Kappa Learning Institute, Kappa Trainer program, Kappa webinar series and Leadership Academy.

Three more educational programs will be joining the previously listed programs in the coming months. These include: Kappa Speakers Showcase, Officer Training webinars and GIRLS Academy. If you, your chapter or alumnae association find yourself in need of educational resources, a way to recharge your leadership battery or a fun program to reenergize your weekly meeting, check out the Education tab on the Kappa Web site.

All of these programs were developed through the creativity and skills of the volunteers and staff of the Kappa Education

Department of Education staff at Headquarters

Department. This department of three staff members, located at Kappa Kappa Gamma Headquarters, works tirelessly to ensure Kappa is always at the forefront of educational programming. Included in the group are three bachelor’s degrees in education, theatre and journalism, as well as three master’s degrees in education.

Beyond their credentials and certifications in training and assessments is a passion and enthusiasm for education, technology and the organization of Kappa Kappa Gamma, which makes for powerful and impacting programming for our members. Take time to check out the educational resources available at www.kappa.org today!

Student Enjoys the Games

University of British Columbia active, Emma Wong, of Gamma Upsilon chapter, sends in these photos of her at the ice rink taking in a men’s hockey game at Canada Hockey Place, during a Victory Ceremony at BC Place and in front of the Cauldron with the Olympic flames.

Notes from a Volunteer’s Diary

by Magee Walker, British Columbia

I got the opportunity to volunteer at the Whistler Sliding Centre, where all the sliding sports take place. This was the day that the medals for both women and men skeleton would be announced. I didn’t know much about skeleton prior to my volunteering experience, except for a few races I had seen on TV, but I did learn a lot. For instance, skeleton is actually the safest of the sliding sports, because the athletes can see where they are going. Another thing: the track is much longer than it looks on TV! It is a steep and long walk to get towards the top of the track. Luckily, the volunteers got a shuttle to the top. I was stationed at turn number 5, and my job was to ensure that the spectators behaved properly. One of the biggest issues is flash photography. A flash can blind the athlete, and this is not a good thing when you’re traveling at 140 km/h! Since I was so high up on the track, not very many spectators made the hike up to where I was, making my job very easy. I was able to chat with the spectators and enjoy both the women’s and the men’s events.

Notes from a Volunteer’s Diary

by Magee Walker, British Columbia

My second volunteering shift was scheduled on Thursday at Whistler Creekside. This is where alpine skiing takes place. On Thursday, the women’s combined was the main event of the day, and as it was a medal event, the crowds were pumped! This venue is quite large and I got lost a little trying to check in, but eventually they sent me up the chairlift and I was on my way. The sky was clear blue and the sun was out– I knew it was going to be a great day. While the women did the downhill portion of the event, I was stationed behind the stands in “access control.” I was near the broadcasting entry, and I made sure that only people with the proper accreditation could get through. This was a pretty easy job but since we were in the shade, it got a little cold! Luckily, after our lunch break, I was repositioned for the slalom portion of the event. I was put in the stands to make sure only the proper ticketholders could enter the section. My area held a number of the family members of the athletes, so it was pretty neat seeing them get excited for their daughters/sisters/wives. From where I was standing, I had a perfect view of the event. I was able to see all the athletes do their runs, and I also got to see the flower ceremony at the end, where the medals were announced. The highlight of my day at Whistler Creekside took place when John Furlong, the president of VANOC (the Vancouver Olympic Committee, who organize the entire Olympics), came to see me to shake my hand. He told me I was doing a great job and asked if I was enjoying myself. I definitely did enjoy myself– with some of the best seats in the house on one of the most beautiful February days I have ever seen, how could I not?!

Student Assists Arriving Athletes in her “Canada Mobile”

Alex Thureau, Gamma Upsilon, writes…

After years of planning and anticipation, the world has arrived and come together in a remarkable way. Everywhere you turn is a smile, a laugh, a conversation with a newly found friend from miles away. A soft buzz of energy permeates the streets while the Olympic torch proudly burns, nestled by the serene ocean and breathtaking mountains in the distance. There is great spirit, camaraderie and a sense of celebration and hope among locals and visitors alike. People are joyfully partaking in all the city has to offer and it’s not uncommon to see a confused face with a map quickly met by a point in the right direction, or signal to join together and proceed as one. The world has indeed united as one and us Gamma Upsilon “Canuck” gals aren’t missing out a minute of the action!

As Kappas we are proudly ’sporting’ our motto of A Tradition of Leadership, and we can be spotted in a multitude of roles helping to make these Olympics a smashing success. From torch bearing to dancing in the ceremonies to overseeing operations at Canada Hockey place, we’re there!

My newly dubbed “Canada Mobile” takes me to the Vancouver International Airport (’YVR’) where I am playing my role in welcoming the world! As a Customer Service representative it’s my honour to be one of the first faces greeting and assisting arriving athletes, officials, and spectators. Over the past month I have served and directed countless passengers and will continue doing so through to the end of the Paralympics. I am most looking forward to March 1st as it is ‘D-Day’ at YVR – so named because it will be the busiest departure day in the history of the airport with three times the number of passengers we’ve ever had depart on a given day. I will be an air side escort, and will undoubtedly see a plethora of athletes – maybe I’ll even brush arms with a Gold metal winner! It’s a high paced environment and I feel so lucky to be playing a role in these games.

University Students get in the Spirit

University of British Columbia actives from Gamma Upsilon chapter , Holland Stuart, left and Emma Wong, sign in to participate in the UBC Olympic Torch Flash Mob, organized by UBC students that entailed dance and cheer routines, similar to a pep rally. Several actives in the chapter are involved as volunteers during the Olympics in Vancouver and chapter Public Relations chair, Chelsea Sang, will be posting future articles about their various activities.

Notes from a Volunteer’s Diary

Volunteer Helps Raise Funds for Amateur Athletes

Active Yvonne Ho, Gamma Upsilon chapter, British Columbia, writes…

Although I had seen the construction and heard the countdown, it hadn’t set in for me that the Olympics were in Vancouver until the Opening Ceremonies on Friday. I went downtown to watch and it was so amazing to see everyone dressed head-to-toe in red and white. “Proud and Loud” is the perfect phrase to describe the Olympics fever. Canadian pride is evident wherever you go in this city.

As a contract volunteer for the Olympics, I don’t get to sport the lovely jacket and toque like Magee. I am volunteering for a charity organization that is raising money for Own the Podium, which funds amateur athletes. I have the privilege of volunteering at the men’s and women’s hockey games, and curling. I had my first volunteer shift today, women’s hockey Russia vs. USA. It was tiring but such an amazing experience. I never thought it would be this fun. I actually spoke to an athlete who competed during the 1970’s. She was so happy to hear that there was more fundraising for amateur athletes. She told me how difficult it was for her to train and work part-time. It was so nice to hear that what I was doing would make such an impact.

After my shift ended, I even had the chance of watching the game! I was so shocked at the seats given to us; we were right in the action! The score was already 11-0 for USA but fans for Russia never lost hope. Americans were even caught cheering for Russia because they wanted to see at least 1 goal. But of course, USA won 13-0.