Hey Convention Squirrels
 

Okay I know that yall are having a great time at Convention but could you please throw those of us not there a nut and give us some news about all the goings on, PLEASE!!!

I'm not at convention but I do know a few things because my sis-mom called me yesterday.

She said things have been very busy, but Sunday night (I think she said)they did initiation and the Honors of Epsilon Pi.

They've been very busy but overall it's been a good time.

She also said she met an Alpha Gam in the airport from Florida who invited members of my chapter down to visit members of her chapter during Fall break (there's normally a foot of snow here over fall break - Florida is definitely a good idea!).

Last but not least, she said the hotel is absolutely <i>crawling</i> with Alpha Gams and she's super excited.

That's pretty much all she told me, not very much but it was definitely super exciting to hear from her!

I walked in my front door at 12:11 a.m. today and was way too tired to log on, much less to form a coherent sentence.

Convention was most memorable! The parade of chapter flags was impressive--one for each, in the school colors. The flags ringed the meeting room for the duration of the Convention. The archives room had displays from the decades--manuals, photos, memorabilia. The heritage rooms had displays from chapters and clubs. Exemplification of all the rituals--not just initiation but also opening and closing a meeting, wearing the badge--was letter perfect. Even better, the Ritual Chairman did a superb job of explaining what we were doing.

The Foundation has tremendous accomplishments. The Campaign for Alpha Gamma Delta exceeded its ambitous goal!

I hadn't been for such a long time that I surprised myself at how many people I recognized and reconnected with. Those sisterly bonds certainly extend acress the years.

And the new sisterly bonds! I spent a lot of time with my alumnae club sisters, including the free afternoon, getting to know them. (We went to the newly-opened Millenium Park.) It was soooo great to meet the Greek Chat Alpha Gams. I talked to non-GCers who said, "Oh, online? That's nice," or "How do I get there?" There's a group photo that I've already downloaded but I don't know how to get it here. (AGDee said she'd help me.)

I returned home with renewed appreciation for Alpha Gam and a determination to do what I can to help her prosper.

Will post a detailed update when I get home. maria and I have since moved from our posh Concierge Level 40th floor rooms to across town and it's as if we're squatters living in a piece of crap.

I am exhausted from the meetings, meals, and the after parties. Oh yeah...and Kevin the banker. Will post more about Kevin later.

Ritual was beautiful as was Feast of Roses and the Living Circle (say, Sophisticated Hula?) was so much fun.

I can't wait to see all y'all again (Dee, maria, lynn, Carolyn, Julie, Nann, marissa, donielle!!!!) late June 2006 at the next convention -- the Renaissance Indian Wells, California!!!

Now it's time to enjoy the city!

i wonder if i start planning/saving now i can go! let's hope! glad you've been having fun. enjoy the rest of your trip!

GREAT TIME!! TOTALLY EXHAUSTED!!

Had shower, now going out for REAL FOOD THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE SALAD;)

and having SWEET TEA to drink!!:D

Will post more when I have the energy!!

Thankfully leaving Chicago wasn't as draining as going to Chicago!

[Had shower, now going out for REAL FOOD THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE SALAD;)


Oh, did you get your fill of spinach?


N

LOL!!!

ETA: For my account of this year's Convention, please visit my blog at www.livejournal.com/users/alumnagirl

Once again, it was great to meet all the GCers! Hope to see everyone again in 2006! :D

Another question: During Living Circle yesterday, we were told that we weren't supposed to raise our glasses during a toast. I was taught, however, that you only don't raise your glass if you/your group is the one being toasted. For example, I won't raise my glass during the toast to the alumnae. I double checked some wedding sites and was able to find information to back this up. Is this a regional thing, or are we not supposed to raise our glasses because it is for the fraternity as a whole?

oh wow!!!!!!!!!!!!

gawd i'm one exhausted squirrel! convention was FABULOUS!!!! so much more than i could have ever imagined.

i got home 'bout 2 this afternoon and all i've done is SLEEP!!!! i'm going to blame the corruptive influences of maria and sandy and piano bars (MANY MORE details and pictures on that later!!!!!!)

btw - i REALLY wish i could have stayed longer with you two (even in the squatter motel), i almost ended up staying an extra night just because i was stupid and booked my flight for tomorrow afternoon instead of this afternoon (grrrrr) and had to pay twice as much to change it. unfortunately i had people waiting for me and couldn't just blow them off!

like you lynn, i was really excited to eat something without salad in it! yeah taco bell!

ah well, i guess we'll all get around to posting more details later, but it was GREAT GREAT GREAT and i can't wait til next time around (only this time i'll prolly plan for a couple of extra days)

marissa

My Convention Experience
 

This may be long, so kick back, get a "soda" (as they say in Chicago) and enjoy!

I left Friday at 11:35 am.

What a wonderful idea to get 143 AGDs from Michigan to take the train to Chicago! Why do they say online, and on the ticket, to arrive more than 30 minutes ahead if you're checking luggage when... THEY DON'T CHECK LUGGAGE ON THAT ROUTE!!!!! I quickly decided that my chapter files, diet pepsi, and a couple pairs of shoes could stay in the trunk of my car for the duration of Convention and I quickly repacked all my stuff in the parking lot to fit it into two bags. I have bruises on my arms from the weight of those two bags! It was all uphill from there though!

Arrive at hotel at 5 pm, just enough time to check in, freshen up and go to the Foundation Reception for VST where I got to meet greeklawgirl and a couple Wendy/ies. It was wonderful to eat something other than peanut butter and jelly (the lunch I packed for the train ride). After the Foundation Reception, I ironed all of my dresses, unpacked, and read a bit. I knew it would be a busy couple of days.

Saturday, bright and early, it was VST breakfast time! It was an awesome breakfast!!! It was great to see my volunteer sisters who I so rarely get a chance to talk with!

Next came some training for VST. That's enough about that! A lunch break, then it was time for credentialing, which I worked for a few hours. It was a great chance to keep catching up with sisters that I only see at Conventions or TLCs.

Finally, dinner time! The Foundation Banquet had a gorgeous backdrop of the Chicago skyline behind the head table. We had a delicious dinner (I agree with the salad comments, but I will miss those crackers!!!!) and went away with beautiful silver bud vases.

Opening ritual on Sunday brought tears to my eyes as did the flag parade! Sunday was a long day, but our speakers were impressive AGDs. One encouraged us to Impact the World, and the other taught us the importance of humor. My jaw hurt from laughing so hard!! That was remedied in the Risk Management workshop where many women had many questions about our new procedures! On to the Epsilon Pi banquet where we received a beautiful "surrounded by sisterhood" logo charm. This is a tradition at Convention and it is fun to see some of the sisters' charm bracelets after they've been to numerous Conventions! Of course our Rituals were incredible and moving.
It was a late night!

Monday brought amendments to the amended amendments, I think. It was tough to follow at times! The alumnae luncheon was great and it was fun to see all the awards given to the chapters and clubs for their accomplishments! FREE TIME!!! Navy Pier is a blast! The stained glass museum there was amazing and there were so many restaurants that the only way to choose where to eat was by picking the one with the shortest wait! After 36 hours straight of being in that hotel, it was great to walk by the water, feel the wind in my hair. It was so energizing and relaxing!

On Tuesday we learned self defense with Erin from Campus Speak doing "Girls Fight Back". She was funny and informative and from now on, when people flame me in News & Politics, I know just what to say "STOP! LEAVE ME ALONE! I DON'T WANT ANY PROBLEMS"!!!! I got motivated at Leadership, Motivation and Management. They served SWEET TEA at lunch, which threw this northern girl for a loop! Singing, courtesy resolutions and International Council Officer Installation brought an end to the business and led us to an inspiring Closing Address by our new International Council President. Feast of Roses followed where we posed for our GC picture (minus a few women, unfortunately). We received beautiful music boxes which play "100 Years of Beauty", the Centennial song. It was beautiful to see all the candles around the room as they called chapter roll. The Living Circle brought a bittersweet end to the Convention and we LOVED the Hawaii women doing the hula for us! (Thanks Delta Sigmas!!).

Random thoughts: My circle of close sisters keeps growing as we experience high points and low points in our lives. I met so many wonderful women and received a whole LIST of women who are interested in advising at one of my chapters that desperately needs advisors. Way to go Zeta Chi for raising over $9000 for the Foundation, winning the most improved philanthropy award and surprising their PDC while doing it all! Those rascally squirrels never sent me a final total! And, because we missed it here, Happy Birthday Marie!

As always, it's good to be home, and I will carry special memories of the Centennial Celebration with me forever!

I love my sisters!

LIEP,

Dee

http://www.wideopenwest.com/~denisebr/AGDGC.jpg

Someone else will have to caption! I need sleep!

Greeklawgirl, Squirrelygirl, Taualumna
AGDLynn, OohTeenyWahine, Alphagamalum, AGDee, AlphaGam-Alum

There were several more GC'ers at Convention, just that things were sooo hectic it was hard to get everyone together at one time.

We didn't do the big GC all-hang-out together event cause, "gasp", we didn't post a definite time and place to meet! ;) :p

I also appreciated the opportunity of meeting IHQ staff that I deal with....Diane G and Kathy K have been great. I wish I had met Audra but I forgot I wanted to meet her until she was introduced.

Pool time!:D

Hey girls great info... I take it that they didn't announce expansion anywhere? OR anyother big news?

There was no big news announcement concerning expansion but that doesn't mean that there isn't an ongoing discussion about any one school within the IHQ/VST teams.

Depending on what you mean by "big news", there was some that were about how different collegiate officer responsibilities would be changed.


Wait!!! How could I forget this!!

Alpha Gamma Deltas raised $5.5 MILLION for the Foundation!:D :D

Wait #2....

I forgot, Alpha Gam introduced a beautiful song about AGD's 100 years of sisterhood. Those who attended Feast of Roses got a beautiful music box with the tune. I hope that they are able to put the song with words/tunes on the revised website.

Convention Recap

The most amazingly wonderful thing about Convention this year? The banners all along Michigan Avenue in front of the hotel. The entire FREAKING world knew that we were in town! I'll post pictures once they are developed/ put onto disk.

Everyone has already done a big recap of Convention, so I'll just selfishly post the things that I'm going to remember most.

* The Hawai'i Hula @ Living Circle
* Sobbing during Living Circle when it finally hit me that I'm leaving my girls and heading off to do new work for the Fraternity
* Being awarded the Arc of Epsilon Pi - I'm still giddy!
* Watching my girls get up on stage out on Navy Pier and singing with a band. That's what happens when we leave them alone for 5 minutes!
* Hanging out in the lobby with the rest of the Michigan crew and lots of new friends.
* Spending time with an old acquaintance who is now a new friend, and the 3rd of a 4th generation legacy from Zeta Nu.
* Teaching a new generation of Alpha Gams all of the songs that I know, even the ones that aren't so "pure". :cool:

Convention is a wonderful, unique experience. I hope that each of you has the opportunity to attend at some point in your life. We're in California in 2006, so start saving your pennies now.

Do I hear a motion for a formal gathering of the GC Alpha Gams during the next Convention?

Other than the $5.5 million that the Campaign for Alpha Gamma Delta raised, here are some other fun Convention statistics.

Over the entire Convention, over 950 Alpha Gams were registered for at least part of Convention.

For one member who was present, it was the 26th Convention that she attended!

The member who traveled farthest had come from Puerto Rico.



Hey JP! Don't forget all those email addresses you're going to send me!

I second that motion...(required, because the motion didn't come from a committee)

Dee

I thought the sister came from Costa Rica?

I want to amend that motion by saying this time we WILL set a definite time and place to meet. ;) :D

I'm so jealous of those music boxes! Good thing my sister mother went to convention so when I want to hear it and pretend I'm a little girl that wants to be a ballerina I can just go in her room. :)

I wanna go to Convention next time - my sister mother and I are going to try to go as alumnae so hopefully that will work out!

I vote "aye."

I'm back at work, so I don't really have time to post a lot, but I just wanted to say that I had an amazing time! I'm disappointed that I didn't really get to meet most of you, but I did get to meet Sandy for about 2 seconds in the bathroom, lol! Next time we have to make a set meeting place/time to get together. (I'm hoping that I can make it to CA in '06, but I'll be in the middle of my final independent project for my MS, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to take the time off.)


Quick funny story - as my group was going through security at the airport, the person screening our carry-ons asked, "Why do you all have the same vase in your bags?" :)


I am going to scan my pictures and post a link to the photo album sometime this weekend if I get the chance.


Ok, back to work - I have a lot to catch up on!!!

I felt very proud to be a Hawaii Delta Sigma during Chapter Roll. Sisters, tell your chapters that if 8 collegians and 16 alums can make it to Chicago from Hawaii, then everyone else should be able to go too! :)

Thank you so much to the kind sisters who made the effort to find me. I enjoyed meeting all of you. marissa (squirrely girl) jokingly wanted to make an announcement saying "Anyone who wants to take a picture with OTW meet in the area adjacent to the stage" so we could take a GC picture.

It'll be an idea for Indian Wells!

You're right, it was Costa Rica. Rico/Rica, my brain was fried by then! They said something about Alaska too but I didn't get that part.

I think you have to divide the question for setting a definite time and a definite place to meet. :D

Dee

*brags a bit*

The young woman (Vanessa) is a Zeta Nu (MY CHAPTER!!!). Actually... it went like this:

She left Alma, Michigan for Anchorage/ Fairbanks, Alaska. Flew back to Michigan for a day, flew to Costa Rica (San Jose) and then traveled across the entire country to her home town. Then, she turned around, flew back to Detroit, Michigan. Took a 7 hour train ride to Chicago to be at Convention.

I also brought a 4th generation legacy with me. The 2nd and 3rd generations were there for Saturday and part of Sunday, but due to Grandma's health, they had to head back to Michigan.

I'm going to start counting down until California...

Did anyone find out anything interesting during Convention? Looking through the old Tau albums, I learned that a woman who was just elected to the House of Commons (I believe this is her second or third term) is a Tau alumna! She's been appointed to the Cabinet as the Minister of Public Health. Also, a girl from the Alpha Epsilon chapter (yeppers, Amber's chapter) sat with us during Feast of Roses.

Thank you Alpha Gam!
 

I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank all those who were involved in planning and executing a fantastic Convention! International Council, IHQ, VST and many other volunteers worked very hard to make Convention what it was - FANTASTIC!

Personally, I loved the hotel, the food, the programs and everything else about my 6 days in Chicago! I especially loved being so closely involved in our Centennial Convention. It was a great place to reunite with sisters that I had not seen in a couple of years and of course to meet new sisters.

I cannot wait until 2006 in California! Thank you again Alpha Gam for another great event and I look forward to many more. :D

Centennial Quilt Pictures
 

Many many many roses to Nann for organizing this project and sending me the pics to post here. The pictures just don't do it justice. It was gorgeous! She worked so hard on it. http://www.wideopenwest.com/~denisebr/quiltfront.jpg

http://www.wideopenwest.com/~denisebr/quiltback.jpg

Yea that quilt is wonderful!!!

My CP had to leave early b/c of class. Luckly there wasn't a person at the plate next to me so I was able to snag a box for her.

Unfortunately, my and my roomie's bud vases ran ran away from our room. :mad:

lynn - i still blame housekeeping!!!!!!! boo on them

marissa

Chi-town
 

I have 3 bud vases.. but they are going for our recruitment... I didn't buy myself anything while I was there... but I was very satisfied w/ our table favors. :) I'm not eating salad for like another month, at least!

My girls and I had the most fun making fun of random men hitting on us during our few miles-walk in heels up and down Magnificent Mile, Monday night.... with comments like "HELLOOOO!!!" *screaming at top of longs as if calling from a mountain top while immediately passing you* "High-a Toots!" and "*guys*Uhhh... well, we're gonna go over here and see what's there to do" "*us* Ok, well, we're going over here" "*guys*Ok, well, that's good... uhhh... we're going over here.. err... still... uhhh ... see ya later" We just couldn't help but bust out laughing!!!

I'm glad I have sisters to go through life with... it's just soo much more fun that way... :cool:

Hey so my sis-mom's digital camera was stolen while she was there, too. She thinks by housekeeping because she left it in the room one day while at meetings at whatnot and when she got back she figured she had left it down there so she looked for it and it wasn't downstairs or anything, and everyone else in her room (there were four) distinctly remember that she hadn't taken it with her because she went to a seminar. She's assuming that housekeeping took it and she filed a claim with the management... we're super peeved because she said she took some super amazing pictures of our flag that was flying and stuff so now we're all a little peeved here at the Zeta Gamma Chapter.


That just sucks to have to worry about housekeeping stealing your stuff...

The chapter I advise for was impressed with themselves for sending 12 of us to convention--- until we saw all of the Delta Sigma's stand at chapter roll call!!! Very impressive!!!!!
And judging by the gasps and ohh and ahhs around the room when you all stood--lots of others were very impressed too!!!!! Way to go Delta Sigma!!!!! :)

Correction... 9 collegians :D

Connie shared the same thought with Mary Lou after Feast of Roses :)

Go Delta Sigma!

That would have been classic! I so would have loved to have spent more time with you all. Just seemed that so much was going on and the time went by so quickly...next thing I knew...it was over :(

It was great to meet the few of you that I did...as brief as the meetings were :)

I'll be listening for the OTW announcement at Indian Wells :D

Here's a link to my convention pics!

Convention 2004

Wow!

Thanks for the memories, Malia!

N

Thanks for posting such wonderful pictures! I just showed the flags from Michigan Avenue to my Mom (Delta Gamma Sorority Alumna) and she was truly impressed!

I'll post mine next week after I finish up my rolls of film and have them developed onto a CD.

I'm finally back!!! :D

I had such a wonderful time in Chicago and I will never forget all of the fun I had. Many thanks go to all the volunteers who made Convention such a huge success. :D

My photos will be ready tomorrow and I promise I will put them up. I have the day off today and I'm journaling my memories of Convention so I won't forget everything that happened. I'm only up to Monday night's events and I'm already on page 6!!! :eek:

I'll cut and paste my detailed synopsis when I'm done. ;)

Alas, the last Alpha Gam standing has finally left the Windy City and she's back home in Hawaii. :(

I'll post the rest of my Chicago pix later when I wake up from my nap...in, say, 3 days. :)

yeah! maria and sandy are back online!!!!!!

marissa

Marissa, I can't wait to see you this week!

Maria, can't wait to see all them pictures after you develop them!

I'll create my album after I wake up tomorrow. I can't believe it went by so fast...now we have to wait another two years!