Alumni Fish Fry!On Saturday, September 22, the Cook Alumni Association held its annual Fish Fry. This is traditionally an event for alumni to come back and network, and see what has been going on around campus since they graduated. The event was held at the Log Cabin slightly off campus, in the Rutgers Gardens. Alumni of all ages, from Class of 1975 to Class of 2012 showed up to enjoy music, a pasta buffet, all the kalamari and shrimp you can eat...

Last but not least for the end of the semester of events our members of the Florida Chapter made their way to the start line of the Midnight Fun Run on the last day of classes. The 5K race starts at midnight and takes students through a course across campus. Members ran along side hundreds of other students all decked out in their neon running shirts. We made our way along the course going from well lit areas to running by the moon light...

With the end of the year drawing nearer the Florida Chapter decided to be thankful for what we have accomplished and pass on the gift of food to those who are not as fortunate. Members collected cans to donate to the St. Francis House in Gainesville. The St. Francis House is there to provide emergency food, temporary shelter, transitional housing, and related support services in a safe, secure environment for people who find themselves confronted with homelessness and hunger in the Alachua County...

The Florida Chapter celebrated Earth Day by giving back to the community. Members cleaned up our adopted road with the help of some of our newest additions. The members that participated in the clean-up did not mind taking time out of their schedule, as the last 3 days of classes came closer and made graduation ever closer for some or the next year of school for others, to pick up the trash and get it off the street. The road clean-up was planned for the morning to avoid the heat of the day and to be completed when the Horticulture Departments Earth Day event started...

For the UF Chapter of Alpha Zeta's social, our Social Chair Kaylie planned a dinner at Sonny's for some southern food. Members crowded around tables talking each other and welcoming the newest of members that joined us. The dinner allowed members the opportunity to catch up on what happened over the year, see what people have planned for next year or after graduation, and catch up with those we haven't seen in a while due to classes. At the restaurant, everyone paid for their own food and drink but has a lot of fun catching up with friends talking about the memories they have had through AZ and what lies ahead.

The Florida Chapter had the amazing opportunity to initiate its newest members into our chapter. The night was beautiful and matched our excitement and gratitude to the members, staff, and initiates that came out. The ceremony was a traditional set up allowing the initiates an inside into what we were founded on and what we strive towards as an organization. After the ceremony we joined in congratulating the newest members of our chapter with dinner where they sat with their sponsors, our advisors, and members...

Members of the Florida Chapter participated in the monthly Operation Catnip (OC) spay/neuter clinic. OC provides free spay/neuter, vaccines, and treatment for parasites to community cats from Alachua County, FL at no charge to the caregivers. Since 1998, OC has fixed over 31,000 cats. At monthly "spay days" over 200 cats are fixed in just hours thanks to a team of volunteers and the space for the clinic is donated by the UF College of Veterinary Medicine. Volunteers are assigned to a variety of tasks from check in to surgery preparation and recovery. This unique program gave our members an opportunity to gain some hands on experience in veterinary medicine. With many of our members pursuing medical degrees it gave them the chance to work first hand.

Members of the Florida Chapter participated or volunteered at the first annual FOG Jog. The Florida Organic Growers put on the 5K Run/Walk to help raise funds. The event was a fun and healthy way for members to help raise funds for Florida Organic Growers (FOG), a local non-profit which supports and promotes organic, sustainable agriculture and nutritional food in our community. It was a blast for members to help support the local community and give back while keeping healthy.

Members of the Florida Chapter's pledge class met up to take part in a tradition at the University of Florida. Located on 34th St. in Gainesville is a wall that lines the road where students all over the city come and paint advertisements, pictures, and even proposals. They decided to go and leave their mark on the 34th St. wall days before they became members. In the group there were some more talented graffiti artists than others, however our finished product is one to challenge some of the best artists. The wall gave them the opportunity to show their creative side and have fun outside with each other away from the stresses of school and finishing their AZ requirements as initiation drew ever so close.

The Florida Chapter's spring pledge class held a fundraiser at Red Mango from 8-11 PM where they receive a certain percentage of the profits from those hours. Members and pledges came out after classes and studying to meet up with each other and get some delicious frozen yogurt that could be topped with numerous things including fresh fruit. The fundraiser gave the pledge class an opportunity to offset some of the fees associated with pledging like dues and national fees. Of course, what better way to do this than while eating frozen yogurt!...