Kappa Delta - Florida State University

Always ink of KD 4 Kappa Alpha Recruitment Impact T his fall, over 1,600 collegians (not a typo) came through recruitment at Florida State University. That's 1,600 women who got to see our beautiful and newly renovated, updated and enlarged home at 555 West Jefferson Street. So much has changed, yet so much remains the same. This year our quota was 75—51 primary (freshmen) and 24 secondary (sophomores and juniors). Kappa Delta pledged quota, to include 14 legacies (13 KA legacies). Please come meet your new sisters, visit your beautiful KD home, and continue to support the House Corporation campaign efforts. From Aubrey Lobban '15, vice president of membership: "When I was a potential new member in 2015, I looked up to the women in Kappa Alpha and not only wanted to be a part of their sisterhood, but also knew I wanted to eventually have a role in the most crucial aspect of membership: recruitment. My feelings toward formal recruitment mirror those of a 5 year old on Christmas morning. These feelings of excitement emerge every year at the thought of being able to show potential new members a glimpse into what it's like to be a Kappa Delta woman. My anticipation reached its peak in early August when I stepped into our newly renovated foyer for the first time. I was overwhelmed by the thought of my sisters being able to recruit a new pledge class that stands honorable, beautiful, and highest within the most elegant home on campus. Our new foyer and informal/formal living rooms made for the most ideal recruitment sanctuary. I am constantly inspired by the confidence and morale of the woman in Kappa Alpha. During the two busy weeks of recruitment, this confidence and morale was heightened. One of the contributing factors to this stems from the gratitude our sisters have for being able to call such a beautiful house home." Carmen Roberson Greiner, the Giver A Gi of Sisterhood and Life By: Susan Casey Boucher '87 I turned 50 years old this September. When I was 17, I graduated high school, started college at Florida State University, and pledged Kappa Delta. One would think that in 33 years, the best of sorority life would have passed, but that is not the case for me and many of my sisters who are the "ΚΔ Ladies of the '80s." After graduation, years passed while we were busy with relationships, careers, parenting and all the "life" moments that leave little time to spend with sorority sisters of past. But reflecting on the rapid passage of time, several of us decided we needed to have a reunion. The perfect opportunity was the sisterhood celebration and reunion at the ΚΔ house September 22- 24, 2017. For many of us, it marked the first time since graduation that we had been back to our home on 555 West Jefferson. As we were deep in the planning of our reunion that would rekindle the experiences of "rush," being initiated into Kappa Delta, and living together with our sisters, little did we know what was facing us. One of our most beloved sisters, our chapter president, our shining smile and bundle of energy, Carmen Roberson Greiner '86, was facing the battle of her life. Sweet, faithful, and loving Carmen passed away just one day before we were set to gather to celebrate our sisterhood. To honor Carmen, we agreed the reunion should go on and we celebrated her life of devotion to her family, her faith, and her sisters. At our homecoming at the ΚΔ house, we circled in the foyer with Kappa Alphas representing seven decades of sisterhood and sang the songs that have rung in our ears naturally for years. We could feel Carmen with us. Less than a week following the reunion, ΚΔ Ladies of the '80s gathered at Carmen's funeral. It was in that Ocala cathedral that we truly learned through the stories from hometown friends and family, the strength of her husband, Auggie, and loving eyes of her precious daughter, Grayson, what a giver Carmen was. "Carmen was an organ donor" is what the preacher said. She said that Carmen will give the gift of life multiple times over. Meet Aaron Mickel. On the very day that we were devastated with the loss of our Carmen, he and his wife, Stephanie, their darling baby daughter, Rowan, his twin sister, his parents, and entire family were anxiously awaiting his second chance at life. Four times before, his hopes of a double lung transplant had resulted in a "dry-run" of the incredibly challenging surgery that could save his life. They had cried, prayed, cursed, questioned and ultimately yielded to their faith that a donor would be the match that Aaron needed. Yes, it was our Carmen who gave. She gave the gift of life to Aaron. Aaron received Carmen's lungs and he breathes Carmen's life. We can always feel Carmen's life because she gave. Be a giver. Thank you, Carmen, for always giving. Give some love to Aaron through his wife's blog: #MickelStrong https://mickelstrong.wordpress.com/ And give to the Kappa Alpha House Corporation campaign: tinyurl.com/KDFSUDonate

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