[Cutie_Hootie]

How did you end up advising the chapter?
An advisor had sent out an email requesting help for Recruitment, I responded, and loved every minute of it. I've been involved as an advisor for five years now, and I can't imagine not being involved.

How much time do you devote to the chapter - including paperwork, meetings, etc. (Excluding recruitment).
In my roles as New Member and Ritual advisor, I'm only busy during the time we have New Members and are planning Initiation. I have to attend Initiation, some social events, elections, the occasional Panhellenic meeting, three Advisory Board meetings, officer training/retreat, and various other events each year. I live over an hour away from campus, so we do a lot of communication via email/phone. Because I'm one of the most "seasoned" advisors, I tend to get a lot of questions not necessarily related to my position, so I'm communicating with some officer/advisor at least twice a week. I don't really have a good estimate on how many hours/week I devote, because it varies so much depending on the time of year.

Do you attend weekly meetings?
I attend about one Chapter a month. I call into Exec Board the night before and participate via conference phone (many thanks to our House Corp for providing that to us!!). We have an advisor at Chapter every week--all of us live about an hour away but make the drive.

What day/time are the chapter's meetings?
Exec Board meets Sunday nights. Chapter is Monday at 6:30, and the NM meeting is at 8:00. Traditionally, that was the night set aside for Greek activities by the College, but now there are some classes that occur that evening. We've discussed changing it to Sunday night, but it would interfere with church for some of the girls.

How would you describe your relationship with the collegiates? Friendly? Like a big sister? Like a mom? Like someone from Nationals?
I've developed very close relationships with some of the girls, but mostly I would say I'm a "older cousin"--someone who they aren't afraid to cuss around or talk about issues in front of, but yet someone who they listen to when asked. I'm friendly with them, and I've spent a lot of time with them over the years, but that doesn't mean that they always like what I have to say or some of the actions I take.

What are the biggest challenges you have faced?
Seniors who are unwilling to follow rules, be current financially, etc. It's always a hard situation when it comes to seniors. Luckily, I'm not alone--I have other advisors to work with. I've also struggled mightily in the past with one senior in particular who held a definite grudge against me for a past issue and did her best to try and drive me away from being an advisor. It was a great deal of fun (haha).

How much unreimbursed money do you spend on the chapter, traveling, etc.? How often do you have to travel outside of the chapter (regionals, HQ)?
Fuel is my number one expense. When I travel down there for a long event (Recruitment/extensive meetings/etc), I stay in the chapter house. But driving a hundred miles round trip to attend Chapter can get expensive. Also, I always buy my officer a gift, so that is about $20-25 a year, plus I make a (very small!) donation to the Chi Omega Foundation in their honor. And I send a bouquet of carnations each year on our chapter's founding date. Do I have to do any of this? Not really, but I enjoy doing it.

I attend Firesides/Convention whenever my advisory position is called or if no one else on the board can attend (as a school counselor, I'm very available in the summer). I've attended the past three years. Those expenses are picked up by the chapter, however. I am attending Convention this year, but I'm paying for my registration fee and the house corporation is picking up my hotel (I'm rooming with their delegate). The reason I'm picking up my own registration fee is that I'm attending as an alumnae president, not an advisor. Otherwise the chapter would be paying. I've also gotten to attend other Chi Omega conferences and events, and those have either been paid for from the chapter/house corporation or by the Executive Headquarters/Foundation.