The Florida Chapter of Alpha Zeta surpasses the usual events hosted by most fraternities. Just looking at their fall semester schedule can be overwhelming, but with 56 active undergraduates the Florida chapter is all about creating unique events that will demonstrate leadership, character and fellowship among members.
The Florida Chapter is a diverse group with members majoring from Agronomy to Zoology and everything in between. With such a diverse group, the chapter provides many opportunities to find your niche in Alpha Zeta. Because they do not have a chapter house, members meet in McCarty Hall, the hub of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. But it’s the diverse events in the community that brings the chapter together. "We love to incorporate socials into our services making things feel more like a family atmosphere than work," Alpha Zeta Censor, Claire Page said.
Every year, chapter members participate in a variety of events to make the Florida Chapter come to life. While the chapter does like to mix things up and take on a variety of projects, they also have some traditional events that are repeated. Woodser is an event that is made for members to build better relationships with each other (see photo at right). Held at a bonfire on a chilly night, the group gets together in an informal atmosphere to roast marshmallows and eat hotdogs. Another event, Family Day, brings in family members to participate in various activities like receiving a lesson on sturgeon at the Fisheries and is followed by a dinner and a keynote speaker.
But it's their original community involvement that stands out. In August, the members got together to paint the 34th Street wall in Gainesville, Fla. They have also restored animal habitats at Two Tails Ranch and were then granted the opportunity to interact with the wildlife on the ranch including elephants. Members even spent the day at a Cold Stone Creamery where they went behind the counter mixing the ice cream and singing songs for tips.
The Florida Chapter has been recognized many times for their activity in the community and also for individual accomplishment. In 2010, the Florida Chapter was honored at the National Agricultural Leadership Conference by receiving the Founder's Cup, which is the highest award given to an affiliate chapter. In more recent years, they have shown success by a list of scholarship recipients, Middaugh Awards, Outstanding Officers and Outstanding Alumni awards.
One of the biggest honors the Florida Chapter received was not in the shape of an award, but the response they received at an event they hosted.
Last year, the chapter hosted their first Alpha Zeta National Service Project in Orlando, Fla. With about 30 members participating, the event was very successful. Participants Collected then donated produce they gleaned to food banks in the Orlando area, helped prepare lunches for the homeless and helped sort medical and food supplies. "One of the highlights of the trip was to watch members of all different chapters working effectively together as a unit, thus confirming the universal nature of the Alpha Zeta brotherhood," said Page.
Because of the great success, the Florida Chapter is hosting their second National Service Project in Orlando, Fla. on Dec. 18-21. While the event’s focus stays the same, the chapter is looking to do a few more activities while together to give the participants a new experience from last year.
Florida members Julice Ogando and Sarahlynne
Guerrero sport some AZ themed shades after
the Big/Little Reveal in Fall 2010.
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Our members are super heros, keeping our
adopted road clean through out the year, with
one clean up at a time.
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