Hi all! My name is Quinn Moran, and I serve as Chapter President of Pi Chapter at Iowa State University! Last summer I had the opportunity to serve as an Executive Office Intern, and if you ask anyone who knows me, they will tell you that I have a very deep love for all things Alpha Delta Pi and a passion for our mission and sisterhood!
It has been a wonderful week of sisterhood, sun, learning more about our organization and one another, and celebrating some Alpha Delta Pi milestones! We began today with a Ritual review, and it was one of the most unique and impactful things I have ever experienced! To talk about our values and experience ritual surrounded by hundreds of sisters was something I will never forget, and a moment I will cherish for a lifetime.
We then broke out into some educational sessions, covering everything from how to engage our sisters utilizing their different learning styles, to how to interpret federal and state laws that would impact our sisters! After our first small breakout session, we had the opportunity to hear from Alumna and past Leadership Consultant, Tara Fuller, in her presentation about why language, specifically inclusive language, matters, and is needed within the sorority experience. By utilizing inclusive language, we are allowing our sisters to be their full and authentic selves in the spaces we share. Tara shared that courage starts with showing up, and letting ourselves be seen, and her words truly touched my heart.
Next we headed to our Panhellenic Luncheon! We began with a processional of all of the flags of the National Panhellenic Conference chapters, and alumna of organizations from the area shared a meal with Alpha Delta Pi women! Incoming Vice Chairman of NPC, Malaea Nelms Seleski, proud member of Zeta Tau Alpha, spoke about friendship across badges! She compared the four common values that Panhellenic women share, friendship, service, commitment, and collaboration, to our four-point diamond badge! Malaea reiterated the fact that as Panhellenic women, we are better together, and I couldn’t agree more! I am so thankful for the Panhellenic friendships I have gained through membership in Alpha Delta Pi and that I have sisters from so many organizations who encourage me to be my best self.
After some more educational sessions, and an ice cream break sponsored by Herff Jones, we all began to get ready for the Diamond Awards Banquet. From processing in with Grand Council, participating in the toasting ceremony that happens only at convention, and celebrating the successes of our chapters, the night was certainly one to remember. My chapter was so fortunate to have been awarded the Maxine Blake Golden Lion award, and we were thrilled to celebrate our accomplishments surrounded by our sisters from across the world. We ended our evening with some Alpha Delta Pi songs, and headed off to bed, closing out Grand Convention 2017.
All in all, Grand Convention was one of the most incredible Alpha Delta Pi experiences I could have ever imagined. From reuniting with sisters who are some of my best friends from across the country to sharing in our rich history and beginning a new chapter of our sisterhood, there is no doubt that we are truly first, finest, forever.