President

Retta Burling Meser - President A devoted wife, a self-proclaimed soccer mom, an experienced leader, a community volunteer, a medical worker, a lifetime golfer and a loyal Tri Delta ------ that’s Retta Burling Meser, Sarasota Area Alumnae Chapter president. Retta and her five brothers and sisters grew up on Green Lake in Central Wisconsin where they sailed, water skied and played golf. After graduating from high school, she followed Jeff Meser, her hometown boyfriend and future husband to the University of Wisconsin. She pledged Tri Delta and enrolled in the school of nursing completing her academics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she moved after marrying Jeff. He joined a big eight accounting firm and later was chief financial officer of Great MidWestern Bank. Retta worked part time in a doctor’s office, but her big job was raising three athletic children, John, Charley and Ann who have now given her 6 grandchildren. Retta also found time for community service as a Junior League member and an officer of the Milwaukee Tri DeltaAlumnae Chapter. She served as treasurer and president. Twice, she chaired the Tri Delta Sleigh Bell Luncheon, a major fundraiser for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Oncology Department. Retirement brought Retta and Jeff to Sarasota. Both avid golfers, they bought a villa and later a home at Stoneybrook Golf and Country Club where Retta is an officer of the women’s golf association. She also is an avid bridge player. In 2016, she joined the Sarasota Area Alumnae Chapter and was soon drafted to serve as treasurer. In 2022, she was unanimously elected president. Retta and the new board are pursuing ideas to create programs and events to encourage attendance and participation. She also hopes to increase dues-paying membership following the pandemic years. An exciting new era is beginning under Retta’s experienced leadership. #

Vice President

Joan Bradbury Kayser A native born Floridian and long-time Sarasota attorney, Joan Bradbury Kayser has found time in her retirement to serve as our chapter's Vice President. Joan grew up as a Florida "Gator" in Gainesville where her father was a professor at the University of Florida. After graduating from the University Lab School, Joan enrolled at the University of Florida and left home to live on campus. She joined Tri Delta her freshman year and was president of her pledge class. Joan majored in economics and finance earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, and later added Phi Beta Kappa to her list of accomplishments. Both parents and her brother also were tapped for Phi Beta Kappa. Joan went on to graduate in three years from Harvard Law School with a Doctor of Law degree. She worked in corporate securities law for the New York firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore where her son is now a partner. She married an attorney and moved to Sarasota to begin her law career in private practice and with the trust departments of Northern Trust and the Bank of Montreal. She also raised her daughter and son. She retired in 2016. Her passion is the arts. Joan has served on the boards of the Van Wezel Foundation, Asolo Theatre Company, Mote Marine and the Community Foundation of Sarasota. She also supports the Conservation Foundation of Southwest Florida, and loves ballet. Joan is active in the DDD Book Club and ready to serve as Vice President. #

Corresponding Secretary

Anne Fross Walker Adventuresome, talented and dedicated to family, community and church would best describe one of our newer members, Anne Fross Walker, Corresponding Secretary. Anne, an only child, grew up in Kansas City (Raytown), and enrolled at the University of Kansas to study foreign languages. She transferred to Kansas State where she pledged Delta Delta Delta. After graduation, she became a translator in Switzerland, married and started a family. In 1978, she wanted her sons to be raised in the USA, so they moved to Ft. Pierce, Florida. Anne began a second career as a real estate appraiser with St. Lucie County. She also started a new life with Tom, her husband of nearly 25 years. They discovered Englewood on boating weekends, and moved across the state in 2012 when Anne retired. They have been active in their new community volunteering for Meals on Wheels, and doing church work. Anne crochets baby blankets and clothes for "Pregnancy Solutions", serving unwed mothers. In her free time, Anne is a voracious reader. She has enjoyed her new Sarasota alumnae sisters and looks forward to serving as corresponding secretary. #

Recording Secretary

Linda Hayne Cape               Linda Cape devoted her career as a nurse and health care consultant to improving the health care systems of the country, and the lives of the most vulnerable neo-natal babies.              She grew up in Olathe, Kansas, and set her sights on the Nursing School at the University of Kansas.  She pledged Tri Delta in her freshman year. She left KU at the end of her sophomore year, married Charlie Cape and moved to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City to complete her nursing degree.              Linda provided nursing care in a variety of settings before joining Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City in the neo-natal intensive care unit. She moved to St. Louis where she worked at Children's Hospital and attended graduate school at St. Louis University earning her master's degree in Nursing of Children.  She became a clinical nurse specialist in the neo-natal ICU at St. Louis Children's Hospital. During their 20 years in St. Louis, they raised two sons and a daughter.             In 1993, Linda was recruited by KPMG, a major tax, audit and consulting firm and was based in Chicago. As a part of the healthcare consulting practice, she traveled across the US working with health care organizations to improve clinical care delivery systems. In 1998, Linda was promoted to partner at KPMG. She later started her own consulting firm which was acquired by Huron Consulting Co.             She retired in 2010, to care for her husband who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and in 2015 moved to Sarasota, Florida. Linda and Charlie have three children and six grandchildren.             Her special talents have been tapped by her neighborhood community. She serves in a leadership position with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), sponsored by FEMA. She also connected with Tri Delta, Sarasota Alumnae Chapter and is now serving as Recording Secretary. #

Treasurer