Love, the Greatest of all Things
- ztatlc.alisoncolangelo
- Oct 16, 2018
- 6 min read
HAPPY FOUNDERS' DAY SISTERS!
Founders' Day is a special day near and dear to all ZTAs. We celebrate our traditions, the future of our Fraternity and our 9 Founders.
Check out our 2018
by National President,
Alicia Patten Williams.
To celebrate, I am counting down my top favorite ZTA memories! I know, that the number 9 holds a special place in every ZTA's heart, but in honor of 120 years I'm doing 12! (Even though I could most certainly choose 120 memories, but I'll spare you the details!) It was so hard to pick, but let's start at the beginning...
12. Bid Day, Best Day
My very first photo on my Instagram from February 15, 2013 is the day I celebrated getting my bid to ZTA! The day that truly did change the trajectory of my life through college and beyond.
"To Realize that within our Grasp in Zeta Tau Alpha.."
In my very first Zeta shirt at my very first chapter meeting with my pledge sisters in Spring '13!
Zeta Upsilon Chapter at Edinboro University
I am so grateful to this National Organization for the leadership skills it's taught me, the confidence it's given me, scholarships it's afforded me, and most importantly the sisters it's brought me and it all started in Edinboro, PA with my Zeta Upsilon sisters, a place I will always consider home!
11. Sharing ZTA with my mom
"To think in terms of all mankind and our service in the world" When I was in college, our big philanthropy event was Big Man on Campus, a male beauty pageant that we held in the spring. We always had our Advisor, a faculty member and a Breast Cancer Survivor serve as judges and my junior year, my sisters chose my mom to be one of the judges! I was touched, and it was a great moment to share Zeta with my mom.
10. Being Installed as Chapter President
"To learn the Nobility of Serving, thereby earning the right to be served"
I come from a smaller chapter and so almost everyone holds at least one position during their entire time in ZTA. I held 7 different positions within my chapter and by far, my favorite position to serve was Chapter President!
I got to work with so many great sisters (including my Little who was Vice President) over two terms as President and achieve so many goals all while learning what it means to be a Servant Leader.
9. Exploring IO
IO it All to Zeta Tau Alpha
Getting to visit International Office was something I was SO excited for when I stepped on the plane for my first NLC! Getting to see the Zeta history in our Archives, go to Crown & Co. and explore our Executive Director's office was a tour I'll never forget!
"Devotion to the right, the good, and the true"
IO has become such a special place, too, once I became a Leadership Consultant. My first LC class, 2017-2018, was the LAST to train at 3450 Founders Rd. and my second LC class, 2018-2019 was the FIRST group to train at the brand new IO in Carmel, Indiana!
8. Living in "The Blue" during college
"To See Beauty with it's enriching influence"
We didn't have sorority houses at Edinboro, but for the past 15 years, Zetas have passed down the lease to "The Blue". I was so lucky to be able to live in this special house with 4 different roommates over 3 years. My all-time favorite place in the Boro!
n7. Hi Ho, Hi Ho, IT'S OFF TO CHAPTERS WE GO!
"To Find Satisfaction is being Rather than Seeming"
One of our first tasks at the beginning of LC Training was to come up with a dance to do at NLC for all of the attendees to Introduce the new class of Consultants. We did Snow White (Our National President, Carolyn Carpenter) & the 23 LC Dwarfs.
Even though we felt like we were making complete fools of ourselves, it was SO much fun and something I'll always look back on and smile about.
6. Visiting Founders' Graves in Virginia
"ever loyal to our fraternity"
While on a chapter visit in Virginia, fellow LC Victoria and I got the lucky chance to visit 2 of our Founders' graves. Helen May Crafford and Della Lewis Hundley. We are so grateful to that young band of nine who were every loyal to our Fraternity!
5. The Day my family tree became complete
"Love, the greatest of all things"
One of my favorite days in college was my big little reveal in 2013 when I got my big, Meghan! She had convinced me for weeks that I wasn't getting her as my big and I was crushed.
SPOILER ALERT: Meg became my Big and the rest is history! I walked into my dorm that night to find that she had stolen my key earlier that day and decorated every inch of my room. Still to this day one of the nicest things anyone's ever done for me!
The next semester, I got to grow our tree and got my perfect Little, Ashley to join the family!
The amazing human the the left made me a G and then a Great Grand Big and I love her so!
My family tree has been a constant throughout my college years and I look forward to every year around Christmas when we get together for brunch and Secret Santa! A tradition I hope to continue for years!
4. My First Consultant visit
"to Seek Understanding that we might gain true wisdom"
Becoming a Leadership Consultant was always a dream of mine and when I got the phone call with a job offer I spent about 5 minutes jumping around my room and could not stop smiling. I’m happy to say that that enthusiasm still rings true today and I remember being so excited and scared for my first LC visit!
Lambda Lambda Chapter
Kennesaw State ZTA made me feel so welcome and I got to enjoy my first ever Panhellenic Bid Day with them, tutu and all. I don’t think I stopped smiling or jumping around once that day, just like when I received my call months before!
3. Lambda Omicron, Boise State University Installation
"Striving ever to make our lives a symphony of high ideals"
What will go down, I’m sure as one of my favorite Zeta experiences of all time, assisting in the establishment of a chapter.
I had the absolute privilege of working with the Lambda Omicron Chapter at Boise State University from the start when we landed on campus to recruit over 150 women.
The chapter’s long-awaited Installation Banquet held many moments that brought tears to my eyes. Watching the chapter president, Melissa, accept the chapter’s traditional baby cup and gavel, getting to hug and celebrate with our National Officers who put so much time and effort into the success of this new chapter and getting to see Lambda Omicron’s brand new shiny link, #253 be added to our chain of chapters.
It was surreal this summer to see chapter members in Orlando at Convention and get a picture with their brand new chapter flag. I’ve visited so many chapters over the past year and a half and had amazing experiences, but Lambda Omicron is always going to hold a special place in my heart and I can't wait to watch them flourish over the years!
2. Starting off our Crown Chapter Streak!
"To Be humble In success and without bitterness in defeat"
One of my chapter’s biggest goals while I was a member was earning Crown Chapter. After years of hard work we finally were able to step on stage at National Leadership Conference in 2015 as “Zeta Upsilon Chapter” rang out in the hotel ballroom tears streaming down our faces.
Our chapter was established in 1970 and we had never earned Crown Chapter until 2015 and it was an honor to walk up there and accept that award on behalf of my sisters.
1. My first ZTA Convention
📍Los Angeles, California
This year I attended my 3rd ZTA National Convention. My first ever was in 2014 in LA! This is my top favorite memory because this is what inspired me.
"To Have the Welfare and harmony of the Fraternity at Heart"
Getting to meet our National President at the time, Keeley McDonald Riddle, hear her words during the State of the Fraternity, watch as our logo was revealed, cheering on as chapters walked up to accept Silver Awards and talking to countless ZTA alumnae and National Officers who dedicate their time to serving our Fraternity well past their college years sparked something in me at 18.
I couldn't imagine my life without Zeta Tau Alpha in it and I am so grateful I was lucky enough to attend Convention, that I ended up at a Meet the Greeks event 6 years ago and that our nine Founders decided to create a purer and nobler womanhood in the world.
Happy 120 years, Zeta Tau Alpha!
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