Being Back Together Again
Author: Heather C. Editor: Grace C.
Kenley N., a sister of Zeta Tau Alpha, serves as the Vice President of Administrative Affairs on the Executive Board of the Panhellenic Association at Florida State. Her position entails overseeing both the Philanthropy and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chairs of all 17 chapters on campus. She also handles the Panhellenic brand and merchandise and takes meeting minutes at each Panhellenic meeting.
Kenley serves on the Executive Board with a passion for service. She shares that her favorite part of her position is working with the unique philanthropies of all the chapters, stating that it has been “the most encouraging and wonderful experience.” She also shares how her creativity has been cultivated in her position, “it has given me the opportunity to further something I love doing, which is apparel design and branding work,” Kenley says.
Panhellenic meetings, which are held every other Tuesday, are an integral part of the Panhellenic community. Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Panhellenic meetings were online. The Executive Board, as well as the Panhellenic Delegates of each chapter, met through Zoom, and members of the Panhellenic community could stream the meetings online. This year, however, Panhellenic meetings returned to in-person, rotating chapter facilities on selected Tuesday evenings. With the return of in-person meetings, a special spirit for community returned as well.
Kenley explains the transition to in-person meetings as being a “learning curve.” She shares that “as an Executive Board, we were accustomed to functioning remotely and facilitating everything virtually. We hadn’t really had the chance to experience what sitting at that front table felt like for the first half of our term.” Despite this sudden transition, Kenley expresses how wonderful it is to be back in-person, explaining that the Executive Board loves being able to “share a room with so many incredible women in our Panhellenic community!”
To Kenley, one of the most wonderful parts of holding “safe and welcoming” meetings in-person, is the opportunity for the Executive Board to “really show the Panhellenic community how much we love each other and what we do!” She explains how the board feeds off of each other’s energy and has a great dynamic. “It’s the little moments like Sarah J. (the Panhellenic President) sharing a sappy memory about our time leading this community that make me proud to have a seat at that table,” Kenley shares. Her favorite moments are when the board is “authentically us in a space that encourages us to be,” reflecting the very sentiment of what makes the Panhellenic community so remarkable.
Panhellenic meetings are a chance for the community to come together. Kenley describes them as “a place where decisions are made, leaders deliberate, and we appreciate each and every one of our members in all 17 chapters!” She shares how those leading “hope to inspire the future leaders in this space and encourage them to take a seat at the table one day too.” She encourages everyone to come to a meeting and see how extraordinary the community is when all together, stating that she is “so proud to be a Panhellenic woman and grateful for the opportunities, events, and meetings that round out this collegiate experience and bring us so much closer to our community!” This love for community and spirit of togetherness capture the essence of Panhellenic meetings. Panhellenic meetings in-person have been a privilege that the Panhellenic community will never take for granted again.