Building on the Principles of Zeta While Blazing New Paths: The State of Georgia 2013 Leadership Conference

The 2013 State of Georgia Leadership Conference was held March 1-3, 2013 at the Crowne Plaza Perimeter at Ravinia in Atlanta, Georgia. More than 300 attendees gathered for a weekend of information, education and fellowship.

Dignitaries in attendance included national officers International President Mary Breaux Wright; 20^th International President Dr. Jylla Moore Tearte; National First Vice President Scarlet H. Black; Southeastern Regional Director Dr. Felicia Scott-Strickland; and National Graduate Member at Large Patricia Jones. Also attending were a host of National, Regional and State Elected and Appointed Officers.

The theme of the weekend focused on Organizational Management. Workshops included Managing Chapter Expectations; Managing Your Personal and Professional Brand; Managing Chapter Finances and Managing Chapter/Auxiliary Programming. In addition, an auxiliary management workshop was held for the Amicae.

Zetas and Amicae, including International President Mary Breaux Wright, warm up for Zumba with the Seniors as part of the State of Georgia's service project during the 2013 Leadership Conference.

State Director Shaneesa Ashford inducts Soror Debra Booker of Chi Pi Zeta Chapter into the State of Georgia Hall of Fame.

The State also focused on President Wright’s Elder Care initiative by hosting a service project at the Northside Shepard Senior Center and through monetary and item donations for Meals on Wheels Atlanta. Chapters and auxiliaries across the state donated more than $1,000 and 350 items.

In addition, the State honored chapters and members for their hard work and dedication, and elected new officers to the board. Congratulations to the following Sorors and chapters for their outstanding efforts:

Hall of Fame Inductees

Soror Debra Booker – Chi Pi Zeta Chapter, Hinesville

Dr. Robbie Latimore – Omicron Alpha Zeta, Americus

Chapters of the Year

Epsilon Xi – Georgia Southern University

Chi Pi Zeta – Hinesville

Psi Rho Zeta – Forsyth

Kappa Iota Zeta – Atlanta

Top Z-HOPE Chapters

Kappa Iota Zeta – Atlanta

Sigma Mu Zeta – Stone Mountain

Chi Pi Zeta – Hinesville

Mu Mu – Georgia Southwestern State University

Omicron Nu – University of West Georgia

Top Z-HOPE Auxiliary

Amicae of Cuthbert

Top March of Dimes Fundraising Chapter

Kappa Iota Zeta – Atlanta

Top March of Dimes Fundraiser

Soror Lois McKellar, Kappa Iota Zeta Chapter

Undergraduate Advisor of the Year

Soror Tjazha Mahani

Advisor to Beta Iota Chapter, Spelman College

Highest Individual GPA

Soror Christina Cross

Alpha Tau Chapter, Emory University

Highest Chapter GPA

Beta Iota Chapter, Spelman College

Undergraduate Program of the Year

Z.A.D. (Zetas Against Drugs)

Sigma Rho Chapter, Augusta State University

Elected Officers

Assistant Secretary – Soror Tammy Parker

Financial Secretary – Soror Shirley Howard

Parliamentarian – Soror Vicki Pearson

Newsletter Editor – Soror Deborah Ayoade

Chi Pi Zeta Celebrates Founders' Day in a Big Way

Founders' Day Celebration in Savannah, GA

Chi Pi Zeta and Sigma Brothers joined by the Delta Sigma Theta - Hinesville Alumni Chapter at Baconton Missionary Baptist Church as we fellowship for Founders’ Day church service.

Members of Chi Pi Zeta join to pack goodie bags for the MLK Jr. parade on Monday, January 21st. In efforts to promote our health initiative we provided some healthier choices this year to show our youth some alternatives to candy actually tastes good.

ZOL - Save the Date!

Theta Chi Zeta Chapter's Founders’ Day Celebration

Theta Chi Zeta Chapter of Thomasville, Georgia celebrated its Founder's Day on Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 3 p.m. at St. Luke C.M.E. Church located at 305 Chatham Dr. in Thomasville, Georgia.

Soror Shaneesa N. Ashford, our State Director, was the distinguished speaker. The program opened with the audience singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing". Our chapter presented a plaque to the Family of the Year, The Rev. & Mrs. Anthony Q. Choice Family; Youth of the Year, Alexus Shalice Bazen; and Zeta of the Year, Rev. Soror J. Renee Holton, followed by the melody of Greek hymns played by Ms. Valerie A. Holton. 

Several surrounding Zeta chapters were in attendance - Tallahassee, Valdosta, Albany, and Camilla, as well as, Zeta Amicae, Zeta Doves, and other Greeks. A delicious repast was served afterwards.

Epsilon Xi Chapter Mixes it Up for Founders Day

Founders' Day is one that is very special to all members of our organization. Not only do we celebrate the foundation of our organization but we can chose to give host events, give back to the community plus many other options.

The Epsilon Xi Chapter (Georgia Southern University) chose to do a mix of it all. Early during the day of our chapter purchased a cake and gave pieces of it out to the campus to increase our image and to actually give them a small token of appreciation for supporting us. Directly following that event, we collaborated with the local Marine Recruiting Station to host a health focused Z-HOPE entitled "Health is not a choice ... But a Lifestyle." which focused on physical fitness.  Later on that night we gathered at a local steakhouse to have dinner with a couple members from our graduate chapter Iota Iota Zeta.

While this may seem like a lot, no task is too much for a Finer Woman and as women of this illustrious organization we hold that along with all of our principles near and dear to our hearts. With the passing of this day lets all continue to set the standard and blaze new paths not only in Zeta but our respective communities.

Submitted by Soror Khourtnei Ogburn

Kappa Iota Zeta Celebrated Founders' Day 2013 in a Major Way!

We started by having our Annual Chapter Retreat at Hotel Indigo on Saturday, January 12, 2013 in downtown College Park. Hotel Indigo is a new hotel in downtown College Park, which is in an area that we service. What better way to welcome a new establishment in our neighborhood than to welcome them in true Zeta style! Our retreat was a stay-cation allowing Sorors the option to stay overnight or to stay during the day activities. To celebrate our Founders' Day, we played trivia games about our illustrious organization and participated in a Founders' Day gift exchange. We also included fun sisterly bonding activities throughout the afternoon that trickled into the evening. We concluded with a wonderful breakfast in the restaurant on a gorgeous Sunday morning!

On Founders' Day, we started our day with service with our Z-HOPE Women partner, Gilgal, Inc.  Gilgal, Inc is a Christian based Women's Drug and Alcohol Recovery center in East Point. This facility is owned by a Soror and we have partnered with her since 2011. This year we were asked to donate paper products and we delivered on our commitment! We donated over $150 in paper products which is equal to over a month of useful items! Gilgal, Inc was very appreciative of our efforts, especially on Founders' Day. We spent the rest of our day celebrating with our undergraduates at Clark Atlanta University, Psi Chapter. Psi Chapter hosted a wonderful Founders' Day mixer in the CAU Art Gallery. This mixer was in conjunction with our brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc, Psi Chapter at Clark Atlanta University.  This was a wonderful end to an amazing celebration of 93 years of our principles at work!

Submitted by LaNise Ollarvia

Tau Omicron Zeta Founders' Day Celebration

Left to right;  Tina Washington, Lakeya Stewart, Vanessa Singleton, Terri Wakefield-Key, Dr. Deborah Austin, Shirley Howard and Lynda Dukes

The Sorors of TOZ celebrated its Founders' Day on January 19, 2013 with some very special supporters of the chapter and by awarding its Zeta of the Year Award.  The special supporters are the spouses of some of the Sorors present.  These gentlemen are always ready and willing to help us in our endeavors.  Soror Deborah Austin, the Founders' Day Chair, planned a lovely program where each Soror played a part, from introductions to a brief history of our beloved sorority and acknowledging our “Five Pearls.”

After a delicious lunch the chapter’s Zeta of the Year Award was presented to our own Dr. Deborah W. Austin (Georgia Hall of Fame Honoree) and charter member of TOZ by our Basileus Soror Terri Wakefield-Key.

 

Submitted by Soror Shirley Howard