association history

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 (LJniv Miami/CorneII)
• 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 eight times a year and has two dues
structures, reflecting the full time and part-time (snowbird) residents.
Three local lunch bunches gather informally monthly, a book club meets
six time a year, and cultural outings, decades groups, and special interest                                                                                                                            groups arrange activities throughout the season.

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