NOTE: For Zeta Day events not mentioned below, a Themis report was not received as of December 16, 2003.

ALABAMA/MISSISSIPPI – More than 500 Zetas met at the Florence, Alabama, Convention Center for interactive break-out sessions during A Crowning Moment. National Panhellenic Conference Delegate Malaea Nelms Seleski served as the keynote speaker. She encouraged attendees and inspired everyone to think about the impact each member can have through Zeta Tau Alpha. The Zeta Spans a Lifetime ceremony honored 52 graduating seniors, who received invitations to join their local alumnae chapter and a ZTA tote bag as a gift signifying their entrance into the alumnae world. A featured activity of these Zeta Day festivities was a collegiate chapter skit competition.

ARIZONA – This year’s event in Phoenix had a See the USA with ZTA! theme. Even without a collegiate chapter in the state, these Zetas raised $1,200 to break last year’s record of giving to the ZTA Foundation! District President Sue Goodwin Peyron honored Lillie Drum LaTourette as a 50-year member and Gladys Downs Limbird as a 75-year member. The Phoenix Alumnae Chapter won the programming award for their use of cross-programming around a central theme to tie the year’s events together and to encourage member participation. The Northern Arizona Alumnae Chapter increased their membership again this year. Because of their wide geographic area, the chapter plans events in varying locations and at different days and times. Tucson alumnae encourage service: Members “adopted” an Afghanistan refugee family.

ARKANSAS – With the largest turnout in recent years, Spring into ZTA began on Friday night as Zetas enjoyed a reception hosted by the collegians at the Epsilon Chapter House at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. This was followed with an alumnae dinner. At Saturday’s lunch, National President Julia Marthaler Hill served as the guest speaker, encouraging everyone to incorporate ZTA and sisterhood into their lives every day. Attendees also enjoyed the beautiful White Violet and Zeta Spans a Lifetime ceremonies. As an added feature of this event, members bought flowers, with the proceeds going to the ZTA Foundation. The flowers sold made the arrangements for the tables! Door prizes, games and a Race for the Cure® booth to recruit volunteers rounded out this enjoyable day.

CALIFORNIA – NORTH – Poplar Creek Golf Club, with a view of the golf course and the planes landing at San Francisco International Airport, provided a lovely setting for this Zeta Day event. Nancy Mickelson, Executive Director of the local affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, served as an informative guest speaker. After a mouth-watering buffet luncheon, a number of 50-year members received the Order of the Shield. Members then raffled gift baskets to raise funds for ZTA scholarships.

CALIFORNIA – SOUTH – The San Fernando Valley (SFV) Alumnae hosted Zeta Day at the AirTel Hotel in April. The theme, Salute to Sisterhood, featured red, white and blue decorations. Almost 200 Zetas joined this festive occasion. Alumna Felicia Sison Conlan (Beta Epsilon, UCLA) delivered a stirring speech on sisterhood and service, complete with Zetas parading to music with signs displaying their chapter’s service projects and fundraisers. Collegiate chapter presidents impressed attendees with dynamic chapter presentations. SFV alumnae also hosted a dinner the evening before Zeta Day, attended by 34 Zetas. This gave many of the sisters an opportunity to “catch up” before the big day. The dinner was so popular that these Zetas plan to continue this tradition next year in San Diego. Finally, members sold 100 honor strawberries, enabling them to make a generous donation to the ZTA Foundation.

FLORIDA – A reception at the Delta Beta Chapter House at Florida Southern College in Lakeland kick-started A Zeta Sensation. Collegians participated in break-out sessions while alumnae had the option of taking a guided tour of the school’s Frank Lloyd Wright building or attending an alumnae workshop. Those who did not go on the tour created 70 handmade Valentines for distribution at the North Florida Veteran’s Hospital in Gainesville. The event also included ZTA Fraternity Housing Corporation President Nora Nell Hardy Jackson, herself a Florida resident, who gave an update on housing and expansion.

ILLINOIS / IOWA / WISCONSIN – The ZTA Chicago Area Federation hosted this tri-state Zeta Day of Peace, Love and Sisterhood. Attendees enjoyed a Feng Shui presentation before lunch. ZTA Foundation Vice President of Philanthropy Sherry Server Tilley served as the guest speaker, giving a motivating and enthusiastic tribute to sisterhood. Two Zetas received the Order of the Shield and seniors, honored with the Zeta Spans a Lifetime ceremony, received a small photo album that contained alumnae chapter contact information inside. Additionally, attendees contributed more than $5,000 for the ZTA Foundation.

INDIANA – Almost 375 Indiana Zetas braved a February snowstorm to meet at the Kokomo Country Club for ZTA: A Hoosier Treasure. Collegians served as White Violet escorts and attended a coffee reception for the White Violet recipients. Assigned seating at the sisterhood brunch ensured that both alumnae and collegians mingled. Chapter awards raised excitement during the day, as did the ZTA Treasure Hunt and scrapbook competitions. A “ZTA Treasure Chest” collected donations for the ZTA Foundation. The Zeta Spans a Lifetime ceremony reinforced sisterhood bonds through the years. Collegians received booklets that contained information about each alumnae chapter in the state, provided courtesy of the Ft. Wayne Alumnae Chapter. After the brunch, members participated in collegiate chapter reunions around the area, including one for those alumnae now living in-state who did not attend an Indiana school.

KANSAS / MISSOURI – On a beautiful April day, ZTA collegians and alumnae gathered in St. Louis for ZTA: Memories in the Making! The memories began as ZTA Extension Director Terri Dew Millsap presented greetings from National Council, followed by the fun tradition of roll call. District President Kathy Vogt Thuneman conducted the Order of the Shield service. Collegians and alumnae mingled during a special service project, as they stuffed and sewed more than 150 pillows destined for breast cancer patients at the Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis. Then, everyone learned how to preserve memories with creative scrapbooking techniques. After lunch, Mrs. Millsap shared her thoughts on the role sisterhood plays in our ZTA memories. To conclude the day, the Zeta Spans a Lifetime ceremony reminded sisters that Zeta Is Forever.

KENTUCKY – The ZTA Survivor theme immediately proved true as some alumnae had to brave an ice storm in Louisville to attend! “Setting up Base Camp,” “Getting to Know Your Tribe” and “Noon Rations” were clever titles on the agenda. The theme was also carried out in guest speaker Betsy John Jennings’ inspirational words of “Being a Survivor … It All Comes Down to Attitude.” After, the “Tribal Council” provided awards and recognition. Finally, instead of being “voted off the island,” everyone was encouraged to attend Kentucky’s 2004 Zeta Day event to be held in Lexington.

LOUISIANA – More than 300 women attended Zeta Day in New Orleans to eat, dance and laugh together, picnicking on a plantation in Franklin offered by ZTA alumna Tonya Marxsen Stiel. Alumnae selected junior Rita Carver, nominated by her chapter, as Zeta Lady based on her Fraternity involvement. Alumna Beverly Denton Choppin won the award for best Advisor for guiding Delta Kappa Chapter.

MARYLAND – Maryland Zeta Day took place at Hunt Valley’s Golf and Country Club in March. Just under 200 Zetas enjoyed a fabulous lunch provided under the theme of Strawberry Fields Forever. In addition to the traditional songfest competition, founding members of each collegiate chapter shared what it was like “way back when.” This exchange started with Iota Omega Chapter’s 1990 memories, and went all the way back to 1938 with a charter member of Gamma Beta describing recruitment, activities and how the sisterhood has remained a part of her life. Kim Caraway of the Leadership, Education and Development Committee addressed attendees about goal setting. Finally, these Zetas raised more than $750 with their gift basket raffle.

MICHIGAN – Plant and Grow Zeta Friendships served as this year’s event in East Lansing. During morning registration, attendees browsed a number of displays, including one for Race For the Cure®, as well as one for alumnae recruitment, where alumnae chapters had scrapbooks, brochures and members at-hand to informally mingle with collegians. Province President Kristen Humeston Harthorn presented a “Fraternity News” update, and District President Suzanne Strader Beadle gave a Major Donor presentation. After the awards, guest speaker Lucile Belen spoke about volunteerism. Throughout the afternoon, groups from all three collegiate chapters entertained the crowd with songs. To conclude the lovely day, Zetas performed the touching White Violet and Zeta Spans a Lifetime ceremonies, finishing with the singing of “Friends.”

NEBRASKA – The Grand Room in Lincoln provided the setting for Nebraska Zeta Day in April. Attendees included alumnae from across Nebraska as well as Gamma Mu Chapter collegians from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Traveling Leadership Consultant Courtney Cristiani, visiting Gamma Mu Chapter, served as a special guest. Seniors were recognized during the Zeta Spans a Lifetime ceremony.

NEW MEXICO – The theme of this March 1st event, Zeta, A Lifetime of Memories, was exemplified with “Saving Memories” in a scrapbooking demonstration at the Beta Nu Chapter House at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces; “Sharing Memories,” as seniors “willed” items and talents to their sisters; “Creating New Memories,” a workshop for graduating seniors and local alumnae; and in “TLC Memories,” as Beta Nu Mentor Betty Gilmore Woods gave a history of the TLC program in ZTA. Zeta Day Chairman Cherri Newsom Porter (Beta Nu) also shared her memories of traveling for ZTA. A letter was read from a current TLC and Beta Nu member Staci Musgrove. Finally, “50 Years of Memories” rounded out the theme as Wanda Parten Beeman and Carol Chittick Rogers received their Order of the Shield. Both were initiated at Beta Nu Chapter exactly 50 years earlier on March 1, 1953!

NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY – On a damp morning in April, more than 400 Zetas converged for a day that was Shore to Please, hosted by the Jersey Shore Alumnae Chapter. Between speeches and awards, attendees wore straw hats, batted beach balls and danced in Congo lines. A highlight of the day was the three Certificate of Merit recipients. To round out the festivities, members from the college chapters showed off their various talents with skits and songs.

OHIO – Cleveland served as the host city as Zeta Rocks the North Coast. On Friday night, attendees toured a new television station and watched a live evening newscast. Karaoke and a hospitality reception completed the evening. On Saturday, collegians presented skits between award presentations. Breakout sessions included options such as “ZTA Wedding Traditions,” and “Secrets of High Energy Women.” During lunch, a representative from the Province House spoke to the Zetas about helping at-risk and displaced mothers and abused children. As a statewide service project, all attendees brought teddy bears and children’s clothing for the facility. Graduating seniors participated in the Zeta Spans a Lifetime ceremony. Each received a special candle, list of alumnae chapters and a copy of the service. The seniors and the Order of the Shield recipients received heartfelt standing ovations. As always, these Zetas concluded the spirited day with their famous “O! H! I! O! Ooooo-hi-oh!” cheer!

OKLAHOMA – Oklahoma Zeta Day welcomed over 225 collegians and alumnae to their Sisterhood Safari in March at the Renaissance Hotel in Oklahoma City. Zeta sisters enjoyed honoring their White Violet recipients and collegiate seniors. Attendees also received a special presentation and learned a great deal about their state’s government from guest speaker, the Honorable Susan Winchester, a member of the state House of Representatives.

PENNSYLVANIA / WEST VIRGINIA – Attendees from 14 collegiate chapters attended this Zeta Day event in Monroeville, Pennsylvania! The fun began on Friday night with a pool party for the collegians, hosted by the Province Presidents. Alumnae and seniors enjoyed a reception compliments of the Steel City Alumnae Chapter. Saturday event highlights included games, skits, awards and ZTA educational trivia. Guest speaker Vice President Alumnae I Peggy Hannon Thornton was both inspirational and motivational as she encouraged attendees to make ZTA a part of their lives everyday.

SOUTH CAROLINA – With more than 900 ladies registered, the Koger Center for the Arts on the University of South Carolina campus in Columbia was a perfect venue to host this fun-filled event. Members from Beta Omicron Chapter welcomed attendees with a short dance routine, followed by roll call and the reading of National Council’s Zeta Day Greeting. Next came the coveted annual T-shirt contest, won by the Kappa Beta Chapter with the logo, “Got Breasts? … Check Them!” Two Order of the Shield recipients and other special alumnae served as judges for the contest. The day moved along quickly with awards, skits and the Zeta Spans a Lifetime ceremony. More awards and lots of wonderful “Chinese Auction” items donated by each alumnae and collegiate chapter in the state rounded out the festivities. After the box lunch, many guests toured the beautiful new Beta Omicron House at USC. To end the day, everyone left with a new ZTA license plate.

TENNESSEE – Jackson served as the host city as Beta Omega Chapter at Union University and Jackson Alumnae Chapter members made this Zeta Day spectacular. Playing off the Strawberry Jammin’ theme, events included lots of music, strawberries and, of course, sisterhood. Instead of having a more traditional event speaker, these sisters saluted the Big Sister/Little Sister relationship that is formed through time spent in ZTA. Collegiate representatives from Beta Omega Chapter were Natalie Reynolds and her Big Sis, Allison Lynn. Representing alumnae, Vicki Price Clark and Susan Hankla Durham proved through their friendship that Zeta really is forever. Still active in each other’s lives, Susan and Vicki shared with the group how they continue to strengthen the sisterhood bond that they began in college.

TEXAS – With almost 600 attendees, Zetas at Texas Zeta Day in Dallas – Stars and Stripes Forever in ZTA – once again proved that the bonds of sisterhood are strong! Chapter skits on Friday, an “All-American” picnic, hospitality receptions, a silent auction and additional Friday Fun Night activities encouraged collegiate/alumnae interaction. Saturday’s workshops and awards luncheon carried the excitement throughout the day. Workshop topics included “Success in Scholastic Achievement,” “How to Avoid being the Victim of a Violent Crime” and “How to Have a Successful Fundraiser.” Former Vice President Alumnae II Betty Coe Cruzen Manuel served as the keynote speaker. Zetas celebrated their lifelong bond as 19 women received White Violet pins. Continuing the event theme, attendees could purchase “stars and stripes” on which sisters could write messages, which were then used to create a giant flag. Proceeds from the sales went to the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation.

UTAH – Officer training and a pizza party/alumnae reception launched Setting the Standards at this Zeta Day in Salt Lake City. Chapter presentations, awards and the Order of the Shield service were among the activities in which the alumnae participated. A guest speaker reiterated the importance of “service to the world” and updated the women on service opportunities available in the Salt Lake City area. After a nice lunch, several alumnae spent the rest of the day shopping in nearby historic Gardner Village.

VIRGINIA – Northern Virginia alumnae hosted this Zeta Day on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax. More than 300 collegians and alumnae gathered to socialize, sing and receive awards under the theme of Red, White and Zeta Blue. A service project of making “medicine bags” to provide encouragement for cancer patients kicked-off the festivities. The bags were later donated to the oncology department at a local hospital. Special guest speakers included former Vice President Collegiate I Laurie Burnham Przybylski and Komen Washington, D.C. Race for the Cure® Survivor Chairman Rana Kahl. Topping an exciting day, these members donated more than $7,000 to the ZTA Foundation!

WASHINGTON – The Zeta Mystery Tour in Seattle brought together members in the Northwest. This event played off of the Seattle Alumnae Chapter’s planned monthly events, which featured themes from different countries. A highlight of Zeta Day was “ZTA – My Favorite Destination” from Vice President Alumnae II Laura Ladewig Mauro, who served as guest speaker. Graduating seniors were honored with a special service and flowers, as were those receiving their White Violet membership status. A unique feature of this event was the fact that almost a dozen mothers of Psi Chapter Zetas attended the festivities as well.