I'm off, too - car is packed, plus the garbage I get to take to the dump... cat has clean litter, food, water... dishwasher is running... and so am I! So much for leaving at 9. Good thing that was an earlier than necessary departure goal... Now I'm right on time!

See everyone soon!

PS - the manicure is already toast.

All I have left to pack are...

white shoes...straightening iron....and jean skirt...

whew...

def no time pedi...just had to paint the nails...


guess the brows will have to wait until tomorrow...

Too much to fit into so small of a space....played in a golf tournament today...and I have to fit in a lot of sales calls tomorrow before I depart...

Can't wait though! :D:D:D

Pulled out a bunch of stuff last night so I could decide what I wanted/needed to bring tonight, lol.

Can't decide what to do about shoes. I don't want to bring a lot of different pairs but I never know which ones will hurt the most, lol.

Here's something sweet. My hubby gave me $100 out of the blue. He was going to use it to buy a gun from my bro in law but the bil changed his mind! :cool:

packed new shoes, but not sure they'll be as comfy as the old stand-by pairs, so they're all in the stash. I refuse to count. I have nothing fancy, as everything is SANDals here in Florida!
Just ironed the last of the shorts, one more top that I found needs some tlc...then it's off to the showers! 5am comes early, and my children are already missing me.
M-I-C...
See ya real soon!

Just in case the other CA didn't have the correct info.. you don't need anything this time. There have been no changes since the last Constitution was printed and there are no resolutions, so no need to bring it.

Oh yeah, we're already having fun :) Have run into agd4rie already and had dinner with DoctorD. The Riverwalk is very cool. The walking (within the hotel) doesn't seem that bad this time. The elevators aren't too far from the thick of things. The pool looks great. DoctorD and I walked to a restaurant for dinner (which seemed kind of far) with the plan to take a boat back to the Rivercenter. However, the boat tickets were sold out for the night so we had to walk back. It's quite hot ladies!

Hi - It's really DoctorD! I'm in AGDee's room using her internet because I'm too cheap to pay $9.95 every day. I'll pay it some, just not tonight!

My suitcase was exactly 50 pounds... one more pound over and it would have cost me $80. For those of you still packing, remember that one bag over the one allowed [on Delta] is $25. Packing in 2 bags might have been better, and I'm not sure how I will pack on the return trip!

Water out of the machine is $2.00. FYI...

My plane leaves in 4 hours!!!

I ended up getting a mani today....

If you want to figure out who I am...just look for the Alpha Gam without pinky nails...they never last me that long... :D

San Antonio is great!!

Just ran into Lynn at the Area I gathering... :D

Me reppin the flag tonight...take a look at our fab red leather bags in the bottom right corner...I am in LOVE!

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...vention037.jpg

I hope you all are having an awesome time!

We definitely are. The Knibbe Ranch was the most fun event I've ever experienced at a convention! Everybody was up dancing to "Sweet Home Alpha Gamma", "We Are Family" and "Play that Funky Music"... lol. Some sat on Oreo and got their pictures taken (Oreo is a black and white Texas longhorn) and some participated in armadillo races while others went on a hay ride. We had Texas barbecue brisket and chicken with the best mashed potatos in the world. Very very fun night! 8x10 was taking TONS of pictures so I'm sure they'll all be up.

The Knibbe Ranch was so AWESOME!!!!

My highlight definitely had to be racing an armadillo...they are too cute...

I wanted to take one home to NC...but I don't think they would like the weather much :cool::D

On a side note...I'm SO proud of my sister daughter...she will be representing the sorority as a Leadership Consultant this year... I'm a proud mom...what can I say :D:)

But here's the important question--where will Convention be in 2010?!

Grab your sunscreen - it's in Tampa, Florida!

Congrats on your sister-daughter!

I'm so tired I can't even see straight, but will post more later!

Photos are up with the same company as last time:
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/thum...aspx?e=3891291

AWESOME TIME!
 

Although I'm not as tired as previous Conventions, lol.

Great to see old friends and make new ones.

THRILLED to talk with one of my idols...Laverne TF. She came to my chapter when I was a collegiate and I have always thought the world of her.

THANK GOODNESS FOR SUZANNE!! She found my Badge when it dropped out of my pocketbook.

While waiting for the plane today, she and Michelle M and I were talking about Badges. Turns out my Badge was first given to someone from Alpha Alpha!!! How ironic that hubby grew up in Tonawanda..a suburb of Buffalo.

Linda K, an AA and a PD is from North Tonawanda.

Your roommate was none too happy with us for calling your room!

I'm more tired than I've ever been after a Convention. And the kids have had me running since I got home. I sooo wish I didn't have to work tomorrow.

TAMPA
 

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...el-and-marina/

June 23-26, 2010

At this time, valet parking is $20 a day. Off-site parking - cost not available. Daily parking at hotel is $12.00.

HOME!
 

I am finally home! This was my favorite Convention EVER! I saw everyone and think I had a picture taken with evey other collegian there. It was so awesome!!!!!!!

Everyone did a great job! Lee, Dee (nise), Nancy, ect. Met so many I wanted to put a face with and reconnected with others!

Does anyone know the name of the photo web site???

Love to all my Alpha Gam dancers!!!

Marie

I concur! Great convention, and I'm tired, but also still on Central Time... just a little bummed AGD4Rie and I didn't get the $400 Delta voucher for giving up our seats on the flight home. And yay for the Ticket Agent who let my overweight bag slide...

Good to see so many folks! I love how recharged I am after convention!

Photos: http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/thum...aspx?e=3891291

I got halfway through Day 2 and was falling asleep at the computer trying to look at them all...lol.

That's great news! I have an aunt and uncle who live in Clearwater Beach, which is near Tampa! With any luck, I'll get to do 2 vacations in 1. :)

MARIA, WE MISSED YOU!!
 

Whenever Chapman was mentioned, I thought of you!:D

You're so sweet, Lynn. I was thinking about all of you the whole weekend. It was such a dissappointment to me not to be able to make it this time around. :(

I keep waiting on the group picture to be posted on the photo website. I think the group picture may be one of my favorite things we've done the past 2 conventions, although the scary escalator may cause trauma for a number of us!

We were all just about to take the large group picture after Feast of Roses and were on 2 floors of the Marriott with many sisters posed on the 2 non-moving escalators. Suddenly, one of the escalators started going down - FAST! It was very fortunate there weren't any sisters standing in front of the escalator, because the women who were on it had to run off to avoid a pile up at the bottom.

As soon as it is posted, we need to be sure to link it here! :D

I don't like escalators although I do get on them...very carefully!

Out of curiosity, I checked the Expedia price for Atl to Tampa...it's about $186..maybe I should book now, lol.;)

Well I am glad that everyone had a wonderful time. I am looking forward to pictures and details. I am glad that I didn't go because I am sitting in the hospital writing you all. I am okay and the baby is okay... we are just on bedrest.

I'll post more later... just wanted to say that I am glad everyone had a good time and MAYBE in two years I will get to attend convention!

Is this correct?
 

Lynn you have this listed as next year... is this VST training or Convention?

She means 2010, although we would all REALLY enjoy seeing each other in Tampa this time next year!

$
 

Dr. D and I already had the voucher spent! I am disappointed!
:( Tampa should be great. I should be rested up by then!;)

And again, I won't be able to go.

Okay, okay, I changed it, lol.;)

2 0 1 0:cool:

I already talked to my dad and my kids and our plan is that I'll fly the kids down with me, they'll stay with Grandpa while I'm at Convention and then I'll join them for a couple days too! Maybe I can get my daughter to one of the banquets that allows guests and she can get her first taste of an Alpha Gam Convention at age 16! However, she did say something yesterday along the lines of "This whole thing sounds kind of like a cult." LOL I told her it is definitely not a cult.. more like a HUGE Girl Scout troop!

LOL! That is too funny!!!

I can't wait for Convention in 2010!! I'm hoping that Theta Omicron will get to have a shining moment...we've got lots of work to do in the biennium!

home, but not resting!
 

Thanks for the kind words, AGD4Rie...loved seeing everyone! Reality has hit and I've already worked at Cub Scout Day Camp for a day and a half! Fortunately laundry is done, but it's all gotta find its home sometime. I had a fantastic time and I can't wait to DRIVE to Tampa next time. It's only 2 hours from home, so I've got to figure out how far it is from my house to the hotel and how many times I must walk it in order to reach my 1000 miles? Guess I need a pedometer?!
How neat was it to have Laverne install Jackie? Still gives me chills.
Ehugs to those who didn't get their own in San Antonio. Hopefully next time I'll get to everyone!

Can we go back to Alpha Gam land now???

oh, let's. It's a much better place. This work thing stinks.

I emailed today asking them when the Day 4 and whole group pictures would be put up on the web site. So far, no reply.

xo agdee xo
 

You rock! ...and you are a mind reader!!!

I did the same thing... no reply either.

It just seems so weird. Days 1,2 and 3 were up so quickly.. then it's like "Where's Sunday?" "Where's the group pic?" and, this time, they have a deadline of July 22nd for ordering pics. I swear I just ordered some pics from the 2006 Convention about 6 months ago. Since I know I have a deadline, I want to see those pics asap!

ETA: Here is a day by day Play by Play for Convention.. just the highlights of course :)

Wednesday: VST only: We had a great workshop put on by The Leadership Institute teaching us how to be better facilitators of workshops. So yes, a workshop on running workshops. The Leadership Institute staff are really phenomenal women! Then, a reception put on by the Foundation for VST. (Or you could go to the reception first and then go to the workshop as the workshop was offered at two times). I actually did the latter so going to the reception was the first time I saw a lot of the VST in two years! Instead of having it in a suite like they did in the past, they used conference rooms this time so it wasn't crowded and unbelievably hot like it usually is. Great move! We had a VST Convention Orientation where we found out about some of the new programs being rolled out, news about where the Fraternity is going and what the goals are for the next year. We met with our teams and then we all hung out in the lobby area because we love our sisters like that :)

Thursday: VST meeting from 8-9 am, mainly a "getting to know each other" activity with goal setting for our teams too. Credentials and credentials and credentials in the morning. There were also optional workshops all day long, roundtables for collegians, alumnae and advisors. The vendors arrived! One of the big bonuses in having the Greek Licensing is that there are so many more vendors which means more cute stuff! 5 pm came and we had flag parade practice with the opening dinner immediately following. After dinner was the flag parade and opening remarks. Rejoice, Reunite, Re (oh my gosh, was the third R???) We saw the first of many videos about our history put together by the Archives Committee and our Communications staff. Then Epsilon Pi ceremony practice and THEN Collegiate Awards Luncheon practice.. which took us to after 10 pm! Long long long day!

Friday: 7:30 am meeting for all of those who were facilitating workshops at some point with the opening business meeting occurring first thing in the morning. I can't remember most of Friday and I don't know why! Oh yes, I was an "expert" for Risk Management at an Ask the Experts booth after the morning business session. We had the alumnae awards luncheon (back to it's original format where we do the awards in the dining room). Then more workshops in the afternoon.. I did an advisor roundtable. Then Initiation, dinner, and the Epsilon Pi and Memorial Service ceremonies. Among the Convention Initiates was the daughter of the VST member, KC! There wasn't Greek Life at the college she went to and she has graduated and so she was Initiated. She was so cute and so enthusiastic! She will probably be a Finance Specialist since she is an accountant and there is a need. While it seemed odd to NOT have Dee Dee running the show, Nancy did a wonderful job! And yes, there was a Circle this year.

Saturday: Our slow day..lol. We got up at 5 am to be in the lobby at 5:45 am for the Walk! We walked and walked and walked and walked and when we finished, the sun was coming up. It felt like it must be noon by then but it was only 7 am. There were overachievers who ran it (DoctorD) and some of us took a wee bit of a short cut, but all in all, we did a great job. There were cheerleaders with cow bells and pom poms along the route. Some women were singing in the lobby at 5:45 am. I'm a morning person, but that was a bit much even for me! We had a breakfast sponsored by the Foundation after we showered and then we had a great speaker who talked about Life Balance. Then it was FREE AFTERNOON! Woohooo! I did some shopping for the kids' souveniers at the mall (did I mention there was a mall ATTACHED to the hotel?? Huge BONUS!). Some went to the Alamo, some went to the Mercado, some went to the mall or the pool and some did the riverboat tour. Others slept in their room the whole afternoon (my roomie). The Foundation had a reception for the "major donors" (jewels and corinthians) before boarding the busses for Knibbe Ranch. And, well, Knibbe Ranch was simply a blast. Armadillo races, hay rides, pictures with the longhorn steer named Oreo and LOTS of dancing.. all the fun of a fraternity party without alcohol or boys (so no drama!). We had big fun... big big fun. The pics of that night are priceless. Yes, Dottie was dancing. SusanZO did the armadillo races. It was truly a great event. We sang "Sweet Home Alpha Gamma" and "We are AGD" .. phew!

Sunday: "Please remain seated if you didn't have fun last night" were the morning remarks from our trusted and respected IP and not a person was left in their chairs! Then workshops/Roundtables again ( I did another for advisors along with nancyagd86.. we had a great group!). Collegiate Awards Luncheon, closing business session complete with Courtesy Resolutions (always fun), the big TAMPA announcement. Marcia was, once again, the winner for most conventions attended with (I'm pretty sure) 28 (although it might have been 27). She also won the Best Western Chic contest at Knibbe ranch! Feast of Roses, the candlelit room which always brings tears to my eyes (I'm a sap), and of course, The Living Circle, run by Dee Dee (Yay!) who gave us the history of the Living Circle, telling us many stories.

Throughout the Convention we saw several historical videos, one about Conventions, one about philanthropy, one about the Quarterly, etc. etc. They were really great. I hope they will be posted somewhere or something so we can see them over and over. In fact, if I could order a DVD with all of them on it, I would pay for that! New song books with CDs were distributed to delegates and were available for purchase. I'm hoping we can still get them and that we didn't have to get them at Convention.

Following The Living Circle, many of us hung out in the lobby again, reluctant to say "goodnight" and "goodbye" to our sisters, knowing we may not see some of them again for two more years.

And there you have it!