Delta Gamma Convention: Part 1

If you talk to anyone who has attended a Delta Gamma Convention, they will tell you it's a life changing experience! So, Gamma Zeta wanted to share with you the experience of our members who attended the 65th Biennial Convention from their three different perspectives in a three part series.

Part 1 comes from our Advisory Team Chairman, Emily Burris Hester. Enjoy!



As a regular on the Delta Gamma Convention circuit, I had high hopes for Convention 2012 in Indianapolis and it did not disappoint! This was a milestone Convention for me as I was honored with my Silver Anchor Pin for my 5^th Convention. With 4 previous Conventions under my belt, I was excited and full of anticipation of what our Fraternity’s 65^th Biennial Convention would have to offer.

(Emily Hester & Kelsey Hyde at the Foundation Banquet)

Some of my personal highlights from Convention 2012 include:

·         Watching Courtney Lanaux, past Gamma Zeta chapter president, thrive in her Collegiate Development Consultant (CDC) environment and be named the Baynard Consultant which visits and leads DG’s newest colony.

·         Being challenged to share our proudest moment as a sorority woman and as a Delta Gamma with people we meet.

·         Re-framing the way that I think of HOPE in Delta Gamma. A fabulous speaker, Ginny Carroll, really put it into words when she gave a great history lesson of what Mary, Eva, and Anna would have been facing at the time that they founded our dear DG. Theirs was a hope for the future, for equality for women in higher education. We have a slightly different hope for our future as time passes but never straying from that focus on our original purpose. It really put things into perspective!

·        Cheering on my special new Psi Women, Rebecca Lemoine and Rachel Favaloro both of whom are Gamma Zeta’s and my “balance buddy” from my year as a CDC, Sara Owen Solem. Learn more about the Delta Gamma Psi Woman Challenge!

·         Celebrating a job well done by my mentor and Delta Gamma Fraternity President, Beth Searcy, as she retired from the Delta Gamma Council after 8 years of service.

·         And finally…hearing Gamma Zeta’s name called out, TWICE, at the big awards ceremony and for the most meaningful awards in my opinion. First, as the Founders Award Runner Up which recognizes a collegiate chapter that reaches levels of excellence in meeting the objectives in Article II of the Fraternity's Constitution: to foster high ideals of friendship among college women; to promote their educational and cultural interests; to create in them a true sense of social responsibility; and to develop in them the best qualities of character" and then as the Outstanding Chapter Runner Up which is the biggest honor the Fraternity awards.

(Courtney Lanaux, Kate Gremillion, & Emily Hester,
past and present DG CDCs)

(Rebecca Lemoine, Emily Hester, & Rachel Favoloro,
Gamma Zeta Psi Women recipients)

Each Delta Gamma Convention fills my heart to continue to devote my time and passion to DG. It gives me the opportunity to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and smile so much my face hurts! My advice…if you have a DG Bucket List, put Convention on it! It’s among the most impactful, life altering experiences that will open your eyes to the big picture of Delta Gamma. And, you’ll see a whole lot of ANCHORS!

Home Sweet Home - Alumna Mabry Miller O'Donnell's visit to Gamma Zeta

Here at Gamma Zeta we were thrilled when one of our alumna reached out and wanted to come back to the chapter house and re-visit her old stomping grounds. As the saying goes, home is where the heart is. Our chapter advisor, Emily Hester, wanted to write a wonderful blog post about alumna Mabry O'Donnell's ('68) visit. We love to keep our tight relationships with each and every one of our alumnae, so we hope you enjoy this post just as much as we do!

- GZ

Home Sweet Home

Home is where the heart is. It’s never too late to come home. Home is where you lay your head. The idea of home is often associated with sorority life and the Delta Gamma house at LSU has been home to thousands of women since 1966. Recently, Gamma Zeta alumnae, Mabry Miller O’Donnell and her husband Jim, visited the Delta Gamma house. Mabry told us “I always told Jim we’d someday make it back to see my old campus.” As a college professor at Marietta College in Ohio, Mabry’s life has been spent on a college campus, but she had not made it back to the stately oaks and broad magnolias of LSU since she graduated in 1968. Finally last month, Mabry made it back for a visit to both the Gamma Zeta house and LSU.  As chapter officers toured Mabry around the Delta Gamma house, she recalled changes and memories of living in the house. She moved in the house the when it was first built in 1966. 

As we came to her old room, both our faces lit up as not only was Room 210 special to her, but it also has a big place in my heart. I lived in that room for 2 years and my sister Ellen had lived in during her time in the DG house. What an amazing connection to share with a DG sister, separated by more than three decades.

After tour of campus by a chapter officer who is also an LSU Ambassador, Molly North said, “I really enjoyed getting to meet Mabry and Jim and spending some time with them. It was a great experience and most definitely a wonderful connection to have! Mabry's beautiful smile from ear to ear made it all worthwhile; she couldn't have been happier!”

Of course we later received a thank you note from Mabry in which she said, 

“After driving 3,395 miles, we have returned home.  The highlight of our trip, of course, was meeting several of you, seeing the house for the first time in 45 years, and hearing of your beautiful productive lives as Delta Gammas at LSU.

A Malayan proverb states, "One can pay back the loan of gold, but one dies forever in debt to those who are kind." 


 My spouse had heard of Delta Gamma, its goals, our mission, and the wonderful sisters, and although he supported my words and passion, he is now a firm believer.  

Thank you for taking your time to meet us at the house, tour us through the house including seeing your rooms (which are much more charmingly decorated than they were when we first moved into the  house), walk us around the campus with a personable and knowledgeable guide, and provide transportation from the house to campus and back. I am proud to be your sister for you represent our ideals of friendship, education, and character.  We shall forever remember your kindness.”

It’s great to remember that it’s never too late to come home and Delta Gamma will always welcome you with open arms! The “do good” spirit is alive and well at Gamma Zeta and it’s always great to be reminded of those women who walked the halls of 4080 West Lakeshore Drive before you.

- Emily Burris Hester

DG's 'Fan Day' speaker, Mo Isom , appeared on The Ellen Show!

This year we were fortunate to have Mo Isom speak at our annual Delta Gamma 'Fan Day' event. Shortly after, Isom appeared on The Ellen Show where she talked about her attempt to try out for a kicker position on the LSU football team. In her interview with Ellen, Isom touched on some of the adversities she has had to overcome. We thank Mo for spending some time at the DG house and inspiring the kids from LSVI (Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired) to go out and chase all of their dreams.
Check out the link below with Mo and Ellen Degeneres! GEAUX MO!

- GZ

Delta Gamma Fan Day 2/27/2012

The Gamma-Zeta chapter hosted our annual "Fan Day" event where we invited LSU athletes and kids from the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired (LSVI) to come hangout at our house. This year we had several LSU football and basketball players as well as LSU cheerleaders and Tiger Girls come and hangout with some of our most favorite kids. This year, our event was slightly different. We reached out to have Mo Isom, former LSU goal-keeper, come and speak about her life story, and her ability to come over so many adversities. Mo Isom is truly inspiring, and we hope the kids from LSVI were touched by her incredible story just as much as we were. Below are some pictures and quotes from the event.

Mo Isom speaking

“Everyone in life is going to face obstacles," Mo Isom said. "You’re going to hit obstacles all along the way.”

"If you’re able to overcome it, you can finish that course, and you’re stronger at the end.” - Mo Isom

- GZ

Congratulations to Leslie Leavoy for being named a Truman Scholarship finalist

Gamma Zeta's very own Leslie Leavoy was selected as a Truman Scholarship finalist. We are so excited for her, and couldn't be more proud. We wish her the best of luck as she participates in a final interview on Friday, March 9, in Forth Worth, Texas. Scholarship winners will be announced Friday, March 30, online at http://www.truman.gov/

Check out the articles below that LSU and the Manship School of Mass Communication wrote about Leaslie's incredible accomplishment.

Good luck Leslie, best of luck! ITB

- Gamma Zeta LSU

Manship School of Mass Communication Article

LSU.edu Article

Welcome Gamma Zeta's 2012 President, Kelsey Hyde!

The Gamma Zeta chapter is thrilled to have Kelsey Hyde as our President for the 2012 calendar year. Look out for many great things to come from her and the rest of the chapter. Kelsey is bringing an exciting and positive outlook, and we can't to see what this year has to offer! Get to know Kelsey:

Name: Kelsey Therese Hyde

Birthday: September 16, 1990

From: Midland, TX.

Major: Public Relations

Dream Job: To work for a public relations firm in New York City.

Favorite food: Ravioli, Tex-Mex and Cupcakes

Favorite Greek Event: Songfest

Favorite Quote: "You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep rereading the last one." - Unknown

"I ran for GZ President because I want each member to believe in the sisterhood and believe that they are here for a reason. Delta Gamma has helped me grow as a leader, student, sister, and friend. I vividly remember running down the row on Bid Day in 2009 not knowing a single person, and now here I am upholding the highest honor of serving as President to a chapter which I absolutely adore. This is my opportunity to give back to the chapter for everything it has given me thus far. I want each member to discover their place here and feel the passion for Delta Gamma just like I have.

DG is a home away from home for me and I want every member to share this belief. I want to keep boosting the morale of the chapter by creating more opportunities to try new experiences to build stronger bonds, whether it's running in the Race for the Cure or eating crawfish on the front lawn with sisters. I want everyone to be proud to wear their letters and really understand that DG is not just for four years; it is for life.

Hopefully the alums will be able to participate in more events throughout the year and be more in the know about what is going on through various social media tools. They can also expect a strong Recruitment and a positive attitude year-round :)"

-Kelsey Hyde

Anchor Week

The Gamma Zeta chapter of Delta Gamma at LSU celebrated its annual Anchor Week raising more than $26,000. All proceeds benefitted Service for Sight, the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired and Gallant Hearts. The week’s highlights included Night for Sight, a silent auction, and Anchor Bowl, a flag football tournament. Delta Gamma would like to thank alumnae, families and friends of Delta Gamma for making Anchor Week a great success. 

Delta Gammas at Anchor Bowl

Night for Sight- from Elaine Vidrine, director of fundraising

Night for Sight was such a success this year.  We had more than 150 donations and raised $8,268.27!  I'm so thankful for all who helped me with this silent auction. It was a lot of work! This year, we had a philanthropy presentation for the parents to show them how hard we work throughout the year with Service for Sight and LSVI. We appreciate all the members and parents and alums who came out to the event on Friday, October 21st at the Delta Gamma House.  

Anchor Bowl- from Nicole Verges, vp foundation, and Emily France, director of Anchor Bowl

We had 31 total teams at this year's Anchor Bowl, raising $18,000 for our philanthropy. Fraternity members as well as non-Greek groups formed teams and participated in the annual flag football tournament. We are so pleased with this year's turnout and appreciate our sponsors and everyone who came out to support Delta Gamma at Anchor Bowl!