Snow, Snow, Snow!

I have been back on the road for almost a month, and most of my visits have been in the Northeast and Midwest. I feel like I am surrounded by snow! It is very pretty, but makes for some very cold and adventurous visits!

On January 5, 2009, I officially began my second semester as an ELC. I visited the women of Pi Chapter at Ohio University, January 5 to January 8, to train the new officers. It was a very productive visit and we were able to accomplish a lot of great things. I was supposed to leave Pi Chapter and fly to my next visit on January 9, but the campus is very far from the airport and not very many women have their own cars their. So one of the members, Erin, drove me to Psi Chapter at Ohio State on January 8, and the president of that chapter, Lauren, was able to give me a ride to the airport, which was only 10 minutes away. Coincidently, Sam, one of my ELC friends, was actually visiting Psi Chapter, so it worked out great, and Sam and I ended up spending a few hours at the McDonalds on campus talking and catching up. It was so much fun and I was so happy I got to spend some time with Sami!!

From there I went on to visit our Alpha Beta Chapter at Cornell, to help them prepare for recruitment. Heather, another one of my ELC friends, was also sent to help the sisters of Alpha Beta prepare for recruitment. Our main focus was helping them perfect their skit, prepare for proper recruitment conversations and prepare for the Preference Ceremony. Heather and I had a great time working together and with the women in the chapter. I left the chapter on January 13, but Laura, another one of my ELC friends, arrived on January 12, so all three of us were able to work together for one night. Laura and I ended up having to share a twin bed that last night, which we thought was just hilarious, and we spent a good hour laughing and talking before we could fall asleep. Oh the joys of life on the road! I seriously love it!!

After a wonderful visit at Cornell, I headed to one of my focus chapters, Alpha Eta, at Purdue University. I have really enjoyed working with these women and I always feel good about the things we are able to accomplish during my visit. My main focus during that visit was to help the new officers prepare for the remainder of the year and prepare for the upcoming COB call-outs. We also put together PR gifts and prepare for February’s PR project. I also went to Indianapolis with the Executive Board for their Exec Board Retreat. I worked with Jen and Elizabeth to help facilitate the retreat. It was a lot of fun and a very great visit. Before leaving Indianapolis, a few of us headed down town, for a little shopping and dinner at the Hard Rock Café. I had so much fun!

Something funny happened to me when I first arrive. I had just come from Cornell, and in their skit, they used a life-sized Zak Efron cut out, which I loved, because I have a huge crush on him. Well, I arrived at Alpha Eta, where I have my own room and bathroom, and I walk past my bathroom and nearly had a heart attack when I see someone standing in the dark, in my bathroom… that is until I realized it was another life-sized Zak! I thought the guy was following me- which I would not mind, if it was actually him!

After I left Purdue, I headed to the University of Iowa’s Sigma Chapter, for more officer training, to facilitate a Recruitment Workshop, to help the chapter prepare for Informal Recruitment, and to help out with Area- Wide Training. Sigma is also one of my focus chapters, and I also really enjoy working with them. I always feel very much at home, I love working with the women, and I always feel like we are able to accomplish many great things. After Area Wide Training on Saturday, some of the members took me out to dinner at Chili’s and we went to see Rachel Getting Married (very interesting movie- by the way). It was a fun night!

I had to go to the dentist to get a crown put on, so I left Iowa City and drove to Nebraska to go to the dentist and fly out of Omaha. It was nice to sleep in my own bed for a night, and I was able to eat dinner with my family and hang out with Tricia and Matt for a few hours, which was nice, because I ended up spending the next 27 hours trying to get to Williamsport, PA!

I flew out of Omaha at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, January 27 to the Chicago- O’Hare Airport. I flew from Chicago to Philadelphia and I was supposed to fly from Philadelphia to State College. Well, I arrive in Philadelphia, and as I was walking to my next gate, my phone rang- Orbitz Alert- my flight to State College was cancelled. I was not about to sleep in an airport, so I called Tracy and she gave me permission to check into a hotel, and I was able to get the “distressed passenger rate” at the Quality Hotel. I checked out at 7:30 AM on Wednesday and took the shuttle back to the airport. I headed to my gate and shortly after that they announced that my flight was cancelled. I was then booked on the 12:45 PM flight. So I had some time to catch up on emails, work on reports and read New Moon, the second book in the Twilight series. I sat at my gate and at about 12:15 PM, they announce our flight was delayed. More emails, work and reading. At 1:45 PM I finally boarded the plane to State College. Once I arrived there I waited for the President of our Iota Mu Chapter at Lycoming College to come and pick me up, which took a while because it was still snowing and the roads we a little scary. She and her roommate, arrived safely and we then began the two hour and 30 minute drive to Williamsport, PA. I took that long because it was still pretty scary out. At about 6:00 PM EST, I finally arrive in Williamsport, PA, which is where I am at until next Thursday! I am helping the chapter prepare for recruitment, and I will be here to help them during recruitment. I have worked with the women of Iota Mu before, and I really like it here, so I am excited and very happy to be here. Recruitment starts on Monday. We have already had two nights of recruitment workshops and they went great! It should be a great weekend! I am very excited!!

Well that’s about it for now!! Have a great weekend!!
All my love-

Emmy