The Alumni of Delta Zeta Tau...

Tap 90

2009-11-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

Courtney Clemmons
Gerica Davis
Shannon Dawson
Jessica Figurido
Leah Gilbert
Heather Poe

Gentlemen

Ryan Foster - Upsilon Xi
Matthew Keyt - Upsilon Xi
Adam Maroquin - Pi Kappa Pi

Homecoming (pictures to come soon)

2009-11-09T07:10:00.001-08:00

If you missed DZT's 45th Anniversary Celebration at Homecoming, you missed out!

Here are a few highlights (and as indicated, pictures will be posted soon)!

Angeline McMullin and the club shared a video of their trip to the Phillipines. (I'm pretty sure there wasn't a dry eye in the house!)
"The Armpits" entertained us with their rendition of "Sweat & Perspiration", and a Christmas song.
Introduction of first decade alumni at Homecoming... some incredibly talented women (and men)!
2009 Alumnus of the Year, Melissa Ray Keyt.
DZT beat Sigma at the alumni flag football game.
Those in attendance were also given some information about the young women's conference schedule for February 2010. More information will be posted soon!
If you did not pay your 2009-2010 DZTAA dues, it's not too late! Dues are $25 and you can send a check to: Anita Ray, Lee University Alumni Relations, P. O. Box 3450, Cleveland, TN 37320-3450. (Please remember to mark them for DZTAA dues.)
There are still t-shirts available for purchase, both 2009 Harvest Hoedown short-sleeved t-shirts for $10, and long-sleeved Homecoming T-shirts for $20.

a few details for Homecoming

2009-11-04T06:56:00.001-08:00

If you've not notified DZT that you are going to attend the 45th Anniversary Homecoming Festivities, please do so today. You can email aray@leeuniversity.edu.

The cost for the breakfast is $10.00. Breakfast is being catered (hence the reason we need to know you're coming!).

Long-sleeve t-shirts are available for purchase. They are $20.00.

Homecoming is a great time to become a part of the DZTAA or renew your membership... for $25.00!

You don't want to miss what's going on this year! See you this weekend!!

Why I (still) Love DZT

2009-10-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

When Jenn asked me to write this post over a month ago, I seriously doubt she expected me to procrastinate for as long as I have. The reason behind my procrastination is simple. Okay, not really simples as it involves a long list of all that has happened in the last month to pull my attention away from this assignment, but it also includes this simple fact: I couldn't figure out what I wanted to say.

The idea of writing a blog post about Delta Zeta Tau and what my time in that clubs means to me today was originally very attractive. I loved my time at Lee, and being a member of DZT was the best part of it. I was active in DZT from the spring semester of 1995 until I graduated in 1998. I held several offices and made every effort to be involved in any way I could. However, when I sat down and attempted to explain exactly what the club means to me today, I had a very difficult time.

Allow me to explain. You see, as I would imagine is the case for many of us, DZT doesn't really have much to do with everyday life. I'm fairly certain that DZT didn't reach me any tips on how to successfully fight the potty training wars (and if they did, I must have missed it because my son is totally winning this battle). Nor did my time in DZT prepare me for the bittersweet moment when I left my daughter at her kindergarten class for the first time this year. And I'm pretty sure that being a member of the best female club on campus was no preparation for the endless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that I make (in fact, after induction, it's a miracle I can stomach peanut butter at all). Furthermore, on a completely superficial level, my time in DZT hasn't even affected my wardrobe decisions. Indeed, I am sad to report that the number of red clothing items in my closet can very neatly be counted on the fingers of one hand. Yes. Just one hand.

I did manage to locate my old jersey, but alas, the late 90's fashion trends which dictated buying an extra large shirt only to cut off the bottom half of it with a a pair of scissors (what the heck were we thinking??) has left that shirt unwearable, even for sleep.

So, what can I actually write about? I mean, anyone who knows me from those days, knows that I really loved being a part of DZT. Sure, I could always dredge up some hilarious induction memories (most of which include me crying or laughing - it was a week of extreme emotions, as we all know). Or I could talk about the weekly meetings, the events, the never-ending bread breaking ceremonies, or the intramural sports (like the time Tony Webb coached us to actually win the flag football championship only after using many non-repeatable words to tell us to shut-up and quit acting like girls. It was totally great). Or I could always reminisce about when another member and I worked for days to create a new Sponge Toss booth for the Harvest Hoedown, only to have our volunteers back out. Apparently, getting a wet sponge thrown at your face actually hurts. Who knew?

But I know very well that while those stories may (but probably not) be entertaining and interesting, they would only be recognizable to the members who were in the club during the time I was. And did they really help to explain why I still hold DZT very close to my heart even after all these years?

So, I started thinking bigger. And here's where I ended up.

God created us as social beings. We all desire to feel loved, to know that we are important, that we matter, that we belong. I believe that this desire is even more pronounced in females. For me, and I believe for many of us, being involved in DZT satisfied that deep-felt desire. We belonged to something important, something bigger than ourselves, and, most importantly, we were asked to be a part of this because a group of people found each one of us . . . special.

I'll never forget my first semester in DZT when, during an induction activity, one of the new inductees was asked why she wanted to be a member of DZT. She immediately started crying (not totally out of the ordinary during those induction days), but through her tears she explained that all her life she wanted but never felt like she had . . . girl friends. Now, while I didn't know this particular girl very well, I did know that she had friends. She wasn't an outcast, by any means. But, I also knew exactly what she was talking about.

She wanted friends. She wanted friends who would accept her for who she was. Friends who would take a real interest in how she was doing each day. Friends who would see her through the sickness and loss of her grandfather. Friends who would be there through the breakup with the long-time boyfriend, who would celebrate a good grade or that happy engagement. Friends who would support her, pray for her, and love her. No matter what. Friends who were like. . . sisters.

I have three younger brothers. No sisters. So having a room full of sisters was immensely attractive to me. Of course it wasn't always wonderful. Let's be honest. You can't have that many women together and have everyone get along. It's simply not possible. Sure, I was closer to a few of them more than others (if you know me, then you know who those few were/are), but I'm thinking this was the case for most of us.

While not all of the relationships that I developed with the members of DZT have withstood the passing of time, what I can tell you is that, for whatever reason, I still care about these women. I search them out on Facebook, joy in seeing their families grow, celebrate their victories, and lift up their needs in prayer. Why? Because at what other time, before or after, have you ever had 40 some sisters and all the blessings that come with that?

It means something. Something important. Sure, having that many sisters comes with its own headaches. But, would I (or you?) be the same person today without DZT?

Nope.

So, while I may not break out my jersey and wear it every Monday, and I can't remember a single induction greeting, I do know that my time involved in that club and the "life-long sisters" gained from it was/is pretty darn special.

And that's why I love DZT . . . still.

Link Love...

2009-09-30T07:37:00.001-07:00

There's a new link on the sidebar for Heather (Terry) Carlson. She and her husband, Matt, are embarking on a journey to adopt a child! Stop by and leave a word of encouragement!

Pay in Advance for Homecoming!

2009-09-29T07:03:00.000-07:00

I've updated the previous post with the information, but since some of you receive the posts via email, I wanted to ensure you receive this.

The cost of the DZT 45th Homecoming breakfast is $10, and you can pay with your credit card by going to this link (or http://development.leeuniversity.edu/info/forms/homecoming-registration.asp if the link is not working properly). If you will scroll to the middle of the page, you'll see this:

Just FYI!

Link Love...

2009-09-28T10:05:00.001-07:00

(I'm trying to keep up with accolades, but I miss them from time to time... if you know of one, or news to share, leave a comment!)

Congrats to Allison (Williams) Campbell for being recognized as the "Communicator of the Year" from the Ocala Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association.

If you are local, and are looking for the "best party planners in Bradley County", Kristen (Hart) and Clark Campbell want to help... they are the proud owners of Swank & Savvy!!

Don't forget to register for Homecoming... You Do Not Want To Miss This! (You can also go HERE and pay in advance for breakfast.)

Info about Homecoming...

2009-09-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

By now, many of you have received a postcard with information about our upcoming 45th Anniversary Homecoming celebration. If you have not, please contact Alumni Relations at Lee University.

To register for "Celebrating Our Heritage", please go to the "See You There" page. After you've registered, you can here to see who is coming!

To "Celebrate Our Heritage," we will spotlight the first decade of DZT's legacy (1964-1973). Other decades to follow as we lead up to our 50th!!To register, visit this link. Nominations for Alumnus of the Year may be emailed to dztalumaward@gmail.com.

Please register/rsvp by October 23, 2009.

DZTAlumni news...

2009-09-24T06:15:00.000-07:00

If you've not heard, Alumna Amy McBride-Richardson is the newest member of the Dove award winning and Grammy nominated Contemporary Christian Group Avalon.

Avalon just release their newest CD, Reborn, which is available in stores and on iTunes.

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Also, this past week, former Gentleman John Brockman, and his wife led praise and worship for TBN during Praise the Lord.

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If you have updates, prayers, or news to share, please leave a comment and I'll get the information posted! Thanks!!

Link Love

2009-09-21T06:32:00.000-07:00

There's a new link on the sidebar for Andrew & Marbi (Mauch) DiPastena!

Stop by and check it out!

Alumni Picnic

2009-09-11T11:04:00.001-07:00

This Monday there will be an Alumni picnic at Fletcher Park at 6:30. If you have any questions, please leave a comment, or contact Kayt Phipps at kaytphipps@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Updated Link Love

2009-09-03T17:12:00.001-07:00

I've updated the link on the side for Meagan (Brown) Winburn... (don't forget to update your links as well!)

Congrats to Meagan on her recent nuptials... stop by and leave a comment!!!

Alumni Ceremony, Pinning, etc.

2009-08-14T10:10:00.000-07:00

One of our own, Autumn (Wiggins) Fitch and her husband have been featured in a Chattanooga magazine. You can go here to read the article.

If you are a local area Charter Alumni Association Member, please stop by the Helen DeVos College of Education 2nd Floor Lounge for your pin. Dessert and coffee will be provided.

The 6th Alumni Ceremony will be held Friday, August 28. For details, leave a comment (with your contact information), or email Melanie Duncan, Corresponding Secretary, at mjduncan00@gmail.com for more information.

If you haven't marked your calendars for Homecoming, do so today! The Lovely Ladies of Delta Zeta Tau will be celebrating 45 years! Homecoming is slated for November 6th and 7th, and both the club and the DZTAA are working for this to the best Homecoming yet! More info to come.

Also, Congrats to recent brides: Katie (Dietz) Delbonis, Aubre (Hendel) Cole, and Lindsey (Calhoun) Hagan!!!

Link Love

2009-08-11T13:18:00.001-07:00

There's a new link on the sidebar for Angeline (Jones) McMullin.

Mike, Angeline, and Sam are embarking on a new journey, planning to adopt a child from the Phillipines. You can go here to read the story behind the adoption. You will also notice how the recent DZT trip to the Phillipines plays a part in the story. Take a second and stop by and let Angeline and Mike know we're praying for them through this incredible journey!

Catching up

2009-07-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

(Sorry for not posting things lately!)

New link on the sidebar for Laura Fleischmann...

Congrats to Lindsey Calhoun on her recent engagement to Ross Hagan!

Please continue to remember Whitney's family.

Please keep Rachel & Josh Eisenberg in your prayers.

I'll post information about Tap Night for any alumni interested in attending as soon as I receive the details.

In case you've forgotten, this fall we will be celebrating our 45th anniverary... YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!! Make plans now to be at Homecoming!!

If you have any other things that I've forgotten... please leave a comment (they're moderated), send a twitter dm (twitter.com/dzt), or leave a message on the Facebook DZTAlumni board. Thanks!!

Link Love

2009-06-29T06:58:00.001-07:00

There's a new link on the sidebar for Amanda (Tilley) Varner...

Drop by and leave a comment!

Link Love

2009-06-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

This one's for Andrea (Haitz) Franklin. I'm sure she and her husband would also covet your prayers for the physicians at the Mayo Clinic too...

http://standtallrob.blogspot.com/

Special Thanks to DZT Alumni

2009-06-24T13:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Darlia and DZT Alumni,

Warmest Christian greetings from the Philippines!

On behalf of the children and staff of Samaritan's Place in the Philippines, I want to express our deepest gratitude to the all of the DZT Alumni that helped send the ten (10) DZT team members for the summer mission. All of us, especially the orphan children, were so blessed and encouraged by the attention, affection, affirmation and actions of the lovely ladies of Delta Zeta Tau.

Each of the DZT gals truly lived out the motto of the club, Seeking to Serve. The girls helped in so many ways -- helping to coordinate the 2009 Sportsfest, providing relief time for the house parents and caregivers, playing and tutoring the kids, conducting devotionals -- but primarily showing the love of Christ each day!

Due to their wonderful ministry services, our Kidz Klub attendance record was even broken with 160 children on Saturday May 24, 2009! It was an inspiring time for all!

In addition to making a big difference for Samaritan's Place and our community kids, we were also pleased to help the girls enjoy some enriching and exciting cultural adventures. The girls made visits to the old Spanish section of Manila, the US WWII Memorial Cemetery and Ocean Adventure Park. I think even the dolphins at Ocean Park fell in love with DZT!

Without a doubt, having the joy and privilege of hosting the DZT short-term mission team was one of the highlights of our 22+ years of ministry service in the Philippines. We hope that the girls were as deeply affected and blessed like us!

Darlia, please convey our thanks, gratitude and appreciation to all the DZT Alumni and everyone who helped make this 2009 mission trip possible. We were overwhelmed by the love shown when we heard reports of alumni working so hard on the yard sales and making sacrificial contributions to make this trip a reality.

We were especially grateful for the love gift offering of $ 2,500.00 USD. That was a very special extra blessing that will help us meet many needs! May His promise in Hebrews 6:10 be all of yours today and every day!

Please consider yourselves hugged many times over by the Samaritan's Place children ... and all of us here in the Philippines! God bless you and we hope to see you all soon!

In His love,

MARC A. MORRIS, Alum '84
Founder and President
Samaritan's Place Homes for Children
Vice President for Internal Affairs
Association of Child Caring Agencies of the Philippines (ACCAP)

Seeking To Serve Globally!

2009-06-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely Delta's! :)

I'm excited to post about the past Philippines trip that we went on. First thank you to the Alumni Association for helping so much to allow us the opportunity to experience the Philippines.

The first big event that took place in the Philippines was the DZT/SP SportsFest. Every other saturday Samaritan's Place holds a VBS for the community. SportsFest is an once a year event that we had a chance to be apart. We led teams in competions, competing against eachother, but also exemplifying a Christ like example. Everyone had such a great time! It really was an experience to run around and have a fun time with these children. We had children that would come that would have burns, lice, or even not eaten for the day. Every child had a smile on their face no matter the circumstance. These children taught me so much in just the two weeks I shared with them.

Everyday we had the opportunity to visit with the units of the orphanage. We made bonds with not only the children but the house parents and staff. Their lives and love flows beyond themselves and eachother. They opened up their lives and took us into their hearts. We had times of devotions, VBS, and play time. The experience was perfect.

I try to explain how wonderful it was to go to the Philippines and stay at the orphanage, however; I dont think it is enough. When we left everyone of us girls felt like we had been touched in a certain specific way. I dont doubt that I will return and I recommend to everyone of you reading this to try to make it a desire to visit. You will not be disappointed.

I also that you keep in your prayers the Samaratians Place Orphanage in the Philippines.

Link Love

2009-06-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

There's a new link on the sidebar for Vanessa (Vaughn) Simmons...

Link Love

2009-05-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

There's a new link on the sidebar for Kourtney (Gravlee) McBryar!

Avalon, Philippines, et al.

2009-05-28T07:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Alums,

I wanted to apologize for the lack of updates about the Philippines trip. Hopefully, we will have a few guest bloggers in the coming weeks that share about their experiences! I hope to have pictures up soon as well.

I'd also like to congratulate a DZT alum on her recent promotion... Amy McBride Richardson (Tap 71) is the newest member of the Dove Award Winning and Grammy Nominated Christian Group Avalon! If you are on facebook, myspace, or twitter, please let Amy know how proud we are to have her represent!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalon_(band)
http://twitter.com/AmyKayR

Jenn

DZT Ezine

2009-05-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Delta Zeta Tau alumnus,

We are excited to introduce you to the first edition of the Delta Zeta Tau Alumni Association e-zine. The DZTAA e-zine is a work in progress so let us hear from you – what features would you like to see, what are we missing?

Continuing to Serve,

Anita Ray '81
Vice President, DZTAA

If you did not receive the ezine, please contact Anita at ARay@leeuniversity.edu.

2009-05-01T11:20:00.000-07:00

Dear DZT alumnus,

The Delta Zeta Tau Alumni Association is off to a great start, 101 strong!

If you haven't joined DZTAA, please consider joining during this final week of our charter membership drive. We are so excited about the possibilities for the alumni association, not only the opportunity to serve and strengthen the current membership, but also the chance to
reconnect with sisters from days gone by.

DZTAA has committed our support to DZT's May 10th mission trip to the Philippines. We also have two DZT alumni going on the trip: Judy Kahoe '64 and Angeline McMullin '96, as the faculty sponsor from Lee University. Those going on the trip will stay at Samaritans Place
orphanage founded and operated by Marc Morris '84, a DZT alumnus, and his wife Marilen. Because DZT will be staying on site, they will be with the children and the house mothers from the time they wake up in the morning until they go to sleep at night. DZT will be working hand in
hand with the people at Samaritans place and in charge of putting on a Bible School for the children at the orphanage. The orphanage is on the outside boundaries of the city of Manila where DZT will interact with people coming by the gates and children who are not in the orphanage, but wish that they could be. One day will be devoted to Outreach day. On this day DZT will spend time getting to know people in the community and inviting their children to Bible School. More information about Samaritan's place can be found at http://www.samaritansplace.com/
.

Dues collected from DZTAA members and any donations received will go directly toward the girls' cost for room and board ($450 each) at Samaritan's Place. This weekend, on May 1-2, DZTAA is putting on the Extremely Enormous Yard Sale to raise funds. The sale will take place in the old Mayfield Elementary School gymnasium, which now belongs to Lee University. Any funds we raise beyond what is needed for trip expenses will be given to Samaritan's Place as a donation from DZT.

To join DZTAA as a charter member, just mail the form below to the address provided. I'll look forward to hearing from you soon and catching up!

Anita Humbertson Ray '81
Vice President, DZTAA

SCUTR -- "Commitment"

2009-04-07T06:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Sisters,

As you are well aware, induction has changed periodically over our 45 year history. It is my belief that induction has more meaning at this time than ever before, and although not devoid of anxiety producing elements, has a more spiritual focus for everyone in the club, both inductees and members. For those of us who did not come in during more recent times, you may like to know that five words or concepts are especially emphasized during induction, beginning on tap night with short definitions of these words presented by alumni, and carried out through the weekend.

The words are Sacrifice, Commitment, Unity, Trust and Respect. These are principles that we continue to cultivate in our lives at whatever stage we find ourselves. The Spiritual Life Committee from the Board would like to bring a personal definition of one of these words to the attention of the Alumni each week, hoping that it will once again cause you to think about what it means, and give you an opportunity to respond with a comment or personal anecdote that describes your experience. The second definition is by Merica (Patton) Stum.

“True commitment embraces the certainty that times together will not always be fun or easy but chooses to fully submit anyway.”

"Continuing to Serve"
Darlia Conn,
DZTAA President