happy thought

my last visit as CDC Courtney

The feeling of my LAST visit was very surreal.  This job had defined me for a year and I could not believe it was coming to an end.  My last stop was UC-Riverside once again.  I had visited them for Formal Recruitment in the fall, so it was definitely nice to come back to a familiar place.  The women were so sweet and showed much excitement for having me back, which of course made me feel great :)  It set a happy tone for my last visit!

The first night I got there, I gave my last CDC presentation at chapter meeting.  I showed my favorite video, You're Always Wearing Your Letters (will post soon) and may have gotten teary eyed as I tried to impart words of wisdom to these women as my journey was coming to an end.  I think I probably needed to take some of my own advice, as I promised them that membership is for a lifetime.  Meaning my time as CDC is just a small slice of my Delta Gamma life!

My visit was centered around recruitment prep as the members needed a lot of help with recruitment logistics and conversation.  Facilitating RPWs is something I really love, and I gave it my all for this last one!  We practiced rotations, conversations, and learned effective voting practices.  The members seemed very receptive to some changes I helped their EVC implement, which always makes my job a little easier ;)  Themes for dress and decorations are always a hot topic, and it took a long brainstorming session with the recruitment team to finally decide on a first-round theme (actually inspired by my room at home!)...Shabby Chic!  They wanted to convey a southern hospitality style paired with DG colors, I sure can't wait to see pictures in the fall!

After an officer meeting, I was walking down the hall of the student center and happened to glance over and see a poster with a picture of one of my favorite DG leaders, Erica Upshaw.  Erica spoke at Purdue when I was chapter president about loosing her brother to alcohol and drugs while they were both at Ohio State.  She was speaking that day at UCR!  Of course, I insisted on going with the chapter president and a couple other officers.  We stayed after the lecture to talk to Erica and she was as inspiring as ever.  Truly a proud to be a DG moment.  Check out her website!  http://www.keepfriendshipalive.org/

With Erica Upshaw (right of me)

I spent a LOT of my visit hanging out in the campus libraries (since I had a broken computer) and at the "letters out" tent the members pitch each week to promote the chapter and events they are hosting.  Anchor Splash was approaching so there was lots of PR going on!  Check out those cream rose letters!

"Letters Out"
 

Another highlight was my dear and wonderful best friend/roomie Emma driving in to visit me for a lovely breakfast in downtown Riverside.  It was so thoughtful of her to some see me and I was SO happy to spend time with my Purdue/DG friend!

I couldn't have asked for a better last visit as I was inspired by how these ladies make DG work for them on this unique campus (primarily commuter).  They truly love DG...many of them using their summer savings to fly to Indy for Convention just because!  What a great end to my journey!

aggieland!

I stepped off the plane in College Station, TX to meet two enthusiastic and super sweet collegians.  I was greeted at the chapter house with an rhinestone anchor schedule binder, gift basket, and ice cream meet-and-greet for me.  These Texans sure know how to make a first impression!  And the hospitality did not stop that week.  Each and every member I met was so kind and friendly and truly made an effort to make me feel welcome.

During my visit, the members were planning their 1st Annual Anchorman Pageant.  Their creativity and innovation in PR and planning for this event was very impressive...even down to the slogan "Stay Classy, College Station"!  Attending this with the chapter having seen how hard they worked to make it happen was a highlight of my visit.  The male contestants were hilarious, bringing so much enthusiasm for DG and Service for Sight!  

Towards the end of my visit, I had gotten very close with the member who had planned my visit and some of her closest DG friends.  They decided to make me a homemade dinner because they knew how hard that was to find on the road---SO thoughtful!  But this was no normal homemade dinner...it was extravagant!  The women had brought in beautifully decorated DG desserts, and only made my favorite foods!  We had grilled chicken, pasta with pesto, and grilled veggies.  It was the BEST meal I had on the road mostly because of all the kindness behind making it :)

My fabulous dinner hostesses!

Each visit has its highs and lows, and although the lows never outweigh the highs....I had a low that was pretty low.  Just as I was getting ahead on all of my CDC reports, I had opened my NetBook to hear a pop.  Yes, my NetBook (aka CDC lifeline to the real world) was broken.  But of course, this wonderful chapter swooped in to help, taking me to Best Buy and hooking me up to a screen monitor so I could still see my reports and finish my work.  And hey, it gave me an excuse to take a day off from reports ;)

Other great things about this visit were going to a Texas A&M baseball game and getting pedicures!  I was also able to facilitate some recruitment prep at RPW2.  I even met my "twin" since there was a collegian who looked identical to me--it was kinda freaky!  I was also able to attend something called Muster.  This happens once a year where all Aggies (Texas A&M students and alums) gather to honor those Aggies who passed away that year.  It was a very special ceremony and showed the immense pride and community students have at A&M.  

There is a reason why people are so drawn to College Station aka Aggieland--there is something very special about this place and I truly loved my visit there!  

Okay...so I know this post is WAY past due but I promised myself I'd finish blogging about each chapter I visited.  And I sure could not miss this one as it truly was one of my favorite visits!

stay in florida? don't mind if I do!

After the perfect break in south Florida, I traveled north to Gainsville to visit Gamma Theta at the University of Florida.  The weather was beautiful and the chapter house was so cool---tanning porch and all!  I had a great time getting to know their ATC who was a former CDC.  It's so nice to be around people who truly get this job, all of the highs and lows.  I got to go on some long runs on this beautiful campus as the weather was just perfect each day!  Here are some pictures from this visit:

Gamma Theta house

Inside the UF stadium!

sunny florida!

Easter break could not have been better!  A wonderful combination of family, a dear CDC friend, sleep, and sun!  It was just the rest and recharge Erica and I needed to finish out the semester strong!  So thankful for this trip with her and my fabulous grandparents who hosted two CDCs :)

Nana and Papa...the best grandparents!  

sure do love her!

happy thought

war eagle!

Campus tour...I even wore orange and blue!

I was SO lucky to be assigned the visit to Delta Sigma-Auburn University!  What made this visit so special was the fact that CDC Annie came from this chapter, and I had already heard such wonderful things about the women and the University.  Everything Annie had told me about the immense school pride and respect for the University was so true....these students believe in Auburn and love it! (taken from the Auburn creed which they recite frequently!).

I was welcomed by a wonderful gift basket put together by Annie and her younger sister Sarah, who is a junior in the chapter.  I received an southern-style Auburn t-short (oversized, of course!), a gift certificate for a manicure, a Toomer's lemonade (an Auburn tradition) flavored candle, and a Starbucks gift card (Annie knows how much I love my coffee!).  She wrote me the most thoughtful note welcoming me to the University that molded her into the wonderful woman she is, and it sure did make me cry and miss her!  I was truly taken care of by each and every member I met during my stay...there is much truth to Southern hospitality!

I took so many pictures during this visit so the rest of my story can be told through these...

Outside the chapter suite

Auburn gardens-the original site of the first football field

Auburn is an Engineering school just like Purdue!  

With CDC Annie's sister, Sarah Foster---they are SO much alike!

In front of the Auburn creed with my great tour guide, Chelle!