Alpha Rho - Ohio Wesleyan

Because Beta Iota (Purdue) is in Region 4, I never thought I would have the opportunity to travel back, but I was wrong! I visited the women of Alpha Rho - Ohio Wesleyan right after the terrible ice storm hit most of the country. There was no power in Columbus for three days, but it turned back on right before I arrived.

I had a wonderful time meeting and visiting the women, even though the weather was terrible. They are a smaller chapter, but a great group of women. They are located in Delaware, OH, about 30 minutes north of Columbus. They have an amazing restaurant called Chelly Belly's that serves soup, salad, sandwiches and dessert. I would be willing to make the drive from Columbus to have it again! The chapter has a unique situation: they have a chapter house but no one lives in it. The house is not build to hold many women.

We also got to attend a Leadership Conference. It was nice because it was only a few hours in the morning and the message was fantastic. One thing the speaker said that stuck with me was, "Make the next leader better than you.". We get so caught up in being the best that we forget our goal - to make our organization the best it can be. Some collegians, advisers, etc. are too caught up in being the best and not offering a good transition for the incoming officers because they want to be the best. This speaker also wrote Chicken Soup for the College Soul which I think I'll add to my list of books to read.


At the Summit Leadership Conference


Some students started this cool "yarn tree" on campus. It has been kept up over the years.

Beta Beta-University of Alberta

I was so excited to be returning to canada again! Chapter members greeted me at the airport with an extra jacket and gloves, as they assumed I would need some help with winter clothes, being a California girl! They assumed right, and I greatly appreciated the extra warm layers as I stepped out into my first time in below zero weather. It was freezing but so fun to be in the snow!

A few years ago, the University of Alberta had set a world record for having the largest dodgeball game. A school in California decided to take their title last year, by holding an even larger game. This year, Alberta wanted to "strike back" and bring that world title back to their school. The news stations and photographers were there, as more than 2,000 students showed up to participate in the game! They now hold the Guinness World Record for largest dodgeball game, and I got to be a part of it!! Of course there were Delta Gammas there to participate and bring their school spirit!

The women of Beta Beta also had a blast at their annual spring formal event during my visit!

Delta Beta - University of Kentucky!

I had a fabulous start to my travels across the bluegrass at the University of Kentucky chapter Delta Beta! They had a huge banner for to welcome me-- I was super excited! Although it was a cold week, we got a lot accomplished and had a great time. Some Delta Beta officers and I had the opportunity to attend the Region 2 Training Day in Nashville at Vanderbilt. I got to see CDC Mary and Mrs. Beth Searcy, and Region 2 Director Melissa Hansen even let us teach some cheers and chants and work with the officers! It was an awesome day for DG learning and fun! I wrapped up my visit the next day and was off to Delta Omicron just an hour up the road!

Eta Eta-Spring Hill College

I had a wonderful visit with the women at Eta Eta. They had a great recruitment just before my arrival and received more than 30 New Members! The chapter was incredibly welcoming and I really enjoyed meeting all of their wonderful women! They were able to show me the USS Alabama-a ship that sailed during WWII and is now a historical sight. There is a lot of history in Mobile, Alabama and I enjoyed learning all about it. It was a great chance to take some photos with an anchor too!

Recruitment at Zeta Upsilon-Furman University!

A few days before I arrived at Zeta Upsilon, they had a huge snow storm which was record breaking for South Carolina! It was their first week back to school after winter break, and they had 4 extra days of school off! This left plenty of time to rest up and prepare for recruitment that next weekend. The chapter had an incredible recruitment and received 35 New Members!

On the first day of recruitment, the chapter had a lovely DG decorated table with frames, hannah dolls and a piece of artwork from their fall fundraiser Eye Love Art. Artists with visual impairments donated paintings to be auctioned off, and the proceeds went to the Foundation! The members had some great philanthropy events to highlight during recruitment!

The senior class on Preference night!

The chapter on bid day with their New Members!

Some Call It Love- DG song

CDCs Aundrea and Paige singing a shared favorite song.

Gamma Iota Recruitment and Snow Days

Ready to door-chant.

Also known as the "DePaucalypse" or "Depapocalypse", the winter storm this week closed school and the town surrounding DePauw.  It did not put a freeze on the Gamma Iota's fun.  In between recruitment rounds the Delta Gammas celebrated their two snow-days with a dance party, big screen movies, sledding, baking party, and even a few in-chapter hair cuts.  As one of few chapters not to run out of power, they even offered their home for other sorority women to stay in if needed.  As the storm rolls out and Bid Day becomes closer, this chapter is ready to have one of their best recruiting years.  On a campus with a 70% Greek population, Delta Gamma stands out by having the most sincere sisterhood.  They truly care about each other, are known for being involved, but aren't too busy to have fun!  DePauw's motto is "Uncommon Success", and may be the best way to describe this chapter, because their dedication to friendship and fun is hard to come by.

DGs newly erected sign stands strong in the winter storm.

No school tomorrow!

Four Birthdays in one week? Better get baking.

Getting glamorous at Gamma Iota.

Eta Rho - UC Merced

I was able to join the women of Eta Rho for recruitment! Since they do not have a chapter house, we recruited in rooms on campus. The campus and chapter are young, but the women had a fabulous recruitment! Courntey Miller (CRC) and Lauren Arquilla (CAC) joined me, the advisers, the alumnae, and the chapter women and we all put on a fabulous recruitment! Delta Gamma took 26 new members, six over Quota!! Although EVC was a little sleep deprived, they did an excellent job :)


Lauren and I in the anthropology room... the room we recruited in on day one of recruitment!



The chapter and new members on Bid Night!

Delta Rho - Virginia Tech for Recruitment!

We had a fabulous week at Virginia Tech for recruitment! Their new Sisterhood Round them was "Sweet Home Delta Gamma"! They decorated with cowboy boots and other fun pieces thinking "outside, country wedding". Although we had to post-pone one day of recruitment due to bad weather, everything turned out wonderfully.

As always, EVC was a little sleep deprived... During a regular conversation the dir: recruitment records, Julia, brought us back a few years and raised the roof. That led to our saying of the week - "Raise the Roof". When in doubt...

Recruitment with Beta Pi - Willamette!

The women of Beta Pi welcomed home 18 new members and four recruitment counselors on Bid Day today! I am so proud of the women and all their effort to make this recruitment successful. The vp: membership, president, and director of recruitment records put lots hard work into this recruitment and it paid off! The chapter celebrated Bid Day with cheering, dancing, crafting, lunch, and other fun games!



Conversation games!



Meet and Greet - Round 1



Members and new members on Bid Day!

Back to the West with Alpha Delta - Oregon!

After spending some time in the East, I was able to revisit the women from Alpha Delta - Oregon right before our break. We had a very busy few days, but much was accomplished. I was able to celebrate Inspiration and Initiation with the chapter. I was also able to meet some amazing alumnae who came to celebrate with us as well. The chapter had held already held elections when I arrived, so I got to meet with all the new officers. The incoming CMT and Honor Board are very excited for their positions and ready to get to work! We had a CMT retreat and an Honor Board retreat where we reviewed some important things and played some fun games.

The regional team coordinated an All-Oregon training which included the women of Alpha Delta - Oregon, Beta Pi - Willamette, and Beta Upsilon - Oregon State, Melissa Cavanaugh: Regional Director, Kari Brown: RCS, Liz Fernbach: CDS, Jackie Gow: RFS, Trish Gow: RCRS, Krista Nelson-Marciano: RHS, and many advisers and alumnae. The training was at Oregon State and it was very successful. The incoming officers seemed to really enjoy the training and found it beneficial. I am so happy I was able to attend!



Some members of the regional team stopped by to see the AD house!



Incoming officers at the training at OSU



Initiation!

Epsilon Eta- Indiana University of Pennsyvania

It was weird being in Indiana, PA for the week because when I think of Indiana, I think of home! These women were great hostesses and have made a lot of progress over the past year. I stayed in "The Bungalow", an apartment with five Delta Gammas. A chapter member gave up her room for me so I could have my own space!

The highlight of my visit was helping facilitate a Regional Training with Lisa Gregory, RCS Leslie, RCS Melissa, RCS Alex, RCRS Jane! Epsilon Eta- IUP, Beta Lambda- Gettysburg, Epsilon Beta- Bucknell, and Epsilon Delta- Washington and Jefferson College attended and Alpha Chi- Penn State hosted everyone. It was so great to see so many people come together to learn about Delta Gamma.

I also was able to celebrate Inspiration with Epsilon Eta. They are working with their alumnae to plan an event to celebrate their 30 year anniversary!