Tell us about the first Alpha Kappa Alpha event you ever attended...

[IlovemyAKA]

Some of you may have to think further back than others.

I knew nothing about greek life in high school. As a college freshman in 2001, I attended several organizations' programs. The first Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. event I attended was called Freshman Reception. There, members of the chapter introduced themselves to those of us who were new to campus. They offered advice such as study and survival tips. They passed out favors that included glasses that said "AKA Welcomes You" and medicine bottles that contained little strips of papers filled with encouraging words. The point was that the transition from high school to college could be difficult at times, and you could go to the medicine bottle to be reminded that you were not alone and that each task was something you could conquer. We signed in as we entered the event. A week or so later, I received a phone call from a member of the chapter stating that they were having a time management program and she asked if I would be interested in attending. I was interested and impressed that they were keeping us freshman involved. That was the first of many programs that I attended. This leads to another story...

The chapter's next rush was Fall 2003. I desperately wanted to attend, but I had also been in the National Guard since 2001. I had military orders for training, so I did not attend rush. The following year brought rush for Fall 2004. I had military orders to Iraq. I was on those orders from Oct 2004 until Jan 2006. Once I returned to the States, I immediately enrolled in school and was back for the Sp 2006 semester. There was a rush that semester that I did not attend because many of the chapter members I had known had graduated in my absence. I spent the year attending programs, volunteering, and getting to know the current chapter members. Finally, Sp 2007 was my chance! The rest is history.

[Senusret I]

First of all, that Freshman reception is THE BEST program I've probably ever heard of.

Secondly, Xi Zeta Omega's Tea Rose Ball was the first AKA event I ever attended as an Alpha or otherwise, hee hee.

[deepimpact2]

The first AKA event I EVER attended was a Read-In in celebration of Black History month. It was sponsored by my mom's chapter and I was only 8.

Once I got to college, the first event I attended on campus was a book club meeting. I don't remember the book, but I remember my friends and I were scared to death. It went well, and I was very impressed with the chapter.

[IlovemyAKA]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

First of all, that Freshman reception is THE BEST program I've probably ever heard of.

They (we ) were the South Central Region's undergraduate chapter of the year that year and several years prior & after until we had to pass the torch.

[Little32]

This is not the first event that I ever attended, but the first event that I attended as after "declaring" my interest was a book club meeting.

I was at one of the chapter member's homes. We read Make You Want to Holler by Nathan McCall. I remember the dicussion being really stimulating and the women being very welcoming, even though I was the only non-soror at the event. I remember being very nervous as I chose my ensemble for the evening, making sure to pick neutral colors and trying to find something that was appropriate for the event and the weather.

I did not end up pledging that chapter, but I still have very close ties to sorors there.

[AKA_Monet]

20 years is a long time...

The first AKA event I attended was when my mother had me in a stroller at a chapter meeting...

Like Soror Little32 said, the first event I attended after I "declared" my "interest" in college was being in a Fashion Show, presented by the chapter...

[WenD08]

my first AKA event was the chartering of the Lambda Tau Omega chapter in Chicago. my mother was a charter member and i was nine. not terribly exciting but i remember it was nice and the other sorors were really nice. i figured that i would be just like Soror Mom one day. next event, the 1980 Boule in ATL. that sealed the deal for me

[showtYme09]

my first true AKA event was after my chartering going to NARC Regional Conferences an exact week after I got in

I don't have to tell you how blown away I was. I love my letters. I love my sorors.

And I bless God every day for helping me make the correct choice

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by showtYme09

my first true AKA event was after my chartering going to NARC Regional Conferences an exact week after I got in

I don't have to tell you how blown away I was. I love my letters. I love my sorors.

And I bless God every day for helping me make the correct choice

That is wonderful soror! On the AKA Ave. of GC, we are asked to present and announce ourselves in this forum by clicking >here<.

And as a new soror, reading the Pearls of Wisdom is strongly suggested...

This is about decorum and protocol...

[Little32]

TTT For the new sorors and confident sisterfriends on the board.

[LikeASista]

Loving this thread ...

I'm just like Soror IlovemyAKA in that I knew nothing about greek letter organizations while in high school, so I certainly knew nothing about Black Greek Letter organizations by the time I reached college.

Long story short, once I began doing my research, I was so drawn to AKA that I boldly decided to attend Fashionetta back in 1996. But I was so nervous, because I didn't know a soul in the chapter, and I was also not prepared for how enormously HUGE this particular event was for them either. But I remember being so mesmerized and awestruck that a Black sorority could put on such an unbelieveably amazing show. I was hooked. I was determined to make my presence known from that point on. I met the Basileus at that time, made some new friends, connected at church, networked and ... well, ... in the year 2000, ... I was reborn!

Ah, memories ...

[IlovemyAKA]

^^^
That's an awesome story!! Love it!

[IlovemyAKA]

*bump*

SFs, you're welcome to post here as well.

[JBaby1981]

Originally Posted by IlovemyAKA

*bump*

SFs, you're welcome to post here as well.

Now that I have the green light! My first event I attended, was at USC! My older sister (as well as my Grandmother) is a member of the organization so I was always exposed to her and her Line Sisters. My mom thought it would be great to take myself and one of my cousins to the step show that the chapter at USC was having. I was only 13 at the time so I really didnt have a full understanding of Greek life but I was immediately drawn to it. My sister did not attend USC but some of her other friends did and we were allowed to sit near them. I was so amazed at how poised and together the ladies were. And thier presentation at the Step show was amazing! They were always respectful and they were also very well dressed....As soon as it was over I ran to my mother and begged her to buy me a T-Shirt with the organizations letters...just as she was about to purchase it, my sister quickly intervened and explained why that wasn't such a good idea. Again, I didn't really understand...But from that day on, my sister nor Grandmother never heard then end of me asking a million and one questions or touching some of thier Paraphernalia....As I've gotten older and seen the bonds that the 2 ladies have developed with the other members and how active they still are in thier communities, I've developed a clear understanding of what it means to be an Alpha Kappa Alpha woman.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by JBaby1981

Now that I have the green light! My first event I attended, was at USC! My older sister (as well as my Grandmother) is a member of the organization so I was always exposed to her and her Line Sisters. My mom thought it would be great to take myself and one of my cousins to the step show that the chapter at USC was having. I was only 13 at the time so I really didnt have a full understanding of Greek life but I was immediately drawn to it. My sister did not attend USC but some of her other friends did and we were allowed to sit near them. I was so amazed at how poised and together the ladies were. And thier presentation at the Step show was amazing! They were always respectful and they were also very well dressed...As soon as it was over I ran to my mother and begged her to buy me a T-Shirt with the organizations letters...just as she was about to purchase it, my sister quickly intervened and explained why that wasn't such a good idea. Again, I didn't really understand...But from that day on, my sister nor Grandmother never heard then end of me asking a million and one questions or touching some of thier Paraphernalia....As I've gotten older and seen the bonds that the 2 ladies have developed with the other members and how active they still are in thier communities, I've developed a clear understanding of what it means to be an Alpha Kappa Alpha woman.

See, now, I do like this thread... But, seriously, you missed its point... QFP... I am supporting my Sorority Sister ILovemyAKA's vision here!