High Cotton

The nice list.

Posted by Anna Kate Friday, December 23, 2011 1 comments

Remind me again...how many days until Christmas? Oh, that's right -- TWO! I can't believe how quickly the holidays have snuck up on me this year. I plan on finishing my shopping today (procrastination at its finest) and gift wrapping. I am so looking forward to baking all day on Saturday (the lady behind Betty Crocker is an ADPi, after all), spending time with my extended family, and going to Midnight Mass -- the most beautiful church service all year.

I must have been extra nice this year, because Santa Claus delivered one of my presents early...via email. I received an email last week from the fabulous Annie Durant (aka my boss) with my travel schedule for the month of January -- HOORAY! It's like Christmas every month opening that email. And I can now officially tell you that my first visit of 2012 will be to...

Eta Epsilon chapter of Alpha Delta Pi at
Miami University in Oxford, Ohio

I have never been to Ohio before and I could not be more excited about this visit! I will be arriving on the first day of Formal Recruitment at Eta Epsilon and I am seriously looking forward to being back in recruitment mode...
Boom boom I wanna go ADPi, don't you?

Better late than never.

Posted by Anna Kate Wednesday, December 21, 2011 0 comments

So after four months of radio silence, I figured it was high time to update my blog. All those plans I had to update my blog at least once a week quickly went out the window once I started traveling. There were so many wonderful people I wanted to get to know and things to do that my blog was the first thing to be put on the back burner. Now that I have a little down time over the holidays, I am hoping to finally get caught up on all of the blog posts/emails/Facebook messages that I have been putting off.

As I added to my LC roll call all of the university names that I have traveled to since August, I began to really reflect on this semester. I can't believe that in only four months I have...

made 14 chapter visits,

gone on 2 extension presentations,

traveled to 11 different states,
and MET HUNDREDS OF SISTERS!

As corny as it may sound, it truly is the amazing Alpha Delta Pi ladies that I have had the pleasure of meeting that made this semester so memorable. When I look back on these past four months, it isn't the states or cities I visited that immediately come to mind -- it's the feeling I got every time my sisters opened up their chapter house/dorm room and immediately made me feel at home...who made me feel like a part of their own chapter sisterhood, even if only for a few days. These are the things that mean the most. And it is because of each and every one of my sisters that I've met on the road that I am continually reminded why this job is so valuable and how blessed I am to be in this position.

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. -Philippians 1:3

ADPi field trip.

Posted by Anna Kate Sunday, August 28, 2011 0 comments

I am so behind on all of my blogging! Sorry for the lack of posts these last few weeks. My year on the road as an ADPi Leadership Consultant began and Formal Recruitment has taken precedent over pretty much everything else! I have so much to catch up on so I’m going to rewind back to training.

During our first week of training at ADPi Executive Office we took a Leadership Consultant history field trip to Macon, Georgia where Alpha Delta Pi was founded in 1851 at Wesleyan College. Being able to experience our rich history with my Consultant Sisters was so special (and the perfect opportunity for a photo shoot, of course).

Quick stop at Starbucks was a must!

The first stop on our trip was Rose Hill Cemetery where our founder, Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald, has been laid to rest. Seeing her grave and the clasped hands etched into her headstone was just as special this time as it was the first time in Fall 2007 when I saw it as an Alpha. I've visited Mother Fitzgerald's grave at least once a year since I was initiated, and it never ceases to give me goosebumps.

Stop two was the Cannonball House (historic Civil War era home) where the original meeting rooms of both the Adelpheans and the Philomatheans have been beautifully recreated. Together Alpha Delta Pi and Phi Mu make up the "Macon Magnolias," a term used to celebrate the bonds we share.

Afterwards, we had a delicious down home Southern lunch at Jeannine's. For the first time, our little California girl (Cristina) tried fried okra and creamed corn - which she loved!

Our last stop was Wesleyan College where Alpha Delta Pi was founded. There is so much ADPi history here, including a plaque that we donated in honor of our 90th anniversary, the famous fountain given after our centennial celebration, and the founders' bench.

The field trip was fabulous and I am so glad that I got to spend the day with my Consultant Sisters!

Is this real life?

Posted by Anna Kate Thursday, July 21, 2011 0 comments

The past few days have been a total whirlwind. I pinch myself every morning thinking that this is all still a dream. But when I saw all of this on my first day of training at Executive Office, I knew it was officially official -

Nametag, business cards AND holder, a BlackBerry, office supplies galore, my very own ritual book, and the most ADPerfect LC notebook from my awesome Violet Sister! Oh, not to mention my iPad 2 - now known as the "Pi Pad" among my LC Sisters. Do I have the best job ever or what?!

I think it's still going to take some time for it all to sink in, but we haven't had time for that yet! Training has been keeping us busy, and we were fortunate enough to have a visit from the gentlemen of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity Wednesday afternoon. Twelve of their consultants plus three programming directors came to visit us on their way back to their headquarters in Charlotte, NC. We gave them a tour, exchanged business cards (I thought this was really cool - like trading cards for grown-ups), and of course we just had to make time for a little photo shoot before they left. Don't worry, a hug train picture with them was a must. Pictures to follow soon, I promise! They were priceless, to say the least. But they left us by dropping down to one knee and serenading us with their traditional PiKap song. These men were absolutely wonderful and we're so glad they stopped by!

PiKap Consultants showing some Pi love! <>

As if things couldn't get any better, we are headed to Macon today for a little ADPi history field trip! We were founded at Wesleyan College in 1851 and our founder, Mother Fitzgerald, has also been laid to rest in a local cemetery. This is not my first visit, but I am so excited to share this unbelievably special experience with my Consultant Sisters. Knowing that together we will walk the same paths our founders did over 160 years ago as we begin our new adventure is just another reminder of why we do what we do and what makes the lifetime bond we share as sisters unbreakable . . .

We live for each other.

And for Alpha Delta Pi.

LC survival kit.

Posted by Anna Kate Wednesday, July 20, 2011 1 comments

I know y’all are probably tired of hearing how excited I am to move to ADPi Memorial Headquarters and be reunited with my Consultant Sisters, BUT I was just so beside myself last week in anticipation that I decided to make a “Leadership Consultant Survival Kit” for each of them. This wasn’t anything big, just a little something cute that I wanted to do. Here are the essentials –

LC Survival Kit

SWEET & SOUR CANDY

A reminder to appreciate

the difference in others.

TOOTSIE ROLL

To remind you not to
bite off more than
you can chew.

STARBURST

To give you a burst of
energy on the days you
don't have any.

PAPER CLIP

To help keep things together
when they seem to be getting
out of control.

PENCIL & ERASER

To remind you that you
can start every day
with a clean slate.

PIECE OF RIBBON

For when you reach the end of your rope –

tie a knot to this
and hang on.

HAPPY FACE

Smiling not only increases your face value,

it is contagious.

RUBBER (HAIR) BAND

To help you stretch yourself to new limits.

SNICKERS

To remind you to
laugh at yourself.

GUM

Your LC Sisters will
“stick” by you.

LIFESAVERS

A reminder of the times we need others

help and they need ours.

LEMON DROP

If life gives you lemons,
make lemonade!

Big wheels keep on turning.

Posted by Anna Kate Monday, July 18, 2011 4 comments

On Saturday I finally got serious about packing for my LC travels (mostly because my Mom made me). Luckily, we did have an awesome spreadsheet from the 2010-2011 LCs that made the packing process so much easier. Thank you so much, sisters! I don’t know what I would have done without it.

For my luggage, I have a three piece set of 360-degree rolling Heys Luggage. With the help of the lovely Miss Ashlyn Stallings’ blog post that you can read here, I packed accordingly. The largest piece of luggage is going to be my closet, the mid-sized one my powder room, and the smallest one my office. The “closet” of course contains all of my clothes, undergarments, and shoes. The “powder room” holds all of my shower supplies, hair products, make-up, etc. And my “office” carries my books, laptop, digital camera, and medicine.

I have to give Ashlyn credit again for the advice on what I should take on the plane other than my rolling carry-on. After talking with her (and asking her 1 of 1,000 questions) I invested in a briefcase bag that I absolutely love so far. I obviously haven’t traveled with it yet, but it seems just perfect.

I guess I will find out soon enough how this little arrangement works because I leave for Atlanta TOMORROW to begin training at ADPi Executive Office!

Pecan pie cookies.

Posted by Anna Kate 5 comments

I mentioned yesterday on my post that I work at the Georgia Pecan Growers Association when I’m at home. One of my “fun facts” that I shared with the other LCs was that I can rattle off lots of useless information about pecans. (How many pecans are used to make a pecan pie? About 78.) I am always looking for recipes that use pecans for our magazine at work – The Pecan Grower. I came across this recipe for Pecan Pie Cookies and they looked so delicious I just had to try it for myself! I made this batch today as a yummy treat for my Consultant Sisters tomorrow when we move into ADPi Headquarters!

For the cookies, you will need –

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

¾ cup butter, softened

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder