Today & Forever - Zeta Tau Alpha

A ZTA Resource for Continued Values-Based Education

Today and forever we’ll be Zetas true 

We’ll honor our colors the grey and the blue. 

A million tomorrows will all pass away 

Ere we forget all the joys that we have today. 

Introduction to the Program 

Our nine young Founders set out to start something different. Their search ultimately led them to 

creating Zeta Tau Alpha with the motto, the patron goddess Themis, the badge and the ritual. The 

purpose and values they created in 1898 still remain true today. 

The Zeta Is Forever new member program is our introduction to the values of Zeta Tau Alpha. Yet, 

membership in Zeta Tau Alpha is forever and exploring personal and ZTA values will also be a 

lifelong experience. We’ve assembled this resource to help you continue values-based education 

throughout a member’s collegiate experience. The workshops included in Today and Forever: Living Our 

Values will help members dig deeper into our values and how they apply to our lives today. 

Understanding our values is important for every Zeta because they are the foundation that guides 

everything we do individually and as a chapter. In order for values to become an important part of 

your experience, we must practice examining our values and applying them in your everyday life. 

Today and Forever: Living Our Values teaches us to define our personal values, examine the meaning 

and symbols in our ritual, and make a commitment to always living our values. As Zetas, “Seek the 

Noblest” means becoming women of integrity whose actions match our values. 

Today & Forever: Living Our Values

Choose a workshop: Your chapter has several options in fulfilling the Crown Chapter Criteria requirement 

of one values-based program per year. You may facilitate one of the tailored programs included in this packet, 

create a values-based program of your own or you may attend an outside campus or fraternity and sorority 

speaker or program. 

Today & Forever: Living Our Values includes eight workshops focused on identification, exploration and 

reflection of personal values and ZTA values. They challenge each of us as Zetas to live our values every day 

individually and as a chapter. You should choose the workshop that best meets your chapter’s current needs. 

Each workshop is complete with a step-by-step guide for facilitation and handouts to copy for chapter 

members. All the resources you need for a successful chapter program are provided for you. 

See descriptions of the programs on page 3 of this section. 

Choose a facilitator(s) for the program: In order to truly dive into the content of our ritual and values, 

we recommend the facilitator be a collegiate or alumna member of ZTA. This could be an officer who is 

able to facilitate educational programming on the topic of values such as the ritual chairman or director of 

membership enrichment. It could also be an advisor; a professional on your campus, like a Fraternity and 

Sorority Advisor; or a ZTA volunteer, like the Province President or Traveling Leadership Consultant. These 

workshops are written so that they are easy to understand and facilitate. Be sure to ask the facilitator at least 

one month in advance, so she can adequately prepare for the presentation. 

Prepare for the program: The facilitator should read through the workshop several times in advance; 

prepare all materials and handouts; and get a good understanding values and rituals discussed in the College 

Service Book, new member program, The Creed, ZTA mission and purpose. 

Present the program! 

How the Program Works 

Evaluate the program: After each time a workshop is presented, please fill out a Today and Forever Program 

Evaluation. This should be submitted via our online survey tool. The link can be found on 

www.zetataualpha.org> Sisters Only> Resources> Collegiate Officers> Ritual Chairman 

Be sure to report the title of the workshop that was presented on the VPI Programming Report each 

semester (due Nov. 30 and April 15 each year). 


Workshop Topics 

Bringing The Creed to Life 

Developed by Heather Matthews Kirk, ZTA Director of Education & Communications 

Critically read The Creed and discuss your relationship to it based on how you spend time 

Cool Symbols, What Do They Mean to Me?: Discussion of the Ritual Equipment, Symbols and 

Meaning 

Developed by Dr. Mari Ann Callais, Speaker and Former National President of Theta Phi Alpha Fraternity 

Examine the meaning of the symbols used during ZTA ritual 

Evaluating the Role of Ritual 

Developed by Dr. Mari Ann Callais, Speaker and Former National President of Theta Phi Alpha Fraternity 

Understand the meaning of the ZTA ritual and how it is lived 

Ritual, Sisterhood, Party? 

Developed by Sigma Chi Fraternity; Modified by Mari Ann Callais, Speaker and Former National 

President of Theta Phi Alpha Fraternity 

Evaluate the priorities of ritual, sisterhood and partying in the chapter 

Values Congruence 

Developed by Heather Matthews Kirk, ZTA Director of Education & Communications 

Discuss the meaning of a values-based organization and how to align values and action 

What Affects Our Personal Values?: People and Experiences that Shape Our Lives 

Developed by Becky Koltonski, ZTA Coordinator of Education & Leadership Initiatives 

Identify personal board of directors and watershed moments and discuss how they affect our lives 

and personal values 

You Are Always Wearing ZTA Letters 


Read “You Are Always Wearing Your Letters” by T. J. Sullivan and create a commitment to always 

living ZTA values 

ZTA Ritual: Just a Book or a Living Thing? 


Watch “Secret Thoughts of the Ritual” video created by Cara Jenkins and compare the differences 

between a “static” and “living” ritual in a chapter 


Understanding the Workshop Facilitation Guides 

Each workshop is complete with a step-by-step guide for facilitation and handouts to copy for chapter 

members. All the resources you need for a successful chapter program are provided for you! 

The front page of each workshop provides a preparation checklist. It explains: 

• Learning objectives for the program 

• Technical requirements and materials needed (flip chart, markers, projector) 

• Handouts to copy 

• Time needed to present the workshop 

• Ideal group size 

• Physical setting and room setup 

• Additional ways to prepare for the workshop 

The facilitation guides utilize symbols and tips to help you properly present the interactive workshops for 

the chapter. 

Learning Objectives: These outcomes show what knowledge and skills members should gain from 

participating. The facilitator should review these at the beginning and summarize them at the end 

of the workshop. 

Handout: It is time to distribute a handout/materials to participants. Handouts are provided for you 

at the end of each workshop, and black and white versions for copying are provided in the Resources & 

Handouts section. 

Write on Flip Chart: It is time to use a large pad of paper (flip chart) to illustrate examples or help 

participants brainstorm ideas and answers throughout the workshop. 

Open Discussion: It is time to prompt participants with open questions or dialogue for group discussion. 

Gear the questions toward the participants for them to answer, brainstorm and explore the material 

openly. 

Interactive Activity: It is time for an activity, like role playing or a game. These activities help 

participants feel more connected to the workshop’s concepts. 

Note to the Facilitator: 

• These notes provide tips and 

instruction as you facilitate the 

workshop. 

• The information included will help 

you pace the workshop, as well as 

facilitate intriguing discussion. 


The Role of the Facilitator 

Whether it’s your first time facilitating a chapter program or you have done this numerous times, review 

these tips and expectations prior to facilitating a Today & Forever: Living Our Values workshop. This will help you 

get comfortable with your role, as well as aid you in developing facilitation skills. 

Facilitation means making things easier for the participants. 

FACILITATION INCLUDES: 

• Supporting the workshop curriculum through completing the provided discussion and activities 

• Creating connections of shared information and experience 

• Helping participants get good information and affirmation 

• Providing focus and direction 

• Appropriately challenging and questioning participants 

AN EFFECTIVE FACILITATOR IS: 

• Well-prepared 

• Natural and genuine 

• Interested in the views of participants 

• Engaged in the discussion 

• Clear and non-judgmental in communication 

• Flexible and able to adapt to different situations 

• Knowledgeable about when she might need additional information to answer questions that arise 

• One who focuses on others, not on herself 

These are six keys and expectations for program facilitators: 

Effectively communicate 

by: 

Watch personal interjection 

during open discussion. Your 

remarks should simply: 

Encourage group 

participation by: 

Create a welcoming and 

inclusive atmosphere by: 

Guide the discussion by: 

Encourage participants to 

evaluate themselves by: 

• Expressing ideas clearly and accurately 

• Being attentive and showing lively interest in the subject 

• Being prepared for difficult confrontations and conversations 

• Knowing when to steer conversations into a serious tone 

• Call the group’s attention to helpful statements made by participants 

• Rephrase participant’s ideas/thoughts to clarify and reinforce 

• Summarize the group’s thoughts to create a bridge between topics 

• Ensuring participation by each group member 

• Ensuring that an individual(s) does not dominate the conversation 

• Maintaining eye contact with group members 

• Being alert to the body language and non-verbal clues from participants 

• Asking that participants respect each other’s opinions 

• Accepting and supporting differing views 

• Showing interest in the opinion’s of all participants 

• Encouraging freedom of expression without reproach 

• Providing the “meat” of the workshop, the information provided, without dominating 

open discussion periods 

• Listening critically to identify points that are puzzling and challenging for the group 

• Directing the discussion away from inappropriate remarks and privately speaking 

with those who make them 

• Asking participants to summarize key points in their own words 

• Helping them to look deeper into the current reality of their chapter or their actions 

• Asking them to think about how the discussion could affect future behavior 

• Encouraging them to reflect on and explain how their ideas/opinions have changed 


Learning Objectives: 

1. To understand how The Creed and ZTA values relate to everyday life. 

2. To map how you spend your time as a student and member of ZTA and how that relates to the core 

values of ZTA. 

Handouts: 

The Creed 

Week in Review Worksheet 

Time Needed: 

40 minutes 

Group Size: 

Entire chapter 

Physical Setting: 

Any facility where the group can sit comfortably, facing the facilitator 

Preparation: 

Copy The Creed and Week in Review handout for each chapter member. 

Ask the chapter members to bring a pen or pencil. 

Bringing the Creed to Life 

Developed By Heather Matthews Kirk, 

Zeta Tau Alpha Director of Education & Communications

INTRODUCTION (5 minutes) 

The facilitator should introduce the program topic. Ask for the audience’s attention and interaction during the 

discussion. 

How do you make decisions? What is your road map as a member of ZTA? If you didn’t have a New 

Member Educator, an Executive Committee, a Big Sister, a chapter advisor, Province President/ 

Mentor or Director of New Chapters to provide advice, what would guide you? 

One of our ZTA roadmaps was first introduced to Zeta Tau Alpha at the 11th National Convention 

in 1928. Shirley Kreasan Strout, an alumna of Tau Chapter at Millikin University, was charged by 

National Council to create a statement that embodied the principles of ZTA and spoke to our core 

values. This statement became The Creed of Zeta Tau Alpha. 

More than 80 years later, The Creed is one of the first things we teach new members, showing its 

importance to the organization. Wrapped up in this one sentence are our five core values and the 

charge to every Zeta to “Seek the Noblest” both in herself and others. 

CRITICALLY READING THE CREED ACTIVITY (5 minutes) 

I will pass out copies of The Creed for you to write on. Let’s take a closer look to see how it directly 

relates to you as a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. 

Please distribute copies of The Creed. Call out the following instructions slowly. Give members time between 

each to complete the task. 

Circle the words that speak to you and mean something to you personally whether in ZTA or not. 

These are the words that you think you live out on a daily basis. 

Underline the words that you would like to do a better job of “living.” 

Box the parts you think that the chapter does a great job of “living.” 

Put a squiggly line under the words that you think the chapter needs to do a better job of “living.” 

THE CREED DISCUSSION (5 minutes) 

Pose these questions one by one to the group and ask participants to share answers. 

How do you think The Creed relates to you personally in your life? 

How are the values within The Creed expressed as a chapter? 

How do other people see our values expressed in The Creed? 

How do you integrate what The Creed teaches into our daily interactions as a chapter? 

How do we do a better job of “living” our Creed as a chapter? 

Do you spend most of your time working on things that relate to our Creed, our mission and our 

purpose? 

The goal is to create an understanding that The Creed is an everyday tool through calendar planning, 

budgeting, meeting discussions, the decision making of EC and PC, and accountability of members who have 

negative attitudes or behaviors that counteract The Creed. 


DO OUR VALUES MATCH OUR ACTIONS ACTIVITY (5 minutes) 

As we reviewed, Zeta Tau Alpha is a values-based organization; it was founded upon five core values 

which are revealed in our Ritual (state them if all members present have been initiated; if not use the values 

taught in the new member program). Our new member program, Post-Initiate Education, Links program, 

The Creed and Ritual teach and reinforce these values. 

ZTA leaders who “walk their talk” and “do what they say they will do” will have credibility and 

integrity among their chapter, fraternity/sorority community, college or university, parents, and 

alumnae. To build this credibility and integrity, it means living our values day in and day out. Let’s 

reflect on our actions and how we use our time during a given week. 

Please distribute copies of the Week in Review Worksheet. 

Think about how you spend your time in an average week. Let’s use the Week in Review worksheet 

to chart what you did each day last week—write down what you did each day and how much time 

you spent on each activity. Think of everything from the time you woke up to when you went 

to bed. This can include classes, work, ZTA activities, other organizations’ events and meetings, 

volunteering, family time, free time, socializing, etc. 

Go back to The Creed handout that you marked up a few minutes ago. How do the activities you 

mapped out relate to the ZTA values that you said really “spoke to you,” that were important to you 

to live out? These are the words you CIRCLED. 

DO OUR VALUES MATCH OUR ACTIONS DISCUSSION (15 minutes) 

Pose these questions one by one to the group and ask participants to share answers. 

Think about how much time you are spending on things that you value personally and that 

exemplify of our Creed. 

Are you truly living your values? 

Are you spending time on what you value? 

Are you “walking your talk” in terms of the ZTA sister The Creed calls for? 

We all know that things like cleaning or homework may seem hard to fit into values-based 

categories, but the real testament this activity seeks to make is: are you spending time, energy, 

resources and more on the things that YOU value, on the things that ZTA has taught you to value? 

CONCLUSION (5 minutes) 

Conclude with everyone saying The Creed together. 

Can we all make a commitment to living The Creed more fully through our everyday actions? 


The Creed of Zeta Tau Alpha 

“To realize that within our grasp, in Zeta Tau Alpha, lies the 

opportunity to learn those things which will ever enrich and ennoble 

our lives; to be true to ourselves, to those within and without our 

circle; to think in terms of all mankind and our service in the world; 

to be steadfast, strong, and clean of heart and mind, remembering 

that since the thought is father to the deed, only that which we would 

have manifested in our experience should be entertained in thought; 

to find satisfaction in being, rather than seeming, thus strengthening 

in us the higher qualities of the spirit; to prepare for service and learn 

the nobility of serving, thereby earning the right to be served; to seek 

understanding that we might gain true wisdom; to look for the good 

in everyone; to see beauty, with its enriching influence; to be humble 

in success, and without bitterness in defeat; to have the welfare and 

harmony of the Fraternity at heart, striving ever to make our lives a 

symphony of high ideals, devotion to the Right, the Good, and the True, 

without a discordant note; remembering always that the foundation 

precept of Zeta Tau Alpha was Love, “the greatest of all things.” 

Today & Forever: Living Our Values 

− Shirley Kreasan Strout

Sunday 

Monday 

Tuesday 

Wednesday 

Thursday 

Friday 

Saturday 

Week in Review 



1. To examine the meaning of the symbols used during ZTA Ritual. 

2. To interpret what the symbols mean to each member. 

3. To make a commitment to living the symbols and values in their everyday life. 

Technical Requirements: 

Ritual equipment 

College Service Book 

Time Needed: 

30 minutes 

Cool Symbols, What Do They Mean to Me? 

Discussion of Ritual Equipment, Symbols and Meaning 

Developed By Dr. Mari Ann Callais 

Speaker and Former National President of Theta Phi Alpha 

Group Size: 

Initiated members—because this workshop reviews elements from the Initiation Service, new 

members may not be present. 

The facilitator must also be an initiated collegiate or alumna member—a vigilant ritual chairman 

and/ or advisor. 


Make certain that you are in a secure room as if you were conducting the Initiation Service. Dim 

the lights in the room—use low lighting or candles. Have everyone sit in a circle or semi-circle with 

Ritual equipment either on a table or on the floor in the middle of the room. 

Preparation: 

Line up the symbols (the equipment used in the Initiation Service) on a table in the middle of the 

room, so everyone can see them easily.



discussion. 

Try to remember your very first Initiation Service. Think about what you remember from each 

part. What did you see? How did it make you feel? What were you able to absorb from the first time 

hearing our Ritual? 

It’s difficult; isn’t it? After hearing it the first time, it’s hard to understand all of the meaning of our 

Ritual. In order to truly understand the meaning of the symbols in the Ritual and how the Ritual 

applies to our daily lives, we will look deeper into our Initiation Service or other ritual ceremonies. 

RITUAL EQUIPMENT DISCUSSION (20 minutes) 

When facilitating these questions, try to get as many 

members engaged in the discussion as possible. This might 

mean that you have to call on people. Hopefully, they will 

open up and discuss opening and honestly. 

What does our Ritual state that these symbols mean or 

represent? 

Go through each piece of equipment and read a description of the symbol from the College Service Book. 

What do these symbols mean to you? 

Why do you think our Founders chose these particular symbols? 

What are some examples of what these symbols mean in your life? 

At this point, try to get the members to open up about their interpretation of the symbols and what they mean 

to them. For example, say an ordinary brick is one of the symbols. (This is just an example and has no relevance 

to the Ritual.) 

What is the significance of a brick? 

What is it made of? 

How is it made? 

By itself it is just a brick, but when put together with other bricks, it creates a foundation, a home, a walkway, 

etc. What happens if it is cracked? 

What if the mortar is not mixed well and it does not hold? 

How does the brick reflect the lives of our individual chapter members and/or our chapter? 

This is just one example, but it will help the chapter members to begin to see that the symbols in the Ritual are 

not just symbols, but have a direct link to their day-to-day lives. 


You may read a special part of the ceremony, maybe a poem that is included that has special meaning or is 

everyone’s favorite part. 

Conclude with everyone saying The Creed or motto. Ask everyone to make a commitment to living these symbols 

and values. You may want to do a rededication of the oath they took in pledging or initiation. 


In preparation: 

Line up the symbols (the equipment 

used in the Initiation Service) on a 

table in the middle of the room, so 

everyone can see them easily.


1. To understand the meaning of the ZTA ritual. 

2. To identify how the members and the chapter live the ritual and do not live the ritual. 

3. To create a commitment to how the chapter plans to live the ritual. 

Handouts: 

Small Group Facilitation Guide 

Time Needed: 

35 minutes 

Group Size: 




Preparation: 

Choose small group facilitators. The majority of this workshop is conducted in small groups of 

about 10 to enable deeper discussion and a high level of participation by each person. You will need 

enough facilitators to work with groups of 10 members. Choose Zetas who you trust to lead dynamic 

conversations. 

Meet with the facilitators before this activity to review the purpose of the workshop and questions in 

the Small Group Facilitation Guide. 

Copy the Small Group Facilitation Guide for each group. 


in Your Chapter 

Developed By Dr. Mari Ann Callais, 

Speaker and Former National President of Theta Phi Alpha


The facilitator should introduce the program topic. 

Ask for the audience’s attention and interaction 

during the discussion. 

Talking about our ritual will lead to a deeper 

understanding of its meaning. We learn how 

to apply it to everyday life, and then we expect 

that from other people. Like going back to 

your favorite book, movie or album, it looks 

differently every time you discuss it. Because you are in a different place in your life with new 

experiences, your perspective has changed. Whether you are a new initiate, a senior or an alumna, 

discussing the ritual is critical to remaining centered to ZTA values and incorporating them into 

your everyday life. Today we will discuss the meaning and role of ritual in the chapter in small 

groups and as a large group. 

Break the chapter up in small groups of about 10 sisters. Select the groups at random by counting off members. 

Each group should appoint a recorder to share its responses during the large group discussion. 

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (20 minutes) 

What is ritual? What do most feel is considered ritual? Initiation, The Creed, motto, other ceremonies? 

What is its meaning? 

What do most of our members believe ritual is really about? 

What do you and the chapter members believe is the purpose of ritual? 

Who is responsible to learn it, know it? 

Who is responsible to live it? 

What is the difference between performing ritual and practicing or living it? 

How can ritual be taught? 

What is the importance and meaning of our ceremonies? 

Why are the performance, attire and equipment important to how the ritual is received? 

How do we live ritual? 

How do we not live the ritual? 

How do we hold one another accountable by understanding and using the concepts found in our ritual? 

You may want to ask a question that is relevant to something specific going on with your chapter. For example: 

How does ritual fit with our last social event? 

LARGE GROUP DISCUSSION (10 minutes) 

When all groups have completed their discussions, ask everyone come together as a large group. Ask them for 

feedback or pose the small group questions to the large group and ask participants to share answers. 


Ritual is what ties all Zetas together. It is our responsibility to understand what it tells us and live it 

in our actions. If you could give ritual a role to play in your life, what would it be? Would it be your 

guide, compass, friend or teacher? Ritual can play different roles for each of us. By discussing what 

that role is, we can truly evaluate what the role of ritual is in our lives. 



• Choose small group facilitators. 

• Meet with them to review the 

purpose of the workshop and 

the Small Group Facilitation 

Guide.

As small group facilitators, you will lead groups of about 10 sisters through thoughtful relfection about our ritual. We 

are seeking to help them understand how it is relevant to our daily lives and what it means to “live the ritual.” Use these 

questions to guide your 20-minute discussion. Take notes on this facilitation guide (or ask another small group member to 

take notes) because you will share the group’s thoughts with the chapter. 

What is ritual? What do most feel is considered ritual? Initiation, The Creed, motto, other ceremonies? 

What is its meaning? 

What do most of our members believe ritual is really about? 

What do you and the chapter members believe is the purpose of ritual? 

Who is responsible to learn it, know it? 

Who is responsible to live it? 



What is the difference between performing ritual and practicing or living it? 


How can ritual be taught? 

What is the importance and meaning of our ceremonies? 

Why are the performance, attire and equipment important to how the ritual is received? 

How do we live ritual? 

How do we not live the ritual? 



How do we hold one another accountable by understanding and using the concepts found in our ritual? 



1. To examine individual and chapter priorities among ritual, sisterhood and socials. 

2. To understand how ritual should be a priority for the chapter. 

3. To make a commitment to prioritize the ritual. 


College Service Book (The ritual chairman must take special care with the College Service Book.) 

Lettered T-shirt (or any item with ZTA letters) 

Bottle (empty, recommended be from generic non-alcohol product without label) 

Time Needed: 

30 minutes 

Group Size: 


Ritual, Sisterhood, Party? 

Developed By Sigma Chi Fraternity 

Adapted by Dr. Mari Ann Callais, 

Speaker and Former National President of Theta Phi Alpha 


Any facility where the group can sit comfortably, facing the facilitator



discussion. 

A priority is defined as what we give precedence. It is where we spend our time, money and energy. 

We put other things aside when a priority comes up. They may become priorities through a 

conscious or unconscious decision. Either way, everyone has them. Today, we will discuss priorities 

of the chapter through an activity. 

RITUAL, SISTERHOOD, PARTY? ACTIVITY (15 minutes) 

Ask for three to five volunteers. Try to get members of different ages or friend groups. You will walk through the 

exercise/questions with each person. Point out the similarities and differences between their answers as you go. 

Each person will come to the front of the room and answer the questions I ask by moving these three 

objects. The book symbolizes ritual, the T-shirt symbolizes sisterhood and the bottle symbolizes 

partying. After each question, move them around if necessary. 

How do you think we currently prioritize these items — ritual, sisterhood and partying? Put them in 

order to show us. 

What are the chapter’s priorities on an average Saturday night? 

What are the chapter’s priorities during recruitment? 

What are the chapter’s priorities during spring break? 

What are the chapter’s priorities at socials? 

How do you think these priorities build or influence each other (stack to show us)? 

What would you like the priorities to be? 

What are the priorities for you personally? 

What do you think that they are for other chapter members? 

What were the priorities (a year ago, two years ago, etc.)? 

What are they now? 

Why did you put them in that order? 

RITUAL, SISTERHOOD, PARTY? DISCUSSION (10 minutes) 

What patterns did you see in our priorities as a chapter? 

Why do you see our priorities this way? 

What should our priorities be? 

What can we do TODAY to change our priorities, so if we did this activity in one year, they would be 

different? 

Integrity is about being the same person out on Saturday night that you are in class Monday 

morning. It’s about having a changeless core inside of you built on an understanding of your own 

personal values. While your environment may change, you stay true to those values. This is the same 

for the sorority. Ritual is the changeless core inside of our sisterhood. We may do different events or 

go different places, but our actions and priorities should stay true to our ritual. 



This activity shows us the value and priorities between ritual, sisterhood and partying. Let’s take it 

one step further. 

What would the sorority look like if sisterhood was in place of the ritual? Not only as a priority, but if 

sisterhood was literally in place of the content of the ritual. The sorority would have ceremonies that 

describe the values of sisterhood—trust, communication or loyalty. The sorority’s mission statement 

would describe the commitment to sisterhood. Symbols would show what sisterhood means to the 

sorority. 

Now, imagine that partying is in place of ritual. There would be ceremonies to describe the 

values of partying—drinking, celebrating or escaping. The mission statement would describe the 

organization’s commitment to partying. Symbols would show what partying means to the sorority. 

The reality is that ritual and the values it describes really are our changeless core. The ritual outlines 

our symbols, mission statement, purpose and Creed. It outlines how we should live out our daily lives 

in order to “Seek the Noblest.” When the ritual is the foundation for all that we do, when living its 

values is our top priority, we are at our strongest. 

Let’s remember the commitment we made today to prioritize our ritual as a chaper. 



1. To analyze the application of personal values into the actions of daily life. 

2. To assess the level of congruence between ZTA values and the chapter’s actions. 

3. To create ways to hold themselves to the commitment of acting in congruence with ZTA values. 


Flip chart paper and markers 

Time Needed: 

30 minutes 

Group Size: 




Preparation: 

Write the definition of a values-based organization and the definition of values congruence on 

separate sheets of flip chart paper. 


Values Congruence 

Developed By Heather Matthews Kirk, 

Zeta Tau Alpha Director of Education & Communications 

Bring sheets of paper for chapter members to write their personal values.


The facilitator should introduce the program topic. Ask 

for the audience’s attention and interaction during the 

discussion. 

What makes us different than any other student 

organization on campus? What makes Zeta Tau 

Alpha unique? 

Allow time for participants to answer. This should be their answer: Our values given to us through our ritual 

Our values are what shape us as an organization. They are the foundation for everything that we do 

and are shown through our actions. Today, we will be discussing the role of values in our chapter. 

Personal values are what make us unique as individuals. We’ll start by discussing what each of us 

values. Please list your top five personal values on the sheet of paper. 

ROLE OF VALUES DISCUSSION (15 minutes) 

What are some of the things that you value as an individual value? 

Where do your values come from? 

How have they developed over the course of your life? 

Have other people had an influence over your personal values? 

How do your personal values guide your everyday life? 

Are there times when it is okay to ignore your values? 

Summarize the values of the individual conversation and move to the next set of questions. 

Do you think Zeta Tau Alpha is a values-based organization? 

If participants answer “no” to this question, be prepared to discuss the values contained in ritual. 

What are some of the things that you value as a chapter? 

List answers on flip chart. 

Where do ZTA values come from? 

Where can you go to find out what ZTA stands for? 

Allow time for group discussion. The following points should be made: 

• Ritual 

• Alumnae 

• Mission statement 

• Purpose statement 

• The Creed 

• Constitution and Bylaws of Zeta Tau Alpha 

How do these personal values guide our everyday behavior? 

Are there times it is OK to ignore our values as a sorority? 

Read the definition of a values-based organization written on the flip chart. 

A values-based organization is a group that has its purpose deeply rooted in a strong set of values. 



Write the definition of a valuesbased 

organization and the 

definition of values congruence 

on sheets of flip chart paper.

The actions and behaviors of the group and its members are guided by the values of the organization. 

Are values-based organizations still relevant today? 

Is it possible to live up the high standards/values embodied in our ritual? 

Are there times when as a fraternity/sorority that we ignore our values? 

DEFINING VALUES CONGRUENCE DISCUSSION (10 minutes) 

Read the definition of values congruence written on the flip chart. 

Congruence = Values and Actions being aligned. 

Are we living in congruence with the values that we say we hold so dear? 

Are our actions aligned with our values? 

What steps can we take TODAY to be in congruence with our values? 

List answers on flip chart. 


In order to have integrity as an organization, each of us is charged to do what you say and say what 

you do. Every choice and decision we make determines if Zeta Tau Alpha is truly a values-based 

organization. Let’s remember our commitment to change we made today to be a more values-based 

organization. What will you do individually to help make those changes happen? 

Decide what behaviors you are committed to change as an individual to ensure you do what you say 

and say what you do. 



1. To name the influential people in your life and their impact on your values. 

2. To describe pivotal moments in your life and how they have shaped your values. 

3. To analyze how your personal values interact with the chapter values. 

Handouts: 

Board of Directors Worksheet 

Watershed Moments Worksheet 

Time Needed: 

45 minutes 

Group Size: 


What Affects Our Personal Values?: 

People and Experiences that Shape Our Lives 


Any room that can fit the entire chapter, facing the facilitator 

Preparation: 

Copy the Board of Directors Worksheet and the Watershed Moments Worksheet for each chapter 

member. 


Developed By Becky Koltonski, 

Zeta Tau Alpha Coordinator of Education & Leadership Initiatives



discussion. 

With our busy lifestyles, it’s difficult for us to stop doing things all the time. We tend to believe 

that if we’re not doing something all day, we’re not being productive. But in order to grow in 

our leadership development, we need to take time to stop doing and think about ourselves. Once 

you have a better understanding of questions like—Who am I? What are my values? What is my 

purpose?—you can have a better understanding of what all the doing is about. 

Reflection can look like many things: writing in a journal, talking with family or friends, or thinking 

on your own. Today we’ll be reflecting by talking together on what has shaped our personal values. 

You will discuss how influential people and pivotal moments relate to our values. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACTIVITY (10 minutes) 

In each of our lives, each of us is the chairman of our own Board of Directors. A Board of Directors is 

a group of people that has general control for the direction, stability and viability of an organization. 

In this case, it is the individuals that help guide you in your life. Boards are typically made up of a 

chairman and members. Who would be on your board? Who influences your life and your decisions? 

Pass out the Board of Directors Worksheet. Ask participants to write the names of people who currently hold a 

seat on their Board of Directors. 

Who do you rely upon for guidance, support or advice? 

Who holds a chair of influence or control in your life? 

What values have they taught you? 

List each person separately. Once they have written the five members of their Board of Directors, read the 

following directions slowly while they write on their worksheets. 

• Is there someone who has veto power over any of your decisions? If so, put a “V” next to his/her 

name. 

• Underline the name of anyone who would not have been on your Board three years ago. 

• On the top of the page, list anyone who has been on your Board in the past three years but is no 

longer on your board. 

• Are there people who you would like on your Board who aren’t there now? If so, list them on the 

bottom of your page. 

• Circle the names of anyone on your Board whom you would like to remove. 

• If there are people who you want to be on your Board whom you haven’t let join, write their 

names and put a star next to their names (members of your peer group, etc.). 

• Draw a box around the person(s) who is the most likely chairman of your Board. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS DISCUSSION (10 minutes) 

What relationship do you have with the people on your Board? 

What does this activity tell you about the people closest to you? 

Why did you place certain people at any specific seat around your Board of Directors table? 

How have these individuals influenced the way you make decisions? 

Why have people left your board? Is there an opportunity for them to rejoin your board at a later time? 


How do you approach decision making, knowing that someone has the power to veto your decision? 

What do the members of your Board say about your values? 

If these people leave your Board, what impact would that have on your values? 

If you identified a co-chairman on your Board, what is your relationship to that person? What values 

do they bring to the Board? 

WATERSHED MOMENTS ACTIVITY (10 minutes) 

During the Board of Directors exercise, we talked about those people whose influence has helped 

shape your values. Now, we would like to give you the opportunity to reflect on pivotal turning 

points in your life that have further shaped who you are, how you view the world and how you lead 

others. 

These watershed moments could be single events or a series of related events. While they are not 

often apparent at the time, they can also emerge as obvious turning points over time and after 

reflection. Think about those moments in your life. Often, they are during life transitions. Some of 

you might be able to identify more than others, but certainly, all of you have experienced watershed 

moments. 

Pass out the Watershed Moments Worksheet. For each watershed moment, participants should answer the four 

questions in their worksheet. Give them ten minutes to complete the Watershed Moments Worksheet silently. 

Ask them to get into groups of three of people around them to discuss the responses. Encourage them to share 

more about the context and circumstances of their watershed moments than they might have written in their 

workbooks. This is the time to “drill down” into what makes them tick as leaders. Give them about five minutes 

to discuss. 

WATERSHED MOMENTS DISCUSSION (10 minutes) 

Watershed moments are ones that shape us as individuals through challenging circumstances, 

transitioning to a new phase in life, or developing us as individuals. Let’s discuss the impact these 

have made on each of us to understand more about how they affect our values. 

How might you be different in the absence of these watershed moments? 

How were your values shaped by your watershed moments? 

How does our chapter help you live out your values? 

What watershed moments have existed in ZTA’s history that made changes for the future? 

How have those watershed moments influenced us as a chapter? 

What do those say about your values as a chapter? 

How do our chapter’s values and your personal values interact? 


Looking to the future after graduation, your Board of Directors may change and you will experience 

more watershed moments in life. The same will be for your chapter. What would you like your 

legacy to be if members of your chapter did this activity 10 years from now? 50 years from now? 100 

years from now? Will your time be a positive watershed moment? Will they think about how you 

guided the chapter in good direction? Think about those questions throughout the year and how you 

have the power to influence the future not only for your own leadership development but also the 

chapter’s development. 


Values are the foundation of everything we do. In order to be an effective leader of others, you must first 

understand what makes you “tick” and why. 

This is your Board of Directors. Identify the men and women who sit on your board. These are individuals 

with various talents and perspectives who you admire, who have influenced you, who have helped mold 

your beliefs. These might be people you know or people you might not know personally, but leaders who 

have influenced you through their example. Write their names around the diagram and a value they have 

taught you. 

Person: 

Value: 

Person: 

Value: 

Person: 

Value: 

* Adapted from Delta Upsilon Fraternity 

Board of Directors Worksheet 

Person: 

Value: 

My Board 

of Directors 

Person: 

Value: 


Person: 

Value:

Watershed moments are critical turning points and events that shape who you are, how you view the world, 

and how you lead others. 

Watershed moments are sometimes single events and sometimes a series of related events. While they are 

often apparent at the time, they can also emerge as obvious turning points over time after reflection. 

Use the first cube as a template for completing the four blank boxes. 

How has this event changed you as 

an individual? 

What value(s) has this event 

reinforced? 

Watershed Moments Worksheet 

Watershed Moment 

Place your significant moment here. 


* Adapted from the North-American Interfraternity Conference 


How has this event shaped the way 

you view the world? 

How has this event affected the 

way you lead others?

Watershed Moments 





1. To understand that each member is representative of the entire Fraternity all the time. 

2. To assess the use of the meaning of Zeta Tau Alpha in all decision making by individual sisters and 

the chapter as a whole. 

3. To create ways to hold yourself to the commitment of always living ZTA values. 


Flip chart paper and markers (enough for whole chapter) 

Handouts: 

“You Are Always Wearing Your Letters” blog post, adapted from T. J. Sullivan 

Time Needed: 

40 minutes 

Group Size: 



Any room that can fit the entire chapter with walls to hang up flip chart paper 

Preparation: 

Copy the T.J. Sullivan blog post “You Are Always Wearing Your Letters” for each member of the 

chapter. 

Put up three flip chart pages around the room. Put the titles of “thoughts” on one, “feelings” on 

one, and “learning” on the last. If you have a large chapter, use more than one page with the same 

heading. 


You Are Always Wearing ZTA Letters 


Zeta Tau Alpha Coordinator of Education & Leadership Initiatives


The facilitator should introduce herself, welcome and thank everyone for attending the session. 

From ZTA’s founding on Oct. 15, 1898, until early spring 1899, our Founders took about five months 

to decide on a Greek-letter name. They wanted to be diligent, thorough and thoughtful in every way. 

Meeting in secret, they studied Greek mythology, symbols and ideals for the best name for their 

group. After being known as ??? (three question marks), they eventually decided on Zeta Tau Alpha. 

Our name—our letters—is something that has a powerful meaning to us as Zeta Tau Alphas. 

Described further through our Ritual, they tell us how to “Seek the Noblest” in our everyday life. Our 

letters and the meaning behind them, bind all Zetas to each other. Whether we are wearing them or 

not, they are a part of who we are all the time. 

“YOU ARE ALWAYS WEARING YOUR LETTERS” READING (10 minutes) 

Please pass out the blog post “You Are Always Wearing Your Letters.” Choose four to six members to read parts 

of the post out loud to the chapter, one at a time. 

We are now going to read a blog entry written by T.J. Sullivan called “You Are Always Wearing Your 

Letters.” As they’re reading, follow along. Underline the parts that stand out most to you. 

Have the members read the blog post. 

ALL ON THE WALL ACTIVITY (5 minutes) 

I’m going to give you an opportunity to think about your reaction to the blog post. I’ll ask you a 

series of rhetorical questions to think about, then we’ll do an activity as a group. 

Read the series of rhetorical questions slowly so members can think about the answers to themselves. 

Why did you underline the parts you chose? 

What did it make you think about? 

How did it make you feel? 

What can you take away from it? 

As you can see, there are three pages around the room titled “Thoughts,” “Feelings” and “Learning.” 

From what we just reflected on, you are now going to write, sketch or draw your thoughts, feelings 

and what you learned on those pages around the room. If we need more paper, I can put it up. This 

activity is meant to be silent. We will discuss our reactions as a group when completed. 

Pass out markers. As members are moving around, remind them to be reflective. You might rephrase the 

rhetorical questions. Encourage them to use phrases, sentences, pictures, lyrics, etc.—any sort of written way to 

express what they are thinking, feeling and learning. 

Choose one member to stand at each of the three 

pages after she is done posting her own reactions. 

Delegate the women to organize the postings into 

common categories after all chapter members 

are finished writing. Ask each one to present a 

summary of her page when everyone is completed. 



Write “Thoughts,”“Feelings” and 

“Learning” on three flip chart sheets 

posted around the room.

“YOU ARE ALWAYS WEARING YOUR LETTERS” DISCUSSION (20 minutes) 

What is a summary of our thoughts about the post? 

What is a summary of our feelings about the post? 

What is a summary of what we learned about the post? 

What is the main idea that T.J. Sullivan is discussing? 


• Always living our organization’s values 

• Having our values and actions congruent 

• Doing what we say we do 

• Having integrity 

What are ways this applies to our chapter? What are some examples that you’ve seen? 


• Chapter activities including: recruitment, new member education, chapter programming, senior 

involvement and becoming active alumnae 

• Outside of chapter activities including: in class, at the gym, at the grocery store, at other 

organizations’ events, at social functions, and out on dates 

• “Always wearing your letters” means that we are always following The Creed, the mission and 

the purpose of Zeta Tau Alpha through our actions collectively as a chapter and individually as 

members. 

• Ex. As a recruitment counselor, you show ZTA values to potential new members through your 

actions when you are not able to tell your affiliation. Even when you are not physically “wearing 

your letters,” you show ZTA values through what you do during recruitment. 

Do we see this commitment to always wear our letters as a privilege or a requirement? Why? 

Is this a call to be perfect? 


• Ultimately, we cannot be perfect, but it should not be seen as an excuse to not follow our values. 

• We need to be held accountable and get back on track when we have forgotten this commitment. 

What are ways in which we show this commitment well as a chapter? What are actions that show 

that we “Seek the Noblest?” 

How do we duplicate the successes you’ve mentioned? 

What are ways in which we fall short of this commitment as a chapter? 

How do we hold ourselves accountable when we fall short? 

What can we do this year to follow through with this commitment to hold ourselves accountable to 

“always wear our letters?” 


Each sister is important to the chapter and represents the entire Fraternity at all times. No matter 

where we are, we are members of Zeta Tau Alpha. As Zetas, we strive to “Seek the Noblest” in our 

everyday life. By “Seeking the Noblest,” our actions show the values in our Ritual. Let’s challenge 

each other to evaluate our actions and hold one another accountable based upon our Ritual, The 

Creed and our open motto. That way, we will remember that we are always wearing our letters. 


T. J. Sullivan is the CEO of CAMPUSPEAK, a company that provides educational workshops and speakers. He has spoken to 

more than two million college students about fraternity and sorority life and leadership. Further information about T. J. and his 

“Hungry Student Leader” blog can be found at www.tjsullivan.com. 

You’re interested in joining our Fraternity? We’d love to have you. You’re the type of person we look for: 

committed, enthusiastic, a leader. We think you’ll do great things here, and we hope that we’ll open some doors for 

you. You will make lifelong friendships, and hopefully, you’ll be the type of person whose positive impact will be felt 

here for many years. 

This is the start of something really cool. 

“You Are Always Wearing Your Letters” 

Adapted from T. J. Sullivan 

We know you have your reasons for joining, and we also know that the reasons you’ll stay will be entirely different. 

Trust us on that one. People tend to join for the image, the props and the social stuff. They stay around for the 

friendships and because they find a place where they can impact the lives of others. It’s a family. We know this. 

Soon, you will, too. 

Soon, these letters will be yours. But, there’s one lesson that we need to impress upon you before you sign your 

name on the dotted line, pay that first fee, and get that first T-shirt. It’s the single most important thing we’re going 

to ask of you, so you need to listen and understand it, now, before you say “yes.” 

It’s the one most important things that any sorority can impress upon its new members. It’s the one lesson that 

every group must impress upon its newest members. Truly, our survival as an organization on this campus, and 

nationwide, depends on you understanding this one simple lesson and taking it to heart. 

It’s more important than our history, our traditions, our structure, or our rules. Because, if you don’t understand 

this most fundamental lesson, then none of the other stuff will matter. If you don’t get this one “golden rule of 

Fraternity,” then your daughter won’t have this kind of organization to join someday, and all of this will just be a 

fuzzy memory. 

Here it is. Ready? From the moment you say “yes” to this organization, you are always wearing your letters. 

I’m going to repeat it. From the moment you say “yes” to this organization, you are always wearing your letters. 

We’re not talking about T-shirts, or sweatshirts or hats made in the colors of the group. We’re not talking about a 

tattoo on your ankle, some party favor or a badge you wear on your dress shirt. 

What we mean is that when you say yes to lifetime membership in this group, everything you say, do and represent 

from that moment forward is a direct reflection on this group, your sisters, and the thousands of members who 

have come before you. Everything you put out to the world is a direct reflection of this Fraternity. Every decision, 

every achievement, every mistake you make happens to all of us from this point forward. 

When you go to the grocery store, you represent us. If you fall asleep in class or earn a weak grade, you represent 

us. When you drive down the road and slow down so a pedestrian can cross the street, you represent us. 

When you turn 21 and hit the town, you represent us. When you become a leader of another campus organization, 

you represent us. When you insult someone or talk badly about another fraternity or sorority, you represent 

us. When you break up with someone and make decisions about how you behave during that difficult time, you 

represent us. When you go on Spring Break, you represent us. 


When you go home and sit at your mother’s dining room table, you represent us. When you get a job and go to work 

for a company or organization, you represent us. When you commit your life to that special person, someday, you 

represent us. 

You are always wearing your letters. 

From this day forward, always. Every day, in every situation. They never come off. 

As surely as if you tattooed these letters on your forehead. It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing a jersey with our name 

on it, or a business suit at an interview. You have to assume that every person you meet will form a permanent 

opinion about sororities--good or bad--based on how you interact with them. Every good thing you do builds us up. 

Every dumb thing you do tears us down. 

We live in a time when the actions of one woman can kill a group like ours. One person who acts in a way that is 

inconsistent with our shared values can end a hundred years of tradition and pride. One choice you make on a 

Friday night can take away everything that generations of women have worked to build. 

All the stuff you see that belongs to us can be boxed up or thrown out, because of the choices you make. If this seems 

a little intense, that’s good. Because it’s serious. If it sounds like too much responsibility, or if you don’t think you 

can behave in a way that reflects well on us at all times, then walk away now. Do us the favor. We won’t think less of 

you. In fact, we’ll thank you. This sort of commitment isn’t for everybody. But, don’t say yes unless you understand. 

We’re not asking you to give up anything. We aren’t asking you to become something you aren’t. We’re asking you 

to become something more. We’re inviting you to become part of a group of women who make a promise to take 

care of each other, every day. We’re asking you to become the very best version of you that you can be. 

We’re asking you to take a leap of maturity and to go to that place where you’re the same, honorable, dignified 

person on Saturday night as you are on Tuesday morning. 

It’s a big deal, and not everyone can do it. Forget everything you’ve heard up to this point. Forget how much you 

might desire this, or how much we might want to bring you into the group. Just clear your mind and ask yourself 

one question. 

Are you ready to never take them off? 

Because when you say “yes,” you’re not just putting letters on a sweatshirt. You’re putting them in your heart. 

You’re forever stamping your identity with them. Everything you are, from this point on, becomes who we are. 

You will make mistakes, and sisters will remind you of your commitment. There will be times where you will see 

other sisters forgetting their promise, and you’ll need to remind them. That’s part of this whole “Fraternity” thing. 

We work together to make ourselves better women who stand for something. We carry each other. We matter to 

one another. 

If we’re doing Fraternity right, then we’ll make you a better woman. If you’re doing everything right, then you will 

make us a better organization. So, please think about it. Take it seriously. Because if you say yes, these letters belong 

to you as surely as they belonged to our Founders. If you say yes, these letters become your responsibility forever. 

That’s the promise. 

“You Are Always Wearing Your Letters” 

Adapted from T. J. Sullivan 



1. To compare the differences between a “static” and a “living” ritual in a chapter. 

2. To identify how the members and the chapter live the ritual and do not live the ritual. 

3. To create a commitment to how the chapter plans to engage with the ritual. 


Laptop, projector and Internet connection 

Handouts: 


Time Needed: 

50 minutes 

Group Size: 


The facilitator must be an initiated collegiate or alumna member—a vigilant ritual chairman and/ or advisor. 


Any room that can fit the entire chapter 

ZTA Ritual: 

Just a Book or a Living Thing? 


Zeta Tau Alpha Coordinator of Education & Leadership Initiatives 

Preparation: 

Choose small group facilitators. The majority of this workshop is conducted in small groups of 

about 15-30 to enable deeper discussion and a high level of participation by each person. You will 

need enough facilitators to work with groups of 15-30 members. We recommend using Executive 

Committee officers or members who you trust to lead dynamic conversations. 

Meet with the facilitators before this activity to review the purpose of the workshop and questions in 

the Small Group Facilitation Guide. 

Watch the “Secret Thoughts of the Ritual” created by Cara Jenkins, West Chester University Interim 

Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life adapted from the words of Edward M. King through https:// 

vimeo.com/zetataualpha. It can also be found at www.zetataualpha.org> Sisters Only> Resources> 

Collegiate Officers> Ritual Chairman.



discussion. 

Think about your most prized possession. It’s the one object that you cannot live without. It’s the 

one thing you would bring on a desert island. 

Now think about the most influential person in your life. It could be a family member, a friend, a 

mentor or an inspirational person. They had a profound impact on who you are. Do you have that 

object and person in mind? 

Now put one in one hand and one in the other and hold them up on either side. Where does the scale 

weigh heavier? If you could only pick one, which would you choose? Act like you are holding something 

in each hand to “demonstrate” and act like your hands/arms are a scale. 

I’m guessing many of you picked the influential person over the object. People or living things have 

such a larger tie to us than objects. They affect us more deeply than any object ever could. 

We’re going to watch a video that shows two different types of chapters. One has a relationship to 

an object and the other to a living thing. Both have a relationship to the ZTA Ritual. Pay attention to 

the differences in their relationships. 

Play the “Secret Thoughts of the Ritual” video created by Cara Jenkins (through https://vimeo.com/ 

zetataualpha) at this time. It can also be found at www.zetataualpha.org> Sisters Only> Resources> Collegiate 

Officers> Ritual Chairman. 

“SECRET THOUGHTS OF THE RITUAL” DISCUSSION (10 minutes) 

This video is based on an essay called “Secret Thoughts of the Ritual” by Edward King. It shows the 

ritual as an actual living thing who talks to us as members about what it sees in our chapters. The 

ritual describes two different kinds of chapters and their relationship to it. Then it charges us to be the 

second chapter—one that knows the ritual in depth and lives it every day. 

Facilitate a discussion about the video. Allow time for group discussion. The answers below should be discussed. 

How did that video make you feel? 

How was the first kind of chapter described? 

• It did not get out the College Service Book until the week of initiation. 

• It sometimes lost the College Service Book. 

• It memorized and copied the ritual. 

What did he mean by the ritual is seen as private and locked away? 

• No one knows where the College Service Book is or how to access it. 

• The ritual is secret to even its own members. 

• The ritual is not important because it is only used for one week. 

How was the second kind of chapter described? 

• Each member reads the College Service Book. 

• They use the ritual beyond during meetings. 


What was the second kind of chapter doing when it was reading the ritual? 

• Members were studying the ritual one at a time. 

• Members were thinking of ways to use it. 

What are the differences on how they saw the ritual? 

• The first chapter memorized the ritual in one week. The second chapter studied the ritual and used it daily. 

• The first chapter did not see the ritual as important. The second chapter did see the ritual as important. 

• The first chapter saw the ritual as an object, and the second chapter saw the ritual as a living thing. 

“SECRET THOUGHTS OF THE 

RITUAL” SMALL GROUPS (20 

minutes) 

Ask members of the Executive Committee be 

facilitators of the small groups. If you have a 

large chapter, choose additional facilitators. We 

recommended groups of 15-30 members. 

We’re going to get into small groups and dig deeper into the individual statements the ritual says to 

us in the video. 

Break the chapter up in small groups. Select the groups at random by counting off members. Each group 

should appoint a recorder to share its responses during the large group discussion. Group leaders should guide 

discussion using the Small Group Facilitation Guide. 

1. “But some members say I’m a secret. If what I stood for was revealed to non-members, then 

members would have to live by it.” 

What would those members mean by that? 

• Members are not currently living the ritual. 

• They personally are not or do not want to live the ritual. 

• Other people would have a way to measure their actions versus what the ritual says. 

Is the ritual really a secret? 

• The actual ceremony is secret including what is said, what we do, and what is taught. 

• But we should live the values taught in our ritual in a way that it is actually not a secret. Other people 

can see we are women that “Seek the Noblest” through our actions. 

2. “I am an instrument of self-evaluation.” 

What can be evaluated by using our ritual? 

• Everything we do as a chapter (Examples: programs, recruitment, new member education, meetings and 

themes). What we do should match the values we learn in the ritual. 

• Everything we do as individuals (Examples: actions and attitudes in class, at the gym, at the grocery 

store, at other organizations’ events, at social functions, and out on dates.). 

How do we live our ritual as a chapter? 

• Follow through with what we say we’re going to do. 

• Support the local community through service. 

• Do not gossip about other organizations. 

• Follow an academic achievement program to help all members. 

• Hold each other accountable when we don’t follow our ritual. 



Meet with the small group 

facilitators to review the purpose 

of the workshop and questions in 

the Small Group Facilitation Guide.

3. “My values are clear but difficult to emulate.” 

Why are the values in the Ritual difficult to emulate? 

• It’s difficult to be perfect. 

• It’s difficult to keep the values in mind in everyday life. 

• It takes courage to live our ritual. 

How do we make it easier? 

• We may not be perfect, but we can work together to study and live our ritual. 

• Make it everyone’s business to stand up and live by our ritual. 

4. “Leaders who don’t use me are not leaders at all.” 

Who does he mean by leaders? 

• EC and PC should use the ritual on how they lead the chapter through decision making, goal-setting and 

programming. 

• All of us are considered leaders, so he really means that everyone should use the ritual in how they lead. 

How do we lead through our ritual? 

• Values in our ritual are incorporated into everything we do as leaders. (Examples: part of decision 

making, meetings, resource allocation, programs or conversations) 

• Be an example by living the ritual ourselves. 

• Hold others accountable to the ritual. 

5. “I’m a system of values with a purpose.” 

What is that purpose? 

• To build the sisterhood of Zeta Tau Alpha. 

• To be used and not just be locked away. 

• To push us to “Seek the Noblest.” 

How do we live our ritual as individuals and “Seek the Noblest?” 

• Engage in the ritual through study, active participation and dialogue. 

• Start with yourself and model it for others. 

• Be an active participant in class. 

• Strive to be lifelong learners. 

• Make ethical and moral decisions. 

• Be honest. 

• Keep promises. 

• Be responsible for each other as sisters. 

• Physically and emotionally support each other as sisters. 

CHAPTER COMMITMENT DISCUSSION (10 minutes) 

When all groups have completed their discussions, ask everyone come together as a large group. Pose these 

questions one by one to the group and ask participants to share answers. 

Of the two chapters described in the video, where does our chapter fit along the spectrum? 

How can we make a commitment to studying the ritual? 

Of those ideas suggested, what can we commit to when it comes to studying our ritual? 

How can we make a commitment to living the ritual? 

Of those ideas suggested, what can we commit to when it comes to living our ritual? 



One question you may still have is: how do you study the ritual? What we did in our small groups 

to discuss the video is actually a model you could do. Break apart each sentence or paragraph and 

discuss what our Founders meant by that statement. Then, apply it to the chapter and to your life. 

Those of you who are interested in looking over our College Service Book can make an appointment 

with the Ritual Chairman on EC to review it. What the College Service Book contains should stay a 

secret only to be shared between initiated members of Zeta Tau Alpha, but the contents should 

be shown through us as members in our everyday actions. 

If you have a chapter house/ZTA home, the College Service Book should not leave the property. It should remain 

in the care of the Ritual Chairman. Sisters can “check it out” to review while she is present or nearby. No one 

should leave with the book. When not being used, the College Service Book should be stored in a confidential 

location, locked safely with other ritual equipment. 

This video challenges us to shift our thinking of the ritual as just a book to something that is a living, 

breathing thing guiding us every day. It goes so far as to personify the ritual and have it speak to us. 

Through the commitment we made to study and live our ritual, we will remember our pledge as Zeta 

Tau Alphas to the values of our Founders. 


“Secret Thoughts of the Ritual” 


As small group facilitators, you will lead groups of about 15-30 sisters through thoughtful reflection about our ritual. We 

are seeking to help them understand how it is relevant to our daily lives and what it means to “live the ritual.” Use these 

questions to guide your 20-minute discussion. Take notes on this facilitation guide (or ask another small group member to 

take notes) because you will share the group’s thoughts with the chapter. 

Read each statement from the video to the group. Then, pose the following questions one by one to the group and ask 

participants to share answers. The answers below can be discussed. 

1. “But some members say I’m a secret. If what I stood for was revealed to non-members, then members 

would have to live by it.” 

What would those members mean by that? 

• Members are not currently living the ritual. 

• They personally are not or do not want to live the ritual. 

• Other people would have a way to measure their actions versus what the ritual says. 

Is the ritual really a secret? 

• Actual ceremony is secret including what is said, what we do, and what is taught. 

• But we should live those values in a way that it is actually not a secret. Other people can see we are women that 

“Seek the Noblest” through our actions. 

2. “I am an instrument of self-evaluation.” 

What can be evaluated by using our ritual? 

• Everything we do as a chapter (Examples: programs, recruitment, new member education, meetings and themes). 

What we do should match the values we learn in the ritual. 

• Everything we do as individuals (Examples: actions and attitudes in class, at the gym, at the grocery store, at other 

organizations’ events, at social functions, and out on dates.). 

How do we live our ritual as a chapter? 

• Follow through with what we say we’re going to do. 

• Support the local community through service. 

• Do not gossip about other organizations. 

• Follow an academic achievement program to help all members. 

• Hold each other accountable when we don’t follow our ritual. 

3. “My values are clear but difficult to emulate.” 

Why are the values in the ritual difficult to emulate? 

• It’s difficult to be perfect. 

• It’s difficult to keep the values in mind in everyday life. 

• It takes courage to live our ritual. 

How do we make it easier? 

• We may not be perfect, but we can work together to study and live our ritual. 

• Make it everyone’s business to stand up and live by our ritual. 

4. “Leaders who don’t use me are not leaders at all.” 

Who does he mean by leaders? 

• EC and PC should use the ritual on how they lead the chapter through decision making, goal-setting and 

programming. 

• All of us are considered leaders, so he really means that everyone should use the Ritual in how they lead. 


“Secret Thoughts of the Ritual” 


How do we lead through our ritual? 

• Values in our ritual are incorporated into everything we do as leaders. (Examples: part of decision making, 

meetings, resource allocation, programs or conversations) 

• Be an example by living the ritual ourselves. 

• Hold others accountable to the ritual. 

5. “I’m a system of values with a purpose.” 

What is that purpose? 

• To build the sisterhood of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity. 

• To be used and not just be locked away. 

• To push us to “Seek the Noblest.” 

How do we live our ritual as individuals and “Seek the Noblest?” 

• Engage in the ritual through study, active participation and dialogue. 

• Start with yourself and model it for others. 

• Be an active participant in class. 

• Strive to be lifelong learners. 

• Make ethical and moral decisions. 

• Be honest. 

• Keep promises. 

• Be responsible for each other as sisters. 

• Physically and emotionally support each other as sisters.

Today & Forever - Zeta Tau Alpha

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