The post GLO convention “hit by a bus” feeling is still with me, but I feel compelled to write a post. The 70th Biennial Pi Beta Phi convention in Washington, D.C., the sixteenth convention I’ve attended, was a very special one for me. Rooming with my daughter, a 2011 convention alumna initiate, was what my soul sorely needed. And being around my Pi Phi friends was a true blessing.
Other highlights include meeting friends of my NPC archivist friends, seeing my friends honored with awards, and meeting new friends. (I had a long paragraph naming names, but it disappeared and my brain cells have revolted against recreating it. Sorry dear friends Sue, Sheila, Jan, Kim, Karen, and new friend Andrew. The interwebs are not cooperating today.)
Kyle Zimmer, co-founder of First Book, is a frequent Pi Phi convention attendee, but for the first time she sported an arrow badge. She was one of four convention honor initiates. Welcome, Kyle!
One of the bright spots among the challenge of dealing with my father’s health issues and death was a phone call last fall telling me I was the recipient of a Delta Gamma Compass Award. It is given to a non-member of Delta Gamma Fraternity who, “through his/her extraordinary leadership and service, has made a lasting and deeply significant contribution to the Fraternity and/or the interfraternal movement.” Past recipients include Kevin O’Neill, Gregory Parks, Tim Burke, Dave Westol, Cindy Stellhorn, Jean Mrasek, Julie Johnson, Dr. Kent Gardner, and this year’s winner Carole Jones, who led the National Panhellenic Conference through its historic restructuring. I received the award on Saturday at the Heritage Luncheon. What a distinct honor and one I shall never forget. Thank you, Delta Gamma!
