Kappa Alpha Theta - Purdue University

Theta Kite Alpha Chi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta • Established at Purdue University in 1915 • Fall 2017 AlphA Chi WelComes NeW FACility CorporAtioN members Thank You, Retiring Board Members T he Alpha Chi Chapter owes a great debt of gratitude to the retired Facility Corporation board members. Over the past six years they helped raise over $1 million, retired the mortgage, and renovated the public areas of the house. In addition, they revamped our legal documents and contracts, gathered much of our historical data and artifacts, master-minded our centennial celebration, and connected with the Purdue organizations supporting Greek life. Because the Alpha Chi Chapter includes a house, we have a supporting structure of four partners. The board includes active members, volunteer advisors to the actives, and elected alumnae. The fourth partner is the house director (formerly House Mother). Mary Guckien is working very hard to meet a wide variety of expectations and we look forward to working with her. Membership selection has really changed since our "good old days." The number of new members is assigned based on the number of women going through recruitment. The objective is that all prospective members receive an offer. National Panhellenic and Theta nationals established this system. With a live-in capacity of 106, and with 15 seniors living out next year, our active leadership has been impressive to watch as they try to develop methods and policies to keep the Theta spirit alive for those who live out. Nearly half of our actual residents are brand new and will be henceforth. Therefore, we have a learning curve relating to house rules. Sometimes it seems like we should call them "Rules of Engagement." The job of the House Corporation is to work with the actives and house director to balance the needs and wishes of the actives with the safety and maintenance of the house itself. Because our predecessors have done such a masterful job, our new board has the luxury of taking a step back and reviewing what requires our attention. Some major projects may be lurking such as a roof or a kitchen update. We have also begun to set aside the $600,000 recommended by Theta Headquarters as a contingency account. We have over $150,000 and will hopefully add to it every year. The new board sees the pride Thetas have for our Alpha Chi Chapter and we look forward to serving. Loyally, Elaine Rush Haehl '69 Facility Corporation Board President erhaehl@comcast.net Four members of the new 2017-20 Facility Corporation Board helped cut the special "mortgage burning" cake. Pictured are Nancy Schneider Eldridge '69, Elaine Rush Haehl '69, Peggy Fawcett Edwards '69, and Katie Baugh Nielsen '69. Lorene McCormick Burkhart '52 Credits Theta for Her High- Achieving Mindset L orene McCormick Burkhart '52 joined Kappa Alpha Theta because she knew some older women that were already in the chapter. "I went to a small rural high school. These girls were already in the house and that helped me feel connected," Lorene says. "Joining was a connection thing." Lorene is a woman of many passions. She started out as a teacher after graduating Purdue with a degree in home economics. From then, she went on to have an extensive and diversified career. Lorene went from working in public relations to appearing on radio and TV representing her clients. Lorene's job sometimes required a bit of travel and when that was the case, she even found a way to give back while she was working. "I coordinated my travel schedule so I could arrange to speak at women's groups," Lorene says. "I was one of the few woman executives at the time and I wanted to tell women how they could think differently about their lives and capabilities." As Lorene continued to speak to women's groups and her career moved forward, she discovered something else she was passionate about: family relationships. Lorene is the founding donor of Purdue's Center for Families, a research facility that studies the ins and outs of family relationships. "I feel strongly about how family relationships are built and maintained," Lorene says. An involved woman her entire life, Lorene says her involvement with Theta is what instilled the go-getter mentality in her. "Theta had several women who received recognition and I think that was a real emphasis for me to live with that kind of environment, of expecting to be the best," Lorene says. Throughout Lorene's life she has encountered many successful, kind women. "It just reinforced that Theta selects people who have the potential of achieving and encourages them to reach that potential," she says. Lorene is still active in her community as she is the president of her resident's association and sits on boards at three different universities. In 2016, she was an Old Master at Purdue. Most recently, she hosted a symposium entitled Status of Indiana Families: Issues and Answers on October 19. Lorene lives in Carmel, Ind., and can be reached at l.burkhart@sbcglobal.net.

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