Citizendia
Your Ad Here

Zeta Tau Alpha
(ΖΤΑ)
Image:ZetaTauAlphaCrest.jpg
Founded October 15, 1898 (1898-10-15) (age 109)
Longwood University (Farmville, Virginia)
Type Social
Motto Seek the Noblest
Colors Turquoise and Steel Gray
Symbol Five-pointed Crown, Strawberry
Flower White Violet
Publication Themis
Philanthropy Breast Cancer Education and Awareness
Chapters 146 active collegiate chapters and 260 alumnae chapters
Members 191,000+ currently
lifetime
Headquarters 3450 Founders Road
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Homepage http://www.zetataualpha.org

Zeta Tau Alpha (ΖΤΑ) is a women's fraternity, founded October 15, 1898 at what used to be State Female Normal School but is now known as Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Year 1898 ( MDCCCXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Longwood University is a four-year public liberal-arts University located in Farmville Virginia. Farmville is a town in Cumberland and Prince Edward counties in the U Turquoise is a slightly greenish shade of Cyan. The color is based on the gem Turquoise. A crown is the traditional Symbolic form of Headgear worn by a Monarch or by a Deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power Garden strawberries are a common variety of strawberry cultivated worldwide Viola, commonly called Violets, is a Genus of Flowering plants in the family Violaceae, with around 400-500 species distributed The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Fraternities and sororities (from the Latin words la frater and la soror, meaning "brother" and "sister" respectively are fraternal Longwood University is a four-year public liberal-arts University located in Farmville Virginia. Farmville is a town in Cumberland and Prince Edward counties in the U The Executive office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Zeta Tau Alpha is the third largest National Panhellenic Group with over 187,000 initiated members and 237 chapters. Members History Early histories of women's fraternities contain accounts of "rushing and pledging agreements" or "compacts" among fraternities

Contents

History

Zeta Tau Alpha was founded by nine young women: Maud Jones Horner (Died August 20, 1920), Della Lewis Hundley (Died July 12, 1951), Alice Bland Coleman (Died June 11, 1956), Mary Jones Batte (Died December 3, 1957), Alice Grey Welsh (Died June 21, 1960), Ethel Coleman Van Name (Died January 24, 1964), Helen M. Crafford (Died September 17, 1964), Frances Yancey Smith (Died April 23, 1977), Ruby Leigh Orgain (Died October 22, 1984)

Only 14-15 years of age, these young women desired permanence to their friendships and hoped to perpetuate their sisterhood long after college. Though dedicated to the formation of a Greek-letter group, the band of nine delayed selecting a formal name. A temporary name of “???” was taken when, as legend has it, a member of another group met with the Founders. Raising her eyebrows and forming her fingers in the shape of a question mark, she asked “Who are you?” In unison, the group answered “Yes, Who? Who? Who?” Thus, the group came to be known as “???” while they sought an appropriate Greek name and symbols. During this time, the group received valuable assistance from two of the members’ brothers -- Maud’s brother, Plummer Jones ( A member of Kappa Alpha Order), and Frances Yancey Smith’s brother Giles Mebane Smith. Both were students at the college of William and Mary, members of men’s Greek-letter organizations and knowledgeable of Greek lore. After a year of careful contemplation, the group chose the formal name, the patron goddess and the badge.

Symbols

The Founders chose Themis to represent the Fraternity. Themis is, in Greek mythology, one of the Titans, daughter of Gaea (Earth) and Uranus (Heaven), and the mother of the three Fates and the Seasons. The goddess of divine justice and law, Themis was the constant companion of the god Zeus and sat beside him on Olympus. In ancient art she is represented holding aloft a pair of scales on which she weighs the claims of opposing parties, while blindfolded.

In the late 1800s, the brother of one of ZTA’s Founders, Mary Campbell Jones (Batte), sent her a gift of strawberries. The scrumptious present prompted the group of nine friends to host their first purely social gathering and to become officially recognized as a campus organization. The strawberry continues to be a ZTA symbol of friendship.

The five-pointed Crown is an official symbol of the Fraternity. The significance of the five points is revealed to each member upon her Initiation. Many examples of crown artwork can be found within ZTA, and all are acceptable as long as the crown contains exactly five points.

The flower of the Fraternity, chosen by Founder Ruby Leigh Orgain, is the white violet. Its symbolic meaning is explained in the Initiation Service.

The Creed of Zeta Tau Alpha

To realize that within our grasp, in Zeta Tau Alpha, lies the opportunity to learn those things which will ever enrich and ennoble our lives; to be true to ourselves and to those within and without our circle; to think in terms of all mankind and our service to the world; to be steadfast, strong, and clean of heart and mind, remembering that since the thought is father to the deed, only that which we would have manifested in our experience should be entertained in thought; to find satisfaction in being, rather than seeming, thus strengthening in us the higher qualities of the spirit; to prepare for service and learn the nobility of serving, thereby earning the right to be served; to seek understanding that we might gain true wisdom; to look for the good in everyone; to see beauty, with its enriching influence; to be humble in success, and without bitterness in defeat; to have the welfare and harmony of the Fraternity at heart, striving ever to make our lives a symphony of high ideals, devotion to the right, the good, and the true, without a discordant note; remembering always that the foundation precept of Zeta Tau Alpha was Love, "the greatest of all things. ” -- Shirley Kreasan Strout

Defining Purpose

The purpose of Zeta Tau Alpha is to intensify friendship, promote happiness among its members, to perform such deeds, and to mold such opinions as will conduce to the building up of a purer and nobler womanhood in the world.

Philanthropy

Zeta Tau Alpha's National Philanthropy is Breast Cancer Education, Research, and Awareness.

In 1992, Zeta Tau Alpha adopted Susan G. Komen for the Cure as its national philanthropy. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Susan G Komen for the Cure, formerly known as The Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, is an organization supporting Breast cancer research In addition to Zeta's focus on the Komen, the fraternity also supports other educational means dedicated to fighting breast cancer through education, awareness and promoting breast health. Alumnae and collegiate chapters devote their service to Komen Race for the Cure, Courage Night, THINK-PINK!, Yoplait, and other local philanthropies that support the cause. The Susan G Komen Race for the Cure is a series of 5K runs/fitness walks that raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against Breast cancer, celebrates breast

In the fall of 1999, the Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha developed a new community service project based on the already successful THINK-PINK! campaign by getting involved with their local NFL team, the Washington Redskins. At the first Redskins home game in October, ZTA collegians and alumnae from the metropolitan Washington D. C. area joined together to distribute 8,000 THINK-PINK! ribbons to fans, stadium employees and even the team owner. In the year 2000, ZTA expanded the program with NFL events in Indianapolis, Miami, New York and again at Washington D. C. , distributing over 85,000 ribbons. In 2001, the association with the NFL spread tripled to 12 teams with support from the general office of the NFL and the ZTA Foundation. That year, new ribbon-stickers were introduced. The program continued in 2002 in nine NFL cities and with one NBA team. To date, ZTA chapters have worked with more than a dozen teams to participate in the ZTA THINK-PINK! campaign, reaching more than 500,000 football fans across the country. In 2006, ZTA and the NFL began selling black hats with the teams logo in Pink with a pink breast cancer ribbon on the side of the hats. For the future, this program promises to continue its growth in spreading awareness.

Notable members

Chapters

Main article: List of Zeta Tau Alpha chapters

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Famous Zeta Members. This is a List of Zeta Tau Alpha chapters. Chapters United States Alumnae United States Zeta Tau Alpha. Retrieved on 2007-08-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan
  2. ^ Busby, Renee (March 22, 2005). Events 238 - Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 'Gastineau Girls' features ex-University of Alabama student. The Mobile Register. Retrieved on 2007-08-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan
  3. ^ Gross, Dan (April 5, 2007). Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. 2nd Bucks Ms. a Miss. Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved on 2007-08-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan

External links

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic