Richardson to Carrolton

Okay, so I know it's been a while.  But you should SEE my schedules.  Here's what I have been up to:


UT DALLAS (Richardson, TX)
Loved being back so close to Executive Office.  I got to visit with my Chapter Services friends, get some much needed hugs, and re-energize for the challenge of recruitment with a newer chapter.  This visit was more relaxing - I was actually able to sleep in!  This visit was completely consumed with helping the chapter prepare for recruitment.  It was so weird sitting back and knowing when to step in and assist.  It was difficult to let them do things their way when all I'm thinking is "We do this differently at South Carolina..." and THAT is when I have to take a step back and put myself in check.  This isn't MY chapter.  It is theirs and it is up to them to make it what they want it to be.  So take a deep breath and shut it.  Because of these things UT Dallas has definitely taught me the most so far.  They are really working so hard towards a great recruitment and I can't wait to see the results when I return after my break!


LOUISIANA at LAFAYETTE (Lafayette, LA)

These women are rock stars.  I hate that this was my shortest visit so far because I so much enjoyed being in Lafayette.  One of the sweet women gave up her room in her apartment for me, so I stayed with her roommate for my 3 nights there.  Lafayette is such a cute town.  I had no idea it would be as populated as it was...shows how much research I do!  I ate so much great food - shrimp poor boy, coffee from a french press, fried oreos - the list goes on.  I'm fairly certain I gained some weight here.  This campus was also my first expereince with a Greek Row that has houses with identical floor plans - it was so different than what I'm used to!  They're cute little houses though and it is my opinion that the Tri Delta one looked the cutest (not biased or anything).  This could be partially because the Phi Mu house decided to place a cigarette trash can between their two benches in the front yard.

hilarious

It reminded me fondly of Miss Lou smoking on the back porch back in the day. Oh the memories...ANYWAY, I just loved ULL.  Including their man made swamp in the middle of campus.  Alligators and all.


RHODES (Memphis, TN)
aka Hogwarts.  A Harry Potter fan's dream.  I was there for a recruitment visit but only got to see their Round 1.  Again, it was so interesting to see a recruitment different from what I am used to at South Carolina.  At Rhodes they really have "no frills" and at USC we have, well, frills.  The women had it down though and I actually felt really useless for the first time as a consultant.  They didn't need my help when it came to the recruitment stuff.  I was almost in the way!  Thankfully I was able to pass along some tips when I met with the officers on the other days - that way I didn't feel as much like a farkle fail.  I had a good bit of "free time" here so I was able to catch up on my reports.  In result - free time wasn't so free.  But it was still so nice to sit around campus and get some work done.  Their whole campus is gated in and b-e-a-utiful.

the library

Tri Delta house!

See what I mean?  All of the buildings on campus (and I mean all of the buildings) are made of that gorgeous stone.  It was so neat how small the campus was and that when they say "walking distance"...everything really is in walking distance.  I could never go to a school that small but I can see how people would enjoy it!


WEST GEORGIA (Carrollton, GA)
On day 2 here in Carrollton!  I arrived on Bid Day and it was wonderful.  The chapter welcomed 25 smiling new members.  They all receive their bids then run to their houses, a lot like what we do on the Horseshoe at USC.  Only with 800 less girls running to their new chapters.  They were all so excited and I love seeing Bid Day at different schools - it's like Christmas!  So far I have really just been having meetings and getting to know their new members. So much fun :) Something interesting though - they call the Tri Delts "Deltas"...which still sounds strange to me.  I've heard they do that a lot of places though so I guess I'll get used to it!

yummy bid night cake!

And that's what I've been up to!  I head home for a super short break on Saturday morning and will fly out for my second visit to UT Dallas on Tuesday.  Wish I'd be there for a little bit longer - I'm already counting down until my next visit when I get to go to my first Gamecock game of the season!!  FYI - it is 31 days away.

More Cowbell

ATTENTION:  I now have my very own, personalized, real life Mississippi State cowbell!  That's right - the sweet ladies of the Beta Mu chapter gave this little gem on my last night in Starkville!

the back side says MSU with a presh bulldog print

Now don't worry fellow Gamecock fans, I have no intention of actually ringing this cowbell once it returns to God's country with me (aka South Carolina), as I of course think there should be an enforced ban on these little guys if we aren't allowed to have our rooster crow over the sound system in Williams-Brice.  I hope some NCAA official stumbles across this blog...

ANYWAY, I just love it.  Mississippi State was wonderful all around - such a hospitable chapter with some really great women.  Not to mention they just got a bangin' new pledge class!  I was lucky to get to arrive on Bid Day and join in on all of the festivities.  And have no fear readers, my elbow injury I mentioned in the last post is healing quite nicely.  As my first regular visit, it was my first taste of what meeting with every officer in a chapter will be like.  Woof.  Talk about a packed schedule.  I was exhausted and slurring my words by my 5th meeting of each day.  Luckily all of the chapter members at MSU were just dolls so I was eased into the world of back-to-back meetings rather painlessly.  I got a tour of their pretty campus, had some great dinners in the Starkville area, and wrapped up my visit with some fro-yo (frozen yogurt for you ice cream rookies out there) on the last night.

view of the back side of Davis Wade Stadium and a little bit of the
grassy junction at the bottom right, where lots of tailgating takes place

Another highlight of the Mississippi State visit - they have house birds!  Their house mom keeps these little girls (I decided they're girls) in a cage in the hallway so you pass the chirping bitties on your way to the chapter room.  She's currently trying to teach them to say "Delta Love" - but I'm not so sure they talk.  I decided I've conquered my fear of birds as long as they're in a cage.

They're named Pearl and Pansy, duh!

After a fun 5 days in Starkville, I boarded a plane in the bustling airport (HA) in Columbus, Mississippi to head to Dallas for my 3rd visit.  Obviously, I say "bustling" in jest because the airport actually only has one gate.  And one security check point which only opens 30 minutes before a flight is boarding. Teeee-niny. But I arrived at DFW safe and sound, picked up my precious black Jetta I have for the week, and headed to EXECUTIVE OFFICE!  I was so excited to see familiar faces that I can't even put it into words.  They gave me hugs and squeals...and a new internet card.  Thank the Lord!  I've been missing mine since the hotel in Memphis kidnapped it during training.  Talk about an unresponsive lost and found department.  Thanks for never calling me back, y'all!  But oh well, I have a new one now.  I traveled from there to my hotel in Richardson and BOY was I happy when I walked through the door.

my room at the Double Tree

A king bed! My own bathroom! A television! Outlets that work! A desk! Drawers! A shower I don't have to wear shoes in!!  In short - heaven for the weekend.  I have so enjoyed sleeping with room to spread out. Ahhh :) Unfortunately I have to turn in my room key and my new car on Tuesday, but I'm so very excited for my next visit.  I've heard great things about the chapter at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette!  In the mean time I'm making friends with the women at the University of Texas at Dallas.  I'm helping them prep for recruitment right now so they will be ready to hit the ground running when I return on September 6th for formal recruitment.  Go Tri Delta, y'all!  The first recruitment workshop is tomorrow so I'm ready to get the ladies pumped for a successful Bid Day this year!

PS - As I've been immersed in nothing but recruitment at during my visits, I've been thinking about my Alpha Lambda loves back at South Carolina kicking butt in recruitment this year. Keep it up, ladies! Miss y'all!

Magnolia state?

Last week I packed my life into two bags and set out on the road to start my adventure!  I was very excited, a little nervous (okay, I was A LOT nervous) and ready to get my first visit under way.  The flights on my way to the Greenville, MS airport were interesting, with no time to spare during my connection in Atlanta and long enough during my Memphis layover to have my first solo meal in an airport.  It was depressing.

Couldn't there at least be a window?

But I finally arrived still in good spirits to my first visit:  Delta State University.  Home of the Fighting...Okra?  Yes, that's right, the Fighting Okra.  Although their name is officially the much less interesting "Statesmen", I decided to stick with Okra for the entirety of my trip.  I was sure to tell them that I hail from the home of the Okra Strut so we have that little vegetable in common.

Fierce, right?

Delta State was awesome.  They are a small chapter (about 35 members before recruitment this year) so it was an adjustment from my personal experience, but I took to them immediately and really enjoyed my stay.  There couldn't have been a better place to start my travels!  I was there during their recruitment workshops and then for their first two days of formal recruitment, and I had a blast.  They were tons of fun and so welcoming.  Look how cute my room was when I arrived!

They even put art work in there!

I had a true test of my recruitment knowledge, between matching party lists with chapter members and voting input, but I was really proud of my ability to help.  Especially considering I was never involved in the clerical side of recruitment before then.  I truly had to embody the motto "fake it 'til ya make it" and in the end it all worked out!  I was so sad to leave them in the middle of their recruitment process though.  It is no fun to do the work and not get to see all of the beautiful new members on bid day!  The sweet ladies got me a cake and all signed a card for me on my last night, making it even harder to say goodbye.

DSU Chapter with my cake :)

Apparently it was SO hard, I left an entire drawer of tops/blouses in the room I was staying in.  That's right, I am currently down several articles of clothing at my visit to my second stop:  Mississippi State!  Don't worry though Mom, they are in the mail and on the way to me as I type.  Good thing I packed some dresses so I still have clothes to wear.  I drove from the Greenville, MS airport (in the middle of a soy field) to the Columbus, MS airport (in the middle of...well...nowhere) and was picked up by some precious chapter members there.  On my drive I began to really question why Mississippi is the Magnolia state...as I've seen more in South Carolina.  Then I remembered people visiting the upstate of SC probably wonder the same thing about us being the Palmetto state, so I guess I'll cut them some slack :)  Once I arrived on campus (which is beautiful by the way), the Beta Mu chapter welcomed me with a sign on Bid Day!  It was so nice of them to still think of me when they had so many things going on that morning.

So sweet of them!

The room I'm staying in here is so cute and I love their house.  It has a really neat back yard area that is complete with a dolphin fountain.  To clarify:  it is a concrete dolphin spitting water into a little pond, NOT a fountain with dolphins.  Though I wish it was the latter.  The women here are really great as well, we had fun playing around on Bid Day - which was awesome with blow up slides, a bounce castle, and a Velcro wall.  I have a battle burn on my right elbow to prove it.


All in all, I am exhausted but having a  lot of fun.  I have met so many amazing women already and can't wait to see what the rest of the semester has in store for me.  I will try my best to update the blog more frequently!  Recruitment visits leave very little personal time to  do things like that but once I'm doing steady, regular visits, it shouldn't be a problem at all :)

Training Wrap-Up

Dearest followers, I apologize for slacking off the last week of training and not updating at all.  As the weeks went by our time got more restricted with homework, experiencing the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and all things in between.  Excuses aside, I have decided to write a "Notable Nine" list to highlight the end of training and our visit to Memphis.
Note: I said "Notable Nine" because a few things would most certainly not make it to a "Top Ten" list but should still be mentioned, while still keeping proper alliteration . Also, these are in mostly chronological (not ranked) order.


1.  Rangers Game - What better to do on a Friday night than catch a little MLB action at the home of some of last year's World Series games?  Decked out in our red and blue we walked up to Rangers Ballpark and made our way to our top row seats, which were well worth the climb.  Being behind home plate but far enough up to feel the breeze was perfect as we sipped on their amazing strawberry/lime swirled margaritas.  And watched Sarah make friends with  a very forceful, 7-year-old who was way too into her "Let's Go Rangers!" chant.

Michelle, Emily and I cheering on the Rangers

Group shot leaving the game,
if only you knew the trouble we had snapping this one.

2.  Day in Dallas - In true Farkle fashion we spent part of our day off stalking the Tri Delta house on the SMU campus in downtown Dallas.  We took pictures, looked at all of their Greek housing, and drove by the football stadium (Pony up!) before getting lunch.  We ate at Vickery Park (which was phenom) then made our way to the West Village for some shopping.  Since we FCs don't get paid until mid-August, we didn't do much damage BUT enjoyed our time anyway.  Asside from my frustration with Dallas drivers, a parking garage, and the suburban I was driving, this was an ideal way to spend a Sunday off.


3.  Six Flags Photo Shoot - About as fun as it sounds.  We dressed up in our Vera letter shirts and blue jeans for an early (like, really early...) morning with the park to ourselves.  The shoot was fun, the photographer loved Emily, and AnneMarie conquered her fear and rode the swings!  These pictures will be used for promotional things on the website and in the Trident.  Basically, I'm a model now.

The FCs and Jason!
L to R: AnneMarie, Morgan, myself, Emily, Sarah, Emily, Michelle

4.  New Field Consultant Pins - On our final Saturday we got a surprise from Jason and the Executive Board; our FC badges!  Jason had been telling us we would "get them when they come in" for the past week and a half each time we asked about them, but of course he was being sneaky (shock) and was holding them until the Executive Board was in town to present them to us.  Julie pinned mine on me and we were happy little Deltas for the rest of the day.

The FCs and Executive Board after receiving our FC pins

5.  9 to 5 the Musical - Our last night in Arlington the Chapter Services staff treated us to an evening in Fort Worth to see 9 to 5 at Bass Performance Hall.  It was hilarious!  Being the youngsters that we are, none of the FCs had seen the movie before, but loved the show anyway!  Seeing the movie is now a must.  Word is the movie is a little less racy, but has all of the good parts still included.

The FCs at Bass Performance Hall before 9to5

6.  National Civil Rights Museum - This place was amazing.  Well, the museum itself was a little content heavy (some would say "educational", but whatever) but the portion dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr's last few years of life and assassination were beyond moving.  The timeline of the events is on display in the building from which James Earl Ray shot Dr. King, and the Lorraine Hotel where Dr. King was shot is set up to look the way it did on the evening of April 4th, 1968.

Spot of MLK Jr.'s Assassination

7.  St. Jude - This portion really needs no words for those who have seen the place, and there aren't words strong enough to describe it to those who have not.  It's a little slice of heaven that has been working since 1962 to rid children of cancer.  The research and patient care done there are nothing short of innovative.  From the child-height reception desks to the made-to-order kitchen, everything there really is for the kids.

FCs with Victoria and Jason

8.  Graceland - Our last night in Memphis we all had the chance to visit Elvis's digs (more formally called Graceland).  I was in love.  While some may call it tacky, I thought the purple velvet curtains and green shag carpet were just perfect for this straight out of the 70s home.  I most appreciated his racquetball court that had been transformed into a giant display of his jumpsuits.  Well, that and his Convair 880 Jet.  New goal: marry someone with one of those.

Entrance of Graceland!

9.  7 hours at Memphis International Airport - This one is the sole reason this list was not able to be a "Top Ten", but it is definitely worth sharing.  After changed gates, 2 delays, a destination change, 2 more delays and temporary loss of luggage...I was introduced to my year of traveling.  It was as if Memphis was saying, "Welcome to the world of airports, Anna - not so glamorous, huh?" and I just nodded and agreed.  I wanted to cry the whole time, but held back my tears because, well, I was in public and that would have been embarrassing.  Lesson learned:  Flights will be messed up and I may not know where my luggage is, but life will go on.

#15in5

Finally a free minute!  Well, a free weekday minute - because I certainly was not going to waste one little second of my one day weekend writing a blog :)

Friday and Saturday were work days.  Time spent reviewing resources, learning the ins-and-outs of the chapters we are visiting, and admin work.  What do I mean by admin work?  Well, I mean EMAILING OUR FIRST FEW CHAPTERS!  Super exciting...and nerve-wracking, and scary...but exciting.  I contacted the Vice Presidents of Administration (a position close to this little Delta's heart!) at Delta State and Mississippi State about my visits to them in mid-August so they can begin to plan. It's hard to believe someone is planning MY visit, when this time last year I was planning a visit for someone else - talk about coming full circle.

Jason, Joanna and Michelle spiced up our Saturday work day a little by taking us to Babe's Chicken in Arlington.  It was family style southern cooking and it was phenomenal.  I had fried catfish with their three standard sides of corn, green beans and mashed potatoes.  We all had to get dessert (duh) so I ordered fried peach pie and it was twice as good as it sounds.

Outside of Babe's

After a long week, it was time for a night out on the town and Sunday funday!  So naturally, we went to Uptown Dallas Saturday night and Six Flags Over Texas on Sunday.  What else were we to do after driving past the park at least twice every day and listening to the coasters from our office hour after hour??  Saturday was fun, and I got to reunite with Kristen since she recently moved down here for a new job.  It was nice to get out and socialize about something other than Tri Delta mechanics.  Sunday was equally enjoyable, but boy was it hot.

Michelle, Emily, Sarah, Me, Morgan

We sweated our way through 7 roller coasters, my favorite of which was the Texas Giant.  I was in heaven, love those things!  The heat was brutal though and our day got cut a bit short.  Poor Michelle and Sarah weren't used to the heat and I'm surprised they didn't pass out before we walked our way back to the hotel.  We took it easy that night, ordering pizza in and hitting the sack early for another work week ahead.

Today and yesterday have been really neat, seeing and learning some "out-of-the-box" things that don't just have to do with operations. Yesterday we had Beth from Archives come in and show us some pretty neat things from Tri Delta's history. I actually got to hold Eleanor Dorcas Pond's badge in my little hand. Alpha 2. ALPHA 2! Insanity.  Kind of puts my Alpha Lambda 2172 to shame!

Can't see the inscription,
but you get the point. Unreal.

Beth also put together folders for us of things from the archives pertaining to our home chapters.  It was so neat seeing Alpha Lambda's history (that's my chapter at U of SC) in picture and and letter form.  There was even original correspondence between a couple of women behind the transition of the Beta Zeta Society into a Tri Delta Chapter after the state's anti-fraternity laws were removed in 1927.  That correspondence led to my chapter's formation in 1928, wild that I got to hold and read the originals!

Despite how amazing that was, today was my favorite day by far.  We started the morning right, with a presentation from representatives from St. Jude.  I had never really put it into perspective before the amount of money Tri Delta raises annually for the hospital.  This past academic year alone, Tri Delta chapters nation wide raised $3.4 million.  That is a HUGE amount!  The largest amount by far that a Greek organization has given to a philanthropic partner in a single year.  Not only is that amount astounding, but we have pledged to get to $15 million total in the next 4 years ($15 million in 5 years from when the pledge was made).  I am so proud to be a part of something as amazing as this partnership.  And a huge thank you to all of you reading this who have donated after receiving my letters from our Sincerely Yours campaign.  St. Jude is truly a magical place, raising the survival rate for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia from 4% to 94% since 1962 when its doors opened.  Not only is their research revolutionary, but their patient care is as well, with families never receiving a bill from the hospital, regardless of the family's ability to pay.  So cool.

with our new St. Jude bags, two St. Jude reps and a patient mother

At this point we all thought the day couldn't get any better, but we were wrong.  We had the amazingly talented Mari Ann Callais come and talk to us about Ritual and Purpose in the afternoon.  It was attention grabbing, motivating and above all else, eye opening.  Mari Ann has such a way with words and as a wonderful facilitator can really get the maximum reaction out of those around her.  She brought us back to what really makes us Tri Deltas - our RITUAL and our PURPOSE.  The way I will go into the chapters I visit in the fall has completely changed in the matter of an afternoon.  And I couldn't be more thrilled.

All of us with Mari Ann - could she have a more contagious smile??

In short (or not so short judging by the length of this blog...), today has made up for the tedious, content heavy days that we have had to sit through in the past week.  And now it's off to bed, starting tomorrow off with finances won't be quite as captivating.

Is it Friday yet?

The past two days have been a whirlwind - literally no time to stop and, well, do anything.

But I love it.

Top: Sarah, AnneMarie, Emily, Me, Emily    Bottom: Michelle, Morgan

If you can't tell from the above photo, we're all fabulous.  And having a great time.  Yesterday was extra long; learning about report writing, types of visits and how to conduct meetings.  While all of it was a little overwhelming, we all muscled through and enjoyed our Jason's Deli for dinner.  So exotic.  Morgan, Sarah, Michelle and I made a Target run (of course) after we got back to the hotel, where Morgan almost lost her phone after day 2 of having it.  No worries, it was recovered from the toilet paper dispenser with no problem.  By the time we got back I was exhausted and absolutely positive I would not have made it through the day if we hadn't started with a slightly out of the way Starbucks run.

With our coffee, so presh.

This morning started out on a different foot however, because we found a PUPPY!  And for anyone that knows me, naturally I thought we should adopt it.  He was a precious little thing we decided to call Paulie.  We tried to bring him to work - but Jason said that was a no go.  Luckily some people have hearts (kidding, Jason!) and a maintenance man at the hotel adopted him.  If we were in South Carolina, he SO would have been mine.

Sorry he's so blurry - but it's Paulie!

The rest of the work day was much shorter and less overwhelming than the day before.  We started with OC and Chapter procedure education from The Center staff and finished with technology assistance.  After a day's work we took a little trip to Fort Worth for dinner at Razzoo's Cajun Cafe and to visit TCU's campus.  TCU is beautiful.  If it had been on my college visit list I may have found myself as a little horned frog in the fall of 2007.  We tracked down the Tri Delta territory and snapped a quick picture (#lykww) then headed back towards Arlington.

Razzoo's!

Tomorrow we spend all day getting schooled by The Center and then we're going to see Harry Potter!  Which I have to admit, I'm not overly excited about but it will be another fun team outing :)

"Do you say soda or pop?"

We have arrived!  As of yesterday my fellow consultants and I are temporary residents of Arlington, Texas.  Our bags are unpacked, refrigerators full (of leftovers mainly) and we have started to settle into our lives for the next 2 1/2 weeks.

AnneMarie and Jason picking me up at DFW

Our first night started with a brief orientation and dinner at Saltgrass with the lovely Chapter Services team, where of course most of us ordered steaks.  When in Texas, right?  After returning home and slipping into comfy clothes we sought out the local Wal-Mart for some DDP (diet dr. pepper, duh) and hangers...because we all over packed.  SEE Mom and Dad - I'll be just fine on the road this year!  What I haven't mentioned yet is that I am the official driver of the Tri Delta Suburban we have for our weeks of training.  Yes, that is right - I have gone from my '97 hatchback 3-series which can fit into ANY parking spot on the planet to a brand spankin' new Texas edition Suburban with 3,000 miles on it.  Don't fret - so far so good.

Behind the wheel of the mom-mobile

Besides a few minor mishaps due to our directionally challenged Garmin, we have made it around the Dallas/Fort Worth area without a hitch.

This morning we opened our pretty little eyes bright and early to get to the Executive Office for a breakfast meet-and-greet before our first training session.  We had doughnuts and OJ - perfect start to the morning.  Training today consisted of HR paperwork, learning of employee finances and credit card usage and getting our precious new mini laptops and iPhone 4s.  I'm sure it goes without saying that our favorite part of the day was the latter of the three.

Looking snazzy with our new gear.

Training was followed by dinner to de-stress at a favorite place from Interview Weekend, Pappasitos!  Guac and cheese dip all around of course.  We decided after dinner it would be best to find the closest Starbucks tonight to make our morning commute go as smoothly as possible - but ended up finding the second closest S'bux first.  Oh well, we tried.  During our exploration we "stumbled" upon the UT Arlington Tri Delta house! Ok, ok - so we didn't exactly stumble there, but it sounds a lot less creepy if we all pretend that's how it happened.  We met three of their fabulous members and of course took advantage of another perfect photo-op.

I'm in the center Delta, if you can't tell :)

Once we stopped being stalkers and got out of their hair we ventured to the Starbucks that is actually closest to our hotel before calling it a night and heading back to the lovely suites for the evening.  We were all exhausted by this time even though it was only 9pm.

So I'm adjusting to this wearing heels and doing my hair thing pretty well and am having an absolute blast so far.  We're all getting along famously (#lykww) and have become fast friends.  On that note - I'm off to bed.  Another busy day in the morning starting with team building.  Human knot, anyone?