happy to be home :)

My current song obession and the title fits perfectly.  Currently enjoying my break at HOME!

anchor dreams

Before Sorority Serenades...the chapter put me in the
middle and I fit right in with all the pink!

My visit to the Gamma Sigma chapter at the University of Houston was recruitment, recruitment, recruitment!  The five days I was there were filled with prep, recruitment rounds, and EVC list making... and very little sleep.  But it was all worth it when the women met quota, inviting 21 new members into their chapter! 

During the first rounds, the women made a rap music video called "Anchor Dreams" highlighting all the great things about DG.  They were able to show it to the other sororities during their Sorority Serenade night, an event the night before recruitment starts to get everyone excited for the weekend.  The video was definitely the highlight of the night and the DGs were proud to show off their hard work. 

The Preference Day decorations...beautiful beachy theme to
go along with the Lei Ceremony

 The women prepared so thoroughly to make sure the rounds showed the PNMs what DG is all about!  The advisers who helped with the week were so wonderful to work with and care so much for the success of the chapter. I do wish I could have stayed in Houston longer since I didn't get to see much of the city.  I guess I'll just have to make another visit out to Texas soon to see what it really is all about :)

Anxiously awaiting the new members!

drop your anchor, come and be, part of our sorority!

The UAFS belltower-a campus landmark

Before arriving in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, I really did not know what to expect!  While the town of Ft. Smith was as expected (small with not much to see), UAFS has a chapter of Delta Gammas that place a big emphasis on sisterhood.  Because the chapter is also small, the women are able to really get to know each one of their members well.

My visit to UAFS was a combined CDC & Recruitment visit.  Upon my arrival, recruitment prep was in full swing!  On the first night, the women helf a recruitment practice and invited their moms to act as the PNMs.  It was a great way for the women to practice recruitment conversations and the moms LOVED being there.  The next day, the first round began!  The women chose the oh so popular nautical theme :)
 

A nautical theme isn't complete without sailor hats! 

The preference ceremony was beautifully done with the women dressed in white and performing the Lei Ceremony.  Some of the members spoke about their personal stories while others sang an acapella version of Lady Antebellum.  And all of the recruitment planning was well worth the late nights because the chapter pledged wonderful new members!  One of the seniors moms took photos that day to capture the excitement:

After recruitment was over and as a meeting/report writing break, I was able to attend a free concert the University hosted on their main quad!  It was so perfect because the main band was The Fray, one of my absolute favorites!  Girl Talk also played which was so fun to see since I constantly have Girl Talk playing on my workout playlist J  I also tried my first Indian food dish at dinner one night and the women took me to a Frozen Yogurt bar to get my Froyo fix. 

The Fray!

The rest of my stay at Eta Omicron consisted of meetings with each of the VPs and directors.  The women were eager to listen to suggestions and I really appreciated their willingness to embrace changes.  I am so glad I met these women and hope they continue to grow this semester with new members!

A sign hung in the room during recruitment...one of my favorite DG cheers!

delta gamma is...

taaauuuuu

During training, the CDCs were slightly obsessed with pronouncing words using each others accents (something we never seemed to get tired of!).  One of these words was Tau.  So, here is a summary of my visit to the Taaauuuuu chapter at the University of Iowa :) 
I arrived at the Cedar Rapids airport and was picked up by the House Director (aka the House Mom), Bev.  I felt so welcomed from the second I walked into the doors of 305 S. Summit Street.  I had my own guest room & bathroom and was greeted by a darling welcome basket!

The next day, CDC Mallory was visiting friends in Iowa City on her break and was able to stop by and say hi!  It was so fun having her there and introducing her to the members.

CDC Mallory & me in front of the Tau house

That same day, I took a campus tour with the vp: member education, Allie!  Below is a touristy picture of me in front of the main building (the old Iowa City capital building) which marks the Pentacrest, one of the 5 main buildings on campus.  The academic buildings are very close to an area called the Ped Mall which is full of restaurants, bookstores and cute boutiques.  And for any Boilermakers reading this post, they had a DEN!  It was identical to the shop at Purdue and it even had the same weird smell!  Those Hawkeyes must have copied us....

After getting a feel for the campus and meeting with some officers, I was ready to dive into recruitment rounds!  The women chose a nautical theme for their "Sisterhood" round and showed off their enthusiastic & fun personalities.  The women chose the Lei ceremony for Preference Round and the decorations looked beautiful.  I got to know the chapter president, vp: membership, director of recruitment records, diretor of COB/recruitment and the two membership advisers very well throughout the week and they all worked so hard to make their recruitment a success.  And with 38 new members (filling quota for the primary and secondary pools!), I would say it was a success!   

Bid day at Iowa brings all 14 of the Panhellenic chapters outside the Iowa Union alongside the beautiful river that runs through the campus. Delta Gammas were rocking their "DG Love" shirts and leis from the Preference ceremony as they chanted and cheered for the new PNMs as they met their new chapter!



The new members of Tau chapter!



Tau's President & my wonderful hostess, Melissa



Being back in Big 10 country made my first visit familiar but I also enjoyed learning about the uniquness of the Iowa Sorority Community and Tau chapter!  During my first visit as CDC Courtney, I was able to identify some of my strengths as a CDC and learned abou tsome things I need to improve on.  Overall, it was a wonderful visit to start my semester of travels and I look forward to returning for a regular CDC visit in November!  

when recruitment gets stressful...

bama bid day

Smiles, cheers, goosebumps and tears described watching 221 founding members gather together to celebrate their new membership in Delta Gamma.  Each exhausting day prior to this moment washed from my memory as I knew all of our hard work produced something so wonderful.  I have never felt more energy and positivity in one place.  These women were so happy to be Delta Gammas, and it made my heart smile :)

One particular woman, whom I had met during the interview weeks, was there on bid day, smiling ear to ear.  She saw me, hugged me, and immediately told me she wanted me to meet her mom.  Her introduction was, "Mom, this is Courtney.  She's the reason why I wanted to be a Delta Gamma."  To feel that I had made such an impact on her decision was one of the most incredible feelings ever.  That, amongst many other things, makes me feel so very blessed to be a CDC.

                                                   CDC Kasia & me                                                 Cheering for the new members as
                                                                                                                                                    they arrived at the Stadium

The house the women will soon call home :)