Connect at Conventions

Many NPC inter/national organizations will host their conventions in June and July. Conventions offer first-class leadership training and special recognitions in addition to opportunities to connect with sorority sisters from coast to coast. These are important sisterhood gatherings that provide members the bigger picture of their own organizations.

In 1982, I attended my first national sorority convention. It was quite a privilege to represent The University of Tulsa chapter as president. I traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona, with another chapter officer, chapter advisors and the house corporation president. We met other delegates, enjoyed elegant meals, heard inspirational speeches, witnessed ritual performed with the model initiation and participated firsthand in the election of our national leaders. This experience made a lasting impression on me. It gave me a greater sense of the depth and breadth of our national organization, and it planted seeds for my future involvement.

Because of my convention experience, I applied, during my senior year, to travel for my organization as a national consultant. I will never forget the phone call I received from the national president with that job offer. Traveling as a national consultant was a golden opportunity that allowed me to share my skills with other women and empower them to lead their local chapters. My travels confirmed my calling to continue my involvement with my sorority as an alumna.

National leaders who I admired saw something in me to be developed. The sorority setting provided me with opportunities to learn and grow. One thing led to another – I traveled to chapters, led workshops at national meetings and served as a chapter advisor before being invited to join the NPC delegation. Later I would have the honor of being slated and elected by the Chi Omega convention assembly to the governing council, just as I had witnessed at my first convention.

Chi Omega instilled my love for fraternity and set me on this course. NPC recognized the passion in my heart and took me another mile down the road. Through my involvement with these two organizations, I have been changed for good.

This summer, these 18 NPC member organizations will host conventions:

June 18-21	Sigma Kappa	Henderson, Nevada
June 25-29	Alpha Phi	Rancho Mirage, California
June 25-29	Chi Omega	Orlando, Florida
June 25-29	Delta Gamma	Phoenix
June 25-29	Kappa Kappa Gamma	Houston
June 25-29	Zeta Tau Alpha	Los Angeles
June 26-29	Alpha Sigma Tau	Atlanta
June 26-29	Kappa Alpha Theta	Orlando, Florida
June 26-29	Sigma Delta Tau	Washington
July 2-5	Delta Delta Delta	Indianapolis
July 2-5	Phi Mu	Boca Raton, Florida
July 8-13	Theta Phi Alpha	New Orleans
July 9-12	Alpha Gamma Delta	Indianapolis
July 9-12	Alpha Sigma Alpha	San Antonio
July 9-13	Delta Zeta	Tucson, Arizona
July 9-13	Gamma Phi Beta	Bellevue, Washington
July 11-14	Alpha Chi Omega	Palm Desert, California
July 24-27	Delta Phi Epsilon	Lake Buena Vista, Florida

There are dozens of stories like mine. What is your first convention story? How did it impact your life?

On behalf of the NPC Executive Committee, I send warm wishes for a successful summer season of conventions. May our organizations continue to flourish abundantly with old and new friendships. May you learn new things to help you advance your sorority experience.