A Notable November

Today I head back home to Greenville for Thanksgiving Break! I cannot believe how quickly this semester has passed by and how many wonderful sisters I met so far during my time as a Leadership Consultant.

I spent the rest of November in Mississippi! Nicole and I helped Delta Sigma complete Diamond Days where they initiated more than 160 into our sisterhood. It’s also nearing election season at Ole Miss! I will be spending my last week on the road with them as they elect new officers and begin transitions.

After Nicole and I parted ways, I traveled down to Starkville for Epsilon Eta’s election and transition period. My visit kicked off with a Holiday Sisterhood Event at their chapter house, which included a packing party for Operation Christmas Child. This event also gave me the perfect excuse to go pick up my tacky sweater for the season.

The rest of the week’s activities included officer meetings, an ornament decorating partying, searching Walmart for the house’s first Christmas tree, catching the Mockingjay premiere and hanging out with sisters. (I think that I have cheered for both Mississippi teams more this season then I ever have or will again in my life!)

Elections were held on the last day of my visit – I am so proud of the many women who were elected and appointed to positions yesterday! Your commitment to Epsilon Eta will be the driving force for continued development and success!

Now I’m about to take off for a week with family and friends back home! My Thanksgiving plans also include a trip down to my Alma Matter to see the Tide play in the Iron Bowl. I’d say that’s a perfect end to a busy November, which took me to Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, (and soon) South Carolina and Alabama.

Happy Thanksgiving! I wish you the best of time spent with loved ones!

A World Where There Are Octobers

October brought a month with Mississippi chapters! After my break in Atlanta, I traveled back to Oxford for stint with Delta Sigma. We spent October improving chapter operations, continuing Alpha Education for their new members and preparing for upcoming officer elections and transitions. My Ole Miss sisters didn’t get me too much grief after Alabama’s loss at the hands of their football team, but I’m already looking forward to a rematch next year.

Enjoying October Break in Atlanta!

After a couple weeks in Oxford, I returned to Starkville to spend Diamond Days with the Epsilon Eta chapter at Mississippi State. (I’ve made several jokes that I seem to bring the football good luck to all the chapters I visit!) I enjoyed seeing these women again, especially in a very different setting than formal recruitment. I’ve had so many encounters with this chapter over the past couples years: from participating colony recruitment, bid day and installation as a collegian to my first chapter visit, first formal recruitment and first Diamond Days as a Leadership Consultant. I look forward to working with them more in the future!

From MSU, I traveled back to their rival school, Ole Miss, where I finished out October. My last couple weeks included more election preparations, planning for the chapter’s Diamond Days, a Hocus Pocus sisterhood event and another game day in the Grove (where we were all able to united our football interests and cheer against Auburn).

The month would not be complete without another strange encounter with the Mississippi weather, although this time I was very thankful the monsoon rains came before a social event instead of during a recruitment round!

What’s next? I head off to Jacksonville, Florida, as a member of the expansion presentation team at the University of North Florida. Afterwards, I fly to Lafayette, Louisiana, to reunited with two of my consultant sisters, and assist them with the installation of the Alpha Delta Pi colony at the University of Louisiana! It’s another month and another adventure on the road developing and strengthening our sisterhood!

BOOM BOOM and Welcome Home!

I rounded out the last of my fall recruitment visits back at Ole Miss! As Delta Sigma took on their first formal recruitment since recolonization, I got the chance to work with collegians, advisors, International Officers and my fellow consultant sisters – past and present – as we supported Ole Miss.

Formal Recruitment at Ole Miss is serious business! It’s not only competitive, but it’s also held during the school year, which adds challenges of its own. I was so proud of all the officers and Delta members’ hard work throughout the week. We had our share of challenges – during recruitment, you learn to expect the “speed bump.” I will say that a torrential downpour and a venue change was not exactly what I prepared for, but the story of the “great recruitment flood” will always be a standout when looking back on this year.

Delta Sigma welcomed home a new Alpha Class of 167 members on Bid Day and quickly introduced their new members into the ADPi life. Their “Sweet Home ADPi” Bid Day was a perfect cap to Formal Recruitment 2014.

Since then, I’ve been keeping busy with meeting with officers, Deltas and Alphas during the week! The chapter held their Diamond Dates Sisterhood Event leading up to Diamond Sister Reveal, and have several swaps scheduled over the next couple weeks. I even got to experience my first Ole Miss game with my sisters! I must say – it felt good to be back in the college football world!

What are my future travel plans? During October, I’ll be staying on with my sisters in Mississippi after taking a mini-vacation in Atlanta! I’m looking forward to a weekend away cheering on the Crimson Tide as they take on the all-too-familiar Ole Miss Rebels!