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Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority. . .
historical perspective

by Johanna R. Austin
National Historian

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A presentation of the history of Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, delivered via this office, during the 1978 Northeastern Regional Conference in Hampton, Virginia, received positive feed-back from the membership and guests alike. History, according to Webster, is a tale; a narrative of events; a story. It is further defined as a systematic account of events, particularly of those affecting a nation, institution, science or art, usually connected with a philosophical explanation of their causes. The positive response to the narrative was gratifying, but, a deeper analysis, consideration of the underlying motivation of the events that led to the formation of Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority and its evolution into the organization which we consider of value today, would be, in fact, an exercise of greater significance. The 'force' comes out of the philosophical connections that are made on a day to day basis.
  
Behavior, human behavior, arises out of the recognition of a need. The felt needs of the founding members of Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority are delineated in the sorority's ideals; Sisterhood; Achievement; Service and Scholarship. These ideals or needs are as relevant today as they were in 1937 although responses have differed over time.
  
Sisterhood connotes close association by some common denominator, whether it be faith, society, interest, etc. This applies to our Sorority, but, is this conceptualization sufficient in today's world? Certainly as a basis, but in a world of supersonic travel, instantaneous news projection around the world by satellite, etc., 'close association' takes on a more global aura. Consequently, the encouragement and support of the strivings of young women in the local community, activity to help our 'sisters' to enhance their quality of life in rural areas of this nation and efforts to increase the health level of 'sisters' in remote areas of third world countries, all exemplify our behavioral response to the ideal, the need for Sisterhood.
  
Does Achievement, in actuality, mean the same thing to us now as in 1937? At one time it was considered an achievement to acquire sufficient skill to be self-supportive. Anyone who progressed further, particularly in a specialized activity area that allowed them to share something not found in the general population, was thought of as a super-achiever! Today, achievement is a more individualized concept, not necessarily related to formalized learning. This demands recognition of a person's fulfillment of their potential and their contribution to the larger society within a wide range of situations, using diversified criteria for judgement. In Lambda Kappa Mu, achievement has and does occur in many arenas. We recognize and applaud achievors among our membership and in the larger community based on the expanded meaning relevant to these times.
  
Service is defined as the performance of labor for the benefit of another. The premise covers anything from a single act of good neighborliness to great philanthropic activities. This ideal is the most difficult one to perpetuate in today's society where the name of the game is "...get yours first" and our youth are being socialized to believe that the world owes them! Yet, we do serve, person to person, person(s) to groups with specific needs, person(s) to large, diverse groups, etc. Out of commitment to the ideal of Service, we consciously develop programs to facilitate responses in this area by our membership and, more importantly, by our Kopelles, the youth with whom we interface and for whom we function as role models. 
  
The act of learning, the growth of individual knowledge, Scholarship; how important that has become over the years! Any individual's life activity is a reflection of what the person knows. If one thinks, just in passing, of how much the world's body of knowledge has expanded in the past four decades, it boggles the mind. The pace at which new knowledge is acquired and circulated is congruent with the time; the space age. Our emphasis on Scholarship must intensify if we are to be functional and effective. Again, in constantly diversifying areas, Scholarship must be pursued by our membership and with our support and encouragement, our youth.

The history of Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority is multi-dimensional; indeed, far more than certain dates and specified events. We have a history that is inspiring to hear because it is the story of how a group organized itself to respond to needs they felt important enough to be identified as ideals. The format of our responses are ever changing because history is in the making; it is not stagnant; it is vital! Lambda Kappa Mu history will continue to inspire as long as the membership strives to fulfill the commitment to the ideals of Sisterhood, Achievement, Service and Scholarship with responses that have relevence to the times in which we live.

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[[caption]] Kappa Chapter received the the Ida B. Wroten Publications Award presented this year to the chapter which sold the most ads for The ACORN, official journal of Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc. Left to right: Mary M. Pottle, Epistoleus, Kappa Chapter, Helene Southern Slater, National Epistoleus and Editor of THE ACORN, Audrey M. Coleman, Basileus of Kappa Chapter and Ida B. Wroton, former National Epistoleus for whom the award is named. [[/caption]]


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