Zeta Tau Alpha reactivated Zeta Omicron Chapter, the 136th link in our Chain of Chapters, on Saturday, Nov. 12, at Arkansas State University.
To begin the weekend festivities, the colony’s 83 new members were initiated on Friday evening, Nov. 9, at the First Christian Church in Jonesboro, Ark. Teams from ZTA’s Delta Mu (The University of Tennessee at Martin), Theta Theta (Arkansas Tech University) and Iota Xi (Christian Brothers University) chapters conducted the services. The following morning, Zeta Omicron Chapter president Allyson Freeman was initiated before ZTA National President Keeley McDonald Riddle and Extension Director Marlene Dunbar Conrad conducted the Reactivation Service and Installation of Chapter Officers. Saturday rituals were also held at the First Christian Church and open to all initiated Zeta Tau Alphas
A Celebratory Luncheon was held Saturday afternoon for new members, family, friends, alumnae and university guests gathered at the Reng Student Union on the ASU campus. Zeta Omicron alumna Lisa Sitzer Golden served as the celebration chairman while Mrs. Conrad was toastmistress of the event. ASU Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Rick Stripling was also on hand to provide welcome remarks from the university. Prior to lunch, Traveling Leadership Consultant SuZanne Kelley gave the invocation, and Zeta Omicron Chapter Music Chairman Jade Caldwell led guests in singing the “Zeta Prayer.”
Following lunch, Director of New Chapters Brittany Lee and Allyson addressed the audience. In her keynote address, Mrs. Riddle reminded attendees of a member’s lifelong commitment to the Fraternity and the significance of a chapter reactivation.
“Whether we have been initiated for less than 24 hours or more than 24 years, we will always remember the joy of joining something so much bigger than ourselves,” Mrs. Riddle said. “That joy is perhaps even greater for members like those in this room whose initiation marks the rebirth of a link in our Chain of Chapters. It is a unique honor and a special joy that binds you to the other 83 women of Zeta Omicron.” Per Zeta Tau Alpha tradition, Province President XVIII-A Nicki Thompson and District President XVIII-A Patsy Kane presented gifts from nearby collegiate and alumnae chapters. Mrs. Conrad and Mrs. Riddle presented the chapter with a silver tray and punch bowl from the Fraternity while TLCs SuZanne and Alyssa Sterioti gifted Zeta Omicron with the traditional silver baby cup, symbolic of ZTA’s newest Chapter. DNCH Brittany also presented Allyson with the president’s gavel.
Other gifts included an engraved silver tray from the chapter’s advisors and commemorative brick from Zeta Omicron Chapter alumnae Nona Douglass Richey and Jane Stuart Meadows.
Mrs. Riddle and Mrs. Conrad also presented the university with a $1,000 donation from the ZTA Foundation to ASU’s scholarship fund in honor or the reactivation.