Beta Tau ConnEKtion ob Beta Tau Housing Corporation of Sigma Kappa Sorority at the University of Florida I Fall 2015 Home to Sigma Kappa Beta Tau Breaks Ground B eta Tau welcomed another group of wonderful young women into contractor, D.E. Scorpio Corporation, is our partner for the construction our mystic bond this fall. Our collegiate sisters recruited from the process, and we gave back to the community by donating items from the University Hilton as we prepared for demolition of the chapter house. existing house. Demolition of the house began on October 1 with expectations that the chapter house will be open and ready for fall 2016 recruitment! The Beta Over the summer, we had a brick campaign to raise funds for the new Tau collegians have made themselves at home in an offsite location, chapter house. Sisters who participated will be receiving a brick from the dubbed Lounge, where informal meetings are held and once-a-week old house with a plaque signifying its importance. dinners are served. We are thrilled that the sisters have a place to call home while construction is underway. In the near future, we will be holding another fundraising campaign offering sisters the opportunity to buy a brick for the courtyard of the More than 60 women per year will be able to live in the new chapter house, new house. This information will be available on our Facebook page. In in several room types, to fit the needs of the various chapter women. In addition, if you have any interest in donating your time, financial support, addition, our new dining room will seat over 150 SO we can continue or expertise, please contact me at bthousecorptreasurer@gmail.com. providing meals while offering more options to the sisters who live outside Alumnae are at the forefront of building a new future together for Beta Tau of the chapter house. The new house will offer the opportunity to grow our and we are excited about the possibilities. sisterhood for years to come. Loyally, Supporting and building relationships with the local Gainesville community Gabrielle Ferro Miller '04 was an important piece of our rebuild. We received our financing from a Treasurer, Beta Tau of Sigma Kappa Housing Corporation local institution, Campus USA Credit Union. An experienced local general bthousecorptreasurer@gmail.com Beta Tau ConnEKtion 2 CHOOSING SIGMA KAPPA Tina Maura '70 Reflects on Her Life-Changing Experience R ecruitment can be a hectic, overwhelming time of her degree in English, Tina toyed with the idea of for college freshmen, and sometimes you simply becoming a librarian. "When I was a freshman, one of cannot decide where you belong. This was the case the seniors was planning to go to library school, and for Tina Maura '70. After going through formal that certainly gave me a nudge," said Tina. Her love of recruitment, she decided not to sign a bid card, but libraries would take many detours after college, as Tina quickly saw how enthusiastic her roommate, Diane served as an Air Force officer, studied as a graduate Wallace, was about her new membership in Sigma student in guidance and counseling, later studying Kappa. The women of Beta Tau Chapter invited Tina English literature, and worked as a book seller for to participate in informal recruitment and, by the end, eight years. After many career changes, she ultimately she was finally sure she had found the place she was would return to the library where she now works as meant to be. the collection development coordinator at the Mandel Public Library in West Palm Beach, Florida. Living in the chapter house was a fond experience for Tina. "I remember late-night deep discussions with Tina has been able to return to her beloved chapter for Marie Igual Galin '72 and Mary Smith Edwards '71," Tina said, "I many wonderful visits in recent years, and has enjoyed seeing the growth even enjoyed hearing the muted chatter of my sisters as I studied or went Beta Tau has experienced. Though the chapter house and the members to sleep." She lived in the chapter house from her sophomore to senior have changed, she feels the same sense of spirit in this new generation of year and it became a place she felt as if she truly never wanted to leave. women. Sigma Kappa not only became a home for Tina, but a motivational "I think our active sisters have a more secure sense of who they are and presence in her life. The many Beta Tau women involved in campus where they are going," Tina said. Through Beta Tau, countless other organizations pushed Tina to pursue her own interests, and Judy Koons women have become a part of the Sigma Kappa sisterhood, sharing the '69 was one of her largest supporters. "Judy Koons was my pledge trainer, same "life-changing experience" Tina will always cherish. as well as my dear friend. She encouraged me to develop my leadership potential and definitely expanded my horizons," Tina said. The support Tina lives in Palm Beach County, Florida, which she calls Florida's and encouragement of her sisters led to Tina serving as the first vice "cultural capital." This has allowed her the fortune of being around the arts president for the chapter. and theater, two of her passions. In her spare time, she is heavily involved in the United Methodist Church as a certified lay servant and usher, while Not only did Sigma Kappa impact Tina's involvement as an undergraduate, also leading Bible study and working with the creative arts team and but it helped shape her future beyond the college campus. In her pursuit United Methodist Women. You can contact Tina at tmaura@yahoo.com. From Chapter House to Capital Hill Katherine Getty '08 Reminisces About Sigma Kappa oming from a Greek family, Katherine Getty '08 This opportunity through Sigma Kappa allowed Katherine knew the value of the Greek experience, and through to find her passion and gave her confidence in her future recruitment, she found her very own place to call home. career path. "I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself," Katherine said, "and I found that in Sigma Kappa." "If I had not been sponsored by Sigma Kappa to participate in FSPAC's lobbying day, I am not sure where I would As an undergraduate, Katherine worked both within the be today," Katherine said, "The exposure to the world of chapter house and in the Greek community. She served government affairs and the skills needed prepared me for as the Panhellenic delegate for Beta Tau and as the vice this career." president of communication for the Panhellenic Council. "My only goal was to leave the chapter in a better place Many Beta Tau sisters have motivated Katherine over the than I found it," Katherine said. years through their work with the chapter. "Jennifer Gove- Cooper '98, Courtney Hannah '05, and Gabrielle Ferro '04 inspired me For all of the hard work she gave to the to give back in the future," Katherine said, "Each woman who has been a To learn chapter, Beta Tau gave just as much member of Beta Tau made a difference." about the through opportunities that would help more Fraternity and Sorority shape her future. "During my senior Katherine recently finished her master's degree in public administration year as a Sigma Kappa, I applied and from George Washington University. Though graduate school has been her Political Action was later selected to participate in the main focus in recent years, she does stay in contact with sisters sprinkled Committee, please visit Fraternity and Sorority Political Action throughout the country, both from her time at Beta Tau and those she Committee's Hill Day. This opened up met as a Sigma Kappa leadership consultant. In her free time, Katherine www.fspac.org. my eyes to the world of government enjoys visiting the local farmer's market, cooking for her friends, and affairs, which marries my two interests- exploring everything Washington has to offer. You can contact Katherine politics and advocacy work," Katherine said. at katherineagetty@gmail.com 3 Sigma Kappa SIGMA KAPPA SETS RECORDS Chapter Welcomes 89 New Sisters T his past spring, Beta Tau sisters participated in a variety of EK philanthropic and sisterhood events. During Dance Marathon, we raised a chapter record of $46,000 for Children's Miracle Network and are looking forward to an even more outstanding year in 2016. During Ultraviolet week alone, Beta Tau raised $4,000 for the Alzheimer's Association through Ultraviolet shirts and Sigma Stacks ticket sales. Beta Tau was extremely excited to host a large number of alumnae at Sigma Stacks, which coincided with alumnae weekend. Getting to Know Alumnae The chapter hosted a successful Alumnae Weekend at the Beta Tau chapter house in the spring, welcoming back sisters from all eras. Alumnae shared stories from their time as active members of Sigma Kappa, some involving the very chapter house we were sitting in. It was a wonderful way to wrap up the school year. Saying Goodbye in Spring After the spring semester ended in mid-May, the sisters of Sigma Kappa had a paint party to say goodbye to the old chapter house. We painted the walls with favorite memories, and took pictures to make new ones. As the last group of Sigma Kappas to live in that chapter house said goodbye to their home, they were extremely excited to welcome the next new member class, who will be part of the first group of women to live in the new chapter house next fall. Setting Records in Recruitment Beta Tau started fall 2015 off with a bang at the Hilton Hotel in Gainesville, successfully completing the most impressive recruitment yet. Sisters rallied through the expected, and unexpected, difficulties of recruiting without our home and brought in a beautiful new member class of 89 women. Recruitment rates hit record highs for the chapter this year, and we are SO excited to be able to welcome our new members into the mystic bond in a few short weeks. Making a New Home During the interim of construction on our Panhellenic Drive house, Beta Tau has made a temporary home out of a large commercial space in the Jackson Square condominiums. We've put in furniture saved from the old house to add a homey feel to the space, with the orange and green couches making the living area just as comfortable as our living room. Our sisterhood chair, Bernice Dewlow '12, has been drawing up plans for sisterhood events at the space to bring sisters and new members together. Beta Tau is very excited for their largest active member class ever to participate in Founder's Day, the Walk to End Alzheimer's, and our philanthropy, Sigma Shootout, this fall. As always, alumnae are encouraged to attend. It would be a wonderful experience for the new members and sisters to see the continuing influence of Sigma Kappa on alumnae women, even after they've graduated from our beloved chapter and the University of Florida! Loyally, Erica Baker '12 Lindsay Abbott '14 President Vice President of Alumnae Relations Save the Date Beta Tau X November 15 ConnEKtion Founder's Day December 4 SIGMA KAPPA BETA TAU PRSRT STD Order of the Triangle 5745 SW 75th St. #202 U.S. POSTAGE PAID Gainesville, FL 32608 LAWRENCE, KS March 26-27 PERMIT #570 Annual Meeting and Alumnae Weekend Alumnae News Sharon McIlvain Brantley '59 is excited to have a third generation Sigma Kappa in her family. Her granddaughter, Zoe Alexandra Hill '15, was initiated into the Kappa Nu Chapter of Sigma Kappa in March. Sharon and her spouse, Carroll, have four children and live in Westminster, S.C. E-mail: carroll_sharon@ bellsouth.net Liza Greig Bryant '64 and her husband, Mickey, love to travel and are both very active. The couple ATTENTION: This newsletter is intended for alumnae. Parents if you are receiving this and your daughter has one daughter, who lives in Germany with her has moved, please email US her new address to help update our records at btcorporationboard@gmail.com. family. Liza and Mickey have made three trips to Europe in the past two years to visit their daughter and their grandchildren. Liza reports that she has a very busy schedule, including yoga nearly every day. E-mail: gr8gator67@yahoo.com Calling All Alumnae Do you have photos of the Sigma Kappa chapter house? The Valerie Perrine Nason '98 recently moved to Sigma Kappa house corporation board is asking alumnae to send Daytona Beach with her two sons, Toby and photos of the chapter house for a special project. Photos can be Brandon, after living and teaching in Georgia for sent by e-mail to btcorpationboard@gmail.com or to Sigma Kappa 10 years. Valerie is now a store manager for her Beta Tau, 5745 SW 75 Street #202, Gainesville, FL 32608. family business, Perrine's Produce, which has been in business for more than 29 years. E-mail: v.s.nason@gmail.com Jennifer Grinnan Lyons '04 was married to VISIT US ONLINE Derek Lyons on April 18. The couple resides in Gainesville, Fla., and Jen serves as the Beta btcorporationboard@gmail.com Tau House Corporation President. E-mail: jenniferannegrinnan@yahoo.com Beta Tau University of Florida SIGMA KAPPA www.btcorporationboard.com Danielle Dwyer Coker '08 was married on www.sigmakappauf.com February 28 in Jacksonville, Fla., to Jack Coker ufl.sigmakappa.org III, who is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. The couple resides in Jacksonville, where Danielle Sigma Kappa - Beta Tau Housing Corporation is a meeting and event planner for the Wounded f Warrior Project. E-mail: dcoker1987@gmail.com Sigma Kappa at the Univeristy of Florida Voices Strong Hearts United Laurel Marzek Boedeker '09 was married @SK_BTcorpboard in Orlando this June. Laurel and her husband, Danny, met while working at Disney. The couple resides in Windermere, Fla. E-mail: P http://pinterest.com/skbetatauhc laurelboedeker@gmail.com