Alpha Chi Omega - University of Kansas

G reetings, Phi sisters! Believe it or not, formal recruitment season is here! In 2016- 17, the chapter excelled in philanthropy and campus leadership, and Phi Chapter is primed for an amazing start to the 2017-18 year! KU's recruitment has grown significantly over the past five years and, as a result, many of our processes and procedures for managing recommendations have changed. Here is a brief overview of how the recommendation process works and how you can help the chapter this recruitment season. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Recommendations are NECESSARY for membership. With more than 1,000 potential new members (PNMs) registering for recruitment at KU, the chapter has to find a way to focus on the PNMs who are the best fit for the chapter. Recruitment leaders and advisors read every recommendation submitted. The information you provide is crucial. The more detail and information you give us, the better. Recommendation forms are now submitted online through Alpha Chi Omega's website, but we also welcome additional communication about PNMs via e-mail to Collegiate Recruitment Information Board Advisor Anna Clovis Ritchie '01 at annaclovisritchie@gmail. com or VP-CRIC Rebecca Hans '14 at axophicric@gmail.com. 2. What should you put in a recommendation? Tell us the things that are hard to evaluate during recruitment: character, financial responsibility, and insight into her personality that might not come across in a 25-minute round of recruitment. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DUE JULY 1, 2017. In past years, we've allowed recommendations up to the first day of recruitment. We now have too many PNMs to properly manage receipt of recommendations that late in the process. Please try to provide your information by mid-summer so we can make sure your recommendation gets the attention it deserves! 4. Do not worry about securing multiple recommendations. One good, complete recommendation is better than three incomplete recommendations. LEGACIES Phi Chapter follows Alpha Chi Omega's national legacy policy. Legacies are women whose mothers, sisters, or grandmothers (including step-relationships) are Alpha Chi Omegas. All legacies identified and known by the chapter are invited back to the chapter for Philanthropy Day following Open House round (the first day of recruitment). That is the only guaranteed invitation legacies will receive. If a legacy is present at Alpha Chi Omega during Preference round (the last day of recruitment), she will be on the chapter's final bid list. The chapter truly loves meeting and recruiting legacies. Women understand and respect the legacy relationship. However, with the increase in recruitment size and Phi Chapter's age and large number of alumnae, a significant number of legacies participate in recruitment each year, almost enough to fill a separate new member class alone. The chapter simply cannot extend membership to them all. The decisions are extremely difficult. So, what helps a legacy become a member of Phi? First, we have to know a woman is a legacy. If you know a legacy going through recruitment at KU, please tell her to self-identify as a legacy on her recruitment registration form. Then, please reach out to our recruitment team to tell them a legacy is on the way. Our preference is to know about legacies in the spring before they go through recruitment. Please do not leave it to the recruitment registration form or a recommendation to notify us about a legacy. Second, legacies who show and express enthusiasm for Alpha Chi Omega do better in recruitment than those who do not. Often I hear feedback on legacies from members along the lines of, "She was very nice, but I had a lot of trouble figuring out whether she really enjoyed being at Alpha Chi." Encourage your legacy to take the mystery out of the equation. OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP Please save the date for our annual recruitment Open House, scheduled for the afternoon of August 12, 2017. More details can be found on our alumnae Facebook page. You won't want to miss it! We are looking forward to hearing from and seeing you this summer as we prepare for another fantastic formal recruitment! Loyally, Anna Clovis Ritchie '01 Collegiate Recruitment Information Board (CRIB) Advisor annaclovisritchie@gmail.com N O T E S O F T H E L Y R E | P A G E 4 ACW Prepares for Another Strong Recruitment This Fall Help Us Recruit the Best Women for Our Sisterhood IN MEMORIAM Helen Ward Hogan '47 passed away in Prairie Village, Kan., on September 17, 2016. She was a member of P.E.O., AGO, and Milburn Country Club; a volunteer on many church committees; and a lover of travel, music, KU sports, and Chiefs football. Helen is survived by her daughters, Nancy Hogan Koons, who is a KU Kappa Kappa Gamma alumna, and Sallie Hogan Wandling, who is a KU Delta Gamma alumna. Joan Happy James '47 passed away as a resident of Raymore, Mo. Lila Hyten Stites '47 passed away on September 22, 2016, in Manhattan, Kan. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, John, two sons, and three grandchildren. Lila was very active in many community and church affairs in Manhattan. She will be missed dearly by family, friends, and Phi sisters. Lora Dunmire Rhudy '49 passed away on May 27, 2015, as a resident of Raleigh, N.C. Sara Meador "Ellen" Tracy '55 passed away on October 2, 2015, as a resident of Lawrence, Kan. After graduating from college, she attended Wichita State University, where she received her bachelor's degree in English, and Washburn University, where she received her Juris Doctor with honors. She was a member of the P.E.O., Kansas University Women, and the KU Alumni Association. She also served as senior warden of Trinity Episcopal Church in Lawrence. Ellen was an attorney who retired from Martin, Pringle et al. in Wichita. Sibyl Riekenberg Kerr '59 passed away on August 14, 2016, as a resident of Washington, Mo. After graduating from KU, Sibyl worked many years in the Columbia and Boonville school districts. After moving to St. Louis, she enjoyed working in the St. Louis County Library. She was a faithful volunteer at St. Peter's Food Pantry, the Washington Public Library, and was an active member of Chapter CD, P.E.O. Suzanne McComas Williams '68 passed away on February 22, 2015, at the age of 65 after a long illness. After graduating from KU, Suzie pursued a master's degree in special education at Kansas State University. She taught school at USD 501 for 26 years before retiring in 2012. Suzie was a faithful member of Grace Cathedral (Episcopal), where she was ALUMNAE UPDATE

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