THEMIS Spring 2012 : Page 2

From Where I Sit Our network of sisterhood By Keeley McDonald Riddle, ǿȈ National President In the last issue of Themis , we highlighted the opportunities Zeta Tau Alpha gives us to “ever enrich and ennoble our lives.” The stories showcased how the Fraternity KDVIXOÀ OOHGOLIHORQJGUHDPVDQGJLYHQ us the tools we need to learn, grow and VHUYHRXUFRPPXQLWLHV2QHRSSRUWXQLW\ we didn’t touch on—until now—was the QHWZRUNRIVLVWHUV\RXUPHPEHUVKLS provides. $VDFROOHJLDQ&#0f;RQHRIWKHPRVWXQGHU
 YDOXHGDVSHFWVRI=7$PHPEHUVKLSLVWKH connection we have to thousands of Zetas RXWVLGHRIRXURZQFKDSWHU<RXPD\VHH WKHPDW=HWD'D\&#0f;1DWLRQDO/HDGHUVKLS Conference or Convention, but it can be KDUGWRJUDVSKRZPXFKWKHVHZRPHQ&#0f; UHJDUGOHVVRIWKHLUDJH&#0f;FKDSWHUDIÀ OLDWLRQ and background, have the desire to help you succeed. As each of us transitions LQWRWKHDOXPQDHZRUOG&#0f;LWLVLPSRUWDQW WRUHPHPEHUWKLVSRZHUIXOQHWZRUNRI sisters, especially as you look to begin your career. 7DNH%HHWD0RMDKHGLIRUH[DPSOH,Q 'HFHPEHU&#0f;WKLV7KHWD2PHJD&KDSWHU DOXPQDJUDGXDWHGIURP&DOLIRUQLD 6WDWH3RO\WHFKQLF8QLYHUVLW\&#0f;3RPRQD Unsure of her plans, she joined the San )HUQDQGR9DOOH\&#0f;&$$OXPQDH&KDSWHU EHFDXVHVKHZDV´YHU\LQYROYHGLQP\ FROOHJLDWHFKDSWHU&#0f;DQGLWVHHPHGOLNHD JRRGWKLQJWRGRµ'XULQJKHUYHU\À UVW DOXPQDHPHHWLQJ&#0f;VKHZDVLQWURGXFHG WR5RQGL:HUQHU5HGPDQQ&#0f;WKHFKDSWHU SUHVLGHQWDWWKDWWLPH&#0f;DQGWKHWZR talked about Beeta’s civil engineering degree and career goals. With a laugh, %HHWDPHQWLRQHGKHUGUHDPMRE&#0f;WR ZRUNIRU:DOW'LVQH\,PDJLQHHULQJ&#0f; QHYHULPDJLQLQJ5RQGLZRXOGEHDEOHWR help. But as it turned out, Rondi was an ´LPDJLQHHUµKHUVHOI 2YHUZKHOPHGE\WKHLQWHUHVWDQG generosity Rondi showed her, Beeta began WRZRUNZLWKKHUQHZDOXPQDIULHQGWR VWUHQJWKHQKHUUHVXPpDQG secure an internship with Walt 'LVQH\,PDJLQHHULQJ1RZD IXOO
WLPHLPDJLQHHU&#0f;%HHWDLV IXOÀ OOLQJKHUGUHDP&#0f;GHYHORSLQJ site infrastructure for a new 'LVQH\SDUN ´,QHYHULQDPLOOLRQ\HDUV thought I would join a sorority, MRLQDQDOXPQDHJURXSDQG WKHQJHWP\GUHDPMREWKDW ZD\&#0f;µ%HHWDVD\V´,GHÀ QLWHO\ encourage everyone to use your Meredith Harris Braselman (center) hired Zetas Emily Allman (left) and Alison Ward (right). =7$VLVWHUVDV\RXUÀ UVWSRLQW RIQHWZRUNLQJ,WVXUSULVHGPH KRZPXFK5RQGLZDVZLOOLQJWR KHOSPHZKHQVKHGLGQ·WHYHQ NQRZPH%XWDV,FRQWLQXHG WREHLQYROYHGLQWKHDOXPQDH FKDSWHU&#0f;LWKDVEHFRPHVRHDV\ WRVHHKRZZHDOOPDNHRQH another a priority.” So what is it about this network RIVLVWHUKRRGWKDWPDNHVXV so eager to help each other, HYHQLIZH·YHQHYHUPHW",W·V our shared ZTA values and experiences that allow us to develop an innate trust in all of our sisters. Beeta Mojahedi (left) found her job with Walt Disney Imagineering through Zeta Rondi Werner Redmann. To help strengthen our network, this spring, I encourage each of us to UHPHPEHUWKHRSSRUWXQLWLHVZHKDYH to help our fellow sisters. Collegians, reach out to your advisors and other ORFDODOXPQDHDQGPDNHDSRLQWWRMRLQ DQDOXPQDHFKDSWHUZKHUHYHU\RXÀ QG \RXUVHOIDIWHUJUDGXDWLRQ$OXPQDH&#0f;WDNH WKHWLPHWRJHWWRNQRZRQHDQRWKHUDQG lend a helping hand whenever possible. You never know where your network of sisters will take you or what it can SURYLGHIRU\RX)URPODQGLQJ\RXUGUHDP MREWRVLPSO\SURYLGLQJDIULHQGO\IDFH&#0f; thousands of sisters are out there waiting WRKHOS\RX$OO\RXKDYHWRGRLVÀ QG WKHP 0HUHGLWK+DUULV%UDVHOPDQ&#0f;D 'HOWD/DPEGD&KDSWHUDOXPQD&#0b;*HRUJLD State University) and current ZTA Supervisor, understands this trust À UVWKDQG2YHUWKHSDVWVL[\HDUV&#0f;VKHKDV KHOSHGÀ YH=7$JUDGXDWHVÀ QGMREVZLWK KHUHPSOR\HU&#0f;2·.HHIIH &RPSDQ\&#0f;D PDUNHWLQJDQGSXEOLFUHODWLRQVDJHQF\LQ Alexandria, Va. :KHQDVNHGZK\VKHUHFRPPHQGVVR PDQ\=HWDV&#0f;0HUHGLWKVD\V&#0f;´,WFRPHV down to the fact that we all received WKHVDPHWUDLQLQJDQGGHYHORSPHQWDV undergraduates. Zetas leave college with a fantastic skill set that includes leadership, FRPPXQLFDWLRQVNLOOVDQGJRDOVHWWLQJ, À QGWKDWZKHQ,UHFRPPHQGP\VLVWHUV&#0f; they always step up to the challenge.” 2 Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha

From Where I Sit

Keeley McDonald Riddle

Our network of sisterhood In the last issue of Themis, we highlighted the opportunities Zeta Tau Alpha gives us to "ever enrich and ennoble our lives." The stories showcased how the Fraternity has fulfilled lifelong dreams and given us the tools we need to learn, grow and serve our communities. One opportunity we didn't touch on–until now–was the network of sisters your membership provides. As a collegian, one of the most under-valued aspects of ZTA membership is the connection we have to thousands of Zetas outside of our own chapter. You may see them at Zeta Day, National Leadership Conference or Convention, but it can be hard to grasp how much these women, regardless of their age, chapter affiliation and background, have the desire to help you succeed. As each of us transitions into the alumnae world, it is important to remember this powerful network of sisters, especially as you look to begin your career. Take Beeta Mojahedi for example. In December 2010, this Theta Omega Chapter alumna graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Unsure of her plans, she joined the San Fernando Valley, CA Alumnae Chapter because she was "very involved in my collegiate chapter, and it seemed like a good thing to do." During her very first alumnae meeting, she was introduced to Rondi Werner Redmann, the chapter president at that time, and the two talked about Beeta's civil engineering degree and career goals. With a laugh, Beeta mentioned her dreamjob, to work for Walt Disney Imagineering, never imagining Rondi would be able to help. But as it turned out, Rondi was an "imagineer" herself. Overwhelmed by the interest and generosity Rondi showed her, Beeta began to work with her new alumna friend to strengthen her resumé and secure an internship with Walt Disney Imagineering. Nowa full-time imagineer, Beeta is fulfilling her dream, developing site infrastructure for a new Disney park. "I never in a million years thought I would join a sorority, join an alumnae group and then get my dreamjob that way," Beeta says. "I definitely encourage everyone to use your ZTA sisters as your first point of networking. It surprised me how much Rondi was willing to help me when she didn't even know me. But as I continued to be involved in the alumnae chapter, it has become so easy to see how we all make one another a priority." So what is it about this network of sisterhood that makes us so eager to help each other, even if we've never met? It's our shared ZTA values and experiences that allow us to develop an innate trust in all of our sisters. Meredith Harris Braselman, a Delta Lambda Chapter alumna (Georgia State University) and current ZTA Supervisor, understands this trust firsthand. Over the past six years, she has helped five ZTA graduates find jobs with her employer, O'Keeffe & Company, a marketing and public relations agency in Alexandria, Va. When asked why she recommends so many Zetas, Meredith says, "It comes down to the fact that we all received the same training and development as undergraduates. Zetas leave college with a fantastic skill set that includes leadership, communication skills and goal setting. I find that when I recommend my sisters, they always step up to the challenge." To help strengthen our network, this spring, I encourage each of us to remember the opportunities we have to help our fellow sisters. Collegians, reach out to your advisors and other local alumnae and make a point to join an alumnae chapter wherever you find yourself after graduation. Alumnae, take the time to get to know one another and lend a helping hand whenever possible. You never know where your network of sisters will take you or what it can provide for you. From landing your dream job to simply providing a friendly face, thousands of sisters are out there waiting to help you. All you have to do is find them

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