Chi Omega - University of Kansas

pg. 3 Chi Omega K aren Maginn Burton '85 and Coki Reardon '85 have always been the perfect pair. The connection started when the two lived across the hall from each other as freshmen and strengthened as they navigated their college years side by side. Today, the team has transitioned their friendship and respective talents into a business partnership through Coki Bijoux Fine Jewelry, a boutique nestled in the historic Kansas City Crossroads Art District. Since opening the storefront in 2015, Coki Bijoux has offered a French-inspired collection with nods to bohemian style. Drawing from her eight years as a jewelry making apprentice in Paris, Coki, who serves as the sole jewelry designer, hopes to bring those experiences back to her hometown of Kansas City. While the business stands successful today, it might not have been possible without the encouragement and a bit of friendly persistence from Karen. When Coki returned to Kansas City, she started a jewelry studio as a side project, which continued for close to a decade. Then as ownership of the studio space changed, Coki acquired a retail space in the same location. She was uncertain of what to do with the new territory, though, until Karen presented a gracious offer. "Probably once a month or so, our Chi Omega girlfriends would get together for lunch so we could catch up," Coki recalls. "And I kept complaining about what I was going to do since I worked fulltime. Karen kept saying, 'Well I can help you.' One time it finally sunk in, and I'm like, 'OK! That would be great!'" Since that fateful lunch outing, Karen has provided the business acumen to the partnership as she administers social media, financials, and nearly every other managerial aspect of the shop. On top of these responsibilities, Karen also assists Coki and their associate, Audrey, with bringing the designs to life. As pledge sisters in Lambda Chapter, continuing their connection through Coki Bijoux has been a way to draw upon the fun they started a few decades prior. "Some of our very best friends are Chi Os," Karen said. "And the handful that live here in Kansas City, we still get together probably about once a month at least to either go to lunch or go out. We had so much fun in college, and we're still having fun." For Coki, her time in Chi Omega started as a way to provide a small community within a large university. The sorority did provide that sense of comfort, but it also morphed into so much more. "Chi O was the start of our friendship for sure," Coki said. "We were kind of glued at the hip, all of us. Every pledge class thinks theirs is the best, but ours was the best." For those who haven't been to the shop, Coki and Karen offer an open invitation. You can find out more about their line at www.cokibijoux.com or contact@ cokibijoux.com. Lambda Chapter Sisters Bring Paris to the Plains with Fine Jewelry Boutique in KC Crossroads An Update from a Sister: Strength and Support Carries Across Miles W henever I talk about the accident, a lot of it feels surreal and as if the person I'm talking about couldn't have been me. Overall, I'm worlds better than where I was. I still deal with day- to-day pain in my hip area (where the two 6.5 inch rods are for life), back issues and random swelling/ tenderness where some of the plates are in my face. BUT I am elated to say that I can run with almost no pain and have a goal to PR in a half-marathon by the one-year anniversary of the accident (March 5). The neurologists still monitor my dissected arteries but last I heard these were healing at a normal pace. And as far as surgeries, I have hopefully only one or two more for my teeth/ mouth in the new year. Oh, and the answer to the one question I get more than any: No, they never caught the driver. I still say I am beyond blessed to have come out the way I did, and I really am just happy to have my mobility and my brain. If you had told me in March when I couldn't even lift my arms and legs or sit up in bed that I would be running seven miles in October, I would have said you are crazy! I owe a lot of my recovery to the support and love of many, so I sincerely thank the women of Chi Omega. LICO always and Rock Chalk! Elizabeth Romme '14 Elizabeth.romme@gmail.com President Jennifer Bryan '16 Vice President Natalie Rainbolt '17 Secretary Katie Trigg '17 Treasurer Anne Arney '17 New Member Educator Meghan Kindel '17 Personnel Chairman Jess Cate '17 Recruitment Chairman Elle Clouse '17 House Manager Erica Arensberg '17 Social Chairman Macie Evans '17 Panhellenic Delegate Ellie Gossman '17 Director of Programming Koree Case '17 2018 Chapter Officers

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