Alpha Omicron Pi's International Convention 
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina
June 24 - 28, 2009

Swaying palms, picturesque water views, and lavish décor provided the perfect atmosphere for sisters to come together and share the adventure in Tampa, FL at AOII’s 2009 International Convention.  Alpha Omicron Pi’s 50th International Convention was held June 24-June 27, 2009 at the Tampa Waterside Marriott.  Over 700 AOIIs and special guests gathered to celebrate the successes of the past biennium, plan for the future, elect Foundation and Fraternity Boards, and honor the service of dedicated sisters including retiring Executive Director Melanie Lampertz and outgoing International President Susan Danko.  True to its word, the week was most certainly an adventure that AOII won’t soon forget! 

Wednesday, June 24th: The Adventure Begins!
For a city notorious for pirate invasions, Tampa experienced a different kind of invasion on Wednesday, June 24th, an AOII invasion!  From a friendly welcome at the Tampa Airport to a shout out on the Marriott TV channel, the hospitality was wonderful and set the mood for a great week. 

Beta District Teams, Networks, Boards, and Chapter Presidents all held formal meetings and roundtables, while other sisters held less formal meetings in the beautiful lobby or poolside.  That afternoon, Alumnae Chapter Presidents and Collegiate Chapter Presidents had the opportunity to chat and make connections at the AP/CP Meet and Greet.

In the meantime, the Emporium was open for business and AOII shoppers hit the store to check out new merchandise, purchase pandas, and of course pick up AOII beach towels and flip flops to be used at the pool! 

For the Welcome to Tampa Reception later that evening, sisters came together to dabble in a wonderful spread of assorted cheeses, cheese tortellini, penne bolognaise, vegetable spring rolls, beef empanadas, cheese and chicken quesadillas, éclairs, hazelnut ganache, dark chocolate mousse, and tiramisu.  There was truly something for every palate!  After a lovely meal and invigorating conversation, the AOIIs made their way into the ballroom for fashion show and awards from the Emporium, an informative presentation on the Beta Districts, insight on what to expect at Convention, and an introduction to Parliamentary Procedure. 

Perhaps the most exhilarating moment of the evening was a performance by DJ $crilla.  $crilla had AOIIs young and old off their seats dancing while he debuted a new “AOII Anthem” remix, and dazzled the crowd with the old favorite, “AOII Anthem.”  Thanks to $crilla, the tone was set for a lively adventure in Tampa! 

After the energetic performance, attendees left the first event and headed to experience a very special Convention tradition, the Candle Lighting Service.  This ceremony, which is open to the public, shares each collegiate chapter’s sub-motto in order of charter date.  The ceremony was beautiful and showcased just how big and broad AOII is. 
  
To end the evening, alumnae and collegiate chapter meetings were held with Networks and Beta Districts as everyone talked about the past year and what could be done to exceed the expectation in the future.  What an energizing way to end a wonderful first day in Tampa!

Thursday, June 25th: It’s a Celebration!
For Life Loyal members, Thursday’s festivities kicked off early with a Life Loyal Coffee Break sponsored by SunTrust Bank.  Then, it was off to Opening Ritual which reminded all in attendance just how impactful Ritual can be with so many AOIIs gathered together.  Every time Ritual is conducted is special, but every AOII should experience Ritual on an International level.  It is truly breathtaking!

With our AOII batteries recharged after sharing Ritual with over 700 sisters, we headed to the Grand Ballroom for a dynamic Opening Brunch.  True to tradition, a processional of all Past International Presidents, the Executive Board, and the Foundation Board signaled the beginning of brunch as a room full of grateful AOIIs helped honor some of our most dedicated volunteers.  To further the excitement, the Mayor of Tampa, Pam Iorio, declared the week of June 22 “AOII Week” in Tampa with an official proclamation! 

As brunch continued, the AOII Choral Group took center stage for the singing of both the “Star Spangled Banner,” and “O’ Canada,” immediately followed by a special song written to the tune of “How Sweet it is (to be loved by you)” sung in honor of outgoing International President, Susan Danko.  Even James Taylor would have been impressed as a room full of AOIIs honored Susan’s leadership, singing “How Sweet it is to be led by you.”

Immediately following the singing of “AOII Grace,” a wonderful spread of Florida Orange Juice, fresh fruit cup, housemade granola, breakfast breads, and Roasted Vegetable Quiche with Breakfast Potatoes was enjoyed by all.

To continue the excitement, the traditional Convention Countdown commenced to find that one Convention Veteran who has attended the most Conventions.  Sisters’ jaws dropped in amazement at Past International President Peg Crawford remained standing with 29 Conventions under her belt!  Peg has been attending Convention since she was a collegian, and has wonderful stories to share.

Continuing the spirit of dedication, all International Volunteers were honored.  A special thanks to all volunteers who help AOII exceed the expectation every day!  Following the volunteer recognition, Marketing Program Awards for outstanding participation in the Magazine Program and Cell Phone Recycling Program were presented to highly deserving chapters.  Thank you for supporting the Fraternity with your enthusiastic participation!

For a truly moving Convention tradition, it was time to welcome International President Susan Danko, Lori Goede, Shriner’s Hospital Representatives, Arthritis Foundation of Tampa Junior Ambassador Patrick Bliven, and Gabby Falcone, a patient at the Shriner’s Hospital to the stage for the Panda Donation.  This year, all of the collected pandas were donated to the Shriner’s Hospital of Tampa.  Both Gabby and Patrick received a panda and spoke to the struggles of growing up with devastating medical conditions.  Combining AOII’s two great loves, pandas and charity, it was the perfect way to end Opening Brunch!

After a quick stop at the Emporium or a stroll down the line of vendor tables including Life Loyal, Chapter Communications, or Global Green, it was time to take care of business!  At the first business session, role was called with every member of Council being accounted for, and showcased a powerful energy felt when Council convenes. 

While some attendees opted for informative Properties or Billhighway meetings after the business session, others made a quick wardrobe change to celebrate with sisters at the lovely Forever Friends reception on the scenic patio.  This year was a record breaking year for the Forever Friends program, as more sisters than ever showed their heartfelt appreciation for one another.  Smiles were abounding, and that was just the start to an electrifying evening.

With anticipation in the air, Awards Banquet kicked off with a welcome from Toastmistresses Phyllis Gilson, Linda Grandolfo, and Kathy Jensen, “AOII Grace,” and a savory dinner.  Amongst tables decorated with beautiful glowstick arrangements, AOIIs dined on Caesar Salad, Herb Roasted Tanglewood Farms Chicken Breast with Wild Mushroom Sauce, Wild Rice, and Seasonal Vegetables.  And of course, what would a trip to the Sunshine State be without some Key Lime Pie?  Once all of the scrumptious food was enjoyed, it was time to start celebrating our accomplishments from the previous biennium!  Many congratulations to all Award Recipients! 

For intermission, the Past International Presidents put on a rousing skit dressed like over the top tourists in their rendition of “PIParrazi!”  After sharing different celebrity sightings like the Xi Omicron House where Katy Allen, American Idol winner Kris Allen’s wife, was a member or the illustrious retiring Executive Director Melanie Lampertz, the PIPs decided they were not cut out for the life of paparazzi, and it was time to recruit another member with more celebrity connections.  As luck would have it, Susan Danko, outgoing International President, was the perfect candidate for the job! 

Once the Awards Recipients were honored, the evening did not stop there.  With a great band on deck, sisters danced the night away until it was time to hit those comfy Marriott beds to get a good night’s rest.

Friday, June 26th: Adventures Abound!
Despite the rainy morning, AOIIs did not let the gloomy day outside dampen the spirit inside the Marriott!  After the All Convention Photo was taken with all attendees in classy red and white ensembles, it was time to head over to the Educational Tracks for a wide variety of topics.

With an array of interesting topics available, it was hard to just choose two tracks!  From a Ritual session with PIPs Ginger Banks and Joan MacCallum, to quick conversation tips, to ideas for improving education chapter meetings, to an AOII Foundation 101 session, there was something for every interest!

After a great morning full of informative sessions, it was time to share the adventure at the Adventures in Sisterhood Luncheon.  Lunch consisted of Chicken Caesar Salad, Fresh Baked Rolls and Butter, and Strawberry Shortcake and was enjoyed amongst lively chatter as sisters formed new friendships with those sitting at their tables.

Next, it was time for one of the most anticipated Convention traditions, Past International President Storytelling!  Joan MacCallum, Ginger Banks, Peg Crawford, Barbara Hunt, Mary Williams, Ann Gilchrist, Linda Collier, Carole Jones, and Sally Wagaman all shared fascinating, hilarious, and moving stories about their past adventures at Conventions and as International Presidents.  Their stories were treasured by every AOII in the room!

Even though the PIPs are always a hard act to follow, our charismatic keynote speaker held his own as Major General Luis Visot took the stage to deliver an inspiring message about the power we all hold as sisters in AOII.  After he was done, everyone felt like we could take on the world!  Which was perfect, since the next event on the agenda was the second business session. 

Refueled after a wonderful lunch and inspiring speakers, it was time to head to the second business session.  After all of the business on the agenda had been discussed for the day and the voting complete, it was time for sisters to share the adventure around Tampa!

Whether they hit a local restaurant or cheered on the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana field, sisters enjoyed exploring Tampa for the evening!  Time flies when you’re with your sisters, but it was hard to believe that our last day in Tampa was looming.

Saturday, June 27th: Time to stop and smell the roses!
It may have been our last day in Tampa, but there was still so much to experience.  After two previous business sessions, it was finally time to elect both Foundation and Executive Board members for the 2009-2011 biennium.  Here is a list of the recently elected Executive Board members:

International President:   Barbara Zipperian, Kappa Kappa (Ball State U)
Vice President of Finance:   Krista Malmquist Whipple, Omega (Miami U)
Vice President: Allison Allgier, Epsilon Omega (Eastern Kentucky U)
Vice President: Gayle Fitzpatrick, Alpha Rho (Oregon State U)
Vice President: Karen Galehan, Phi Lambda (Youngstown State U)
Vice President: Linda Schwartz Grandolfo, Nu Iota (Northern Illinois U)
Vice President: Rebecca Admire Herman, Chi Lambda (U of Evansville)
Vice President: Kathy Jensen, Theta Omega Chapter (Northern Arizona U)
Past International President (ex-officio member): Susan Danko, Phi Upsilon (Purdue U)

With our business complete for this Convention, it was time to for the traditional Panhellenic Luncheon.  AOII joined NPC in 1905.  With 26 members, NPC provides the Greek life experience for women on over 620 college and university campuses.  The luncheon was a celebration of AOII’s membership in NPC.  Representatives from several NPC organizations served as special guests at the luncheon.  Following a welcome from Carole Jones, PIP and NPC Delegate, everyone dined on Potato Salad, Grilled Marinated Vegetable Salad, a fresh Fruit Cup, Boar’s Head Turkey and Dill Havarti on a Kaiser Roll, and Chocolate Chip Cookies and Fudge Brownies.

After recognizing all of the sisters involved in NPC from national delegates to local delegates, it was time to award the Mary Louise Roller Award and the Collegiate and Alumnae Philos Awards.  Congratulations to all award recipients! 

Next, came a bittersweet, special recognition for long time Executive Director Melanie Lampertz.  Special guests came on stage to share memories and stories about Melanie’s many roles within AOII, a touching video was shared, and gifts were presented in attempt to show Melanie how much every AOII has appreciated her dedicated service over the years.  We would like to wish Melanie all the best in her retirement!

Once again, Carole Jones took the podium to introduce the luncheon’s keynote speaker, Missy Jenkins Smith.  Missy, a Delta Omega from Murray State University, was paralyzed during the Heath High School shooting in Paducah, KY.  Her truly inspiring story of rising above challenges and learning forgiveness put much into prospective.  Following her speech, Missy left time for a question and answer session and even a book signing!  Her courage and attitude for living Ritual everyday was the perfect transition to Closing Ritual.

Full from a delicious lunch, NPC spirit, and inspiration from Missy, Closing Ritual was conducted to officially close the business of Convention 2009.  Also in accordance with tradition, special tribute was paid to those AOIIs who had passed away in the biennium.          

Although we were all sad our adventure was coming to an end, it was time to get dressed in our best, take some pictures for our scrapbooks and Facebook albums, and head into the big event, Rose Banquet!

In true Tampa style, Rose Banquet kicked off with the (newly elected) Executive Board Processional escorted by official Tampa pirates!  The pirates were, of course, perfect gentlemen, and even posed for pictures and passed out beads.  After opening remarks from Susan Danko and one last singing of “AOII Grace,” the elegant dinner was served.  Tonight’s feast included a Field Greens, Endive, Radicchio, Candied Pecans, Pears salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette, New York Strip Steak with Green Peppercorn Cognac Sauce, Yukon Gold Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables.  For dessert, a Florentine shell Cannolli with Ricotta and Pistachio Filling, Blackberries, and Blueberries.

After dinner, AOII’s highest honors were given to very deserving recipients.  For a complete list of Convention 2009 Award Winners, please visit the links above.

As a symbolic transfer of leadership, Susan Danko presented newly elected International President Barb Zipperian with the official Presidential gavel and International President’s ring, and Barb gave a heartfelt keynote address inspiring all AOIIs to exceed the expectation in the next biennium. 

To thank our newest Past International President, Susan Danko, for her leadership over the past four years, her family joined her on stage for a special recognition and presentation.  A special thanks to Susan for her service!

While Convention 2009 was coming to an end, Melanie Lampertz took the podium to announce our next adventure.  Convention 2011 will be in Tucson, Arizona at the incredible JW Marriott Starr Pass Tucson Resort and Spa! 

To signify the official close of Convention and to remind us all of the bond we share, all Rose Banquet attendees gathered in a friendship circle and sang the “Epsilon Song.” 

Sisters came from far and wide to invade Tampa.  What an adventure we all had at Convention 2009!  In true AOII fashion, we worked hard and played hard throughout the week.  New friendships were made, and old ones were rekindled.  But, one thing was certain.  AOII has a bright future on the horizon.  See you all in Franklin, TN for Leadership Institute 2010!