The Beautiful Chapter House!

The Alpha Pi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta has an added advantage each time it invites rushees to visit the Chapter House on campus at the University of North Dakota.
Though they linger primarily behind the scenes, the Alpha Pi alumnae remain active partners in sisterhood with the undergraduates. The chapter invites and encourages more alumnae to participate in all events that Alpha Pis are involved in, from philanthropies to recruitment.
"Alpha Pi is special," said Amy Warnke, the chapter's advisor. "The alumnae are present for all recruitment and prepare the house so the undergraduate women can concentrate on recruitment."
The reason for the Chapter's recent success is as simple as staying in touch.
By keeping in constant contact with roughly 1,000 Alpha Pi sisters, the Chapter has been able to build and maintain successful alumnae relations.
And the alumnae's involvement is evident from the first time rushees visit the Chapter House. While there, rushees notice that alumnae are involved in most aspects of sorority life, from cleaning the house for rush to assisting active sisters with the many responsibilities that sisters face.

Chapter Members at Halloween Party

"We have been really good on recruitment," said Carrie Martin, Alpha Pi's Chapter President. "We're always finding ways to keep the alums involved. It really helps with building the sisterhood."
The rushees have noticed. With 66 active members, Alpha Pi has become the third-largest sorority on campus, following close behind two other chapters with 70 members.
During the informal spring recruitment period, nearly 50 women went through rush. Fourteen from the group were initiated, an amazing feat considering other organizations on campus initiated anywhere from zero to five new members.
Fall recruitment was just successful, and both feats earned the chapter Fall 2002 and Spring 2003 recruitment awards.
The alumnae don't just chip in around the house, though.
Alpha Pi holds events during the holiday season as well as separate class reunions during each year to help keep all sisters in touch with each other.
This July, the chapter will be hosting "That 70's Reunion," allowing alumnae from 1972 to 1977 to relive their undergraduate years at Alpha Pi and to look at the changes made at the university and community.
"The greek networking is a great way to build resume and expand experiences," said Gail Martin, who graduated in 1974. "It provides life-long contacts. The networking part of it is huge."
They have used the same strategy to become one of UND's most active chapters in terms of community service.
Actives and alumnae have played a large part in campus and community service projects. Alpha Pi holds an annual fundraiser for Kappa Alpha Theta's national philanthropy Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

For the last two years "Theta Rocks the CASA" has brought local bands from North Dakota and Minnesota to play in the middle of Grand Forks' downtown area.
Alpha Pi also is also involved with volunteering with local grade schools.
In early May, 15 members came out at the end of the semester and helped to build a playground for one of the community grade schools.
"Theta has given me a branch to go off," Martin said. "It gives you the confidence to go out and be yourself. It's neat to go back and give to the community. Theta has really given me the opportunity to do more."

To learn more about Alpha Pi and the unique things they do go to Alpha Pi's Web site: www.und.edu/org/theta.

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