Traveling Consultants

[honeychile]

You've received a TON of good advice here, but I thought I'd add my own two cents.

Whomever had the "nicest" single in the Suite was aware that she would have to give it up when we had a guest (this was understood from the beginning). We would prepare a "goodie basket" with fruit, packs of nuts, popcorn, muffins, etc. We'd leave a crossword puzzle book, a few magazines, pens, notepad, composite, phone card and (I'm almost ashamed to say) a Bible in the room, along with fresh flowers. There would also be a list of officers & chairmen, along with their schedules, phone numbers & email addresses.

An alumna or two would always pick the TCC up at the airport, and they usually had spoken with her prior to the visit. The TCC would set up appointments and group meetings, and they were considered mandatory. A pride would take her to lunch & dinner each day, either at the cafeteria or a local restaurant - or occasionally make dinner for her. One of my "claims to ADPi fame" is that, when our PD was in town, I made her homemade chili - and since our stoves were broken, I made it in a popcorn popper. She later became our Grand President!

Our advisors usually took our visitors out to dinner far from campus - as an Advisor, I can remember asking two what they felt like eating, and they both said, "Good Mexican food!!!" Never saw two women so happy to have a Margarita... If they had no real idea, there was a restaurant just far away from campus that was good, and they could relax and be people. They would then ask a little about Chapter "politics" or any perceived problems they saw or we saw. The advisors usually took them back to the airport, unless there was someone in the Chapter with a car who had bonded to a TCC. As a collegiate, a few of us bonded to a TCC almost too well - she came to town three times, and when she died early, we were devastated!

There are times when they will want some down time, and times they need to be involved with the Chapter. Be attuned to a TCC's feelings, realize that she does the same thing you do when she gets up in the morning, and try to be natural. She'll appreciate it all the more.