Kappa Alpha’s National Organization
Todd Shelton | 6/19/2003 Kappa Alpha Order is very similar to a large corporation.
We have a corporate identity (Kappa Alpha Order, Inc.), a president and chairman of the board (Knight Commander), a board of directors (Executive Council), a chief executive officer (Executive Director), regional directors (Province Commanders), a professional staff (National Staff), national and regional meetings (Convention, National Leadership Institute, Number I Summit, the RoundTable and Province Councils) and a uniform national product (the Kappa Alpha ritual) which is marketed by local franchises (active chapters). These distinct entities combine to form KA, a national men’s fraternity which has been in operation for over 135 years. Even though the Order is operated like a corporation, it is comprised of men who are brothers and work together for the good of the organization.
“Kappa Alpha Order was founded at Washington College in Lexington, Virginia, on December 21, 1865, and was chartered with that name and title as a non-stock organization by the Commonwealth of Virginia on March 18, 1907. It may be properly referred to as “the Order.”
“The Order has continuously operated for subordinate units, designated as Active Chapters, chartered by it, in accordance with its Constitution and Bylaws on campuses of colleges and universities in the United States. It is military in organization and government, religious in feeling, dedicated to the principles of Judaeo-Christian tradition, and pledged to the preservation of the highest ideals of gentlemanly conduct among its members.
“In pursuit of its concept and dedication, duly constituted representatives of Kappa Alpha Order in Convention assembled do hereby and herein ordain and establish this Constitution, which together with the Bylaws, shall constitute the corporate Bylaws of the Order and be known as the Kappa Alpha Laws.”
- Preamble of the Kappa Alpha Order Constitution
Kappa Alpha’s Structure
Convention
As dictated in the Kappa Alpha Laws, the “sovereignty and legislative authority of Kappa Alpha Order shall be and is vested in the Convention.” The Convention is composed of Former Knight Commanders, General Officers (Knight Commander, Senior Councilor and five Councilors), province commanders, the national undergraduate chairman, Chief Alumnus, and one delegate from each qualified active and alumni chapter.
Regular sessions of Convention are held biennially in odd-numbered years, however, special sessions of Convention may be called by the Executive Council.
The purpose of Convention is to elect the General Officers, pass resolutions, amend the Constitution and bylaws and assist in determining the future direction of the Order.
Knight Commander
The Knight Commander is the national president and chairman of the board for the Order and, in this capacity, he is vested with full authority and responsibility for the organization.
His numerous responsibilities include presiding over all meetings of the Executive and Advisory Councils and the Convention, interpreting provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Order and resolutions of the Convention when it is not in session, and developing/enforcing policies, rulings and directions of the Executive Council. The Knight Commander also has the power to suspend charters of active chapters.
This position is voluntary and the Knight Commander receives no compensation for his service, except for reimbursement of expenses incurred during performance of his duties.
Executive Council
While the Convention is the sovereign body of the Order, it is our board of directors, known as the Executive Council, which makes most of the major decisions which affect the future of KA. The Executive Council is comprised of eight individuals - the Knight Commander, the senior councilor, and five councilors and the national undergraduate chairman (NUC), who serves as a non-voting member. With the exception of the NUC, members of the Executive Council are elected at Convention and may serve an indefinite number of two-year terms. Each member of the Executive Council serves voluntarily and receives no compensation, except for reimbursement of expenses incurred while conducting business for the Order.
The Executive Council has many functions, including consulting and advising the Knight Commander in the performance and discharge of his duties, approving the Order’s budget and prescribing rules, policies and regulations for the operation of the Order. The Council meets as a group three or four times each year to carry out these functions.
The national undergraduate chairman, who serves as an ex-officio member of the Executive Council, is elected annually at the Undergraduate Conference, held during the National Leadership Institute. He is the primary liaison between the Executive Council and undergraduate members. The NUC also represents KA at the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon.
Advisory Council
The Advisory Council is composed of the General Officers, province commanders, the chief alumnus and the NUC. The purpose of the Advisory Council is to perform the functions and duties as prescribed in the Constitution and to act on matters referred to it by the Executive Council and the Convention. The Advisory Council meets at least once a year, normally during the National Leadership Institute or Convention. The granting and removing of active charters and the reinstatement of expelled members are among the items for which the Advisory Council is solely responsible.
Province Commanders
Province commanders serve in a voluntary role similar to the service of the Executive Council. Just as members of the Executive Council oversee the operation of KA nationally, province commanders maintain operations on a regional level. Kappa Alpha is divided into twenty-two provinces, of which twenty are active (see the appendix).
Responsible to the Knight Commander and first in the chain of command for chapters, province commanders are charged with assisting and guiding their province’s active and alumni chapters in strengthening and improving their activities. Because of their direct contact with members, province commanders have valuable insight as members of the Order’s Advisory Council.
The undergraduates of each province also elect a province undergraduate chairman (PUC), to serve in a capacity similar to the national undergraduate chairman at the province level. These individuals are not members of the Advisory Council.
Chief Alumnus and Deputy Chief Alumnus
These two men are elected biennially at the Alumni Conference held during Convention, and serve as the principal liaison between the alumni chapters and the Executive Council.
Other Volunteers
A third group of volunteer leaders on the national level exists in the form of the national committee system. The Knight Commander appoints interested alumni and undergraduates to serve on committees, normally in accordance with some expertise they may have. Although none are required, examples are the Scholarship Officer, Archivist, Ritual Committee and the Laws Committee.
The National Staff
Like any corporation, Kappa Alpha has paid professionals to administer the daily operations of the fraternity. These staff members work in the National Administrative Office in Lexington, Va., where they handle the administration and educational programming needs of undergraduate and alumni members.
Assisting the following men in the completion of their duties are a number of individuals who serve as the support staff. These include the receptionist, press operator and various administrative assistants.
Executive Director - The national staff is headed by the executive director, who is a full-time employee of the Order and an initiated KA. He is the chief executive officer of KA and the KAOEF and receives and disburses all funds, requests all reports, and carries out duties specifically assigned by the Executive Council. He assists with meeting planning and supervises all members of the national staff.
Assistant Executive Director for Chapter Services - This person is responsible for directing all chapter related services and overseeing the chapter services directors, the ELCs and the fraternity services support staff. His primary role will be to oversee and coordinate the chapter services of the Order to ensure that the chapter services departments are properly resourced and functioning at an optimal level. He shall cultivate and educate the volunteer leadership of the Order and serve as a primary risk management officer of the Order.
Director of Accounting and Finance - This person is in charge of all accounting functions. He/she prepares financial statements, payroll, tax reports, collections and disbursements and most chapter reports.
Director of Chapter Development - This position oversees the Order’s expansion and recruitment programs. In this capacity, he oversees the chapter development consultant. He investigates campuses for possible expansion, and he oversees and assists KA’s provisional chapters. He also coordinates on-site recruitment consultations and programs for active chapters.
Director of Communications - The Director of Communications is in charge of publishing all materials that the Order will need. He oversees the production and printing of all manuals, flyers, brochures, awards and books. He also is in charge of the Order’s national website and is the editor of The Kappa Alpha Journal.
Director of Educational Programming - The Director of Educational Programming formulates and implements a plan of educational programs that best serves undergraduate needs in areas such as scholarship, risk management and leadership. He also plans the National Leadership Institute.
Educational and Leadership Consultants (ELC) - The ELCs regularly visit the Order’s active chapters during the school year to promote scholarship and leadership. They assist the chapter in identifying possible areas for improvement, and offer ideas for efficient chapter operations. KA usually employs six ELCs.
As a part of the ELC program, there are other positions including the Western Regional Advisor, who is the executive director’s field representative in the western United States and is responsible for all active and alumni chapter services in his region. He evaluates and provides goals for the active chapter through the chapter services reporting system and conducts a variety of assistance visits. Chapter Development Consultants are responsible for providing the educational and organizational foundation for the Order’s provisional chapters. This person will work with the director of chapter development and serve as the primary contact for a provisional chapter for the first several months of its existence. Additionally, this person will assist in directing the national recruitment program.
Programs and Services
Two of Kappa Alpha Order’s primary goals, as a national fraternity, for members are the acquisition of knowledge and the development of character. To that end, Kappa Alpha Order has numerous programs and services which assist in that endeavor. From the National Leadership Institute to Project Outreach and from Council of Honor to Province Councils, Kappa Alpha is committed to the educational development of our members. From its inception, Kappa Alpha was designed to be an adjunct to, and a promoter of, the higher education system. Its primary focus, therefore, must be to provide programs to ensure the academic and personal achievement of our members and chapters.
National Leadership Institute (NLI) - The first National Training School for chapter officers was held in Louisville, Kentucky in 1944 and has been held every summer since. Now called the National Leadership Institute, the gathering brings together hundreds of KA undergraduates and alumni from across the country for educational sessions on such topics as scholarship, finances, risk management, member education, ritual and public relations. It is the second oldest and is among the most respected leadership conferences in the fraternity world. In odd-numbered years, NLI is held in conjunction with Convention.
Number I Leadership Summit - The Number I Leadership Summit is an intensive informational and educational retreat. The facility and premises are alcohol free that provides a learning atmosphere for the intense two and a half day conference. The focus of the Summit is to educate and empower each Number I to understand his role and responsibility as the chapter’s highest elected officer, recognize the tools and support systems provided, and to understand the standards and policies of operating an active chapter of Kappa Alpha Order. The Summit’s educational format is designed for large group sessions that lead to facilitated small group council discussions. The topics range from the Kappa Alpha Laws, leadership, risk management, ritual, confrontation, officer transition, and goal setting.
Philanthropy and Service (Project Outreach) - KA recognizes the personal growth potential and educational value of performing volunteer service. Project Outreach is the philanthropic program of Kappa Alpha and it educates members about serving their communities.
The program helps to further educate our members on societal and personal responsibility, and the benefit of performing service to others. Project Outreach also increases the amount of hands-on service and recognizes chapters that excel in philanthropy and service.
In addition to working in their own community, every KA chapter is expected to make significant contributions to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Kappa Alpha’s national philanthropy. As a national organization, KA raises approximately $130,000-150,000 annually, and has donated over $1.5 million to MDA to date.
Membership Recruitment Programs - The Order offers several membership recruitment programs. These programs are as varied as regional workshops to on-site consultations tailored to a chapter’s specific needs. The program emphasizes the importance of a personalized approach to recruitment and the need to have an active and continuous recruitment period.
Our philosophy on recruitment is to consider every male student at the institution as part of the recruitment pool and to actively seek out members based on shared values and the potential to better themselves and Kappa Alpha Order.
Council of Honor - Council of Honor is a program of continued education in our active chapters. The Council of Honor program provides the opportunity for chapter members to learn more about the Kappa Alpha Laws and the customs of the Order. Each Council of Honor program is administered by an undergraduate who is the Council of Honor commander for his chapter. The Council of Honor Guidebook offers suggestions in programming and the National Administrative Office provides membership shingles to the inductees.
The Crusade RoundTable - A unique aspect of The Crusade is The RoundTable experience. Held in Lexington, Va., the four-day program is designed to educate and motivate the Crusade commanders, undergraduate brothers who are responsible for overseeing and ensuring the success of the program in their chapter. Conducted in similar fashion to the actual Crusade program, The RoundTable provides an opportunity for brothers from around the country to live through a well executed Crusade experience with the help of the national staff, a member of the Executive Council, and Greek advisors.
Province Council - Each spring, the programs of the National Leadership Institute are offered in more intimate regional settings, where even more brothers can take advantage of these training sessions. Chapter leaders and members, up to 35% of the total undergraduate population, annually convene on a campus in the province for a day of seminars, workshops and brotherhood. Educational sessions are offered for undergraduates centering on leadership, risk management, ritual, and membership education.
Court of Honor - The Court of Honor is a province-level organization that recognizes alumni for their continuing interest, support and participation in the Order or for their own personal achievement. Each Court of Honor insignia is distinguishable by the color of its provincial cross. Unique in the fraternity world, the Province Courts of Honor conduct their induction ceremonies at Province Councils, annual dinner meetings and on other special occasions.
The Loyal Order - The Loyal Order is a way stay involved with the fraternity for a lifetime. Kappa Alpha Order can continue to play an important role in your future through the Loyal Order. As a member, you will receive special benefits that will keep you connected with the fraternity. You will also gain the satisfaction from lending your support and experience to worthwhile undergraduate programs and alumni activities.
National Awards Program
Each year at NLI, national awards are given to the top chapters in the nation. Kappa Alpha Order recognizes chapters who excel in specific areas of programming as well as those who excel in all areas of chapter operations.
The top awards that are presented are the George C. Marshall Award for Chapter Excellence, the Samuel Z. Ammen Award and the Most Improved Chapter Award. The George C. Marshall Award for Chapter Excellence honors the top one to three chapters in the nation. The Ammen Award goes to chapters scoring in the top 15 percent in the country; and the Most Improved Chapter Award recognizes chapters who have made considerable progress during the past academic year.
In addition to these, numerous awards for excellence in specific areas of operation are bestowed. Chapters are recognized for outstanding communications, finances, community service, recruitment and scholarship. The Scholarship Trophy recognizes the chapter with the highest grade point average among all chapters applying. The chapter that wins this award is presented with a certificate and has their designation engraved on the trophy which is on display in the National Administrative Office.
In addition to chapter awards, Kappa Alpha also recognizes individuals for their outstanding efforts. The Award for Distinguished Achievement is our highest honor and is presented by the Executive Council. It recognizes those alumni who have made outstanding contributions in their profession and to their country.
National Finances
The financial status of Kappa Alpha Order should be of interest to you. Where does Kappa Alpha Order get the money to operate, and what expenses does it have? With an annual budget of over $2 million, a detailed answer could be rather lengthy. By looking at the charts to the right, you can get an idea of the types of income and expenses that are involved. Also, the following “Questions and Answers” should assist you.
Q: What portion of the money to run Kappa Alpha comes from undergraduates?
A: Annual dues, new member and initiation fees paid by undergraduate members account for approximately 46% of the current annual operating income for Kappa Alpha. (Insurance assessments account for an additional 33%)
Q: Does the fraternity have other sources of income?
A: Yes, five percent comes from the Order’s investments, three percent is from NLI registrations. Other sources include royalties, the sale of gift items and miscellaneous areas of income.
Just what do chapters get for their money? It’s a fair question, and one that can be answered in several ways. First, it is virtually impossible to place a monetary value on something intangible. What’s the monetary value of friendship? Or, for that matter, what is the value of belonging to a prestigious national organization? From a chapter standpoint, what’s the value of the national charter?
There is always a temptation to answer by providing a list of every single program and publication available from the National Administrative Office. However, the answer really lies in the national organization’s commitment of support, service and structure to its members.
Support
The primary reason for the existence of the National Administrative Office is to support our active and provisional chapters. Its goal is to make the undergraduate experience a positive one. An example of the national office’s commitment to support the active chapters is the educational and leadership consultant program. The consultant ranks continue to expand to meet the needs of our chapters. More
consultants travel the road each year with fewer chapters to visit per consultant to allow for more time for education during each chapter visit. Each chapter is visited at least twice during the academic year by a trained consultant. Their visits are designed to help the chapter enhance current programs, such as recruitment and Council of Honor, and to begin new educational programs.
New programs are continuously being developed to offer the tools needed for success to our active members and to our chapters. With the launching of the Crusade program, Kappa Alpha Order broke new ground to bring a four-year educational
program to our undergraduates. The development of the Number I Leadership Summit brings new chapter presidents together to focus on the skills needed to be a successful leader of their chapter. In addition, the annual National Leadership Institute (NLI) provides chapter members with useful information about chapter operations and personal development. Finally, a valuable but often overlooked aspect of support provided by the national office is the effort to establish and to maintain rapport between each chapter and its respective university administration.
Service
The National Administrative Office produces and distributes numerous manuals dealing with all aspects of chapter operations. A service which benefits both alumni and undergraduates is the identification as a member, signified by the official badge and shingle. The Kappa Alpha Journal and the national website are means of
communicating and networking with KAs across the country. Computer records maintenance, constant updating of alumni addresses, and access to alumni address listings are provided for both alumni and active chapters.
Structure
The support and services offered by the national office to alumni and active chapters, as well as to individual members, are of great importance. However, the framework and the structure of Kappa Alpha Order as a viable national organization is what ensures the Order’s continued success. Without such a comprehensive national structure, Kappa Alpha Order would not thrive or survive. It is this structure which allows for the continued existence of Kappa Alpha Order, both on a national level, and on your campus.
Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation
Established in 1982, the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The KAOEF provides grants for educational programs of the fraternity, such as the National Leadership Institute and Province Councils, The Crusade program, and provides scholarships to deserving graduate and undergraduate students. The KAOEF funds these programs with donations contributed by KA alumni & friends. KAOEF asks alumni to contribute annually, and it is through their generosity that these programs are supported.
The 1865 Trust- The 1865 Trust is a special group which recognizes alumni who have made a planned gift to KA through the KAOEF. A planned gift allows the donor to retain control of the assets to be gifted during his lifetime, but eventually make a significant contribution to KA. Depending on the type of gift, a donor may even realize some substantial tax savings and receive an income for life.
Scholarship Program - One of the most visible programs of the KAOEF is the scholarship program, which provides over $100,000 in awards each year. Contact KAOEF for an application.
The Executive Director supervises the day-to-day administration and fundraising, and is assisted by two directors of development and support staff. The KAOEF is governed by a 22-member board of trustees, which is composed of alumni who volunteer their time and talent to serve the Order.
With new jobs and family responsibilities, it is not always possible for alumni to remain as active in KA as they would like to be after graduation. However, KAOEF is a way for alumni to help the Order by underwriting the educational programs and activities which benefit you, the undergraduate member.
All gifts to the Foundation are tax-deductible and come in many different forms, depending on which is most advantageous for the donor - cash or check, appreciated securities (stocks/bonds) or planned gifts.
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