ZETA TAU ALPHA FRED (FRATERNITY EDUCATION )
The State of ZTA
MARCH 2006:
ZTA
“GREAT LAKES SISTERHOOD”
WISCONSIN
AND
MICHIGAN
Note: Information regarding chapter histories is provided from The History of Zeta Tau Alpha
by Shirley Kreasan Strout, 1956 Edition, and its supplements.
WISCONSIN:
STATE FUN FACTS:
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Nickname – Badger State
Capital – Madison
Largest City – Milwaukee
Tourist Attractions – Because of its strong German heritage,
Wisconsin is home to traditional German Oktoberfests. Wisconsin
boasts the best cheese in the United States, thus giving the state
the honor of being the nation’s Cheese Capital. Harley-Davidson
headquarters is in Milwaukee, and, if you like the circus, you’ll
love Baraboo, Wisc.,where the Circus World Museum pays
homage to this one-time home of the Ringling Brothers circus.
ΚΛ
Kappa Lambda
Sisters Crossing
University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
ZTA Link #225
Installed: November 22, 1997
Area III; Province XV-A
FOUNDING HISTORY:
Sisterhood
Ahead
Kappa Lambda Chapter had its beginnings with two local groups: Kappa Zeta Pi and Zeta Tau Epsilon. These
two local sororities merged in the fall of 1996 and created Kappa Zeta Tau. After a successful extension visit
by Extension Director Alice McCann Mathews and Vice-President Alumnae II Jan Spradley McCarthy, Kappa
Zeta Tau became a colony of Zeta Tau Alpha in April 1997. Installation festivities were held on campus Nov.
21-23, 1997, with the help of National Officers and Traveling Leadership Consultants. Following the
Installation Ceremony, conducted by Alice McCann Mathews and Vice President Alumnae I Julia Marthaler
Hill, the new chapter celebrated with a banquet and dance at the Pioneer Inn and Marina Ballroom in Oshkosh.
The evening concluded when everyone sang “The Call.” The chapter hosted a reception the following day in
Reeve Memorial Union on campus.
KAPPA LAMBDA CHAPTER TODAY:
STOP
for ZTA
Kappa Lambda Chapter is full of FRED fun, from Zeta facts at the Miss Zeta Pageant, to reviews of the Greek
alphabet, to learning about other chapters through their Web sites. During the 2005-06 women’s basketball
season, ZTA at UW-Oshkosh partnered with the basketball team to raise money for breast cancer education and
awareness. Zetas handed out pink ribbons at games, and donors pledged money for each successful free throw.
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MICHIGAN:
STATE FUN FACTS:
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Sisters Crossing
Nickname – Great Lakes State
Capital – Lansing
Largest City – Detroit
Tourist Attractions – Detroit, Mich., is home to the Motown
Historical Museum, where the likes of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross
and the Jackson 5 first recorded. The city is also known for its
world-class automobile industry. If backpacking and camping are
your passions, Michigan has much to offer, with scenic spots such
as Traverse City, home of the annual National Cherry Festival.
For history buffs, Mackinac Island (pronounced mack-i-NAW by the locals) offers a trip back in
time, complete with Victorian homes, museums and carriage rides. (Cars are prohibited on the
island.) In fact, Mackinac Island was the site of the 16th Zeta Tau Alpha Convention in 1939.
ΒΦ
Beta Phi
ZTA
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
ZTA Link #70
Installed: October 17, 1931
Area III; Province XIII-A
FOUNDING HISTORY:
In the January 1932 issue of Themis, Beta Phi was announced as the 70th link in Zeta Tau Alpha’s Chain of
Chapters. Beta Phi had its beginnings in The Sesame Literary Society, a local organization that had been
chartered 22 years earlier in 1911. The group focused on academic excellence and presented “clever literary
programs” for faculty receptions. When national Greek organizations were permitted on campus in 1922, The
Sesames petitioned Zeta Tau Alpha. After an inspection in March, ZTA accepted the group in May and planned
for a fall installation. The three-day Beta Phi installation celebration began on ZTA's 33rd birthday with the
Founders' Day Service. Initiation and installation followed over the next two days. The opening program of the
Installation Banquet was appropriately titled “Open Sesame,” and the 75 Zetas present sat at banquet tables
arranged in the shape of a “Z.” Thus, Beta Phi became the ninth national group on campus and the third ZTA
chapter in the state of Michigan.
BETA PHI CHAPTER TODAY:
Beta Phi Chapter participates in many campus service programs, such as Courage Night, carnival, Safe
Halloween, and St. Jude Up till Dawn. At the Scholastic Dinner, the chapter recognizes members who have
made the Dean’s List.
ΓΟ
Gamma Omicron
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI
ZTA Link #88
Installed: May 26, 1951
Area III; Province XIII-A
FOUNDING HISTORY:
With hopes of one day becoming a national organization, the local group Phi Delta Eta was founded on Oct.
15, 1940, with its purpose being “to emphasize both the social and cultural aspects of college life.” Thirty-one
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young women pledged on April 14 and 15, 1951, and the local group became part of Zeta Tau Alpha. Beta Phi
and Beta Tau Chapters assisted with the Initiation on May 19 and 20 that same year, and the new chapter was
formally installed May 26, in St. John’s Episcopal Parish House. At the White Violet Installation Banquet that
evening, the new chapter received a pair of silver candlesticks, a silver tray, matching candy and nut dishes,
and a silver tea and coffee service. Gamma Omicron Chapter was the fourth ZTA chapter in Michigan.
GAMMA OMICRON CHAPTER TODAY:
Gamma Omicron keeps its members very busy throughout the year, not only with campus and Greek events,
but with unique chapter programs. For example, they conduct scrap-booking sisterhood events, Secret Sisters
gift-giving, and candle and jewelry parties. Standards programs include “How to Jump-Start a Car and Change
a Flat Tire,” and a fashion show of appropriate ritual attire. The chapter also recognizes outstanding members
with Senior Spotlights, a Zeta Athletics Player of the Week, and good-grade announcements at every chapter
meeting.
ΖΩ
Zeta Omega
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI
ZTA Link #145
Installed: April 25, 1970
Area III; Province XIII-A
FOUNDING HISTORY:
ZTA
Because they could not imagine being a part of any of the established campus groups, 12 young women
formed the local sorority Alpha Theta Chi in the spring of 1968. They kept in touch by letters over the
summer, and Cynthia Harris, the group’s first President, drafted a constitution. That fall, the campus
Panhellenic Council approved Alpha Theta Chi, and, in May 1969, the local group petitioned Zeta Tau Alpha
to become a ZTA chapter. Zeta Tau Alpha and Alpha Theta Chi found their goals to be quite similar, so the
local group became a ZTA colony. On Sept. 28, 1969, 14 women pledged the newly formed ZTA colony,
followed by an additional 18 women. Formal Installation occurred on April 25, 1970, in the Fellowship
Christian Reformed Church chapel. That evening’s Installation Banquet was held at the Brown Bungalow
Dining Room in Grand Rapids, and concluded with the new chapter singing “The Call.” A formal reception
was held the following day.
ZETA OMEGA CHAPTER TODAY:
Zeta Omega has activities that include lasagna CROWN events, pumpkin carving, and movie and board game
nights. The Mystifying Picture, the Strawberry Story, and the Creed game are among some of their FRED
programs. This chapter dedicates one of its Standards Programs to ZTA Election Guidelines.
FRED FUN FACTS:
Have you ever been confused about what to call your ZTA sisters who have graduated? Because we are all
ladies, each of us is an alumna and together we are alumnae. The word comes from Latin, and if you’ve ever
studied this difficult language, you know that it distinguishes between masculine and feminine nouns. The
masculine forms are alumnus and alumni. Follow these guidelines to make referring to your sisters a whole lot
easier:
Sisterhood
Ahead
STOP
for ZTA
Alumnus—Masculine, singular. One male graduate.
John is an alumnus of Sigma Chi Fraternity.
Alumni—Masculine, plural. Also used when referring to a mixed group of male and female graduates.
Pronounced alum-nye.
Many Central Michigan University alumni attend homecoming each year.
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Alumna—Feminine, singular. One female graduate.
Lindsey is an alumna of Zeta Tau Alpha.
Alumnae—Feminine, plural. Used when referring to multiple female graduates.
Pronounced alum-nee or alum-nye.
The alumnae of Mount Holyoke go on to distinguished careers.
FUN FACTS QUIZ:
For a quick and informative FRED program, make a poster or handouts illustrating the forms of alumnus listed
above. After explaining the correct usage and pronunciation of each term, give chapter members a pop quiz.
Give FRED prizes to the first member to complete the quiz correctly, or to all members who complete the quiz
correctly. To quiz the chapter as a group, write the questions on a poster board and call on members to answer
each question. Give prizes for this strategy, too.
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate alumnus forms.
ZTA
Sisters Crossing
Sisterhood
Ahead
1.
My father is an __________ of Michigan State University.
2.
However, my mother is an __________ of the Central Michigan University.
3.
When I graduate from college, I can’t wait to join my local Zeta Tau Alpha _______ chapter.
4.
As a young __________ of Zeta Tau Alpha, I will want to start giving back to the organization that made
my college life complete.
5.
Emily is an __________ of Ferris State University and is still very active on campus with her job in the
office of Student Life.
6.
My brother is an __________ of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity at the University of Michigan.
7.
The __________ of several fraternities serve as advisors to their collegiate chapters.
8.
Zeta Tau Alpha honors its many dedicated __________ with Honor Rings.
9.
The __________ Association of the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh challenged the new rule.
10. My Zeta Tau Alpha chapter General Advisor is an __________ of the Fraternity.
Answers
1. alumnus
2. alumna
3.
4.
alumnae
alumna
5.
6.
alumna
alumnus
7.
8.
alumni
alumnae
9. alumni
10. alumna
DESTINATION UNKNOWN:
Next time, we’ll head out west to the land of 10-gallon hats, tumbleweeds, cowboys and oil rigs. This state is
not only home to our nation’s president, but it is also home to 15 Zeta Tau Alpha chapters. Can you guess
where FRED will take you next?
STOP
for ZTA
What fun and interesting FRED activities does your chapter participate in? Let us know so we can share them
with ZTA chapters across the country. E-mail your ideas and suggestions to FRED Chairman Andrea Porter at
[email protected] under the subject heading “FRED.”
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