Convention 2006
 

Is it too early to get excited about Convention 2006? It's less than a year away! Woohoo!

Yea!!! I am going to practice lugging my luggage.;) :p

I hope I can come. It all depends on how my work schedule is. I think I'll be starting a new job after my internship is over...the boutique PR agency I'm at is too stressful for me!

My boss, who is also an AGD thought that Convention was this year, for some reason. I saw "AGD Convention in Chicago" on her calendar last week!!!! Oops!!!

Did you see the bruises on my arms from my luggage in Chicago? I took the train and when I bought my train tickets, the info page said that if you were checking luggage, you should arrive 30 minutes early. So, I had a garment bag with dresses and shoes, a big pullman with diet pepsi, notebooks and files, a carry on with makeup/toiletries/jewelry and another carry on with things for the train (magazines, books, snacks, etc) and my medications.

When I went up to the counter to check my luggage, the man there looked at me like I was crazy and said "We don't check luggage for the train from Detroit to Chicago". I started to panic because just getting that stuff from my car to the station was too much. I dragged it all back to my car, dumped the files, handbooks and diet pepsi. Dumped some of the books, reduced the number of shoes I was taking and got it all into one garment bag and one carry on, leaving the rest in my trunk!

That garment bag had to have been 70 pounds! I had to drag it up the steps to the train platform, up the steps of the train, down the aisle til I found a seat and then had to find somewhere to put it! I was in so much pain! At the Chicago station, thank goodness, there were luggage carts and I rented one right away. In the meantime though, one of the zippers on my garment bag had popped open and I lost some of my medication :( I had bruises from the luggage on both arms and one leg (cuz it kept banging against me). When I got to Chicago, I called my sister-daughter (who was taking the train with a large group of Alpha Gams the next day) and told her to warn everybody! I felt for the poor woman who was carrying the Heritage Fair board!

Not a pleasant experience. Definitely flying to California, definitely checking luggage, definitely only taking things with WHEELS!

ETA: I left everything that was easily replaceable at the hotel when I left because I knew I couldn't carry it all, plus convention souveneirs, tote bag, etc. I even decided there was a pair of shoes I didn't really need anymore!

Dee

That is just weird!!!!!!!!

I am hoping to go. I need to figure out what I am doing about vaca time at work. I am planning a trip to Costa Rica with my mom next year so I need to figure out how to juggle Costa Rica, convention and just a day off here and there-- and I on;y get 2 weeks since I have been there just shy of one year.

Where is convention next year?
I want to try and go!

Dee, its never too early to get excited about Convention! mu_agd and I discovered to our chagrin that there are no poolside cabanas at the hotel for us to rent when we have a free afternoon. Sigh. ;)

However, they have an awesome poolside bar!

Not that I, um, am thinking about drinking during free time.

No, we all know you would never do that!!! :p

It will be at the Renaissance Esmerelda Resort in Indian Wells, CA.

link to the hotel

It looks beautiful!

ETA: The photo gallery is amazing. I can just picture new honors of Epsilon Pi wearers being arranged on that staircase for pictures!

so hmmmmmmmmmmmmm... road trip for a spa day?!

and where's the nearest Howl?!?!?!?!?!


- marissa

Glen Ivy is an AWESOME day spa that's about 60-90 minutes away...I was just there with 3 Delta Betas, 2 Delta Rhos, another Delta Pi, and a Beta Tau. Nothing quite like 8 Alpha Gams relaxing in a mud bath! :) That would definitely be a nice place to visit on a free day.

And the closest Howl is at Universal CityWalk, which is a good 2 and 1/2 hours from Indian Wells.

Yeah - a non-high rise hotel !!!!
 

I'm soooo thrilled to see that the hotel has more access to the outside and fresh air, and it's not a downtown high rise hotel !

This could actually be a location that I'd spend extra $$ to arrive early or stay a day later, etc. to enjoy the amenities. Anyone for golf ? (although, the golf course pictures seem "weird", I thought it was the desert, why is there so much water on the course ???).

I see they do have cabanas, for spa treatments. That might be pretty nice !!!

Okay, I'm psyched now !!! Thanks ladies.

Next week we have to submit our bids for the schedule and for vacation time next year. I already told those around me that if I don't get that week off, someone's gonna have to pay!

Just in case I don't get that vacation time, I have almost a year to find replacements to trade with.

A night at HOWL is MANDATORY. Therefore, plan for an extra night because we're all crashing at Maria's. :p

I swear, that wait between Atlanta and Chicago was too long. Chicago seems like it was just yesterday. I can't wait for Indian Wells!

I'm there, for sure. It'll be #3 for me!

because we're all crashing at Maria's.

Maria, how far/close do you live?

I could go to the IHQ site and look up your address or walk into the kitchen and get your change-of-adress to do a Mapquest..but I'm lazy, lol. ;)

Hahaha, Lynn, that's OK!

According to Mapquest, I live 132 miles away from Indian Wells (a 2 hour drive). That having been said, if I am still living in Southern California next June, I would be thrilled to host any and all Alpha Gams for an extra day or two after Convention!

Does Sean know about this offer?

I wasn't aware that I needed his permission? ;)

I have a tall plastic clear Coke bottle that I put "spare" change in.

Hubby says, "That's fun money". I said "That's Convention money"!!

When I counted this morning, I have $85.50 to pay for 1/2 a bed...glad it's a year away;)

Lynn, you could always pay for a 1/4 of a bed and then you'll be a lot closer to your goal! :)

I think the spare change idea is a great way to save for Convention. I need to start now--thank goodness I don't need to worry about airfare this time.

I love my sisters but 4 in a bed is too close!;)

Go check your email or go to our official website for updates on Convention! New stuff! :D

If the weather is not too hot/rainy, etc. I vote that we have all the sessions, except initiation, outside by the pool.:cool:

I would like to have sessions poolside with an open bar and hot cabana boys to deliver my drinks to me!

Wait! It's not being done that way? I may need to rethink this going thing!

;)

Dealing with the 8 inches of snow outside becomes so much easier when you look at the pictures of the hotel for Convention. I was just looking at them again and called my co-workers over to show them how incredible it looks. They are jealous now!

A little more info
 

1 – Plans are underway in finalizing the registration packet price and should have that done within the next few weeks.

2 – They are doing things a little differently this time as the cost for sleeping rooms will not be included in the registration price for Convention. Attendees will need to book and pay for sleeping accommodations directly with the hotel. Our special rate is $99.00 per night not including applicable taxes for single, double, triple or quad occupancy. Reservations can be made using the toll-free number 877-804-4070. You will need to mention you are with Alpha Gamma Delta to get the special rate.

:cool:

(I didn't send reply to whomever replied to me but wonder if that $99 is per room or person?)

Re: A little more info
 

Usually hotel rates are based on double occupancy...?

I just posted what I got, lol. Prob more info after the 1st of the year and maybe they will have a countdown like they did last time:D

Instant Warmth!
 

Okay so the weather has been cold, windy and rainy here in the "sunny South" the past few days.

Clicked on the Convention hotel site and "basked" in the warm anticipation...

Off to do Christmas cards;)

You can always check out Delta Sigma's home page if you need an extra dose of "warmth!"

So who all is going? I'm planning to go, and I'm so relieved that I will be going WITHOUT the Chapter Advisor hat on. I get to relax and enjoy myself! Woohoo!

Hugs,
Mai

I'm 99% sure I'll be there! I should be able to get the time off from work.

I will definitely absolutely be there. However, I'm wearing my ACC hat and expect it to be very busy. In fact, I'm fairly confident I'll be doing the optional (but highly recommended) workshops on Thursday and Sunday. (Before and after the official Convention times)

Is it bad that I immediately thought optional = pool bar time?

Actually, the workshops will be going on while people are arriving and leaving. Some chapter delegates may be required to attend some of them, if they are on alert or probation, etc. That was some discussion we had during planning phases anyway.

I am hoping to extend my stay at the Esmeralda by at least one day because those pools look so awesome. Ditto the outside spa areas.

Yeah, my 'optional' time in Chicago meant that I was in my hotel room catching up on sleep. ;)

I'm going with my CA hat, even if I have to pay for myself, lol.

I haven't heard about all the workshops but I know of one that the VPO definitely needs to go to..if she can afford it, lol.

i am all for some optional time!

- marissa

I remember our Monday "free night" in Chicago. No one really knew what they were going to do until a chapter sister mentioned they were going to check out some dueling piano bar. Thus, the Howl at the Moon tradition was born.