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!