DG helps visually impaired adults with horse therapy

We are excited to share a new service opportunity we recently became involved in!

Every Wednesday for the next few weeks, Gamma Zeta members now have the opportunity to help visually impaired adults ride horses. When people think of physical activities for blind and visually impaired, horseback riding might not be the first idea that comes to mind. However, riding a horse leads to freedom and self-confidence!

At the beginning of each session, a DG is paired with a visually impaired adult to help them become accustomed to the horse, groom the horse, and lead the horse around.

"We had the opportunity to assist the visually impaired participants with touring the barn and stables, meet the horses, brush and groom their designated horse, and also simply bear witness to the joy of their experiences!" said Colleen Kimball, vice president: programming.

"It was amazing the change in the woman that I was helping because she started out extremely scared of the horses," said Amy Francioni, pictured to the left. "At the beginning she was standing far way from the horse while leaning to touch him, but gradually over time they became more aquatinted making her she feel safe. By the end of our first lesson she was standing next to the horse and holding the lead rope all by herself with out my help. I am so blessed to have been apart of opportunity and to get to see these people experience the love of a horse through their movement rather than their being able see the horses reaction."

"The visually impaired participants impacted me as they displayed an amazing level of trust with these large and often intimidating animals that they had met only minutes before!" said Colleen. "It made me wonder if we are afraid of certain things only based off of looks and stature. Their joy and smiles truly impacted me, and I cannot wait to return to volunteer ! The smell of the horse barn and the laughs of the participants will stay with me forever."

An alumna contacted vice president: Foundation Catherine Pettus about this opportunity. The Baton Rouge alumnae chapter provides the funds for the adults going to therapy.

Jennifer Tuohy serves as UIFI Intern

Jen Tuohy, vp: member education from Mandeville, Louisiana, spent one week in Bloomington, Indiana working as a Undergraduate Interfraternity Institue intern. UIFI is a leadership institute for fraternity and sorority members. UIFI allows participants to explore, define, and and enhance their leadership skills, personal integrity, fraternity and sorority commitment, and grow to expect values based action from themselves and those they lead.

Of the 160 applicants, only 20 intern positions were available. Congratulations on landing a spot, Jen!

Jen attended UIFI last summer. She applied to be an intern because she loved her experience and wanted to help others understand what it truly means to be Greek.

“I wanted to give back to something that gave me so much,” she said. "Being Greek is more than just wearing your letters. It's understanding the values and commitment those letters stand for. It's living out your ritual everyday and continuing the mission your founders set for you."

 Interns were responsible for all behind-the-scenes duties, from running errands to making posters, they contributed to sessions running smoothly. Tasks completed helped ensure the participants had everything they needed to grow as Greek members. Interns work for one session during the summer.

“This experience taught me that that a group of motivated people can make a positive change in the Greek community,” said Jen. “Having gone through the UIFI experience twice, this experience gives me such pride to be Greek and inspires me to always do good! Last summer as a participant, I began to understand what it means to be a selfless leader. I came back from UIFI wanting to create a change in our chapter that would start a trend in our Greek community. Now having served as an intern, I am even more confident in the Greek life experience. Being an intern showed me nothing great comes without a lot of work.”

Attending UIFI the previous summer as a participant allowed Jen to bring back an understanding of ritual, allowing her to portray that to new members as director of new members. Understanding Delta Gamma's values allowed her to teach them to a new member class.

“Gamma Zeta made me into the woman I am today. Having gone through recruitment as a sophomore, I know what my life looks like without Delta Gamma. This chapter has inspired and motivated me to become more than I ever thought I could be."

Written by Maddie Duhon

DG Abroad: Colleen Kimball travels to Nicaragua

Incoming senior Colleen Kimball recently traveled to Managua, Nicaragua on a nine-day mission trip through International Service Learning (ISL) with 21 other pre-dental and pre-med LSU students.

The mission trip attendees traveled to the small poverty-stricken village of Pochocuape. The rural area has low medical and dental care.

They visited the village homes and met with the people to assess their living conditions and fill out paperwork, which acted as both a census and a medical form to send to the Department of Health in Nicaragua (MNSA). Then they had several days of "clinics" where each team, along with translators and 2 local doctors and 1 dentist, performed examinations, dental work (cleanings, extractions, and fillings), and medical prescriptions and diagnosis for the local people. They also visited a hospital in Masaya to see their different methods and had the opportunity to observe a surgery!

“The differences in medical care, sanitization, and procedure were shocking,” said Colleen.

Colleen and the other trip attendees also spent the days connecting with the local people and their children, gaining a real understanding for Nicaraguan culture and how different the way of living is there compared to the United States and other first world countries.

The end of the trip was celebrated with a day of "Sharing with the Community," where they held piñata parties for a missionary-based after-school care/safe-haven for local school children, and also for the children of Pochocuape who frequently visited the local church where the clinic was set up. Everyone danced, played games, gave toys, colored in coloring books, and of course hosted the piñata party for them!

The final day was a "vacation day," which consisted of a boat ride around Granada, a visit to the market in Masaya, and zip-lining!

“Overall, the trip was the most amazing experience, and one that I will truly never forget,” said Colleen.

Colleen is vice president: programming for the Gamma Zeta chapter of Delta Gamma.

Written by Maddie Duhon & Colleen Kimball

The Chase is On! (&OOO)

On Sunday, April 27, 2014, the Gamma Zeta Chapter of Delta Gamma, along with Alpha Gamma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order fraternity, performed at Songfest, an annual dance competition the LSU Greek Board of Directors hosts. Our theme was “The Chase Is On,” with DG’s dressed as cops and KA’s dressed as donuts. Songs mixed together included Bad Boys, One Way Or Another, Do What You Want With My Body, Toxic, Tainted Love and many others. Seniors Danielle Krumm, Alexis Reaney and Lindsey Bennett coordinated dance practices and overall participation in the event.

"Organizing Songfest was so much fun this year. The KA's were game for anything and went along with our crazy ideas. We loved working with our cops and donuts. Practices were always super lively and fun. We had an incredible time performing. Songfest is all about building relationships throughout the Greek community and I feel that we definitely accomplished this," said Bennett.

Watch the performance here https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=847508928597217

After Songfest was over, the Order of Omega Awards Ceremony began.

Each year the Order of Omega chapter at LSU welcomes Greek student leaders in to the Order of Omega who have made a difference in their chapter, in the Greek community or across the LSU campus. In addition, the Order of Omega hosts an awards ceremony to recognize chapters for outstanding chapter events, programs, and service.

The Gamma Zeta Chapter won Outstanding PHC Chapter Event for Lectureship in Values & Ethics. We are so proud to have the opportunity to host the biennial Lectureship event, spreading the message of “do good” throughout the community. E! News Anchor and breast cancer survivor Giuliana Rancic spoke to a crowd of more than 2,500 in Baton Rouge in April 2013 for Gamma Zeta’s third biennial Lectureship in Values & Ethics.

Rancic shared insights from her personal experiences in her career and with infertility and breast cancer. Her message of doing good, working hard and staying true to ones self was inspirational. When first diagnosed with cancer, Rancic did not plan to tell anyone outside her family. She used to wonder why she was chosen to anchor E! News others, and concluded that she will use her job to “do good.” She now uses the public platform she has through television to touch the lives of others with cancer. The crowd included Delta Gamma collegians, alumnae, parents, Panhellenic friends, LSU students, Cancer Services, Baton Rouge citizens, breast cancer survivors, LSU officials, and Project Runway winner Ryan Anthony Auld. The Delta Gamma Lectureship in Values & Ethics was established at LSU in 2008. Gamma Zeta’s Lectureship is a program only 18 (out of 147) Delta Gamma chapters across the Fraternity have the privilege to host.

Adviser Emily Burris Hester received the Outstanding PHC Adviser Award. Emily is a Gamma Zeta alumna. She dedicates so much of her time to our chapter and we all really appreciate it. She is always meeting with DG’s over coffee, taking the time out of her day to help members with life and sorority advice. No one deserves this award more than Emily because of her constant stream of love and passion she contributes to our chapter. When reflecting on her time as DG Chapter Adviser, she said:

“I am extremely grateful for all that DG has given me through advising! I've been blessed to continue to learn and grow and most importantly have sisters become friends.”

Junior Director of Programming Geena Marano said, “I am so proud to be part of a chapter that exemplifies sisterhood and friendship in everything we do. Yay for best sisterhood and celebrating our perfect advisor Emily Burris Hester for fearlessly being the greatest example!”

The Gamma Zeta chapter also took home Outstanding PHC Sisterhood. We work to ensure no member class barriers with regular sisterhood events and bonding opportunities. “I have never been so proud of being a part of such an amazing organization and sisterhood! Our members and adviser have worked so hard for these recognitions,” said President Katelyn Gross.

Overall it was a great day full of recognition and Gamma Zeta pride.

Congratulations to Spring 2014 OOO Members:

Chelsea Bonck
Lauren Fontenot
Katelyn GrossShout out to our amazing Songfest participants: Allison Herrera Hannah LaFrance Kathryn Nauman Caroline McCaffrey Priscilla Lebleu Claire Wingerter Alexis Reaney Danielle Krumm Lindsey Bennett Chelsea Bonck Whitney Sprague Gianna Liantonio Victoria Croft Audrey Tankersly Katie Matirne Tiffanie Harel Ashley Loze Caroline Vinning Brittany Klein Hayden Dominique Matt Morgan Jordan Sonnier Will Chemell Will Fisher Sam John Oliver T. J. Jenkins

Written by Maddie Duhon

DG Takes the Gold!

On Tuesday, April 22, 2014, the Gamma Zeta chapter of Delta Gamma proudly received two Love Purple Live Gold Awards awarded by Louisiana State University’s Office of Campus Life.

At the Awards Ceremony held in the Lod Cook Conference Center, President Katelyn Gross and Adviser Emily Hester were presented the Most Outstanding Academic/Educational Program Award for Career Night and the Commitment to Community Service Award on behalf of the chapter.

The Outstanding Academic/Educational Award is presented to an LSU organization with the best program focused on a specific discipline or topic that furthers knowledge in that area and encourages dialogue and learning among the attendees.

Gamma Zeta received this award for Career Night, an annual event providing collegians the opportunity to ask alumnae questions about specific careers. Collegians sit with alumnae that have employment in the career field related to the collegian’s major to receive tailored tips, advice and life lessons. Collegians ask for professional advice and alumnae share stories about their experiences. Collegians also completed a Strengths Quest test prior to the event to see their top five strengths, and are able to use this information to critically think about what they want to do after graduation. This event truly gives collegians a glimpse into the “real world.”

In order to receive the Commitment to Community Award, Delta Gamma exhibited positive commitment to the campus community, according to the key principle components of the Commitment to Community.

LSU’s Commitment to Community statement:

“This organization pursues truth, advances learning, and upholds the highest standards of performance in an academic and social environment. By accepting responsibility; practicing social, academic, and personal integrity; advancing justice, equality, compassion; demonstrating dignity and respect; enhancing the environment; contributing to community; and engaging as a citizen; this group impacts Louisiana State University in all initiatives, fundraising, and presence on campus.”

The Love Purple Live Gold Awards are dedicated to recognizing excellence in student leadership and programming each year.

Written by Maddie Duhon