Alumni News 
Professional Pharmacy Fraternity
  
 
Greetings! Fall has been a busy time for all of us. Please enjoy your (belated) fall Alumni News, and stay tuned for more news on the alumni front.

I'm so happy to be returning to Grand Council for another term as Grand Vice President for Alumni! In my service to LKS, I can honestly say that serving in this capacity is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding things I have done. I truly enjoy working with alumni sisters. I also love meeting as many of you as possible--in person and on social media!

As GVPA, my goal is always to be of service to YOU, whether it be helping establish a new chapter, finding new ways to engage recent graduates, helping to plan meaningful activities for convention or assisting with problems and concerns. I am here for YOU, the sisters of LKS. 

You can reach me at GVPAlumni@lks.org. You can also reach me at my home address (snail mail) at 17312 Old Jamestown Road, Florissant MO 63034. If your travels ever take you through St Louis, let me know...we just might be able to meet up!

Lambda Kappa Sigma is also present at many major pharmacy meetings. We had a booth at ASHP in early December and will also have a booth at the March 2017 APhA Annual Meeting in San Francisco. We certainly hope that if you are attending APhA you will stop by and say hi!

Wishing you a happy holiday season! 

Fraternally, 

Chris Grass
Grand Vice President for Alumni
2016 LKS Convention in Scranton

Lambs gathered in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in July for the annual convention. While Scranton may not have the glitz and glamour of a big city, it certainly held something very special for our annual gathering!

As evidenced by our large number of registrants, Scranton was a great place to hold a convention. It was accessible by car for many of our sisters, making the job of getting to convention much easier (and more affordable, too). The city of Scranton was friendly and welcoming, and sisters enjoyed the hospitality.

Alpha Phi sisters from Wilkes University served as the host chapter and did a marvelous job. Not only did they assist with the "nuts and bolts" of the meeting, they also served as guides. They were happy and eager to show all of us where to have a good time (in those seemingly all-too-rare free moments).

Our big Lambs night out was spent at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders baseball game. Our group was warmly welcomed, and Grand President Jenny Brandt even got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch! Those who did not attend the game showed off their artistic skills by painting wine glasses--and I must say that we have some very talented Lambs!

We wrapped up this biennium's WHI topic of substance abuse and addiction with Jake Nichols, a pharmacist who shared his story of becoming addicted to the very medications for which he is responsible. His presentation was moving and challenging. The WHI topic for the next biennium is skin cancer. Watch for social media posts about this subject.

Beginning with a reception to benefit the Educational Trust and ending with a banquet and the installation of the new Grand Council, our closing gala was nothing short of spectacular. What a great evening for everyone!
It's Not too Late to Pay Dues!

November 1st was the deadline for paying alumni dues. If you have already paid, thank you! If you have not yet paid, it's not too late!


Thanks to your loyalty and support, Lambda Kappa Sigma continues to thrive as the first (and best!) professional fraternity supporting women in pharmacy. With more than 25,000 initiated "Lambs", our beloved Fraternity remains dedicated to providing lifelong opportunities to all members through professional excellence and personal growth. 

Your continued support allows us to provide amazing opportunities not only to you but to the women following in your professional footsteps!
About New Graduates

I am frequently asked by current alumni chapters how they can get new graduates involved with their current alumni. I am also asked by new graduates how they can get involved with alumni chapters. These seem like simple questions with simple answers. But in reality, this gap is not as easy to bridge as it sounds!

There are several obstacles to overcome. When our sisters are in their last year of studies, they are on rotations, often not on campus and not always in touch with their collegiate chapter. In fact, sometimes sisters are completing their rotations in another state or even another country! We are very mobile professionals, and this takes us away from our "roots".

After graduation, residencies are becoming an even more popular option. This often means living somewhere new for only one or two years and then moving on to another area of the country. This can sometimes leave our sisters feeling disconnected and out of touch. There is also a bit of apprehension about joining a chapter that isn't their own--they can sometimes feel a bit like foreigners!

The good news is that LKS is always there for you, no matter where you go! Alumni chapters have been established in many cities across the U.S. You are free to join any of these chapters even if that is not the chapter into which you were initiated. I know that if I were moving to a new area, I would always be an Alpha Zeta sister at heart, but that any other alumni chapter would be there for me. Because at the base of it, we are all sisters in LKS!

How can you find members in a new area? There are many ways!
  • Look at the list of alumni chapters on lks.org. If there is a location near you, email the chapter president.
  • Log into the LKS Member Portal (click the yellow Members Only button on lks.org). Under "My Membership", select "Search Membership Directory". In the Type field, select the membership type (alumni chapter member, alumni-at-large, etc.). Enter the city you would like to search in. 
  • Email me at GVPAlumni@lks.org! If I don't know someone in your area, I can help you find someone who is.
  • You can always contact the collegiate chapter near you...there's a friendly Lamb just waiting to help!
I have also heard of several alumni chapters that have had success with the transition from collegiate to alumni by including sisters on rotations in alumni activities. Alumni chapters tell me that they don't do anything special, such as collect dues. They simply include the soon-to-be graduates in their activities and communications. This is a great introduction to the alumni world and lets the sisters know they are valued and appreciated.

Many collegiate chapters hold special alumni events as well. The collegiates tell me that they are sometimes frustrated by the low numbers of alumni who attend. Alumni, I want you to know just how much your attendance at these events is appreciated. The collegiates really do want to meet you and get to know you. They value your experience and advice! Please try to attend when you can...you might even have some fun!

If your chapter has had success in recruiting new graduates, email me at GVPAlumni@lks.org. I'll feature your success story in an upcoming Alumni News!
Lambs in Business!

One of the more popular features of our convention in recent years has been Ewe Can Shop, a shopping event like none other! This event is set up like a vendor fair and features a wonderful assortment of goods for sale. Many of our chapters use this event as a fundraiser for their chapter or for one of their philanthropies (such as Project HOPE). A few of our very enterprising sisters also participate in other businesses (even their own!).

At Ewe Can Shop in Scranton, we were really pleased to be able to feature several of our sisters who have their own businesses: Christine Perry (Summer House Hand Stamped Jewelry and Rodan + Fields), Elicia DeParolesa (Arbonne), Amanda Higgins (The Natural Pharmacist), Nicole Lombardo (KEEP Collective) and Dixie Leikach (PEER, a pharmacy ethics and education service).

Great job, ladies! We were glad to have you with us. If you would like more information about any of these businesses or want to know how to participate in our next Ewe Can Shop, email me at GVPAlumni@lks.org.

Atlanta 2017...Don't Miss It! 

Our next convention will be held in the wonderful city of Atlanta, Georgia, from August 3 through 5, 2017. There will be a lot more information coming out in the months ahead. But knowing how pharmacist vacation schedules fill up, I wanted you to have the date so you can plan ahead.

There is sure to be lots of fun, education, sisterhood and more...so mark your calendar now!

And be sure to visit lks.org/Convention17 for all the latest.
What's New with Ewe? 

I love to be able to feature news about sisters in our newsletter. Many people tell me this is one of the most enjoyable parts of the Alumni News, especially when there are pictures!

If something has happened to you (big or small), please let me know. New job? New home? A baby? Engagement? Something serious? Something funny? Email me at GVPAlumni@lks.org. Remember the photo, too!

I am looking forward to hearing from you!
Early Winter 2016
www.lks.org
We Need You!

Alumni membership in LKS is an important factor as the Fraternity works to promote women in pharmacy.

If you haven't already done so, we encourage you to renew your commitment to LKS today. Learn More

Please Donate

When you are renewing your dues, we also ask that you to kindly consider making donations to the LKS Educational Trust, the Campaign for Progress and Project HOPE

WHI Topic: Skin Cancer

The Women's Health Initiative topic for this biennium is skin cancer. Watch our social media platforms for messages about this deadly disease.

Don't Become a
Lost Lamb!

To make sure that you continue to receive all the latest communications from LKS, be sure to update your profile in the LKS Member Portal. Problems logging in?

Follow LKS!

LKS is now on social media! Here's where you can find us:

Lambda Kappa Sigma Pharmacy Fraternity
P.O. Box 570, Muskego WI 53150
www.lks.org | lks@lks.org | 800-LKS-1913