It's Not Goodbye, Just See Ya Later: ADPi Internship 2K14

As the first goodbyes are said, and the first of tears are shed, our time in this office has officially come to an end. We all look back to the beginning. Eight complete strangers wander into the bunk room. The only thing we knew was that we were all stuck in one room and we were all interns at Alpha Delta Pi.

Who would have guessed that eight women would get so close in six short weeks. My time here has been completely life changing. Each and every day I found another reason to love this sorority. I felt challenged to grow, and by golly, I did! I formed relationships that will last longer than a lifetime and strengthened the bonds of sisterhood we all share.

The seven women I was lucky enough to share the summer with are inspiring. They are perfect role models and great leaders. I feel so blessed to be able to call them my sisters. I know that our love for Alpha Delta Pi and each other will bring us back.

It's never goodbye, just see ya later. ☺

Love and Loyally,
Paige☺

Can't Beat this Summer: ADPi Internship 2014

The last week here at Executive Office has been wonderful.

On Monday morning, Catherine Joiner came to EO to do a resume workshop with us. She went through the do's and don'ts and we were able to ask questions about our resumes. It was a great workshop! Not only is Alpha Delta Pi committed to our values within our sorority, but Alpha Delta Pi, and the staff here at EO, want to prepare us for our futures as women in the working world.  Throughout our time here at Executive Office, we had the opportunity to shadow many different staff members to learn about their roles and what their jobs are. We also had the opportunity to ask questions if we were interested in related fields.

Then on Monday evening we went to make dinner at the Ronald McDonald House in Atlanta. We got to make them tacos! Volunteering there is an really great experience.

Being able to help the families at RMH is life changing. It really makes you put life back into perspective. Often we get so involved in the most trivial things, we forget tho appreciate the value of a home cooked meal with your family. Being able to provide this to the families staying at RMH is truly a blessing.

On Tuesday night, we all decided to make a family style dinner. Lucky for us, Katie (a senior LC) and Ms. Pinkston were at the house and joined us for dinner. We had a lot of great laughs around the table.

Most of the week was spent stuffing Alpha Packets. Each new member is considered an Alpha Member until she is initiated, upon which, she is a Delta Member, or chapter member in full standing. During Alpha membership, women are led ,by their New Member Coordinator, through Alpha Member Education sessions. In these sessions, they learn about the history and inner workings of Alpha Delta Pi. The Alpha Packets are a supplementary material provided by EO that Alphas receive on bid day.

On Wednesday we went to froyo with the foundation and had a blast. Later that evening, we all hiked Stone Mountain. It was breathtaking. A mile hike up and back down right at sunset! It was so much fun! Definitely a major "to do" while you're in Atlanta. And it's free! ☺

  

Today was the last official day of the internship. It has truly been a life changing experience. I know I will have friendships that will last a lifetime with the wonderful women I got to spend the summer with. It is truly amazing how close eight women (sisters) can get in just six short weeks.

Signing off after an amazing summer!

Loyally, 

Paige ☺

ADPi Weekend Update: Summer 2K14

Heeeyyyoooo! What's up from Memorial HQ!

Here's a little bit of what we were up to this weekend here at Executive Office.

Saturday morning was a lazy morning for us - we all hit the snooze button more than once! After our lazy start, we decided to hit the mall! After all, we are girls, who could resist?! We went to a HUUUGEE mall in Buckhead and spend the day sifting through racks and racks of clothes. J. Crew, Vineyard Vines, C Wonder, Urban Outfitters, and more! What more could a girl want?

Obviously after a long day of shopping till we dropped, we had to replenish our bodies and reenergize. Lucky for us, Kathryn's uncle owns a restaurant right across the street from where we were! We ate at The Tavern. They served all sorts of delicious food. We had barbeque/queso chips and bruschetta and it was AWESOME. The had so much variety, we all loved it! On the way back home, the storm hit and we all were soaking wet by the time we made it inside; it was definitely worth the great day we had though.

We turned in for a quiet night. A few girls from our new colony at Shorter University got to stay at the house with us. They were here for their Alpha Member Education. We got to hang out and talk with them - they are definitely cool girls and I am so glad that they get to be a part of this awesome sisterhood!

Sunday morning rolled around soon enough. Erin, Lyndsey, and I decided to go to Passion City Church. It was HUGE. Unfortunately, we didn't foresee trouble parking but because of the crowd, we were a little late and missed the worship portion. We still got to hear a great sermon and know for next time to plan for crowds. They film their sermons and post them online so everyone can hear the great messages that they share. Check them out below! ☺

http://www.passioncitychurch.com/watch/

After church, Lyndsey, Abbey, went to the YMCA. We get an away membership while we're here which is great! They took an awesome spin class while I hit up the free weights. After our YMCA adventures we went home and relaxed for the rest of the day. (Except Abby and Kayla who explored Little Five Points - this super cool "hipster" area here in Atlanta - but don't worry, I'll go and check it out and bring back pictures to share!)

At the end of the night we all watched The Bachelorette together! I was super skeptical at first but the show is beginning to grow on me - I still kind of think the concept is stupid, but they dressed up as old people to go on a date! HOW CUTE. And I think we can all agree that Andrew is a jerk and we want him out now.

We're all so excited for our first day tomorrow! Outfits have been laid out and lights are off.

Now it's time for me to lay down and get my beauty rest for a great first day!
Loyally,
Paige ☺

Hey Party People! 2K14 Internship Day 2

The end of day 2 has come but it certainly has not gone; not quite yet anyway!

Today was filled with getting to know yous! So I'll introduce them all ☺



This is Kayla, she is currently the Recruitment and Management Vice President and last term she served as chapter President. She is a member of the Alpha Epsilon chapter at University of Nebraska!








This is Erin, she is currently the Membership Education Vice President (holla MEVPs!!!) and will be attending Adelphean Compass as a fill in for chapter president (how exciting!) She is a member of the Epsilon Eta  chapter at Mississippi State!






This is Kathryn, she is currently serving as Chapter President at Zeta Rho, aka Vanderbilt University. She was the Recruitment and Marketing VP previously!









Hey there party people! This is Kelly, she is currently serving as Chapter President as well. Previously, she served as the Executive Vice President. She is a member of the Delta Gamma chapter at the University of Arizona!








This is Alex (or Alexandria ☺), she is the Director of Standards and Ethics for her chapter - #toughestjobever what a trooper! She was a member at the Gamma Rho chapter of Arizona State and is currently a member of Theta Gamma at Sonoma State!





This is Abby, she is currently the Executive Vice President at her chapter. She is a member of the Alpha Kappa chapter at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville!











And last but certainly not least is Lyndsey! Previously she was the Membership Education VP. She is a chapter member at the Zeta Omega chapter at the University of Central Florida!











Kelly and I went for a run this morning around our cute neighborhood, and lemme tell ya, the humidity here is KILLER on the lungs - hopefully we'll adapt quickly!  We got back to our beautiful house to find our six once sleeping sisters wide awake and ready to prepare for the day.

There were seven of us (soon to be eight) getting ready in this bathroom this morning; we all share one shower; so with seven girls prettying ourselves up for the day...well, you can imagine the struggle. Hopefully we'll fall into a routine soon! Maybe our mornings getting ready will not be quite as hectic once we all settle into a better schedule #fingerscrossed

Amanda gave us a tour of our beautiful home (Memorial Headquarters) and Executive Office in the morning. Our home is gorgeous and has tons of old memorabilia from presidents past. There are so many cool and interesting things to learn about ADPi. There are even badges from when we were Alpha Delta Phi (we changed to Alpha Delta Pi because there was a men's fraternity with the same name #confusing)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEosj1fO0vk

Later we got to have lunch with Amanda, our boss, Linda Ablard, and none other than Ms. Pinkston herself! She may honestly be the coolest woman I have ever met. Rumor has it that she has two wardrobes and doesn't wear an outfit twice in a year! HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!!!! Here's a pic. of this awesome lady.

what a star ★

Abby got here this afternoon as well! YAY! We're finally a complete group!

We took an adventure to the grocery store and we all bought waaayyyy too much stuff!





This is just one of 3-4 carts that we had and it's completely full
*insert sheepish look here*











Tonight is our first weekend night here! We're just having a girls night in tonight watching We Are the Millers and eating Ben and Jerry's #typical but we're so excited! Love all these girls already and I'm so excited to spend the summer with them!

HAGS
Loyally,
Paige ☺

Summer Internship 2K14: ADPi Edition

Today was the beginning of an adventure that I'm lucky enough to call Summer 2014! I arrived in Atlanta, GA last night and today spent my first day at Memorial Headquarters and Executive Office of Alpha Delta Pi. I met six of my seven other roommates (Abby is coming later) and they are an amazing group of women. I feel so privileged to call them my sisters and call 1386 Ponce my home for the summer.

Tomorrow we will get an official tour of both EO and Memorial Headquarters then Amanda (our intron coordinator) and Mrs. Ablard (the Executive Director) are taking us to lunch! I am so lucky to be working so closely with both of them this summer. Amanda is not only our intern coordinator but our Collegiate Relations Coordinator as well! I have worked with her (via emails and phone calls of course) about our chapter's new members and initiation status and I know that I will learn so much from her during the six weeks I will be here. Linda Ablard is an amazing woman and as the Executive Director she holds a high position in ADPi and holds much responsibility. Along with these two wonderful women I will be working alongside and learning  from, I am also fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with our International Grand President, Tammie S. Pinkston.

     

Lucky me, I got a letter and a gift bag from Ms. Pinkston herself!

This is the beautiful house I will be staying at all summer! 

 I am so excited for what is in store this summer! I get to attend leadership seminar as well. I know that there will be so many amazing experiences and I have so many wonderful opportunities!

Signing off on her first day!
Loyally,
Paige ☺

We Live For Each Other and for Alpha Delta Pi

All this week I get to represent Theta Xi one of the newest collegiate chapters of Alpha Delta Pi at our International Grand Convention. The event is held every other summer; this year, the beautiful city of Dallas, Tx is hosting! I am beyond excited and honored to be here with three of my other wonderful sisters. I am so fortunate to have been blessed with this wonderful opportunity. Last night my sister Brighton and I got to sing in front of the entire grand convention body including members of Grand Council to begin this week's celebrations. So far I have gotten to meet some truly amazing women, learned how to rope (just a teeny bit), and share some already amazing experiences with my Theta Xi sisters (and yesterday was only day one!!!) I am so proud of my sisters of Theta Xi; we have all worked so hard to come so far in such a short amount of time and I feel so blessed to call them mine (clever because Brighton sang an AMAZING rendition of Martina McBride's "I Just Call You Mine" last night). Abbey got to celebrate the first day of her double dose birthdays and won a door prize! (and won a really cute purse! maybe I'm a little jealous) Kalisa got to escort to dinner one of the most extraordinary women I have ever been privileged to meet, Mrs. Linda Welch Ablard. Theta Xi has really made a presence here at Grand Convention and makes me SO excited to see what we are capable in the years to come.

Post singing at convention! SO EXCITED!!

Brighton and I throwing up diamonds!

This morning starts a new day filled with many new friendships to make and adventures to have. Abbey's birthday: round 2 coming up! Abbey and I are both carrying flags in the processional for dormant chapters and Kalisa will be proudly carrying Theta Xi's flag! How exciting! Today starts a whole new day filled with friends, fun, business meetings, lunches, dinners, songs, and beautiful sisters. I am so blessed to have been given the opportunity to come to this wonderful event. I want to say thank you to our 2012-2013 leadership consultants: Ashley, for truly introducing me to the wonderful world of Alpha Delta Pi, Mary, for being the most amazing, uplifting, inspiring women I have ever met. I am so beyond thankful for her friendship and sisterhood, and all of the other wonderful leadership consultants I have gotten to meet on this amazing journey. I'd also like to thank the members of Grand Council, and Anne, for asking me to sing at this momentous occasion. Last night truly blew me away. My heart nor my head can express the awe, amazement, and gratitude I feel today. I am so incredibly blessed to be here. We Live For Each Other and for Alpha Delta Pi.