• Activities included a dual celebration with St. Louis AKAs, whose chapter also turns 100 this year.
Beta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. of Kansas City celebrated their 100th birthday with two virtual events. Beta Omega turned 100 on Oct. 20, and its members had planned a series of events, but COVID-19 brought out the creativity in sorority members, who refused to let the occasion pass without a quality celebration.
AKA was founded at Howard University on Jan. 15, 1908. Just 12 years later, Beta Omega became the sorority’s second graduate chapter, chartered at the KCMO YWCA. Beulah Burke, one of the sorority’s founding members was a charter member of Beta Omega. Since its founding, Beta Omega has been dedicated in implementing programs of service that change the social, economic and educational well-being of the local, national and international communities.
The sorority’s virtual 100th Anniversary Celebration was held on Oct. 14. The centennial committee, led by Thelma Crawford, presented a short program that included an anniversary poem; a message from Danette Danette Anthony Reed, first vice president for AKA; a video walk down the chapter’s 100-year history, and a toast from Mid-Western Regional Director Twyla Woods Buford, who is current Beta Omega Chapter member.
The celebration continued on Nov. 1 when Beta Omega Chapter held a virtual “Pink And Green With A Touch of Bling!” I-70 AKA Centennial Happy Hour with their sisters from Gamma Omega Chapter in St. Louis. The St. Louis Chapter was chartered on Dec. 2, 1920, less than two months after Beta Omega. More than 200 members from both chapters registered for the event.
Presidents Dr. Juana Hishaw of Beta Omega and Kimberly Beck of Gamma Omega acknowledged the occasion. The program included a review of each chapter’s history; recognition of Diamond, Pearl, Golden, and Silver Sorority members were recognized for 75, 65, 50 and 25 years of service to the sorority. Participants enjoyed fun facts about life in 1920, a scavenger hunt and “Ethel Bingo” in honor of sorority founder Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, who was from St. Louis. Legacies, new and reactivating members were identified and notable connections between members in both chapters were shared.
Attending members enjoyed prizes for the games and the competition for the “Most Blinged-Out Sorority Member” in attendance. Sorority members also enjoyed dancing the Cupid Shuffle and the Whobble.
The Beta Omega Centennial Celebration Gala, originally scheduled for this year, is postponed until 2021.