The first meeting for the 2008-2009 year was a great success. 60+ members gathered at Mary Walcutt’s house on the evening of September 11th for a light dinner and meeting to discuss the year’s events. Great focus was turned to the new events included in the schedule as well as the Celebration of Life Luncheon. Members also generously donated boxes full of school supplies that were donated to the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. If you couldn’t make it, we’d love to see you at the next event. See the calendar for more details.

Austinites will think pink during Breast Cancer Awareness month as they support and attend a number of activities to raise funds for breast cancer research, education, and awareness.  The women of the Austin Alumnae Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity will host the 11th Annual Celebration of Life – More Than a Decade of Sisterhood and Survivorship luncheon.  This annual even is our primary fundraising source for supporting this important cause.

Celebration of Life will again serve as the Austin area kick-off for the 2008 Komen Austin Race for the Cure.  This year’s luncheon will take place on Friday, October 24th at Austin Country Club and will include a wonderful fall fashion show from The Garden Room, Austin’s Premier Boutique,  This year’s speaker will be Meredith Norton, author of “Lopsided: How Having Breast Cancer Can Be Really Distracting,” an elegant memoir which was glowingly reviewed by O, The Oprah Magazine.   Tickets will be $65 per person, with underwriting opportunities available, and tickets and more information can be found at www.austinzta.org.  Questions?  Please e-mail us ZTACelebration2008@yahoo.com.

Dear Zeta Sisters,
The stores are beginning to be filled with those many back-to-school items from crayons to notebooks to backpacks, so that means it is time to celebrate another year with the Austin Alumnae Chapter.

As you read this newsletter you will see many new names on our executive board. They all bring energy and new ideas that we hope you will experience throughout the year. In addition to our events during the year, we will be bringing back a once-a-month social time on the last Tuesday of each month called Yaps & Apps for us to strengthen our bond as sisters. Each of our events will also include a service project to increase our support of the local community here in Austin.

Thanks to Alumnae member Ami Hooper for getting our Web site up and running. We will be utilizing this in many ways this year. Please look for informational updates such as how to submit a MIS form, to find the location of the next Yaps & Apps, or to update your membership information. Make sure it is saved as one of your favorites – austinzta.org!

As always, we are thankful to Mary Walcutt for opening up her home for our annual kick-off party on Sept. 11. We encourage you to reconnect with the group, make new bonds and of course become a dues-paying member to experience all of the benefits our group has to offer. In addition, mark your calendars for the 11th Annual Celebration of Life Breast Cancer Survivor Luncheon Oct. 24 at Austin Country Club. Lucy Netherton is well on her way to making this another fabulous event that will include a style show by The Garden Room.

I look forward to seeing everyone in September, if not sooner at the young alumnae meet and greet or at the Kappa rush dinner.
Zeta Love,
Ginger Layman
2008-09 Austin Alumnae Chapter – President

We are a great group of Zetas! You don’t want to miss this year’s extended event calendar. Sign up now, to get involved with the Austin Alumnae Chapter.

Contact Julia Laskowski for more information. You can download a membership form here.

Thursday, September 11th
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Light dinner at 6:30 p.m., Program begins at 7 p.m.
At the home of Mary Walcutt
Download an invitation.

You may RSVP by checking the box on your Membership Information Sheet and returning it with your dues or by contacting Hope Carberry.

At the Kick-Off Party, we will be collecting school supplies for the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. School supplies in need, include: composition books* (please no loose-leaf paper), backpacks, 1” & 1.5” binders, pouches for 3-ring binders dividers, thin-tipped markers, highlighters, glue sticks, rulers, #2 pencils, pens, hand-held pencil sharpeners, and kleenex.

Download a copy of the Fall Newsletter here.