Labor Day Weekend

Hello again everyone! I figured I would combine these two blogs into one. Over Labor Day weekend I was fortunate to have a three day weekend so I figured this would be my time to visit SunTrust Park. On Sunday morning, I was able to watch my first Braves game in the second year of the new ballpark. Growing up a huge Braves fan, I have seen many games whether it was at Turner Field, Great American, or their spring training park, but SunTrust was absolutely amazing! The Battery which is full of restaurants, stores, and bars around the ballpark was an absolute blast. It gives fans a lot to do while still being right next to the action. When the gates first opened, I went down to where some players were signing autographs (just like a kid). Although I did not have anything to get signed, I figured I would get a selfie if I could. The first and only player I saw was one no one knew, and I screamed “That’s Kyle Wright!”. He started laughing, because he knew I was a true fan. I was able to talk to him and he agreed to a selfie. What is super cool about this, is that it was his first day in the majors. He was called up Saturday night and I appreciated him taking the time to speak with me on his big day.

The game was about 90% sold out and the atmosphere was phenomenal. The Braves started their offense off with an Acuna lead off homer. The whole crowd went nuts and we started the chop (which i missed deeply)! The Braves played a tight game until the bottom of the 8th when they pulled out four runs and took the lead. Something that was really cool to see in person was the excitement within the team. Seeing Acuna jumping out of the dugout every time someone got a hit will show fans what the game really is about. Finally the fireworks went flying and the Braves kept the lead in the division!

On that Monday, I was able to meet up with some close family friends that I haven’t seen in a super long time! I was able to eat lunch with one of them and their youngest daughter. It was great being able to see them and catch up which was a great finish to my Labor Day weekend!

Samford University

This trip to Samford is not my official chapter visit. This week, I conducted a special recruitment visit to assist the chapter in recruiting and coaching them on certain areas. On Tuesday night, I was able to conduct a two hour workshop where the chapter went through different workshops and practiced different areas of recruitment such as: how to keep a names list, cold-calling, one-on-one meetings, tabling, how to close on a potential new member (PNM) to possibly give them a bid to join your organization, and how to market your chapter. By the end of the workshop, the men started killing it!

This week we were able to table and start getting PNMs names before they started formal recruitment next week and have two small activities to get PNMs involved and meet the brothers. I was able to play a handful of basketball games and watch the Thursday Night Football game with all of them and a good amount of PNMs. We ended the week debriefing the experience of my visit and set forth a plan for this semester, so the chapter can crush their recruitment goal they set for the semester. I will be back to visit the brothers in December and I look forward to it!

Food

There is a handful of local and unique places I ate over the last week. The first is at the Battery in Atlanta where it was Fox Brothers BBQ (surprise…right?). It was attached to the stadium and I got the usual pulled pork and brisket with mac and cheese. With it being a small bar, the food was great! I would rate it a 9/10 overall. The second place I ate was Saw’s BBQ in Birmingham. All over their walls was rich history of the small restaurant along with articles of them being featured in Southern Living and other magazines. I just tried out the pull pork with their BBQ and it was super delicious. I would rate it in the top 3 BBQ places I have eaten at so far. Overall experience was a 10/10. The last place noteworthy was the Fish Market that the chapter’s alumni advisor took me to. It was a cool atmosphere and I got a shrimp po’boy which was very good. Overall I would say it deserves a 9/10.

As for now, I will have to lay off the heavy food because my bosses were right…you will put on weight quick on the road!

That is all for now, but the next blog will be full of Roll Tide! Next stop…Alabama!