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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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