Zeta Days, Zeta Love

And the room filled with over 1,100 Zeta Tau Alpha collegiate and alumni chapter members shouted in unison, “Love, the greatest of all things!” The annual Zeta Days Leadership Conference gathered Texas ZTA members the weekend of February 21^st at the Westin Dallas Park Central. Our executive and program council members anxiously made their way up to Dallas with the anticipation of sisterhood bonding, within our own chapter and with those around the great state of Texas.

            To kick off Zeta Days on Friday night, all Zetas gathered for a pajama party and runway show extravaganza. From lip-syncing acts to continuous laughter, it was your typical Zeta girl’s night focused on Texas-wide sisterhood. In addition, the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation presented Collegiate Chapter Awards, including Chapters of the Year, Zeta Ladies, and recognized the Best Sisterhood and Best Philanthropy projects in Texas. Our Kappa chapter was awarded the “Outstanding Philanthropy Event” for the Z-Factor! What a fantastic way to begin the weekend.

The Zeta love and excitement continued on Saturday, beginning with more chapter awards and alumni recognition. Our Kappa chapter was presented with the “Texas Rituals Award,” which we were honored to receive. We were also pleased to meet one Zeta alumni who has attended over 30 Zeta Days – now that is Zeta love! Later in the day, we were inspired to take excellence back to our chapter after hearing from our Texas ZTA sisters and other guest speakers. One speech in particular sincerely caught the attention of many of our ZTA sisters: Ms. Tara Storch shared the story behind her family’s organization, Taylor’s Gift Foundation. The Storch family tragically lost their thirteen-year-old daughter, Taylor, in a skiing accident in 2010. Honoring Taylor’s memory and legacy, however, Tara and Todd Storch started Taylor’s Gift Foundation to encourage others to “outlive yourself” and consider organ donation. Taylor herself has saved five people through organ donation, while every ZTA sister has the potential to do the same. As we state in the Zeta Tau Alpha Creed, we must “think in terms of all mankind and our service in the world.” Each speaker left us with something to think about as Zeta Days came to a close and we made our way back to The University of Texas at Austin that evening.

Reflecting on my first Zeta Days Leadership Conference, I am touched to know that Zeta Tau Alpha is a true sisterhood among active and alumni chapter members alike. In fact, I was able to share this special experience with my own mother, an alumni member of the Kappa chapter! Looking around the ballroom to see each and every woman wearing the ZTA pin was a simple reminder that we are all sisters for life. Zeta Days is a true representation of Zeta love.




PC'14 Jackie Robillard