Themis—Spring 2016

THEMIS of Zeta Tau Alpha | Spring 2016

Focusing on the

‘WHY?’

The art of negotiation | Delta Alpha Chapter reactivated | New NPC recruitment rules

From Where I Sit Spring 2016 Vol. 114 No. 3 (ISSN 1529-6709; USPS 627-120) 3450 Founders Road Indianapolis, IN 46268 (317) 872-0540 zetataualpha@zetataualpha.org

STAFF Editor Ellen Crawford Graphic Designer Haleigh Castino, Alpha Psi Director of Communication Ashley Sherman Contributors Christy Marx Barber, Alpha Psi Susan Beard, Delta Psi Monica Ceja, Lambda Gamma Becky Koltonski Gleason, Delta Delta Patti Cords Levitte, Beta Phi Alison Templeman, Beta Delta Lenie Tsakonas, Lambda Epsilon Elizabeth Wright

NATIONAL COUNCIL National President Carolyn Hof Carpenter, Theta Tau Vice President Collegiate I Natalie Yingling, Delta Omega Vice President Collegiate II Lynn Compton Chapman, Alpha Nu Vice President Collegiate III Kristen Moeller Fauré, Iota Pi Vice President Alumnae I Dana Brasington Atkinson, Delta Omicron Vice President Alumnae II Alicia Patten Williams, Theta Psi Secretary-Treasurer Dinah Jackson Laughery, Beta Gamma National Panhellenic Conference Delegate Laura Ladewig Mauro, Theta Psi Extension Director Marlene Dunbar Conrad, Eta Iota

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with Shari Fisher

By day, I am the director of sales for a 570-room hotel in the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter. I am responsible for leading a team of five group sales managers to maximize our group business and revenue opportunities. Some of these activities include proactively soliciting business for the hotel, managing accounts and finalizing contracts while actively seeking new clients and maintaining positive relationships.

I currently serve Zeta Tau Alpha as the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer® Committee Chairperson. However, for nine years prior to my current appointment, I served the Fraternity as District President X–A in Louisiana [and I am an alumna of Delta Nu Chapter at The University of New Orleans]. One of the many roles a District President assumes is to oversee Zeta Day, and each requires a series of negotiations to make the event successful: venue availability, facility fees, food/beverage pricing and room blocks.

In all of these roles, the two key components to successful negotiations or outcomes are communication and listening.

Communication is a conversation. Words and how we use them are the success of every conversation. Before entering any negotiation, you must be knowledgeable and confident in what you are attempting to accomplish.

When communicating with someone during a negotiation, it’s important to know the value of what you are bringing to the table; know why your value is important; and understand the difference between your needs, or what you must have, versus your wants, or the things that will enhance the opportunity. The clearer you are in communicating your value, the better your chances for success.

The abilities to listen actively, ask effective questions and demonstrate understanding help you glean the interest of the other party. Let the other party talk and listen to their reply. This greatly enhances trust and builds rapport.

In order to understand the other party, you must listen for areas of agreement, address areas of concern by providing solutions or additional information, and ask for the action you want them to take.

If you can’t agree, listen again and ask why. Listening also involves words, tone of voice and body language, so be mindful of all three.

Negotiations involve two parties trying to work together toward a common solution. If you articulate your value and actively listen, you will be on a path to mutual understanding. For more on the art of negotiation, turn to page 31.

pg. 40

ZTA FRATERNITY HOUSING CORPORATION President Julia Marthaler Hill, Eta Rho Vice President Martha Gorum Jackson, Epsilon Treasurer Lacy Schneider O’Connor, Theta Omicron

pg. 42

Secretary Marty E. Sik, Alpha Chi

pg. 18

FOCUSING on the‘WHY?’ Women tackling demanding schedules and mounting responsibilities may ask why things are done a certain way or why they engage in various activities. Defining that why can help us focus as women and members of Zeta Tau Alpha. Read more on page 22.

Delta Alpha Chapter reactivated at CSULB, page 18 A group of new women entered into the Zeta Tau Alpha sisterhood with the reactivation of Delta Alpha Chapter at California State University, Long Beach, in January.

The art of negotiation, page 31 Four Zetas share tips for engaging in successful negotiations based on their professional experiences. Put their techniques to use within your ZTA chapter, at work, when making a major purchase and within your personal relationships.

Strengthening values-based recruitment, page 38 The National Panhellenic Conference has strengthened its valuesbased recruitment policy to eliminate skits and minimize decorations so collegiate chapters can focus on positive conversations about organizational values and the member experience.

Things We Zeta Love Sisterhood Story Collegiate Chapter News Collegian Profile Alumnae Chapter News

Committee Members Kristine Fleming, Eta Theta Susan Brown Long, Gamma Iota Julie Ward Moxley, Theta Sigma Leah Fields Ozment, Nu Directors Carolyn Hof Carpenter, Theta Tau Becky Hainsworth Kirwan, Gamma Beta Dinah Jackson Laughery, Beta Gamma

ZTA FOUNDATION President Becky Hainsworth Kirwan, Gamma Beta Vice President of Philanthropy Sherry Server Tilley, Zeta Alpha Vice President of Scholarship Catherine G. Slaughter, Alpha Eta Vice President of Special Events Cynthia Byars Courtney, Gamma Tau Secretary/Treasurer Kay Dill Kreutzer, Eta Rho

In this issue 4 5 6 11 12

Directors at Large Susan Beard, Delta Psi Jan Spradley McCarthy, Gamma Phi Kay McCoy McKelvey, Delta Delta Karen Farmer Mills, Gamma Iota Terri Dew Millsap, Alpha Nu Casey Guimbellot Pash, Iota Chi Anne Petro Tamulaitis, Alpha Kappa Christine Flora Walter, Gamma Chi Karla Lundgren Wheeler, Psi

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Alumna Profile FHC News ZTA Foundation News Points of Pride Archives

Directors Carolyn Hof Carpenter, Theta Tau Julia Marthaler Hill, Eta Rho Nora Nell Hardy Jackson, Beta Gamma Dinah Jackson Laughery, Beta Gamma Lacy Schneider O’Connor, Theta Omicron Spring 2016 · 3

Zeta Love

Things We FRED Word Scramble

Unscramble each group of letters below—one letter to each dash—to form nine words and phrases commonly used by Zeta Tau Alphas. Each scramble is a wellknown ZTA symbol, saying, object or value. Answers are on page 43.

1. OSO RDHITSE

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2. LYEAGC

6 7 25

3. IUALTR What inspires me As a delegate for the Phoenix Panhellenic Association, I am privileged to work with a diverse group of women who inspire me every day. These women selflessly serve others; they encourage each other; they strive for greatness. Most importantly, they think about how to encourage a younger generation of sorority women.

I sit back at meetings and say, “These women are amazing.”

Conversely, I proudly share with the organization how my own ZTA sisters selflessly serve. I am inspired daily to be better and to do better. That is the power of the National Panhellenic Conference and ZTA. Maggie Casmus Borze Beta Nu Chapter New Mexico State University

Correction In 2015, Dorothy Goepp Spiess (Alpha Eta Chapter, University of Cincinnati) celebrated 75 years of membership in ZTA and received her White Violet charm at a Zeta Day event.

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4. LHVTEOWITEI

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5. KHTKININP

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6. GRINIYTTSECPIMFUY

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7. HCAAPFSORICNEHT

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8. ERTEZEVFARISO

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9. ETELENESBSKHTO

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Now, copy each letter that has a number underneath it to the corresponding numbered space below to reveal a line that has significance to many Zetas.

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ZTA around the world How have you brought Zeta Tau Alpha around the world with you? Show us by sending your pictures to news@zetataualpha.org.

While on a cruise over winter break with 22 members of her family, Madison couldn’t resist representing ZTA with a few locals in Jamaica.

Madison Shilling Theta Theta Chapter Arkansas Tech University

Beyond the bonds of sisterhood

By Monica Ceja, Lambda Gamma, Communications Coordinator

When Nyla Stanley Parker pledged Delta Alpha Chapter (California State University, Long Beach) in 1959, she knew it was special. “I knew this was more than just the time I was going to spend in school,” she said. “I was making a real commitment to something really good.”

Staying true to that idea, Nyla joined the Long Beach, CA Alumnae Chapter after graduation and assumed many leadership positions, eventually becoming District President XIX-G. As she started a family, she dreamed of her two daughters becoming Zetas.

“I would have loved nothing better than to have one of my daughters be a Zeta Tau Alpha,” Nyla said. “But I was so happy they pledged [National Panhellenic Conference] groups. We’re all Greek, and while there is a little bit of competitiveness and we take special pride in our own groups, we are all proud to be fraternity women.”

As her family grew, Nyla was proud to see her legacy on CSULB’s campus continue when her granddaughter Stephanie Gilman enrolled, despite the fact Delta Alpha Chapter was no longer active. “I just thought it was so nice that she was attending the same school her grandmother and grandfather went to,” Nyla said.

But as the CSULB Panhellenic Council opened for extension

and invited ZTA to present, Nyla saw a new chance to continue her legacy in ZTA. As she shared her story with the extension committee, Nyla conveyed her passion for her collegiate chapter. “I can’t express how much I hope Delta Alpha is reactivated at [CSULB]. It would be a dream come true for me,” she said. Nyla couldn’t help but think of the possibility of Stephanie following in her footsteps and becoming a Zeta. “If ZTA came to campus, I can’t think of anything more wonderful than going to her Initiation and maybe pinning her badge on her,” she said.

Nyla’s wishes came true in January as ZTA reactivated Delta Alpha Chapter (see more on page 18) and she welcomed Stephanie as a new initiate.

The day was equally as special for Stephanie, who expressed the impact of having Delta Alpha Chapter alumnae attend the reactivation service and banquet. “We are continuing a legacy, and it was hard to realize just how big it is until we saw all the other alumnae and the Delta Alphas who came before us,” she said. “It really sinks in how much it means to everyone to reactivate the chapter.”

As a new initiate, Stephanie is excited to continue her grandmother’s legacy in Delta Alpha Chapter. “It’s more than just me,” Stephanie explained. “It’s important to me because [ZTA] is a family within a family.” Nyla couldn’t contain her excitement either. “It’s a way of perpetuating a little bit of me,” she said. “And not many others can call their granddaughter their sister!”

Stephanie Gilman and her grandmother Nyla Parker celebrated the reactivation of Delta Alpha Chapter in January (left). Chapter alumnae joined in the festivities, proving Zeta Is Forever (above).

Fraternity News · Spring 2016 · 5

Collegiate Chapter News Kappa The University of Texas at Austin After the Big Sister Service, the sisters of Kappa Chapter celebrated their new families with a state fairthemed sisterhood. The Big and Little Sister pairs enjoyed music, face paint and funnel cakes.

5 Sigma Baker University The sisters of Sigma Chapter volunteered at a local animal shelter this fall. They took a tour of the facility before they walked dogs and cared for cats that rarely have contact with humans.

Phi Duke University In the spirit of the holidays, the sisters of Phi Chapter held a Secret Santa/ Hanukkah Fairy gift swap, where the most popular presents were adult coloring books. Members sipped on hot chocolate while dressed in their most festive holiday sweaters and pajamas.

Alpha Beta University of Pennsylvania In January, Alpha Beta Chapter held several events for new members.

They spent Bid Day getting to know each other at a local restaurant and later enjoyed a game and movie night. The chapter also organized a spa night to allow new sisters to mingle with upperclassmen.

4 Alpha Gamma University of Michigan Members of Alpha Gamma Chapter shared ZTA’s philanthropy with fans at their school’s annual Pink Out women’s basketball game. They honored breast cancer survivors with a special presentation and gave each one a sash.

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Alpha Nu Birmingham-Southern College To connect with another organization founded at Longwood University, the sisters of Alpha Nu Chapter paired with the women of Kappa Delta Sorority for a sweet ice cream social.

This event created a stronger sense of Panhellenic community on the Birmingham-Southern campus.

Alpha Phi Northwestern University Alpha Phi Chapter welcomed 35 new members during winter recruitment with a “Space Zlam” Bid Day. Sisters celebrated their new members with galaxy T-shirts and an out-of-thisworld photo booth.

3 Beta Theta Franklin College The sisters of Beta Theta Chapter made Christmas cards and distributed them at a local retirement community. This opportunity was a meaningful and heart-warming way to kick off the holiday season.

Beta Lambda University of Louisville After completing the Behind Happy Faces mental health program, the sisters of Beta Lambda Chapter were inspired to start their own “Supporting Sisters” group. Interested members attend weekly meetings that allow sisters to discuss their experiences with depression and anxiety. This serves as a great opportunity to share advice and offer support.

Beta Nu New Mexico State University Beta Nu Chapter’s Sisterhood Chairman started a new activity to boost chapter morale and positivity.

Sisters decorated paper bags to reflect their personalities, and then other

chapter members filled the “Magic Bags” with fun memories or heartwarming sentiments.

Gamma Alpha University of Miami In early January, Gamma Alpha Chapter welcomed 61 new members.

The new member class received the royal treatment when they traveled by stretch limousines to the bohemian-inspired Bid Day festivities at a sister’s house. Everyone enjoyed getting to know their new sisters while mingling around the backyard.

Gamma Gamma The University of Texas at El Paso Striving to make more meaningful connections with potential new members, the sisters of Gamma Gamma Chapter hosted a night of service for their spring CROWN recruitment event. The women experienced ZTA’s philanthropy by making blankets for cancer patients.

Gamma Epsilon Pennsylvania State University As a way to give thanks and bond with their new member class, Gamma Epsilon Chapter sisters hosted a Thanksgiving dinner. Members cooked a holiday feast together and bonded before leaving for holiday break.

1 Gamma Zeta Mississippi State University This fall, the sisters of Gamma Zeta Chapter hosted a pumpkin carving event at a local barn. They made caramel apples, enjoyed BBQ sandwiches and took festive photos in an autumn-themed photo booth.

Gamma Iota University of Florida The sisters of Gamma Iota Chapter shared wonderful holiday memories at

2 their annual Christmas party in early December. After feasting on sushi and pasta dishes, the members awarded one another fun superlative awards.

2 Gamma Mu University of Nebraska at Omaha Taking advantage of their campus’ new ice arena, the sisters of Gamma Mu Chapter held an ice skating sisterhood in December. Members bonded while skating, snapping photos and dancing. It was a great way to spend a Friday evening and celebrate the winter season.

Gamma Omicron Central Michigan University This fall, Gamma Omicron Chapter hosted a ghoulish Halloween party for local Special Olympics athletes.

The sisters and athletes played Halloween-themed games, had a costume contest and danced the night away.

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Gamma Nu University of Virginia Gamma Nu Chapter recently welcomed 43 new members with an Olympic-themed Bid Day. Afterward, the entire chapter went to dinner at a local restaurant and sang karaoke before heading back to the chapter house for a dance party.

Gamma Chi Indiana State University The sisters of Gamma Chi Chapter enjoyed a Fraternity Education presentation on ZTA’s logos and symbols. Members learned more about the do’s and don’ts of using the ZTA brand so they can properly represent the Fraternity.

Delta Alpha California State University, Long Beach The newly reactivated Delta Alpha Chapter held an ice skating sisterhood this winter. Members taught each other how to skate and were there to lend a hand if anyone slipped. By the end of the night, with the support of their sisters, the women left with better skating skills and a stronger bond.

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8 Zeta Alpha University of Evansville In early November, the members of Zeta Alpha Chapter hosted a Dads Day cookout. The dads shared their hot dog and hamburger grilling skills, along with some embarrassing stories about their daughters. Sisters enjoyed learning more about one another and playing yard games with their dads.

Zeta Nu Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania To ensure safety and awareness, this chapter’s Risk Reduction and Education Chairman hosted a Jeopardy-style workshop. The game covered important facts and statistics about the dangers of drinking and hazing. Sisters competed against each other to see who knew the most about reducing risk.

Zeta Omicron Arkansas State University Collegians and alumnae gathered at the chapter house to enjoy a familystyle dinner during Zeta Omicron Chapter’s alumnae potluck. Sisters of all ages got to know one another better, played icebreaker games and learned the bond of Zeta Tau Alpha doesn’t end after four years because Zeta Is Forever.

Zeta Psi Jacksonville State University Zeta Psi Chapter held a CROWN recruitment event with 24 potential new members whimsically titled, “Dreaming of Becoming a ZTA.” The women assembled dream catchers while getting to know the Zetas to see if ZTA was a good fit for them.

Zeta Omega Ferris State University The sisters of Zeta Omega Chapter sent their seniors off in style. They hosted a senior send-off in December that ended with a fashion show. Together they designed outfits out of wrapping paper and strutted down the runway.

Eta Beta Duquesne University After Formal Recruitment, Eta Beta Chapter paired new members with upperclassmen, known as Strawberry Sisters, to help them feel welcome in the chapter. The pairs got together for lunch or fun activities that helped them get to know each other and foster the bonds of sisterhood.

Eta Kappa University of Central Florida Eta Kappa Chapter utilizes a mocktail risk prevention program before social events. Sisters and their dates

check in at the chapter house and enjoy food and photos while awaiting bus transportation. This effective program prevents drinking before events and earned the chapter the Risk Award from the campus’ Fraternity and Sorority Life Office.

10 Eta Lambda College of Charleston In celebration of its new member class, Eta Lambda Chapter hosted a sisterhood event. New and initiated members got to know one another over games and a delicious hot chocolate bar.

Eta Xi Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University The sisters of Eta Xi Chapter hosted Zetas of all ages during their Alumnae Weekend. They started off the celebration by cheering on the Virginia Tech football team and followed it up with a banquet dinner.

During the meal, the collegians gave a presentation on what the chapter has been doing within its community.

Eta Pi Wright State University Sisters got their festive Christmas sweaters out of storage to attend Eta

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Pi Chapter’s collegiate and alumnae holiday social. Everyone made ZTA ornaments and sipped on hot chocolate while the alumnae shared fond chapter memories and what they’ve gained as ZTA members.

Theta Iota University of North Florida The sisters of Theta Iota Chapter put their dads to the test during this year’s Daddy/Daughter Day with gokart races at an indoor speedway. The dads learned more about ZTA while playing games and sharing a BBQ lunch with their daughters.

to the chapter this holiday season.

Members learned how to incorporate ZTA symbols into their holiday décor.

They wrapped their tree in white violets, covered it in crowns and strawberries, and topped it with a statue of Themis.

Theta Xi Rutgers University Theta Xi Chapter sisters hosted a career seminar to teach members how to prepare résumés and to offer tips on the ins and outs of applying for internships. Sisters of all ages benefited from this workshop.

6 Theta Kappa University of Missouri–St. Louis Every semester, Theta Kappa Chapter members focus on giving back to their community by volunteering at a local animal sanctuary. During a recent visit, members walked dogs, socialized with kittens, and cleaned dishes and cages. Over the years the event has been such a hit that it has become a chapter tradition.

7 Theta Psi Texas State University–San Marcos Theta Psi Chapter recently created a new tradition. Members of the newly installed Executive Council participated in a photo shoot in scenic areas around San Marcos. The shoot provided EC members with a fun bonding experience that brought them together as a unit and prepared them to lead their chapter to greatness.

Theta Zeta Wofford College Theta Zeta Chapter’s Fraternity Education Chairman presented “How to Decorate a ZTA Christmas Tree”

Iota Alpha Robert Morris University Every week, a group of sisters from Iota Alpha Chapter attend a Zumba or kettlebell workout class as a way

to relieve stress and stay healthy.

This gives members an opportunity to motivate and support one another as they work toward individual health goals.

9 Iota Eta University of Nevada, Las Vegas Iota Eta Chapter members held their sisterhood retreat at Mt. Charleston Lodge, where the love of sisters warmed a cold winter day. They bonded, discussed chapter goals, took photos and decorated mason jars. They then filled the jars with encouraging notes for one another.

Iota Xi Christian Brothers University Iota Xi Chapter hosted a unique workout experience for its members this past fall. Glow-in-the-dark Zumba was such a huge hit that participants stayed three times longer than originally planned. The women were able to bond with sisters and work on their fitness goals while dancing in the dark.

Iota Pi University of Dayton Alumnae from the Dayton, OH Chapter presented “Perfecting the Interview” for Iota Pi Chapter. This

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innovative program taught members the importance of using their existing skills within the interview process and showing confidence to potential employers. Alumnae offered helpful tips and conducted mock interviews to help the collegians refine their skills.

Iota Phi North Carolina State University Members of the Iota Phi Chapter Executive Council and alumnae from the Research Triangle, NC Chapter recently joined forces to volunteer at Project Enlightenment, a book drive for young children. This event served as a great way to give back to the community and to bond with local alumnae.

12 Kappa Beta Presbyterian College Staff members at a local animal shelter lit up when they saw Zetas walk through their doors. The sisters of Kappa Beta Chapter regularly volunteered their time to bathe, feed, walk and play with cats and dogs that needed a little extra love.

Kappa Nu Monmouth University The power of social media helps build a bridge between the past and present. Kappa Nu Chapter started using its Instagram account to learn 10 · THEMIS · Collegiate Chapter News

more about chapter alumnae with “Transformation Tuesday.” They post side-by-side pictures of a featured alumna from her collegiate years and now, along with her advice for current chapter members.

Kappa Xi Stockton University Kappa Xi Chapter came up with a creative way to combat finals stress: “Poses and Pizza.” For this sisterhood event, a member’s mother led the chapter in a relaxing yoga class.

Afterward, sisters bonded over slices of pizza.

11 Kappa Sigma University of South Florida Before leaving for winter break, Kappa Sigma Chapter hosted its annual holiday party. Sisters dressed in their best holiday attire and enjoyed pasta and breadsticks. They spent the evening bonding and taking pictures in a fun photo booth.

13 Lambda Beta University of Rhode Island Taking advantage of their surroundings on the east coast, the sisters of Lambda Beta Chapter held a unique sisterhood event. They visited a beach near campus to unwind and relax with a yoga session. It was a

refreshing and scenic way for the members to stretch out and get to know one another better.

Lambda Delta Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi In mid-November, the members of Lambda Delta Chapter joined their Panhellenic sisters for a beach retreat. They strengthened connections with members of the Panhellenic community over games of beach volleyball, s’mores and stories around a campfire.

Lambda Zeta Lehigh University This chapter teamed up with Delta Chi Fraternity to host “Paws for a Cause.”

Members of the campus community who donated to the fight against animal cruelty signed their names on paw print signs and played with puppies local animal shelters brought to the event.

Lambda Lambda Kennesaw State University Lambda Lambda Chapter participated in a Panhellenic progressive dinner on campus. Sisters learned about the different positions of Panhellenic Council while enjoying great food and got to know members of the other sororities on campus so they now have other women to reach out to for ideas and advice.

Success PLAYBOOK FOR

By Ashley Sherman, Director of Communication

Know what you want.

Although she describes herself as “not athletic at all,” Ashton knew at an early age she wanted to work in sports. Knowing exactly what she hoped to gain from her college experience made it easy for Ashton to pick a school and a major. She also didn’t hesitate to apply for the Duquesne University Athletics internship her sophomore year, and she was one of only nine selected. Working with the football program, she’s responsible for all of the promotion leading up to each game and the behind-the-scenes activities on game day.

Be bold.

Ashton is fortunate to list the Steelers on her resume, but the opportunity didn’t come on its own. She had to ask for it. Knowing she wanted to work for the team’s training camp, Ashton asked her supervisor at Duquesne Athletics if she had any connections. It turns out she did, and Ashton’s direct approach paid off.

Meet everyone.

Ashton attributes her time in Zeta Tau Alpha for helping her become more outgoing, and the skills she learned from Formal Recruitment for part of her professional success. Through an opportunity to work during an NCAA basketball tournament held at Duquesne, Ashton brushed elbows with some big names in sports, including the athletic director from Louisiana State University. Her ZTA recruiting experience helped her have mature conversations with professionals that may impact her career in the future.

Like most collegians, Ashton Salopek aspires “never to work a day in her life.” This goal doesn’t stem from a lack of motivation; it’s quite the opposite, actually. Ashton hopes that by doing something she loves, her future career will never feel like work. This is already proving to be true in her current internships with Duquesne University Athletics and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The number of hours she puts into these positions is insane by most standards.

On game days, she’s up at 4 a.m. and on the field by 6 a.m., but she always has a genuine smile on her face.

Currently a junior sports marketing major, Ashton has built her own playbook for success in order to achieve her dream of working in sports.

Meet Ashton Salopek!

She’s a member of Eta Beta Chapter at Duquesne University.

Ashton’s ability to communicate with a wide variety of people also led to a steadier role with the Steelers. Although her initial role required her to interact with angry season ticket holders, she received such positive feedback the organization offered to keep her on staff during the regular season as well.

Stay focused.

Time management is key in keeping Ashton focused and on track. Between school, ZTA and her internships, Ashton has learned to love her planner. She actually turned down the Steelers’ initial internship offer of 20 hours a week so she could focus on school and her duties as Eta Beta Chapter’s Ritual Chairman. Determined not to lose such a great asset, however, the Steelers worked with Ashton to create a game-day position that fit her schedule.

Go for your dream.

Looking ahead, Ashton plans to keep working for Duquesne Athletics, networking and reaching out for opportunities that will get her where she wants to be. Ultimately, she hopes to become a marketing or athletic director for a major athletic program at a school like The University of Alabama or Clemson University.

Collegian Profile · Spring 2016 · 11

Alumnae Chapter News 3 Birmingham Alabama To kick off the holiday season, alumnae in Birmingham hosted a Christmas party for Zetas statewide.

They held a very competitive gingerbread house building contest and collected donations for a local women’s shelter to give back.

Tuscaloosa Alabama The women of the Tuscaloosa, AL Chapter came together to create exam study packages for the sisters of Nu Chapter. The packages included personalized messages from the collegians’ parents, snacks, notebooks, pencils and a ZTA bag.

Northern Arizona In January, sisters in Prescott, Arizona, attended an educational program at the Phippen Museum,

an art gallery that focuses on the heritage of the American West. The women learned about the catacombs and tunnels of the area through historical stories.

Little Rock Arkansas The Little Rock, AR Chapter alumnae collected donations at their November meeting for female veterans at a local healthcare center. The sisters then toured the facility and met many of the women receiving treatment.

East Bay California The women of the East Bay Alumnae Chapter spent a morning exploring a local California farmers market and taking in the beautiful sights.

Afterward, they enjoyed brunch together at a sister’s home.

5 Long Beach California Alumnae in Long Beach hosted the sixth annual “Christmas for the Puppies” fundraiser. Members collected donations for local animal shelters to spread Christmas cheer.

This year, they donated approximately $1,000 worth of puppy-friendly gifts, treats and blankets.

North Orange County California The women of North Orange County started their “9 for 9” service donation program, which focuses on a different nonprofit each month for nine months in honor of Zeta Tau Alpha’s nine Founders. So far, they have collected food for families in need to enjoy over Thanksgiving, donated toys to a local children’s hospital and collected blankets for sick children through Project Linus.

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1 San Francisco/Marin Counties California The holiday season is all about giving back, and these alumnae did just that. The sisters held a white elephant auction during their annual Christmas party and raised hundreds of dollars for five nonprofit organizations, including the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation.

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Rocky Mountain Colorado Alumnae from this chapter gathered for a sweet November sisterhood event. With the help of a local bakery, they learned how to professionally decorate cookies and cupcakes just in time for the holiday season.

4 Daytona Beach Florida The Daytona Beach, FL Chapter held its annual Mother/Daughter Christmas Tea at the chapter President’s house. Women from many different generations enjoyed refreshments while celebrating the holidays with their sisters, mothers, daughters and granddaughters.

Jacksonville Florida In November, the women of this chapter participated in the monthly birthday celebration that is held at the Jacksonville Adult Resource Center for adults with disabilities.

The alumnae served dinner, danced and played games with attendees.

Miami Florida The women of the Miami, FL Chapter prepared 40 holiday gift bags for the local homeless population as part of their holiday service project this year. They filled bags with essential hygiene items, treats, socks and T-shirts. Sisters had a great time mingling and celebrating the holidays while serving their community.

Tampa Florida The sisters of the Tampa, FL Chapter celebrated the holiday season and an increase in chapter membership with a Christmas party. Members enjoyed cocktail hour and dinner at a local yacht and country club and donated enough gifts to fill a three-foot box for Toys for Tots.

Gwinett County Georgia The sisters of this chapter regularly partner with a local organization in the fight against domestic violence.

Each month, they bring donations for mothers and children who are in need. Donations have included cleaning products, school supplies, infant items and career wear.

Milledgeville Georgia The sisters of the Milledgeville, GA Chapter live The Creed throughout the year by serving their community in many ways. They recently collected supplies for local schools and donations for Toys for Tots.

They also supported ZTA collegians by volunteering at Kappa Upsilon Chapter’s Thriller 5K. Southern Atlanta West Georgia The sisters of this chapter set a goal to increase their donation to the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation this year, and they created an innovative way to do it. They brought in spare change to use as markers for Fraternity Education bingo. Members enjoyed

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time together, refreshed their knowledge of the Fraternity and donated the coins after the game.

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Ft. Wayne Indiana The members of the Ft. Wayne, IN Chapter worked all year to make their fourth annual Holiday Marketplace a success. Numerous local vendors came out for this unique fundraising event that allowed sisters from all over the state to do a little holiday shopping while supporting the ZTA Foundation. The event also included a raffle and bake sale.

9 Indianapolis Indiana Sisters spread holiday cheer this Christmas season by passing out cookies and encouraging the participants of the Santa Hustle 5K and Half Marathon in Indianapolis.

The women dressed in festive attire and enjoyed interacting with members of their community.

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6 Flint Hills Kansas The sisters of the Flint Hills, KS Chapter held their biannual “goodie bag meeting.” They created bags filled with snacks and candy for Beta Upsilon Chapter members just in time for finals week.

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7 St. Louis Metro-East Illinois Taking a break from the stress of everyday life, the sisters of this chapter came together for a rejuvenating spa night. The women indulged in refreshments and socialized while enjoying manicures, facials and relaxing massages.

Louisville Kentucky The Louisville, KY Chapter alumnae created study baskets that parents could purchase for their Beta Lambda Chapter daughters. The bags were filled with snacks, fuzzy socks, sticky notes and pens.

Shreveport Louisiana The Shreveport, LA Chapter utilizes many Crown Connections groups to allow members to participate in the types of events that appeal to them. The Crafty Crowns group, for example, recently attended a glass blowing class where sisters made Christmas ornaments.

Silver Spring Maryland The sisters of the Silver Spring, MD Chapter served their community with the third annual “Coloring for a Cause” event. Sisters made bookmarks for kids staying at the Children’s Inn with their families while they receive treatment at the National Institutes of Health.

Ann Arbor Michigan The sisters of the Ann Arbor, MI Chapter gathered for a potluck meal and presentation from two members on “How to Simplify Your Christmas.”

The leaders led a discussion with handouts they prepared based on books they read on the topic, and everyone enjoyed learning something new together.

Tri-State of Joplin Missouri In celebration of the holiday season, the sisters of the Tri-State of Joplin, MO Chapter hosted a “Favorite Things” party. Each sister brought individually wrapped items to exchange. As the gifts were opened, the woman who brought the item explained why she chose it. This was a great way to bond and learn more about one another.

Pecos Valley New Mexico In an effort to raise as much money as possible for the ZTA Foundation, members of this alumnae chapter “pass the pig.” Every member gets a chance to carry a pink piggy bank for a week to collect change from friends, family and co-workers. This is a simple way for every member of the chapter to participate in collecting donations.

Cincinnati Crown Ohio New and longtime members of this chapter gathered to make peppermint sugar scrub, body butter and holiday room spray. The women learned about essential oils and enjoyed spending time together.

Detroit Metropolitan Michigan In early January, the women of this chapter rang in the New Year with a relaxing spa night. They enjoyed neck and shoulder massages from a professional massage therapist and learned about essential oils. The night ended with a healthy potluck meal and sisters left feeling recharged and ready to tackle 2016.

Cleveland-East Ohio This November, the women of the Cleveland-East, OH Chapter learned how to cook authentic Spanakopita and Baklava from a Panhellenic sister of Greek descent. The women shared laughs, enjoyed each other’s company and had a plethora of tasty treats to share at their own Thanksgiving celebrations.

Twin Cities Minnesota In what has become an annual tradition, the women of the Twin Cities, MN Chapter gathered to celebrate Founders’ Day at a local hotel on an island in the Mississippi River. Sisters of all ages enjoyed a wonderful brunch and spent the morning reconnecting with one another and the history of ZTA.

10 Columbus Ohio The Columbus, OH Chapter members dropped off chemotherapy bags for breast cancer patients at the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center. Each bag was embroidered with a pink ribbon and words of encouragement. Sisters filled the bags with items to help bring comfort during treatments.

Dayton Ohio The Dayton, OH Chapter women attended Beta Delta Chapter’s “Sweets and the Suite” event at Miami University. Everyone enjoyed treats at a local ice cream shop and then visited the collegiate chapter’s suite.

8 Youngstown Ohio Two members of the Youngstown, OH Chapter celebrated love, the greatest of all things, on the same day. The sisters shared a wedding date and made sure to meet up to snap a few photos together.

Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania The Lehigh Valley, PA Chapter gathered in November for a holiday crafting meeting. Sisters made finals goodie bags filled with chocolate, tea and snacks for Kappa Iota and Lambda Zeta chapters. After the bags were filled, one member taught the others how to make holiday wreaths using wire hangers and colored ribbon.

Coastal Islands South Carolina Members of this chapter assisted Lambda Mu Chapter with its first Formal Recruitment. Alumnae helped with refreshments, supplies and counting votes. On Bid Day, the women helped the collegians welcome new members into the ZTA sisterhood.

Columbia South Carolina The women of the Columbia, SC Chapter joined the seniors of Beta Omicron Chapter for lunch.

Alumnae and collegians discussed the transition into the alumnae world, going from college to career and forming long-lasting friendships with Zetas in the Columbia area.

Grand Strand South Carolina Sisters of the Grand Strand, SC Chapter participated in “Substitutes for Santa,” a local program for children in need.

Volunteers spent time playing games, Alumnae Chapter News · Spring 2016 · 15

12

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eating pizza and Christmas shopping with the children.

Pee Dee Area South Carolina In December, the women of Eta Chi Chapter joined this alumnae chapter for a movie night at one alumna’s house. They enjoyed snacks, a popular movie and conversations about their personal ZTA experiences.

Knoxville Tennessee Members of the Knoxville, TN Chapter held their annual Christmas dinner and ornament exchange at a local eatery. It was a great opportunity for Zetas of all ages to gather during the busy season to celebrate the holidays and sisterhood.

Dallas Texas The women of the Dallas, TX Association attended Holiday Tea at the Alexander Mansion in downtown Dallas. The sisters were able to bond and celebrate the holiday season while enjoying a multicourse tea and tour of the venue.

Ft. Bend Texas During their November meeting, the women of this chapter made strawberry fortune boxes that 16 · THEMIS · Alumnae Chapter News

13

contained encouraging messages and inspirational quotes. They then delivered the fortunes, along with snacks and candy, to Gamma Omega Chapter for finals week.

Ft. Worth Texas The members of this chapter enjoyed brunch on a Sunday afternoon and exchanged their favorite cookbooks.

The chapter is mixing up the days events are offered and hosting a variety of meetings to encourage more membership participation than ever before.

11 Hidalgo County Texas The women of the Hidalgo County, TX Chapter volunteer at their local food bank on a regular basis. The alumnae typically sort, box and stack school supplies, such as pencils, crayons and rulers, while catching up with one another. Afterward, they have lunch together to cool down after a morning of hard work.

12

Humble/Kingwood Texas At their Christmas meeting, these chapter members filled and decorated lotion bottles to deliver to a local nursing home. They made 90 bottles

and brought holiday cheer to the elderly in their local area.

Midland Texas The sisters of the Midland, TX Chapter hosted “Crowns in the Kitchen,” where one member led the others in a cooking class. Sisters learned how to make manicotti and other Super Bowlready dishes. The class was of no cost to members, but many did choose to donate to a local food bank.

13 Nasa-Brazoria County Texas In January, the members of this chapter gathered at Build-A-Bear Workshop with their legacies (daughters) and lads (sons) to make 21 stuffed animals. The chapter donated the furry friends to the local police department to help comfort children during police calls. Everyone had a great time and the members’ children learned a valuable lesson about giving to those in need.

Fredericksburg Virginia The sisters of this alumnae chapter attended a ghost tour in downtown Fredericksburg. They enjoyed learning the history of their city while supporting the local college that hosted the event.

Designed with purpose

By Ellen Crawford, Editor

“As you get older, it’s really easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you’re too old for something or you don’t have this and it would be easier if you had that…but to be alive is to hope. As long as you’re alive, you can take the next step and start a business or start a blog. It doesn’t matter how much time you’ve wasted. Just take the moment and go for it.”

People often don’t follow their own advice, but Kimber-Lee Alston (Lambda Zeta Chapter, Lehigh University) certainly practices what she preaches. After college, Kimber-Lee was looking for her next move and wanted to do something that combined her passions for fashion, storytelling and creating things that make people’s lives more pleasant. “I moved to California because I’m all about following your dreams,” she said. It was there she developed her brand, Jolie Coquette, which honors the qualities that inspire Kimber-Lee: delicate femininity, easy beauty, vulnerability and playfulness.

“I’m so inspired by the complexity of women,” she said. Believing those qualities she most admires are often not taken seriously, Kimber-Lee took it upon herself to let women know it’s OK to embrace traditionally feminine culture. “This is smart and it is a very valid part of our world that we should be taking into consideration when designing.”

With that in mind, Kimber-Lee set off to redesign the skort.

Unfortunately, her research further proved that there is an “inherent sexism” in the way women’s clothing is designed. “Women’s daily activities are not tackled in a women-specific way,” she said. Standard pockets are the perfect example. “Women care very much about form,” she said. “We care about how things look; that’s just part of being a feminine woman. We may want something to be really slim-fitting, but in clothing like that, storage is often completely sacrificed.” After identifying these regularly dismissed issues, KimberLee designed The Playsuit Reinvented, which is functional without ignoring the style and femininity she loves (see more features of the Playsuit on right).

Internal pocket:

“If you want to put your credit card up there, you can. You don’t have to give it to your boyfriend or something.”

Snap crotch:

“In our clothes, it’s so difficult to go to the bathroom oftentimes. Specifically with rompers, women have the issue of having to take off the entire thing when you go to the restroom, so I put a snap crotch on there.”

Flared short:

“It’s a flared short so it looks like a skirt but it won’t blow all over the place if you’re running around. So you get that without having to sacrifice modesty.”

“You don’t have to sacrifice that part of yourself in order to feel empowered,” she said. “If you’re going to a meeting, you don’t have to dress masculinely in order to claim power.” For Kimber-Lee, it’s OK to be the boss and to be playful. “That’s pretty much the essence of Jolie Coquette,” she said. “Combining those elements of having a smart brand that is tackling real issues but is not taking itself too seriously.”

Even in the day-to-day operations of her business, Kimber-Lee follows her own advice. “I’ve learned to trust myself a lot more, to forgive myself and to not take myself too seriously,” she said. In the beginning, she often developed elaborate plans and would get upset if everything didn’t go the way she wanted. Now, she has learned to go with the flow, set clear goals, break large tasks into more manageable steps and realize that tomorrow is a new day. With that mindset, Kimber-Lee is able to live the mission of the Jolie Coquette brand: to be unapologetically and spontaneously engaged in the world.

Meet Kimber-Lee Alston!

She’s an alumna of Lambda Zeta Chapter at Lehigh University.

Alumna Profile · Spring 2016 · 17

Delta Alpha Chapter reactivated at CSULB

By Monica Ceja, Lambda Gamma, Communications Coordinator “When Delta Alpha Colony became a chapter, all those participating experienced one of the most inspirational weekends of their lives.” This account, written by Roberta Ham Coté (Sigma Chapter, Baker University), was featured in the spring 1957 issue of Themis. Now, nearly 59 years later, a new group of women was inspired as Zeta Tau Alpha reactivated its 98th link in the Chain of Chapters at California State University, Long Beach.

The reactivation process for Delta Alpha Chapter, which closed in 1974, began in spring 2015 when the CSULB Panhellenic Council chose ZTA to recolonize. Traveling Leadership Consultants arrived in Long Beach in late August to begin public relations efforts that culminated in a Bid Day celebration on Thursday, Oct. 8. Just one week later, new members learned what ZTA is all about with their first sisterhood event on Founders’ Day. Members spent the afternoon getting to know one another and painting two sets of large wooden letters.

The women put their new letters to use for their first Think Pink® event during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. New members showed their commitment to our philanthropy by distributing 1,000 pink ribbons in one day while talking about breast cancer with CSULB students.

Eager to be part of the fraternity/sorority community on campus, chapter members participated in several other groups’ philanthropy events throughout the semester.

“Once I joined ZTA, it was like I had all these Panhellenic sisters,” Corresponding Secretary Brooke Palestini said.

“And it’s even bigger than ZTA; it’s a whole community.”

Delta Alpha Colony received a warm welcome and many gifts from the fraternity/sorority community and the CSULB Panhellenic Council to celebrate recolonization.

After a semester of hard work and dedication to ZTA, colony members were initiated Friday, Jan. 22, by sisters from Theta Phi (California State University, Fullerton) and Theta Omega (California State Polytechnic University, Pomona) chapters, and chapter President Kendall Jean was initiated the next morning. After Kendall’s Initiation, National President Carolyn Hof Carpenter led the Reactivation of a Chapter Service with assistance from Extension Director Marlene Dunbar Conrad.

Following the morning’s ritual services, Delta Alpha Chapter members and their guests, CSULB community leaders, Southern California alumnae and National Officers attended a celebratory luncheon chaired by Dolores Gonzales Gastineau. Mrs. Carpenter served

The new members of Delta Alpha Chapter celebrated their initiation (left).

Chapter President Kendall Jean (above, second from right) accepted the traditional silver tray from members of National Council.

18 · THEMIS · Fraternity News

New members of Delta Alpha Chapter were initiated on Friday, Jan. 22 (above). Chapter members, their guests, alumnae, ZTA National Officers and leaders in the CSULB community celebrated with a luncheon the following morning (right).

as keynote speaker, Mrs. Conrad served as toastmistress and Director of New Chapters for Delta Alpha Chapter Lauren Simons read greetings from other ZTA chapters. Traveling Leadership Consultants Kaitlin Jackson, Caroline McCormick and Ayla Yildiz presented the traveling baby cup on behalf of the Fraternity. Mrs. Carpenter, Mrs. Conrad and Vice President Alumnae II Alicia Patten Williams presented the traditional silver tray and punch bowl set from the Fraternity. As a special surprise, Barbara Kazanjian Purks (Delta Beta Chapter, Florida Southern College) presented the chapter with the original gavel that was given at Delta Alpha Chapter’s installation in 1957.

Delta Alpha Chapter California State University, Long Beach Reactivated on January 23, 2016 Renaissance Long Beach Hotel Long Beach, CA

Many supporting chapters welcomed the chapter with gifts for its reactivation.

“As I learned more and more about ZTA and the values Zetas hold, everything about ZTA felt like it was meant to be,” Kendall said in her welcome from the chapter. “Meeting women—who I can now call sisters—with shared interests, beliefs and values has been an amazing experience.”

Many chapter alumnae attended the festivities, including former National Council member Katharine Benzini Stampe, who served on the Extension Team for the recolonization. “I’ve been on the Extension Team for several years, and each chapter beginning is special and unique. I honestly never thought my chapter would return to CSULB, so this extension effort was especially meaningful,” she said.

During the Reactivation of a Chapter Service, Mrs. Carpenter reflected on the line in “The Call of Zeta” that says, “and though we leave our college, she’ll keep us as her own.” Her remarks struck Mrs. Stampe. “Mrs. Carpenter said we usually think of this as graduation, but in this case interpreted it to say ZTA keeps each collegiate chapter—closed or not—as her own,” Mrs. Stampe said.

“The link in The Chain is never removed, and we always look for ways to bring a chapter back. I love that!”

As the weekend came to a close, Vice President I/Coordinator of Committees Bridget Floyd reflected on the rich history of Delta Alpha Chapter and on being part of the inspiring reactivation. “It was incredible to see our National President there and to see the Chain of Chapters,” she said. “It was a rare opportunity that I did not take lightly. It’s been the best experience of my life so far.”

Upsilon, University of California, Berkeley Theta Phi, California State University, Fullerton Theta Omega, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Iota Eta, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Delta Alpha Chapter Advisory Board Inland/Pomona, CA Chapter Long Beach, CA Chapter North Orange County, CA Chapter San Diego, CA Chapter Southern Nevada Chapter Westside-Santa Monica, CA Chapter

Fraternity News · Spring 2016 · 19

Meeting and making plans

By Christy Marx Barber, Alpha Psi No matter what you call home, whether it’s a studio apartment in the city or a four-bedroom home out in the country, giving your space a face-lift can bring you joy.

Maybe you found the perfect accessory to add a pop of color to your living room. Or you freshened the paint in your kitchen to make it a more inspiring place to cook and entertain. Or maybe you took on the challenge of an allout renovation or built a new house from scratch.

In March, the ZTA Fraternity Housing Corporation put plans in motion to do all that and more for the 111 facilities it owns or manages for our collegiate chapters across the country. The 21 volunteers spent three days reviewing requests and design plans, trying out new furniture and allocating funds for projects that will begin as soon as this school year ends. Those will include painting interior and exterior surfaces; replacing carpet

Members of the ZTA Fraternity Housing Corporation board reviewed samples and building plans during their annual meeting at International Office in Indianapolis, Indiana, in March. The team will work with local volunteers over the summer to update, redecorate and renovate chapter facilities across the country.

20 · THEMIS · ZTA Fraternity Housing Corporation News

and refinishing hardwood floors; installing new window treatments; redecorating; implementing important safety upgrades and constructing a brand new home.

Allocating funds is only the beginning for the FHC team.

In the months ahead, the officers and directors will work with local volunteers to see the projects through while our collegians are away for the summer. Teamwork between national and local volunteers ensures that our facilities represent the best of Zeta Tau Alpha for Formal Recruitment and throughout the year.

Stay tuned for upcoming issues of Themis as we take you behind the scenes into the multifaceted decisions and design process that make our ZTA spaces the perfect homes away from home, where our collegians can gather, study and grow together as sisters.

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Spring 2016 路 21

FOCUSING on the

‘WHY?’

Brooke Johnson Leppla

ETA PI CHAPTER, WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY Brooke is an alumna who currently serves as District President XII–A, overseeing nine alumnae chapters in Ohio. In addition to her National Officer role, she volunteers her time with her own collegiate chapter as the Program Council Advisor. Outside of Zeta Tau Alpha, Brooke is a dedicated staff member in the College of Business at Wright State University, where she works to promote the advancement of her undergraduate institution.

By Alison Templeman BETA DELTA, COORDINATOR OF HARM REDUCTION SERVICES Amidst the daily decisions, weekly to-do lists and well-outlined goals we, as women, often face, there is a desire to determine the purpose behind why we are setting out to accomplish our ongoing tasks and aspirations. In reflecting on our experiences as members of Zeta Tau Alpha and as leaders on our campuses and in our communities, the most prominent question at hand is why—why should we be motivated to move forward with these tasks? Often, our why comes from understanding the purpose of the expectations that are placed on us and of our own ambitions. In order to better focus ourselves as women and members of ZTA, there is much value in defining our why.

Feature · Spring 2016 · 23

Sharing such a mindset, members of the millennial generation are identified as purpose-driven people with a need to understand why things are done a certain way and/or why they should play a role in those activities. It is beneficial to understand this trait as millennials continue to transition from educational endeavors to various careers post-graduation and from collegiate members to national leaders in ZTA. For these women, there is a need to better understand the reasoning behind why things are the way they are and how this understanding translates into engagement within the Fraternity and in other personal and professional activities.

In discussing these perspectives with women who are both millennials and members of our organization, it became obvious the rising leaders in ZTA are inspired by discovering how they can contribute to the good of the Fraternity. It is important to note, however, that millennials are not the only women concerned with finding their purpose. Conversations with members from other generations only strengthened the idea that focusing on the why is necessary in the process of determining, and ultimately fulfilling, our purpose as Zeta Tau Alphas and women.

Each woman’s why may be different, and discovering it is a personal journey. Alumna Brooke Johnson Leppla (Eta Pi Chapter, Wright State University) shared that her purpose comes from a desire to impact others. “I just want to make a difference,” she said. “I want to know that I did something of value.” Brooke believes her why determines how she fills her time, from her role within our organization as District President XII–A in Ohio to her career at Wright State University, and in other investments she has made and continues to pursue.

Purpose-driven in her decisions and activities, Brooke focuses on what she can offer others by utilizing her gifts and talents. She noted that we need people to ask why in a way that stimulates lifelong learning and growth.

This why will then guide the choices we make about what opportunities we say “yes” to and those times in which we may need to step back and say “no.”

That sentiment is reflected in “The Best Yes,” a book in which author Lysa TerKeurst framed the value of finding our purpose upon the importance of determining our “best yes.” In our lives, we can sometimes be torn between a life of ongoing demands and a fear of saying “no.” However, by finding moments where we can give a “courageous yes,” we may feel more empowered to give a “confident no” when necessary.

TerKeurst wrote that finding our “best yes” moments is not necessarily a seamless process, but instead emphasized that even a small “no” can allow for a more powerful and meaningful “yes” down the road. She shared that it is not only valuable to identify our “best yes” opportunities, but 24 · THEMIS · Feature

to be fulfilled through them. With more intentionality, our purpose becomes a better reflection of those “best yes” moments and allows us to seek a life that we are emboldened to live out more fully. This is not only an important consideration when taking on roles within ZTA, but in how we commit ourselves in our careers and other activities as well.

Along those lines, Brooke believes it is necessary to ask yourself, when faced with an opportunity to take on another role or responsibility, “Am I the best person for this?” We may be afraid to say “no,” but we need to consider there may be other people and/or resources that can follow through on something better than we can, and that is OK. What a powerful question to consider in making our day-to-day decisions as leaders in our chapters, communities and workplaces. Sometimes fulfilling our purpose means saying “no” so we can truly focus our energy somewhere else.

Our “best yes” may not seem overwhelmingly clear or evident at times, but we are charged to make our own best decisions. “Our decisions aren’t just isolated choices,” TerKeurst wrote. “Our decisions point our lives in the directions we’re about to head.” In being mindful of these decisions, we are better able to personally develop in ways that help us impact those around us. This is especially relevant in the context of a collegiate career, in the transition to a professional position and beyond.

Since joining ZTA in the fall of 2015, Dory Gurinsky (Lambda Theta Chapter, New York University) has taken on various leadership roles, including Fraternity Education Chairman and Inter-Greek Council Representative for her chapter. Through these positions, Dory has begun to develop her why in our organization, and she believes she has a purpose to “make connections with the people around [her] and be a part of something bigger.”

Like Brooke, Dory is framing her time in ZTA as a leader, and she’s using the opportunities she’s given through membership to further develop her purpose. As a young woman in the early part of her collegiate career, Dory articulated that she is still seeking to define her purpose as a woman. College is a time when young women experience new things and begin to figure out what focusing on the why means. Dory acknowledged that while she may not yet fully understand her purpose, she knows it is important to be happy, above all. “If you aren’t happy where you are, fix it,” she said.

As women, our purposes are ever-changing, defined by our experiences and the paths we take. Finding fulfillment and discovering our

Dory Gurinsky

LAMBDA THETA CHAPTER, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY As a first-year student at NYU, Dory has taken on numerous leadership roles in Zeta Tau Alpha.

Through her positions as Fraternity Education Chairman and Inter-Greek Council Representative for her chapter, Dory constantly seeks to make connections with the people around her.

Ellie Tinney

BETA PHI CHAPTER, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY This past fall, Ellie completed her term as Beta Phi Chapter’s President and took on the role of Apparel Chairman on Program Council. In addition to her ZTA leadership, Ellie volunteers with Spartans Rebuilding Michigan, a student organization dedicated to various service projects throughout the state of Michigan. Through her community service, Ellie tries to make other’s lives more positive.

Photo credit: Curtis Wiklund

Feature · Spring 2016 · 25

purpose doesn’t happen overnight. Rather than being discouraged by uncertainty, women have the opportunity, now more than ever, to keep asking why.

For Ellie Tinney (Beta Phi Chapter, Michigan State University), understanding her purpose as someone who can share positivity with those around her has paved the way for her to take on leadership positions in her chapter and as a nursing student. Ellie is a third-year student, former chapter President and current Apparel Chairman. Throughout her time as a member and chapter leader, Ellie has continued to strive to live out her why by always asking herself two things when considering future opportunities: “How is this going to better me, and how will this impact others?”

Through her role as chapter President, Ellie’s why came to fruition as she strengthened her skills as a leader and empowered her chapter to achieve the goals it was setting out to accomplish, including raising the chapter’s overall GPA. Having reflected on her purpose further, Ellie identified her love for giving back to others. As an active member of the Spartans Rebuilding

Michigan organization on campus, Ellie commits herself to building relationships with members of her community and thrives as a servant leader. With a goal of “making everyone’s lives a little bit better,” Ellie seeks to fulfill this piece of her why by dedicating her time to meaningful service for those in need throughout Michigan.

Similarly, alumna Anna Tiffany (Alpha Omicron Chapter, The University of Iowa) advocates for the importance of defining why in an effort to better “prioritize how to spend your time.” Anna believes this foundational why “helps in making sure you are making decisions that will benefit yourself, your organization or your career in the longterm.” Building purpose in her ZTA leadership as District President XV–A in Illinois and in her career in space management at a retail pharmacy chain, Anna has been intentional in pursuing opportunities that allow her to “leave a positive impression” on anyone she meets.

Brooke has a similar goal when interacting with others. She explained that she carries out each day taking note of the ways in which she can benefit those around her. Brooke shared

Anna Tiffany

ALPHA OMICRON CHAPTER, THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA Alumna Anna is a former Traveling Leadership Consultant who currently serves the Fraternity as District President XV–A in Illinois.

Professionally, Anna works in space management at a national retail pharmacy chain. She currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, and dedicates much of her time and talents to serving alumnae throughout her state.

Anna aims to be intentional about the opportunities she engages in and strives to always leave a positive impression on those she meets.

that former ZTA Executive Director Deb Ensor’s powerful call to “do the right thing, for the right reason, all the time” compels her to live out her why and to be purposedriven in the way she is impacting ZTA alumnae and the students she works with at Wright State University.

Alumna Lyz French Pickette (Delta Beta Chapter, Florida Southern College) echoed many of the perspectives shared by others, including those connected to finding motivation for seeking out one’s purpose. Lyz lives out her why by striving to bring “joy and happiness” to her life, her children and family, and those around her. Lyz’s story brings light to the fact that our purpose in ZTA and as women is not limited to a specific role or leadership

position. Rather, Lyz looks for small windows of opportunity that allow her to “Seek the Noblest,” and she consistently embodies The Creed. “I strive to be the best in all that I am and can be, as a sister, woman of faith, wife, mother, career woman, family member in my extended family and Samaritan on the street,” she said.

Lyz found her purpose as a member of our organization to be quite evident while recently living in Japan with her family. Although she left loved ones and other close friends behind in the United States, Lyz met more ZTA alumnae in military communities abroad than she had ever met before. She continues to be grounded in her Feature · Spring 2016 · 27

purpose as a member of our organization wherever she goes by keeping this line from The Creed in mind: “to prepare for service and learn the nobility of serving.”

Following that direction led to a powerful moment for Lyz. One day, she prepared a meal for a co-worker’s wife. A week later, that woman came to thank Lyz for her kindness and, upon entering Lyz’s home, immediately noticed a ZTA magnet on the refrigerator. She shared that she was a ZTA alumna as well. Had it not been for Lyz’s commitment to living The Creed, these two women may have never met or discovered their connection. Lyz’s story is a testament to what can come from purposefully living Zeta Tau Alpha values wherever you go.

Lyz French Pickette

DELTA BETA CHAPTER, FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE Lyz is an alumna and stay-at-home mom whose family recently returned to Florida after living in Japan for her husband’s job. She invests her time and love into her family of four and seeks to live out The Creed every day. Staying true to ZTA values, Lyz is dedicated to spreading kindness to others through acts of service.

28 · THEMIS · Feature

Although there is much value in asking why of ourselves, many millennials believe in the value of understanding the why behind the organizations they serve and the tasks they carry out as well. Anna believes that leaders, both in the Fraternity and in other professional and personal endeavors, should be welcomed and encouraged to ask why. Engaging in these questions can lead to the change needed to flourish. “Change is hard, but if you are making changes for the right reasons, people will follow at their own pace,” she said. This may not be automatic or overnight, but the value in asking why leads to more understanding. Brooke also believes that when coming from a place of good intention, asking for the reason behind the way something is done propels growth and moves an organization forward.

As members of Zeta Tau Alpha, we abide by the mission and values of our organization and “Seek the Noblest” in all aspects of our daily lives. The stories these women shared uncovered a common thread that encourages each of us to focus on our why and purpose as Zetas and beyond.

Every woman’s why is not necessarily the same, but it provides a basis for the decisions we make and the actions we take. While a purpose-driven need to understand why is often attributed to members of the millennial generation who are taking on more responsibility as national leaders within our organization, the varying generations of these women illustrates that this perspective is not necessarily limited to just one age group. Rather, we all seek to find meaning behind where we are giving our time and talents. By asking why, we can all have a more significant experience in Zeta Tau Alpha and lead a more fruitful life.

Membership Information Sheet University: Potential New Member Information Name: Home Address: Name of Parent(s) or Guardian(s): High School: Class Size:

Unweighted GPA:

Unweighted GPA Scale:

Graduation Year:

Weighted GPA:

Weighted GPA Scale:

Potential New Member is a (check one):

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

School(s) attended after high school, if any: Previous College GPA:

Term(s) Completed:

Potential New Member Legacy Affiliations Sister:

ZTA Chapter:

Home Address: Phone Number:

Email Address:

Mother:

ZTA Chapter:

Home Address: Phone Number:

Email Address:

Grandmother:

ZTA Chapter:

Home Address: Phone Number:

Email Address:

Great-Grandmother:

ZTA Chapter:

Home Address: Phone Number:

Email Address:

Other NPC Affiliations: Membership Information Sheet 路 Spring 2016 路 29

Potential New Member Qualifications

Note: Please do not duplicate information between sections.

Leadership/Honors (positions, awards, etc.):

Involvement (clubs, athletics, etc.):

Volunteer (service, religious, civic, etc.):

Additional information, if any: Why would this PNM be an asset to ZTA?

Potential New Member Other Information

Note: This information will be utilized by the chapter to enhance the experience of the PNM during recruitment.

Suggested topics of conversation: What type of member should the PNM meet during recruitment (leader, academic, athletic, social-oriented, etc.)?

Reference Information

Please indicate at least one of the following for relationship between referring individual and the PNM.

For this Potential New Member, I would like to (check one): Check one that applies: Personally known the PNM for Personally known the PNM’s family for

Highly Recommend

Recommend

year(s) year(s)

Do not personally know the PNM. Source of information: Alumna Information Name:

Date:

Address: Phone Number: Email Address: Alumnae Chapter: Alumna Signature: 30 · THEMIS · Membership Information Sheet

Collegiate Chapter: Initiation Date (Year):

The art of negotiation

By Ellen Crawford, Editor “You have to look at this as a dance. There are two parties and you’ve got to come to an agreement. It has to be fair to both sides or you’re not going to end up with a deal.”

Although Jan Jordan Hair (Theta Psi Chapter, Texas State University–San Marcos) was referring to buying/selling a house, this message can apply to any type of negotiation, from interacting with sisters at a chapter meeting to asking a supervisor for more responsibility at work. Here, four Zetas share what they’ve learned about negotiating in their professional experiences so that you, too, can master the art of negotiation.

Feature · Spring 2016 · 31

Put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

As a recent graduate, Allison Harris (Gamma Nu Chapter, University of Virginia) has found that her experience as a leader in Zeta Tau Alpha has made her transition into the working world an easy one. As the Vice President III/ Membership Chairman and later President of her chapter, Allison learned how to communicate effectively with others, understand different perspectives, plan and organize events, and facilitate discussions. Those skills have come in handy in her new role as a consultant for a major accounting firm. Her time in the collegiate chapter also taught her how to negotiate.

“As the President, I felt like I was kind of a consultant between my chapter and [the national organization],” she said. “I had to make sure we were meeting national requirements and expectations, but I also needed to appease the [members] in my chapter.” To do so, Allison learned to put herself in the shoes of both sides to understand where each was coming from. “The key to negotiating for your chapter and trying to be that in-between person is to explain what the situation is and why it’s important, but at the same time, show that you understand [your sisters’] frustrations.”

When her chapter sisters didn’t agree with a policy, for example, Allison would work with National Officers to understand the reasoning behind the rule and then share that information with members so they could appreciate the purpose of the policy. By recognizing the feelings of her sisters and showing she was committed to understanding both sides, Allison was able to find common ground and bring the two points of view together.

Present your position and ask for what you want.

The skills Allison developed by working with her chapter directly contribute to her success as a professional. In many ways, the college years are an ideal time to develop negotiating skills. Andrea Miller Pound (Gamma Zeta Chapter, Mississippi State University) advises business students in the Collat School of Business at University of Alabama at Birmingham on their classes, internships and future career plans. In those conversations, she talks to her students about negotiating more responsibility at their internships or asking to move into full-time positions.

“A collegian who doesn’t have a degree yet is usually not very confident in starting that conversation,” Andrea said. “So we work on building that confidence to talk to a supervisor about a position that may or may not be available.” Andrea helps her students identify the things they have done well in their current position and why they want to stay with the company after graduation. The key to any negotiation with an employer is to be prepared. Do your research ahead of time and have clear examples that support your position.

Once they can confidently back their reasons for why they deserve a full-time job or other advancement, Andrea advises her students to go to their supervisors and ask what else they can do to accomplish their goals. “Is it that they need to take on more responsibility? If so, how can they do that?” Andrea often suggests her students ask for special projects that will allow them to learn something new or show a different skill set. “Usually a supervisor is going to be thrilled if [a student] goes to them to find out what they can do to reach the next level,” she said.

Allison agreed this approach, mixed with a healthy dose of confidence, can be effective for asking for a salary increase as well. “If I’m going to negotiate for a salary or a promotion, I need to have the backing to support that and the evidence for why,” Allison said. Rather than pointing to external factors, like the cost of living or personal expenses, focus on what you have successfully contributed to the company with solid examples. If it hasn’t been enough to warrant a bigger paycheck, Allison suggested setting a goal with your employer. “You can say, ‘I will show you in the next six months why I deserve it.’” For these conversations, Allison said it is especially important for women to be aware of their body language. “The way you present yourself can really impact the way others perceive you,” she said. “You always want to walk into a room with confidence and hold yourself up.”

Another way to build that confidence is to practice having conversations with people in higher positions, which Andrea said is something Zetas can easily do. “Take advantage of opportunities when the Province President or Vice President Collegiate comes to talk to [your chapter],” she said. “Just networking with them and gaining knowledge from their experience is a great opportunity.”

Chapter leaders especially have countless opportunities to practice working with professionals. Whether talking to university administration about holding a major philanthropic event on campus or working with the director of

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fraternity/sorority life on recruitment plans, it all revolves around negotiations. “Any leadership role within Zeta Tau Alpha is going to set these women up to do incredible things,” Andrea said. “Every officer uses [negotiation] skills, even if they don’t realize it. And the more you use them, the better off you’re going to be in the long run.”

Be realistic and fair.

The benefits of learning how to negotiate extend well beyond ZTA and even the workplace. When buying a car, for example, the savvy woman who has done the research to determine a fair price for the vehicle and who isn’t afraid to engage in a negotiation is going to get a better deal than someone who is not prepared or willing to have that conversation. The key is to be fair to both sides. When traveling abroad, haggling is a common form of negotiation. It’s important for the buyer to feel like they’ve gotten a good deal, but it’s equally as important for the seller not to feel cheated out of their profit.

The same goes for buying or selling a house. Jan Hair, who has been a realtor for nearly 20 years, said the key is to be realistic. “Sellers have to be realistic as to what the market can bear,” she said. “And buyers have to be realistic in what they offer.” Throughout the process, the price of the home and the terms of the seller contributions can be changed based on home inspections and the appraisal of the property. With so much room for negotiation, it’s important to know what your priorities are. “Have an idea of what you’re looking for,” she said. Buyers should also meet with a lender before going to the realtor. “Get an idea of how much you qualify for and what your payment is going to be,” Jan said. Like with any negotiation, do the research ahead of time and be willing to compromise. “Put yourself in the other person’s position. If your goal is to buy a house, you have to meet [the sellers] halfway,” she said.

Be clear about your priority and intention.

With any negotiation, be clear about what you’re after. Donna LaBarge (Gamma Iota Chapter, University of Florida) is a psychologist who has studied personality and how people interact. “It’s really hard to negotiate when you’re not even sure what you want,” she said. “When we lose sight of our intention or we jump in before we’ve actually figured that out on our own, it’s really easy to get distracted, sign up for something we’re not willing to do or feel like we’ve lost the negotiation.”

According to Donna, interactions can have different goals: to get an objective met, to form a stronger relationship or to gain self-respect. Depending on the goal, different negotiation tactics come into play. Donna used the example of a romantic relationship where you might be working late hours and wanting support from your partner. If the goal is to get an objective met, the most important thing is to articulate exactly what support looks like for you. Maybe your partner thinks making dinner is supportive, but you actually just want a listening ear at the end of a hard day. Making that priority clear helps get the point across and gets everyone on the same page.

Alternatively, if the goal is to make the relationship stronger, the best tactic is to validate your partner in whatever way they instinctively show support. “If you say how grateful you are for the way they provided support, that’s going to make them feel closer to you,” Donna said. “Being genuinely interested in not only the way they provide support, but also that they are doing it for you is important.”

Finally, if the goal of the interaction is to gain and maintain self-respect, be truthful and honest. This may be especially hard for women. “Maybe we don’t lie, but being truthful also means not acting helpless when we’re not and not exaggerating,” Donna said. “Another way self-respect gets affected is when we are overly apologetic.” This common trait of women can especially hurt a negotiation. “What happens with self-respect when we over-apologize is that it minimizes our point,” Donna said. “It minimizes the strength of our argument.”

Being clear about your priority can help combat the tendency to apologize for having a differing opinion in a negotiation. Similarly, knowing you have the support of others can help. For Donna, being involved in ZTA as she developed her own priorities in college gave her the confidence to negotiate both within her chapter and beyond. “I had a home base of people who had similar values and goals as I did, so I could feel stronger in my position,” she said.

That confidence shouldn’t end with college. By carrying the values of ZTA into every negotiation, you can be sure you have the support of thousands of sisters who share those values as well.

Feature · Spring 2016 · 35

Reducing the stigma of mental health

By Becky Koltonski Gleason, Delta Delta, Director of Education Imagine a program that allows sisters to open up and become more vulnerable with each other. Imagine a program that helps collegians understand themselves in a different way. Imagine a program that enables young women to form deeper relationships with their friends and to live more balanced lives.

Thanks to the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation, such a program exists. Behind Happy Faces, the first mental health program developed specifically for collegiate women, has made an incredible impact on members’ lives since it was first introduced to Zeta Tau Alpha collegiate chapters in 2014 and advisors in 2015. This innovative program seeks to start the conversation about mental health. Through various lessons and discussions, participants learn coping skills and techniques for approaching a friend who might need help or support.

Elizabeth Farrell, the 2015 President of Eta Iota Chapter at Valdosta State University, shared how the program, and one exercise in particular, has impacted her chapter.

In the program’s first exercise, each chapter member is asked to write something no one else knows about her on a note card. The note cards are then collected and handed out to new sisters. Members read the new note cards aloud so experiences are shared anonymously. In Elizabeth’s chapter, members started opening up and sharing their stories about everyday challenges such as stress and larger mental health challenges like anxiety or depression.

“Most of the time people think about required programs as programs you have to do. You will learn something, but it won’t really change your life that much,” she said.

“This program was different because of the exercises. The first exercise was my favorite because of the bold sister who opened up about her story, which started a chain reaction.” As members shared, their sisterhood grew and they learned more about each other.

After starting the lessons, members approached Elizabeth for help with the mental health challenges they were facing, and she was able to help connect them to counselors on campus. The women who started going to counseling learned how to improve their personal relationships, and the chapter members have since grown closer together. Sisters are beginning to spend time outside of their usual friend groups and are more open to talking about problems. “I didn’t think all of that was going to come from one program,” Elizabeth said.

36 · THEMIS · ZTA Foundation News

After launching the collegiate program, ZTA recognized advisors also needed tools to better support the mental health of the collegians they work with. The Behind Happy Faces: Advisor Resource Series focuses on just that, along with how advisors can take care of themselves.

Katie Harbison, General Advisor for Eta Beta Chapter at Duquesne University, was one of the first to complete the advisor series.

“I was so happy when I first heard about the advisor program,” she said. “I feel like I need to always set a good example for the collegians, so it’s easy to forget to take care of myself, too. It’s great to hear the organization tell us we need self-care so we can do our best job as advisors.”

Katie completed the program right before Formal Recruitment last fall. “It reminded me that you don’t know what somebody else may be going through and to take care of yourself during stressful times,” she said. “I felt like I reminded members more to take care of their mind, body and schoolwork. As a result, recruitment felt less hectic overall.”

As an advisor, Katie recognized the importance of remembering the issues students deal with when entering college. “It can be easy to forget the stressors you encounter in college,” she said. “This program helped me to understand what members are going through and to pay attention as an advisor.”

Reducing mental health stigma is a personal message for Katie, who has dealt with anxiety throughout most of her life. She believes the more sisters talk about mental health, the more comfortable everyone will become in sharing. As a result, members will come to realize other people are going through things just like them. “ZTA has a great focus on programming,” she said. “College is really the first time you are on your own, and it makes sense that ZTA is educating our members on mental health and facing life’s transitions.”

These two stories are a small representation of the many examples of how this program has transformed ZTA members. After implementing the program, many chapter leaders have shared emotional accounts of how members have opened up through the program, further showing how important this topic is to collegians and alumnae across the country. Behind Happy Faces has truly sparked this conversation and helped members take charge of their own mental well-being.

Feedback on Behind Happy Faces In fall 2015, ZTA assessed the impact of the collegiate Behind Happy Faces program. Below is some of the feedback from collegians who anonymously participated.

“It made me feel good to know that it was important to my sorority that we evaluate mental health.

I know several sisters, including myself, who suffer with anxiety, depression or some other form of mental illness. It is nice to see our sorority acknowledging that it is OK.”

“It was definitely very informative and it helped answer a lot of questions I had about mental health. I used to see mental health as a negative thing, but now I see how important it is to be informed and take care of my mental health.”

“It really helped a lot of us know that we aren’t alone, even in our sisterhood.

Sororities can sometimes put pressure on girls to feel like they have to be the “peppy sorority girl” they see in the media. I believe these videos and workshops will help girls know that it’s OK to not feel OK.”

ZTA Foundation News · Spring 2016 · 37

Strengthening values-based recruitment

By Elizabeth Wright, Alpha Delta Pi, Adelphean Editor on behalf of the NPC Recruitment Committee For a number of years, the National Panhellenic Conference has reinforced the need for a values-based recruitment experience for collegiate members and potential new members. With resolutions in 1991 and 2003, NPC laid the groundwork for College Panhellenic recruitment processes that focus on conversation and the benefits of membership rather than “frills” and entertainment. At the annual meeting in October 2015, NPC took a step further with values-based recruitment legislation.

After a two-year study of recruitment practices on campuses of all sizes, the NPC Recruitment Committee proposed legislation that further clarifies how a values-based recruitment should be structured. “We spoke to many individuals who shape the Panhellenic recruitment process,” remarked Phyllis Davis, 2013-15 NPC Recruitment Committee chairman. She continued, “New members, sorority collegians, fraternity/sorority advisors and our leadership on local campuses all agreed— recruitment skits and frilly processes do not accurately reflect the true sorority experience.”

Three campuses were selected to share feedback on their implementation of values-based recruitment, including the elimination skits: The University of Georgia, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Each College Panhellenic took a unique approach. The University of Georgia produced a video to share with other College Panhellenics to assist them in addressing their fears and to reassure them that the effort was worth it in the end. This video was shown at an NPC board of directors meeting and as part of the area advisor training at the NPC annual meeting. A link to the video will be available this spring on the NPC website.

Case studies at the University of Illinois and University of Tennessee found that conversations—not skits—serve as the primary influence on potential new members as they make recruitment decisions. G. Andrew Hohn, associate director of fraternity and sorority affairs at the University of Illinois, reported that more than 90 percent of the university’s Panhellenic new members ranked personal conversations as a “very important element” in their decision-making process. Furthermore, only 20 percent indicated videos and skits as very important, and just over 10 percent chose decorations and songs.

The University of Tennessee College Panhellenic participated in a two-year case study that collected 38 · THEMIS · NPC News

feedback from collegiate members and potential new members. Jennifer Pierce, the University of Tennessee’s assistant director of sorority and fraternity life, shared that most of the new members from 2014 who resigned stated that they felt unprepared for membership because recruitment did not include conversations about membership obligations. In 2015, the Tennessee College Panhellenic eliminated skits and replaced them with a sisterhood round focused on values-based conversation, and the 2015 new member class reported a far better understanding of financial expectations and time commitments than their 2014 counterparts. Consequently, chapters reported an increase in new member retention for 2015 classes.

The 2015 values-based recruitment policy empowers College Panhellenics to set very clear recruitment guidelines that eliminate skits and minimize decorations, putting the focus on positive conversations based on organizational values and the membership experience.

Values-based recruitment (2015) All College Panhellenics and their member chapters shall incorporate the following policies into their membership recruitment programs: • Focus on conversations between chapter members and potential new members about organizational values and member organizations.

• Establish guidelines for membership recruitment budgets and set a cap on membership recruitment expenses, including the value of all donated goods and services.

• Keep decorations to a minimum and confined to the interior space used for recruitment rounds.

• Determine recruitment event attire for chapter members that reduces individual financial burden and eliminates costuming.

• Eliminate gifts, favors, letters and notes for potential new members.

• Eliminate recruitment skits.

“We are excited for the future of Panhellenic recruitment,” Davis noted. “In providing a framework for our chapters to focus on conversation and organizational values, we will be cultivating skills in our members that will extend beyond the sorority experience and into their leadership and professional development.”

Successful no-frills recruitment in ZTA

By Ashley Sherman, Director of Communication Zeta Tau Alpha has chapters at two of the three campuses selected by NPC to pilot the elimination of skits during Formal Recruitment in 2015—Zeta Chapter at University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Gamma Pi Chapter at The University of Georgia. Members from those chapters shared their experiences of eliminating skits and how doing so led to a more meaningful recruitment for both the chapter and potential new members.

“Moving away from skit round was one of the best decisions we could have made as a Panhellenic community. Instead of focusing on the flash and choreography of a skit, we were able to show potential new members a different side of our chapter. We showcased our sisterhood and focused on the daily life of a ZTA sister. This allowed the women going through recruitment to be fully aware of the commitment they were going to make. This realistic approach greatly improved our recruitment performance and retention. New members felt confident in their choice to join ZTA.” Maggie Nave Former Vice President III/Membership Chairman Zeta Chapter “As Panhellenic President, I felt all chapters resisting this idea at first. It’s hard to change from something that’s so ingrained into the recruitment experience and to switch to something new and intimidating. Being on the executive board and overseeing the first year of this change was encouraging because it showed how creative each chapter could get with their own philanthropy. At the end of the week, I think it definitely paid off to get rid of skits. Each round of recruitment is precious and every minute counts, so using those minutes to really learn more about each [potential new member] and show them how passionate each chapter is about their philanthropy was beneficial for all.”

Audrey Thorn Former Panhellenic President at The University of Georgia Alumna, Gamma Pi Chapter

NPC Executive Committee In true Panhellenic spirit, the National Panhellenic Conference implemented an officer-rotation plan in 1910 that is still followed today. With this plan, each of the 26 member organizations serves as Chairman of the NPC Executive Committee for a two-year term. Each organization leads as Chairman only once every 52 years, so it is an honor that carries much significance for each group.

Zeta Tau Alpha has served as Chairman of the Executive Committee only twice, with Dr. May Hopkins (1923–26) and Harriet Frische (1969–71). ZTA will join the Executive Committee as Vice Chairman again in 2017 and will serve as Chairman from 2019–21.

Here is a look at the recent and upcoming Executive Committee rotation:

Sigma Kappa 2015–17

Alpha Omicron Pi 2017–19

“This past fall, we replaced skits with a sisterhood round.

This round gave us an opportunity to share why we joined our chapter...and what being in our chapter entails. It included testimonials of why our chapter is so important to us, and we also tried to emphasize time and financial commitments so [potential new members] knew what to expect. The elimination of skits is a step in the right direction for our Panhellenic chapters so we can express the values our chapters were founded on in the hopes that [women] can find the right home for them.”

Zeta Tau Alpha 2019–21

Alpha Gamma Delta 2021–23

Corinne Guelli Former President Zeta Chapter

Alpha Delta Pi 2023–25

Delta Zeta 2025–27 NPC News · Spring 2016 · 39

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1. Brantley Bunn (Eta Alpha Chapter, Georgia Southwestern State University) admired the great outdoors on a hiking trip in Yosemite, California.

2. The members of Theta Nu Chapter at Auburn University at Montgomery represented their favorite teams at their sports-themed meeting.

3. Alpha Chapter sisters supported alumna Bethany Law (front row, second from left) when she played tennis at Longwood University.

4. Wynser Poole and Erin Allison (Beta Omicron Chapter) showed their spirit before the chapter’s Pink Out football game at University of South

Carolina. At the game, sisters wore pink and distributed pink ribbons to fans.

5. Alumnae from the Northern Virginia Chapter represented ZTA while cheering on the home team at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. 6. Although she has always been afraid of heights, alumna Barbara Urbanczyk Hague (Alpha Phi Chapter, Northwestern University) took a leap of faith and enrolled in a flying trapeze class, proving it’s never too late to face your fears.

7. Members of Eta Mu Chapter at Augusta University met at the campus Wellness Center to

learn self-defense techniques from professionals.

Sisters left feeling more knowledgable about how to handle potentially dangerous situations.

8. Devon Schwery and Julie Trinh represented Gamma Mu Chapter at University of Nebraska at Omaha on the intramural volleyball court this year.

9. Members of the New York City, NY Chapter spent a day of sisterhood cheering on horses and riders at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

10. Alumna Curren Blake (Iota Rho Chapter, East Carolina University) took her yoga skills to new heights in an aerial hoop workshop called Lyra.

Points of Pride · Spring 2016 · 41

The history of Zeta Day

By Patti Cords Levitte, Beta Phi, Director of Archives & Historical Education and Susan Beard, Delta Psi, Archives Chairman By the time this issue of Themis is in your hands, the 2016 Zeta Day season will be almost over. Just as the disappearing snow and longer days mark the coming of spring, so do the Zeta Day celebrations that take place from late January to late April. Zeta Days are statewide events where collegians and alumnae gather to celebrate achievements, participate in workshops and exchange ideas with other sisters. While ZTA is not the only NPC organization to hold these statewide days, it has been a tradition of Zeta Tau Alpha from our earliest years.

When ZTA was much smaller, Grand Chapter (the earliest form of National Council) debated whether or not to have yearly conventions. In 1906, they decided biennial meetings “would be deemed advisable because the full two years will be necessary to try the wisdom of many of the changes made at our Knoxville Convention,” according to an announcement in the February 1907 issue of Themis. Not wanting to let that much time pass without a social gathering, they decided to hold a special Zeta Day at the Jamestown Exhibition in 1907. It was a mini-vacation for Zetas that allowed them to spend time with sisters from other cities and enjoy the events in conjunction with the 300th anniversary of the first English settlement in the United States.

According to a report in the November 1907 issue of Themis, Iota Chapter members (University of Richmond) and Virginia alumnae welcomed 30 Zetas at the Lynnhaven Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia. “As [the event] was not a business meeting, such work had no part in our day’s

Women gathered in 1964 to celebrate Zeta Day in Maryland (above).

Zeta Day events often include special name tags, invitations and decorations to go along with the chosen theme (on right).

42 · THEMIS · Archives

program,” the report said. “We were served a luncheon elegant and tasteful in all its details.” After a long, multicourse meal and speeches, the Zetas went boating on the governor of Virginia’s yacht. This was the first event truly called a “Zeta Day,” but many others followed.

In 1921, Arkansas had a “state convention” that gathered 60 Zetas for a banquet and dance. The May 1922 issue of Themis reported that for three years, alumnae in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, “had a reunion picnic to which all Zetas within a radius of 50 miles were invited.” And on May 20, 1922, Indiana held its first tri-state luncheon and dance. Alumnae in Indiana planned this event to celebrate the installation of Alpha Xi Chapter at Indiana University and invited ZTA chapters and alumnae from Illinois and Ohio to participate. The idea of a state day was so intriguing that the ZTA Grand President Alpha Burkhart Wettach attended, along with Grand Historian Shirley Kreasan Krieg Strout and past Grand President Dr. May Agness Hopkins. They must have seen the benefit in Zetas meeting sisters they normally would not come into contact with outside of the National Conventions, because the event became more common shortly after.

When ZTA divided the country into provinces in 1925, the tradition of “province conventions” began. These multiday events were similar to the National Leadership Conference we now hold in non-Convention years. Some of these early province conventions rivaled the National Conventions in number of attendees and amount of extensive programming and activities. They brought together Zetas from different states and were very focused on workshops and solving problems related to Panhellenic issues. Many of these province conventions featured evening dances with men provided by local colleges or nearby military academies.

By the early 1950s, the province conventions had swung more toward officer training and weren’t focused enough on fun and friendship. National Council proposed the idea of splitting officer training into its own event, and having a “state day” solely for the purpose of socializing with sisters. In a recommendation to the 1954 Convention, National Council proposed that “the alumnae and collegiate members within each state organize an annual Zeta State Day, to be planned by the Province President… these functions are to be one day programs, possibly on a Saturday in the spring, combining informational sessions and a social gathering, such as a luncheon.” According to

READER’S GUIDE Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha, the official publication of the Fraternity, has been published continuously since 1903.

the Convention minutes, National President Helen Margaret Harrison said Zeta Day “should be more like a rally day for the state.” The Vice President I at the time, Jeannette Bertram Chapman, agreed, saying, “the State Day gives opportunity to various sections of your state to entertain all the alumnae and college members…they are social occasions for hearing the progress of the various chapters, and I think that the people in the central part of the country—Indiana, Michigan and Ohio—have tried them and like them very much.” Mrs. Chapman was correct in her observations, as Indiana has held a Zeta Day every year since its first one in 1922.

The reports of the very first official “Zeta State Days” in the fall 1955 issue of Themis show some of the earliest members of ZTA attending these luncheons and receiving their Order of the Shield certificates. This honor, given to 50-year members, was a new award that was presented in front of large groups of Zetas for the first time at these events. These Zeta Days also included the singing of ZTA songs and allowed the collegiate chapters to report on their campus activities and exchange ideas. The lunch programs varied from speeches from ZTA authors and college presidents to talks about cerebral palsy, our national philanthropy at the time.

Over the decades, Zeta Days have grown in size along with the increase in collegiate chapters. Now, District Presidents plan these events with the help of local alumnae and other national volunteers.

Events have ranged from outdoor barbecues and formal high teas to a meeting underneath rocket ships at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Regardless of the setting, Zeta Day is all about sisterhood. Today, the events recognize notable members with awards named after special Zetas from their region, and graduating seniors receive a gift from the ZTA Foundation. The celebrations also honor 50- and 75-year members for their continued dedication to ZTA and Certificate of Merit recipients for outstanding service to the Fraternity beyond their college years. From beginning to end, Zetas get the opportunity to interact with sisters they might not often see, to be inspired by our sisterhood and to share their love of ZTA with friends, old and new.

HOW TO MAKE AN ADDRESS CHANGE Go to www.zetataualpha.org and log in to Sisters Only. Select “Update Information and Privacy Settings.”

Or, email changes to zetataualpha@ zetataualpha.org (subject: Address Change) or call IO at (317) 872-0540.

Parents: While your daughter is in college, her magazine is sent to her home address. If she is not living at home, please send in her new address.

HOW TO SUBMIT NEWS Send all news and photos to news@ zetataualpha.org. All submissions become the property of ZTA and are subject to editing. Include full names and chapter. Photos must be 1 MB (1,024 KB) or larger to be printed.

HOW TO SUBMIT TO THE ARCHIVES Have something to contribute to the archives? Email Patti Cords Levitte (patti-levitte@zetataualpha.org).

FRED Word Scramble Answers: 1. Sisterhood; 2. Legacy; 3. Ritual; 4. White Violet; 5. Think Pink; 6. Mystifying Picture; 7. Chain of Chapters; 8. Zeta Is Forever; 9. Seek the Noblest Final line: Love, the greatest of all things.

Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha (ISSN 1529-6709; USPS 627-120) is published quarterly by Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, 3450 Founders Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268-1334. Subscription: $2 per year. Single copies: $.50. Periodical postage paid in Indianapolis, IN, and additional mailing offices. Printed in the United States of America.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha, 3450 Founders Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268.

Member, Fraternity Communications Association and National Panhellenic Conference. © 2016 Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Zeta Tau Alpha.

Winter 2016 · 43

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