1982 saw the start of an effort by the Kutztown Rotary Club to organize a Rotaract Club at Kutztown University. This effort finally was successful in 2003, when Tom Turner formed a partnership between Kutztown Rotary Club and 
the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. The fraternity assists the Kutztown Rotary Club with its service projects such as the dog show and Flatworks Art Show and the Rotary Club assists the fraternity with its project such as the North American Food Drive and Ms. Kutztown Pageant for Breast Cancer. It is a great relationship. Both groups have increased their level of community service since working together. It is a perfect model of what a Rotaract Club should be.
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The Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, which is also the Kutztown University Rotaract Club, sponsors the 10th annual Ms Kutztown Pageant on April 16, 2007.
The philanthropy was founded by Lambda Chi Alpha alumnus Christopher Tomlin and over its eight years has grown to be one of the fraternity´s largest and most well known functions.
The event is set up just like the real Miss America pageant, with talent and formal wear portions of the contest. Last years event raised $1,100 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. A check was presented to breast cancer patient Gladys Collazo and Wanda Colon, program director of the Philadelphia branch of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, at the conclusion of the event by sophomore Adam Bauer, Vice President of External Relations for Lambda Chi and a Criminal Justice major.
"[Miss KU] is a wonderful event that brings awareness to students, faculty, staff and parents of eradicating breast cancer," said Colon.
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| Members of Lamda Chi pose for a picture with Nili Goldberg (center), the winner of 2006 Miss KU, and Wanda Colon (second from right) of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. | |||
Lambda Chi Alpha, the Kutztown University Rotaract Club, raises a similar amount of money for Breast Cancer in May when they participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Philadelphia. This will be the second year they have participated the The Race for the Cure.
The Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity is recruiting members for KU's team to participate this spring in The Race for the Cure in Philadelphia on Sunday, May 14. This event raises money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. It is Lambda Chi Alpha´s second year working for the cause.
Kevin Reimer, a senior Criminal Justice major and active member of Lambda Chi Alpha, said, "I´ve always been involved in community service." He explained, however, that by getting involved with a fraternity event, things can be accomplished on a much larger scale.
"We have done the Miss KU pageant for 10 years now and its proceeds have always gone toward breast cancer. However, for the past three years, money has been donated to the Komen Foundation," said Reimer. "We decided to further our relationship with the [Komen Foundation] in Philadelphia."
In a phone interview Tuesday Sean McLaughlin, a 2003 Telecommunications/Speech Communication graduate and member of Lambda Chi Alpha, said a speaker at last year´s Miss KU Pageant mentioned the Race for the Cure and encouraged him to start a team from KU.
Last year, KU´s team of 38 participants was formed quickly and was able to raise $1,507.
McLaughlin is the captain of KU´s team this year and said they have raised $230 so far. He said that he´d like to see this as an annual event for KU students because he considers it as a "great team building event."
Registered as "Team Kutztown," this year´s members will walk 5K, run 5K or walk one mile. McLaughlin said any student can join the team via online registration up until May 1. Students can get involved or donate money at the event´s official website www.phillyraceforthecure.org. Interested parties may even register at the event on May 14.
Since 1993, Lambda Chi Alpha has been coordinating an international philanthropy project that has now raised more than 28 million pounds of food for the needy across North America. Called the Lambda Chi Alpha North American Food Drive, this annual event is arguably the largest single-day philanthropic project sponsored by a collegiate organization. On November 4, 2006, Lambda Chi Alpha collected almost 2,564,846 pounds of food with approximately 100 chapters and colonies participating. Among all chapters, Kutztown ranks 7th with a total of 101,760 pounds, 4 times the national average. "Brothers Feeding Others" is more than a slogan. Kutztown Rotary has partnered with their Rotaract Club on this project.
In 2005, the Kutztown Chapter collected 126,000 pounds of food which ranked 8th among all chapters.
In April 2004, the Alumni Association of Lambda Chi Alpha awarded the first, of hopefully many, scholarships to one deserving active brother. The Alumni Board has worked very hard, electing a scholarship committee to carry out the duties necessary to make this scholarship a success. The committee has worked closely with the Kutztown University Foundation to help this scholarship get off the ground. Donations have been collected from alumni in order to fund the scholarship. We are happy to announce, we are very close to our goal of $1,000 for this years scholarship award. Thanks to all the alumni, whose donations have helped make this possible. In the future, the Scholarship Committee hopes to develop and use an interactive website for alumni to utilize as a way to donate via the internet. If you have any questions, suggestions or would like to know how you can donate, please contact Mike Kelly (Scholarship Committee Chairman) at: gravy385@yahoo.com. The Scholarship Committee would like to thank you all in advance for helping to make this scholarship a continued success.
Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity is the oldest fraternity on the Kutztown University campus. Lambda Chi Alpha is built on numerous traditions and is one of the largest international fraternities in the world. A non-profit organization dedicated to the development of leadership both on campus and in the community, Lambda Chi Alpha is currently in close association with Concern, a non-profit organization that aids abused and handicapped children in foster homes. They are also involved with the AIDS Quilt from Philadelphia and the MS Walk. Lambda Chi Alpha also sponsors a scholarship through the university for undergraduate and graduate students and is involved in on-campus activities with members holding many leadership positions in student organizations. Lambda Chi Alpha prides itself on the diversity of its membership, and its sound moral standing. Lambda Chi Alpha... trendsetters since 1909.
Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. Rotaract clubs are usually community-based or university-based and are sponsored by a local Rotary club making them true "partners in service" and key members of the Rotary family.
Through the Rotaract program, young adults not only augment their knowledge and skills, but they also address the physical and social needs of their communities while promoting international understanding and peace through a framework of friendship and service.
All Rotaract efforts begin at the local grassroots level and Rotaract clubs have access to many of the resources of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.
As one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 8,000 Rotaract clubs in some 155 countries and geographic areas, Rotaract has become a worldwide phenomenon.
Rotaract, Rotary International's service club program for young adults ages 18-30, was officially inaugurated during January 1968 under RI President Luther Hodges. On 13 March 1968, the Rotaract Club of the University of North Carolina, sponsored by the Rotary Club of North Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, was the first Rotaract club to receive its official charter.
By 1981, Rotaract was so popular that Rotaractors in South Africa decided to host the first INTEROTA conference, an international meeting for all Rotaractors. Subsequent conferences have been held every three years. To date, INTEROTA conferences have been hosted by Rotaractors in South Africa, Australia, England, Turkey, Mexico, and Brazil. The next conference is set for Munich, Germany, in 2005. International meetings for Rotaractors are also held every year at the Rotaract Preconvention Meeting that precedes Rotary's annual convention. The first such meeting was held in Seoul, Korea, in 1989, with more than 450 Rotaractors in attendance.
Today, Rotaract continues to experience phenomenal growth. There are currently more than 7,600 Rotaract clubs in more than 158 countries, with an estimated membership of more than 176,000 Rotaractors. As the program continues to grow, Rotaractors repeatedly show that they are prepared for "Fellowship Through Service."
Rotaract has the following goals:
- Guide for District Rotaract Leaders
- Rotaract Handbook
- Rotaract Statement of Policy
- Rotaract Constitution and Bylaws
- Rotaract Brochure Rotaract Club Organization List (672-EN)
Note: This is a writable .pdf. This file can be downloaded to your desktop, completed, and printed using the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.- 2006-07 Rotaract Presidential Citation
- Rotaract Outstanding Projects Recognition Form
Note: This is a writable .pdf. This file can be downloaded to your desktop, completed, and printed using the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.- World Rotaract Week Celebration Recognition Entry Form
- 2006 Food Drive - 2006 North American Food Drive
- Chapter of Year Award
- Cross & Crescent - a Lambda Chi Alpha publication
- Keystone Online - a Kutztown University publication
- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania - Official site for Kutztown University
- Map of Kutztown
- Miss KU Pageant - Sociology major crowned 2006 Miss KU
- North American Food Drive
- Races for The Cure - to benefit Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
- The Weather Channel - Kutztown - Current weather conditions and forecast with radar and satellite maps.
