The Update | January 24, 2017

Grand Council Action 

The name of a subject matter expert follows each topic listed. Please reach out directly to her/him with questions or comments. Be sure to watch The Update for additional information on many of these topics.

January 10 Meeting: Grand Council reviewed the financial audit and tax returns for the year ending June 30, 2016. (Director of Finance Jeff Risser, Fraternity Vice President/Audit Committee Chairman Jane Dick)

January 20-22 Meeting:

• In accordance with Section 512 of the Internal Revenue Code, set aside $580,282 (interest, dividends, royalty income, and realized gains). (Jeff Risser);
• Considered three alumnae initiate candidates (Director of Alumnae Engagement Liz Drake);
• Granted a charter to reestablish the Sacramento Alumnae Chapter. Alumnae District Director Robyn Powell and Liz Drake will install the chapter (Liz Drake);
• Granted a charter to establish a chapter at Sacred Heart University, if invited to do so by the college Panhellenic association. If invited, the chapter would be installed in the fall. (Director of Chapter Services Kelley Hurst);
• Rebalanced college district boundaries (Kelley Hurst); and
• Endorsed a statement on membership eligibility, pending review by legal counsel (Director of Education & Leadership Melissa Shaub).

In addition to these action items, the board engaged in discussions on the following:

• Housing (FHC Executive Director Teresa Smith, FHC President Mary Jane Beach);
• National Panhellenic Conference (NPC Delegate/Ritualist Amy Kates, CEO Betsy Corridan);
• Theta Foundation Development Plan (Foundation Executive Director Kristen Kaiser, Foundation President Mary Ellen Fitzsimonds);
• Enterprise Risk Management (Fraternity Vice President Mandy Wushinske, COO Jenni Schmaltz);
• Plan of Aspirations (Jenni Schmaltz);
• Health of College Chapters (Kelley Hurst, College Committee Chairman Laura Locke);
• Marketing and Brand Strategy (Director of Marketing Julianne Butler); and
• Education & Leadership Philosophy and Programming (Melissa Shaub).

Workforce Update

Laura Locke, college committee chairman, is delighted to announce that Grand Council has appointed Katie Johnson Schmitz, Gamma Phi/Texas Tech, as college district director. Katie will serve in College District V where she has been serving as the recruitment and Panhellenic district director. Thank you to Stacey Martin who recently retired as CDD in the district.

College Districts Revisions

Laura Locke, college committee chairman, is pleased to announce that Grand Council has endorsed a revision of districts for college chapters. The district revisions accommodate the Fraternity’s successful extension program as well as our mega chapters. (Mega chapters are college chapters whose active membership is more than 225.) Currently, the Fraternity has 29 college chapters that have more than 225 members. Six of those have more than 300 members, and one has more than 400 members. The realigned district structure will be effective mid-February. Stay tuned for additional information and please note that district directors who are affected by the change are aware.

Quarterly Reports

Beginning in January 2016, staff began providing Council with quarterly reports. The purpose of these reports is to offer data outside of what is reported in the monthly Plan of Aspirations update, yet is important to the overall health of the organization. We realized it might be of interest to some of you as well. These reports are in Igloo>Files>Quarterly Reports.

Recent Theta Blogs

• 2017 Founders Day and Friendship Fund Message
• Advancing Sorority Together: How Chapters Can Support the Panhellenic Community
• New Year, Better (But Not New) You: Healthy Goal Setting

Social Media Snapshot

Founders Day 2017: In just three days, Theta will celebrate her 147^th Founders Day! Please continue to send Founders Day celebration photos to socialmedia@kappaalphatheta.org for inclusion on social media, the website, and the Magazine. Follow all the Founders Day excitement on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat (kappaalphatheta), and please use #Theta1870 when sharing photos to your social networks!

Social Media Advisory: Theta headquarters has received inquiries from college chapter advisors regarding political posts on social media. As stated in Article I, Section 11 of the Fraternity Bylaws, “The Fraternity shall not endorse nor shall be represented as having endorsed a political cause or candidate in a non-campus campaign. This prohibition shall not restrict an individual member’s right to endorse a political cause or candidate or a candidate identifying herself as a member of the Fraternity.”

Many college chapters posted on social media about members attending political marches this weekend. While we are not asking for those posts to be removed, please consider reminding officers of the Bylaws passage on political causes moving forward. Official chapter social media profiles represent Theta as a whole, and as such, chapter officers should keep the following in mind when posting on behalf of Theta.

• Overtly political content should be avoided. Content should be inclusive of all members of Kappa Alpha Theta and the wide range of political beliefs held.
• Content should be positive and appropriate. Posts denouncing certain political figures/parties or stating a political viewpoint are not appropriate for official chapter accounts.
• Chapters are welcome to post content supporting women’s empowerment, but please avoid policy-related topics and posts about events representing a specific political agenda.
• Avoid specific Theta references when posting about politics on personal social media accounts. This includes: Theta letters or hand symbols, Theta gear like T-shirts and flags, using Theta-related hashtags, etc. As stated in the Bylaws, one’s personal political beliefs should not be associated with one’s Theta membership.
• All content should adhere to the policies stated in Theta’s Social Media Guidelines and Marketing Handbook.

If you have any further questions, please contact Digital Media Manager Lauren Palmer with any questions.

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