Collin County Zeta Tau Alpha alumnae gathered recently for a “Sip and See” to celebrate receiving the Nan Barkley Boettcher Award at ZTA Convention 2018. Named after a former ZTA National President and Vice President Alumnae, this is the highest award ZTA gives to an alumnae chapter with no local collegiate chapter in its area. "The Nan Barkley Boettcher Award recognizes an alumnae chapter that excels in programming, philanthropy, service, membership growth and retention, charitable fundraising, and more,” said Stacy LaRue Gannon, ZTA District President XI-A. “The Collin County Alumnae Chapter definitely excels at all of these. They do so much while having fun doing it, making it no surprise that they would be honored with one of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity’s highest awards!"
ZTA Convention is an event where alumnae and collegians come together each biennium to conduct Fraternity business and strengthen the bonds of sisterhood. Close to 1,000 members attended this convention in Orlando, Florida. "It was very humbling to receive this award for just doing the things that we love to do - serving our community, our local Panhellenic groups, and our own Zeta sisters,” said Diane Goebel, chapter president from 2015-2018. This organization also received the Alumnae Crown Chapter Award for attaining the standard chapter excellence throughout the biennium.
The Collin County Alumnae Chapter works with collegiate chapters at several Texas universities, other ZTA alumnae chapters, and three area Panhellenic groups to support each other’s programming and philanthropy efforts. Each year Collin County Zetas fund a ZTA Foundation undergraduate scholarship. In addition to hosting engaging member social events, the chapter also promotes ZTA’s breast cancer awareness and education philanthropy by distributing Think Pink® ribbons at local high school football games and by volunteering at the American Cancer Society® Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. This group also holds an annual bra drive benefitting Hope’s Door New Beginning Center.
“It was so rewarding to hear all of our chapter’s hard work get recognized with this amazing award!” said 2018-2019 chapter president, Linda Schoelkopf. “We are looking forward to building on that success and engaging more great Zeta women in service, camaraderie, and giving back to our Fraternity.”
The Collin County Alumnae Chapter will hold its fall kickoff on September 5, at 6:00 p.m. at Napoli’s Italian Restaurant at 2865 McDermott, Plano, TX 75025. The chapter invites all ZTA alumnae to attend. To RSVP, send an email to CollinCountyZetas@gmail.com.
Zeta Tau Alpha fraternity for women was founded in 1898, and has 257,000 members worldwide. The Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation funds scholarships, educational and leadership development programming, and encourages everyone to Think Pink® with breast cancer education and awareness efforts, including partnerships with Bright Pink®, the NFL®, and the American Cancer Society®. For more information, visit collincounty.zetataualpha.org and zetataualpha.org.