How Long did it take you to attend?
 

I was just wondering how long it took you to attend your First National Convention? Registered, Hotel room and everything? I thought that I would have been registered and to my First by now but each time it comes around I am not financially able to attend. Although I have attended a Regional Conference :)

It took me 8 years. This year will be my first convention that I've registered for, but I did spend the weekend in Chiacago in 2000. Next year will be my first Regional Conference.

I have been registered for and attended every regional conference and National Convention that has occurred in the three years since I have been a Soror. The year I was initiated, we were in a regional conference cycle so I attended the Eastern regional conference in Dc. I was in Chicago and was a hostess chapter member for the next Eastern regional conference in B-more. I was registered for ATL on the day registration opened and will be there as well.

Conference are expensive! Even on a good budget if they are not "in your area" they can add up. I was fortunate in that I could drive to DC and live in B-more although I stayed in hotels for both, I was piled up in the room with Sorors so they were the "cheap" years. That way I had more money to dedicate to the National Conventions. Also, I plan my financial life all year around dues and conventions so i can go. I tend to only take one other trip in a year (not including visiting a friend where I pay the airfare and she provides me with shelter and probably food while I'm there) so this is my treat to myself!

I was initiated in 1997 and was the Voting Delegate in N'awlins in 98 but in 2000 I was just there to hang with sorors.

A topic close to my heart!!
 

Attended all except one national convention (had a baby that summer) - it was STRESSED to me by the soror/mentor that an annual "Delta Budget" (to cover local, regional and national commitments) of about $1,500 is required (that warning came in the early '80s so it's easily $3000 now ), so I've always budgeted for it - I've also attended about five Delta Days in DC - some years I was able to get my employer to pay for some of it. I was also told not to go just to hang out and be a "pirate" and I have lived by that. Sorors shouldn't be there as spectators, but as FULL participants - I tell sorors now that if they can't afford to register and travel then skip a year and save that money for the following year because it is still costing you money to "hang out"- it's not like you have to pay for everything at the same time, always pay your dues in January, if you wait too late then you are trying to cover dues and registration costs around the same time, register as soon as registrtion opens, put a deposit on your hotel and make your travel arrangements a month or two later and then worry about the final hotel cost!! I don't really practice a "commercial" Christmas, so I start focusing on registration fees for DST and other organizations in December and start rolling them out in January!!

Let's not get "preachy"
 

I know this is a topic close to our hearts but let's keep in mind that, unfortunate as it's sounds, Sorors attitudes about those who come to convention to hang out or cannot make it at all can affect how long it takes (if ever) for inactive/non-financial Sorors to come back into the fold. People have been know to take well intentioned words the wrong way.

Lucky me
 

I was lucky. In my early days of Delta I received financial help to attend conventions and conferences from my Soror Mom. So I was able to start attending right after Initiation.

How Long
 

I am learning. I just started my budget for Delta. I didn't know how expense it could be in addition to moving and setting up a household. Really I was envious of you all attending convention and are registered. But my time is coming:) and I will be able to attend the next one as a registered soror. I didn't/ won't take offense at Sorors who think less of us that attend and aren't registered. I will learn what I can and keep pressing towards my goal of attending the Next Convention. Thanks and for you who have been fortunate enough to attend since being initiated you are truly blessed.







Vanessa Pressley Napier
5~DZ~98
Mobile Alumnae Chapter

I am having a hard time putting my words together right now so pardon me if this sounds "aggressive" or what not.

I am not a person who budgets well bottom line. I am a person who has hella student loans, car note, etc. I know that most of us share those burdens as well.

I HATE it when a soror comes down on another soror for not staying financial or for not registering to go to conventions and conferences. Yes I am committed to DELTA just as most sorors are. My commitment might not be on the level of others but I have a commitment to Delta that those who KNOW me understand. However, I am not now nor will I ever be a soror who talks down to sorors who don't always stay within the FINANCIAL fold of DELTA. Instead of knocking a soror for what she does not do FOR DELTA or IN DELTA, embrace her because she is a soror and continue (or begin) to encourage her to remember her commitment to Delta and the passion that lead her to Delta. If her passion for Delta has waned, comments about financial responsibility and bragging about what you do will not necessarily draw her back to the torch.

I don't believe in "coming down" on sorors either, but I do believe we have an obligation to help educate one another - the bottom line is it costs DST to sponsor conventions, Delta Days, and conference cycles - and sometimes these events run in the red. Some sorors come to events, see friends and leave - others swap badges, slip into luncheons, hop on buses buy guests passes as sorors and that all costs Delta money.

Now, if we can lecture one another on inaccurate protocol then surely we can educate each other about the financial obligation to DST. It should really start at the rush - women need to know what they are getting into before they join - it's a sermon I endured before I became a Delta and I haven't had to have it repeated. I'm not even saying you have to attend everything, I'm just saying if you attend do so as a duly registered delegate. Maybe it comes across harsh on a message board, trust me, when it is a one-on-one, personal dialogue, it isn't "coming down" on anyone and I hope we can understand that as mature women.

NO TIME AT ALL
 

I crossed March 31st 2001.

I attended the Southern Regional Conference in June 2001.

I attended the Florida/Bahamas State Cluster in November 2001.

I have registered, purchased a plane ticket, and have confirmed (paid in full) hotel reservations for the National Convention in July 2002.

I do understand it is expensive. I have 2 kids so I truly don't have any EXTRA MONEY to spend. However, if we add up the amount of money we spend {speaking as a collegiate} going to parties, step shows, buying nalia, etc., I truly believe it would come out to about the same as the cost of registration for one of these events.

Basically, I'm saying that we afford what we want to afford. WE ALL KNOW THIS IS TRUE.

Priorities Sorors! It's all about priorities.

In my opinion, collegiate sorors really have no excuse. Alumnae sorors are always looking out for truly motivated collegiate sorors. Although, I know I can only speak for my chapter. Dade County Alumnae always had Iota Pi's back. But, I've seen other collegiate chapters cry about the expenses of conventions, etc. yet they are always the first sorors renting a luxury SUV for a roadtrip.

What does that tell you?

It tells me that the majority of our Sorors are not about the BUSINESS of DELTA. Yes, they love our letters. Don't get me wrong. But, they feel that placing them on the front of their cars and t-shirts is all they have to do to show their love for our sisterhood. I LOVE ALL MY SORORS. And, I'll continue to be one of the few sorors WORKING for Delta so that it can continue to get stronger and better and so that they can be even more proud to wear our letters.

Had to get that off my chest. This was a topic that we just discussed last night at a greek mixer.

Re: How Long did it take you to attend?
 

You know what soror, that's OK. We all know Delta is not a necessity, and non-essentials may have to go on the back burner when life happens. The important thing is that you get Delta off the back burner, and when you do get her off the back burner, you plan & set aside what you have to so that HOPEFULLY, you'll be better prepared when life happens again. ;)

back with more commentary
 

You know, I had really hoped this thread wouldn't take the turn that I had expected it. But, to my dismay, it has. Look, this is a really SIMPLE question that Soror MaNessa posed. Just ONCE I'd like to see the topic of being financial and/or attending conventions & conferences be brought up WITHOUT Sorors interjecting their opinion and bias about budgeting for Delta. I'd like to see this type of conversation happen without Sorors that are able to attend EVERYTHING while maintaining 20 kids, their own full time job and full time schooling, 4 ailing grandparents, and researching the cure for AIDS & cancer making comments that can be construed (whether it was intended or not) as looking down on Sorors who are not able to do such. There are others of us who are not that fortunate. Is a little compassion too much to ask? I don't think so.

So, here's the deal. If this thread can turn it's tone around, it will stay open. If not, it's gone.

I don't know about some of y'all, but I will be happy to see my Sorors in Atlanta in July REGARDLESS of their registration status.

How Long?
 

Soror Thanks so much for your comment, cause I was truly feeling like a red head stepchild.
I appreciate it very much. Some of us have been fortunate to be able to register and others not. Either way like you said I will be glad to see my sorors registered or not and hopefully they will want to see me. You must have been reading my mind cause I was thinking the same thing.
Delta is a way of life as much as a finincial commitment. And there was no compassion in some of the comments posted here. Thanks for letting me post my question.



Vanessa Pressley Napier
5~DZ~98
Mobile Alumnae

Re: How Long did it take you to attend?
 

Well soror, I crossed in Spr 95 and I did not attend National until 2000. I was supposed to attend summer 96 as a delegate, but my uncle passed and I had to attend the funeral in Chicago. Anyhoo, I did not have the funds the other times sooooo 2000 was my first. I have not attended a regional conference yet, but if the Lord says the same, summer 03 will be my first



[QUOTE]Originally posted by MaNessa
I was just wondering how long it took you to attend your First National Convention? Registered, Hotel room and everything? I thought that I would have been registered and to my First by now but each time it comes around I am not financially able to attend. Although I have attended a Regional Conference :)