Playing Catch Up

Hey yall,

So I apologize for falling off the side of the earth with this whole blogging thing, but that's cause October has throwing me for a loop and a half.  With that said, let me catch you up my travels since I last blogged.

September 19 to 24th:
I was at Adrian College in Adrian Michigan. It was a small campus, roughly twenty-hundred students. It was so nice to be back at a small liberal art college and not a large state university. I got to the campus just in time for Bid Day or "Run Outs" as they call it. There wasn't much excitement here since it was a follow-up recruitment visit. It was my first visit not actually having to do recruitment. The break was nice, but I missed being on the go 24-7 with recruitment!

September 25th to October 1st:
I actually got to go home for a week and relax. It was so nice just to be home and not have to talk sorority 24-7. I went down to visit my chapter and see my sisters that I've missed dearly. It was great visit and I was not ready to leave home and hit the road again.

SO this is where I get thrown for a loop and half and my October has just been crazy since the 1st.

I hope no other consultant traveling has to do this or experience what I had to. When I got back to the chapter that I was working with, which happens to be my colony, I had to shut them down the first night I was back with them. It was something I never wanted to do while traveling, but I had to. It was really hard to read them the letter that we were closing them. There was a lot of tears that night.
I was suppose to be there for a week with them, but since we closed the colony I had to leave early.
They rescheduled my whole month of October. I went a week early to Mansfield University and visited with them for a week. I went to Bloomsburg University and visited with them for all of a day and a half. Now, I'm back at Virginia to visit Radford University.

My current visit here at Radford has been interesting to say the least. As I was driving from the airport to campus and I had received the word that one of the members in the Greek community had passed away. It later came out that he was a pledge for TKE and died from alcohol poisoning. It's so sad, given the situation of what happened. The Greek community has taken a hard hit. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his brothers.

Live It. Talk It. Dream It. Work For It.

"You are a member of a strong sorority,

One that ranks with the best in the country. 

Live it. Talk it. Dream it. Work for it.

In no other way can you so effectively 

Convince others of its beauty,

Its greatness and its power."

-The Phoenix, 1916

Hey Yall,

Beta Theta's House

So I am on my second week of being in Michigan. I am finishing up my visit with the Beta Theta chapter at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. I have been here visiting the ladies for two weeks and I have enjoyed my time here. The ladies are amazing and hilarious; they had me dying laughing just about every night I've been here. Not only are they hilarious, but they made fun of me the whole entire time I was here because I have a Southern accent and I say words funny, BUT they talk funny to me! They like to drawl out there O's in their words. And they sound like they are from Canada! So for the two weeks we joked on each other about how we sound! 

Kasey and I

Not only did they get comfortable with me to joke about my Southern accent, but they were comfortable enough to share their life story with me. I learned all about their boy situations, where they came from, what they are like outside of sorority, etc. I actually got to learn some words from one of the Native American tribes because the chapter has a member who is Native American! She is awesome and funny! 

Melissa and I

I also got to spend two weeks with someone I had meet over a year ago. The summer of 2009 I went to Pittsburgh, PA to attend the Emma Coleman Leadership Development Institute, LDI, for Alpha Sigma Alpha as a collegiate. While I was there I met the current president of Beta Theta, Melissa. Melissa is in her second term of presidency here at Beta Theta. We already had an instant bond because we spent 4 whole days together at LDI getting to know one another. I have enjoyed getting to know her and learning more about her while I've been here. And I am sure she loved learning about me! She is amazing. 

The ladies of Beta Theta and I on Bid day

So the great and amazing part about my visit here to Beta Theta is that I was here for recruitment and we celebrated Bid Day yesterday. The ladies welcomed home 18 new amazing ladies. Quota was 18 and they reached quota! This is the first time they have reached this is a very long time. Of course I am extremely proud of them. This is huge for them. I can't wait for them to keep growing and expanding and sharing their amazing sisterhood with other ladies out there. I can't wait to see what their future has in store for them.  

These ladies have lived it, talked it, dreamt it, and worked hard for their chapter and Alpha Sigma Alpha these past two weeks. Them believing in this quote has paid off with receiving those 18 new ladies. You have no idea how proud of them I am! I can't describe it or explain it. 

Jen, "Jurk," and I on Pref Night

I am sad to be leaving here and moving on to the next chapter, but that's how I am with every chapter. But I love this chapter and I hope I get the chance to come back here during the spring semester just because of the connections I have made with these ladies!

Tomorrow I am off to the Gamma Mu chapter at Adrian College, which is also in Michigan. I will be getting there just in time for their Bid Day celebration! I am only with them for a week and then I get to go HOME!! Woo Hoo! 

Speaking of go home! These are new amazing ladies that Jumped and found a new home with Alpha Sigma Alpha!

To fill my days with satisfying activity,
To find dominant beauty in art, literature, nature, and friendships,
To know the peace and serenity of a divine faith,
To love life and joyously live each day to its ultimate good -
This is my creed in Alpha Sigma Alpha

We're ASA. That's who we are baby!

Hot and classy

Can't walk past me

Rubies and pearls make up these girls

So step aside,

We've got that pride

You KNOW who we are! 

We're ASA!

Hey yall,

Have no fear, I didn't fall off the side of the earth. I've just been super busy or catching up on all my paper work from my last visit. So last week I had the honors of going to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to visit the ladies of Penn Colony.

The new members running home to Beta Sigma

The new ladies of Beta Sigma

Welcome to the Good Life
Beta Sigma Bid Day Banner

But before I get into my visit about Penn Colony, I have to say this... I am extremely proud of the ladies of Beta Sigma at Missouri State University. They recruited over quota and total during this formal recruitment. Quota was set at 66 and they had 2 quota additions. Total is 146 and they are now at 180! Couldn't be prouder!

Penn Colony is in the works of becoming a chapter. They have been in the process now for a year and starting on their second year this fall. Penn Colony is located on the campus of Pennsylvania College of Technology; it is a sister school to Penn State, it's their technology school. I was in shock when I got on campus. I'm not going to lie it being a technology school I was expecting nerds with suspenders, pocket protectors, and glasses with tape in the middle. Well, I was wrong and at the wrong end of the spectrum! They weren't nerds, but backwoods country boys. Let me tell you, I was pleased! Ha. They had on their tight jeans, boots, camo hat, and some sort of fishing or hurting shirt on who all drive pick up trucks. In heaven for the week while I was there.

Some of the colony members and I at Grillin' With the Greeks

So not only was the campus different than what I expected, but it is also a non traditional school. The population of the student body is 85 percent male. Makes it a little hard to recruit for a sorority. On top of the it being 85% male, students can graduate with either a 2 year or a 4 year degree. Might I also add, the majority as in 99% of the students leave and go home on the weekends. All these twist and turns!

But regardless of how non traditional Pennsylvania College of Technology is, the colony members are AMAZING! I stayed off campus with Secretary and her roommate. Her roommate was from Baltimore so we bonded on how amazing Maryland is!

Penn Colony Members and Potential New Members at
Color Wars

The amount of dedication and hard work these ladies have put into this colony from the start to now is un believe. The President, Jess, sat on the council when they decided to bring on sororities to the campus and has seen the works of getting Alpha Sigma Alpha on campus. She is driven to make this colony into a chapter. She has great ideas for the colony and has great leadership. Not only is Jess driven, but so is their Vice President of PR and Recruitment, Lyndsey. Lyndsey has the personality for her position and is eager to meet new people and share her experience of Alpha Sigma Alpha. She is to extend to Bids tonight! Hopefully the colony will have 3 new members by the end of the day and more by the time I come back in October.

Well, now after another 12 hours spent between airports and airplanes I am in Mount Pleasant, Michigan visiting the ladies of Beta Theta at Central Michigan University. And well it's chilly here and I am not prepared for the sudden change in weather. Luckily I only have another 3 weeks or so until I come home and which out clothes!

To fill my days with satisfying activity,
To find dominant beauty in art, literature, nature, and friendships,
To know the peace and serenity of a divine faith,
To love life and joyously live each day to its ultimate good -
This is my creed in Alpha Sigma Alpha

I've Got The Magic In Me

A girl should be three things...

classy, fabulous, and 

an Alpha Sig

Hey yall!

Well I have two important things to share!
1. Beta Sigma had an extremely successful recruitment this fall! They were over quota by 2 and over campus total by 35! I am extremely proud of them and all the hard work they put in the two weeks I was there. I knew they had it them and so glad they made it.

Second Day of Recruitment

2. I had a really hard time saying good bye once again to the chapter. I feel felt at home again with Beta Sigma and the ladies there are amazing. They made feel a part of the chapter. While I was in a meeting before I left I came back to my room where I had a note left from one of the girls! It was so thoughtful. As well as, I received a Thank You card from all the girls! I felt so special and it was nice of them.

The girls and I on my last night!

Well, here are some pictures of my visit to Beta Sigma.

First Day Decorations

Day Two Decorations

Day Three Decorations

Well, now I am at Penn Colony in Williamsport, PA! It is completely different from where I have been. So recruitment will be different to since the school is 85% male!

If You Ever Wanna Go Greek

If you ever wanna go Greek, Alpha Sigma 

can't be beat!

Hey yall,

So today is the big day, as in like T minus 2 hours from the big day is the start of formal recruitment here at Missouri State University. Tonight is the first round of recruitment parties which is house tours. There are 554 women signed up to go through recruitment!!! Holy Cow! I'm very excited to finally see all the Beta Sigma's hard work during work week put into practice! They will do amazing. 

Speaking of how amazing they are... I got a card and a little gift from Emily, the President, for thanking me of all the hard work I did last week and up to today as well as all the hard work I'll be putting for the rest of my stay. It was very thoughtful of her. 

I will post some pictures of the decorations of tonight's and tomorrow's recruitment parties tomorrow. Both nights are house tours. The theme is Alpha Love. Alpha Love is very present here with the ladies of Beta Sigma. They have a strong sisterhood and it shows every day. 

These are the some of the songs they will be singing!

"Hallelujah"

Hallelujah, we're Alpha Sigma Alphas

Hallelujah, we're ALPHA SIGS.

Hallelujah, we're Alpha Sigma Alphas -

And we're mighty proud to beeee, Hey!

"Rock & Roll"

Rock and Roll,

Baby Alpha Sigs got soul

Shake it up,

Shake it down,

And move it all around.

"ASA, Baby"

We're ASA

That's who we are baby

You know we're ASA

That's who we are baby

We are the best

We cannot lie

So come on in

We'll show you why

Our stars and crowns light up the sky

The red and white all day all night

We're ASA 

That's who we are baby

You know we're ASA

That's who we are baby

Hot and classy

Can't walk past me

Rubies and pearls make up these girls

So step aside,

We've got that pride

You KNOW who we are!

We're ASA

That's who we are baby

You know we're ASA

That's who we are: ASA!

"With an A"

With an A, with an A with an A-L-P

With a P, with a P with a P-H-A

With an A-L-P, with a P-H-A, ALPHA SIG!

Sing it, Sing it, Sing it! Sing it to the sky!

Come on Alpha Sigma, Sing it till you die.

With an S, with an S with an S-I-G

With a G, with a G with a G-M-A

With an S-I-G, with a G-M-A, ALPHA SIG

Sing it, Sing it, Sing it! Sing it to the sky!

Come on Alpha Sigma, Sing it till you die.

"If You Ever Wanna Go Greek"

If you ever wanna go Greek, Alpha Sigma can't be beat

LA DI DAAA (Alpha Sigmas are the best)

LA DI DAAA ( We're better than all the rest)

LA DI DAAA ( Alpha Sigmas Are the Best)

La-di-da, La-di-da, La-di-da, La-di-da, A-S-A

"A-L-P-H-A"

A L P H A, S I G M A, A L P H A

Alpha Sigma all the way!

"Coca-Cola"

The stars will always shine,

Our love will never end,

As long as we are sisters

We'll always be true friends,

ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA is always the one,

Wherever there is love there's always Alpha Sigma

Do, Do, Do Do Do,

Always Alpha Sigma

Preparing for Recruitment

"When your letters are in front of you, your sisters are behind you" 

Hey Yall,


So I am doing a mass update here.


Sunday, August 22nd:
On Sunday I attend Missouri State University's New Student Convocation with the ladies of Beta Sigma. All the sororities and fraternities attend the event as well, hint why I was there. The theme of the convocation was Leading in a Global Society. After the New Student Convocation we headed over to the New Student Festival which is basically a club fair. The ladies set up a table along with the rest of the sororities and fraternities and talk to potential new members and get them to sign up to go through recruitment. 
After New Student Convocation and Festival we had recruitment practice and mock recruitment with Alpha Delta Phi. I got a house tour of the house and it was pretty. I did not get to go undercover because our table was right next to theirs so...  I've come to the conclusion that all the sorority houses have painted their rooms blue, green, pink or purple or orange. From all the houses I've been to that what the color of the bedrooms are. Personally I like the ASA's color choices of blue, green, and pink because they are bright pastel colors and not dark colors like the rest of the sororities. 


Monday, August 23rd:
Monday was the first day of school here at Missouri State, so I got a break from recruitment work week, but I was slammed with meetings all day with different officers. At night we did another recruitment practice and had the guys from Sigma Phi Epsilon come over so the ladies could practices their chants and songs in front of an audience. We did a mini bumping with the guys and then we practice day 2 bumping. I got to watch their video for day 2, as well as last years video. Their video made me teary eyed. And then it hit me like a brick wall just how much Alpha Sigma Alpha means to me and it's the same as these ladies here at Beta Sigma. Then I had a learning moment:

Since traveling for Alpha Sigma Alpha I have learned that it does not matter what chapter you call home, we are all Alpha Sigs and we are sisters and when you just need a sister at the end of the day they are always there without asking; they just know how to make you smile and laugh. 

These ladies are amazing. I wish yall could see their video and hear what sisterhood means to these ladies. If you weren't already an Alpha Sig, you would want to be.  I'm going to have a hard time saying bye to them.

Wednesday, August 24th:

Once again I was in meetings all day with different officers. During last night's recruitment practice we focused on finishing up all the decorations and starting to put them up. Once they are all up tonight I will take pictures and post them. They look good so far. I'm pretty impressed with the creative and the looks of them being professional. 

Thursday, August 25th:

There is another consultant in town for Sigma Kappa Sorority and we got together to get out the of house, writing reports, and officers meetings to go grab a cup of coffee and just chit chat with a familiar face on campus. It was nice to talk to someone who is going through the same thing you are and generate ideas off of them and what not. It was nice to get away for a little bit.  We took a picture in front of the campus's statue of the bear! 

Meg (Sigma Kappa Consultant) and I 

While I was walking across campus today, I had several Alpha Sigma Alphas yell my name. It felt like I was back in school on VWC's campus and hearing my own sisters yell my name across campus. I am really going to have a hard time saying good bye to these girls now.  Why are good byes so hard? And who would have thought you would get so close to people within a week or two weeks after just meeting them? I guess it's our strong common bond of being Alpha Sigma Alpha sisters. 

Well, that is all for now.

To fill my days with satisfying activity,
To find dominant beauty in art, literature, nature, and friendships,
To know the peace and serenity of a divine faith,
To love life and joyously live each day to its ultimate good -
This is my creed in Alpha Sigma Alpha

Bear Bash at Missouri State University

"I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, 

Saying AYO, Gotta let go, 

I wanna celebrate and live my life"

Hey Yall,

So last night I went with the ladies of the Beta Sigma Chapter to Bear Bash which is hosted by Missouri State University.  It was open to all the students at Missouri State. The sororities and fraternities use it to promote Greek Life and get freshman to sign up to go through recruitment.

The ladies of Beta Sigma Chapter

During Bear Bash they had a Flash Mob dance with members from every sorority and fraternity. It was pretty awesome. They dance to Dynamite by Taio Cruz.

Flash Mob

I enjoyed last night with the ladies of Beta Sigma at Bear Bash. I got to take pictures with them in a photo booth which will have to be upload later cause I don't have a scanner.
So everywhere I go I try to take a picture with the main statue on campus. Last night I took two with the Bear because that is Missouri State University's mascot.

Emily, President of Beta Sigma, and I
Doing Grrrrr

Emily and I

Today I am attending Missouri State University's convocation and their New Student Festival which similar to a club fair. Then mock recruitment with Alpha Delta Pi this evening.

That is all for now.

Alpha Love

"Sisterhood is many things. It's a warn smile on a cold and rainy day, a friendly hug, a cheerful hello... It's all that a good and lasting friendship is, only better. It's treasured. It's sacred. It's knowing that there will always be someone there for you. It's dreams shared, and goals achieved. It's counting on others and being counted on. It is real."

Hey Yall,
So I was doing pretty good job at not missing missing my own chapter sisters. Now don't get me wrong, I very much do miss my sisters, but today it hit me like a brick wall just how much I miss them and knowing that I should be going back to school with this week. It hit me when Beta Sigma was practicing there preference ceremony. Like always at preference ceremonies I was water works. If I wasn't already in Alpha Sigma Alpha and got invited back to their preference night, I would join in a heart beat!

They wrote their own ceremony, which is so touching, sincere, and deep. All the ladies were crying while doing the run through. I wish other chapters could sit through their preference ceremony because they are going to win over so many girls with it. I can not wait to see the real live one.

To my Epsilon Eta Sisters,
I have learned from being out on the road since June that you are not allow. Your sisters are always there even though they may not be there physically they are there in spirit. And I have learned that it does not matter if they are your chapter sister or just an Alpha Sigma Alpha Sigma sister, a sister is always there when you turn around. I have found Alpha Sigma Alpha sisters everywhere that I can always turn to and count on. So to, my sisters, I just wanted to share this with you:

May the angels protect you

Trouble neglect you

And sisters accept you when its time to go home

May you always have plenty

The glass never empty

Know in your belly

You're never alone

May your tears come from laughing

You find sisters worth having

With every year passing

They mean more than gold

May you win but stay humble

Smile more than grumble

And know when you stumble

You're never alone

Never alone

I'll be in every beat of your heart

When you face the unknown

Wherever you fly

This isn't goodbye

A sister's love will follow you, stay with you

You're never along

Well I have to be honest

As much as I wanted

I'm not gonna promise that the cold winds won't blow

So when hard times have found you

And your fears surround you

Wrap my love around you

You're never alone

-Alpha Love,
Linds

The Show Me State

"Sisterhood is not a destination, but a journey."

Hey Yall!

Right now I am in Springfield, Missouri at Missouri State University. Tomorrow, Sunday August 22nd, I will have been here a week. I am visiting the Beta Sigma chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha, which has 115 members.  My visit with the ladies of Beta Sigma is two weeks long and I can tell you that the first week flew right by. When you are working hard on recruitment you don't even realize that it's already Saturday. Thursday was our longest day, I put over 18 hours in that day. But I learned from Eta Eta during their work week when you put in long hours you have amazing pay offs in the end!

Alpha Sigma Alpha - Beta Sigma

Yesterday we did a mock recruitment with Sigma Kappa. We practiced day one with them at their house, so I got a free house tour. I pretend that I was a collegiate member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha chapter here. I also changed my name to Lisa. My cover was almost blown when they started asking detailed questions about the Alpha Sigma Alpha chapter here and when they asked the name of the apartment complex I live in off campus. Luckily one of the other ASAs saved me on it. After we finished practicing day one at their house, they came over to the Alpha Sigma Alpha house so we could practice day one. Our practice went every well, no huge problems. Just minor details that can be fixed in a blink of an eye. Overall our mock recruitment was amazing. We have another one tomorrow night with Alpha Delta Pi to practice day two, where I will go "undercover" again. This time my name will be Betty!

I wish I got to go through a huge formal recruitment like the one here at Missouri State University. Greek life here on campus is HUGE!

There are 6 sororities:

• Alpha Chi Omega
• Alpha Delta Pi
• Alpha Sigma Alpha
• Delta Zeta
• Gamma Pi Beta
• Sigma Kappa

As well as, they have 14 fraternities:

• Alpha Gamma Sigma
• Alpha Kappa Lambda
• Delta Chi
• FIJI
• Kappa Alpha
• Kappa Sigma
• Omega Delta Phi
• Phi Delta Theta
• Phi Gamma Delta
• Pi Kappa Phi
• Sigma Nu
• Sigma Phi Epsilon
• Tau Kappa Epsilon
• Theta Chi

They have roughly 400 girls signed up to go through formal recruitment this year. I'm impressed! Recruitment starts next Thursday and Bid Day is on Monday! I won't be with the ladies on their last recruitment round nor bid day. A little sad because I like to be there to celebrate with them and see all their hard work paid off.

Today I get to go "Bear Bash!" I'm excited. I have no idea what it is, but I heard it's a lot of fun. I hear there will be a surprise Flash Mob dance! Stoked for that.

That is all for now!


To fill my days with satisfying activity,
To find dominant beauty in art, literature, nature, and friendships,
To know the peace and serenity of a divine faith,
To love life and joyously live each day to its ultimate good-
This is my Creed in Alpha Sigma Alpha

I Got My Wings Today

The stars will always shine,

Our love will never end.

As long as we are sisters,

We'll always be true friends.

Alpha Sigma Alpha is always the one,

Whenever there is love, there's always Alpha Sigma.

Do, Do, Do Do Do

Always Alpha Sigma

Recruitment started on Sunday, August 15th and ended yesterday, August 19th. They had 95 women going through recruitment! 

The ladies of the first day of formal recruitment.

House Tours Night

 Second day of formal recruitment.
Sisterhood Night

Third day of formal recruitment. 
Philanthropy Night

Fourth day of formal recruitment.
Preference Night

Well yesterday was Bid Day at Pittsburg State University. I wasn’t able to be there for Bid Day because I’m at Missouri State University. But I was with them in spirit and wore my bid day shirt they gave me.

I am so proud of these girls because they did amazing job at recruitment all this week. They received 25 new ladies. They reached quota and total. Quota was 24, they made quota and had 1 quota addition. They went from 63 members before recruitment to 88 members after recruitment. They are well over total. Total is 75 on the campus.

The new ladies of Eta Eta!
Fall New Member Class 2010

Fall New Member Class 2010
Showin' some Alpha Love

Words cannot explain how proud and excited I am of them for recruiting to quota and total. All the hard work we put in during work week definitely paid off. And like I said before, these girls are amazing and remind me so much of my own chapter. They were a pleasure to work with. And I can't wait to go back to Eta Eta and hear all the amazing things they have accomplished!

The seniors of Eta Eta

The juniors of Eta Eta

The sophomores of Eta Eta

I mean seriously how can you not love these girls!!!