Wichita, Kansas
KAPPA ALPHA THETA Alumnae Chapter
Chapter History: 1922-2007

The Wichita Alumnae Chapter was founded in 1922 with Frances Strickland as its first President. Through the years, Frances continued to remain an active, integral member of our Chapter and was admired and respected by us all. She died in 1998 at the age of 101!

The first membership directory we have is dated 1929, which lists thirty-four members, two functions a year plus monthly meetings. We currently have an informative hard cover, 3-ring loose leaf directory which makes updating simpler than a booklet form.

During the years that the Institute of Logopedics (IOL) was Kappa Alpha Theta’s national philanthropy, we had the advantage of working directly with the IOL because it was located in Wichita. One area of several resident apartments for the clients was named THETA COURT, and our alumnae members enjoyed doing things for these apartments and their residents. We held “kitchen showers” to provide utensils, plus we planted flowers and did weeding in their small gardens. The most fun was when we held work sessions and made curtains and creatively decorated bulletin boards for each bedroom. We also collected Campbell Soup and Swanson labels, which the IOL used to purchase playground equipment.

Since CASA has become Theta’s philanthropy, our Chapter has helped the local CASA of Sedgwick County with financial donations and in other ways. In December 2002, our members gave a Christmas party for the children that had been helped by CASA that year. We choose the location, planned the food, decorations, entertainment and made favors for each child. In 2003 and 2004, we helped CASA by putting together their annual VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION DINNER. We selected the restaurant and menu, chose the theme, made the invitations and table decorations and suggested possible speakers. Both evenings were successful. In 2006 and 2007, we have played an integral role in the planning of their annual fundraiser CASAino Night, being responsible for the decorations and overall planning of the event. Two of our members serve as CASA Board members and their recent Past President is the husband of one of our members.

As to fund raising, for about twenty-five years our Alumnae Chapter sponsored a large Antique and Boutique Show which was held in Wichita each Fall. We were in charge of the Boutique and food areas, preparing and serving meals, sandwiches, drinks and desserts. Our food counter was open during all the hours of the three-day show. We found that this project was a good way to involve new Theta alums in the area, and interest them in joining our chapter. It was tiring work, but fun and profitable! The last three years of this show were held at Wichita’s Botanical Gardens. For two years we had an entertaining dinner and Bingo evening with husbands and guests, at a county club. Our membership donated the nice, unusual or outrageous prizes.

In 2004 we decided to update our fund-raising efforts and changed to a sale of hardy mums for fall planting. We took pre-paid orders from relatives, friends and neighbors and the mums were available for distribution at our September meeting. Each year we have made over $1500! Our Alumnae Board meets after a fund-raiser to decide the distribution of the funds. In addition to our Theta commitments, we have donated various amounts to local charities and the three Kansas Active Chapters (University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Washburn University).

Currently, Wichita has no university that is host to a Theta chapter, but that does not keep our Alumnae Chapter from being actively involved in our state chapters. In addition to providing financial support to these chapters, we have planned mother/daughter brunches over the Thanksgiving holiday and have sent finals goodie bags to the college women. In addition, when an area woman pledges Theta at any college or university, our Board sends her a “congratulations” gift from the Wichita Alumnae Chapter.

The Social Chairman of our Alumnae Chapter has always been a popular position as they have been responsible for planning a variety of events to interest all ages. Examples of past events include family picnics, jewelry parties, programs and speakers, holiday discount “shopping sprees” in gift shops or book stores, wine tasting parties, and tours of Wichita’s Frank Lloyd Wright house. To kick off our Theta year, we have an annual Salad Supper in September where members have a chance to reconnect after the summer. Each December we have a Christmas party with husbands or dates, the dinner and dessert catered or provided by Board members. In recent years, this has been a progressive dinner held in three Theta homes near each other.

We hold our annual Founder’s Day celebration in January at country clubs or nice restaurants. We have tried both brunches and dinners and both are always well attended. In addition to ritual, we award 50 year Theta pins, have an occasional speaker or program and also introduce the member who has been chosen THETA OF THE YEAR. Her name is kept secret until the previous year’s recipient gives a brief biographical sketch of the new honoree, and presents her with an engraved gold charm. It is heartwarming to see these gold charms on past recipients of this award as it is tradition to always wear them to our Founder’s Day event.

For many years our Chapter has joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Chapters in the annual TRIAD event. Each alumnae group takes turns being in charge of the arrangements. There is a speaker or program and it is always an enjoyable time socializing together. Kappa Alpha Theta Alumnae Chapter was recently host to this event in 2007 where we planned a TRIAD FIESTA complete with an evening of Bingo at a local country club.

We continue to participate in the Wichita Panhellenic Organization. Our alumnae chapter participates in Panhellenic fund-raising efforts by attending their annual luncheon card party and selling greenery for their winter greens fundraiser. These events raise scholarship money for scholarships for area high school women. These women are recommended by their high school counselors. These scholarships are presented to the recipients at the President’s Tea, attend by current Alumnae Presidents, Panhellenic Representatives and alternates. The Panhellenic Presidency is rotated each year between the participating chapters. A Theta is getting ready to take the President Elect position and will serve as Panhellenic President in 2009-2010.

Our communication with our members has changed over the years with the advancement in technology. Our Editor continues to send a quarterly newsletter, listing future events and alumnae news. For special occasions, invitations are also sent. The chapter is currently looking to establish a website to continue to communicate the business of the chapter with our members.

As in other alumnae groups, ways to increase membership are always a concern. Another of our valued members, Elizabeth Kagey (Liz), was for many years Theta’s Permanent Alumnae Secretary for Kansas. She knew about new Thetas moving into the area before they got unpacked! She was extremely informed and dedicated, and was a special member of our Chapter. Liz died in 1984 and is still missed. Presently, there are approximately 300 Thetas living in the Wichita area with our Wichita Alumnae Chapter having 75 dues paying members. There are 15 Board members, and since many are fairly young, they have great ideas and energy. All of us here continue to enjoy the bonds of sisterhood which link us together, and feel lucky to be Kappa Alpha Thetas!

Respectfully submitted,

Anna Wilson Mills (Kappa, 1957) Past President, Historian-Archivist