Convention
 

Is anyone going to the Convention in Orlando?

I am thinking about it - if anyone has gone before - what is a convention like? Favorite things about attending?

Thanks

I'll be there! This will be my fifth.

There are a lot of things about convention that I love (seeing chapters win awards, great keynote speakers, getting to see old friends) but the one thing that always gives me major chill bumps is hearing 500 women sing "Grace" at one time. It's breathtaking!!!

Oh geez. I bet that's amazing.

I'll be there (as delegate for my alumnae association). This will be my 13th. My mom, sister, and now my niece are all Alpha Xis. We use convention for our "ladies get together".

Lots of things are wonderful about convention. Beeing with 500+ women participating in initiation. Seeing sisters who live in other parts of the country who you only see every 2 years on convention. Rose Banquet is ususally incrediblely beautiful.

There are programs about all kinds of aspects of fraternity life aim at both collegiate issues and alumnae issues. There a speakers who inspire and inform.

I would really like to go! I haven't been yet. I was never our chapter's delegate, and since school I've been too poor in money and/or time. But hopefully I'll make this one.

I would love to go, but am currently without chapter. Could I still go with my old one? How does this all work if you're an alum now? I wouldn't know what to do or where to go since I've never been able to go and am a premature alum. Someone fill me in!

We can all go
 

Any Alpha Xi Delta can go to Convention.

It's true that each Collegiate Chapter must send a delegate and while Alumnae Associations aren't required to send a delegate - most do. The delegates are the voting members of the "National Chapter". The National Chapter votes on things like changes to the National Constitution, they elect National Council, etc.

There is a lot for non-delegates to do... non-delegates can attend the National Chapter meetings (they have a voice but no vote), there are key note speakers and banquets every day where National Awards are given, there a many programming/break out sessions for everyone to go to. There are usually around 20 different sessions for you to choose from - some geared towards Collegians, others geared towards Alumnae Association Members, and still others that just apply to women.

There is also a service project that you can sign up for. Typically, the voting delegates have not been able to do the service project because it usually happens during one of the Chapter Meetings. The project is always focused on Choose Children within that local community. It's very cool.

There is also usually one afternoon of "free time" so that you can see the sites. Being in Orlando where there is so much to do I'm not sure how I will ever choose what to do during our free time.

Other activities include sing-a-long sessions (for those that just love to sing or for chapters that want/need to learn new songs), some of the chapters with many members attending may have a reunion, there is always a Greek Store set up with TONS of Alpha Xi Delta merchandise, and the list goes on.

Shoot, if we find out that many Greek Chatters are going to attend, we could put together our own reunion if we wanted.

Okay - the commercial must end now.

:D

AlphaXiGirl - Thanks for all the info. I am a grad student and an alum and was thinking about going to Convention. After reading you post ( and the post of others) I am saving money now. I think it is something that would be awesome to be a part of.

Do you know of special hotel rates? I clicked on the link on the home page and the rates were rather spendy. Usually a group having an event will arrange some special deal but I cannot seem to find any info.


This is off topic - but I think I will be relocating to the Raliegh,NC area after graduation. There does not seem to be an alumae association there - does anyone know how difficult it is to start one or how to get started?

The hotel rate posted by Alpha Xi Delta is the negotiated price but there is nothing that says that you have to stay at that hotel.... only the delegates HAVE to stay at the hotel. Remember, we're going to Orlando and the hotel is right at Sea World - and it's a very nice hotel. It can be pricey but if you want, you share a room with someone and split the price. If you don't have a roommate in mind, Fraternity Headquarters will pair you with someone.

As far as alumnae associations - it only takes 5 alumnae to form an association. I know that there are women from my chapter in Raleigh.... with Elon being so close, I'm sure that you could get the members pretty quickly. (We also had a chapter at NC State in the 80's). When you are ready to form the association, just give Fraternity Headquarters a call - they will give you all of the information that you need.

Take care.

I am going to Convention this year- yay! For the questions about costs for alums - I know our alum group has a budget that I think can pay for the registration for a few people to go.

Maybe in June we regroup here and figure out how we can meet up in Orlando!

From the posted convention schedule:

http://www.alphaxidelta.org/convention.asp

There seems to be time before the Welcome Banquet. I'd like to propose that we meet at the doors of the banquet room at 5pm. That should be a centrally located place. Depending on how many of us there are we can then arrange to meet again elsewhere.

Paige

Dang, for a FEW people? Our alum group has a budget that doesn't even pay for the entire cost for ONE person to go.

... So jealous ...

Great idea. Sounds like a plan to me.

Hey Ladies - I will be arriving Friday afternoon and wont be attending the Housing Corp meeting - so I will be free all day Fri and most of Sat. Once I find out my room number I will post it and maybe some people would like to get together?

Oh yeah - is anyone else going to the Sigma Chi Sweetheart ball?

My brother is a Sigma Chi living in Florida and he was going to take my mom (an Alpha XIiDelta). I called and told him he should aks her becasue it would be a special mother/son moment.

I wanted to know if other people where going to go - if not I was going to spend time in the city - if a group goes together that might be fun.

That would definately be fun!

Hi everyone! I am defnitely going to convention, but have run into a few snags. Two girls from the IZ chapter were supposed to go and we were going to room together. One of them can't afford her part of the trip, and opted out. The other I haven't heard from as she has been out of town on a school trip. If she can't go either, then I will be solo.

That said, I am now in need of a roommate. I don't smoke, am messy (but I try to be neat!!), I like RUSH & Pink Floyd & DMB, chocolate, and I don't bite. If anyone hasn't registered yet and would be interested in a roommate, let me know!

I am planning to go to the Sigma Chi ball and I will try to find the Banquet Room to meet all of you.

Hurray GC and AXiD!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Tresa - I know I am rooming with 3 other people - but there might be a few more coming - who would need a 3rd or 4th person...I will know in the next week or so - and I can let you know if you are interested - I can switch rooms so we can at least be together and there would only be one or two people you didnt know.

PS I love DMB and chocolate :)

It's getting closer
 

Hello everyone,

So, registrations are past due, we're almost at the one month and counting mark, so I thought I'd see who's definitely going to Orlando.

I'll be there for sure. :D

Me, too !!!

Me three ... along with husband and son

Paige

I am there also - arriving on Friday morning!

I couldn't go after all ... I was going to be our delegate but our alum group can only pay for a very small part of expenses, and I am about to be a broke graduate student. :(

Clothes for convention
 

Other than a formal for the Sweetheart Dance, and appropriate clothes for Initiation, how should I pack for convention? Does everyone dress up in business clothes a lot..casual clothes..

PLEASE HELP!!

I definately need help in packing too - suggestions from the "veterans" please!

Also, I dont know if anyone else is coming in on Friday, but my group might try to go to Sea World that day and then Disney on our free afternoon on Monday if anyone wants to join us!

mostly its business casual. But at 12 conventions, I've seen everything from a white dress with huge blue polka dots at initiation (!!) to business suits to shorts and sun dresses.

I have:

for saturday: navy and cream pants and short sleeve jacket combo
for sunday: matching white shirt and skirt will put a blue belt with it for accent.
for monday: light blue pants suit
for tuesday: multicolored shirt with fitted top (kind'a suit-ish)

remember its at a hotel, it'll be cold inside, so sweathers and jackets are good.

There's alot of sitting around ... both at business meetings and at break out sessions, so wear something that you're comfortable wearing sitting on thoses stupid chairs all the hotels have for meetings.

Is anyone going to the corporation meeting on Sat? I'll be there...

Paige! You already know what you are wearing each day????? Oh, I must be so far behind. I'm still shopping for a dress for the Rose Banquet.

Business casual is the usual dress for the day time. Rose banquet is semi-formal to formal... you'll see everything from church dresses to full length gowns..... 9 out of 10 will be wearing their "little black dress".

Sweaters or blazers are a good idea - you know hotel conference rooms - they can get chili.

I won't be part of the corporation meeting on Saturday. I should be arriving at the hotel around noon on Saturday... that's the goal anyway. I can't wait to get to see everyone. Tresa, who did you end up rooming with?

I just got an email from one of the ladies I am going with who is a convention veteran and she mentioned the same kind of thing:


For just about all of the sessions, meals, etc. the dress is "Quill
Clothes", which basically means nice pants, dresses, or skirts. No jeans, shorts, sneakers, etc. You want to be comfortable so I usually tend more towards casual than really dress-up. I also find that a lot of times the rooms we are in are over-air conditioned, so I always carry a sweater or jacket around.

For the initiation ceremony, we wear white or off-white (including white shoes, if possible).

I would call the banquet on the last night semi-formal. Many wear long dresses or skirts, but short cocktail-type dresses are OK too.

If you are planning to visit the Sigma Chi dance that we have been invited to on Saturday night, I noticed that it was "formal". You could probably wear the same thing you are planning to wear to our banquet, if you want to save space in your luggage.

Of course, during the off-hours, you can wear whatever you want.

I'm glad I asked, because I didn't know the Rose Banquet would be that dressy. For the Sigma Chi formal I planned to wear the formal gown I wore to the Iota Zeta Spring Formal in March. It's floor length, black on bottom, beaded top.

Patrice- In the end I was able to room with the two girls from the IZ chapter. It's a long story, I'll explain it all when I see you. There's still some confusion going on.

Don't mind me ... I spend the 20 minutes each way to/from work being obsessive/compulsive about things like what to wear/when.:) or how recruitment at NMSU is going to go this fall or will we ever get the chance to recolonize at the UofA and if so what kind of housing can we find and how in the world do you handle 800 PNMS ... you'know earth shattering stuff like that.....

BTW .. I'll be one of those wearing their "little black dress" to the Rose Banquet... albet with a silver jacket...

** bump**

Ok ... convention starts in 4 days ... are we still planning on us GCers meeting at 5pm outside the doors for dinner Saturday night???

Great idea
 

I think that's a great idea. I'm assuming that dinner on Saturday will be chapter seating (isn't it always?) but we will have a chance to chat and maybe we can plan to sit together at one of the other meals.

Count me in!!

I just got off the phone with one of the collegians riding down with me. She's completely psyched about going. We've both been shoe shopping, dress shopping, and had to work out what the baggage allowance would be, since my car is not terribly large.

Soooo envious of you guys going to Convention -- HAVE FUN!!! :D

I'M HERE !!

I arrived this afternoon. Waiting for the rest of you............

Convention was so much fun... Got back this afternoon...

it was great to meet new sisters and see old friends

Now for the big announcement ....

Convention 2005 will be in TUCSON!! So start saving now and
come visit my town!!

Ooh, Tucson!

I'm sorry I missed convention! I hope everyone had a fantastic time!

Can anyone who was at the convention PM me the url to get the convention photo? I lost my card! :(