Traveling Consultants

[AnchorAlumna]

I used to travel and visit chapters in my province. One chapter fixed me a "goodie basket" of apples, snack crackers, microwave popcorn, breakfast pastries etc. The dorm room I stayed in had a small fridge and they asked me what I wanted in it - bottles of water, Coke, milk for breakfast etc. You can e-mail the consultant and ask what she prefers. It was really handy for quick breakfasts and when a couple of members forgot to take me out for a meal! You could even add detergent, softener sheets etc. if she'll be using the laudromat.

[LegallyBrunette]

Hi Beachgirl,
All of these suggestions are very good and indicative of this, but one thing I'd like to stress is that while she is visiting you, the TEC is a guest of your chapter and should be treated accordingly. It sounds like you're certainly on the right track with this, but I just wanted to reiterate. Also, if her visit will be extending over a weekend, *strongly* encourage (if not make mandatory) sisters not to make alternate plans to go home or whatnot.

Also, since it sounds like many women in your chapter have never had a TEC visit before, you (and the president) should make sure to review with the officers who will be meeting with her how important it is to be well prepared--being on time, bringing all relevant information (binders) and being open to suggestions/requirements she may have etc. Visits from consultants can be extremely beneficial, but it can depend on the chapter to make the most of the experience.

Finally, if you have any questions specific to TPA consultant visits, feel free to PM me.

[Tom Earp]

Remember, they Male or Female were all Members of each GLOs group.

They are not hatchet visitors! They are there to find out if there is any problems that they can be of help with! If there is, they will again try to help out the Chapter unless they are to far gone for what ever reason and they are obligated to report any findings to IHQ!

That is all they do, and HQs will make the final decisson.

So, go the right way then there is no problems!

[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.