Graduation is possibly the most exciting and terrifying moment in anyone’s life. Luckily, we have our ZTA sisters to help us through it all. There is life after graduation, just take it from these gifs of Ellie Kemper (of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “The Office” and “Bridesmaids” fame).
There’s a whole new post-grad world for you to explore! You might even be moving into an apartment complex that isn’t purely inhabited by college students. You have get to make more grown-up decisions for yourself. Once you get that first job, you can treat yourself. Let’s be real, there will be days you miss college. On those days, simply ask yourself, “Do I miss doing homework and taking tests?” Then remember that by joining an alumnae chapter you can make even more ZTA friends! Randomly texting with your college friends will still unexpectedly make your day. With your sisters behind you, you can do anything. After all, you’re UNBREAKABLE! Now, ditch the backpack and get ready to take on the world!
The Crowning Achievements academic program launched this fall, and we wanted to give you tips from the chapters using it most on how to best implement the program. You will learn how to get started in Z-Learning, encourage members to complete their questionnaire and workshop, and integrate it into what you already do for academics. Not to mention, as members’ GPA goes up, so does your chapter’s!
Get out your pen, and write these tips from Zetas to Zetas on what’s worked for them!
1. Reveal the program by showing your members the Z-Learning website. Tell all of your awesome nerds about the great features and what it’s all about by using the Kick-Off workshop.
2. Tell them why members should take the workshops. Why should they care, you ask? By taking the questionnaires and workshops in Z-Learning and applying what they learned, members will learn needed skills to achieve their academic goals, gain confidence in completing coursework and prepare for their career path. AND they will learn to study!
3. Do Z-Learning questionnaires and workshops together in a chapter meeting or in a computer lab. Everyone will actively participate and pay attention when their sisters are around the room doing the same thing. Members can share what they learned with one another and get great advice. Just remember to bring headphones because most of the workshops have sound.
4. If your chapter uses Berry Bucks, or ZTA “Monopoly money” members can trade in at the end of the semester/quarter for prizes, give those to members who completed it as an incentive. Make it RAIN!
5. Help members brush up on their academic skills like J. Law’s obvious talents. Fulfill the requirement of one academic skill-based program per year by connecting member’s lowest questionnaire scores to the topic of the in-person academic achievement program.
6. When members complete their questionnaire and workshop, make it count as a study hour for the week (if your chapter has a study hours program). Take a break from the books to learn how to stop procrastinating or study smarter.
7. Who doesn’t love prizes? Use social media shout outs or candy as incentives to complete their questionnaire and workshop.
8. Your members just might forget to log on after the Kick-Off, so send friendly reminders after the Kick-Off meeting with quick instructions of how to log onto Z-Learning and what they need to do.
9. Encourage members to actually apply the strategies they learned in the workshops to their classes. Follow up with activities to spark conversation and remind members about the helpful strategies.
Remember, if you are Academic Achievement Chairman, you can check out who has completed their questionnaire and workshop in ZetaBase by logging in, going to the Z-Learning tab and choosing the report you want to see. These are your go-to reports to give out prizes and incentives.
Now go use these tips and strive for academic greatness!
*Thank you to those rockstar chapters who contributed to this list: Beta Upsilon, Delta Eta, Delta Iota, Delta Mu, Eta Lambda, Kappa Lambda, Kappa Pi, Theta Kappa, Upsilon, Zeta Nu, Zeta Omega and Zeta Upsilon.
National Ritual Celebration Week has come and gone and our love for ZTA rituals is stronger than ever. NRCW was full of sisterhood moments, as always. Read this list to ensure you didn’t miss any of the zetariffic details!
First of all, International Badge Day was amazing. Seeing all our sisters (both ZTA and Panhellenic) sporting their badges filled us with pride. Check out our #BadgeDay15 Facebook album here.
We were blown away by this video of our sisters from almost 50 chapters reciting The Creed all over the world (seriously, one of our sisters delivered a line while paragliding through the Swiss Alps). If this doesn’t make you feel the Zeta Love, we don’t know what will.
Throughout the week, we watched sisters connect and grow via Facebook comments, tweets and Instagrams related to our five open values taken from The Creed—loyalty, responsibility, service, leadership and commitment. Together, we posted, tweeted and ‘grammed 700+ times using #IAmTheCreed!
Loyalty
Responsibility
Service
Leadership
Commitment
As always, we are grateful for our Panhellenic sisters and the things we share. This graphic shows you just how much we all have in common when it comes to our missions, purposes and creeds.
Speaking of values and leadership, have you considered adding some bling to your badge? See how you can show off your accomplishments with a badge dangle in this video. Head to HJGreek.com to learn more.
We’d like to send a special “thank you” to the many Zetas who helped make this week a success by sending in clips for The Creed video, posting on social media using our hashtags and doing everything in between. Our hearts are overflowing with love for our Fraternity after #NRCW ‘15 and we can’t wait to see what next year brings!
Tonight, the 87th Academy Awards will highlight the brightest of the year’s films and stars. So we figured we would get in on the fun and give out our version of the Oscars—the ZLAMMYs—to recognize some of the little ways our chapters are making our crown sparkle brighter than ever.
Check out cool things our collegians and alumnae are doing, and be inspired to try new things with your chapter!
The recruitment video that makes us want to join ZTA again Gamma Alpha Chapter, University of Miami, FL
Open House Video
The most ZLAMtastic Bid Day theme Eta Xi Chapter, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, VA
Spring Bid Day, “Chozen”
The most heartwarming Bid Day video that makes us want to run home Kappa Phi Chapter, Christopher Newport University, VA
Bid Day Video
The most awesome grasp of the biennium theme: Greatness Beta Upsilon Chapter, Kansas State University, KS
Zeta Greatness video
The most Zeta-riffic graduation caps Zeta Beta Chapter, Thiel College, PA
The alumnae chapter recruitment event that keeps you coming back for more Greenwood, SC Chapter
Journey of a Lifetime Alumnae from this chapter kicked off the year with a travel-themed party. Each member received a “passport” that they will fill by attending events throughout the year. The more involved they are, the more stamps they’ll get toward a grand prize!
The zelebrity status-worthy Chapter News Report A good Chapter News Report is detailed! It includes who, what, when, where, why and how. It includes pictures that are relevant to the reported news and it makes it easy for anyone to understand what the chapter has been up to! These two chapters provided relevant, detailed news with high-res photos to match.
Beta Gamma Chapter, Florida State University
Austin, TX Alumnae Chapter
The use of the new brand that makes us proud (and want to put a crown on anything and everything!) Iota Eta Chapter, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Bid Day flag The legacy event every kiddo would want to attend Psi Chapter, University of Washington and Seattle, WA Alumnae Chapter Psi Chapter members gave local alumnae moms a break by spending the day with playing games and decorating cookies with their kids.
The T-Shirt we all want to wear Delta Gamma Chapter, High Point University, NC
Bid Day shirt
The alumnae Think Pink® event we love Houston, TX Alumnae Association
Think Pink® Brunch
This fundraising event has it all: a brunch buffet packed with southern favorites like shrimp and grits, a photo booth with loads of props, celebrity participation (Project Runway alum designs a scarf for survivors), a silent auction, and even a pop-up boutique where a portion of the shopping proceeds go to the ZTA Foundation. The highest percentage of completed Z-Learning workshops (so far!) Zeta Upsilon Chapter, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania 91% of chapter members
The parents’ day activity that taught everyone the “nobility of serving” Iota Alpha Chapter, Robert Morris University One of the best ways to get parents involved in the ZTA experience is through service. The members of Iota Alpha Chapter and their parents served others by making robes for cancer patients at a local hospital.
Inspiring way to show appreciation for chapter supporters Eta Theta Chapter, Missouri University of Science and Technology The sisters of Eta Theta Chapter thanked their House Director and chef with a surprise dinner of pizza (so no one had to cook!), cake and tokens of gratitude, such as gift cards to a local restaurant and personalized t-shirts and aprons.
This Valentine’s Day we’re focusing on love, the greatest of all things. There are many types of love, but there’s nothing quite like the love we have for our sisters. The Zeta Tau Alpha love story is one that stays with us throughout our lives and one that should be celebrated. Check out these nine reasons why Zeta love is the best love ever.
1. From the moment you hugged your new sisters on Bid Day, you knew you’d found best friends for life.
2. Whether you’re working together to put on an awesome Think Pink® event or competing in an intramural game together, you and your sisters make a great team.
3. You know that no matter what happens, nothing can tear you apart. 4. You can truly be yourself around your sisters and you know they will still love you. 5. Your sisters always know what to say to cheer you up or encourage you. 6. You know they will always have your back and you will always have theirs. 7. You never want to leave your sisters and find it hard to walk away after spending time with each other. You just like being together! 8. But you know that no matter where you all are, the bonds of sisterhood will remain strong. 9. Because your sisters are your people, and they always will be. This Valentine’s Day, be sure to tell your sisters how much you love them.
Allison Harris Gamma Nu (University of Virginia) President 2013-2014
Growing up, I always found a great group of friends through sports. Playing soccer and basketball in high school allowed me to find my place and develop close friendships through countless hours with teammates. I stopped playing sports when I came to college. Upon entering sorority recruitment, I hoped to find a new kind of team, but I didn’t realize I would eventually gain much more. I was given the opportunity to lead my chapter as President when I was elected halfway through my third year.
The leadership experience I have obtained through my positions in ZTA has been invaluable. I have learned about myself and developed into a more effective leader in the process. As a new officer, you may be feeling excited and overwhelmed about the road ahead. Here are a few lessons I learned during my term as President that may help you jumpstart the new year:
The key to being a successful leader is respect. First, you must respect yourself. Take pride in the way you behave and be conscious of the way you present yourself to others. In doing so, you will not only be respectable, but you will also be a role model. Second, always respect others. From National Council, advisors and Traveling Leadership Consultants to your Executive Committee, Program Council and general members, treat others the way you want to be treated. This will allow you to build mutual respect and develop meaningful relationships. People will be more invested in working toward a common goal and more likely to lend a helping hand.
Keep an open mind. Given your leadership role, it is easy to assume you know what is best for your chapter, but the truth is you might not always be right. With ever changing situations and varying circumstances, identifying the best solution is not always a simple task. Work with other officers, advisors and members to brainstorm creative and effective solutions.
Delegate tasks and trust other leaders. Personally, I tend to be somewhat of a control freak and a perfectionist at times. During my time as President, I was pretty ambitious. I had a lot of ideas for what I wanted to see our chapter accomplish. I soon realized I would fail if I attempted to do everything on my own. From sisterhood and philanthropy events to chapter meetings, one person can only accomplish so much. I had to lean on my Executive Committee, Program Council and chapter advisors. At times you may be overwhelmed and stressed, but you are not alone. Many people want to see your chapter succeed. As you delegate responsibilities, members will feel needed and become invested in the organization.
Be a sister to all. I remember once joining a new soccer team and not feeling welcome. I was uncomfortable around my new teammates, which made me less excited to attend practices, games and team events. Making a friend on the team transformed my experience. Get to know as many people as possible, and let them know they have a friend. You will gain a better understanding of your chapter, which is imperative as an officer and will help you select the next best leaders for each position, plan events, and most importantly, give your members what they are looking for in a sorority.
Always, always say thank you. Whether you’re working with chapter members, other officers, advisors or National Officers, remember to thank everyone for their assistance. Smooth operations require cooperation from many different individuals. It is important to recognize all of the help you receive and to be appreciative. Giving thanks will show others you are grateful for their help, and in return, they will be more likely to help again in the future.
I hope these tips help you find success in your leadership position. As a leader, you have the opportunity to develop your own Zeta team. Reach out to your members, trust your fellow leaders, listen with open ears and respect all. Remember to be thankful, and you will build an undefeatable team.
During our 116th year of sisterhood, we reached for new heights, saw some new trends, gained new direction and much more. See some of our highlights from the past year in this infographic. Scroll to the bottom for links to more information.
Click these links for more on these highlights:
See our highlights of the year, mixed with our members’ favorite memories by searching for #ZTARewind on Instagram.
Congratulations on being elected or appointed in a ZTA officer role! We can’t wait to see what you accomplish this year.
Now that you are in place, what do you do next? Get going with these top ways to rock the first 90 days of your term. Take notes and check each one off as you go. You’ll be ready to start your year with a bang!
1. Get to know your officer role inside and out by doing your homework. Read the manuals, guides and resources available to you. So much can be found on the Sisters Only site under officer resources.
2. Meet or talk with those whom you will be working with, like advisors, National Officers, other chapter officers or committee members, faculty/staff members and/or vendors. Learn about each other and bounce your ideas off of them. You might just become best friends!
3. Build teamwork as an Executive Committee or Program Council. Play games, get to know each other and find ways to collaborate and cross-program.
4. Get organized by creating your own binder and files. Create a calendar for the year ahead and highlight and color-code important deadlines and events. Check out the Sisters Only site for your resources if you haven’t already!
5. Dream of what you could accomplish as a new officer and create a clear vision. Members want to follow leaders who can dream beyond the chapter’s current challenges and clearly articulate a brighter vision of the future.
6. Brainstorm new ideas for your office. Think about creative solutions before immediately going with your first idea. Don’t get stuck with what your chapter has already done. Be bold!
7. Listen to other members and see what ideas they have for your officer role. Talk one-on-one or send out a quick survey online. What would they change about your office or the programs you plan? This is valuable feedback to make your year successful.
8. Make SMART goals for the year by using this tool. It will help you set personal goals and set up the steps to achieve them
9. Spring into action by working your plan. Nothing will happen unless you DO something!
Bonus! Do an officer photo shoot as sisterhood bonding. Find tons of ideas of concepts on the ZTA Pinterest Page. Create your very own signature move.
It’s that time of year again—the moment we’ve painstakingly cultivated Pinterest boards about—it’s New Year’s resolution time.
Below are nine resolutions we could all follow to make our lives a little brighter in 2015, according to some of the best gifs and moments of the last year.
Do more of what makes you happy.
We all need a spirit-boost every once in a while. Make time to do things that make you happy this year, like rewarding yourself with a post-study session dance break.
Prove there is more than meets the eye.
As sorority women, we are constantly battling stereotypes. Make a promise to yourself and your sisters that 2015 will be the year of living ZTA values to break down those stereotypes.
Make friends with someone you don’t know.
Go out of your way to get to know someone new. This could mean going out of your way to talk to someone in one of your classes or at work—maybe even someone in another Panhellenic sorority—or just spending more time with a new member you haven’t gotten to know very well yet. Strike up a conversation by doing something nice for them!
Be healthy—mentally, physically and emotionally.
Lose the Grumpy Cat blues by deciding to take charge of every aspect of your health this year. We even have some resources that can help! Check out our wellness Pinterest board and our new fraternity-sponsored mental health programming, Behind Happy Faces.
If you fall, get up and dust yourself off.
Take a note from Jennifer Lawrence’s red carpet/award show appearances in 2014: Sometimes falling down can be endearing, especially if you follow it by accepting an award for something awesome.
Try something new!
No matter what you do this year, take a trip outside your comfort zone. Travel somewhere you’ve never been before, learn a new skill or go out on a limb for the sake of fashion.
Let go.
A list about 2014 wouldn’t be complete without a “Frozen” reference, so here it is. Follow Elsa’s example and let go of things that have held you back in the past!
Make teamwork a priority.
When we work together, we can accomplish great things. Don’t forget, team work makes the dream work in 2015.
You do you!
Keep chasing your dreams this year and don’t let anyone knock your style! Set tangible goals and accomplish them in your own way. It doesn’t matter how you get there, so long as you do.
Having trouble deciding which one of these you want to take on? Let us help you pick with our ZTAFeed quiz!
Our 15th National President was Nelly Galloway Shearer, who served from 1974-78 (pictured on the left).
These three state have 15 total alumnae and collegiate chapters:
Alabama
California
Tennessee
2015 will mark 15 years of partnership with these NFL teams:
New York Giants
Indianapolis Colts
Miami Dolphins
Three collegiate chapters were formed in 1915 and will celebrate their centennial in the new year
Upsilon, University of California Berkeley, May 14, 1915
Phi, Duke University, June 3, 1915
*Chi, University of Pittsburgh, November 6, 1915
In Kentucky, the 15th state to join the Union, we have one collegiate chapter—Beta Lambda, University of Louisville, and two alumnae chapters—Lexington, KY Chapter and Louisville, KY Chapter.
ZTA awarded the first Honor Ring in 1915. The Honor Ring is the highest individual honor granted by the Fraternity. More Zetas received Honor Rings at the 1915 Convention than at any other time, since the award was retroactive to the Fraternity’s founding.
The 15th most-liked post on our Instagram, with over 1.8k likes, is: On Wednesdays, even our pumpkins wear pink! Tag your best ZTA pumpkin art with #WEareZTA so we can see your handiwork. #ztathinkpink
The 15th issue of Themis was published in May 1908. It included letters from each chapter, articles on the upcoming Convention, and features on topics that are still relevant today: the importance of lasting friendship, working against Greek stereotypes and keeping the ritual sacred by denouncing hazing.
Three of the ZTA homes owned or managed by the Fraternity Housing Corporation for current collegiate chapters have “15” in their address:
Alpha Gamma, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI
Delta Pi, Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, NM
Alpha Omicron, The University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA
The 15th chapter to join the FHC was *Eta Psi at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 1980.
The 15th National Convention of Zeta Tau Alpha was held June 27-30, 1937 in Swampscott, Massachusetts.
Springfield, MO Chapter became the 15th alumnae chapter when it chartered on March 19, 1927.
You might even be moving into an apartment complex that isn’t purely inhabited by college students.
You have get to make more grown-up decisions for yourself.
Once you get that first job, you can treat yourself.
Let’s be real, there will be days you miss college.
On those days, simply ask yourself, “Do I miss doing homework and taking tests?”
Then remember that by joining an alumnae chapter you can make even more ZTA friends!
Randomly texting with your college friends will still unexpectedly make your day.
With your sisters behind you, you can do anything. After all, you’re UNBREAKABLE! Now, ditch the backpack and get ready to take on the world!
4. You can truly be yourself around your sisters and you know they will still love you.
5. Your sisters always know what to say to cheer you up or encourage you.
6. You know they will always have your back and you will always have theirs.
7. You never want to leave your sisters and find it hard to walk away after spending time with each other. You just like being together!
8. But you know that no matter where you all are, the bonds of sisterhood will remain strong.
9. Because your sisters are your people, and they always will be.
This Valentine’s Day, be sure to tell your sisters how much you love them.
Allison Harris
ZTAFeed 