Delta Zeta – To the World

When a woman joins Delta Zeta, most typically during her undergraduate days, she is looking for a group of friends, a home away from home, to learn leadership skills and a place to have fun. Many of us don’t anticipate anything beyond what we find on our campus where we are enrolled in school. And even after our new member period, where we learn everything from the Founders to details about the philanthropy and service events we support, the lifetime commitment we have just made might seem somewhat foggy.

Membership in Delta Zeta begins during college, but has the opportunity to extend well beyond. If you look at the different sections of our Creed, it starts with a commitment “To The World.” Your world might be the chapter you currently belong to, but after graduation that world rapidly expands. You may move to a new city, start a new job, meet the love of your life, and start a family. Each life event changes what your “world” looks like. Every member of Delta Zeta is a member of very different worlds at different points in her life. But, we share one thing in common, our belief in our sisterhood which can provide comfort and support for not only our members, but those in our communities; the “worlds” of which we are a part.

At this time, in light of the events this past week in Connecticut, you may feel scared, nervous, sad or just looking for answers on how to meet the challenges of the world, reflect upon the Delta Zeta Creed and know that your sisters are there with you through it all.

Planning a Great Chapter Retreat

One of the things that convinced me to join Delta Zeta was a chapter retreat. A few of my friends who lived down the hall from me my freshman year in college went away for a weekend with the new sorority they had joined and came back full of energy and having had so much fun. I didn’t join until a year later, but always thought back to their smiling faces upon their return from that weekend and couldn’t wait until I, too, got to be a part of that experience.

Obviously my chapter must have had a good plan in place for their retreat if it made such an impression on a non-member, likely joiner. There are a few things to consider when planning a great retreat for your chapter.

1. Location – even though it might be easier to host a retreat in the chapter room or at the chapter house, not every chapter has a facility and it’s more fun to “get away” from it all and the distractions which could interrupt your sisterhood time. Make sure to plan accordingly and in line with Delta Zeta’s Risk Management policies (found in Metro’s Chapter Officer Resources Container). Even if you cannot physically leave campus, try to have members disconnect and truly have a sister’s only weekend. Consider having a cell phone basket, asking all members to leave their phones and be present during the retreat. 
2. Fun – though you might be tempted to work through your chapter’s goal setting plans for the next year, and that is important to do, plan for some fun! You can do some really cool sisterhood activities, which also help set you up for that goal setting plan, but engage your members while you are at it. For some new ideas, visit the Collegiate Chapter Officer Training Toolkit.
3. Food – For many of us, this is the first thing you like to plan! But, did you know that some food choices are better than others? Check out this link for 10 High Energy Food Choices.

What other things do you remember from a chapter retreat that you’d like to share with your sisters? We’d love to hear them here by leaving a comment or by emailing us at webmaster@dzshq.com.