HI All,
I went to LTS in 2001 as a delegate and Convention in 2002 as just a collegiate paying her own way. Both are a lot of fun although Convention is more formal since that is where they vote on Supreme Council and any constitutional changes.
LTS will be back in New Brunswick, NJ a short train ride from NY so if you can afford it pay for a room a day or two ahead of time and spend time taking the train to NY. All the West Coast and Canadian Chapters arrive on Wednesday so while everyone was checking on in Thursday we got up at 4:30 a.m. to catch the train to NY. Spent about 5 hours there and then took the train back in time for opening session.
It's great getting to meet a ton of sisters and all having a common bond of Phi Sig. Being a newly installed chapter at the time I learned a lot about traditions that long established chapters had. There were definitely lots of talks as someone said, some on new things others just refreshers. We did a walk for the NKF along the river near the hotel. Did a philanthropic/recruitment activity. Had a Foundation Dinner and Raffle and the next night the Awards Banquet. There was also an installation ceremony for an Alumnae chapter that was cool to see. One thing that I really enjoyed and wished I had brought a tape recorder for was a Song Fest led by the Chapter Consultants. they didn't do that at Convention this year and I'm hoping they will do it at LTS again.
Besides meeting all the various sisters, national personnel,etc one of the best nights was at the Raffle for Foundation during the Foundation Dinner. Nash (a national volunteer) was the MC, she would call out the number of the winning ticket and was absolutely hilarious. At one point a gentleman won like 3 or 4 times in a row so she auctioned off his seat. When National Personnel won they would often challenge regions, sisters, alums, divisions, etc to bid on the ticket. I remember our DCP, Joanne Barrick, challenged the sisters of Division 30 to buy her winning ticket. As the auction went on she said she would match the winning bid - you should have seen her face as it reached $100. The thing is most of the items weren't worth that much but you knew it was going to the Foundation so you didn't feel bad about it. I won a couple of bids and because of the dollar amount was able to join the Rosebud Society that night. And actually ended up moving up to the Red Rose giving level. (Like someone said bring lots of money).
Usually Burr, patterson, Auld are at the events as well as the Phi Sig Shoppe so again bring lots of money.
Just be prepared to have fun, learn lots of new things, meet some fabulous new sisters, and absolutely exhausted from spending all night with all the sisters talking
I'm hoping to go back to LTS this year if I can afford it. For non-delegates it's about $500 plus airfare and if you arrive early then the cost of the extra nights hotel room (call CO and see if you can split the cost with other sisters from your chapter that are going).
Hopefully we can all meet up at LTS,
Carolyn