The Golden Lion

The Diamond Awards Banquet was held this evening. Everyone knows that the Golden Lion is the most coveted of all awards distributed during Grand Convention. This award indicates the highest level of performance and efficiency for collegiate chapters of Alpha Delta Pi. Tonight, 13 chapters took home that top honor, including three chapters who have never before been inducted into the Golden Lion Hall of Fame.


1. Beta Eta, Michigan
2. Delta Phi, University of Missouri-Kansas City
3. Gamma Theta, University of Mt. Union
4. Zeta Nu, Clemson
5. Beta Epsilon, University of South Carolina
6. Eta Lambda, Albright College
7. Epsilon Nu, Ashland University
8. Gamma Phi, East Tennessee State University
9. Beta Tau, University of Akron
10. Kappa, Samford
11. Zeta Psi, UNC Greensboro (new inductee)
12. Beta Sigma, Mercer University (new inductee)
13. Alpha Iota, University of Pittsburgh (new inductee)


The evening concluded with the installation of our new Grand Council members, and a farewell to those sisters whose term on Grand Council has come to an end. Special thanks to Ann Charnock and Rosalyn Doze Williams. A special video presentation was made to celebrate the four years that Claire Brown Gwaltney has led our organization. What a wonderful and inspirational leader she has been! Here are some photos from the evening. 

International Vice President of Alumnae Membership Renee Bailey Iacona 

and International President Tammie Pinkston

Ms. Pinkston's Lion Purse

Former and Current Finance Ladies!

 Mrs. Gwaltney, Past International President, and her husband. 

Current and past Presidents of ADPi

Congrats to Zeta Psi on achieving Golden Lion status for the first time!
Convention has been a blast. Will have many recap updates and highlights that we missed during our busy schedule in the days ahead.

Bringing it All Back to 1851

I have to quickly tell you about what happened this morning. It was the most profound experience I've had thus far during my membership in Alpha Delta Pi. Today we initiated the great-great-granddaughter of one of the founding members of The Adelphean Society. Elizabeth Williams Mitchell, whose portrait we unveiled this week, holds a very special place in the heart of every Alpha Delta Pi member. 

It is from her legacy that we all descend as Alpha Delta Pi sisters. Today we welcomed her great-great-granddaughter into our sisterhood, as an alumnae initiate. I could not help but tear up as I caught eyes with Renee Bailey Iacona during the ceremony. To think. This woman is a direct descendant of one of our founders, and here we are today initiating her into Alpha Delta Pi. What must she have been thinking, knowing the legacy that she joins because of her relative? Chills! What are you doing to leave your legacy in Alpha Delta Pi?

Diamonds Are Forever: Old Timer's Dinner

Those diamonds were shining bright under the Phoenix sun, as sisters brought some crazy bling to the Old Timer's Dinner! Here are a few shots...

 Forget Hammer Time, We've got Marshall Time! 

Check out Sister Rita Wade Marshall's (Epsilon Delta) jacket!

Delaurah Minzenberger, Beta Psi, brings the bling 

with her many rings! Hey, that rhymes!

 D2 sisters

D2 International Officers, Every time we come around the district bling bling...

Candace from Beta Psi in her real beauty pageant bling! 

 District II, the future is so bright with all that bling! 

 Sisters Dawn Victor-Herring and Tracy Garner came with tiaras and boas

 Renee Bailey Iacona, International Vice President of Alumnae Membership, 

our lovely MC for the night in her diamond ADPi tiara

Pat Evans during the 50 year ceremony

50 year ceremony

International Secretary Sydnee Jack leads the Convention Song

Sisters still standing after many decades of Convention attendance during the famous Convention Song

Current International President Claire Gwaltney (right), Beta Omega, with 

newly elected International President Tammie Pinkston (left), Zeta Nu/Gamma Phi

At this dinner we honored many alumnae who have given back, both to their professions, their communities, and to Alpha Delta Pi. Here are the recipients of the Joan Perry Boatright Loyalty Award, by district:

District I: Betty Hillburn

Betty lives in Macon and frequently gives tours of Rose Hill Cemetery, where Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald is buried. Upon receiving her award she said, "College girls, I want you to know that it is not just four years. Get ready. When you get outta' school, find your sisters wherever you are."

District II: Diane Letson

Joan Boatright was her scholarship advisor in college. How cool is that?!  Upon receiving her award she said, "Find a mentor. In turn, be a mentor to someone else. The greatest investment I've ever made has been repaid to me many times because of you."

District III: Ann Parker Davis

Ann mentioned that she was mentored by Mary Van Akin. "Once you knew Mrs. VA, you knew alpha Delta Pi was for a lifetime. I can't imagine what it would be like to not have had Alpha Delta Pi in my life everyday. Find reasons to stay involved forever and make Alpha Delta Pi for a lifetime."

District IV: Betty Pitzer

You may have read the post that mentioned Ms. Pitzer and her passing earlier this week. If not, here is a link. She was 99 years old when she passed this week, and had been a member of Alpha Delta Pi for 80 years. 

District V: Charlotte Mann

"It's been said that we have five really pivotal people in our lives who help us move from one stage to another. I think it's more like 500, and 499 of them are Alpha Delta Pi's. The most important decision I ever made was writing only Alpha Delta Pi and Alpha Delta Pi on my preference card, and by George I matched! With that decision what doors I've opened and what adventures I've had. My association with Alpha Delta Pi has enriched my life, knowing that we are measured not by what we receive, but by what we give."

District VI: Linda Allen

"I think this goes all the way back to having a strong advisor, Sally Dozier. Whenever she saw me she wanted to know what I was doing for ADPi. Through the yeas I've worked with amazing sisters and I appreciate working with the collegians. I moved to Arizona not knowing a soul. I looked at the back of The Adelphean and called the local alumnae association. My life has been very fulfilled since then."

Mary Bull Mason Outstanding Contribution to Community Award:

Kay Weed

Outstanding Alumnae Achievement Award for Contribution to Profession: Connie Lewis

This is Convention number 27 for Virginia "Ginny" Stafford, former Grand President, who was the last sister standing during the Convention song. Ginny said that the first convention that she attended was in 1946. Grand Convention in 1946 was held at The Hotel Stanley in Estes Park, Colorado. Talk about Alpha Delta Pi for a lifetime!

We also honored Convention Photographer, Charles E. Walton IV, who celebrated his 30th Convention with Alpha Delta Pi. We love you Charles, oh yes we do! Speaking of Charles, Convention photos will be available on GreekYearbook.com in a couple of weeks. 

A good time was had by all:)

Housing Update

By: Laura Leigh Majernik

What a beautiful Saturday here in Phoenix! I enjoyed the Biltmore's jogging trail this morning and my time on the trail helped me put my thoughts together on yesterday's business meetings.

First of all, we elected some AMAZING sisters to our Grand Council! Tammie Pinkston will lead a fantastic team as our International President. 

Our bylaws are now revised to reflect accuracies in terminology and better outline Sorority practices. Voting on these changes made for a long day, but our Sisterhood is stronger as a result.

Finally, the adoption of an exciting resolution submitted by our Housing Directors promotes innovation and provides security for the future of Alpha Delta Pi. The delegates adopted a resolution to call for a Committee to Form regarding the possible formation of an International Housing Corporation. If such a body is recommended, Alpha Delta Pi will be on the vanguard of organizational management for NPC groups. This Committee to Form will investigate the best way to move Alpha Delta Pi housing forward in a manner that strengthens our Sorority and lives out our open motto, "We Live for Each Other." My role as a delegate gave me the opportunity to make a positive mark on my Sisterhood and I am pleased I was able to serve.

Grand Convention Top Ten

By: Samantha Hockenberry

So we have this tradition at Gamma Iota- Univ. of Florida, where we have Top 10’s during our Chapter elections.  You know, anything ranging from “Top 10 reasons to live in the ADPi house” to “Top 10 reasons to be on Exec”.   Essentially, anything that makes the time go by faster.

Today at Grand Convention we had our Bylaw revisions and International Officer elections.  Let me first say congratulations to everyone who was elected today! Watching history in the making was pretty darn cool.  On the down side- the meeting was 7 hours long (with a nice lunch break :)).  Being that this meeting went for 1 too many hours, my darling sisters and I decided to bring a little Gamma Iota tradition to the International level and create “Top 10’s of ADPi Grand Convention”.  Here it goes…

Top 10’s of ADPi Grand Convention

10.  Britney Spears and back up dancers spotted at the Biltmore Hotel!
How sweet would that have been to get a Pi Love pic with Britney!?  Hello Recruitment video!

9.  Dessert served at every meal
Mhmm mmm. Enough said.

8.  Electronic Voting – no more waiting to count paper
7 hours of voting today WITH electronic clickers.  I can only imagine how they did it in past Grand Conventions. THANK YOU technology!

7.  The fact that #ADPiGC2011 is basically trending on Twitter
But really.

6.  Hanging out with our Advisor (shout out Mrs. Balloon)
Talk about quality time with one of the most influential person I know… and we couldn’t have asked for a better venue then the Desert.

5.  Amount of Lion jewelry being spotted on ADPi alum and collegiates
I am absolutely floored by the amount of lion/violets/diamond jewelry I have seen on some of these sisters.  Earrings, pendants, bracelets, scarves, rings, you name it, someone is probably wearing it.  I can only imagine what tonight’s dinner is going to be like when they really bust out the “Bling”.

4.  Winning a Diamond 4-Point Award!
Nothing is cooler than having your Chapter’s name being called for an award.  Sweet satisfaction for a job well done.  Congrats ladies.

3.  SPOTTED: Mrs. Gwaltney square dancing during the LC skit
Cute little southern bell Mrs. Claire Gwaltney, International President of Alpha Delta Pi, square dancing on stage! 

2.  The revealing of the RMH Philanthropy video
Talk about tears.  If this RMH video didn’t touch your heart last night then I don’t know what will.  This video was just a reminder that ADPi’s all across this nation (and in Canada!) truly are doing something amazing.  REALLY amazing.  I can’t wait to go back and show this video to my Chapter.

1.  Meeting ADPi’s from all across the country and sharing idea

Pi love you all!

The Results are in!

By: Logan Sparks

For all you ladies who weren't able to attend Grand Convention this year, you might be be wondering just we are actually doing out here in Phoenix. Maybe much to your disbelief, it isn't all fun and games. While we are most definitely having a blast, we have also been getting down to very serious business. However, if you could see all the tasty meals they have been serving us or the beautiful Biltmore hotel, you might not think so.

But still, through business meetings and bylaw revisions, your chapter delegates have been working very hard to make decisions that are best for members and the international organization as a whole. In addition to bylaw revisions, elections are also being held. This is an exciting time for Alpha Delta Pi as our new international President and the rest of Grand Council will be leading us into the future. It is through these processes that we remember that ADPi is so much bigger than our individual chapters and the campuses we represent; we are a group of sorority women from all over the country (and Canada) who strive to live by the same creed of values and ideas. 

So. For everyone out there who thinks we're just vacationing here in sorority-land, you are mistaken! Look forward to hearing about all of our official ADPi business from your chapter representatives in the fall! 

And...the drum roll please...our newly elected Grand Council members!

International President: Tammy Pinkston, Zeta Nu/Gamma Phi

International Vice President of Collegiate Membership: Stacy DeMartini Bruton, Delta Sigma

                                                                                                  Susan Swicord Mathews, Epsilon Pi

International Vice President of Alumnae Membership: Renee Bailey Iacona, Delta Upsilon

International Vice President of Finance: Emily Erkel, Zeta Chi

International Secretary: Sydnee Jack, Alpha Omicron

International Vice President of Organizational Relations: Sandy McDonald Davis, Xi

Pay it Forward

By: Anna Kate Sumler

On my first day at Grand Convention, I had the great pleasure of having a very special training session with former Grand Council member (among her many titles) – Lindy Lutz Cash.

            Today at the Foundation Luncheon Mrs. Cash was the Keynote Speaker and focused on the leadership tagline of the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation’s belief system of “Educate. Lead. Serve.”  Mrs. Cash began her speech by quoting the words of our Creed,

“I believe that my sorority is more than a ritual or symbol,

that it is a way of life.”

            Anyone that has been fortunate enough to meet Mrs. Cash knows what an exceptional person and outstanding Alpha Delta Pi sister she is.  During her speech she says that she owes her many successes in life to the foundation of skills that she developed in Alpha Delta Pi and especially because of her time as a President at Chi chapter.

            You might be familiar with the quote,

“There are four kinds of people in the world –

People who make things happen.

People who watch things happen.

People who wonder what happened.

And people who don’t know anything happened.”

Mrs. Cash closes ends her speech by saying, “Learn, grow, and thrive from your leadership experience in Alpha Delta Pi.  My foundation in Alpha Delta Pi has taught me that I am someone who makes things happens.”

What kind of person are you?

A Few of Her Favorite Things

By: Christina Nixon

My favorite part of convention thus far has been meeting sisters from so many generations.  With a far more sophisticated wardrobe (I would kill to have some of these women's fabulous white suits one day) and a few more wrinkles here or there, women, who have devoted their lives to ADPi for 20, 30 years and more, still have the same enthusiasm and passion for ADPi as any collegian, and probably more.  Tonight, we watched women pass through a ceremony to celebrate 10 years and 25 years of Alpha Delta Pi membership, and even watched International President Claire Brown Gwaltney throw off her heels to show us her dancing skills.  The impacts these women have made on ADPi and their success in empowering women in this world have been inspiration for all of us.  This weekend, I am truly seeing the meaning of a 'life long commitment' to Alpha Delta Pi.

House Corp in the House

By: Laura Leigh Majernik

5:20 pm, Biltmore Arizona

I'm here! I arrived at the Convention as the doors were opening for the business meeting. The convention registration booth was closed and I mildly panicked over my credentials- I needed them and did not have them! Thankfully, a very helpful sister managed to find my registration packet and I was seated in my designated chair. I felt so official to have my own chair! 

Business meetings for the day are over. I am relaxing in my palatial room; thanks, Grand Convention planners, for picking a gorgeous hotel!

In Memorial

I'm gonna be honest. This post isn't going to be pretty. It's difficult. It's heart wrenching. It's just downright challenging when you lose a sister. It's not fair for me to monopolize this blog with this post about the sister that I lost this year, because there are so many sisters that we've lost in this sisterhood that we call Alpha Delta Pi since our last Grand Convention. But I do feel compelled to highlight this portion of Grand Convention, an event that I feel is not as highly attended as it should be. The Alpha Delta Pi Memorial Service.

Becoming an International Officer, heck, even in my first year as a chapter advisor, I realized how much bigger this organization is than me. Than my campus. Than my alpha class. I've met remarkable women from coast to coast who  have become just as dear to me as the women who I became fast friends with on bid day. Women who are younger than me, who are older than me, who are role models and inspiring and dedicated. So anytime we lose a member of our circle of sisterhood, we should mourn that loss. Near and far. And that is the purpose of the Memorial Service that is held each Grand Convention. To remember those sisters who we've lost and recognize the fulfillment of their oath to a lifetime of sisterhood. A lifetime modeling our principles and ideals. 


So, two notes on sisters we lost this year. Renee Bailey Iacona recognized the passing of former Grand Council member Betty Braun Pitzer, Chi. She turned 99 this year, and celebrated 80 years of membership in Alpha Delta Pi. Her lifetime commitment includes serving as a founding member of the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, and Grand Treasurer on Grand Council for 16 years. She is District IV's Loyalty Boatright Alumnae recipient. She passed away just two days ago. 


And next. My small shout out. This October Alpha Delta Pi lost one of my alpha class members, Sarah Irvin Gardner. It's hard to fathom when you are not even 30 yet that you will need to say goodbye to one of the members of your alpha class. But that's what my girls did this year. Sarah left us in October to go on to a better place, after battling brain cancer. She left behind a then four-month-old legacy, Miss Caroline Kay. Miss Caroline Kay is growing up strong, and we'll just have to do our best reminding her what a wonderful, beautiful, God-loving woman that her mother was. And how her Alpha Delta Pi sisters miss her so. 


There are mother, sisters, grandmothers, granddaughters, daughters. So many others who we lost. Take a moment to squeeze your Alpha Delta Pi sisters today. And remember to tell them how important they are to you. This sisterhood we have is a beautiful thing and I'm blessed to have had Sarah in my life, even though our time together was cut short. God bless you all!

Let's Raise The Roof!!

Glow Bracelets for sale!!... $3/ea

Swing by and visit us in the Pre-Function Area... before & after meals.

All profits will go to the "Raise the Roof" Project for the Delta Eta House.

Not attending Grand Convention? Anyone can order and if interested please email me, adpi_raise_roof@bellsouth.net, and I will get an order form to you.

 

Loyally,

 

Jerri McGraw Hurst, DH 75
Delta Eta House Corporation, Treasurer
116 Belmont Pk Dr
Bush LA 70431-4519
985.871.0626 home, office & fax
985.630.1956 cell

It Takes a Lady

By: Carrington Giammittorio

Last night at our welcome banquet, we were honored to have Rick Barnes as our keynote speaker. Having served as a university advisor for nearly 20 years, Rick had held leadership positions in numerous international organizations as well as serving as a past preside of the North American Inter-fraternity Conference. Although the overall feel of his talk was lighthearted (and at times hilarious), one of his more serious points really stuck with me. Talking about the differences in Risk Management policy between men's and women's organizations, Rick made the point that sororities' more intricate Risk Management policies seem to enforce a higher standard of conduct among their membership than do fraternities'. He emphasized this point by citing fraternity houses and parties as a place where sorority women often "unwind" and let go of these standards, leading ultimately to high risk situations.

This message was especially strong for me because during the last few weeks of the semester, the Presidents Council at UVA (a group composed of the presidents of all sixteen NPC sororities that have a home at Mr. Jefferson's University) focused on a problem in our community that can be summed up as "blaming the boys". When things go wrong, we often find ourselves pointing to the deficits in the conduct and risk management procedures of fraternity men when we really should be taking a hard look at ourselves as well. At one point Rick said, "When you come to our house, keep your standards high. Keep those ideals, and we will raise our standards to meet yours." To me, this seems the perfect antidote to our knee-jerk reaction of "blaming the boys", and I think the takeaway message is that it takes a lady, to make a gentleman.

Tuesday Night: Here’s What You Missed

International Officer Appreciation Dinner

By: Anna Kate Sumler

As an incoming Leadership Consultant, it was a special treat to arrive at Grand Convention a day early.  I checked in on Tuesday afternoon and hit the ground running with training sessions in preparation for my new LC role.  I am excited to apply all of this new information at Alpha Delta Pi collegiate chapters this academic year.

 Delicious Cake Pops with ADPi Themes Of Course!

            So a little something that collegians missed on Tuesday night was the International Officer Appreciation Dinner.  At this time, women who have volunteered to serve our organization are honored and recognized.

            It was so awesome to see the great number of women who stood up to receive difference charms from Alpha Delta Pi for volunteering 5-9 years, 10-14 years, 15-19 years, 20-29 years, and 30+ years.

            As we applauded these women it made me realize that membership in this organization truly is for a lifetime if you want it to be and reaffirmed my commitment to serve this organization. 

In Route...

By: Laura Leigh Majernik
7:40 am CST, Dallas, TX
It looks like a pretty typical morning in my home: I went for a run early this morning, I am now drinking coffee and admonishing my 4 year-old to share his toys with his 1 year-old brother.  The BIG difference is that I am also packing up my last items to prepare for Grand Convention!  My flight arrives in Arizona in time for me to begin attending the business meetings.  Last night, I mentally finished my packing list (the skirt for Thursday, the khaki pants for Friday, don't forget my running shoes), and I remembered the privilege of voting for business matters that will help our sisterhood be the First.Finest.Forever.  Attending Grand Convention as a voting delegate is an honor for me and I know it will be fun, too!

Up in the Air...and Down on the Ground

By: Carrington Giammittorio

Waking up at 5.15 am, leaving my house by 6.30 and arriving at Reagan National Airport by 7, I hardly thought I'd have a problem catching an 8.30 flight. Long ticket lines and cross-country delays, however, had a different plan. After spending almost an hour and half in the ticketing line and thus missing my first flight, I found my connection re-routed from Dallas to Miami and my arrival time shunted from 12 noon to nearly 7pm. Confronted with a 3 hour wait in the airport before even leaving DC on top of 5 total hours of flight time and a 2 hour layover in Miami, I found myself pondering this question: how on earth I was going to spend my time both up in the air and down on the ground?

A quick dig through my trusty tote bag provided an easy answer: re-reading bylaws revision, amendment, and resolution proposals and taking one last look at the nomination packets of course! I'll be honest and admit that I wasn't as studious as I'd intended- I took two little breaks, one to watch 30 Rock and one to refine my Gift Mart strategy, which I feared would have to be revised due to my delayed arrival. Armed with convention prep and the NBC comedy block, I slowly whittled away at my time up in the air.

BUT...that's all in the past now because after what felt like an endless day of travel I'm finally down on the ground for good. As soon as I got off the plane I was reminded of how strong real sisterhood is. One of my chapter sisters lives in Phoenix and despite my nearly 7 hour delay, she was there to pick me up and whisk me off to the fabulous Arizona Biltmore:

Dashing to drop my bags off in my room, I managed to slip into dinner just as the salad was being served and took a seat with the rest of my province (thanks ladies for saving me that seat!) and my Grand Convention 2011 experience began. As promised, the food was delicious and the company was just what I needed after a day of harried cross-country travel. When I got back to my room after Adelphean Processional practice, it was certainly late (nearly 4am DC time!) and I was definitely tired, but I still wanted to share. Tonight was already so special and so fun- I can't wait to see what tomorrow (and of course the rest of the week) has in store.

~Carrington

First Day wrap up with Anna Kate

By: Anna Kate Sumler

The first official day of Grand Convention for all attendees has come to an end; it’s going by much too quickly!  There have been so many wonderful things going on here at the Biltmore Hotel that it’s difficult to choose what to share.  Today I had the pleasure of hearing Rick Barnes speak at both the Volunteer Lunch and Welcome Banquet.  A big thank you to the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation for making it possible for Mr. Barnes to be with us.  Mr. Barnes brought up some questions that really got me, and hopefully many other sisters, thinking.  Questions such as,

“Why do we do what we do?”

“What does fraternity mean to you?”

            The response to these questions basically comes down to our ritual – it’s what makes us who we are.  Mr. Barnes explained that ritual holds us to a higher standard.  For 160 years, women have funneled through this organization to set it up for you.  And Mr. Barnes left us with the challenge to take care of our organization and make sure it’s there for the next generation.  At the end of the day, even years down the road, he hopes we are able to look at ourselves in the mirror and say,

“I’m a strong woman,

but I’m a better woman because of Alpha Delta Pi.”

So much to write, already 2:30 am

Ok, so it's  really 11:30pm, but to me, it's still eastern-time-zone-2:30am. It's been another busy day in Phoenix. 

It's 2:00 am and my Beta Psi friends still look fabulous:)

I want to give my collegian bloggers a chance to write up their thoughts on the opening banquet and get them in before I steal all their thunder...so I won't write to much now. But I do just have to share a few things before I go to bed write up my comments for the technology resolution. Highlights from today:

The Missing Sister

Tonight at the Welcome Banquet, this portrait of Elizabeth Williams Mitchell was unveiled. Never before in our 160 year history have we seen a picture of this founding member. Elizabeth's great-granddaughter and great-great-granddaughter are attending Grand Convention this week and are just thrilled to be a part of this momentous reveal for our organization. 

We're Older Than Arizona. 

This might be my new tagline. Forget first, finest, forever (just kidding, total joke). We're older than Arizona!? We received greetings from the Governor of Arizona, as well as John McCain. They mentioned in their greeting letters that Arizona is celebrating its centennial. We are celebrating our 160th birthday. We are older than Arizona. 

You know the old saying about Assumptions...

Rick Barnes spoke to our assembled audience of Grand Convention attendees about the perceptions of Greek life. More depth when the sun is shining in Arizona again.

More Sisters

The 160th anniversary update of Sisters was released after dinner and an autograph party followed. 

Again, we'll have much more depth on this tomorrow from both myself and some new voices too! The Adelphean Processional is bright and early, so I gotta get some shut eye! Stay tuned!

Why You Do What You Do (or Don’t Do) For ADPi

Volunteer Luncheon with guest speaker Rick Barnes (not to be confused with Texas BBall Coach Rick Barnes)

Thanks to the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, we had a wonderful speaker for our Volunteer Luncheon. International Officers, Advisors, House Corporation members and other Alpha Delta Pi volunteers gathered to listen to Rick Barnes talk to us about why it is that we do what we do in the name of sorority affairs. Barnes is a renowned speaker, a former international board member for his own organization, a former higher education administrator, and a past president of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, who touches on leadership, hazing issues, alcohol issues and other topics pertinent to Greek life through speaking engagements.

Barnes highlighted some key issues for us to consider as volunteers, but he also asked us a very important question. Why do you do what you do for Alpha Delta Pi? Here’s what some of my fellow diners said:

“Because I want to see our organization remain relevant to our women today”- International VP of Collegiate Membership Susan Swicord Mathews

“Because I want to make an impact”-District II Finance Director Caitlin King

“Because I believe in the values of our organization”- District II CPD Shannon Roach

“So I can see our organization grow”-District II TME Director Melissa Felts

“Because I want to leave a legacy”-Me:)

Dessert at the Volunteer Luncheon. A subcommittee will be formed to 

determine what the "green stuff" was. Jello? Fruit cocktail syrup? We're not sure, but it was good!

When we joined Alpha Delta Pi, we subscribed to the higher values and expectations that are laid out in our ritual. We should be LIVING OUR RITUAL. We should always be working to fulfill the purpose of Alpha Delta Pi. That does not end with graduation. So as volunteers, what is our role? According to Barnes:

1.      1.  Provide guidance, advice, and knowledge

2.     2.   Use caution when caution is necessary

3.      3.  Function as a liaison

4.       4. Clearly establish your role

5.      5.  Be a role model

6.       6. Hold your chapter to higher standards

7.      7.  It’s okay to let them make mistakes

8.      8.  Build upon their strengths

It’s hard to explain to my non-Greek friends, or heck, even my Greek friends who have been out of school for as long as I have why I am coming to a sorority convention. “Aren’t you too old to be doing that sorority ‘stuff’,” they’ll ask. Um. No? Lifetime membership. And Barnes reiterated that today. This is personally rewarding. That’s why I do what I do, and why I am proud to continue to be involved with my sorority. According to the strategic plan update that we listened to this morning, our 2009-2011 numbers for advisory board numbers are down from where we were in 2007-2009. Get involved! Contact someone in your area if you want to get involved. Your local campus is always a great place to start. So what’s your one sentence answer for why you do what you do, or don’t do, for Alpha Delta Pi?