For many years, our Kappa Alpha alumni have asked for a national alumni organization that would go beyond local alumni chapters. Two years ago, Knight Commander Warren appointed a task force which included the Chief Alumnus, to study the issue of alumni programs with the charge to develop an alumni program. The first stage of the program was unveiled at the Convention this summer in Tampa, Fla., . . . The Loyal Order.
The Loyal Order is a national alumni association program, similar to many of your college/university alumni associations, where our most loyal and dedicated members come together to pledge their support for the fraternity on a whole new level.
The Loyal Order is modeled after successful programs offered by other large national fraternities and sororities. It allows an alumnus using unrestricted dollars to assist in funding programs specifically for our alumni, and programs with a strong alumni focus, such as the Kappa Alpha Journal. You see, almost the entire funding for the Journal currently comes from undergraduate dues. We have alumni that have received the Kappa Alpha Journal for over 50 years and have never given a penny to support its publication, in a time when postage and paper costs continue to rise.
Today, KA has seven full-time educational & leadership consultants on the road visiting active chapters to ensure that we maintain the highest standards. We offer educational programming to undergraduates such as the National Leadership Institute (NLI), province councils, The Crusade Program, the Number I’s Leadership Institute, and the list goes on. In addition, the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation supports the educational efforts of the Order as well as providing scholarships to hundreds of deserving undergraduates. As you can see there is a lot of effort given to sustain and support our undergraduate members and chapters, which is the way it should be since we are in essence an undergraduate organization and the undergraduates fund 80 percent of KA’s national budget.
The Loyal Order program can provide needed funds to endow the Journal and free up funds to support our undergraduate chapters. Using actuarial tables, part of the one time membership fee to the Loyal Order will be set aside to fund a Journal subscription until the member’s death. In addition, it also satisfies a real desire on the part of our alumni to have something different to show their affiliation such as lapel pins, bumper stickers and other affinity merchandise.
Omega Financial, owned by a KA brother, is providing a secure online application to assist members in joining the Loyal Order. Omega Financial is offering this service, without any fee to KA, to allow us to accept credit cards. This is a tremendous offer to us and is typical of our loyal KA alumni.
There are exclusive benefits to membership, including the Kappa Alpha Journal. Loyal Order members also receive a lapel pin, a wallet card, and discounts at a variety of companies including hotels, car rentals, and travel, in addition to many other benefits. The real value of this commitment of loyalty, however, is the lasting pride of knowing that Loyal Order members help ensure that Kappa Alpha will continue to lead on college campuses and have a meaningful impact in the lives of young men throughout the country.
To sign up for The Loyal Order, visit: www.loyalorder.org
As a special thank you, charter members will receive gold-plated Loyal Order cufflinks in addition to the many other benefits.
