Convention 2009

[amanda6035]

Double bed rooms are already booked, so if you wanna fit 4 people in a room, you're going to end up with a king size bed and have to request rollaways...

[xi_pinkrose]

I am interested in going to convention, since I have never been. I am a little confused on what activities I am going to be interested in attending. Can anyone help me out? I was thinking of just doing the full convention so I can attend everything. But I am not sure if I need to as an alumni.

I am interested to hear what you all think. Thanks.

[AZ-AlphaXi]

It depends on what you're interested in. Full convention package is, as you said, access to everything. Daily packages get you just that day and just meals get you just that meals.

Look at the schedule posted on the alphaxidelta.org web site and see what you're interested in attending.

[xi_pinkrose]

I had no problem getting a double room. I called the hotel and said i was coming in for the axid convention and made my reservation.

The hotel can not accept online reservations cause the whole hotel is booked for Alpha Xi Delta.

[amanda6035]

darn it. I called them the day i posted that message and they said none were available. I'm gonna call them back right now and see if that status has changed. That ticks me off. Hope I can get one, because I need to be able to fit 4 girls in a room to split the costs with another chapter....


*edit*
okay, I just called....apparently my reservation is requested as a double, but not guaranteed.

[xi_pinkrose]

Has anyone heard about any of the planned excursions that might be in the works? How much notice are they going to give us to either sign up or at least know what they are?

[mommacat]

Sure would like to know what registration is paying for. I know you have to pay for meals but they've been cutting them down and we have to pay for more on our own. Yes, we have to pay for the use of the hotel but how much is that? And us keeping the hotel fuller should help that. The presenters are fraternity volunteers. So......are we basically paying for Natl Council and the volunteers to have their trips paid for or discounted??? This is an expensive trip for people that pay their own way.

[xi_pinkrose]

I agree it is an expensive trip. But also look at it this way... if it was a cheap trip than you would have every sorority girl attend. I think the cost of the trip limits the attendance so it doesn't end up being one huge party.

The last time I looked into going, convention was in AZ. They were charging $25 for a boxed lunch, so I am glad lunches are on our own.

This is the first convention I am attending. I hope it is everything I am expecting and more.

[amanda6035]

You must have never rented a hotel room for anything - especially for extended periods of time, over the course of 4 days. I have had friends get married in hotel ballrooms, and they arent cheap....and the fact that those rooms will be reserved for us all day every day for the time we're there in order to prevent conflict with other organizations also has alot to do with it. Time of year - it's one week before a major holiday.

It's just like paying your regular sorority dues while you're a collegiate. You dont always understand why some of your money is going towards fees, but it happens, and it's necessary.

I dont know what is paid for who, and IF some of our money is to help pay for our national council and volunteers, so what? Go and have fun, or don't go. That's the great thing about convention. You have a choice. And I completely agree that the cost HAS to be high in order to limit attendance so that it can be effective, and not mass hysteria.

And I'm SO GLAD they cut out some of the meals so that I can get food on my own. Last time, I had to go to spend extra money afterwards anyway because some of the food was just not what I had in mind. At least now, that part is already discounted and you can plan to go out and eat on your own.

[mommacat]

I would love to go. But I'm having financial difficulities. And frankly, I think it should be priced so more people can go, what's this about trying to be exclusive??? Aren't we supposed to be promoting diversity? If you try to price it to keep the masses out, isn't that holding up sterotypes that we've been fighting? Who is it you don't want to come? I just want to know what things are being paid for. There are lots of collegiates that want to come but can't pay these prices.

[amanda6035]

Hey everyone - Cora's posted a group to help find roommates to convention on facebook!

[AXiDTrish]

Let's think about it from a collegiate perspective, as it sounds like you are not an alumna (yet). A formal for a chapter of 60-ish, so say 100 people with dates, in a nice city hotel with a sit down dinner can run $5-8k without any extras (and that's the cost when I planned then 10 years ago!!). Add transportation, DJ, Dance floor, third party vendor for beverages....and before you know it, you are out $10k+! And that just for ONE night?

A Convention for 3-4 days, multiple meal options, additional conference rooms for breakout sessions, hotel staff to serve the 500+ people who attend. Well, it's expensive! FHQ makes Convention as cost effective as possible by giving US, the attendee's, the option to pick and choose the events we want to attend. If you don't want to attend everyday all day, select the parts that are important for you and your interests.

If you are close enough to drive...pay for the parts you want to attend, pile some of your sisters in a car, and GO! If you cannot, talk to your chapter about adding additional budget for the next Convention. Or better yet, attend The Workout session next summer with a large collegiate group. The The Workout is much cheaper and many times more exciting for a collegiate.

Unfortunately all collegiates cannot attend events such as convention, but it's not due to being exclusive. And for the diversity comment, I'm not sure how Convention would promote diversity other than already having sisters from each collegiate chapter in attendance. We are all Alpha Xi Delta's after all! Lastly, I was a volunteer presenter at the last Convention as were 2 sisters with me....I paid my own way and so did they. Granted we weren't keynote speakers, but in ANY Convention a keynote speaker is a special guest and therefore a cost I am willing to pay for in my fees.

I understand the financial concerns....I took an $8k pay cut this year and it hurts really bad, but I'm budgeting to go, getting a hotel roomie, and picking the events that matter to me. Do what Amanda did....she created a savings account, just for Convention!!

Just my two cents.....sorry I'm wordy, but it's been a long, long few days in Alpha Xi advisor land and I finally get my give my opinion!

[AZ-AlphaXi]

Originally Posted by AXiDTrish

...

I understand the financial concerns....I took an $8k pay cut this year and it hurts really bad, but I'm budgeting to go, getting a hotel roomie, and picking the events that matter to me. Do what Amanda did....she created a savings account, just for Convention!!

many moons ago as a collegiate (eary 1970s) I really wanted to go to convention and couldn't afford it. My father every year had us setup a Christmas club account to which we made weekly deposits out of our allowance. When I graduated and got a job, I took that example and setup a convention fund and made deposits to it from each check. Over two years, you end up with money for convention... doesn't help much for this year, but if you start now you'll have money for 2011.

[mommacat]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I guess I hadn't looked at like that. I know other sisters that have gone and had a good time, and that's what I'd like to do. Guess I won't be able to go but will start saving

[xi_pinkrose]

Yay! I got my plane ticket. There is no turning back now.