Community Service

Service to others plays an important part in the missions of both the Kappa Alpha Order and Davidson College. As members of both these communities and as a group which wishes to cultivate human growth, interaction, and self awareness through a fraternal experience, Sigma Chapter takes active steps to promote service throughout its membership. Service not only helps others, but also rewards those who give by returning warmth, pride, joy, or satisfaction. Led by its service chairs, Sigma Chapter seeks constructive interaction and aid to the greater communities for which we are a part of at Davidson. Whether putting together a KArnival to raise money for MDA, tutoring a student in an afterschool program, or coaching a youth soccer team, the Sigma experience promotes service as a duty which can be personally rewarding and outwardly inspiring.

Service can be a vague and sometimes insignificant feature of a a social organization's mission. In the past year, Sigma Chapter has focused on the role of service and has chosen to take constructive steps towards making service one of the central elements of the fraternal experience.

With the help of Patterson Court Council, the Davidson College Community Service Office, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, we were able to put together our 6th annual KArnival to benefit MDA. This event raised $9383 for MDA and proved to Sigma Chapter the positive influences it can have on its community. Below is a letter which appeared in our spring newsletter to alumni:

This year Sigma Chapter has undertaken its sixth annual KArnival to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Building on past traditions, KArnival demonstrates the commitment to excellence that the brothers of Sigma Chapter strive to achieve through service and leadership in the community. While the money we raise will help send kids with muscular dystrophy to this yearÕs MDA summer camp in June, KArnival itself will bring the college and local community together for one festive, spring afternoon.

We have three primary goals for this yearÕs Karnival. First, we hope to put on a free spring carnival for kids and their families in the Davidson community as well as students from Davidson College. Second, we will raise $8,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in order to sponsor five cabins of campers at this yearÕs MDA Summer Camp. Finally, this yearÕs KArnival will enhance KAÕs tradition both through fundraising and event planning in order to promote the success and enthusiasm of KArnival in years to come.

The brothers of Sigma Chapter have been busy building and painting booths, selling corporate advertising, scheduling entertainment, and publicizing KArnival which will take place on the Davidson Town Green on the afternoon of April 15. While past KArnivalÕs have consisted of small booths and games for children, we have expanded the KArnival in order to bring out more members of the community. We have even scheduled Davidson CollegeÕs own Cast Iron Filter to play on the Green. President Bobby Vagt will make an appearance in the dunk tank. Muhsin Muhammed of the Carolina Panthers will sign autographs and help host. In conjunction with Kappa Alpha Order as national sponsors of MDA, Harley Davidson will present a custom bike display. Another exciting aspect of this yearÕs KArnival will be the racing theme. Dale EarnhardtÕs racecar will be at the KArnival for fans to see. Thunderdome Racing will bring a twenty-five foot, banked race track to the event where corporate sponsored cars will be raced by the people at KArnival.

The Sigma Chapter will also be presenting its own debut racing team that you should all come down to Davidson to see if you are in the area. In addition, this yearÕs KArnival will have a silent auction consisting of various items and brother labor. We have collected autographed sheet metal from Hendrick Motorsports and Roush Racing, four tickets with pit passes to the October 8th Winston Cup NASCAR race, a limited edition racing print by Garry Hill, a guided Orvis fly fishing trip, autographed Duke and Davidson basketballs, Duke/Carolina basketball tickets, Davidson Athletics universal season tickets, rounds of golf at Birkdale and Mallard Head, and other items.

You should be proud of the work and character that the brothers of Sigma Chapter have dutifully and energetically shown this year. We have already raised over seventy percent of our monetary goal for MDA. If you would like to contribute to our project and help fulfill a duty central to our Order, please make checks payable to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. For questions about KArnival or ideas in which we could improve this tradition, please feel free to contact me at (704) 896-6045 or send email to jajenkins@davidson.edu.

We extend to you, the alumni of Sigma Chapter, an invitation to join us on the Davidson Town Green, April 15 for KArnival 2000. For those of you who cannot make it, know that the spirit of the Kappa Alpha Order continues to excel and set an example for which others may follow in duty, service, and brotherhood.

Respectfully yours,

James Jenkins

Letter to Alumni appearing in The Sigma April 2000