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| On Nov. 26, 1909, 11 women met at the Hayes Hotel in Warsaw to form the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Tri Kappa. Now, 100 years later, the chapter will celebrate its 100th year of service. Photo provided. |
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Alpha Lambda Chapter Of Tri Kappa Celebrates 100
Jen Gibson
Times-Union Staff Writer
For the past 100 years, a women's group in Warsaw has worked to promote charity, culture and education.
The Alpha Lambda Chapter of Tri Kappa, Warsaw, will officially mark its centennial Nov. 26. The group will gather Wednesday for a special evening to celebrate the anniversary of one of Warsaw's oldest service groups.
Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins also signed a mayoral proclamation naming Nov. 11, 2009, Tri Kappa Day. Billboards will be erected around town, there is a banner across Center Street, and several downtown businesses will display the "Tri Kappa 100 Years of Service" message in windows and displays next week.
The group also made special donations of $100 to several local charities and organizations, including Lakeland Art Association, Our Father's House, Warsaw Biblical Gardens, Warsaw Community High School theater, band and choirs, Symphony of the Lakes, Salvation Army, Combined Community Services, BABE and Beaman Home. The groups also made a $1,000 donation to the Kosciusko County YMCA.
During the private celebration Wednesday, the group will have a short meeting then adjourn to a reception with photo albums, memorabilia and a short video presentation of the sorority's 100 years of service. Special guests at the celebration will be Jenny Landez, of LaGrange, current Province officer, and Kathy Mettert, statewide council secretary for Tri Kappa.
"Melissa (Kissling) and Felicity (Lennox) started planning (the centennial celebration) a year ago," said Kim Hensley, current Tri Kappa president.
Kissling and Lennox have gathered photos, scrapbooks and information related to the Warsaw chapter of Tri Kappa from the past 100 years. They scanned a variety of media from past clubs, including 100-year-old scrapbooks. The club now is looking for a permanent, secure place to store and preserve the history.
Twenty-seven past presidents of the group also plan to be in attendance: Mazie Kreicker (1965-66), Jane Bower (1972-73), Patricia Brown (1973-74), Rita Schobert (1974-75), Jackie Hollar (1979-80), Lynda Moryl (1981-82), Kay Smith (1982-83), Freida Helm (1984-85), Beth Huffer (1986-87), Kathee Reed (1991-92), Cathy Suchecki (1992-93), Nancy Brown (1993-94), Jill Thallemer (1995-96), Kim Kesler (1996-97), Brenda Rigdon (1997-98), Ann Kline (1998-99), Paulette Davis (1999-2000), Kim Hensley (2000-01 and 2009-10), Michelle Scrafton (2001-02), Cathy Carter and Carla Riewoldt Milliman (2002-03), Melissa Kissling (2003-04), Felicity Lennox (2004-05), Sarah Richardson (2005-06), Dana Huffer (2006-07), Courtney Walters (2007-08) and Debbie DeMuth (2008-09).
Kappa Kappa Kappa Sorority, more commonly know as Tri Kappa, began in 1901 when a group of seven young women from the Girls Classical School in Indianapolis started a project to promote charity, culture and education in their community. Each of them was supposed to found a chapter in her hometown.
Tri Kappa is unique to Indiana, and now boasts 146 chapters and 119 associate chapters throughout the state. Statewide, Tri Kappa supports the Riley Hospital for Children, Ronald McDonald House and Hoosier Salon. Since 1913, Tri Kappa has donated more than $5 million to scholarships for academics, fine arts and nontraditional students.
According to www.trikappa.org, "Since 1901, Tri Kappa members have donated untold hours and millions of dollars to projects in the state of Indiana. ... Tri Kappa is a philanthropic organization that exists only within the boundaries of the state of Indiana. The object of this organization shall be to bring women into close, unselfish relationship for the promotion of charity, culture and education."
Local chapters also raise money to support activities and scholarships that promote charity culture and education in their areas.
On Nov. 26, 1909, a group of 11 women gathered in downtown Warsaw at The Hayes Hotel, initiating the first meeting of the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Tri Kappa. Founding members of the group were President Georgia Gilworth, Vice President Mary Thayer, Recording Secretary Rozella Ford, Corresponding Secretary Betty Reed, Treasurer Mary Simmons, Frances Richhart, Oria Simmons, Mayme Ross, Ethel Baker, Helen Chapman and Lula Helpman.
From its humble beginnings with 11 members, the Warsaw group has grown steadily to its current active roster of 106 members. Warsaw's chapter is now the largest and one of the most active in Indiana.
"My goal (as president this year) was to have 100 active members for our centennial celebration," Hensley said. "Throughout history, people have recognized Tri Kappa for continuing to serve the community and the state in general."
Throughout the years, several prominent women in the Warsaw community and the world have been Tri Kappa members.
Founding member Rozella Ford was Kosciusko County's first female farmer. Warsaw Tri Kappa member Euphrasia Donnelly Bungard, also known as Fraze, competed in the women's 400 meter relay in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. Fraze's team won the gold medal and broke the world record in the process.
Also, Allee Gerard, who is listed in Who's Who of American Artists, was a member of Tri Kappa in Warsaw. Gerard was a painter of nature scenes, and especially enjoyed painting Kosciusko County's lakes and streams.
The Warsaw chapter hosts several fundraisers each year, including pumpkin sales, Longaberger/Vera Bradley Bingo as well as a luncheon and style show. The group also holds an honor banquet for students at Warsaw Community High School, organizes an art show with elementary school students at Warsaw Community Schools in the spring, and works with the Women's Giving Circle of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation Heart Truth For Women.
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As fall approaches each year, members of Tri Kappa gather and make accessories for the pumpkins they decorate each year. Then when the pumpkin harvest begins, the ladies get together to paint and decorate them. In about two weeks, Tri Kappa members decorate more than 1,200 pumpkins that have been sold throughout the community. The project brings in more than $10,500 profit, which is then used to fund scholarships and other community projects.
Another big event for Tri Kappa is the annual Longaberger/Vera Bradley Bingo. In 2010, the bingo is April 17 at Edgewood Middle School. Attendees pay $25 for a ticket to the event, which includes a continental breakfast, 15 games of bingo and and entry for door prizes. Last year the event raised $8,000, which also was used for scholarships and community projects that help encourage culture and education.
The luncheon and style show will be in May and features jewelry, accessories and clothing. Those attending the event have lunch and then get the chance to preview some of the season's must-have fashion items.
"We are a working chapter," said Hensley. "Our chapter has always worked hard and raised a lot of money for the community."
Donations are welcomed by Tri Kappa and may be sent to P.O. Box 1847, Warsaw, IN 46581.
Tri Kappa is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.
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