My Alpha Chi Omega National Convention: Day 1

From July 13th to July 16th, 2012 I attended the Alpha Chi Omega National Convention in St. Louis, MO

This is My Convention.

Day 1

Waking up super early and arriving at Los Angeles (LAX) to see 6 of my collegiate sisters was the best way to start my journey to St. Louis (STL)!

Flying into STL was pretty easy and the shuttle was very smooth getting to the hotel. The convention as at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch in St. Louis, MO. The hotel was very nice and had great views of the Gateway Arch on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Here is the view from my room.

There was an atrium on the top floor of the hotel that gave a great view of the Arch.

Being a jaded big city girl, I thought the Arch was going to be... well, sort of lame. (sorry Arch~!!!) But it was the exact opposite! I found it very awe-inspiring and you really couldn't keep your eyes off it!

After getting into my room, I checked out the expo with vendors outside one of the ballrooms. I bought some stars at the Star Booth and went to the Carnation Boutique (where local Alpha Chi chapters or Alum chapters can send merchandise to the convention to be sold by staff and they get the profits back, minus a small fee I think.) I picked up some "You callin' me a lyre" nail polish that I happen to be wearing right now! The best selling items were the cheaper ones (50cents/$1 items), so if a chapter is wanting to sell well, make lots of something cute and inexpensive!

 I found my collegiate chapter on a vendor table! Gamma Pi at the University of Tampa!

   

After meeting up with some of my sisters from California, it was time for dinner. Now lots of the ballroom photos look the same, but they all had different themes to the meals. One focusing on the Foundation, one for the National Housing Corporation, one to celebrate sisters who had been to many conventions and ones there to get a 50, 60 or 75 year pin, and the last one highlighted the transition of national officers and awards.

Our first night dinner was the Welcome Dinner. The centerpieces were very cute 'mini arches' and the theme of the night was sort of Ballpark/baseball themed between the food and the speeches. The food was fun, but the best part was some local frozen custard (it was deeelish!)

After dinner there were some speeches and awards. I was very happy to see my alumnae chapter, Gamma Theta Gamma, win awards for Membership Development and Communication.

After that some individual awards were given. Talia Yates, who is on the executive board for the Alpha Psi chapter at UCLA, the chapter I advise, won the Amy Dubois Rieth Emerging Leader national award. We we're very happy for her and, even though she wasn't able to attend convention, all us advisors cheered loudly!

 National staff announced the convention location for 2014... The JW Marriott in Desert Springs (http://www.desertspringsresort.com/), just about 2 hours from Los Angeles. I couldn't be happier to have convention in Southern California!

And after all the speeches were over, we took a group picture with our table (one of MANY!!!)

Next, I was off to an Alumnae Initiation Ceremony for three of our newest sisters! I love our ritual and I loved being apart of the ceremony at convention. It was a great addition to the start of the convention and it made me feel very connected to who we are, why we are together, and our future as sisters - new and old.

After the initiation ceremony, I watched the installation of the new virtual alumna chapter. It was for Pi Sigma Pi, the Stars and Stripes chapter (Website) (Facebook), that I'm a member new member of. The chapter was formed to "seek to provide an alumnae chapter experience to support active duty and retired military sisters, spouses, siblings, parents, and anyone who would like to support our troops and our sisters." I hope for many service projects and drives to support this great new chapter's mission!

It was a great end to a great night. I may say it again, but I feel blessed to be an Alpha Chi Omega sister.