Zeta Day Awards

I enjoyed seeing many of you in Kansas City on Saturday for Zeta Day! "Zeta Through the Decades" was a wonderful day with highlights like Mrs. Julia Hill playing heads or tails and then giving a speech, recognizing 5 White Violets including one 75-year member, viewing historical photos and artifacts from our district, playing many games, recognizing graduating seniors, and celebrating with awards.

My favorite part of Zeta Day is presenting awards to deserving women and chapters, so I wanted to post the awards here.

St. Louis alumnae won the attendance award again because 12 members made the trip to Kansas City.

10% Membership Awards went to Flint Hills, KS (19% growth) and Mid-Missouri (75% growth) chapters.

The Alumnae-Collegiate Relations Award went to Mid-Missouri.

Lawrence, KS Area won the Alumnae Website Award.

The Alumnae Service Award went to St. Louis.

Congratulations to our hostess chapter, KC Metro, for winning the District President's Silver Award for Public Relations!

"Experienced the Sisterhood" in New Orleans for ZTA's Convention

It was a great privilege and ton of fun representing Kansas and Missouri alumnae at our 50th National and 39th International Convention. Although I had to leave Friday morning to celebrate my brother's wedding, I was able to "Experience the Sisterhood" and loved every minute.

I arrived early on Tuesday afternoon with other national officers and enjoyed spending time catching up with them. At our national officer dinner, we learned about Mardi Gras krewes and got creative dreaming up our own krewes.

After some training, we started to welcome our Zeta sisters attending as delegates and visitors during lunch on Wednesday. At the opening session, we were introduced to National Council, the ZTA Foundation Board, the National Housing Corporation Board and Traveling Leadership Consultants as they paraded in throwing beads and goodies. Their Mardi Gras floats were decorated luggage carts!

We enjoyed free time to do some ZTA shopping at Crown & Co. and view the amazing new museum-quality historical exhibit. At dinner, we learned to "Laissez le bon Temp Rouler!" (let the good times roll). We enjoyed a delicious meal followed by a King's cake. The sister who found the baby got the honor of being crowned! It was also a fun surprise to welcome the Krewe of Caesar. This is a real Mardi Gras Krewe who dazzled us with their amazing costumes (see photos).

Thursday's opening business meeting included all of the traditional elements that make it so special: the flag processional with all the chapter flags, singing the national anthem and creed of Zeta Tau Alpha, and formal welcomes and greetings. New and reorganized alumnae and collegiate chapters were recognized, and it was a special highlight to receive a baby cup for the Flint Hills, KS chapter.

At lunch we received the State of the Fraternity address and were reminded of everything we have to be proud of. After more free time, we gathered for dinner and celebrated our collegiate Crown Chapter winners.

Thursday concluded with the initiation of Tanya Snyder, breast cancer survivor and wife of the Washington Redskins owner. She has been instrumental in the team's Think Pink! efforts, including a fabulous partnership with ZTA.

Although I missed the rest of Convention, it included more business meetings, sisterhood time in the Crescent City, alumnae Crown Chapter night, the presentation of Honor Rings (including one for yours truly), a sisterhood party with surprise performances by DJ $crilla and the award-winning Epsilon step team, election of our new National Council, the Silver Awards banquet and a jazz brunch. To "experience the sisterhood" yourself, check out the ZTA webpage (www.zetataualpha.org) and the ZTA Facebook page.

Now, make plans to attend ZTA Convention 2012 in Louisville, Kentucky!

Award Winning Alumnae

The alumnae chapters in district XVIIA are amazing and very deserving of awards. Congratulations to these chapters for their achievements!

10% Membership Increase: Lawrence, KS Area and Kansas City Metro

Alumnae Chapter Programming: St. Louis

Alumnae-Collegiate Relations: Springfield

Alumnae Service: Mid-Missouri

Alumnae Membership: Lawrence, KS Area

Alumnae Panhellenic: Kansas City Metro

District Silver for Fundraising: St. Louis

Alumnae Zeta Day Attendance Award: St. Louis

My ZTA Travels

One of the best parts about my job as District President is the opportunity to travel to all of my alumnae chapters. I always enjoy visiting the alumnae friends I have met through the years and meeting new sisters. I learn more from my chapters than I probably teach them, and I always leave inspired by the amazing things alumnae in our district are doing.

My visits this year started in Manhattan, KS. I met with the alumnae there and helped them vote on their official chapter name and very first slate of EC officers. We had a great time at the local coffee shop in Aggieville, and I shared some ZTA history in honor of Founders' Day coming up. I am so happy that the Flint Hills, KS alumnae chapter is organized and the newest one in our district!

Just a few weeks later I traveled to Joplin, MO to meet with local alumnae and one collegian. I was joined by one of our Province Presidents, and we talked about getting the Tri-State chapter organized again. I am proud of these ladies for making it a priority to organize two events since then. I look forward to seeing them fully reorganize before the end of the year.

The weekend right after my visit to Joplin took me to the KC Metro chapter. I joined the EC officers for a retreat and spent a couple of hours working with them on all sorts of topics. Our focus, however, was on membership recruitment and surveying members. I am confident that these women will continue to grow as a chapter.

Finally, in early December I traveled to Columbia to meet with the Mid-Missouri chapter. We had a nice lunch downtown, and we talked about member recruitment. They have good plans in place to recruit many women, especially in the Jefferson City area.

If time allows, I will visit the Lawrence, KS Area alumnae chapter soon, and I will of course be at Zeta Day in Springfield. My last travel for the year will be to New Orleans for Convention! I am very excited about this and hope to see many alumnae from our district there, especially to receive Crown Chapter awards!

Certificate of Merit Award for Alumnae

It is time to nominate outstanding alumnae for the Certificate of Merit (COM)!

Awarded by National Council, the COM is granted to ZTA alumnae who have made an outstanding contribution to the Fraternity over an extended period of time. Recipient recommendations can be made by the alumnae organization's President (or another officer, if the President is recommended), the District President or a member of National Council.

* Nominations are due to the District President October 1st; they can be emailed
* The candidate must have held a significant position within the Fraternity for at least 7 years; the current year does not count.
* If a candidate has served in more than one position in a year, list each position separately.
* Multiple positions within a year do not count as more than one year of service.
* Remember, there must be a minimum of seven entries for years of service. Dates must accompany these entries.
* Only the following positions are considered by National Council as officers: President, Vice President (I & II), Secretary, Treasurer and Historian-Reporter.
* Committee Chairs do not count as significant service (although we realize that many women put a great deal of effort into this).
* After listing the nominee's service, provide a brief paragraph about the candidate's special talents or efforts.
* Nominations are SECRET; do not let the candidate know she has been nominated. It will be a fun surprise at Zeta Day!
* For more information, contact your DP (mokszetas@yahoo.com).

District Silver Award 2010: Fundraising

This year the district silver award will be given at Zeta Day to the alumnae chapter who demonstrates excellence in fundraising for the ZTA Foundation. A special scorecard will be created and sent to chapters soon so that you know the award criteria and can start working to achieve the award. Chapters are encouraged to evaluate fundraising plans now, and we will have a district conference call to support your efforts soon. Make fundraising a priority in 2010!

Alumna Certificate of Merit Award

Awarded by National Council, the COM is granted to ZTA alumnae who have made an outstanding contribution to the Fraternity over an extended period of time. Recipient reccommendations can be made by the alumnae organization's President (or another officer, if the President is recommended), the District President or a member of National Council.

• Nominations are due to the District President October 1st; they can be emailed
• The candidate must have held a significant position within the Fraternity for at least 7 years; the current year does not count.
• If a candidate has served in more than one position in a year, list each position separately.
• Multiple positions within a year do not count as more than one year of service.
• Remember, there must be a minimum of seven entries for years of service. Dates must accompany these entries.
• Only the following positions are considered by National Council as officers: President, Vice President (I & II), Secretary, Treasurer and Historian-Reporter.
• Committee Chairs do not count as significant service (although we realize that many women put a great deal of effort into this).
• After listing the nominee's service, provide a brief paragraph about the candidate's special talents or efforts.
• Nominations are SECRET; do not let the candidate know she has been nominated. It will be a fun surprise at Zeta Day!
• For more information, contact your DP (mokszetas@yahoo.com).
  

District Silver Award 2009: Programming

It gave me great pleasure to polish up the district silver platter (okay, so my dear husband and favorite Zeta Man actually polished it) and award it at Zeta Day 2008. The award had been out of circulation for 8 years, and I decided to give it for excellence in membership. Congratulations to the Lawrence KS Area chapter for receiving it!

This year, I am inspiring District 17 chapters to excel in alumnae programming. I have created a new scorecard and published it, so I look forward to seeing some amazing events. I only wish that I could attend more of them!