Just curious...and uber excited -- only TWO WEEKS!
 

Do any of our VST/newly elected IC officers/those "in the know" sisters know how many sisters will be attending Convention??

Last i heard, it was well over 800. :)

That's awesome! Definitely up from the 600+ estimated in Atlanta!

Well...you know how I posted that I was just going to take a black dress with a jacket for the FoR banquet and just wear the black dress at the Gala to save money and packing space??


Well...blew that idea at lunch! whiile at the mall;) :D

Convention is two weeks today!!!!!! :D :D :D

I bought the cutest dress (ON SALE!) today from Express and I'll be able to use it for Convention!

Even ran into some AGDs at the mall in Wilmington!!! Hooray for sisters!

I just got home from the mall-- bought a dress for Tuesday night.....

http://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/5369/.../wwg013_fi.jpg

and the back view--- it laces up the back-like a corset...
http://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/5369/.../wwg013_ai.jpg

So are we doing Navy Pier for sure now? What will we do if it rains?

Rains? RAINS? It's simply not allowed to rain that day. It can rain ALL the other days, because we'll be in the hotel all day, but that day, we just won't let it rain!

Dee

I got my ritual dress :) Didn't end up buying Banana, but another one from a Canadian store called Jacob. Now I'm a little worried that it isn't "long" enough (it covers my knees and goes about mid-calf. "Traditional" tea length.)

"tea length"
 

I don't know how strict they will be with the "tea length" especially with an a-initiate. I know my little was told her dress wasn't long enough (the one she was planning on making) and it was longer than what you described... but I really don't think they are going to turn you down after traveling all that way! I'm going to Convention too! I'm from Gamma Iota in Georgia and we are all very excited! See you there!

If you would like a cute little Word document grid to plan your packing/wardrobe, PM me with your email address!

Dee

Chicago weather forecast
 

Sat
Jul 17 Mostly Sunny 83°/67° 10 % chance of precipitation
Sun
Jul 18 Partly Cloudy 84°/69° 20 % chance of precipitation


I will keep you posted, but so far, this is as far in advance as the Weather Channel has posted!

Dee

Re: Chicago weather forecast
 

I remember in Denver (1999) I worked so hard through the whole Convention...I never walked outside! I guess that is why I never thought of looking at this year's forecast.

Safe travels to Chicago!

That happened to me in Atlanta too, but this time, we have a free afternoon scheduled!

We had an alumnae chapter meeting last night and there was much debate over tea length. I was able to quote our previous conversations on here as the ultimate authority! Thanks girls!!

In other news... we're up to 143 on the Michigan/ Northern Ohio Alpha Gam trains to Convention. They're going to have to book another hotel if this keeps up!

Contemplating a shopping expedition over the weekend to find another formal dress for one of the dinners. Maybe I can find something beautiful online for plus sizes...

ONE MORE WEEK!!!! :D

'nuff said ;)

Yep, it's sinking in! The delegate called me today about what she's supposed to bring!;) :D

Weather Update
 

For Convention: (The % is the chance of rain)

Fri
Jul 16 Isolated T-Storms 82°/66° 30 %
Sat
Jul 17 Isolated T-Storms 80°/64° 30 %
Sun
Jul 18 Partly Cloudy 83°/65° 30 %
Mon
Jul 19 Sunny 83°/68° 10 %
Tue
Jul 20 Mostly Sunny 84°/68° 20 %
Wed
Jul 21 Partly Cloudy 85°/69° 20 %

Got together with the Junior Circle last night for final Convention preparations...everything's going to be fabulous, I just know it.

Since I'm taking one large piece of luggage to check in, I'm also checking in the display board (in a board bag, of course) as
my second piece of luggage.

I found that I'm flying in with Pam mccullough (former Distinguished Citizen & current member of the FBI--she was featured in the last Quarterly) and Dr. Doris Ching (current VP-Student Affairs at my alma mater and 1993 Convention AI). Yeah, I'll be traveling with AGD top brass. :)

Re: Weather Update
 

Sounds great!!! Glad to hear that the afternoon we have off has the lowest % of rain! :)

Convention sad news for me
 

I just found out that my chapter is not in Good Standing b/c of some late som'n or other that was b/f any of us were officers. I am saddened, though I suppose I don't understand about this triennium. Why does good standing for convention go back for the 3 previous school years, when convention is held only every 2...? I don't think it would matter either way, I'm just somewhat angered and saddened. I feel that we've worked very hard to keep everything in check this past year w/ a main motivation to be that we would be in good standing... and now it just seems like all our hard work was blown. I know it wasn't really blown off, it's just... yeah... everything we do seems to not be good enough right now. :(
I'm sorry. I'm probably just in a bad mood. It's kinda hard finding out just today that this happened, when I especially, being VPO was pushing to do our best to get everything in intime, despite many setbacks we've encountered.

Re: Convention sad news for me
 

I am sorry to hear that your chapter is not in good standing.

The previous Convention was held in 2001. To accomodate the Centennial, Convention was pushed back to this year.

Don't get too down, Tink. There are MANY collegiate and alumnae chapters that are not in good standing. The three year limit made it even tougher. Just vow to not let this happen to the women who attend two years from now, because you know how badly it feels.

Dee

Dee is right, and I'm pretty sure there will be others in the same boat with you this year because of the triennium.

I know that my chapter wasn't in good standing at Convention at least once before because of a slight error made in not turning in something in time. The chapter delegate was not allowed to vote during sessions, but she still enjoyed the Convention nevertheless.

I'm packed (except for meds and cosmetics).

I'm getting frantic emails from delegates!

I'm excited!

Dee

HAVE I MISSED SOMETHING?

Is there a GC get-together at Convention?
When and where?

I'll be arriving on Saturday about noon. The room reservation isn't in my name, though -- four alums from Chicago NW Sub are sharing Sat/Sun. And maybe I'm with AGDee on Monday.

PM me, someone? I don't want to miss you guys!!!!

N

(of course you'll know who I am....the quilt will be presented at the opening session on Sunday!!)

YOU'RE PACKED??!!!! I haven't even started!!!!! :eek:

Well, I've started by way of not wearing clothes I am taking so that I don't have to spend precious time washing them, lol.

Am going to try to not work overtime Fri so I can get home a decent hour. Have to leave the house by 7am for 9:30 flight Sat cause stupid airport construction is starting Friday night in front of the Airtran terminal!:mad:

The CP is works for Airtran so she is going to try to get her ticket changed so we can fly together. Also, I think our Risk Mgmt Specialist is going to be on our flight.

Welllllll...

I am leaving Friday morning.

I work full time.

I'm a single mom of two kids.

My kids were with their dad tonight, so I packed tonight. Tomorrow night, I pick up the kids at 5:15 from the babysitter's, drive through Taco Bell to get their dinner, stop at home to feed the dog and take my daughter to her 6:00 softball game (supposed to be there by 5:30, but it never happens). After baseball, I have to pack them and the dog up to go to my ex husband's house. Friday morning, I take them to the babysitter's, drop the dog at my ex'es house, stop at the bank (friday is payday!) and head for the train station. Soooo, tonight was the only time to pack!

I KNOW I'm forgetting something though!

N- We're going to try to eat all together for one of the meals and a bunch are going to Navy Pier Monday afternoon/evening with our free time.

I KNOW I'm forgetting something. I have clothes, shoes, jewelry, digital camera, regular camera, bathing suit, badge, breakfast bars, magazines, books and word puzzle books (for the train), handbag... Constitution and Standing Rules, chapter files .. What am I forgetting????

Dee

You're the one with the chart!!;) :D

Cell phone/charger, extra camera batteries, coin change, curling iron/rollers,

Not bringing a hairdryer cause the hotel is supposed to have one.

I'm bringing the Phase 10 cards and a set of regular cards which are neat cause they are clear!;) Thinking about sunscreen/sunglasses in case it is very hot on the Pier.

I'm packing right now! :)

The shoe count is at 11 pairs...my suitcases will be stuffed to the brim.

The emails are flying fast and furious on my end....I can barely keep up with all of them! :D

You all crack me up!

I did laundry last night and I'm doing more tonight, then I'm taking a 1/2 day from work tomorrow so I can pack tomorrow afternoon. :)

Between meeting you guys, hanging out with the crew I'm going with, and meeting the NYC Junior Circle people (2 of the girls I'm going with are in the NYC JC), I'm going to be pulled in 18 different directions while I'm there! I just hope I have enough time to do everything!

Oh, and Maria, my shoe count is at 9 pairs; you've got me beat. :)

Donielle, didn't you know? I am the shoe goddess! :)

I'm leaving tonight! Oh my God, I can't believe it!!!! We've been talking about this for three years and its finally happening! Eeeeek! :D

Congratulations on 100 years!
 

Have a great time - I went to AOII's Centennial in New York City, and it is truly amazing! I ended up running out of film!

If you can, talk to as many Past Interntional President's as you can - they have great stories, and love to share them (it is even more poignant now as a few AOII ones have passed since then :( !)

To TauAlumna and Chantal - have a fabulous time!

Panhellenically,
Shala :)

Jackie Stutts confessed to bringing 12 pairs of shoes one time!

I've packed 6 pairs and am wearing one pair. (That includes flip flops for the pool!)

Don't forget.. indoor pool in the hotel!

Dee

I haven't even started packing! I leave tonight... oops! Reading this thread has me scared to even begin to pack. :eek:

I tied for the most shoes at convention at 15 pairs (not including flip flops). It was totally unintentional but I had no reason to limit myself since I was driving.

Have a great time ladies!

Shoe issues for the Epsilon Pi banquet
 

Do the shoes have to be as close to the dress in colour as possible? My dress is white, but my shoes are more cream. How bad is that? I wear a 5 so it isn't always possible to buy shoes last minute.

As someone posted, they will still let you in the door, lol. ;)

Dee..chart is helping!!!