#KAPPAKAPPAGAMMA
By Stephanie Mathias, West Virginia, Fraternity PR Chairman
Following, liking, friending, pinning, trending, hashtagging – the list goes on! These terms that seemed unfamiliar just a few years ago are now part of our everyday language. There’s no doubt that social media has brought a new dynamic to the way we communicate and exchange ideas, and the Fraternity is no exception. We love (not just “like”) all of the interaction we’re able to enjoy through photos shared, achievements tweeted, and inspirations pinned. It used to be that we had to wait until a biennial Province Meeting or Convention to connect with Kappas outside of our geographical area, but social media has changed the way and frequency with which we’re able to interact with each other.
Each social media outlet provides a unique opportunity to connect with Kappa. It is our goal to inspire readers through our stories posted on our blog. (We’re always searching for guest bloggers!) Twitter has been invaluable in sharing the news we’re hearing from coast to coast with short and sweet tweets. Through Twitter and Facebook, we’ve been able to share everything from scholastic shout-outs to philanthropic news to praise for other Panhellenic achievements. Our members can foster professional relationships through our LinkedIn group. And Pinterest … well, we’re continuing to evaluate the most effective way to utilize it, but in the meantime, we’re having fun, getting inspired, and we can’t seem to pin enough owls, keys and fleur-de-lis!
While we’re embracing social media, we’re also encouraging our members to practice safe social media usage. There are risks associated with living in a digital age and now, more than ever, it is critical to stay up to date on smart sharing. (Sounds like a great chapter programming idea, for any officers reading!) Our Social Media Guidelines are a great resource for our chapters and associations.
The explosion of different social networks in the last few years has allowed Kappas to unite all over the world! We’re connected, for sure, and anticipate continued growth with our social media networks. We’ve just surpassed 30,000 followers on Facebook, 11,000 followers on Twitter, 1,400 followers on Pinterest and almost 10,000 members in our LinkedIn group. If you haven’t joined us, please do! Our hope is that our social networks can connect not just Kappa with its members, but also the other Panhellenic groups, other Greek-letter organizations, and especially Kappas with other Kappas.
Have questions about social media? Email us at socialmedia@kkg.org!