Sorority leader

Seven years ago, a local woman started a journey that would eventually result in her leading a sorority.

Today, Julie Swoveland stands as the national president for her philanthropic sorority, Delta Theta Tau.

“Even though being a national officer is so much different than just your local chapters on the local level, it’s almost like another chapter within the sorority,” Swoveland said. “You become really close to those ladies that you serve with.”

She was elected national treasurer in 2013. Following sorority rules, she held each of the other seven national offices before she became the national president. She’s been involved with the sorority, specifically her local chapters, for 36 years.

She joined the Pennville chapter, Epsilon Phi, when she was young. The group disbanded in 2015 because of low numbers — there were only four women still active.

Swoveland reflected on her past involvement at Epsilon Phi. She and her sorority sisters would make elephant ears every year at the Pennville fair. Something special about their elephant ears, she recalled, is that they would brush melted honey and butter on the fried dough before coating it in cinnamon and sugar.

“You won’t find them (now) the way we made them,” she said.

In order to continue her national pursuits, she joined the Dunkirk chapter, Zeta Chi.

Among other projects, Zeta Chi donates to the reading program and gives scholarships to Jay students.

Pamela Robbins, administrator at West Jay Community Center, is a sister on the committee for the Main Street USA event, a craft show that helps raise funds for the sorority each year. She discussed how, this past year, Zeta Chi sisters also cut, sewed and stuffed teddy bears for the police department, pregnancy center and EMTs.

“If (responders) go on a run where children are involved, they can give them something to hold on to,” she said.

Christy Curts, Zeta Chi treasurer and active sister for 44 years, said she never had a desire to run for a national office, but she knew Julie wanted to go far.

“When you go to conventions, you can tell the ones that want to go further on up,” she said. “I just sit there — she would raise her hand.”

Curts expects the Dunkirk chapter will be involved at some level with nationals, particularly getting ready for the 2021 national convention in Ohio. Generally, a few hundred sorority members attend the convention, depending on where it is held, Curts said. She estimated about 300 to 400 will come to Ohio for the event.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Delta Theta Tau canceled this year’s convention. Sisters held the national initiation ceremony via a Zoom meeting. Swoveland said it was a different experience from usual.

“It wasn’t really like you would have hoped it to be under normal circumstances, but it’s OK,” she said. “That’s just one of the good things about sorority. No matter what we’re faced with, we can stick together and get through it.”

There are about 15 members in Zeta Chi, and there are 105 chapters across the United States, Swoveland noted. Besides Zeta Chi, there is a Redkey chapter, Zeta Alpha, and a Portland chapter, Xi. Jay is the only county with multiple active chapters, she added.

The friendships she has built are what Swoveland said she loves most about the sorority. Every year, the national president has a theme, which generally revolves around what is important to her. Swoveland’s theme is “sew seeds of friendship.”

“I chose three things that were very important to me,” she explained. “I like to sew and quilt, and I love gardening, and of course you have to sow a seed for a garden to grow. And then friendships are very important.”

Robbins said she first met Swoveland when she was running for her first office, back when they drove together to the national convention in Louisiana. Looking at her sister now, Robbins said she knows Swoveland will take charge as a leader.

“I know she’s up to the challenge,” she said. “I think she will be there with an answer for anything that comes up, and if she doesn’t have (an answer), she will track it down until we’re able to move forward.”