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Title:
Beta Tau Connection, Spring 2024
Description:
This newsletter summarizes the events and activities of Beta Tau Chapter at the University of Florida, including articles about the history of the chapter house and accomplishments made both collectively and by individual members.
Date/Date Range:
00/00/2024
People Mentioned/Pictured:
Watson, Jeanneen C. Coleman
Chapter:
Beta Tau
University:
University of Florida
Beta Tau Connection, Spring 2024
75
YEARS
Beta Jan ConnEKtion
Beta Tau Housing Corporation of Sigma Kappa at the University of Florida
Spring 2024
75 Years in gainesville
A HISTORY OF OUR HOUSE
S
ome may not know that the current building at 1108 E. Panhellenic is actually the third Beta Tau house at the University of Florida.
This means that through generations of Sigma Kappas at UF, nostalgia for "the house" may mean different things. One thing
remains constant, though. Beta Taus have always laughed, cried, learned, come together for common goals, and made sisters into friends
within the walls of their house.
For our chapter's 75th Jubilee, we look back to appreciate the history of our three houses. Each grand opening has been featured in the
Sigma Kappa Triangle for that year; these excerpts help tell the story of us.
SIGMA KAPPA TRIANGLE
Beta Jau "Eras"
1949
Inside this newsletter
you will see a tour of
pictures from years
I
past on every page!
1980s
The original
chapter house.
By Betty Jack James, Omega
I
t was an eventful weekend of April 1-3 in Gainesville, Florida, when four national sororities
were installed on the University of Florida campus, making a total of 11 chapters here
[including] our own Beta Tau [...].
Coeducation at the University is just beginning its second year. With only about one hundred girls
going through rushing, Beta Tau has every reason to be proud of its ten college initiates and six
alumnae initiates. This brings the college chapter membership to seventeen with three pledges.
Center of activities was
WU145 CGN PD=PULLMAN WASH APR 1 1949 1018A
the newly decorated
SS CAROLYN COFER:
sorority house at 1038
=SIGMA KAPPA HOUSE 1038W UNION=
W. Union. [...] Several
hundred guests called
BST WISHES TO OUR NEW SIGMA SISTER
UF
during the afternoon to
=ALPHA TAU CHAPTER OF MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE
pay respects to Sigma
Kappa's youngest child-
2010s
An Alpha Tau sister at Michigan State sends her
Beta Tau.
regards to welcome the new chapter to UF.
Beta Tau
2
SIGMA KAPPA TRIANGLE
Beta
Jau
Eras
Tour:
1950-70s
SPRING 1955
SIGMA
KAPPA
The second chapter house opened on Panhellenic Drive in 1955.
By Martha Ann Jolley, Beta Tau
T
he University of Florida has officially dedicated its new sorority row, Panhellenic Drive.
The first sororities to complete their new homes on the row are Sigma Kappa, Alpha Delta
Pi, Zeta Tau Alpha, Alpha Omicron Pi, and Delta Gamma. [...] The distance from sorority row
to the heart of campus is approximately six blocks at the present time, but with the anticipated
growth and expansion of the university, it is expected that within five years, the heart of campus
will be "just across the street."
The new $130,000 Monterey-style Sigma Kappa house is truly beautiful. Facing south with
an east-west wing, it stands on one of the largest lots on the row, approximately one-half acre
in size. [...] The main entrance leads directly into the living room, which is most attractively
decorated in spray blue and white. [...] The focal point of the living room is the fireplace,
above which is a beautiful bronze and copper SK crest.
25-Year Sisters Honored
D
uring recent celebration brunches, the following sisters received their 25-year pins.
Congratulations on this sisterhood milestone!
Jennifer Leak '89
Jennifer Keil '94
Kristen Carter '90
Shana Luskin Reh '95
Gayle Pollack Greenberg '93
Lainey Klein Loeb '96
Sarah Decker Johnson '93
Michelle Haas Kabak '97
Alison Carner Miransky '93
Ilene Rotman Wexler '98
Dana Auerbach Rubenstein '93
A special congratulations to Alysa Korn Abzug, Omega, FSU, who also received her
25-year pin while attending brunch with her BT daughter, Brooke Abzug '16!
Did you know that Beta Tau Corporation Board honors all 25- and 50-year members with
a pinning ceremony at every alumnae event we host? If you've been a sister for a terrific
25 (or more) or fabulous 50 (or more) years, come join us for an event! We'd love to
honor you too!
Sigma Kappa
3
SIGMA KAPPA
SIGMA KAPPA TRIANGLE
SUMMER 2017
By Susan Etheridge Hadden, Epsilon Epsilon
T
he University of Florida began admitting female full-time students
in 1947, and by 1949, 11 sororities had established chapters. One of
the original 11, Beta Tau Chapter of Sigma Kappa received their charter
A 2024 UPDATE
in 1949 and celebrated the opening of their first house in 1955 [...],
In 2014, Jennifer Grinnan Lyons '04, then Corporation
designed to accommodate then-average chapter sizes of 10-25 women.
Board president, led the team of alumnae and active sisters
who first envisioned, raised, and secured funding, and
Located at 1108 E. Panhellenic Drive, the house served the chapter
contracted the build of our current chapter house. Ten
well for more than 60 years. In recent years, however, as chapter sizes
years later, she looks back on those efforts as "very much
ballooned to well-over 250 women, it was evident that despite interior
a labor of love. We cared about spaces being functional,
renovations, the house could no longer comfortably accommodate the
aesthetically pleasing, and enjoyable for future sisters to
needs of the growing chapter. [...] The original two-story house was
love being in, grow, and thrive there." That goal became
demolished in October 2015, making way for the construction of a
a reality and a guiding principle as the Corporation Board
three-story, 25,300-square-foot house, built at a cost of $6.2 million.
explores future house updates and renovations.
[...] [The] red brick and cast stone Greek revival-style house sits on a
corner lot and has three inviting facades to greet onlookers. The main
entry welcomes members and guests to a two-story porch fitted with a
Beta
Juliet balcony and a pair of classic porch swings.
Jan
Eras
Tour:
1980s
Gators
Beta
Beta Tau
Jan
Eras
Tour:
4
1990s
ANNOUNCING A
2024
HOUSE
MAKEOVER
A
S the history of our home through the years
proves, our beautiful house is the heart of
the chapter. It's the first impression for potential
new members, a comfortable haven for active
sisters, and a welcoming space for alumnae.
The Corporation Board is thrilled to announce
two significant improvements in 2024 that will
ensure Beta Tau remains beautiful, safe, and
competitive on campus.
Redecoration activities targeting the foyer
and informal living room are expanding
and will definitely deliver a "wow!"
Beta Jau Eras Tour:
factor. The designer's plans include fresh
décor, new furniture, upgraded lighting,
2000s
and a soft, contemporary color palette that
will reimagine the spaces in time for 2024
fall recruitment.
Our home must be safe and secure as well
as gorgeous. This summer, our current
alarm equipment will be replaced with an
upgraded system featuring new biometric
fingerprint scanners for exterior doors,
motion detectors, and new/additional
video cameras.
Living room mood board, courtesy
of Raegan Ford Design.
Sigma Kappa
5
Celebrating 75 Years
BETA TAU BIRTHDAY BRUNCHES
T
he first two (of what we hope will be many!) 75th birthday
If you're interested in hosting or learning more, contact
brunches were held in South Florida and Atlanta on March 9, 2024.
btcorpboardAR@gmail.com. We'll help you get started
Participants enjoyed a great meal, meeting new friends, and sharing
and connect with sisters in your area.
stories and memories of their years in Sigma Kappa. Rumor has it that
both events were SO popular they may become a regular thing!
Big thanks to Denise Stilts Abreu '86 and Lisa Goldstein '93 for being
Stay up to date
such fabulous hosts.
on these and all Beta Tau 75th Jubilee events at
sites.google.com/view/betataucorpboard/home
Missed the fun? Live in another area? It's not too late! Whether you
or scan the QR code!
live in Florida, Texas, California, or anywhere in between, hosting,
co-hosting, or attending a brunch is stress-free, easy, and fun!
Atlanta-area sisters are joined by a couple
South Florida Sigma Kappas enjoy a lovely day for brunch.
surprise Florida and Colorado alumnae!
Beta
Tau
Eras
Tour:
2010s
ALUMNAE
Alumnae show
Petatan
off their letters at
Beta Tau
6
the 2023 Summer
Sleepover.
Beta Jan Eras Tour:
TODAY!
IT'S TIME TO RSVP FOR
Summer Sleepover
T
he fourth annual Beta Tau Alumnae Summer Sleepover is almost here, and you won't want
to miss it! This year we're celebrating 75 years with a throwback theme.
When:
June 7-9, 2024
Where:
UF Sigma Kappa Beta Tau house
Registration deadline:
Friday, May 31
Your weekend includes two nights' private
SCAN THE QR CODE
accommodation in the chapter house, Friday catered
dinner, Saturday continental breakfast and midday
TO RSVP TODAY.
brunch, and Sunday catered breakfast. Note that
Or visit: tinyurl.com/sksleepover
Saturday dinner is self-pay.
The deadline to book is May 31,
and attendance is $200 per person.
Preview of Weekend Events
Friday features a 75th birthday bash that includes
a retro buffet at the house, catered by Gainesville
classic eatery, Leonardo's. Enjoy games, a movie
night, house tours, and more that will awaken
fond memories of your time at Beta Tau.
Saturday begins with a continental breakfast for
early risers, followed by a leisurely brunch at
Spurrier's Gridiron Grill (because who represents
Gator history better than the head ball coach
himself?). You'll have free time in the afternoon
to grab some sisters and explore Gainesville,
create a masterpiece with our "Painting with a
Sigma Kappa" activity, or just hang out and relax.
We'll regroup for dinner and libations at The
Swamp, another local UF favorite since 1994.
We wrap up Sunday with a tasty catered breakfast
at the house and a sisterhood ceremony for any
25- or 50-year milestones.
Questions? Contact btcorpboardAR@gmail.com.
We are always glad to see sisters
reconnect at our annual sleepovers!
Sigma Kappa
SISTERHOOD IS FOREVER!
Sixty Years of Friendship, by Carol Bogan Steiner '63
O
ver the past 60 years, my Sigma Kappa Beta Tau sisters Julie O'Connor
Since then, we have gotten together every year-except during the
Robbins '63, Judy Pofahl Skinner '63, Sally Sitar Swaringen '63,
COVID year -when we exchanged travel for ZOOM meetings!
Janice Hotchkiss Wilsky '63, Sandy Reed Bartling '64, Janice Luther
Carver '65, Mary Kay Struthers Habgood '65, Lynn Hill Meier '65, and
MAINTAINING BETA TAU BONDS
I have shared and celebrated weddings, births, anniversaries, and retirements.
We celebrated 50 years as Sigma Kappa Beta Tau sisters by traveling to
We have supported each other through the loss of a husband, sibling, parent,
the national parks in the Northwest. That was very special because 50
and Sigma Kappa sister. Our bond of friendship and sisterhood has become
years prior, two of us had visited Yellowstone National Park after the
what we call "The Traveling Sigma Kappas."
Sigma Kappa College Officers Training School in Ogden, Utah, in 1963.
When we turned 70, we went to Ireland to celebrate. In 12 days, we
Our story began when we pledged Sigma Kappa at the University of
experienced the feel of a land thousands of years old and visited historic
Florida. Our bond of friendship grew during our college years. We
castles, cathedrals, ruins, and burial grounds with gravestones dating
married, graduated, and moved to different cities, but we kept in touch
back to the 4th century of people who settled in Ireland.
through cards, phone calls, and occasional visits.
Since then, we have primarily met in one place, rented a house or condo,
CONNECTED BEYOND COLLEGE
enjoyed good restaurants, and taken in the local sights. In 2017, we
The year we turned 50, we gave Julie a surprise birthday party. We
watched the eclipse from Sally's house in South Carolina, the perfect
talked and laughed as if it were only yesterday that we were Sigma
location. Recently, we enjoyed the beaches at Jekyll Island, Georgia,
Kappa sisters living in the chapter house. We decided we needed to get
and Reddington Beach, Florida. We also visited one of our sisters who
together more often.
cannot travel with us anymore. In September 2024, the original four of
us (Julie Robbins, Carol Steiner, Sally Swaringen, and Janice Wilsky)
Seven years later, we gathered at Unicoi State Park in Georgia. We
are celebrating 80 with a trip to Mackinac Island, Michigan.
talked, laughed, and explored the local area. We noticed on that first trip
that Sally and Julie fell right back into their familiar habit of finishing
It is hard to believe that we are turning 80! It seems like only yesterday
each other's sentences. When we looked at their feet, we laughed and
when we were at UF and living at the Sigma Kappa house. Although our
said, "You are wearing the very same shoes." It is surprising how the
traveling troupe varies from year to year, the common ingredients are
friendship bonds formed in our college years and watered a little with
friendship, sharing life experiences, laughter, and good food. We truly
cards and visits are strong and long-lasting.
share One Heart and One Way. Who knows where you will find us next,
but we will be talking, laughing, and smiling.
The year we turned 60, we traveled to Paris. What a fun trip we had,
finding our way to all those places we had only dreamed of. After 60, we
If you are a Beta Tau sister from the '60s and want to join us, email
decided that we needed to get together every year to renew our bond of
Carol Bogan Steiner at carolsteiner@hotmail.com.
friendship by sharing our life experiences, feeling the hugs, hearing the
laughs, and seeing the smiles.
Alumnae sisters visit Shenandoah National Park. Sitting, from left:
Beta Tau alumnae celebrate 70th birthdays in Ireland. From left:
Julie O'Connor Robbins '63, Janice Hotchkiss Wilsky '63,
LeeAnn Brien (friend), Lynn Hill Meier '65, Janice Hotchkiss Wilsky '63
Sally Sitar Swaringen '63, and Carol Bogan Steiner '63.
and John Wilsky, Susan (friend), Julie O'Connor Robbins '63, Nancy (friend),
Standing: Lynn Hill Meier '65 and Sandy Reed Bartling '64.
Sandy Reed Bartling '64, Jim Steiner and Carol Bogan Steiner '63,
Phil Swaringen, Jeff (friend), and Sally Sitar Swaringen '63.
IMPORTANT
Beta Jau Conn EKtion
DATES
SPECIAL EDITION
J
oin us for an alumnae gathering this year and
75 Years of Beta Tau
check below to see how you donate to honor
our 75th anniversary!
- -1
Alumnae
Sigma Kappa, University of Florida
PRSRT FIRST CLASS
P.O. Box 442100
U.S. POSTAGE
Summer
Lawrence, KS 66044-2100
PAID
MAILED FROM
JUNE
Sleepover
ZIP CODE 66044
PERMIT #570
See inside for more details.
Address Service Requested
June 7-9
I
Sigma Kappa
National
Convention
JULY
Boston
July 10-13
Alumnae
Tailgate and
SEPT.
Touchdowns
September 14
Give a Gift for Our 75th
Beta Jau "Eras"
T
o help celebrate this important anniversary year, we invite all alumnae
to support Beta Tau by funding our wish list items for the house. Let's
give the chapter a gift for our 75th!
Inside this newsletter you will
see a tour of pictures from years
Your contribution will help install new hanging front porch swings to
replace those that were previously damaged and removed as well as build
past on every page!
a shelter over the back patio cycle parking to protect scooters and bikes
from the elements.
Please consider donating in your name or in memory of a sister who is no
longer with us. Donors/memorials will be included on a Beta Tau Sigma
Kappa 75th/150th commemorative plaque, displayed at the house upon
completion of these projects.
Select from three donor levels*:
BETA TAU - $75 to honor 75 years of BT sisterhood at UF
NATIONAL - $150 to honor 150 years of Sigma Kappa Sorority
SIGMA KAPPA - $225 in honor of both BT and SK
*All donations stay within our chapter and will fund house projects.
Scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/sk75giving to
learn more and donate. Sharing your gift by June 30
allows the Corporation Board to complete these projects
TITLES
by the start of the 2024-25 school year.
1950s
TODAY!
Questions? Contact Sharon Gossett Hamilton '88
at skhamilton0714@gmail.com.
SCAN ME!
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Beta Tau Connection, Spring 2024
This newsletter summarizes the events and activities of Beta Tau Chapter at the University of Florida, including articles about the history of the chapter house and accomplishments made both collectively and by individual members.
Details
This newsletter summarizes the events and activities of Beta Tau Chapter at the University of Florida, including articles about the history of the chapter house and accomplishments made both collectively and by individual members.