sigma kappa 2012-2013 annual report Dear Sigma Kappa Sisters, It has been a little over a year since I was installed as national president of Sigma Kappa. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve our membership in this capacity. National council has many exciting things to communicate with you on the many activities of this past year. On behalf of Sigma Kappa Sorority national 2012-2014 council, it is my honor and privilege to share with you the Annual Report for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. This overview will describe the completed work of the Sorority and allow greater insight as to the future planning that will move Sigma Kappa on a path forward. national council Many collegiate chapter officers and volunteers experienced the regional leadership conferences this summer. This was a huge undertaking for the organization with new programming content and logistical challenges National President to hold seven separate conferences. It is through the dedication and perseverance of our programming team Cheri De Jong 4 that this was accomplished. The positive feedback that we have received was incredible, and simply attests to the fact that our need to provide regional leadership training to our members is critical. National VP for Alumnae Amy Denson Our national headquarters continues to make investments in technology and to improve communications with our members. New website updates and features are proving to be very popular with all members, as well as increased National VP for Collegiate Chapters utilization of social media to keep our membership better informed with accurate and relevant information. Carol Beth Ivory National VP for Membership Finally, our national council has spent the past year having many strategic discussions. Throughout this process, we have developed a strategic plan that was just unveiled to our membership in early October, The Path Forward. Sara Chacon National council feels it's very important to be transparent with our strategic plan and provide clear direction from the National VP for Extension leadership as to the future of the Sorority. Sarah Womble As you will see throughout this report, many great things are happening in our organization. None of this would National VP for Programming happen, however, without the dedication, loyalty and service of our boots on the ground volunteers. Advisors, Courtney Panik corporation board members, national officers, Foundation trustees, NHC board and others tirelessly serve the National VP for Communication organization by making sure that all our members have a best in class sorority experience, whether collegiate or alumnae. These volunteers are truly living our values of personal growth, friendship, service and loyalty. Together, Janel Reedy we are making a difference in the lives of members throughout the country as part of this tremendous sisterhood. National VP for Finance Loyally in Sigma Kappa, Andi Sligh Cheri Morrise Cheri Morrell De Jong, Epsilon Omega 2012-2014 National President collegiate extension Over the past year, Sigma Kappa has had two 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 extremely successful colonizations and established membership Chapters 113 112 109 110 plans for several years of future growth. Number of chapter members 13,007 11,990 11,171 10,911 In fall 2012, the recolonization of our Epsilon Mu Chapter at the University of Missouri marked recruitment Chapters reaching quota within the year* 93% 94% 89% 81% the largest colonization in Sigma Kappa's history. Chapters achieving quota the same semester* 90% On Dec. 3, 2012, 232 members - including 29 84% 72% 70% mothers of colony members - were initiated into Chapters at or above total* 87% 94% 84% 81% the Epsilon Mu Chapter. This was the largest *Based on paid new member and per capita fees. Initiation ceremony in Sigma Kappa's history. In spring 2013, Sigma Kappa colonized its fifth chapter in Massachusetts at Northeastern University, located in Boston. The extremely successful highlights Total membership as of May 31, 2013 was 151,582. colonization of the Kappa Omega Chapter added Number of undergraduates pledged to Sigma Kappa in 2012-2013 was 5,006. 100 members to the national organization. Total women initiated into Sigma Kappa in 2012-2013 was 4,668, for a 94 percent initiation rate. Throughout the year, the extension team submitted materials and participated in on-campus presentations at several colleges/ universities. As a result of the extension team's academic 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 efforts, Sigma Kappa was chosen for several upcoming colonizations. Sigma Kappa will excellence 3.13 3.11 3.13 3.10 3.07 3.08 3.02 3.01 colonize at the following: Sigma Kappa's collegiate chapters have continued to excel in academics. The spring overall GPA was Spring Hill College: Mobile, Ala. 3.15 and fall GPA was 3.11 for an overall 2012-2013 GPA of 3.13. spring 2014 The University of Tampa: Tampa, Fla. fall 2015/fall 2016 American University: Washington, D.C. standards of 2012* 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005* 2004 spring 2015 - spring 2017 Three Star 6% 15% 7% 12% 29% 20% 11% 13% 12% excellence Two Star 13% 18% 19% 15% 21% 14% 12% 11% 9% One Star 28% 32% 30% 24% 8% 21% 19% 32% 15% Total % 47% 65% 56% 51% 58% 55% 42% 56% 36% Fifty-two collegiate chapters received recognition for their achievements in the Standards of Excellence (SOE) program during 2012. finance revenues 2012-2013 revenues expenses Member Services, $230,703, The Sorority's financial position 6.19% remains strong. Convention & Conference, $629,414, 16.88% Revenues Our general fund net margin for the fiscal year June 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013, Dues, Membership & $2,377,772.77 63.76% Subscriptions Jewelry, $360,983, 9.68% is $513,121. Revenue growth was seen in three major areas: significant growth Educational Grant $100,050.00 2.68% in new members led to an increase Interest & Dividend Income $1,429.62 0.04% in dues and other payments, royalty Unrealized Gain, $20,397 Realized Gain income/jewelry sales increased, and the $8,715.09 0.23% .55% organization received a generous grant Unrealized $20,397.26 0.55% from the Sigma Kappa Foundation. Interest, Dividends, Realized Jewelry $360,982.78 9.68% Gain, $10,145, .26% Dues, Memberships & Subscriptions, $2,377,773, 63.76% The national organization has continued to budget Convention & Educational Grants, $100,050, conservatively in this economy and to make Conferences $629,413.50 16.88% 2.68% prudent decisions regarding spending. Our wise use of funds has enabled us to invest in technology, Member Services $230,703.22 6.19% programming and extension in ways that will Total Revenues $3,729,464.24 100% allow Sigma Kappa to grow and flourish. 2012-2013 expenses * Expenses National Organization, Management & General, $326,582, 10.15% National Organization $326,582.24 10.15% $864,210, 26.87% Collegiate $861,441.78 26.78% Collegiate Services, $861,442, 26.78% Jewelry Purchases $201,307.76 6.26% Extension $173,638.49 5.40% Alumnae $30,499.55 0.95% RLCs, $38,083, 1.18% Sigma Kappa Triangle $84,839.98 2.64% Convention, $635,740, Convention $635,739.76 19.77% 19.77% RLC $38,083 1.18% Management & General $864,210.64 26.87% Jewelry Purchases, $201,308, Triangle, $84840, 2.64% Alumnae, $30,450, 95% 6.26% Extension, $173,638, 5.4% Total Expenses $3,216,343.24 100% Net Income $513,121.00 programming highlights A committee was formed to execute the development of the regional leadership conferences (RLCs), a leadership development program designed to provide collegiate chapter leaders The Sorority held its 85th biennial national convention July 11-15, 2012, in The with personal development in addition to officer Woodlands, Texas. The convention reported a final registration of 782 members and training. This committee worked to design the visitors. Convention 2012 was a success, theming programmatic elements around the weekend schedule and curriculum for general concept of "Inspiring Leaders, Building our Legacy." Sigma Kappa's two new and sessions and six breakout tracks. re-established chapters, Kappa Phi, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Fla. and Theta Omicron, Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz., received their official charters. Breakout tracks focused on training for chapter presidents, executive vice presidents, vice convention Women from across the country met for four days to strengthen their presidents of membership, vice presidents of new leadership skills, share ideas and develop bonds with new sisters. Participants member education, advisors, and emerging leaders learned from a variety of national officers, staff members and guest speakers. during the RLCs. Featured speaker Dr. Lori Hart from CAMPUSPEAK kicked off the A team of almost 100 facilitators was recruited and educational programming with her keynote "Building Our Legacy: Making trained to serve as track and lead facilitators at the Greek Great," a program that focuses on the solutions, not the problems, seven RLCs. This team was comprised of Sigma to improve the standing of fraternities and sororities on today's college Kappa members and non-member partners such as campuses. Because the theme for convention 2012 was "Inspiring Leaders, fraternity/sorority advisors and other fraternity or Building our Legacy," three of Sigma Kappa's own alumnae were also sorority headquarters professionals. featured as speakers during the weekend. Members and visitors attended 2012 educational sessions from Dr. Tisa Mason, Epsilon Kappa, Transylvania Workshop Warehouse, a one-stop shop for University, Mary Alice McNeil, Lambda, University of California, Berkeley, workshops, ice breakers, team builders and and Karyn Nishimura Sneath, Delta Sigma, Western Illinois University on energizers, was continuously maintained in its Friday afternoon. first year. Feedback was also collected about this resource from collegians and alumnae. This Many awards were given to collegiate chapters for their feedback will be used to further enhance Workshop Warehouse in the future. successful endeavors and achievements. Chapters received All collegiate chapters participated in the awards for outstanding programming, public relations, new Collegiate Officer's Academy (COAR). Both member programs, alumnae relations and scholarship. In its COA® and Advisor's Academy were updated on second year, the Founders Award was presented to Kappa Beta, the website for easier access to training materials. Grand Valley State University. In May 2013, the programming team entered into a partnership with Growth Guiders, LLC, a consulting group focused on fraternity/sorority programming, Convention 2012 also debuted a new award recognizing an outstanding fraternity/sorority professional. to complete a programming health assessment and The award, named after Sigma Kappa's own Angela C. Guillory, Delta Mu, Northwestern State to build out Sigma Kappa's programming offerings University, was awarded to two individuals in its first year. Members and visitors were happy to recognize to be more effective and relevant to our members. both Angela C. Guillory and Amy Vojta, a member of Alpha Gamma Delta and the assistant dean of fraternity and sorority affairs at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey as the 2012 recipients. alumnae The director of alumnae membership designed an Alumnae The VPAR Toolkit was designed to help Recruitment Toolkit (ART) for alumnae chapters. The ART includes VPARs with alumnae/collegiate relations as ideas and best practices to help with alumnae chapter recruitment well as helping transition graduating seniors plans. The resource was sent to every alumnae chapter with their into the alumnae phase of membership. biannual directory and is posted in the alumnae general supplies. The VPAR Toolkit was sent along with the biannual directories. New Alumnae Chapter Resources: The director of alumnae highlights The alumnae team worked with the membership updated and redesigned the Alumnae Chapter collegiate management team to assist with Starter Kit and created additional resources for new alumnae volunteer recruitment for both advisory chapters. She worked with the director of alumnae services and corporation boards. Their efforts have The first annual dues drive initiative resulted in a 40 percent to create a procedure and resources for the formation of new produced a large number of potential increase in alumnae chapter membership. The alumnae team chapters as well as alumnae district directors on ways to better volunteers for collegiate chapters. This will attributes this increase to the dues drive, online payment transition new chapters to their respective ADD for support. continue as an ongoing project. options, and an education plan for the membership on the Promise for Seniors was created by the importance of paying dues. Forget-me-not seed packets were The number of annual reports submitted by alumnae chapters director of alumnae resources to educate sent to all members who paid per capita in 2012 as a thank increased in 2012. The team attributes the increase to the new collegians on the alumnae phase of you gift along with electronic thank you notes. due date and revised format of the report. These changes have membership. The program can be facilitated also helped with the collection of data and idea sharing. by alumnae or collegiate chapter officers for The alumnae team worked with the executive director to seniors or all collegiate members of a chapter. assess alumnae needs. This collaboration resulted in the new ADD101: A collection of workshops and documents have been staff position of director of alumnae services. created as training resources for alumnae district directors by the The alumnae and collegiate management director of alumnae resources. The director of alumnae chapter teams worked together to update the Three alumnae chapters have been reopened, and two management and the director of alumnae resources conduct monthly alumnae and collegiate chapter pairings. chapters are in the process of being revitalized. The list of pairings was sent to alumnae calls with the ADDs on various topics relevant to their position. chapter officers and VPARs along with ideas ADDs will be trained on a new topic during monthly calls and new With the assistance of the director of alumnae chapter and resources to help build the relationship documents have been created and shared as additional resources. management and resources created by the director of alumnae between alumnae and collegiate chapters. membership, the alumnae district directors have targeted areas for growth and revitalization efforts in their districts. The director of alumnae membership worked with the Two collegiate services specialists and 11 leadership consultants comprised the 2012-2013 collegiate management and extension teams to create a traveling staff team. Each staff member was assigned to one or two focused chapters. traveling strategy for growth and support for collegiate chapters. A traveling staff member works with a specific chapter on an ongoing basis to provide additional support in all areas of collegiate management and recruitment. Twenty-two staff chapters, including our newest Sigma Kappa chapters, participated in the focused chapter program. Overall, 84 percent of our collegiate chapters received at least one visit from a membership staff member. Traveling staff made 276 chapter visits during the academic year. program 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 chapters 116 114 122 120 # of chapter members 2,015 2,327 2,361 1,881 average 17.4 22.2 19 chapter size 16 national headquarters Sigma Kappa Sorority has made a number of changes and enhancements in key areas to move the national organization forward. Staff changes and additions were made throughout the year to better support the Sigma Kappa membership and chapters. Those changes include: The promotion of the alumnae membership specialist to the director of alumnae services. This change was made to put more emphasis on our alumnae membership and alumnae chapters. The addition of a program specialist which is a shared position between the Sorority and the Sigma Kappa Foundation. This position is responsible for creating and maintaining programming, assisting collegiate chapters' and volunteers' efforts in all areas relating to the National Panhellenic Conference and developing strategies and tactics targeted specifically at engaging alumnae age 30 years and younger. The collegiate services manager (CSM) position was divided into two roles: the CSM - established chapters and the CSM - colonies and new chapters. This split was made to provide an opportunity to enhance many components of the program while continuing to be ahead of others with our consultant program. Many aspects of the CSM positions are shared including training, scheduling and communicating with volunteers. A few title changes went into effect this year including the publications team becoming the communication team (director of communication and digital media and marketing specialist), the director of events becoming the meeting and events specialist and the associate director of finance changing to the chapter finance specialist. In September 2012, the inaugural issue of The SKoop, the official newsletter of Sigma Kappa Sorority was distributed. The SKoop and all of the news and information provides articles, reminders and links that give alumnae and collegians an opportunity to learn more about points In October 2012, a new website was launched that features a fresh look and site navigation, as of interest to each other and provide a common knowledge center. well as responsive design to make the site compatible with mobile devices. Website enhancements continue to be made to the site to keep information updated and improve functionality. Shop Sigma Kappa currently has 320 vendors who provide Sigma Kappa paraphernalia and products that have been approved by Sigma Kappa. The royalty income from the purchase of these products increased 5 percent in 2012-2013. This income provides financial support to educational programs including the leadership consultant program and regional leadership conferences. Technology enhancements included collegiate members having the capability of editing their SIGMA KAPPA information in Dove Hub; chapter website and GIN communications tools being provided to collegiate chapters; and prepaid Billhighway cards released. Voices Strong. Hearts United. Sigma Kappa Sorority, the Sigma Kappa Foundation and the Sigma Kappa National Housing Corporation continue to partner together to improve the overall experience for our membership.