The Birth of Zeta Omega At-Large, 1980-1985, and Through the Years with Zeta Omega At-Large, 1986-2004, by Veronica C. O'Day, Founder, Archivist.
Introduction - Spring 1980 In the spring of 1980, a young graduate nurse working with Dr. Veronica O’Day on committee activities for the New York State Nurses’ Association expressed disappointment that there was no regional chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the National Honor Society of Nursing. This young lady had earned exceptional academic achievement and there existed no local nursing organization to acknowledge this excellence.
Dr. O’Day related the student’s disappointment to colleagues at Pace University’s Lienhard School of Nursing. Enthusiasm then grew for establishing an honor society for nursing in Westchester, New York. Two other nurses, Dr. J. Mae Pepper of Mercy College and Dr. Sue Khanna of the College of New Rochelle were also aware of the need and were extremely interested in the organization of an at-large honor society that would represent the three nursing schools.
In June 1980, Veronica O’Day obtained the guidelines for developing an honor society in preparation for charter-granting with Sigma Theta Tau. These guidelines were used in establishing the by-laws and eligibility criteria for the Westchester-Rockland At-Large Honor Society.
Steering Committee Activities - October 1980
On October 6, 1980, a planning committee met and discussed the need for the formation of a Steering Committee, a By-Laws Committee, and presenting a request to Sigma Theta Tau for application. On January 12, 1981, Dominican College of Blauvelt was invited to join the effort of organizing a regional honor society for nursing, and on February 18, 1981 the Westchester-Rockland At-Large Honor Society was officially named. By March 17, 1981 the Steering Committee had appointed Justine Glassman as the first treasurer and discussed plans for its first Induction Ceremony.
First Induction Ceremony of the Honor Society- September 20, 1981
New President of the Honor Society - May 1982
On October 6, 1980, a planning committee met and discussed the need for the formation of a Steering Committee, a By-Laws Committee, and presenting a request to Sigma Theta Tau for application. On January 12, 1981, Dominican College of Blauvelt was invited to join the effort of organizing a regional honor society for nursing, and on February 18, 1981 the Westchester-Rockland At-Large Honor Society was officially named. By March 17, 1981 the Steering Committee had appointed Justine Glassman as the first treasurer and discussed plans for its first Induction Ceremony.
May 1, 1983, marked the date of the final induction ceremony of the Westchester-Rockland At-Large Honor Society. One hundred seventy-one (171) new members were inducted that day at Dominican College. The program was coordinated by Connie Gormley and Dr. Lucille Joel was the keynote speaker.
Site Visit by Sigma Theta Tau - 1983
Excitement, anticipation and finally reaching the goal marked the months from March 15, 1983 when Sigma Theta Tau, represented by Andrea Hollingsworth, made a site visit of the prospective chapter. Following this site visit a petition for chartering was presented on October 14, 1983, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Sigma Theta Tau Biennial Convention. The petition was accepted and on November 19, 1983, a letter from Nell Watts, Executive Officer, announced the name of the new chapter, Zeta Omega At Large, and the date of its chartering ceremony
Charter Granting - March 198 The charter-granting and induction ceremony for Zeta Omega At Large was held on March 25, 1984 at Pace University. Five hundred sixty-five (565) charter members were inducted representing the largest group of new members ever admitted to Sigma Theta Tau, and the first four-school chapter. The Scholarly Programs have been and continue to be an important part of, firstly, the Westchester-Rockland At-Large Honor Society and presently, Zeta Omega At Large Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau. Scholarly Programs are an on-going project for Zeta Omega with a fall and spring program presented each year.
In conclusion, each of the four participating schools have enjoyed sharing resources, the comradery of a joint venture and the exhilaration of unity in reaching toward nursing excellence.
Hosting Region Five Assembly - March 1985
In March of 1985 Zeta Omega At-Large undertook the awesome task of hosting the Region Five Assembly of Sigma Theta Tau on Pace University’s Pleasantville Campus.
At that time Region Five included chapters from seven states, namely Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Among the award winners were Susan Gordon and Shirlee Stokes, who received Media Awards for excellence in nursing journalism.
Creation of Zeta Omega Scholar Award - 1988 In 1988 Zeta Omega At-Large created a research grant in the amount of $1000. Recipients were designated as the Zeta Omega Scholar for the year. This grant has continued over the years and recipients include the following:
Daryle Brown, Ed.D.,RN (1988).
Sandra Lewenson, Ed.,RN (1989).
Ellen Rich, MS,RN,CS,FNP (1990).
Lynda Shand,RN, PhD. Candidate (1991.
Carolyn R. Lansberry, Ph.D.,RN,CS (1992).
Eleanor Richards, Ph.D.,RN,CS (1993).
Alice I. O’Flynn, Ph.D.,CS,CARN (1995).
Joanne Ryan, RN, MS (1996).
Mary McGuinness, Ph.Dc. (1997).
Victoria Rizzo Nikou, Ph.Dc.,RN, CS (1998).
Patricia R. Reineke, MS, RN (1999).
Jamesetta Newland,D.N.Sc.,RN, FNP (2000).
Patricia Walsh, Ph.Dc., RN, CS (2001).
Glynis Jordan, MSN, RN (2003).
Recipients have frequently been requested to share their funded research reports at future Zeta Omega Induction Ceremonies or Scholarly Programs.
Heritage Committee Developed - 1990's In the early nineties, under the leadership of President Terry Yannaco, Zeta Omega At-Large agreed to support a Heritage Committee within its structure. Veronica O’Day was successful in writing a grant proposal to the New York State Discretionary Library Preservation Project and was funded in the amount of $2,500. With additional seed money from Zeta Omega, Veronica O’Day and Dr.Wanda Hiestand worked closely with Ellen Sowchek, the Pace University archivist, to develop policies for cataloging and storing nursing archives.
William Murdock of Pace’s Mortola Library staff was supportive of the concept and agreed to provide storage area for the nursing collection. Both Wanda Hiestand and Veronica O’Day attended a ten day Modern Archives Institute Workshop in Washington, D.C. to become more knowledgeable about the role of the archivist. Veronica O’Day has served as one of the Sigma Theta Tau International Archival Resource Consultants since 1993 up to the present time.
10th Anniversary Activities - March 1994
On March 25, 1994, Zeta Omega At-Large celebrated its 10 th Anniversary. A special videotape titled “Past, Present and Future,” reviews the ten year history in photographs of many members and events. With President-elect Joan Paternoster in charge, a gala dinner party was held at the Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown.
Lucie Kelly was a special guest and Vernice Ferguson gave the keynote address, appropriately named “In Celebration of Nursing.” The videotape was shown for the first time and the four schools of the chapter each received a copy to share with their faculty and students.
Region Five Heritage Award - 1997
The year 1997 was a memorable year for Zeta Omega At-Large. In the early spring of 1997 an application for the International Heritage Chapter Award was being prepared. In preparation for the application a videotape, “Stories of the Presidents,” was created and J. Mae Pepper led the discussion on the tape. On March 19, 1997, members of Zeta Omega and the entire community were shocked by the sudden untimely death of J. Mae Pepper. Mae had served on the original Steering Committee of Westchester-Rockland At-Large Honor Society and her guidance was crucial to the successful chartering of Zeta Omega At-Large. The Chapter’s Heritage application was successful and received the Region Five Heritage Award.
Susan G. Komen Foundation Grant - 1997
Picture: Seated: Mary McGuiness, Judith Dattoli, President Victoria Rizzo Nikou, Joan Paternoster. Standing: Veronica O'Day, Dean Harriet Feldman of Pace University
A happier event in 1997 was the announcement in June that Zeta Omega At-Large had received a $5000 grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The grant writer and Project Director was the Chapter’s President, Victoria Rizzo Nikou. The project, which was a collaboration between Zeta Omega At-Large and the American Cancer Society’s Westchester Division, was the first collaborative effort between a Sigma Theta Tau Chapter and a community-health agency. The major focus was education about breast cancer.
J. Mae Pepper Service Excellence Award - September 1997
On September 28, 1997, the J. Mae Pepper Service Excellence Award was created. The criteria included the following: active membership in Zeta Omega At-Large, significant contribution to chapter operations, letters of support from at least two members who have served on the board of directors. Recipients include the following: Veronica O’Day (9-28-1997), Alayne Fitzpatrick (10-15-2000), Lillie M. Shortridge-Baggett (10-14-2001), Mary McGuinness (10-19-2003).
Additional Awards for Zeta Omega At Large - December 1997
International Involvement - 2001 Throughout the years Zeta Omega At-Large has had the opportunity to induct international members largely through the efforts of Dr.Lillie M. Shortridge-Baggett, who holds joint international appointments. In September 2001, Zeta Omega At-Large sponsored the first European Sigma Theta Tau chapter, Rho Chi in the Netherlands.
At the Sigma Theta Tau International Biennium in Toronto in November 2003, three international community leaders were inducted into Zeta Omega At-Large, namely:Kate Galvin of England, Mary Courtney of Australia, Claudia Gamel of the Netherlands.
Creation of a Research Team - Spring 2001 In the Spring of 2001 a Zeta Omega Research Team (ZORT) was organized and a proposal was developed. Maureen B. Doyle serves as the Principal Investigator and members include Victoria Rizzo Nikou, Joan Paternoster and Lynda Shand.
Election of Zeta Omega President to Region 14 Coordinator - November 2001 In November 2001, at the 36 th Biennial Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, Victoria Rizzo Nikou conducted a successful campaign to be elected the Region 14 coordinator. This restructuring of Sigma Theta Tau International placed 27 chapters, 16 in New York and 11 in New Jersey, under the leadership of one coordinator. As of October 2002, the Komen Foundation was in its fifth year of funding the Triple Touch Breast Education Project.
New Leaderhip for Zeta Omega At Large - July 2003 On July 19, 2003, a transition meeting took place, and Joan Paternoster presided as the incoming President of Zeta Omega At-Large. Incoming officers and chairpersons were welcomed.
During the years from 1986-2004, Zeta Omega At-Large has also held an annual Induction Ceremony, sponsored a Fall and Spring Scholarly Program with outstanding nurse leaders as presenters, and conducted an annual business meeting. On this the 20 th Anniversary Year, we look with pride on the number of inductees who have gained access to membership in Sigma Theta Tau International through their induction into Zeta Omega at Large.
Zeta Omega At Large Membership It would be remiss not to mention the names of the individuals who have assumed the key leadership role of President during the past twenty years.
Steering Committee Chairperson and Founder Veronica C. O’Day, Pace University 1980-1982
Presidents Lorraine Bousard, Dominican College 1982-1984 Joan Hoff, Mercy College 1984-1986 Alayne Fitzpatrick, Mercy College 1986-1988 Sue Khanna, Pace University 1988-1990 Sandra Lewenson, Mercy College 1990-1992 Theresa M. Yannaco, Mercy College 1992-1994 Joan Paternoster, Pace University 1994-1996 Victoria Nikou, College of New Rochelle 1996-2003 Joan Paternoster, Mercy College 2003-present
These were the leaders of the past twenty years and they are to be commended for a job well done. We look to the leaders of the future to uphold the standards that have been set by this group with hope and enthusiasm that Zeta Omega At Large will continue to flourish under your guidance.
In June 1980, Veronica O’Day obtained the guidelines for developing an honor society in preparation for charter-granting with Sigma Theta Tau. These guidelines were used in establishing the by-laws and eligibility criteria for the Westchester-Rockland At-Large Honor Society.
On October 6, 1980, a planning committee met and discussed the need for the formation of a Steering Committee, a By-Laws Committee, and presenting a request to Sigma Theta Tau for application. On January 12, 1981, Dominican College of Blauvelt was invited to join the effort of organizing a regional honor society for nursing, and on February 18, 1981 the Westchester-Rockland At-Large Honor Society was officially named. By March 17, 1981 the Steering Committee had appointed Justine Glassman as the first treasurer and discussed plans for its first Induction Ceremony.
May 1, 1983, marked the date of the final induction ceremony of the Westchester-Rockland At-Large Honor Society. One hundred seventy-one (171) new members were inducted that day at Dominican College. The program was coordinated by Connie Gormley and Dr. Lucille Joel was the keynote speaker. 
Excitement, anticipation and finally reaching the goal marked the months from March 15, 1983 when Sigma Theta Tau, represented by Andrea Hollingsworth, made a site visit of the prospective chapter. Following this site visit a petition for chartering was presented on October 14, 1983, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Sigma Theta Tau Biennial Convention. The petition was accepted and on November 19, 1983, a letter from Nell Watts, Executive Officer, announced the name of the new chapter, Zeta Omega At Large, and the date of its chartering ceremony
In March of 1985 Zeta Omega At-Large undertook the awesome task of hosting the Region Five Assembly of Sigma Theta Tau on Pace University’s Pleasantville Campus.
On March 25, 1994, Zeta Omega At-Large celebrated its 10 th Anniversary. A special videotape titled “Past, Present and Future,” reviews the ten year history in photographs of many members and events. With President-elect Joan Paternoster in charge, a gala dinner party was held at the Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown. 
Lucie Kelly was a special guest and Vernice Ferguson gave the keynote address, appropriately named “In Celebration of Nursing.” The videotape was shown for the first time and the four schools of the chapter each received a copy to share with their faculty and students.
The year 1997 was a memorable year for Zeta Omega At-Large. In the early spring of 1997 an application for the International Heritage Chapter Award was being prepared. In preparation for the application a videotape, “Stories of the Presidents,” was created and J. Mae Pepper led the discussion on the tape. On March 19, 1997, members of Zeta Omega and the entire community were shocked by the sudden untimely death of J. Mae Pepper. Mae had served on the original Steering Committee of Westchester-Rockland At-Large Honor Society and her guidance was crucial to the successful chartering of Zeta Omega At-Large. The Chapter’s Heritage application was successful and received the Region Five Heritage Award.
Picture: Seated: Mary McGuiness, Judith Dattoli, President Victoria Rizzo Nikou, Joan Paternoster. Standing: Veronica O'Day, Dean Harriet Feldman of Pace University
On September 28, 1997, the J. Mae Pepper Service Excellence Award was created. The criteria included the following: active membership in Zeta Omega At-Large, significant contribution to chapter operations, letters of support from at least two members who have served on the board of directors. Recipients include the following: Veronica O’Day (9-28-1997), Alayne Fitzpatrick (10-15-2000), Lillie M. Shortridge-Baggett (10-14-2001), Mary McGuinness (10-19-2003).
