I have something else to say.

.

Well, two things. Thing 1: I'm sorry I've been gone. Like anything in my life, I cannot breathe/live/move without Him, and right now, God and I are holding off on the put-your-life-on-the-internet thing. He said so. So, still shell-shocked by the move, I'm not blogging for a bit longer. The God-notion, coupled with the fact I've realized I'd make the worst famous person ever because I freak. out. when I get recognized or called "Miss Magnolia" (Really? That is not my name, people.) by a stranger. STRANGER DANGER--Ahh! that can't be good in the 9th largest city in America.

But here's the second.


And it's been a long time coming. And I may get railed over this. But, welp, it's not like that's ever stopped me.

I think that by discounting faith as our foundation, fraternities and sororities are neglecting not only our heritage but the ability of God to showcase His Gospel of love through us.

It drives me crazy every day at work. And it drives me crazy in general. Look at your Creed: You're either Christian in formation, or maybe Jewish. Yeah whatever--I dunno everyone's Creed. Believe or not ADPi's the only one I have framed. But ours bears the following line:

"...exemplifying the highest ideals of Christian womanhood."

We were founded at a Methodist college.

By Christian women (many PK's [preachers' kids]).

At the first college to grant degrees to women in the world.

Because they put a premium on the Biblical truth of equality between men and women.

So it matters. The faith component.

It mattered to Alpha Delta Pi back then.

It should today.

I think as international/national fraternities and sororities, we could be a force. Why aren't we responding to James 1:27? Why aren't we caring for orphans as a unit? Why aren't we loving the poor? Why are we, WOMENS' ORGANIZATIONS, not grasping on to the fact that our sisters are being abused and lied to as slaves and trafficked in some nations (even our own)? Why aren't we helping them??? I'm so thrilled we busy ourselves with leadership institute syllabi, and I'm not discounting the millions we raise for charity. But why aren't we really abiding by what our Creeds, our GOD, demands of us?

Why? Because we're being "politically correct." We're being "inclusive of other peoples' thoughts and feelings." "Ashlyn, times have changed since 1851," someone told me when I brought this up. Ya think? For the same reason you shouldn't get this former poli sci minor going on Constitutionality and our nations founders, don't get me going on this. Like our nation, we too have strayed, fellow Greeks. We've strayed because we instead decided to deign to culture and political correctness.

I mean, our founders never declared they were planting the church of [insert Greek letters here], but they did say the organization was going to back itself with a certain faith. A certain code of morality. A certain Love.

And to be frank, I think we should probably work on this.

Imagine what this generation could achieve.

Imagine how Love could be spread.

Throw it in the bag.

via 

Towards the end of my travels, I started fielding a lots-a questions from future NPC traveling consultants (Hellooo out there again--pumped for y'all!). One of the biggest/most repeated?

"Um... How exactly do you pack?"

Ah, yes, dear one. 'Tis an art. An art that includes a 10-lb. shipment home to Mama within month uno. Those Hunter wellies I thought I'd need? Negative ghostrider. You streamline.

For those wondering, I had to type up an entire packing list for the 2011-2012 ADPi LC group. And for those curious, I'm brave enough to post my personal items on the internet. Wow. New low.

Carry-on/"The Office:"

20" Heys piece with 1-liter clear bag with fold-up toothbrush | 3 oz. mini-products (hairspray, toothpaste, lotion, deodorant) | Tide To-Go pen (to whom I owe my solidarity) | bobby pins | Emi-jay ponytail holders | lipgloss | laptop | Hobo wallet | pens | business cards and company stationary | ADPi Ritual Book, ha | passport | Vera Bradley jewelry case | umbrella | the "Emergency Outfit" | camera | a Longchamp bag | Lilly Pulitzer planner | bible/journal/books | iPod | about 20 DVD's | as much candy as they'd let me bounce through TSA with


Suitcase #1/"The Closet:"

3 sports bras | 2 long-sleeved Nike running tops for Yankeeeeeland | 2 running tanks | 2 pairs of Lululemon yoga pants | 2 pairs of Hudson jeans | 1 pair of jeggings | 2 J. Crew tanks for layering | 4-5 J. Crew cardi's to throw over dresses | 2-4 fun tops for under a jacket at work or for going out | 6 t-shirts | 1 Alpha Delta Pi sweatshirt | 1 Patagonia pull-over | 1 pair of high school football sweatpants | 1 pair of pajama boxers | my bikini, duh | 30 pairs of undies. K, that's as personal as I'm gettin' over here | 2 LBD’s | 1 black Urban Outiftters blazer |  7-8 dresses | 4 skirts | North Face rainjacket | Francesca's peacoat | 3 pashminas | gloves/hats/#ihatethenorthfrigid

Suitcase #2/"The bathroom cabinet/laundry room/pantry:"

1 large Kate Spade “Colin Bag” with manicure stuff | q-tips and cotton balls | toothbrush/toothpaste | face lotions | make-up | comb/brushes | 1 Vera Bradley Large Cosmetic Bag with vitamins | any and every medication ever |  band-aids | Airbornne | Crystal Light packets | Starbucks Via packets | infinity supply of gum | 1 pair of black Jessica Simpson stilettos | 1 pair of Private Gallery nude stilettos | 1 pair of Jack Rogers | 1 pair of Tory Burch Revas | 2 pair of Nike running shoes | 1 pair of shower shoes | 1 pair of cute boots | large Zip-Loc bag of laundry supplies | Downy Wrinkle Release | lingere bag | roll of quarters | dryer sheets | 1 resistance band | 2 3-lb. free weights. Yes, I'm crazy.

5 Tips from a Jetsetter:

1. Dryer sheets in your shoes that are going to be right up in your clothes' business for 12 hour travel days.

2. The heavier, the further to THE WHEELS it goes when packing.

3. Roll all clothes so you have room to shop pack better.

4. Give old magazines away at airports unless you think 10-lbs in glossy paper sounds fun. And new friends rule.

5. You'll love yourself more if you travel with baby hairspray, concealer, and lipgloss in your carry-on.

Dang, I'm sorta gonna miss this life.

Just kidding, I get my very first apartment key today after work.

This is how I feel about that: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On leadership.

I love when I get floored by NPC members who don't necessisarily wear ADPi letters. It's a reminder to me in my little azure-blue-and-white-24/7-world of the testament that not just ADPi, but every NPC group out there is working to challenge and inspire young women. Times your organization by 26. That's our power as NPC.

Happened at a Virginia Tech Panhellenic round table meeting

for the chapter presidents I just left.

Daaaaang. They get it. The Panhellenic President showed the video below to challenge these chapter presidents. I know the audience for this little blog is all over the place and that the guys have already quit readin', but I do know for a fact there's a sector of Greek women reading that serve on your Executive Committees. Somone needs to tell you thanks. Holding two EC offices in my sorority, honestly, taught me more than any other university organization position, honors society, or even internship ever did. Steering, encouraging, listening to, motivating, challenging, goin' to bat for, promoting, holding accountable, and inspiring 156 humans (now make that 18 to 22-year-old women) was rough some days. But remember that you do it so their experience is a cake-walk. So they can look back at pictures sorority-squatting on a beach in Destin, Fla. and still feel that sisterhood decades later.

So it's kinda cheesy. But worth a watch.

And for those younger sisters who wanna go a bit further than cooler-painting and nametag-glittering (Kidding. But really.) and give that whole leadership element of sorority a go, it's your job to plant a little bit of the emotion from the above video into them. Succession planning. You get 4 years to call the chapter shots. Use 'em wisely.

How that "expansion" thing works.

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

Sometimes I honestly wish I had a video so you could see what I have to/get to do with my weird job. This below is an attempt to kindasorta explain how we present to expand when invited by a school... Boys? Y'all just stick your flag in the ground and call it a colony. National Panhellenic is a tad different. I did this Monday at:

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Va.

**BUT the below account is a conglomeration of the 3 expansion visits 

I've been on just to keep it mysterious.

6 a.m. Blackberry alarm goes off. Aaaand "snooze."

6:08 a.m. iPhone alarm. I'm the deepest sleeper ever; multiple alarms/multiple phones mandatory. Again, "snooze."

7:12 a.m. Quiet time/checking the 6 emails I got overnight/getting ready? Check. Read through expansion presentation notecards for the second time--oh well, I'm good at wingin' stuff. Hop in the car with Precious Collegian A to fight (insert big city) rush hour to (insert suburb) for a rental. 

9:42 a.m. Dashboard hoppin' between 4 country stations (my singing voice always wants to sing Taylor Swift) between a coupla work calls and Mama-call. Note how exceptionally good I've gotten at rapping Lil Wayne's part in "Forever."

11:35 a.m. Arrive at hotel in insert city 2.5 hours away, hang out in the lobby "working." In actuality, I'm catching up on Alabama gossip with the ADPi International President Claire Brown Gwaltney. We love our state.

11:36 a.m. Pleased that if I thought I'd lost my accent in the midwest, I just got it back talking to her.

2:30 p.m. Arrive at name of university. Heels on. Offish nametag on. ADPi badge on. Smile really on. Lehsgo.

3:01 p.m. Dean kicks IFC guys outta the room we were supposed to meet in. They all look at me when they walk by as I'm staring at them. Haven't seen a male in, well, I can't remember... Oh, heyyyyyy, y'all!

4:37 p.m. Omgosh, I LOVE meeting with Panhellenic women. (Note from the future: 3 friended me on FB by midnight. Studs. Wish I could see them again.)

4:38 p.m. It hits me this is probably the most approp/coolest way to spend International Badge Day, eh?

5:08 p.m. Campus tour. Why do they all always walk backwards?

5:19 p.m. Between the Sigma Chi boys (mm. Softspot.) throwing a football in the yard and the lacrosse team, I realize I should probablyreallymaybe speak to a man soon.

7:55 p.m. Run through notecards adding notes from today. Heart-thudding, high on the pre-public speaking rush. Praying.

9:31 p.m. Presentation and Q&A sesh? Done! Repack everything into rolling suitcases--still in 4.5" stilettos.

12:08 a.m. Answer the 22 emails I got today in ADPi account. Feel like an awful person for, once again, not having time to answer the Gmail account. Sigh.

12:30 a.m. Zzzzzzzzz... Earliest bedtime in a week. Gah, hotel beds so rule.

And that, m'dears, is how an expansion visit works. I may try to tell you how a chapter visit day works sometime... Even though normalcy is relevant. Ha.