100 Years of ZTA Love

Mu chapter is celebrating 100 years of ZTA love in 2009! Save the date to join Mu sisters in Springfield on February 14. Alumnae from Drury's ZTA chapter will be receiving save the date postcards in the mail very soon. If you need more information, please contact me at mokszetas@yahoo.com.

Hear me calling...Hear me calling...

Our district has its own conference call number! Yes, we will be using this tool to stay in touch and share ideas with each other. I plan to use the phone number to schedule a conference call every other month on various topics of interest. We will probably hold calls in September, November, January and March. I think this will be a great way to do some officer training and idea sharing since all of us are so busy and travel is difficult (and expensive). I will be sharing more information about this soon. In the mean time, respond to the poll on this blog site to help me plan and prioritize our discussion topics!

Zeta Day 2009 in St. Louis

Kansas and Missouri Zetas are headed to the Gateway City for Zeta Day 2009! The St. Louis alumnae chapter will be our hostesses this year, and they are busy planning an amazing time for everyone. Make plans now to make a road trip to St. Louis.

Recommend Future Zetas

Collegiate recruitment is the lifeblood of Zeta Tau Alpha, and alumnae play an important role in that recruitment. The recruitment system depends on the submission of Membership Information Sheets to collegiate chapters. All alumnae have the responsibility to submit a Membership Information Sheet (MIS) on any potential new member who exhibits the qualities expected of ZTA members.

Encourage members of your alumnae group to:

• Submit an MIS to the ZTA chapter on the campus where the potential new member attends school. The names and addresses of the alumnae who receive MIS forms for each chapter are listed in the spring issue of Themis and can be found online with the MIS form. (Note: you will need a ZTA username and password to access this information. If you do not have one, follow the instructions for "Need to Create An Account.")
• Meet the daughters of friends and neighbors.
• Talk about ZTA to young women and show your pride, not just the week before high school graduation, but years before.
• Send voluntary references on women from the community.

Reach for the Moon with Goals

With Convention behind us and summer nearly halfway over, we all have our sights set on an amazing Zeta year ahead. That's right, we are setting goals. I know that I tend to be an over-achiever and set really high goals for myself. Although I often overestimate my time and ability, I do believe in setting goals that provide a stretch. As the saying goes, "Reach for the moon; you will surely reach some stars along the way". (Okay, so that is the version that I can come up with in my head!) My point is this...I often do not achieve my goals 100%, but I am almost always satisfied with the good work that gets accomplished. With that in mind, I want to inspire all of my alumnae to set their goals high this year!!

What are my goals? I am glad that you asked! Here is a summary:

• Achieve membership growth in the district with every alumnae chapter growing by 10% over 2008
• Reorganize the Topeka, KS and Tri-State of Joplin, MO alumnae chapters with functional EC boards and 10+ members in place by January 1, 2009
• Increase alumnae attendance at KS/MO Zeta Day by 10% over 2008 attendance
• Support my alumnae chapters and set them on track to achieve Crown Chapter (and maybe Silver!) at Convention in 2010; I am striving for 100% of my chapters to achieve Crown Chapter status
• Work with the PPs to fill advisory boards for all collegiate chapters in our district

However, I believe in work/life/ZTA balance, so I also have set my own personal goals as well. I encourage you to do the same. Here are mine:

• Spend at least 20 minutes each day in prayer/meditation
• Enjoy a "date night" with my husband at least once a week
• Exercise 30 minutes for three or more days each week
• Work on hobbies like scrapbooking and sewing each month
• Finish my baby journal and document all of my baby's "firsts" before her 1st birthday

Now that you know my goals, I ask you to help me be accountable! Share your goals with me so that I can do the same. I am launching my space ship now...

Still Basking in the Glow of Convention

Like so many of those who attended, I am still thinking of my time at ZTA's Convention last week. I decided to make a top 10 list of my favorite Convention memories:

10. Delicious food (dessert at every meal!)
9. The beautiful desert
8. Shopping at Crown & Co.
7. Dressing up in pretty clothes and wearing my badge
6. Awards! Awards! Awards!
5. Learning about new ZTA programming and policies
4. The alumnae "Tickled Pink to Know You" luncheon
3. Tony Redhouse, a Native American hoop dancer
2. Spending time with my DP sisters!
1. Initiation and sharing our precious sisterhood

Convention is amazing and must be experienced. My hope is for every Zeta to go at least once! (I have been privileged enough to attend 4.) Make plans to join your sisters in New Orleans in 2 years! I am going to encourage all of the alumnae chapters in our district to budget funds to send a delegate. We will have a heck of a party in Louisiana!

From Tucson, AZ to Lawrence, KS

Well, I made it back from ZTA Convention 2008 in Tucson, AZ. The location was beautiful and I really enjoyed my time with Zeta sisters there.

I am especially pleased to report that 4 chapters in our district won a Crown Chapter award: Lawrence, KS Area, Mid-Missouri, Springfield, MO and St. Louis, MO. Woo hoo! A special shout-out to the Lawrence ladies for winning their first ever Crown Chapter award!

I learned so much and look forward to sharing everything with you. Watch this blog and your email inbox and look forward to your official visit because I will be using these methods to communicate.

You can be proud of me for packing all of my things in one checked bag (weighing just under 50 pounds) and one carry-on bag. Keep in mind that I had t-shirts and goodies on the way there and awards, Zeta purchases and lots of expressed milk with me on the way home. Yes, I made it through security! Whew!

I am super thrilled to announce that ZTA Convention 2010 will be in New Orleans! Make plans to attend now. I am personally excited because I should receive my honor ring! *grin*