Greetings from Oxford, Ohio!
Well, I am not dead. It has been a long time, too long in fact, since I have posted a comment. I got to my last visit on the road up in Ottawa, Ontario and decided I was done writing. My apologies.
It has been an exciting past few weeks. After returning home to Oxford on the 19th, I had a few days in the office and then I flew home to Kansas City to see the family for Thanksgiving. A very good time indeed! After flying into Kansas City, I flew down to New Orleans for the Association of Fraternity Advisors annual meeting.
I have never been down to New Orleans before and it was an eye opening experience. We arrived a day early and went down to the Upper 9th Ward to help build a house for Habitat for Humanity. It felt so good to help down there, but the areas hardest hit have such a long way from recovery. I think the biggest issue facing New Orleans isn't the lack of resources, but more so the lack of PEOPLE there. I read the morning newspaper while we were there and the front page story was about the population finally reaching 200,000 in the city of New Orleans. This used to be a city of 500,000 before Katrina. The Upper 9th Ward is full of empty homes....block, after block, after block. Occassionally you would see a home here and there that was fixed up and somebody was living in it, but in general it was empty. After we were done working for the day, our bus driver drove us down to the Lower 9th Ward. This was the area hardest hit by Katrina. There is nothing there. No rebuilding. No demolition. I imagine it will look the same way it does today 10 years from now.
It was good to experience Bourbon Street. They call Las Vegas "Sin City"....I'm pretty sure that Bourbon Street makes Las Vegas look like a monastery. It was definitely an experience--to say the least. But a very good time. I would tell you more, but in an effort to boost the local economy and support New Orleans Tourism, I'll just say--"Go find out for yourself!"
After New Orleans, I flew back home to Oxford where I have been the past week. It is nice to be back home and I am enjoying my time in the office. We had our annual Kai Bowl football game this weekend. I was finally on the winning team! But I think I only played 3 or 4 plays...which was fine by me because I was having too good of a time watching the game on the sideline and chatting with the spectators. But It was a great time and we ended the day with a fine evening at The A-List in Oxford.
Thanks for reading. A brief overview of the past 3 weeks. I probably won't have another post until the beginning of the year. But trust me I'm still ticking! Happy Holiday!
-T
Monday, December 11, 2006
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Greetings from London, Ontario!
Well, it is just a lovely, rainy cold day here in the great Providence of Ontario. I am finally feeling better after getting sick earlier this week. I got sick on Monday when I was at Bethany. I was supposed to stay in Bethany on their lovely couch on Monday night, but I wrapped up my meetings early and headed to a hotel room just North of Pittsburgh. Tuesday was great as I had an 8 hour drive. The drive to London was bad enough on its own, but then add a fever, coughing, and sore throat on top of it and you've got the ingredients for misery.
Although, I was still sick yesterday I had a full plate of meetings yesterday with my boys at Western Ontario. I have to say it was a great day. There are a few key officers that really "excite" me. The chapter may not be doing all that well, but they keep me hopeful that change is on the way.
I have a meeting this afternoon with Mandy D'Arcy. She is the Pledge Education Advisor for Western Ontario. Once I am done meeting with her, I will drive 8 hours NE to the great city of Ottawa. It will probably be a late night for me. I will be attending the Carleton chapter's 15th Anniversary banquet on Saturday. After that is over, I will be heading back down to Oxford. I have opted to depart on Sunday morning...because it is a 16 hour drive home. Ahhh...that mileage reimbursement check is going to be so great in a week!
Well I fly home to Kansas City next Wednesday! My flight leaves bright and early at 7:15am from Indianapolis. That's the price you pay for cheap flights! Then I will head down to New Orleans from Kansas City for the annual AFA (Association of Fraternity Advisor) Convention. I am so pumped to be going down the the Big Easy. This will be my first time in New Orleans.
No snow in Canada yet, but I have a feeling I will be running into it up in Ottawa....I'll keep you posted!
-T
Well, it is just a lovely, rainy cold day here in the great Providence of Ontario. I am finally feeling better after getting sick earlier this week. I got sick on Monday when I was at Bethany. I was supposed to stay in Bethany on their lovely couch on Monday night, but I wrapped up my meetings early and headed to a hotel room just North of Pittsburgh. Tuesday was great as I had an 8 hour drive. The drive to London was bad enough on its own, but then add a fever, coughing, and sore throat on top of it and you've got the ingredients for misery.
Although, I was still sick yesterday I had a full plate of meetings yesterday with my boys at Western Ontario. I have to say it was a great day. There are a few key officers that really "excite" me. The chapter may not be doing all that well, but they keep me hopeful that change is on the way.
I have a meeting this afternoon with Mandy D'Arcy. She is the Pledge Education Advisor for Western Ontario. Once I am done meeting with her, I will drive 8 hours NE to the great city of Ottawa. It will probably be a late night for me. I will be attending the Carleton chapter's 15th Anniversary banquet on Saturday. After that is over, I will be heading back down to Oxford. I have opted to depart on Sunday morning...because it is a 16 hour drive home. Ahhh...that mileage reimbursement check is going to be so great in a week!
Well I fly home to Kansas City next Wednesday! My flight leaves bright and early at 7:15am from Indianapolis. That's the price you pay for cheap flights! Then I will head down to New Orleans from Kansas City for the annual AFA (Association of Fraternity Advisor) Convention. I am so pumped to be going down the the Big Easy. This will be my first time in New Orleans.
No snow in Canada yet, but I have a feeling I will be running into it up in Ottawa....I'll keep you posted!
-T
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Greetings from Washington, PA!
Well, I made the 8 hour track down from Syracuse. What a great way to spend your day off, huh? :) I finished with the Colgate chapter at about 10pm last night and headed to Syracuse where I had a hotel room. Before I headed to Syracuse I had to make a pit stop at Turning Stone Casino. I stopped there last year and wanted to play some video poker. Once I got my players card I sat down at one of the video poker games. I decided that I would allow an expenditure of $40 on my part. After I lost that I would leave. Well wouldn't you know it...ten minutes after starting I was down to $4. I figured I would try and stretch my time at the casino by switching to the "1" credit bet versus the "Max Credit" bets I had been doing. I hit a few good hands and was up to $7. So I decided to switch back over to the "Max Credit" bets again, just for the hell of it. Before long I was back down to $4 again. SO I hit the deal button again and all of a sudden I looked at my screen. I hit A A A 2 A. In poker terms that meant 2000 credits which equated to $500. Woo hoo! So I quickly grabbed my player card...did my "victory" dance over to the cashier, and felt the "oh-so" sweet feeling of having 5 crisp $100 bills in my pocket. It was hard to walk out of there..but I knew that it was a wise choice. So in 20 minutes I gained $500--I wish I got paid that well at work.
It rained all day today. I am starting to dread the long drives. I drove 8 hours today. I will drive another 8 hours on Monday.......another 8 hours on Thursday.....and then 15 hours next weekend. In 7 days I am going to put 2,000 miles on my car! Well I know exactly where my poker winnings are going to--new tires!
All right peeps......I need to head out. Just wanted to share with you my gambling success story! I'll touch base in Canada next week.
-T
Well, I made the 8 hour track down from Syracuse. What a great way to spend your day off, huh? :) I finished with the Colgate chapter at about 10pm last night and headed to Syracuse where I had a hotel room. Before I headed to Syracuse I had to make a pit stop at Turning Stone Casino. I stopped there last year and wanted to play some video poker. Once I got my players card I sat down at one of the video poker games. I decided that I would allow an expenditure of $40 on my part. After I lost that I would leave. Well wouldn't you know it...ten minutes after starting I was down to $4. I figured I would try and stretch my time at the casino by switching to the "1" credit bet versus the "Max Credit" bets I had been doing. I hit a few good hands and was up to $7. So I decided to switch back over to the "Max Credit" bets again, just for the hell of it. Before long I was back down to $4 again. SO I hit the deal button again and all of a sudden I looked at my screen. I hit A A A 2 A. In poker terms that meant 2000 credits which equated to $500. Woo hoo! So I quickly grabbed my player card...did my "victory" dance over to the cashier, and felt the "oh-so" sweet feeling of having 5 crisp $100 bills in my pocket. It was hard to walk out of there..but I knew that it was a wise choice. So in 20 minutes I gained $500--I wish I got paid that well at work.
It rained all day today. I am starting to dread the long drives. I drove 8 hours today. I will drive another 8 hours on Monday.......another 8 hours on Thursday.....and then 15 hours next weekend. In 7 days I am going to put 2,000 miles on my car! Well I know exactly where my poker winnings are going to--new tires!
All right peeps......I need to head out. Just wanted to share with you my gambling success story! I'll touch base in Canada next week.
-T
Friday, November 10, 2006
Greetings from Ithaca, NY!
Happy Veterans Day!
Well this week just flew by. I was up in Hamilton on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then I drove down to Ithaca yesterday. I will be leaving Ithaca this afternoon and heading back up to Hamilton to help them with the chapter's initiation ceremony. Tonight I am staying in Syracuse and then I will be driving 8 hours tomorrow down to good 'ol West Virginia.
The weather has been awesome lately, but I saw that Canada is getting snow--so I may have my first interaction with snow next week when I head up there.
No big news here...just trying to make it through my last week of travel for the semester, which I know I will do :).
I hope all is going well for everyone in your neck of the woods!
-T
Happy Veterans Day!
Well this week just flew by. I was up in Hamilton on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then I drove down to Ithaca yesterday. I will be leaving Ithaca this afternoon and heading back up to Hamilton to help them with the chapter's initiation ceremony. Tonight I am staying in Syracuse and then I will be driving 8 hours tomorrow down to good 'ol West Virginia.
The weather has been awesome lately, but I saw that Canada is getting snow--so I may have my first interaction with snow next week when I head up there.
No big news here...just trying to make it through my last week of travel for the semester, which I know I will do :).
I hope all is going well for everyone in your neck of the woods!
-T
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Greetings from Hamilton, NY!
Wow! Has it really been over a week since I posted a message on here? ...sorry. Well, let me do an update.
I had a great week back home in Oxford. I celebrated my 24th birthday with my fraternity family in Oxford. It was a very refreshing week. I also had my interview with Boston University. I felt it went well and I should find out within the next week on my application status.
I had a 13 hour drive on Monday and drove up to my currentl location in Hamilton, NY. Good 'ol Colgate University. It is really the iconic small- New York town that you think. It is nestled in the rolling hills of the finger lakes region. It is decked with historic buildings and of course the white church house in the center of the town. There are about 2000 students that go to this school and an additional 2000 residents of the town. Its very small, but that's part of the charm.
I was up until 2am last night watching the election results come in. Once I saw the results from Missouri roll in I headed to bed. One thing I can say about the state of Missouri is that it is one of those states that you can pretty much always look to to decide which way the country will lean. If the Republicans win Missouri....the country will go red, and vice versa for the democrats. We are living in exciting times! I'm looking forward to seeing what happens during the first 100 days.
Well, I am off to Ithaca tonight to the Cornell chapter. I have to say that a lot of stress has been lifted since getting my Boston application in. I just have the Cornell application left and that is not due until January 1..so I have some time. OOps...I forgot to mention that I got accepted to the University of Minnesota! That was huge for me because now I know that I am going to grad school somewhere!
I am off to Bethany this weekend and then I will spend next week in Canada. Thanks for reading!
-Travis
Wow! Has it really been over a week since I posted a message on here? ...sorry. Well, let me do an update.
I had a great week back home in Oxford. I celebrated my 24th birthday with my fraternity family in Oxford. It was a very refreshing week. I also had my interview with Boston University. I felt it went well and I should find out within the next week on my application status.
I had a 13 hour drive on Monday and drove up to my currentl location in Hamilton, NY. Good 'ol Colgate University. It is really the iconic small- New York town that you think. It is nestled in the rolling hills of the finger lakes region. It is decked with historic buildings and of course the white church house in the center of the town. There are about 2000 students that go to this school and an additional 2000 residents of the town. Its very small, but that's part of the charm.
I was up until 2am last night watching the election results come in. Once I saw the results from Missouri roll in I headed to bed. One thing I can say about the state of Missouri is that it is one of those states that you can pretty much always look to to decide which way the country will lean. If the Republicans win Missouri....the country will go red, and vice versa for the democrats. We are living in exciting times! I'm looking forward to seeing what happens during the first 100 days.
Well, I am off to Ithaca tonight to the Cornell chapter. I have to say that a lot of stress has been lifted since getting my Boston application in. I just have the Cornell application left and that is not due until January 1..so I have some time. OOps...I forgot to mention that I got accepted to the University of Minnesota! That was huge for me because now I know that I am going to grad school somewhere!
I am off to Bethany this weekend and then I will spend next week in Canada. Thanks for reading!
-Travis
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Greetings from Oxford, Ohio!
Well I am finally back home. I left lower Manhattan on Thursday evening at about 8:30pm and I arrived in Oxford on Friday morning at about 9:30am. Yes, I drove straight through and it was a long 13 hour drive. But I was so glad to be home. I was tired, but never "drowsy tired".
I have had a great weekend home, with my fellow consultants. It has been SO great! I got all of my laundry done, car cleaned, and grocery shopping done. I feel like a new man.
I submitted my Boston University application last week and I have my interview down in Cincinnati with them tomorrow. I am hoping all goes well. We will see!
The anxiety of not knowing what I am doing next year is starting to creep up more and more. I found out yesterday that the Area Coordinator position for the east coast chapters has opened up for next year. This is the position of my direct supervisor. I already had a director approach me and tell me that I should apply. I am very apprehensive about it because I've been so in the "graduate school" mindset. The official announcement is going to be made tomorrow--again we will see. I am also sad to hear that my supervisor will be leaving--more sad because he is a chapter brother from Minnesota and a really good friend. But I guess we must part ways eventually.
Well I only have 14 days left of travel for the semester and I will be all over the place. West Virginia, Central New York, and Canada. It will undoubtedly go fast. I was talking with other consultants and we were saying that after you've been on the road for about 2 weeks is when you start really missing home, so I will stay within the two week time frame and hopefully it will be an easy two weeks.
Love you all. Sorry I haven't been more consistent with the entries. I'll do my best in the future.
-T
Well I am finally back home. I left lower Manhattan on Thursday evening at about 8:30pm and I arrived in Oxford on Friday morning at about 9:30am. Yes, I drove straight through and it was a long 13 hour drive. But I was so glad to be home. I was tired, but never "drowsy tired".
I have had a great weekend home, with my fellow consultants. It has been SO great! I got all of my laundry done, car cleaned, and grocery shopping done. I feel like a new man.
I submitted my Boston University application last week and I have my interview down in Cincinnati with them tomorrow. I am hoping all goes well. We will see!
The anxiety of not knowing what I am doing next year is starting to creep up more and more. I found out yesterday that the Area Coordinator position for the east coast chapters has opened up for next year. This is the position of my direct supervisor. I already had a director approach me and tell me that I should apply. I am very apprehensive about it because I've been so in the "graduate school" mindset. The official announcement is going to be made tomorrow--again we will see. I am also sad to hear that my supervisor will be leaving--more sad because he is a chapter brother from Minnesota and a really good friend. But I guess we must part ways eventually.
Well I only have 14 days left of travel for the semester and I will be all over the place. West Virginia, Central New York, and Canada. It will undoubtedly go fast. I was talking with other consultants and we were saying that after you've been on the road for about 2 weeks is when you start really missing home, so I will stay within the two week time frame and hopefully it will be an easy two weeks.
Love you all. Sorry I haven't been more consistent with the entries. I'll do my best in the future.
-T
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Greetings from New Jersey!
I'm back in the Garden State. I had a great visit in Manhattan as you will see from my previous blog. I met two former consultants that live in NYC. I met one for brunch down in Chelsea and another one for coffee close to NYU. Matt Grennan is the former consultant I met at NYU. He is currently in the Economics PhD program there. He went to Iowa State for undergrad and then to Minnesota for his Master's degree. He was my Recruitment Advisor when I was the Recruitment Chair at Minnesota. Its so funny how life turns out. I would have never guess 3 years ago that I would one day meet him for coffee in lower Manhattan! I got to see the apartment (closet) that he and his wife live in. GET THIS!...the place is very small...its like a cubby hole and he and his wife pay $2500 a month. I was shocked. But my friend shares a 3 bedroom apt in Brooklyn and only pays $550. Price definitely depends on where you are located. He also lives about a block down from Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. And about 3 blocks from the Hudson River. It is a beautiful area.
I have my first meeting with the Stevens chapter in an hour. Only 2 days until I get to drive home to Oxford. Yey! Everything is going great. It is a busy week--so it is going by fast.
-T
I'm back in the Garden State. I had a great visit in Manhattan as you will see from my previous blog. I met two former consultants that live in NYC. I met one for brunch down in Chelsea and another one for coffee close to NYU. Matt Grennan is the former consultant I met at NYU. He is currently in the Economics PhD program there. He went to Iowa State for undergrad and then to Minnesota for his Master's degree. He was my Recruitment Advisor when I was the Recruitment Chair at Minnesota. Its so funny how life turns out. I would have never guess 3 years ago that I would one day meet him for coffee in lower Manhattan! I got to see the apartment (closet) that he and his wife live in. GET THIS!...the place is very small...its like a cubby hole and he and his wife pay $2500 a month. I was shocked. But my friend shares a 3 bedroom apt in Brooklyn and only pays $550. Price definitely depends on where you are located. He also lives about a block down from Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. And about 3 blocks from the Hudson River. It is a beautiful area.
I have my first meeting with the Stevens chapter in an hour. Only 2 days until I get to drive home to Oxford. Yey! Everything is going great. It is a busy week--so it is going by fast.
-T
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Greetings from the Big Apple!!
Oh, it is so great to be back in THE city of cities. I had an awesome day yesterday. I met my friend from Minnesota yesterday in Times Square. He graduated in May of this year and moved to NYC a few weeks ago. He lives in Brooklyn and is trying to find a job. We had so much fun. He took me all over lower Manhattan. We spent a lot of time in Chelsea, SoHo, Hells Kitchen, The Flat-Iron District. We walked down to the Brooklyn Bridge after night fall. Oh, it was awesome! So I've decided that I will live here eventually. It may only be for a couple years, but I want to live here for a bit.
Yesterday was definitely the energy-booster I needed. I'd write more, but I do have a lot of work to do. More updates to come later this week.
-T
Oh, it is so great to be back in THE city of cities. I had an awesome day yesterday. I met my friend from Minnesota yesterday in Times Square. He graduated in May of this year and moved to NYC a few weeks ago. He lives in Brooklyn and is trying to find a job. We had so much fun. He took me all over lower Manhattan. We spent a lot of time in Chelsea, SoHo, Hells Kitchen, The Flat-Iron District. We walked down to the Brooklyn Bridge after night fall. Oh, it was awesome! So I've decided that I will live here eventually. It may only be for a couple years, but I want to live here for a bit.
Yesterday was definitely the energy-booster I needed. I'd write more, but I do have a lot of work to do. More updates to come later this week.
-T
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Greetings from New Haven, Connecticut!
Well, I've tried to resist it for many days now, but I can't help it anymore. I have to come out and say it..."I'm ready to go home!" I love this traveling business, but after awhile I'm just ready to go home. Today marks day 31 on the road. One week from today I will be making a mad dash back home to Oxford. I'm so excited. If I was able to stay at a Holiday Inn everywhere I go, I would be fine, but I've been sleeping on the most uncomfortable futon the past 5 nights. Last night I could not fall asleeep. There's little worse than sleeping on an uncomfortable futon, but then when you toss and turn on it---god help me!
I was excited to see that I only have 14 travel days in November. So after I get through this week, it is all down hill for the semester. One thing has become very apparent to me in the past few days: This is not a job, it is your life. This job is completely in sync with every facet of your life. If I am sick and not feeling well it I can't escape the work that I do or "get away" and relax. If I want to have a nice day off and do nothing accept lounge around my house--I can't! Because I'm either in Connecticut or Maine or Canada. Instead my days off are spent traveling to the next chapter visit and praying that I can find a laundromat that is still open at 10pm.
Oh well..so is life. I'm having a good day. I'm enjoying Yale's beautiful campus and getting a lot of work done. I hope you are all having a great day!
-T
Well, I've tried to resist it for many days now, but I can't help it anymore. I have to come out and say it..."I'm ready to go home!" I love this traveling business, but after awhile I'm just ready to go home. Today marks day 31 on the road. One week from today I will be making a mad dash back home to Oxford. I'm so excited. If I was able to stay at a Holiday Inn everywhere I go, I would be fine, but I've been sleeping on the most uncomfortable futon the past 5 nights. Last night I could not fall asleeep. There's little worse than sleeping on an uncomfortable futon, but then when you toss and turn on it---god help me!
I was excited to see that I only have 14 travel days in November. So after I get through this week, it is all down hill for the semester. One thing has become very apparent to me in the past few days: This is not a job, it is your life. This job is completely in sync with every facet of your life. If I am sick and not feeling well it I can't escape the work that I do or "get away" and relax. If I want to have a nice day off and do nothing accept lounge around my house--I can't! Because I'm either in Connecticut or Maine or Canada. Instead my days off are spent traveling to the next chapter visit and praying that I can find a laundromat that is still open at 10pm.
Oh well..so is life. I'm having a good day. I'm enjoying Yale's beautiful campus and getting a lot of work done. I hope you are all having a great day!
-T
Monday, October 16, 2006
Greetings from Middletown, Connecticut!
Today is my day off...and what a day it has been. I had a phenomenal weekend at the UConn chapter this weekend and I left there last night. I headed to a hotel outside of Boston because I was scheduled to attend a Boston University class today for a class visit. I stayed about 20 miles from BU. I left an hour and fifteen minutes before the class....giving me plenty of time to make it to BU. However, I got stuck in a traffic jam and missed the start of the class. They will not let visitors go into classes after they have begun--which I completely understand. So my visit to Boston was deemed worthless. I then decided that I would drive down to Middletown and do some work on my essays. I again got stuck in traffic--this time in the middle of Connecticut. That was another two hour debacle. When I got to Middletown, I found out the town has literally no coffee shops or places to get internet, so I traveled 20 miles away...where I am now. Let me note: It is now 5pm. Can I tell you what a waste of a day it has been. And the sad thing is that I'm exhausted.
I'm in town visiting the Wesleyan chapter and it has been over a year since I have been here. The only chapter that has not seen a visit by me in over a year--possibly for good reasons. I stopped by the chapter house and of course no one was home. I'm staying with a University of Connecticut graduate who lives close by. After Wesleyan, I will be visiting Yale on Friday/Saturday. Another bright star in Betas broad domain (insert sarcastic tone here). This will be a challenging week. If I can get to Friday I will be good!
Anyways, I'm going to try and be productive for a few hours to make up for today's lack of productivity.
-Travis
Today is my day off...and what a day it has been. I had a phenomenal weekend at the UConn chapter this weekend and I left there last night. I headed to a hotel outside of Boston because I was scheduled to attend a Boston University class today for a class visit. I stayed about 20 miles from BU. I left an hour and fifteen minutes before the class....giving me plenty of time to make it to BU. However, I got stuck in a traffic jam and missed the start of the class. They will not let visitors go into classes after they have begun--which I completely understand. So my visit to Boston was deemed worthless. I then decided that I would drive down to Middletown and do some work on my essays. I again got stuck in traffic--this time in the middle of Connecticut. That was another two hour debacle. When I got to Middletown, I found out the town has literally no coffee shops or places to get internet, so I traveled 20 miles away...where I am now. Let me note: It is now 5pm. Can I tell you what a waste of a day it has been. And the sad thing is that I'm exhausted.
I'm in town visiting the Wesleyan chapter and it has been over a year since I have been here. The only chapter that has not seen a visit by me in over a year--possibly for good reasons. I stopped by the chapter house and of course no one was home. I'm staying with a University of Connecticut graduate who lives close by. After Wesleyan, I will be visiting Yale on Friday/Saturday. Another bright star in Betas broad domain (insert sarcastic tone here). This will be a challenging week. If I can get to Friday I will be good!
Anyways, I'm going to try and be productive for a few hours to make up for today's lack of productivity.
-Travis
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Greetings from South Kingstown, Rhode Island!
The best part about being in the smallest state in the US is that you are literally no more than 20 minutes from everything in the state. I've had a great two days in Rhode Island. The University of Rhode Island chapter was started in 1993 and they are one of those chapters that has so much potential. I feel like they are just now at the point where they can really start to capitalize on the great leadership they have in their chapter. Four years ago this was a 30 man chapter, now they are at nearly 60 men. It is unbelievable how much they have grown. In fraternities it is hard enough to sustain your size, but it is extremely difficult to grow! They are somewhat disorganized and this has been a crucial reason for their lack of success, but I LOVE them to death. They are truly one of my favorite chapter's to visit because they are just great men to hang out with. They have a willingness to learn and grow and they don't have any problem with me being honest with them about areas they can improve.
Not much is going on with me. Tomorrow is my day off and I am heading to Storrs, CT to meet with my brothers at the University of Connecticut. Tomorrow night is the official kickoff of basketball season at the UConn, so I will be heading to the Fanfest for Men's and Women's basketball. I may not be able to get to a game during the season, but I'll at least show up in my blue and white tomorrow in support of the Huskies! As a matter of fact, I am going to get quite a fill of UConn athletics in the next week. Next Friday night is UConn's Homecoming football game and I will be going to that versus West Virginia. UConn will probably get their asses kicked, but I'll enjoy the pre and post tailgating experience with the UConn Greek Advisor and other friends from Greek Life in the Northeast (I will not be boozing with undergrads--big no! no!).
Other than that, things are going good. Will finally finish up my Boston grad school essays tomorrow. Yey!
Hope life is well wherever you are!
-T
The best part about being in the smallest state in the US is that you are literally no more than 20 minutes from everything in the state. I've had a great two days in Rhode Island. The University of Rhode Island chapter was started in 1993 and they are one of those chapters that has so much potential. I feel like they are just now at the point where they can really start to capitalize on the great leadership they have in their chapter. Four years ago this was a 30 man chapter, now they are at nearly 60 men. It is unbelievable how much they have grown. In fraternities it is hard enough to sustain your size, but it is extremely difficult to grow! They are somewhat disorganized and this has been a crucial reason for their lack of success, but I LOVE them to death. They are truly one of my favorite chapter's to visit because they are just great men to hang out with. They have a willingness to learn and grow and they don't have any problem with me being honest with them about areas they can improve.
Not much is going on with me. Tomorrow is my day off and I am heading to Storrs, CT to meet with my brothers at the University of Connecticut. Tomorrow night is the official kickoff of basketball season at the UConn, so I will be heading to the Fanfest for Men's and Women's basketball. I may not be able to get to a game during the season, but I'll at least show up in my blue and white tomorrow in support of the Huskies! As a matter of fact, I am going to get quite a fill of UConn athletics in the next week. Next Friday night is UConn's Homecoming football game and I will be going to that versus West Virginia. UConn will probably get their asses kicked, but I'll enjoy the pre and post tailgating experience with the UConn Greek Advisor and other friends from Greek Life in the Northeast (I will not be boozing with undergrads--big no! no!).
Other than that, things are going good. Will finally finish up my Boston grad school essays tomorrow. Yey!
Hope life is well wherever you are!
-T
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Greetings from Cambridge, Massachusetts!
It is a BEAUTIFUL Sunday here in the great city of Boston. The sun is shining, the leaves are changing, and I'm enjoying the euphoria of getting work done and people watching in Central Square.
I had a great day off yesterday. I did absolutely nothing and it felt so good! I went into the weekend all caught up on work and I'm working further ahead right now. Still didn't get to the graduate school essays--but the day is not over yet. My visits to Boston continue to reinforce my desire to come to school here. But lest I get ahead of myself. I wanted to go to Cornell for my undergraduate degree but that didn't work out. So I will just put my faith in the powers above and I know whatever happens, will happen for the best.
So the people in New England refer to watching the fall leaves as "Leaf Peeping". I don't know why but that just sounds weird. Sounds more like something a 50-something year old congressman from Florida does to a 16 year old boy. Hmmm. Speaking of politics-I do not like to talk about politics too much, but lets just say I'm very passionate about politics and social issues. If you're offended by my left view on things--there is a great website called www.blogspot.com where you can create your own blog :)
I'm so excited for election day. I am excited about a possible regime change in Washington. I've been listening to Air America radio a lot lately (I love the station, but I don't believe everything I hear). Now I am not naive enough to think that all our problems are from the right or that its one party that is causing trouble. Its just that I think it would be nice to get a new perspective on issues from the left. The Dems and the Rep. both have their issues. I'm most frustrated right now by they hypocrosy that is being shown by the Republicans. This follows suit of a 6 year period of lies..and to be honest, I'm tired of it. If the right want to get on their moral high horse and preach family values and christianity, go right ahead. But damnit! LIVE-IT. Be who you say you are. I have no room for hypocrisy running my government. If you say you're a "Culture Warrior" (ahem..Mr. O'Reilly) then don't get caught having phone sex with your secretary. If you say that you are fiscally conservative, then don't go on the largest spending sprees in the history of our country. I'm just glad that James Dobson and Pat Roberts can literally talk to God and are funnelling God's wishes to Mr. Bush. Whew! I feel better.
I see so many parallels between the hypocrisy in Washington and the hypocrisy in my own fraternity. My fraternity is based on some awesome values and principles....but what good does it do if you are not living them. If we are going to put Greek Letters on our homes and spout our ideals, then we better well live them..and be who we say we are. When we haven't done that...we've gotten in trouble and have been stereotyped rapists, drunks, and "frat boys". This is whats happening now with the right wing...its what happened to the Dems during Lewinski debacle.
Ok. I'm done. I'll get off my soapbox. Wait....stepping down.....one more step....wow i was up high on that soapbox.........ok! back on the ground.
Well, I'm out!
-T
It is a BEAUTIFUL Sunday here in the great city of Boston. The sun is shining, the leaves are changing, and I'm enjoying the euphoria of getting work done and people watching in Central Square.
I had a great day off yesterday. I did absolutely nothing and it felt so good! I went into the weekend all caught up on work and I'm working further ahead right now. Still didn't get to the graduate school essays--but the day is not over yet. My visits to Boston continue to reinforce my desire to come to school here. But lest I get ahead of myself. I wanted to go to Cornell for my undergraduate degree but that didn't work out. So I will just put my faith in the powers above and I know whatever happens, will happen for the best.
So the people in New England refer to watching the fall leaves as "Leaf Peeping". I don't know why but that just sounds weird. Sounds more like something a 50-something year old congressman from Florida does to a 16 year old boy. Hmmm. Speaking of politics-I do not like to talk about politics too much, but lets just say I'm very passionate about politics and social issues. If you're offended by my left view on things--there is a great website called www.blogspot.com where you can create your own blog :)
I'm so excited for election day. I am excited about a possible regime change in Washington. I've been listening to Air America radio a lot lately (I love the station, but I don't believe everything I hear). Now I am not naive enough to think that all our problems are from the right or that its one party that is causing trouble. Its just that I think it would be nice to get a new perspective on issues from the left. The Dems and the Rep. both have their issues. I'm most frustrated right now by they hypocrosy that is being shown by the Republicans. This follows suit of a 6 year period of lies..and to be honest, I'm tired of it. If the right want to get on their moral high horse and preach family values and christianity, go right ahead. But damnit! LIVE-IT. Be who you say you are. I have no room for hypocrisy running my government. If you say you're a "Culture Warrior" (ahem..Mr. O'Reilly) then don't get caught having phone sex with your secretary. If you say that you are fiscally conservative, then don't go on the largest spending sprees in the history of our country. I'm just glad that James Dobson and Pat Roberts can literally talk to God and are funnelling God's wishes to Mr. Bush. Whew! I feel better.
I see so many parallels between the hypocrisy in Washington and the hypocrisy in my own fraternity. My fraternity is based on some awesome values and principles....but what good does it do if you are not living them. If we are going to put Greek Letters on our homes and spout our ideals, then we better well live them..and be who we say we are. When we haven't done that...we've gotten in trouble and have been stereotyped rapists, drunks, and "frat boys". This is whats happening now with the right wing...its what happened to the Dems during Lewinski debacle.
Ok. I'm done. I'll get off my soapbox. Wait....stepping down.....one more step....wow i was up high on that soapbox.........ok! back on the ground.
Well, I'm out!
-T
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Greetings from Bangor, Maine!
I had an amazing drive yesterday--through Montreal and down along the White Mountains in Vermont and New Hampshire. The fall leaves were awesome--better than last year! I stopped and got a few pictures. There were photographers all over Hwy-2 with their tripods trying to get the best pictures for their photo collections.
I had a nice stay in Ottawa. The chapter is doing very well! SO after my 10 day trip to Canada I can say I am still very upbeat and energetic! That is a huge win for me. This afternoon I meet with the Maine chapter again--should be a good time. l
One thing I found out while I was in Canada was that my car (Scion Xa) is not sold in Canada so I was constantly getting stared at as I drove by--it was funny. In fact when I was in Toronto, I was at a stop light and a bus was next to me. While I was at the red light the bus driver got out of his bus walked over to my car and motioned for me to roll down my windows (yeah, it was a little weird). So I rolled down the window and he was like, "Nice car....they don't sell those here--I want one so bad". It was quite humorous! Well when its time to sell my car, I know where to go. Speaking of my car--I will officially trip the 40,000 mile mark this week. It only took me 16 months to put 40,000 on my car. I really hope I can stay under 60,000 before the end of the year.
I'm heading down to Boston this weekend so that I can visit the MIT chapter. Then down to UConn. I can defintely tell that too much of my life revolves around my fraternity. I woke up last night haveing a dream about one of my more challenging chapters. But in my dream, I was telling them how crappy they are. Its nice to win arguments in your dreams :)
Well folks, I'm doing very well. My essay deadline for Boston University's MBA application is coming up. This weekend I will sit down and get my essays on paper and completed. I can't wait to get all these applications done!
Have a great weekend! and have a happy Thanksgiving weekend for my friends in Canada!
-T
I had an amazing drive yesterday--through Montreal and down along the White Mountains in Vermont and New Hampshire. The fall leaves were awesome--better than last year! I stopped and got a few pictures. There were photographers all over Hwy-2 with their tripods trying to get the best pictures for their photo collections.
I had a nice stay in Ottawa. The chapter is doing very well! SO after my 10 day trip to Canada I can say I am still very upbeat and energetic! That is a huge win for me. This afternoon I meet with the Maine chapter again--should be a good time. l
One thing I found out while I was in Canada was that my car (Scion Xa) is not sold in Canada so I was constantly getting stared at as I drove by--it was funny. In fact when I was in Toronto, I was at a stop light and a bus was next to me. While I was at the red light the bus driver got out of his bus walked over to my car and motioned for me to roll down my windows (yeah, it was a little weird). So I rolled down the window and he was like, "Nice car....they don't sell those here--I want one so bad". It was quite humorous! Well when its time to sell my car, I know where to go. Speaking of my car--I will officially trip the 40,000 mile mark this week. It only took me 16 months to put 40,000 on my car. I really hope I can stay under 60,000 before the end of the year.
I'm heading down to Boston this weekend so that I can visit the MIT chapter. Then down to UConn. I can defintely tell that too much of my life revolves around my fraternity. I woke up last night haveing a dream about one of my more challenging chapters. But in my dream, I was telling them how crappy they are. Its nice to win arguments in your dreams :)
Well folks, I'm doing very well. My essay deadline for Boston University's MBA application is coming up. This weekend I will sit down and get my essays on paper and completed. I can't wait to get all these applications done!
Have a great weekend! and have a happy Thanksgiving weekend for my friends in Canada!
-T
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Les salutations de la ville de Toronto !
Like that? I thought I'd add a little French into my blog since I am in a country where the two official languages are English and French.
I have to say I am in HEAVEN right now! I got into Toronto last night. I had made reservations on Priceline at what I thought was the Toronto Airport. A Residence Inn by Marriott for $50 dollars (US) a night. What a sweet deal. I have never stayed at a Residence Inn before. Well I was running late because I was meeting the District Chief for Ontario at his house for dinner. I rushed into the Toronto Residence Inn and found out that I had made reservations at the Mississauga Airport Residence Inn. So I, in my frustration, I just hurried across town--just east of downtown Toronto and had dinner with Jeff Mores. He made a phenomenal steak and garlic mashed potatoes...oh it was so damn good! He is great! At 10:30 I made the 45 minute track back to the western edge of Toronto where I found my Residence Inn. It was supposed to be my day off, but I spent the day in London with area alumni and it ended up being a long day. I checked into my room. When I opened the door I couldn't believe my eyes! This was the best room I have ever stayed at. It has a kitchen, free breakfast buffet (with eggs, bacon, and pancakes), comfy bed, a work out facility, pool and jacuzzi. And I got it for $50. I was literally dancing in my room over my excitement. That's right folks--it takes so little to make me happy anymore. I did one of those "backward falls onto my bed" and just layed there in complete satisfaction.
Why did I just spend $75 a night in London for a shitty Econo Lodge? Well I'm sitting here in my room getting caught up on my reports. We have a new reporting layout which is much shorter. It shouldn't take me long and then I can work on graduate school essays. I think I'm going to head downtown tonight and experience a little night life. I don't go out when I'm on the road because I'm all by myself. I usually find that if I stay busy and occupy my time that I hardly ever notice I'm alone. When I get into social situations at bars where I don't know anyone that is when I start feeling alone. SO I may grab a movie (I want to see "Prairie Home Companion" ...I hear its hilarious), but I am starting to crave the night life that I rarely get to experience on the road. I think I'll try stretching my comfort zone and make it work!
I love Toronto. Why do I get to visit all of these amazing places? I am so fortunate to have this opportunity. I could be stuck in the Midwest Region or South Central (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas), but no I got the amazing Northeast/Ontario.
One quick observation. Canadians are awesome. They are so nice and they love when US citizens (Don't call us Americans ...they are Americans too. ) come visit because it fuels their economy.
-Travis
Like that? I thought I'd add a little French into my blog since I am in a country where the two official languages are English and French.
I have to say I am in HEAVEN right now! I got into Toronto last night. I had made reservations on Priceline at what I thought was the Toronto Airport. A Residence Inn by Marriott for $50 dollars (US) a night. What a sweet deal. I have never stayed at a Residence Inn before. Well I was running late because I was meeting the District Chief for Ontario at his house for dinner. I rushed into the Toronto Residence Inn and found out that I had made reservations at the Mississauga Airport Residence Inn. So I, in my frustration, I just hurried across town--just east of downtown Toronto and had dinner with Jeff Mores. He made a phenomenal steak and garlic mashed potatoes...oh it was so damn good! He is great! At 10:30 I made the 45 minute track back to the western edge of Toronto where I found my Residence Inn. It was supposed to be my day off, but I spent the day in London with area alumni and it ended up being a long day. I checked into my room. When I opened the door I couldn't believe my eyes! This was the best room I have ever stayed at. It has a kitchen, free breakfast buffet (with eggs, bacon, and pancakes), comfy bed, a work out facility, pool and jacuzzi. And I got it for $50. I was literally dancing in my room over my excitement. That's right folks--it takes so little to make me happy anymore. I did one of those "backward falls onto my bed" and just layed there in complete satisfaction.
Why did I just spend $75 a night in London for a shitty Econo Lodge? Well I'm sitting here in my room getting caught up on my reports. We have a new reporting layout which is much shorter. It shouldn't take me long and then I can work on graduate school essays. I think I'm going to head downtown tonight and experience a little night life. I don't go out when I'm on the road because I'm all by myself. I usually find that if I stay busy and occupy my time that I hardly ever notice I'm alone. When I get into social situations at bars where I don't know anyone that is when I start feeling alone. SO I may grab a movie (I want to see "Prairie Home Companion" ...I hear its hilarious), but I am starting to crave the night life that I rarely get to experience on the road. I think I'll try stretching my comfort zone and make it work!
I love Toronto. Why do I get to visit all of these amazing places? I am so fortunate to have this opportunity. I could be stuck in the Midwest Region or South Central (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas), but no I got the amazing Northeast/Ontario.
One quick observation. Canadians are awesome. They are so nice and they love when US citizens (Don't call us Americans ...they are Americans too. ) come visit because it fuels their economy.
-Travis
Thursday, September 28, 2006
O Canada
Our Home and Native Land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command
With glowing hearts, we see thee rise
The True North sTrong and free!
From far and wide, Oh Canada
We stand on guard for thee!!
God Keep our land, Glorious and free,
O Canada we stand on guard for thee,
OOO CANNNNADDAA, WEE STAND ON GUARD FORRR THEEEE!!!
Greetings from the providence of Ontario!
Today is day 3 of my visit to Canada. I'm having a great time here in London, Ontario. I met with the chapter at the University of Western Ontario yesterday. They are a fun group of guys, but a little misguided on what Beta Theta Pi is all about--doesn't surprise me. Canadians love using the cop out "it's canada, its different here". But I did my best to sift through that rhetoric. My "Its differenty here" shield was up on full force--I think I did a great job at reflecting an excuses. London is a weird city. Its about the size of Springfield, Missouri or Fargo, North Dakota. It is the most divided city I have ever seen in terms of social class. The University of Western Ontario is full of students that are wealthy. It reminds me a lot of the flashy, superficial image that exists at Miami University. Yet, the city is full of homelessness. Its shocking the desparity there is between the two groups.
I'm heading to Toronto tomorrow evening. I can't wait--I love Toronto. Things are going well. I guess thats all I have for now.
-Travis
Our Home and Native Land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command
With glowing hearts, we see thee rise
The True North sTrong and free!
From far and wide, Oh Canada
We stand on guard for thee!!
God Keep our land, Glorious and free,
O Canada we stand on guard for thee,
OOO CANNNNADDAA, WEE STAND ON GUARD FORRR THEEEE!!!
Greetings from the providence of Ontario!
Today is day 3 of my visit to Canada. I'm having a great time here in London, Ontario. I met with the chapter at the University of Western Ontario yesterday. They are a fun group of guys, but a little misguided on what Beta Theta Pi is all about--doesn't surprise me. Canadians love using the cop out "it's canada, its different here". But I did my best to sift through that rhetoric. My "Its differenty here" shield was up on full force--I think I did a great job at reflecting an excuses. London is a weird city. Its about the size of Springfield, Missouri or Fargo, North Dakota. It is the most divided city I have ever seen in terms of social class. The University of Western Ontario is full of students that are wealthy. It reminds me a lot of the flashy, superficial image that exists at Miami University. Yet, the city is full of homelessness. Its shocking the desparity there is between the two groups.
I'm heading to Toronto tomorrow evening. I can't wait--I love Toronto. Things are going well. I guess thats all I have for now.
-Travis
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Greetings from Washington, PA!
Did you think I had quit posting? Well, I have had a busy week in Oxford. I forgot how busy/productive the All-Staff weeks can be. I got a ton of work done for my graduate school applications. All I need to do now is write my essays. Which seems easy, but man, it looks like it might be difficult. I'm going to be putting a lot of hours into those essays in the next few weeks. I need to have my essays for Boston University done by October 15th so that I can interview with them when they come to Cincinatti on October 30th.
I am so excited about graduate school, but at the same time--very nervous. I hate it when other people have control of your life. Its kind of like when you go flying. You buy the ticket, pack your bags, get on the plane--do everything you're supposed to do, but ultimately its the pilot who is in control of your life. Maybe a bad analogy, but it still comes to mind.
I'm doing some celebrating right now because gas has dropped to $1.98 a gallon. Where did that come from? It must be all the peace that we have spread over in the middle east.....no, that doesn't sound right? Oh, wait! It must be the great condition of the Alaska Pipelines that are efficiently pumping oil down to the lower-48.....wait a minute? No thats not it? Hmmm.....maybe we stumbled onto a vast field of oil in the lower levels of the earth's crust....Nope...that didn't happen either. Well, the last thing I can think of is that we've reached the 50-day mark until the midterm elections....all I can say is "Sounds about right." Thanks G.W. The GOP has ignited the smoke and mirrors. I'm not a conspirorist, but it does seem a little odd.
Well, I've got two days left in the good 'ol U.S. of A until I go to visit our great friends to the north. Traditionally, my trips to Canada have been absolutely draining. But I have a great attitude and I am excited to go to Canada. I am determined to come out of Canada feeling good! I'll keep you posted.
Well thats all for now, I'm visiting our colony at Bethany. I'm anxious to hear how the boys did with recruitment. Later peeps!
-T
Did you think I had quit posting? Well, I have had a busy week in Oxford. I forgot how busy/productive the All-Staff weeks can be. I got a ton of work done for my graduate school applications. All I need to do now is write my essays. Which seems easy, but man, it looks like it might be difficult. I'm going to be putting a lot of hours into those essays in the next few weeks. I need to have my essays for Boston University done by October 15th so that I can interview with them when they come to Cincinatti on October 30th.
I am so excited about graduate school, but at the same time--very nervous. I hate it when other people have control of your life. Its kind of like when you go flying. You buy the ticket, pack your bags, get on the plane--do everything you're supposed to do, but ultimately its the pilot who is in control of your life. Maybe a bad analogy, but it still comes to mind.
I'm doing some celebrating right now because gas has dropped to $1.98 a gallon. Where did that come from? It must be all the peace that we have spread over in the middle east.....no, that doesn't sound right? Oh, wait! It must be the great condition of the Alaska Pipelines that are efficiently pumping oil down to the lower-48.....wait a minute? No thats not it? Hmmm.....maybe we stumbled onto a vast field of oil in the lower levels of the earth's crust....Nope...that didn't happen either. Well, the last thing I can think of is that we've reached the 50-day mark until the midterm elections....all I can say is "Sounds about right." Thanks G.W. The GOP has ignited the smoke and mirrors. I'm not a conspirorist, but it does seem a little odd.
Well, I've got two days left in the good 'ol U.S. of A until I go to visit our great friends to the north. Traditionally, my trips to Canada have been absolutely draining. But I have a great attitude and I am excited to go to Canada. I am determined to come out of Canada feeling good! I'll keep you posted.
Well thats all for now, I'm visiting our colony at Bethany. I'm anxious to hear how the boys did with recruitment. Later peeps!
-T
Monday, September 18, 2006
Greetings from Oxford, Ohio!
Wow! Is it great to be home. I left Binghamton, New York on Saturday afternoon and drove all evening. I finally landed on my bed at 2am on Sunday morning. Did I mention how great it is to be home?
Today was my first day back in the office. It flew by. But it was so great to be back in the office with the boys. There is so much energy and comraderie within our group of consultants. Coming back for All-Staff week reenergizes you and makes this whole experience worth it. We share our stories, laugh, and do a lot of work!
It's 10pm and I'm in the office. I've got half a report to write before I am all caught up. I just wanted to check in. I don't want to make a habit of missing my entries.
-T
Wow! Is it great to be home. I left Binghamton, New York on Saturday afternoon and drove all evening. I finally landed on my bed at 2am on Sunday morning. Did I mention how great it is to be home?
Today was my first day back in the office. It flew by. But it was so great to be back in the office with the boys. There is so much energy and comraderie within our group of consultants. Coming back for All-Staff week reenergizes you and makes this whole experience worth it. We share our stories, laugh, and do a lot of work!
It's 10pm and I'm in the office. I've got half a report to write before I am all caught up. I just wanted to check in. I don't want to make a habit of missing my entries.
-T
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Greetings from the Garden State!
New Jersey has such nice sounding nickname--The Garden State. It conjers up such beautiful images--i think of a garden with plants and little critters--so peaceful. But I just wonder where these peaceful images are in this state. I'm in Hoboken at the Stevens Institute of Technology. For those of you who aren't familiar--Hoboken is right across the Hudson River from Manhattan. In reality I'm in NYC. Hoboken really is a neat town. They've got great little shops along Washington Street and the view of lower Manhattan is second to none. But New Jersey is a piece of work.
Driving is different here. They do not believe in blinkers on the New Jersey Turnpike, which takes a little adjustment. And the lines of the interstate really don't mean anything either. Its more like a free for all of driving. Hilarious, though! Its fun to drive on the NJ Turnpike.
Now let me tell you about my motel room. I am staying at a Super 8 in Hackensack. I chose this because it was the cheapest room I could find ($70) that was within 30 miles of Hoboken. When I arrived at Super 8 on Monday evening I was excited to know that they have free wireless...but is standard with my travels...it was broken and didn't work in the rooms. The lobby is located in a little hut that is about 100 yards in front of the building with the rooms. When I called about the internet they told me that he internet worked in the lobby and I could come use it there. So....I did. I was in the lobby for about 2 hours and it was rediculous what I saw. There were about 25 guys that came in over the course of the 2 hours asking for rooms. But not in the standard way....at first I thought I was making this up, but then I realize, YEP! I'm hearing exactly what I thought I was hearing. The guys were coming in and getting rooms for 3 and 4 hours. When one of the guys asked for condoms I was like "yep, I'm staying at a whorehouse". So YES...I'm staying at a place that charges by the hour. I should have known when the billboard outside the Super 8 said "Midnight Special". The next day I found out that the place is surrounded by two strip clubs and an adult bookstore. How in god's name to I pick these places? I've taken it with a grain of salt and found humor in it. Later that night I went back into the lobby to do more work and I found it entertaining to see who was coming through the door.
Stevens is the most mediocre chapter I work with. They're just so complacent. I would rather work with a chapter that is undeniably bad, than a chapter that is this ho-hum. They rank right in the middle for grades, they don't do anything really spectacular and they don't do anything terrible either.
One more night in the Super 8 and then I head back up to Binghamton, NY early tomorrow morning.
-T
New Jersey has such nice sounding nickname--The Garden State. It conjers up such beautiful images--i think of a garden with plants and little critters--so peaceful. But I just wonder where these peaceful images are in this state. I'm in Hoboken at the Stevens Institute of Technology. For those of you who aren't familiar--Hoboken is right across the Hudson River from Manhattan. In reality I'm in NYC. Hoboken really is a neat town. They've got great little shops along Washington Street and the view of lower Manhattan is second to none. But New Jersey is a piece of work.
Driving is different here. They do not believe in blinkers on the New Jersey Turnpike, which takes a little adjustment. And the lines of the interstate really don't mean anything either. Its more like a free for all of driving. Hilarious, though! Its fun to drive on the NJ Turnpike.
Now let me tell you about my motel room. I am staying at a Super 8 in Hackensack. I chose this because it was the cheapest room I could find ($70) that was within 30 miles of Hoboken. When I arrived at Super 8 on Monday evening I was excited to know that they have free wireless...but is standard with my travels...it was broken and didn't work in the rooms. The lobby is located in a little hut that is about 100 yards in front of the building with the rooms. When I called about the internet they told me that he internet worked in the lobby and I could come use it there. So....I did. I was in the lobby for about 2 hours and it was rediculous what I saw. There were about 25 guys that came in over the course of the 2 hours asking for rooms. But not in the standard way....at first I thought I was making this up, but then I realize, YEP! I'm hearing exactly what I thought I was hearing. The guys were coming in and getting rooms for 3 and 4 hours. When one of the guys asked for condoms I was like "yep, I'm staying at a whorehouse". So YES...I'm staying at a place that charges by the hour. I should have known when the billboard outside the Super 8 said "Midnight Special". The next day I found out that the place is surrounded by two strip clubs and an adult bookstore. How in god's name to I pick these places? I've taken it with a grain of salt and found humor in it. Later that night I went back into the lobby to do more work and I found it entertaining to see who was coming through the door.
Stevens is the most mediocre chapter I work with. They're just so complacent. I would rather work with a chapter that is undeniably bad, than a chapter that is this ho-hum. They rank right in the middle for grades, they don't do anything really spectacular and they don't do anything terrible either.
One more night in the Super 8 and then I head back up to Binghamton, NY early tomorrow morning.
-T
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Greetings from New Haven--Day Two.
My boss flew in last night and we met with a few Yale alumni. It was a good dinner. I was expecting a tense meeting, but it wasn't. This is one of the most difficult chapters to deal with. I have never met a chapter that is so mediocre and yet, so afraid to try something different. To reiterate my comment yesterday about being clueless on chapter operations, here are two perfect examples:
The General Fraternity offers Recruitment Through Scholarship grants to every chapter who applies each year. They are eligible to apply for $500 from the Foundation to offer to incoming freshman. Not only does it show our value we place on academics but it assists chapters in building relationships with freshman--with a purpose of giving away a scholarhship. Most chapters have seen great results and use it as a cornerstone of their recruitment program. Yale has yet to implement such a program and I have suggested it every time I visit. The president told me that the application asks for a letter of recommendation from a Greek Advisor, but Yale doesn't have a Greek Advisor so they thought they were ineligible. DONE. End of story. There was no phone call or email to me to ask if they were still eligible, they just assumed they couldn't do it. This after I have been begging them to give it a try. Where is their problem solving ability?
Another example: If a member decides to quit Beta he must submit a "Volunteery Resignation Form" and submit it to the General Fraternity, so we can note his resignation in our records. Yale has a member whose last name is McGill and another member whose last name is McGell. The guy with the last name McGill wanted to resign, but the Treasurer went to McGell and had him sign a resignation form and they sent that in. McGell didn't read the form that he was signing--now I have to help the chapter get that straightened out. These are YALE students--you would think they could learn to read.
I get things like, "Oh, we're struggling with recruitment"..and then 5 minutes later they will tell me how they don't want a recruitment advisor thats not a Yale Alum, but yet I have 3 UConn alums who are begging to help the chapter.
I'm just so frustrated right now. I am here on a two day visit and I emailed my visit setup form to the president 5 weeks ago. Did he have meetings set up for me--no. The Vice President just stopped by and said that he wouldn't be able to meet until 8pm tonight. I've got a conference call at 10pm and I have a 2.5 hour drive to Hoboken, NJ tonight. Do I really need to stay around until 8pm to have a meeting with some clueless officer....NO, I don't!
Thought of the moment: 'It's hard to polish a turd.'
-T
My boss flew in last night and we met with a few Yale alumni. It was a good dinner. I was expecting a tense meeting, but it wasn't. This is one of the most difficult chapters to deal with. I have never met a chapter that is so mediocre and yet, so afraid to try something different. To reiterate my comment yesterday about being clueless on chapter operations, here are two perfect examples:
The General Fraternity offers Recruitment Through Scholarship grants to every chapter who applies each year. They are eligible to apply for $500 from the Foundation to offer to incoming freshman. Not only does it show our value we place on academics but it assists chapters in building relationships with freshman--with a purpose of giving away a scholarhship. Most chapters have seen great results and use it as a cornerstone of their recruitment program. Yale has yet to implement such a program and I have suggested it every time I visit. The president told me that the application asks for a letter of recommendation from a Greek Advisor, but Yale doesn't have a Greek Advisor so they thought they were ineligible. DONE. End of story. There was no phone call or email to me to ask if they were still eligible, they just assumed they couldn't do it. This after I have been begging them to give it a try. Where is their problem solving ability?
Another example: If a member decides to quit Beta he must submit a "Volunteery Resignation Form" and submit it to the General Fraternity, so we can note his resignation in our records. Yale has a member whose last name is McGill and another member whose last name is McGell. The guy with the last name McGill wanted to resign, but the Treasurer went to McGell and had him sign a resignation form and they sent that in. McGell didn't read the form that he was signing--now I have to help the chapter get that straightened out. These are YALE students--you would think they could learn to read.
I get things like, "Oh, we're struggling with recruitment"..and then 5 minutes later they will tell me how they don't want a recruitment advisor thats not a Yale Alum, but yet I have 3 UConn alums who are begging to help the chapter.
I'm just so frustrated right now. I am here on a two day visit and I emailed my visit setup form to the president 5 weeks ago. Did he have meetings set up for me--no. The Vice President just stopped by and said that he wouldn't be able to meet until 8pm tonight. I've got a conference call at 10pm and I have a 2.5 hour drive to Hoboken, NJ tonight. Do I really need to stay around until 8pm to have a meeting with some clueless officer....NO, I don't!
Thought of the moment: 'It's hard to polish a turd.'
-T
Monday, September 11, 2006
Greetings from New Haven, Connecticut!
I remember it exactly. It was Tuesday, September 11, 2001 and it was my second week of classes at the University of Minnesota. My freshman year. I was lying in bed, on the 3rd floor of the Beta chapter house, listening to the cars and ruckus of a Tuesday morning as everyone hurried to their first class of the day along University Avenue. I didn't have my first class until 2pm, Biology 1001--so as I enjoyed my "morning off". All of a sudden I got a phone call from my buddy from high school. Him: "Turn on the TV". Me: "What do you mean? Why?" Him: "Just do it". I turned on the tv in my small room and I was awe struck. I couldn't believe my eyes. A plane had just struck the second tower of the World Trade Center. A memory etched in my head forever.
As I was driving from Storrs this morning I couldn't help but reflect on that day--that moment--the feelings of fear, anxiety, and helplessness creeped over me. Why had so many people needlessly lost their lives that day? What if I were on the plane? In one of those buildings? It just doesn't make sense.
After visiting the WTC site last year I noticed one thing. In all of the commotion and day-t0-day rhetoric of lower Manhattan, ground zero might has well have been in a secluded location off in the mountains somewhere. It was so quiet--so eerily peaceful. The souls of all those who had perished on that day seemed to ly silent in the concrete garden that surrounded that hallowed place. Five years....
__________________________________________________________________
Today I will be meeting with the Yale chapter. As is typical fashion, I am in a Starbucks on the edge of Yale University. I had a great weekend in Connecticut. I don't consider my visit to UConn as a chore or work per se, but more of a visit with friends. Yesterday was a long day of goal setting meetings, education presentations, and chapter meetings--but the boys powered through and they were so appreciative of me being there and working with them. They get it! Why can't more chapters "get it"? All I want is to have one more chapter that gets it. But no, I continue to work talented men who have no idea what fraternity is about. I go to Yale, MIT, Cornell, Colgate, Columbia, and Wesleyan--all great students, with, supposedly, the most talented minds in the world--but you wouldn't know it by the way they run their chapters.
This is going to be a busy week, but one thing I know about busy weeks is that that fly by. Which can be a good and bad thing. I'm out to write some reports, and do some catch-up work.
-T
I remember it exactly. It was Tuesday, September 11, 2001 and it was my second week of classes at the University of Minnesota. My freshman year. I was lying in bed, on the 3rd floor of the Beta chapter house, listening to the cars and ruckus of a Tuesday morning as everyone hurried to their first class of the day along University Avenue. I didn't have my first class until 2pm, Biology 1001--so as I enjoyed my "morning off". All of a sudden I got a phone call from my buddy from high school. Him: "Turn on the TV". Me: "What do you mean? Why?" Him: "Just do it". I turned on the tv in my small room and I was awe struck. I couldn't believe my eyes. A plane had just struck the second tower of the World Trade Center. A memory etched in my head forever.
As I was driving from Storrs this morning I couldn't help but reflect on that day--that moment--the feelings of fear, anxiety, and helplessness creeped over me. Why had so many people needlessly lost their lives that day? What if I were on the plane? In one of those buildings? It just doesn't make sense.
After visiting the WTC site last year I noticed one thing. In all of the commotion and day-t0-day rhetoric of lower Manhattan, ground zero might has well have been in a secluded location off in the mountains somewhere. It was so quiet--so eerily peaceful. The souls of all those who had perished on that day seemed to ly silent in the concrete garden that surrounded that hallowed place. Five years....
__________________________________________________________________
Today I will be meeting with the Yale chapter. As is typical fashion, I am in a Starbucks on the edge of Yale University. I had a great weekend in Connecticut. I don't consider my visit to UConn as a chore or work per se, but more of a visit with friends. Yesterday was a long day of goal setting meetings, education presentations, and chapter meetings--but the boys powered through and they were so appreciative of me being there and working with them. They get it! Why can't more chapters "get it"? All I want is to have one more chapter that gets it. But no, I continue to work talented men who have no idea what fraternity is about. I go to Yale, MIT, Cornell, Colgate, Columbia, and Wesleyan--all great students, with, supposedly, the most talented minds in the world--but you wouldn't know it by the way they run their chapters.
This is going to be a busy week, but one thing I know about busy weeks is that that fly by. Which can be a good and bad thing. I'm out to write some reports, and do some catch-up work.
-T
Friday, September 08, 2006
Greetings from Storrs, Connecticut!
This morning I left Boston, after a great 3-day visit to the city. I got to meet up with a few MIT undergraduates, but they were in the middle of rush week and were very busy. I also was able to have coffee with a friend from Minnesota. She just started her first week at Harvard Law. She is amazing. Last night, I had dinner with a Beta who just moved to Boston from Atlanta. I tried to peak his interest into becoming an advisor at MIT. He was a great guy, and I hope he decides to get involved.
This morning before I left Boston I went to an informatin session at Boston University's School of Management. I was very impressed with the facilities and program they offer. My application for their MBA program is halfway done. They told me that they usually send a response back to applicants within 3-4 weeks of submittal, which is a real plus as I would like to know what I am doing next year as soon as possible. The school is even more urban than the University of Minnesota. It butts up against downtown Boston and the Charles River. Most of the dorms and administrative buildings are in old brownstone houses. Its awesome!
I am exhausted today for some reason. I seriously want to take a nap, but I have no hotel room and I'm staying with the UConn chapter for the next 3 nights....probably on a couch. So the best I can do is camp out at Starbucks. I just realized that I only have 9 days left on the road...then I am back in Oxford. Exciting! However, I have a big week in front of me. I've got a very TENSE meeting on Monday with an alum on Monday. He's caused so much ruckus and pushback about getting advisors appointed for his chapter that my boss is flying in for the day for the meeting. Sometimes I look at the people I'm working with (alums and undergrads) and am appaulled. Don't get me wrong I love my fraternity and what I do, but these people get so bent out of shape over any attempt at making their chapters better. IT'S JUST A FRATERNITY!! Get a life!
Tomorrow and Sunday I will be facilitating a weekend kickoff retreat for the UConn chapter. They are my best chapter...by a long shot, and I love them to death. They really get what the fraternity is and I can't wait to hear what is going on in their lives. Monday I head to Yale, then to Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, and last back to Binghamton, NY to facilitate an advisory training on Friday and Saturday. As soon as I am done next Saturday afternoon I'm getting in my car and driving all the way back to Oxford. I need to appreciate my time in Oxford this month because after the week back home I won't be back until Halloween.
Alright, gotta write my MIT Visitation Report.....later!
-T
This morning I left Boston, after a great 3-day visit to the city. I got to meet up with a few MIT undergraduates, but they were in the middle of rush week and were very busy. I also was able to have coffee with a friend from Minnesota. She just started her first week at Harvard Law. She is amazing. Last night, I had dinner with a Beta who just moved to Boston from Atlanta. I tried to peak his interest into becoming an advisor at MIT. He was a great guy, and I hope he decides to get involved.
This morning before I left Boston I went to an informatin session at Boston University's School of Management. I was very impressed with the facilities and program they offer. My application for their MBA program is halfway done. They told me that they usually send a response back to applicants within 3-4 weeks of submittal, which is a real plus as I would like to know what I am doing next year as soon as possible. The school is even more urban than the University of Minnesota. It butts up against downtown Boston and the Charles River. Most of the dorms and administrative buildings are in old brownstone houses. Its awesome!
I am exhausted today for some reason. I seriously want to take a nap, but I have no hotel room and I'm staying with the UConn chapter for the next 3 nights....probably on a couch. So the best I can do is camp out at Starbucks. I just realized that I only have 9 days left on the road...then I am back in Oxford. Exciting! However, I have a big week in front of me. I've got a very TENSE meeting on Monday with an alum on Monday. He's caused so much ruckus and pushback about getting advisors appointed for his chapter that my boss is flying in for the day for the meeting. Sometimes I look at the people I'm working with (alums and undergrads) and am appaulled. Don't get me wrong I love my fraternity and what I do, but these people get so bent out of shape over any attempt at making their chapters better. IT'S JUST A FRATERNITY!! Get a life!
Tomorrow and Sunday I will be facilitating a weekend kickoff retreat for the UConn chapter. They are my best chapter...by a long shot, and I love them to death. They really get what the fraternity is and I can't wait to hear what is going on in their lives. Monday I head to Yale, then to Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, and last back to Binghamton, NY to facilitate an advisory training on Friday and Saturday. As soon as I am done next Saturday afternoon I'm getting in my car and driving all the way back to Oxford. I need to appreciate my time in Oxford this month because after the week back home I won't be back until Halloween.
Alright, gotta write my MIT Visitation Report.....later!
-T
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Greetings from Boston! I'll admit it!.....there's no denying it....I'm completely in love with this city! If you have never been to Boston, you need to go.
Today was the first time that I drove on I-93 through downtown which most people know as "the big dig" ...and boy is it big! Its huge. I couldn't help but think about the lady who died a few weeks ago when one of the concrete tiles from the tunnel fell on her car as she was driving through the tunnel. Then I was thinking, "God, how unlucky she was". There must be millions of cars that go through that tunnel everyday and you were the ONE car that a piece of concrete falls on. I think your chances of winning the lottery are better. I do have to say that you have to have your A-Game on to drive in this city. But you know, I've driven in Toronto, Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia and for some reason I have never had any major problems. I tend to luck out when I'm driving. There are times where I honestly have no clue where I'm at and then all of a sudden I'm where I need to be. I think it has something to do with my Grandma Fischer's rosary I have in my car. The woman drove until she was like 88 years old--and I have no clue how she did it. When I first put the rosary in my car I was like "well, so far I haven't had any wrecks--so grandma's in heaven keeping me safe when I'm driving". But then last winter I hit a deer--I must have pissed her off somewhere along the line. So, note to self: Don't piss Grandma off!
I stayed in Salem, Massachusetts last night. I drove down from Bangor and was planning on going by the Salem Witch Trials Museum, but it was dark by the time I got there. So I drove by the Salem Commons and saw where the women were burned at the stake. Pretty cool! or hot!..however you look at it.
Today is the first day of classes for all of the Boston schools (Harvard, MIT, Boston University, Tufts, and Boston College) and you can definitely see that Cambridge is buzzing again. It reminds me so much of school at the University of Minnesota being in a big city. I'm sitting at a Starbucks on the corner of Mass. Ave and Prospect..which is known as Central Square. After I get some work done this afternoon I'm going to take a stroll down to Harvard Square. I need to get some pics of Harvard. Last time I was here, it was raining, and today would be perfect. My friend from Minnesota just started her first year at Harvard Law (yeah, she is a genious--and asian--go figure!) so I'm going to give her a ring and meet up for a few minutes.
My visit to Maine was a good one. They actually understand what it means to run an organization. The past visits have been at chapters that are clueless on how to run an effiecient organization. So it was great to not have to spend a lot of time on the basics. I made a comment earlier about Maine being the land of Subaru's and LL Bean. I was not lying. They love the Subaru Hatchback...they are EVERYWHERE. The people of Maine also have different personalities than the peeps in southern New England. I would go into gas stations and get 20-questions about my job and what I do. I can't just tell people "oh, I'm a consultant for my fraternity" and that be it. I get the "Oh, what is that?" or "Oh, wow! that must be an easy job." or "So, what year in school are you?" or my favorite "So, you help the guys put on parties right?". And then my response is (in my head) "NO! you dumbass! I have a degree from the University of Minnesota...this is a challenging job....NO! I don't help them put on parties. But alas! I calm down, gather my thoughts and say "Actually, its a great opportunity. I get to travel the northeast and help advise and support 15 chapters by providing them resources that assist them in creating a values-based experience."--This is then followed-up with a blank stare and a nod. I walk away thinking, "oh well, I tried."
Anyways, its a beautiful day in Boston! I start my meetings with the MIT undergraduates tomorrow. Should be a good time.
I have two visit reports which I have to write today...which I'm going to do! Don't believe me?...just wait. Alright, I don't get paid to right in my blog all day. I'm out!
-T
Today was the first time that I drove on I-93 through downtown which most people know as "the big dig" ...and boy is it big! Its huge. I couldn't help but think about the lady who died a few weeks ago when one of the concrete tiles from the tunnel fell on her car as she was driving through the tunnel. Then I was thinking, "God, how unlucky she was". There must be millions of cars that go through that tunnel everyday and you were the ONE car that a piece of concrete falls on. I think your chances of winning the lottery are better. I do have to say that you have to have your A-Game on to drive in this city. But you know, I've driven in Toronto, Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia and for some reason I have never had any major problems. I tend to luck out when I'm driving. There are times where I honestly have no clue where I'm at and then all of a sudden I'm where I need to be. I think it has something to do with my Grandma Fischer's rosary I have in my car. The woman drove until she was like 88 years old--and I have no clue how she did it. When I first put the rosary in my car I was like "well, so far I haven't had any wrecks--so grandma's in heaven keeping me safe when I'm driving". But then last winter I hit a deer--I must have pissed her off somewhere along the line. So, note to self: Don't piss Grandma off!
I stayed in Salem, Massachusetts last night. I drove down from Bangor and was planning on going by the Salem Witch Trials Museum, but it was dark by the time I got there. So I drove by the Salem Commons and saw where the women were burned at the stake. Pretty cool! or hot!..however you look at it.
Today is the first day of classes for all of the Boston schools (Harvard, MIT, Boston University, Tufts, and Boston College) and you can definitely see that Cambridge is buzzing again. It reminds me so much of school at the University of Minnesota being in a big city. I'm sitting at a Starbucks on the corner of Mass. Ave and Prospect..which is known as Central Square. After I get some work done this afternoon I'm going to take a stroll down to Harvard Square. I need to get some pics of Harvard. Last time I was here, it was raining, and today would be perfect. My friend from Minnesota just started her first year at Harvard Law (yeah, she is a genious--and asian--go figure!) so I'm going to give her a ring and meet up for a few minutes.
My visit to Maine was a good one. They actually understand what it means to run an organization. The past visits have been at chapters that are clueless on how to run an effiecient organization. So it was great to not have to spend a lot of time on the basics. I made a comment earlier about Maine being the land of Subaru's and LL Bean. I was not lying. They love the Subaru Hatchback...they are EVERYWHERE. The people of Maine also have different personalities than the peeps in southern New England. I would go into gas stations and get 20-questions about my job and what I do. I can't just tell people "oh, I'm a consultant for my fraternity" and that be it. I get the "Oh, what is that?" or "Oh, wow! that must be an easy job." or "So, what year in school are you?" or my favorite "So, you help the guys put on parties right?". And then my response is (in my head) "NO! you dumbass! I have a degree from the University of Minnesota...this is a challenging job....NO! I don't help them put on parties. But alas! I calm down, gather my thoughts and say "Actually, its a great opportunity. I get to travel the northeast and help advise and support 15 chapters by providing them resources that assist them in creating a values-based experience."--This is then followed-up with a blank stare and a nod. I walk away thinking, "oh well, I tried."
Anyways, its a beautiful day in Boston! I start my meetings with the MIT undergraduates tomorrow. Should be a good time.
I have two visit reports which I have to write today...which I'm going to do! Don't believe me?...just wait. Alright, I don't get paid to right in my blog all day. I'm out!
-T
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Greetings from Maine!...or as I like to refer to it as--"the land of Subaru's and LL Bean". Its a little after noon and I just got in to Bangor, ME. I left Boston this morning. It's actually a beautiful day in Bangor. I thought the rain from Ernesto would be here by now, but after looking at a map I realized how far north I am. I forget where I am geographically sometimes....I just get in my car and drive and then I look at a map and I'm like "Wow...I'm really far north".
Bangor is a beautiful town--Maine is a beautiful state. Its great to be back in New England. The cottages and small little towns that all end in "--shire, --ham, or --ton" are picture perfect. I had Cape Cod scallops last night--good eats. I still have a ton of work to do, which is the reality of my job, but I'll get caught up. Things are pretty mellow right now. I need to get out and take some pictures--because I know reading my daily entries gets boring :) .
I'll be heading back down to Boston on Monday. Not only I am I excited to get to Boston because..its BOSTON..but I have officially hit my 1,500 mile mark on the road, which means I will start getting reimbursed $0.35 a mile from work. The first few weeks are murder when you realize that you're putting all these miles on your car and not getting reimbursed (well they tell us its figured into our salaries--that sounds great, but it sucks when you're paying our of pocket for gas).
Well I am out for now...I'll have an update later on next week. Thanks for reading along! I have been surprised by all the people that have been reading. Either I'm THAT interesting.....or you're THAT bored :) I haven't figured out which one yet.
Bangor is a beautiful town--Maine is a beautiful state. Its great to be back in New England. The cottages and small little towns that all end in "--shire, --ham, or --ton" are picture perfect. I had Cape Cod scallops last night--good eats. I still have a ton of work to do, which is the reality of my job, but I'll get caught up. Things are pretty mellow right now. I need to get out and take some pictures--because I know reading my daily entries gets boring :) .
I'll be heading back down to Boston on Monday. Not only I am I excited to get to Boston because..its BOSTON..but I have officially hit my 1,500 mile mark on the road, which means I will start getting reimbursed $0.35 a mile from work. The first few weeks are murder when you realize that you're putting all these miles on your car and not getting reimbursed (well they tell us its figured into our salaries--that sounds great, but it sucks when you're paying our of pocket for gas).
Well I am out for now...I'll have an update later on next week. Thanks for reading along! I have been surprised by all the people that have been reading. Either I'm THAT interesting.....or you're THAT bored :) I haven't figured out which one yet.
Friday, September 01, 2006
TGIF! Yesterday, I finished up my visit in Binghamton, NY and hit the road after grabbing a bite to eat. I ended up in Springfield, MA--I got a great deal at the Marriott on Priceline, so I decided since I got in around 11pm last night and today was my "day off" I decided to sleep in. I should really quit calling it a "day off" and refer to it as a "undergraduate free day" since I have no meetings set up with undergrads.
This evening I am heading to Boston where I will meet up for dinner with Ben Swartz, the District Chief for District 1 (Maine, MIT, UConn, and Rhode Island). We have decided to go out to eat some seafood at one of Boston's famous seafood restaurants. Believe it or not, I have yet to eat any New England seafood, so I am definitely looking forward to this experience. Tomorrow I will be heading up to Maine with him. I'm looking forward to Maine, except I hear that Ernesto is going to be dumping rain on us all weekend. My visit to MIT next week will probably be filled with a week full of rain (if history repeats itself--it ALWAYS rains when I am in Boston).
I would write more, but I've got SO much to do and only 3 hours to do it in. We'll see how far I get!
-T
This evening I am heading to Boston where I will meet up for dinner with Ben Swartz, the District Chief for District 1 (Maine, MIT, UConn, and Rhode Island). We have decided to go out to eat some seafood at one of Boston's famous seafood restaurants. Believe it or not, I have yet to eat any New England seafood, so I am definitely looking forward to this experience. Tomorrow I will be heading up to Maine with him. I'm looking forward to Maine, except I hear that Ernesto is going to be dumping rain on us all weekend. My visit to MIT next week will probably be filled with a week full of rain (if history repeats itself--it ALWAYS rains when I am in Boston).
I would write more, but I've got SO much to do and only 3 hours to do it in. We'll see how far I get!
-T
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Greetings from Binghamton, NY! It is the end of day 6 on the road and I am starting to feel it. This is the end of my first day at SUNY-Binghamton. Operationally, they are the worst performing chapter in my region. I swear I have gone over chapter reporting, submission of reports, and deadlines about 100 times with these guys and they just don't get it. Yeah, its pretty much a train wreck here. I thought that the chapter had 18 men, but when I showed up today I found out that due to inaccurate reporting the chapter only consists of 10 men. The campus has about 12,000 students and about 40 fraternities. Some I have never heard of. The campus doesn't get what a "values based fraternity experience" is, unfortunately. The men know that they have to recruit this year or else they are going to fizzle, but I just don't know if they are organized enough OR understand the amount of work it is going to take. When you are only 10 men strong and haven't really recruited for 2-3 years, you have no visibility on campus. Why would I join Beta at Binghamton when there are 39 other options, and most likely they are more organized and offer a better experience. We'll see what happens, I'll be back in 15 days to do training for the advising team.
Last night I drove 2 hours north to meet with the District Chief, Bob Burwell. I had dinner with him and his wife at a famous place called "Dinosaur BBQ". Wow was it good! It definitely reminded me of Kansas City. I had ribs and pulled pork.....so good! Then I drove two hours back to my Motel 6. I was encouraged to find some man getting arrested for drug possession when I pulled back into the Motel 6 parking lot and I thought to myself,"...that's about right."
Tonight I'm staying with Binghamton's chapter counselor, Tom Bucker. He is a dentist and works in town. As soon as I'm done with my last meeting tomorrow, I am going to head out to Boston. I'm hoping to get a good portion of my trip out of the way. Friday is supposed to me my one "Day Off" for the week, but as seems to be the norm, I will spend the entire day in a Starbucks getting my reports submitted, because I literally have not had time this week. Saturday I'm heading to Maine with Ben Swartz, the District Chief there. It should be a good time.
That's all for now!
-T
Last night I drove 2 hours north to meet with the District Chief, Bob Burwell. I had dinner with him and his wife at a famous place called "Dinosaur BBQ". Wow was it good! It definitely reminded me of Kansas City. I had ribs and pulled pork.....so good! Then I drove two hours back to my Motel 6. I was encouraged to find some man getting arrested for drug possession when I pulled back into the Motel 6 parking lot and I thought to myself,"...that's about right."
Tonight I'm staying with Binghamton's chapter counselor, Tom Bucker. He is a dentist and works in town. As soon as I'm done with my last meeting tomorrow, I am going to head out to Boston. I'm hoping to get a good portion of my trip out of the way. Friday is supposed to me my one "Day Off" for the week, but as seems to be the norm, I will spend the entire day in a Starbucks getting my reports submitted, because I literally have not had time this week. Saturday I'm heading to Maine with Ben Swartz, the District Chief there. It should be a good time.
That's all for now!
-T
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Good Morning from the Southern Tier of New York!
As I woke up this morning I realized that I'm definitely back in the Northeast. Of the 5 days I've been out on the road this is the 2nd day of rain I have experienced. I can count on one hand the number of rainy days we had in Oxford this summer. While all my peeps back in Missouri are getting thunderstorms, I am remided that I forgot my umbrella when I went on the road.
This morning I'm sitting at one of my favorite places--Panera Cafe & Bakery. For those who are not business travelers, I will fill you in on a little secret. Finding a Panera, to me, is probably what finding the "new world" was to Christopher Columbus. Great food, great coffee, and FREE WIRELESS internet. I'm in heaven right now.
Today is the one year anniversary of Hurrican Katrina. I was reminded of it as I was watching the Weather Channel this morning (I think the years of my dad sitting and staring at The Weather Channel rubbed off on me--seriously!). Anyways, its funny because I remember exactly one year ago sitting in my hotel room up in Canton, NY watching the weather channel as Hurrican Katrina hit New Orleans. I am thinking of my brothers down in Florida right now as Hurricane Ernesto gets closer to FLorida. For some reason, Beta loves doing expansions in Hurricane ridden areas. Last year, we had our entire expansion team down in Miami working at Florida International University as Hurrican Wilma hit the state. This year, our team is down there prepping for our expansion at the University of Miami. As if expansions aren't hard enough--we just seem to like the challenge of adding a hurricane to the mix. Good luck, bros!
Today, is day two for my visit to Cornell. The chapter is in much better spirits than it was last year. Last April, the chapter was so down and drained that even I was depressed when I left the chapter. Yesterday was VERY busy. I had back-to-back meetings from 10am until about 8pm. I was able to go and visit the Graduate Admissions office for the Industial & Labor Relations program. It is a beautiful building with its very own library. Its no wonder that it is the top HR program in the country. Now if I can just get in! Ithaca is beautiful. It is nestled in the rolling hills and flowing gorges of the Southern Tier of NY. Today, I'm meeting with the Greek Advisor at Cornell and I have one more officer meeting with the chapter. Tonight I'm heading to Syracuse to meet with a District Chief.
This afternoon I'm going to clock-in for several hours and try and get my reports written for my Bethany and Cornell Visit. Each one will probably take me 2-3 hours. One thing about being on the road is that there is never enough time in the day to get what you want to get done. When you are in the office, you can leave and go home and somewhat enjoy your evening--but when you're on the road you are always doing something. Either follow-up reports from the past visits you just completed, doing officer meetings and presentations for the current visit you are at, or you are prepping for the visits you are about to make. Thank goodness I'm organized! Some people don't get what I do and I think they often times perceive my job as a cop out or "escape from the real world". This is by far the best job I could have gotten out of college. My challenge is to now be able to communicate what I have learned to future employers.
Well, I need to get some emails written and head out to Ithaca. Hope you are doing well wherever you are!
-T
As I woke up this morning I realized that I'm definitely back in the Northeast. Of the 5 days I've been out on the road this is the 2nd day of rain I have experienced. I can count on one hand the number of rainy days we had in Oxford this summer. While all my peeps back in Missouri are getting thunderstorms, I am remided that I forgot my umbrella when I went on the road.
This morning I'm sitting at one of my favorite places--Panera Cafe & Bakery. For those who are not business travelers, I will fill you in on a little secret. Finding a Panera, to me, is probably what finding the "new world" was to Christopher Columbus. Great food, great coffee, and FREE WIRELESS internet. I'm in heaven right now.
Today is the one year anniversary of Hurrican Katrina. I was reminded of it as I was watching the Weather Channel this morning (I think the years of my dad sitting and staring at The Weather Channel rubbed off on me--seriously!). Anyways, its funny because I remember exactly one year ago sitting in my hotel room up in Canton, NY watching the weather channel as Hurrican Katrina hit New Orleans. I am thinking of my brothers down in Florida right now as Hurricane Ernesto gets closer to FLorida. For some reason, Beta loves doing expansions in Hurricane ridden areas. Last year, we had our entire expansion team down in Miami working at Florida International University as Hurrican Wilma hit the state. This year, our team is down there prepping for our expansion at the University of Miami. As if expansions aren't hard enough--we just seem to like the challenge of adding a hurricane to the mix. Good luck, bros!
Today, is day two for my visit to Cornell. The chapter is in much better spirits than it was last year. Last April, the chapter was so down and drained that even I was depressed when I left the chapter. Yesterday was VERY busy. I had back-to-back meetings from 10am until about 8pm. I was able to go and visit the Graduate Admissions office for the Industial & Labor Relations program. It is a beautiful building with its very own library. Its no wonder that it is the top HR program in the country. Now if I can just get in! Ithaca is beautiful. It is nestled in the rolling hills and flowing gorges of the Southern Tier of NY. Today, I'm meeting with the Greek Advisor at Cornell and I have one more officer meeting with the chapter. Tonight I'm heading to Syracuse to meet with a District Chief.
This afternoon I'm going to clock-in for several hours and try and get my reports written for my Bethany and Cornell Visit. Each one will probably take me 2-3 hours. One thing about being on the road is that there is never enough time in the day to get what you want to get done. When you are in the office, you can leave and go home and somewhat enjoy your evening--but when you're on the road you are always doing something. Either follow-up reports from the past visits you just completed, doing officer meetings and presentations for the current visit you are at, or you are prepping for the visits you are about to make. Thank goodness I'm organized! Some people don't get what I do and I think they often times perceive my job as a cop out or "escape from the real world". This is by far the best job I could have gotten out of college. My challenge is to now be able to communicate what I have learned to future employers.
Well, I need to get some emails written and head out to Ithaca. Hope you are doing well wherever you are!
-T
Friday, August 25, 2006
Hello Everyone! Welcome to my first attempt at a blog. I'm hoping to shed a little insight into my life on the road as a consultant for Beta Theta Pi.
I'll start off with a little introduction about myself. My name is Travis Fischer and I am a Senior Leadership Consultant for Beta Theta Pi. I advise 14 chapters and 1 colony in the northeast of the United States and southeast of the providence of Ontario. I graduated from the University of Minnesota in May of 2005 with a B.S. in Human Resource Development. I grew up in the beautiful foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Southwest Missouri (Lebanon, MO). When I was 15 I moved to the Kansas City, Missouri metropolitan area and graduated from Blue Springs High School. I am now starting my second year traveling for Beta Theta Pi and I am very excited to be on the road for a second year.
Today was my official first day on the road for year two. I left my sweet new apartment in Oxford, Ohio at 7:45am this morning and started my journey to Bethany, WV for my first visit with one of our newest colonies at Bethany College. As I drove on I-70 across Ohio, I was pleasantly reminded of how theraputic the long drives can be. It is a great opportunity to clear you mind OR to fill it with all kinds of ideas. I'm not sure where I land on the spectrum--but I think that I land somewhere in the middle. I usually use a long drive to get really pumped up for my next visit--as was the case today. It was great pulling into Bethany today. The chapter house is beautiful. The founding fathers have finally moved in, there is new carpeting, shades, furniture, and it feels like a home. I was greated with the Beta grip by my Psi colony brothers whom I spent almost 12 weeks with this spring. It truly is great to be back!
Today's drive also gave me a chance to think about my graduate school applications and all the requirements they want submited--I'm surprised they don't need a blood sample. I spent almost two days this week working on applications, essays, personal statements, and ordering transcripts. And what do I have to show for it? Not much, but I'm getting there.
I had dinner from a Greek restaurant that one of the Psi brother's parents own. It was so good. I love Greek food. I got settled into on of the vacant rooms and spent some time catching up with the brothers. They are such a eclectic group of men. I couldn't help but think that if it wasn't for Beta Theta Pi these men may have never come together in friendship. To me it was a perfect example of why the concept of fraternity is so awesome.
After dinner I drove to Washington, PA (where I am now) at a Starbucks. I needed access to the internet and cell phone service. On the way over I stopped to fill up for gas..yeah it was $2.46 in Oxford this morning....I just filled up for $2.78. I however was pleasantly surprised to find that I got 40 mpg on my way here! (I have a new goal this year to actually drive the speed limit because of the amount of money you save on gas.)
Well, I am going to prepare for my day of meetings tomorrow. Hopefully I will get everything done before Starbucks closes at 11pm!
I'll start off with a little introduction about myself. My name is Travis Fischer and I am a Senior Leadership Consultant for Beta Theta Pi. I advise 14 chapters and 1 colony in the northeast of the United States and southeast of the providence of Ontario. I graduated from the University of Minnesota in May of 2005 with a B.S. in Human Resource Development. I grew up in the beautiful foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Southwest Missouri (Lebanon, MO). When I was 15 I moved to the Kansas City, Missouri metropolitan area and graduated from Blue Springs High School. I am now starting my second year traveling for Beta Theta Pi and I am very excited to be on the road for a second year.
Today was my official first day on the road for year two. I left my sweet new apartment in Oxford, Ohio at 7:45am this morning and started my journey to Bethany, WV for my first visit with one of our newest colonies at Bethany College. As I drove on I-70 across Ohio, I was pleasantly reminded of how theraputic the long drives can be. It is a great opportunity to clear you mind OR to fill it with all kinds of ideas. I'm not sure where I land on the spectrum--but I think that I land somewhere in the middle. I usually use a long drive to get really pumped up for my next visit--as was the case today. It was great pulling into Bethany today. The chapter house is beautiful. The founding fathers have finally moved in, there is new carpeting, shades, furniture, and it feels like a home. I was greated with the Beta grip by my Psi colony brothers whom I spent almost 12 weeks with this spring. It truly is great to be back!
Today's drive also gave me a chance to think about my graduate school applications and all the requirements they want submited--I'm surprised they don't need a blood sample. I spent almost two days this week working on applications, essays, personal statements, and ordering transcripts. And what do I have to show for it? Not much, but I'm getting there.
I had dinner from a Greek restaurant that one of the Psi brother's parents own. It was so good. I love Greek food. I got settled into on of the vacant rooms and spent some time catching up with the brothers. They are such a eclectic group of men. I couldn't help but think that if it wasn't for Beta Theta Pi these men may have never come together in friendship. To me it was a perfect example of why the concept of fraternity is so awesome.
After dinner I drove to Washington, PA (where I am now) at a Starbucks. I needed access to the internet and cell phone service. On the way over I stopped to fill up for gas..yeah it was $2.46 in Oxford this morning....I just filled up for $2.78. I however was pleasantly surprised to find that I got 40 mpg on my way here! (I have a new goal this year to actually drive the speed limit because of the amount of money you save on gas.)
Well, I am going to prepare for my day of meetings tomorrow. Hopefully I will get everything done before Starbucks closes at 11pm!
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