Association History

You have to know where you’ve been to know where you are going. Kappa holds a special place in its heart for Fraternity history, but every association of our organization has unique beginnings of its own. Each plays a part in shaping us today and continuing the Kappa tradition beyond college.

Our association was launched by Lucille "Lucie" Jones Grey Halifax and Marge Nufer in 1962.  Initially, a planning session was arranged in which five Kappa sisters met:  Lucy, Marge, Mary Kosky, Ruth Leary Hess, and Connie Gamble Longfellow.  Fraternity Headquarters provided the group galleys identifying all the KKGs in the Sarasota area.  The five Kappas divided the list and contacted all.

On April 30, 1962 the first meeting was called to order at Martine’s Restaurant.  Twenty-six Kappas attended that luncheon meeting.  Many knew each other socially but did not realize they were Kappa sisters.  At this meeting, the following officers were elected: 

• President, Lucie Halifax (Univ Miami/Cornell)
• Vice-President, Ruth Hess (Illinois)
• Secretary, Mary Kosky (Illinois Wesleyan)
• Treasurer, Marge Nufer (Adrian) 

Connie Longfellow (William & Mary) was appointed Recommendations Chairman and Jane Smith (St. Lawrence) was named the Representative to Panhellenic.  Dues were set at two dollars per year, and it was decided the group would have four meetings a year.

After the first meeting,, the group applied to the Fraternity for the association’s charter.  The Fraternity Council granted the Sarasota Alumnae Association its charter on May 10, 1962. 

On July 16, 1962, the association met for the second time.  The KKG association charter was presented by Jane  Bissell (Penn) of the Clearwater Alumnae Association.  Several Kappas from Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater attended.  The first association officers were installed.  The meeting ended with picture taking by the newspapers and the singing of Kappa songs.

The third association meeting was a celebration of Founders Day and held on October 13, 1962.

As the number of Kappas in the area continued to increase, the organization became the Sarasota Manatee Counties KKG Alumnae Association.   Today, the group meets seven times a year and has two dues structures, reflecting the full time and part-time (snowbird) residents.  Three local lunch bunches gather monthly, a book club meets three times a year and a night owl group is being organized. 

The association has been recognized by the Fraternity at biennial conventions with several awards which include the following: 

• 1998  
  • McNaboe Commitment Honorable Mention

• 2000  
  • McNaboe Commitment Honorable Mention
  • Rose McGill Magazine Agency Award

• 2002  
  • McNaboe Commitment Honorable Mention
  • Membership Growth Honorable Mention
  • Philanthropy Honorable Mention
  • Rose McGill Magazine Honorable Mention
  • Sally Moore Nitschke Lifelong Education Award

• 2004  
  • McNaboe Commitment Honorable Mention