Rose & White, Really Grand.

I'm learning that there are people other than Mike & Paula reading this because y'all are getting antsy without updates. My apologies. I will try to move quickly because I've got two more visit to catch y'all up on, but just know I am loving these chapters and recruitment.

After spending two weeks at Chi (Mizzou) for recruitment and workshop my last visit to Shorter University seemed super short. Sweet Nu sisters, y'all are next!

First off, I absolutely LOVED Mizzou as a college campus. Good thing I didn't want to go out of state because

a) there campus is gorgeous

 b) another great journalism & broadcasting school

 c) cute little college town like Bowling Green only a smidge larger

 

I arrived in Columbia during work week and the entire visit they were so excited for recruitment and kept up wonderful attitudes. That can be hard for two full weeks but they were amazing! With over 1,600 women going through recruitment you better believe they had everything organized and scheduled down to the last detail.

Panhellenic hosts a mock recruitment where each sorority sends 55 of their members to a few of the other sororities on campus to act as Potential New Members (PNMs). The chapters get to run through their first night of recruitment including door songs and walk outs in real time and with women they don't know. This is such a great idea and it really made the women who had just joined Phi Mu last year feel more comfortable talking with people they didn't know and it's great for Panhellenic unity.

Mock Recruitment during Work Week

At Mizzou, the first 2 nights of recruitment are open house and we are given a Panhellenic t-shirt design that we can coordinate with whatever bottoms and shoes we would like. Let me just say, those  J. Crew hot pink shorts were a hit! They looked cute and we're comfortable with our floral print Sperry's! The J. Crew shorts were a popular choice among a couple other sororites too.

Before Open House Rounds--they got the bop down.

The next round of recruitment was Skit Night. Here's a little secret. This is always my favorite night. Chi's skit directors Jillian & Merrill Kaye did a wonderful job with this year's new theme of TV Guide. And our Sad Dog commercial was definately the best :)

Skit Night--Snaps to Megan for always making amazing banners!

Quickest outfit coordination ever, right girls?

Skit Dancers

House Tour Day was something new for me. But I loved that they could showcase off nearly every room in the house, the renovated study lounge and bathrooms. After each PNM saw the house they came down to watch a video about Phi Mu's national philanthropy - Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. We received a lot of feedback that it was their favorite, so of course that made me extremely proud of them.

The final night of recruitment was preference. This is such a special night because it's a lot more subdued and serious than the other nights of recruitment. It's a time for the collegians to reflect on how Phi Mu has shaped their life, how they had a more fulfilling college experience because of Phi Mu and how they know in the future Phi Mu will always be there. I loved how Chi did preference and the Love, Honor, Truth testimonies. Those three seniors put a lot of hard work into their speeches and it was so worth it.

With the amazing President, Abigail on Preference Day

My exact words were along the lines of: "I took a picture with weird people at my last visit." Thanks for passing by on your bikes pimped out with 80s esque stereos.

Then comes the day that we work to all week-- BID DAY.  How it works at Mizzou is that they will get a call from their Pi Chi on Sunday morning letting them know whether or not they recieved a Bid. If so they will meet at the Columns at a designated time with the rest of the PNMs. While they nervously wait to see who their new sisters are, the chapters are decorating their houses for Bid Day with various themes. I wish I would have taken photos of the other houses but two of my favorite themes were-

• Alpha Delta Pi "ADPi is back with some brand new additions"--They had really cute long black tanks with big block lettering. Super cute.
• Alpha Chi Omega "Pretty Little Lyres"--Based off the hit ABC Family show and their sorority's mascot--the lyre.

Phi Mu's theme was a tropical theme of "Phi Mu in Paradise". Perfect after a long week of recruitment and the decorations were wonderful. Of course I joined a group of Phi Mus and their Bid Day Buddies to go see The Help, written by Alpha Zeta alumna Kathryn Stockett. LOVED the movie almost as much as the book which usually isn't the case. Go see it right now. GO.

Seniors and Executive Board waiting for the Phis at the Quad

Chi Chapter on Bid Day with their 83 Phis!

CC Cindy's sister and me after she pledged Phi Mu. So excited to share this day with her!

I am so thankful for how well Chi treated me for two whole weeks at 503 Kentucky Blvd. They worked extremely hard and had the best attitudes. They made sure I always had diet coke and thanks to VP Katie I now have a supply of straws to travel with :) They met quota, plus they received a quota addition! Keep up the great work and I know you all will do AMAZING at your Centennial Homecoming in a couple months.

And here's the Red Towel picture for the visit. Thanks to Erin for continuously backing up to get all 6 columns in there. It was the least she could do after she creeped on my Facebook and figured out my middle name was Erin. Just kidding sweet girl! You have to look really close but I know you can find me.

I am still at Fresno State right now, finishing up last minute preparations for Preference Day. Then Bid Day is tomorrow at 5 so I think the Membership Director is taking me on a campus tour (you know how  I love those!) and I get to expereince In N Out Burger for the first time.

Missing the southern life a little because this girl just isn't one to say dude, sick or hella.

Let's be real.