I do like the tiara!:)

Work it Triad sisters! Y'all look Divine! I love the tiara! Kinda looks like the one I wore at my wedding :)

What a journey :O
 

Wow Congratulations!

That's really freakin' awesome! :) I've just read the story of getting into Varakai now and I'm really happy for you that you found a home in Gamma Phi Beta!

Now Hear This! Now Hear This! This is a thread hijack announcement -- :mad:

GPhiBLtColonel is now joining WeightWatchers -- nuthin' like undoctored pictures of yourself posted on the FREAKIN' internet :rolleyes: :eek: to make one see the obvious -- I am waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay way way too portly (FAT)! Yes I enjoying cooking; Yes, I have never met a cookbook or recipe I don't like; and Yes, dammit, I like to cook, eat & drink (oink). :p But I absolutely hate how I look in pictures -- though I do LOVE my tiara ;) :D So ... Wish me luck y'all. P.S. Started my new exercise program yesterday with a fast-paced 2-mile walk in our city's annual 4th of July parade in our alum Panhel entry!

Cele, you look GORGEOUS in pictures and in real life....no need for you to join Weight Watchers. There's nothing wrong with enjoying your food and liking all sorts of receipes and cookbooks :)

But anyway, congrats on the walk for the 4th of July :)

/hijack

Hey Kelly,

Cool badge, tiara & thanks for sharing your convention photos with us!:D

Hear hear! It's not my way to base my friendships with others on things like that. You're *my* big because you're cool, funny like nothing else and a real woman of action!

BUT....I don't get it because I don't even think you need to go on Weight Watchers. :confused: You just need to step away from the "...waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay way way too portly" comment. Way way way? I think not!

.....Kelly :)

P.S. - Epsilon Gamma is still better than Beta Alpha. :p

I don't know how I missed out on the pictures, either... but my mother (Anita, in the red dress in that picture) was also initiated at convention! And we were sitting at the same table with Cele and Kelly during the banquet on the last night of convention!

It really was a beautiful initiation ceremony! Congratulations, Kelly! How fun that you & my mother got to be "pledge sisters!"

Love the pictures :) I'm glad you have them to remember your day by!

Great pictures! Everyone looks like they had so much fun. Congratulations on your initiation Navane!!

Kelly, I love the pictures!! Thank you for sharing them with us!! So much happiness for you and your initiation!!

A tiara is a great accessory that no girl should be without. :D




Kelly congratulations to the end of one journey and to the beginning of another.

I know...I have two!;)

Kelly's Journey - EPILOGUE


Hi all,

I just got back from my weekend volunteering to help the Beta Lambda chapter of Gamma Phi Beta at San Diego State University. I want to share some pictures with you and say a few words.


http://members.ispwest.com/navane/GP...PBcollalum.jpg

The Beta Lambda Recruitment Chair and one of the alums.


http://members.ispwest.com/navane/GP...s/GPBgirls.jpg

Some of the Beta Lambda girls on a break from the Philanthropy Round parties.


http://members.ispwest.com/navane/GP...PBalumhelp.jpg

An alumna helping set-up for Preference Night.


http://members.ispwest.com/navane/GP...Bprefready.jpg

The Beta Lambda girls getting ready for Prefs.


http://members.ispwest.com/navane/GP...Bprefgirls.jpg

Some of the girls after a successful completion of Pref Night.


http://members.ispwest.com/navane/GP...Bprefkelly.jpg

This is me on Preference Night - my first time participating in recruitment as a sister.


http://members.ispwest.com/navane/GP...ntmoonREAL.jpg

To top it off, the crescent moon shined down upon us!


Back in spring 1997, I would have never imagined what a ride my journey to sisterhood would entail. I didn't expect to receive a bid during recruitment...and I got one in less than two hours. I didn't expect to have to turn it down.....but I felt that was best. I didn't expect to lose my mother at such a young age.

I didn't expect to give it another try...but I did. I didn't expect to be rejected by a sisterhood I admired so much...it broke my heart. I didn't think one could be initiated as an alumna.

I didn't expect to receive such positive feedback....but no less than four organizations wanted to call me "sister". I didn't expect to have so many obstacles in my path...and yet three years went past. I didn't expect one woman to believe in me so much that she did everything possible to make it happen for me.

I didn't expect to be standing in front of 600 women....but there I was in front of past international presidents and 50-year members. I didn't expect my badge to be so beautiful....but there it was pinned over my heart. I didn't expect to become a Gamma Phi Beta....but there I was crying in my big sister's arms.

And so I found myself this weekend stepping into the Beta Lambda chapter house ready to lend a hand to help a new wave of San Diego State University students find their homes in Gamma Phi Beta too.

"My girls" were brilliant, achieving a 100% return rate after the first round. My girls put their best foot forward during philanthropy round and house tours. MY girls put on a beautiful preference night ceremony which left them and the PNMs all teared up. The alumnae were terrific: sorting out paperwork, re-setting craft materials, encouraging the girls, lighting candles, folding napkins, collecting glasses. I had a wonderful chat with the alums...I felt so welcome.

At the end of it all, the alums of the "past", the sisters of the present, and the members of the future stood around and sang:


Love, Labor, Learning, and Loyalty,
Gamma Phi Beta means so much to me.
There's a reason here, for a reason above,
a lifetime of sisterhood flowing with love.
Love grows strong with the crescent moon,
all our years here together will pass too soon.
We'll be Gamma Phis forever and when we're gone,
There'll be Gamma Phis here to sing our song.


I just wanted to thank everyone here for their support of me and my AI journey as I have finally come full circle. GreekChat provides a unique opportunity for potential AIs to find advice and encouragement along the way. I also wanted to thank my big sister, Cele (GPhiBLtColonel), for "going to bat" for me by sponsoring me into Gamma Phi. Your zany sense of humor is like nothing else....I think I've finally met my match!

It brings me great joy whenever I see a PNAM making her way home. I hope my story has provided even the smallest sliver of hope and inspiration to those of you still searching. I look forward to reading all about your adventures! May you all enjoy the happy ending that I have been privileged to have.

.....Kelly :)

Thank goodness I am not wearing mascara!
Cause after reading that, I am damn near bawling (and it is NOT from PMS!)

Seriously Kelly, that was beautiful!

Jill, stop sniffling!

Kelly,

What an inspirational story! I really enjoyed learning about your whole process, and what a journey for you! I almost cried when I read about your initiation and the pix were beautiful!

I can truly appreciate your messages and advice for all of PNAMs!

Cheryl

All you AI chicks need to stop making me cry.
;)
I am so happy for you Kelly! It's awesome to see so much good news on this board.

Kelly, that is a beautiful story!

Awww, Kelly, you know how much I love you sweetie!:D ;) I am THRILLED to have you as my sister!!!!! Great work helping with rush -- that is one of the most rewarding things I do as an alum and I am glad you are getting to soak in that experience too. LOve ya!!!:)

Cele, you are without a doubt the Neatest of a many GC GPhiB.


Kelly, you could not have had a better Sponser and Big Sister.:cool:

What are Kath and I? Chopped liver?

Love the pics! We gots us some B-E-A-utiful girls out at SDSU!

We're RUMAKI! ;)

I mean too hot to handle.

Their pref looked gorgeous.

Congratulations on your first recruitment! The pictures look amazing!

On a completely different and shallow note, I LOVE the shirts the girls wore during Philanthropy Round (see below). Where are they from?

Thanks!

Triad Love,
Jessica

The girls did a great job! Here's what the garden looked like:


http://members.ispwest.com/navane/GPBpreftables.jpg


The flash on my camera doesn't do the picture any favours; but, you get the idea. :)

.....Kelly :)

Hi Jessica!

I'm not sure where they got the shirts from. Since they had to have so many, I believe they ordered them in quantity. The photo only shows peach and green; but, they had pink too! I e-mailed the recruitment chair to ask for you! :)


.....Kelly :)

Hey Jessica,

The President of the chapter got back to me and told me that they got the shirts from Arden B. I went to the website and, unfortunately, it looks like they've got the new fall collection in. At least, I cannot find those particular shirts on the website. :(

http://www.ardenb.com/

If it helps, I went and checked ebay and I saw a couple listings with that exact style (I searched under "Arden B green" and sifted through the tops). Good luck!

.....Kelly :)

Thank You Kelly! I'll take a look at ebay when I get a chance. It's perfect for a Founder's Day outfit! :)

Kelly -- am I the only one who cannot read the code at the bottom of your signature block? What does it say? :p Sorry -- this old broad (yeah, I turned 50 yesterday - 9/27) just cannot translate it!
Cele

I think I almost have it!

4|)V4|\|C3D - Advanced
l3e+ - bet ?
$peA|< - Speak
i$ - is
whEn - when
J00 - you
+4lK - talk
L1K3 - like
t|-|15. - this
t0 - to
u|\|d3r$+@|\|D - understand
jOo - you
|\/|u5+ - must
be - be
lEET. - Ket?
1f - If
J00 - you
4r3 - are
NO+ - not
lEe+ -ket?
jOO - you
C@|\|N0T - cannot
5p3A|< - speak
0r - or
ReAd - read
+|-|I5. - this
i - I
4|\/| - am
teh - the
Ch1x012 - choice?

HUH?:confused:

all the lEet stuff is "leet" which used to be the cool speak for cool internet kids in like 1997. It's pretty played out now but I think Kelly put it in her sig to make fun of them. I don't really know. I'd rather see my letters attached to that then some of the other things I've seen them by on GC though.

ok I got the lEet.....what was the last word?

Kelly's Journey - EPILOGUE - Part II


Well, the day finally arrived, the day I got to meet my chapter sisters. Yes, that's right, save the two girls who introduced themselves at Founders' Day, I had never met my own chapter sisters. Let me tell you, they are adorable.

Two weeks ago, the Epsilon Gamma chapter of Gamma Phi Beta at the University of San Diego held their formal recruitment events. Unfortunately, I was tied up with another volunteer endeavour, so I was unable to help. However, I was able to go to bid day to see the results of all their hard work.

They bid 46 girls which is quota plus 3! I can see why so many girls wanted to go Gamma Phi, these young ladies are so full of energy and warmth. They all seemed to have genuine friendships with one another. I have great video footage taken on my digital camera of the seniors jumping around and singing Disney songs in the kitchen. They were just too cute!

I'm awfully proud of how well all of my Epsilon Gamma girls have done. It's good to be a Gamma Phi!

.....Kelly :)


http://members.ispwest.com/navane/gpbUSDbidkit2.jpg


http://members.ispwest.com/navane/gpbUSDbid.jpg


http://members.ispwest.com/navane/gpbUSDbid2.jpg

Guess what day today is!!! To steal a phrase from Tinydancer...


It's my Gammaversary!!!! :) :D :cool:


I was initiated June 26, 2004 at the international convention in Chicago! I sure am glad to be a Gamma Phi Beta!


.....Kelly :)

Happy Gammaversary! :D

Yay!
 

Happy Gammaversary Kelly!!:) :) :)

I am so glad to call you my little sister!:D :D :D

Aww how sweet! Love those pictures!

Whoo hoo! Go out and celebrate!!! :D

Happy Gammaversary to you! I'm so glad to count you among my sisters.:)