Honoring Our Founders

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Honoring Our Founders

• Detailed Instructions for
• Kappa Kappa Gamma
• Founders Day Ceremony
• October 2008

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When October arrives, our thoughts turn to
Monmouth College
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Where they crossed the little bridge and entered
the chapel
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In their honor, Kappa active and alumna members
throughout the United States and Canada
celebrate those six young women
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Our heritage is captured in our ritual

• It is our privilege and responsibility to help it
  endure with accuracy and dignity.

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Founders Day Ceremony (Not Secret)Found on Page
83 of Book of Ritual or Page 13 of Book of
Ritual for Alumnae Associations
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Founders Day Ceremony

• No apostrophe in Founders.
• Created in 1949 by Elizabeth Reigart Gilchrist,
  Psi, Cornell, for a Washington, D.C., celebration
  of Founders Day.
• Modified to be more historically accurate by Jean
  Hess Wells, former Fraternity President and
  Ritualist.
• Not secret in itself and may be performed in
  front of uninitiated guests, particularly fall
  new members.

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Founders Day Ceremony

• Draped table with seven candles in candleholders
  is used.
• Presiding officer stands at the center, with six
  Kappas representing the Founders, three on each
  side.
• Open flame candles may be used if outside chapter
  facility and if permitted.
• Parts should be on cards, numbered appropriately.
• Diagram of staging will help participants
  visualize the setting and eliminate temporary
  confusion.
• Readers should be encouraged to speak boldly and
  loudly since microphone use is difficult to
  orchestrate.

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Founders Day Ceremony
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Founders Day Ceremony

• All 7 candles lit simultaneously before service
  is read.
• Presiding officer reads opening and six Kappa
  members follow with individual parts, alternating
  from 1 to 2, 3 to 4, and 5 to 6.
• Each reader raises the candle as she reads it.
• Presiding officer should arrange for participants
  in advance, attempting to secure a representative
  group from those present.
• Annual mailing contains all the most recent
  statistics to make ceremony current.

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Founders Day Ceremony

• Uninitiated members and guests should be excused
  to a separate area, so that initiated members may
  join in the Mystic Circle (secret.)
• The presiding officer says, Will all uninitiated
  members please recess to the foyer, where we will
  meet them after our closing ritual?
• Time should be given for those excused to leave
  the room the door is shut and facilities
  personnel are also outside the room.
• Mystic Circle (secret) concludes the ceremony.

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Questions?

• Carol Morrison Sobek
• Fraternity Ritual Chairman
• 2004-2010
• csobek_at_san.rr.com
• 858-492-9527 evenings and weekends