Being the Hostess with the Most-est!

Let me just say that I was looking forward to Phi Rho's National Conference 2010 since sisters came back from Convention 2009. And I was even more enthused when I heard that the Omicron Chapter would be hosting it. I've waited about a year for this. And believe me, my expectations were not dashed.

I was so excited in the weeks leading up to conference that some people may have thought I was going mad (just ask the other sisters living in the house - it has even been reported that I was seen jumping up and down flapping my arms and exclaming in a high squeaky voice several times in the week preceeding conference). I was super worried about chores that week and went on a mad cleaning spree the night before, making sure the house was spotless. I even made a sign welcoming the conference go-ers to our house. Now, I didn't have to do all this, but I did because I had all of this excited energy I needed to expend.

After all of the anticipation I was definitely not disappointed. Conference was the best combo of meeting new friends, reconnecting with old ones, and sorority talk. I think the best part about conference was getting to share ideas between chapters. I learned that not all phi rho chapters have it easy like us. We may worry about how we are going to fill the house this year or what strategy makes a good formal recruitment, but other chapters have much larger worries. They have to figure out where their ritual stuff gets stored because they don't have a house. They have to worry about getting the word out about Phi Rho on a campus of thousands where typical sororities are the norm, and they aren't accepted as Greek life. We worry about who is going to Panhel meetings and they worry about IF they can go to Panhel meetings.

This weekend really opened my eyes to how good we have it and how well we are doing as a chapter of Phi Rho. Yeah, we have our problems, our numbers are down, but we aren't like some chapters who only have 15 members and each one has 3 or 4 officer positions. Think of how burnt out you would get if you were holding 4 officer positions...that's intense.

And think about all of the wonderful things we DO have. Good-quality members who work hard and produce AMAZING results. An eager, new class with enough energy to infect all of us. A welcoming Panhel who accepts us and helps us when we need it. A supportive Greek Life Office and Staff who are always willing to meet with us. A strong sisterhood evident in those late night study parties, random IHOP runs, and alumnae who stick around.

I love Phi Rho and I am proud to be a sister to each and every one of you. Wear those letters proudly because we are a special group of women.

PRL,
Nicole