Fiesta de la Noche... and the days before!

The women of Eta Delta at University of North Florida welcomed me a few days before formal recruitment started! They had been working extremely hard each and every day leading up to the events. Once recruitment began, the women of Eta Delta used every ounce of their energy to be wonderful hosts to the PNMs entering their parties.

The chapter looked great each day of recruitment! They were also some amazing hostesses. I was able to meet with a bunch of Eta Delta's officers, they have some very exciting things planned for their Fall semester - it made me want to stay and hang out!

One thing I can't forget to mention is the great frozen yogurt places! I had meetings where we talked over a build-your-own frozen yogurt! It was so yummy! We took a stab at guessing the Mystery Flavor each day for 50% off (we got it right once... because one of the women works there)!! The women said that when their DG families get together they often go to get yogurt - not a bad idea!

Moving on to Bid Day!!! Quota was 54 and they pledged 56!! This new member class was so excited too! Pictured above is myself and Allie, the president of Eta Delta on bid day. We went to Dave and Busters to eat, play, and enjoy. We ROCKED Dave and Busters! So many women and their bid day buddies hit the jackpot that we cleared out the prize shop! GO DG!

Moving on to the best part of all... Fiesta de la Noche!!! The women decided that bid day was not enough time with their new member class, they decided to have a bid night celebration! The Fiesta de la Noche was a huge success! There was a taco bar, frozen treats, and an acoustic guitar player! Everyone came out in full force to hang out and enjoy the night! It was outside on a fabulous night! We danced, we ate, we talked, we loved life! New members were able to see the sisters interact with one another and get to know everyone a lot better. Having a bid night celebration was such a great idea! We really "sealed the deal" with this one!

Eta Kappa- North Carolina State

After my first break, I headed off to Eta Kappa- North Carolina State! Go wolf pack!!! The wonderful women welcomed me into their home and into recruitment!!! It was a crazy time but we all had a lot of fun!

The chapter women introduced me to the shoes called Jack Rogers... more commonly known as "jacks." Apparently they are a big deal. Eta Kappa women wore these shoes atleast two out of the four days of recruitment. However, don't let the fact that they are flip flops fool you. They are actually quite uncomfortable. But hey, we are DGs, we have to look good!!!

This is a picture of their preference night. Isn't it beautiful! The potentional new members got to sit outstide and eat cute cupcakes with their intials on it before going inside. It was a lovely atmosphere and the weather was perfect!

Here is a picture of everyone on Bid Day!!!! Their theme was NFL draft!!! Eta Kappa had an amazing recruitment! Quota was 38 and they took 39 wonderful women!



I was sad to leave after recruitment and bid day but I knew they all would continue to DO GOOD!

Beta Pi- Willamette

Willamette University is a tiny school (about 1,800 students) in Salem, OR. I got to visit these ladies for COB for 9 days. Their Greek community is small, only DG, Pi Phi, and AXO, and four fraternities.

I got to witness two COB events: Glee with DG and PJs and Puppy Chow! These were so fun and the women had an incredible turn out at each event. When I left, they had pledged nine more people through COB which is amazing!

We also went to a Guide Dog graduation in Portland. It was so neat to see how the dogs can help people with visual impairments. We got a tour of the facility, and the work they do there is amazing. I am very happy I got to experience this! Check out some pictures below:




Glee with DG!













PJs and Puppy Chow!










Beta Pi women at the Guide Dog graduation!

Top nine reasons why I love Reno, NV

1. The women of Eta Iota are incredibly welcoming
2. The women of Eta Iota decorated their house with some "Wolf Pack" school spirit days before anyone else on Greek Row.

3. The women of Eta Iota planned a philanthropy event last semester with Sigma Kappa. It was called "Do Good, Spread Kindness", and the two chapters took to the streets of Reno to do good deeds and make the city a better place.

4. The Reno, NV alumnae chapter gives tremendous support to the collegiate women, including coming over for a practice recruitment round.

5. The vp: recruitment welcomed me with flowers and yummy fresh fruit

6. Eta Iota sings my favorite song at recruitment: "Some Call It Love."

7. U Swirl frozen yogurt. The president and vp: social standards took me to this delightful yogurt spot.

8. A river runs through the town, which is also filled with casino's and attractions like acrobatics and circus acts from China!

9. Ever seen a Lady Gaga look alike? Meet the Eta Iota senior who will be playing her in the skit.

Paige Browning

Collegiate Development Consultant

Dancing in the streets!

I had a fantastic visit with the women of Eta Iota, University of Nevada-Reno.  When we weren't practicing recruitment rounds, decorating, preparing the leis, or primping our hair, we were dancing.

Alpha Iota- University of Oklahoma

I had a wonderful time at Alpha Iota! Vanessa, you come from a wonderful chapter and a wonderful group of women! I received a very warm welcome when I arrived. A group of women took me to eat at The Mont and to see Eat, Pray, Love. I also enjoyed seeing U-sing tryouts and many trips to Classics. Classics is a restaurant, but they are most known for their drinks. They have all kinds of pop and slushies. They even put candy in your drink! I got the OU Crimson and Cream with gummy bears... it was yummy!

Pi Kappa Phi is opening a chapter on OU's campus, so there were three Pi Kap conultants at OU while I was there. It was nice to meet other people doing the same thing we are! We went to lunch one day. It was interesting hearing guys' perspectives on the job.

I also went shopping with Julianne (president), Katie (vp: Foundation) and Natalye (vp: social standards). This was really fun! They talked me in to spending a little too much money, but it was worth it. I got this really cool anchor that I'll have to take a picture of and show you. I don't have a picture right now, and I sent the anchor home because I didn't have room for it.

Delta Omicron - Morehead State University!

Delta Omicron put on a fantastic recruitment this fall! Morehead State made some adjustments to their recruitment process and the women worked hard and took all the changes in stride. They put on a great Nautical Day and Preference, but my favorite was the Derby Day. All the Delta Omicrons wore big, fabulous, very well-decorated Derby hats...I think I need one now! Bid Day was very exciting as the chapter welcomed their new members :)

Also, dieters beware! If you ever visit Morehead, Kentucky there are delicious cookies everywhere! At one well-known restaurant around town they gave me a free one because it was my first visit, complete with homemade whipped cream...yum!

Definitely DePauw

Brick buildings,  Ivy and tall trees.  Field Hockey practice.  A small town with a lot of school spirit.  ~70% Greek involvement on campus.

These things introduced me to the 60 year old Gamma Iota chapter at DePauw University.  DePauw is classically mid-west meets old college tradition.  While the members live in the house for four years then move away as alumnae, some at Gamma Iota will always be connected to the chapter.  Gamma Iota House Director Kandy is known by collegians as "mom".  She never pledged Delta Gamma but grew up within its walls- her mother was the House Director during Kandy's childhood!  The kitchen staff have similar long term ties to Delta Gamma.  The dedication from the professional staff echoes the rich sisterhood within the chapter.
Taking their traditions in a fresh direction, Gamma Iota is one of a few chapters implementing the Delta Gamma marketing plan.  Their message: "Definitely Delta Gamma" could be seen loud and clear during the first weeks of school.  They will use "Definitely Delta Gamma" as a theme for all events and PR throughout the year, creating ideal name recognition and consistency.

They started with a back to school banner and painted their walkway,

wore their Definitely DG shirts anywhere and everywhere (class, the gym, work, ice cream, campus activities fair, I think you get the picture),

and used consistency to show the campus DG pride.  They are on the track to being the most well recognized chapter on campus.  This theme covers not just their attire and decorations, but their events as well. 

It's incorporated into their fall COB events:

• Definitely Cool- Outdoor movie on chapter lawn and a smores party at the campus fire-pit
• Definitely Classy- Tea party and Fondue party
• Definitely Creative- Nautical themed dinner and Build Your Own Pizza party

It's incorporated into Anchor Splash:

• Definitely Doing Good t-shirts

It's a marketing strategy that is easy, fun, and will work.

Gamma Beta- University of Tulsa

Although it is the University of Tulsa, all students and alumni call it "TU". UT is University of Texas, so Tulsa had to be something different. I arrived at Gamma Beta about an hour before preference started. Since they are a small Greek community, they personally knew every woman that came through their lodge on preference. I loved this! Gamma Beta took more than quota and are able to fill their lodge for the first time in many years!

Their lodge is interesting because Delta Gamma owns the front part, but the back part (all the rooms) is a dorm which is owned by the University. All Greek houses are set up this way. Each member class took me out to eat somewhere in Tulsa. It was nice to get to know them outside of DG stuff!

Pi-University of Montana!

I have had a wonderful time helping out during what Pi calls "Worthwhile Week". I love the creative spin on the name! They are an incredibly diverse and passionate group of women who are proud to be Delta Gamma's. Within the past week, they had to fill several open officer positions and members have truly stepped up to help out and support their sisters. Their attitude and motivation has been incredible to observe!

The first thing they told me when they picked me up from the airport is that I had to hike the "M"- a large letter in the middle of a hill right behind campus. I just did it yesterday and the view of the city and campus from up there was incredible! We went to a farmer's market this morning and experienced great people watching! The Missoulians have some unique people and it was so fun to see the culture of this city!

Their house is beautiful and has an amazingly large anchor out front!

Thanks to a recommendation from CDC Paige, we were also able to stop by this fabulous shop called Rockin Rudy's with trinkets, cards, music and everything random you could ever think of. I found some great gifts!

Delta Beta - University of Kentucky!

The Delta Beta chapter at University of Kentucky pledged quota of 63 women, including over 40% of their legacies!

I think I'm getting ahead of myself though...I arrived in Lexington to a warm welcome from president Rachel and director of recruitment records Emily. Being from Arizona, I was totally (maybe excessively) blown away by all the grass and trees. I've never seen anything so green - it was beautiful! Lexingotn is preparing to host the World Equestrian Games this year, so scattered throughout the city are horse statues painted by different artists. This one was so UK, I had to get a picture (with Kristen, who took me on an awesome campus tour with another member, Stephanie)!

Delta Beta puts on an awesome recruitment! They put on a themed skit during each round and find creative ways to stand out on their campus. During their sisterhood day the chapter puts on a Disney Princess skit. They have fabulous costumes and beautiful backdrops painted by chapter members and the actresses have a great dynamic and energy!

I was really inspired by the sisterhood and respect that the chapter members showed me and each other throughout the week. They were all so enthusiastic and did their part. It totally paid off, everybody loved Delta Gamma throughout the week and the chapter got a five star new member class! I was so excited to get to stay to see the celebration on Bid Day. To match the beautiful leis, the chapter had a luau theme, complete with these awesome DeeGee surf boards on their own sandy beach. I had to get a picture with the director of recruitment records, Emily, who became my new best friend working behind the scenes all week! She is an awesome sister and I was so glad to get to know her...we were ecstatic to be out in the sunshine after our week indoors! All in all it was a great first visit; everyone was so happy on Bid Day, it was the cherry on top of a wonderful visit!

Eta Sigma chapter at the College of Charleston

Lunch break during spirit week! Meet Kelly, Kat (president), Ivey, Hilary (vp: membership), and Sam. I had my first Cheerwine at this yummy little restaurant! I wish we had that in the south, it was so good! These women are a great example of just how fabulous the Delta Gammas at College of Charleston are... good friends, doing good.
This video is the Eta Sigma chapter in the VERY beginning of Spirit Week. These women worked SO hard to learn new songs, learn the process of formal recruitment, prepare for their long days and various types of conversations, and of course preparing the rooms. The women here are amazing, they were so attentive and excited throughout the week and weekend. Each day the chapter walked in with a smile on their face and an attitude that said they were ready to work hard.



More to come!!
... video took too long to upload... I will fix this later.