R
Far Western Region 2018 INTERMOUNTAIN CLUSTER CONFERENCE
Committed with
to
Serving
excellence
Theta Theta Omega October 27, 2018
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
R
2018 INTERMOUNTAIN CLUSTER CONFERENCE
Committed to Serving with Excellence Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Far Western Region
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority INCORPORATED Alpha Kappa Alpha Corporate Office
5656 South Stony Island Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637-1997
(773) 684-1282
FROM THE OFFICE OF:
Carol R. Dixon Far Western Regional Director P.O. Box 730190 San Jose, CA 95173 Phone: 408-218-1714 E-mail: cdixon@aka1908.com August 15, 2018 Greetings Sorors of the Fabulous Far Western Region: Welcome to the 2018 Fall Cluster conference season. The theme for the 2018 Cluster is: “Committed to Serving with Excellence�. Attending Cluster is a FABULOUS opportunity to connect with other sorors and learn about our new and exciting powerful SM
program Exemplifying Excellence Through Sustainable Service . We are excited to bring forth informative workshops and presentations that will benefit you personally and your fellow chapter sorors, and seek to provide to you with a meaningful experience. The dates of the fall conference are: Pacific Northwest Cluster, September 29, 2018, Delta Upsilon Omega, Seattle, WA Northern California Cluster, October 13, 2018, Rho Upsilon Omega, Pleasanton, CA Southern Cluster, October 20, 2018, Eta Lambda Omega, Pasadena, CA Intermountain Cluster, October 27, 2018, Theta Theta Omega, Las Vegas, NV I invite you to attend one or all Cluster conferences and join us as we make a commitment to serve with Excellence. I would like to extend a special thanks to our Cluster Coordinator Liaison, Cluster Coordinators and our esteemed Cluster Conference Chairmen for their extraordinary leadership and efforts in planning for our Cluster conferences. I look forward to seeing you at Cluster. Please feel free to contact me by email at cdixon@aka1908.com. Thank you for everything you do on behalf of Alpha Kappa Alpha and the Far Western Region! Sisterly yours, Carol R. Dixon Far Western Regional Director
AKA Far Western Region | Fall 2018Conferences | www.aka1908.com/farwestern 1
2018 Intermountain Cluster Conference | Committed to Serving with Excellence
2
R
2018 INTERMOUNTAIN CLUSTER CONFERENCE
Committed to Serving with Excellence
Soror Carol R. Dixon Far Western Regional Director P.O. Box 730190 San Jose, CA 95173 Greetings Sorors: Welcome to the 2018 Far Western Region Cluster Conference! Attending Cluster Conference is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other sorors. Here you will learn more about best practices and membership engagement strategies while gaining valuable tips on implementing impactful programs locally through our 20182022 International Program under the theme, Exemplifying Excellence Through Sustainable Service.SM Alpha Kappa Alpha’s founders envisioned a sisterhood that would be of service to all mankind. Their leadership, sacrifice and example has ignited a commitment to excellence to which I hope we all aspire daily. Cluster Conference allows us to learn more about our five program targets, Signature Program — #CAP, and seven Community Impact Days in an intimate setting. The Conference also provides a forum for members to share creative ideas and program strategies that can be implemented in our chapters. Under the leadership of Far Western Regional Director, Soror Carol Dixon, you will gain valuable instructions and tools on ways to implement the programs that will be carried out under the 2018-2022 International Program. Through the successful implementation of these programs, we will continue to solidify Alpha Kappa Alpha’s legacy by hosting impactful programs that will benefit the communities in which we live, work and serve. Soror Dixon, her Regional Leadership Team, and International Committee Members will have the opportunity to interact with you during Cluster and will share your ideas and feedback with the Directorate and their respective committees. Your Cluster Coordinators and the members of the hostess Chapter have worked tirelessly to ensure that your Cluster Conference is executed with excellence. I know you will join me in commending them for their hard work and in congratulating them on a job well done. I look forward to visiting your region and hearing about your program achievements. Please feel free to contact me by email at president@aka1908.com and look for me on Facebook and Twitter. Thank you for your commitment to excellence and for all that you do on behalf of our beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha! Yours in Alpha Kappa Alpha Excellence,
Soror Glenda Glover Supreme Basileus 2018 Intermountain Cluster Conference | Committed to Serving with Excellence
3
R
2018 INTERMOUNTAIN CLUSTER CONFERENCE
Committed to Serving with Excellence
August 15, 2018 Fabulous Far Western Region Sorors: As we launch the 2018 Cluster Conferences, I look forward to continuing to serve as the Far Western Region Cluster Coordinator Liaison. I consider it an honor to be a part of such a progressive region led by a dynamic regional director who “dares to be different”. This platform, introduced two years ago, has elevated our region to an even more prominent place on the Alpha Kappa Alpha map. It has been with your support as each cluster has responded to many requests in a timely manner and have exemplified an attitude of service. The upcoming 2018 cluster conferences have been planned with the standard of excellence. This is not a new bar for our region. However, as we continue to provide service to all mankind, we know that better can be even better. As I have worked with many of you, I’d like to thank you for all you’ve done as a cluster and for how you have assisted your respective cluster coordinator in the execution of her responsibilities. The next year will require a new focus as we embrace different program targets. Again, when you receive a call for information, I’ve no doubt that you will be ready. Be sure to keep photos and chapter activities/ events up to date as well as chapter newsletters so that you can continue to respond in an expeditious manner. We will be your voice, so utilize our service in order for the Far Western Region begins Exemplifying Excellence through Sustainable ServiceSM. As all nine states in our region prepare for your cluster conference, we look forward to your presence. As you, yourself register for your cluster conference, encourage other to register and attend, especially our newly initiated sorors. The cluster coordinator team hopes to see you soon. Sisterly regards,
Soror Dorothy J. Smith-Jackson Soror Dorothy J. Smith-Jackson Far Western Region Cluster Coordinator Liaison Sigma Delta Omega Elk Grove, CA
2018 Intermountain Cluster Conference | Committed to Serving with Excellence
4
R
2018 INTERMOUNTAIN CLUSTER CONFERENCE
Committed to Serving with Excellence
August 15, 2018
Greetings Sorors: As your Cluster Coordinator, it is with great pride that I greet you on behalf of our sorors of the Invigorating InterMountain Cluster. Amidst a very busy conference season, I remain proud of our cluster’s engaged membership comprised of Alpha Kappa Alpha women who give their time, talents, and resources to meet the needs of their communities across the states of Nevada, Arizona and Utah. We understand the meaning of dedication, sisterliness and hard work having hosted a national conference and a regional conference in our cluster within 8 months of each other. And yet, we remain committed to excellent programming and working towards being Supreme in Service to All Mankind. We look forward to sharing with you in October some highlights of our outstanding service and programming events that took place over the past year as we closed out Launching New Dimension of Service with great success and embraced wholeheartedly the Exemplifying Excellence through Sustainable ServiceSM program initiatives of our Supreme Basileus, Soror Glenda Glover. Tea roses to our host chapter, Theta Theta Omega, under the dynamic leadership of Conference Chairman Soror Billie Rayford and Basileus, Soror Celeste Hunter. Through teamwork, they have worked tirelessly to plan a cluster conference that provides informative updates as well as an opportunity to focus on developing and implementing activities aligned with our new International Programs. I encourage you to take advantage of the knowledge that will be shared today and leave here with a strengthened bond of sisterhood. Again, welcome and thank you to each of you for your continued support, contribution, and most importantly, your service to the Far Western Region and the InterMountain Cluster. Enjoy your stay in Fabulous Las Vegas! Sisterly blessings,
Soror Zephanye L. Sistrunk Soror Zephanye L. Sistrunk Intermountain Cluster Coordinator Psi Upsilon Omega Henderson, NV 2018 Intermountain Cluster Conference | Committed to Serving with Excellence
5
2018 INTERMOUNTAIN CLUSTER CONFERENCE
Committed to Serving with Excellence
August 15, 2018
Greetings Sorors: It is an honor and pleasure to welcome you to Fabulous Las Vegas and the 2018 InterMountain Cluster Conference! On behalf of Basileus Celeste Hunter and dedicated sorors of Theta Theta Omega Chapter, we are delighted that you will join us as OUR cluster enthusiastically embraces the 2018-2022 International Program, Exemplifying Excellence through Sustainable ServiceSM. Under the direction of our charismatic and dynamic Far Western Regional Director Carol R. Dixon, the information shared at this cluster conference will set the pace for the way our chapters will engage in preparing and promoting sustainable programs within our respective communities. We hope the detailed overview of the new program, strategies, and practices exchanged during cluster will serve you and our chapters in the best possible way. We, the Nevada sorors of Theta Theta Omega, Psi Upsilon Omega, and Kappa Xi Chapters, InterMountain Cluster Coordinator Zephanye Sistrunk, and the Regional Leadership Team welcome you to Las Vegas. We are counting on YOU to #DaretoBeDifferent as we continue on this journey of #Excellence, #Sisterhood, #Networking, and #SustainableService. Sisterly Yours,
Soror Billie Knight Rayford
Soror Billie Knight Rayford 2018 Intermountain Cluster Conference Chairman Theta Theta Omega Las Vegas, NV
2018 Intermountain Cluster Conference | Committed to Serving with Excellence
6
Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated
®
Fabulous Far Western Region
2018 INTERMOUNTAIN CLUSTER CONFERENCE
Committed to Serving With Excellence
2018 Intermountain Cluster
Conference Committee
Soror Zephanye L. Sistrunk Soror Billie Knight Rayford Soror Celeste Hunter
Cluster Coordinator Conference Chairman Basileus
Registration • Soror LaWanda Brown • Soror Kechia English • Soror Cheryl Evans • Soror Cheryl Everage • Soror China Frazier • Soror Jessie Jackson • Soror Andrea Johnson • Soror Val Lucas • Soror Lisa McNeil • Soror Grace Mills • Soror Jacqueline Warren Logistics • Soror Brenda Dumas • Soror Tanya Flanagan
Protocol
Financial Procedures • Soror Amanda McWilliams Program • Soror Zephanye Sistrunk • Soror Jacqueline E. Brown • Soror Belisa Brownlee
Luncheon • Soror E. Lavonne Lewis • Soror Celeste Hunter
• •
Soror Kim Martin Soror Sherri Sullivan
Courtesies/ Gifts • Soror Adrienne J. Brown • Soror Donna Randall • Soror Keysa Rogers • Soror Lillie Wyatt Rededication • Soror Sandra Bass • Soror Celeste Brown • Soror Jacqueline Hall • Soror Rabiyyah Hazziez
Technology • Soror Marian Burns • Soror Breana Givens Vendors • Soror Connye Harper • Soror Flora Shaffer Decorations • • •
Soror Jennifer Beskow Soror Arlene Bowie Soror Jann Carlisle Williams
Evaluations Soror Ethel Archibald • Soror Jacqueline Hall • Soror Barbara McCants-Hill Community Service Project •
• • •
Soror Berna Rhodes-Ford Soror Anitra Harris Soror Sandra Stewart-Bass
2018 Intermountain Cluster Conference | Committed to Serving with Excellence
7
Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated
®
Fabulous Far Western Region
2018 INTERMOUNTAIN CLUSTER CONFERENCE
Committed to Serving With Excellence Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Intermountain Cluster Conference
Agenda Saturday, October 27, 2018 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Westin Hotel Las Vegas, NV Soror Zephanye Sistrunk, Intermountain Cluster Cluster Coordinator, Presiding 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Registration
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
General Session
Opening and Introductions
Soror Zephanye Sistrunk Intermountain Cluster Coordinator Psi Upsilon Omega Soror Kimberly Martin Protocol Chairman Theta Theta Omega
Welcome
Soror Billie Rayford Far Western Region Representative International Graduate Advisors Certification Cluster Conference Chairman Theta Theta Omega Soror Celeste Hunter Basileus Theta Theta Omega
Meditation
Soror E. Lavonne Lewis 22nd Far Western Regional Director Far Western Region Representative International Foundation Committee Theta Theta Omega 2018 Intermountain Cluster Conference | Committed to Serving with Excellence
8
Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated
®
Fabulous Far Western Region
2018 INTERMOUNTAIN CLUSTER CONFERENCE
Committed to Serving With Excellence Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Intermountain Cluster Conference
Agenda Greetings from Supreme Basileus (video)
Soror Glenda Glover Supreme Basileus
Introduction of Regional Director
Soror Billie Rayford Far Western Region Representative International Graduate Advisors Certification Cluster Conference Chairman Theta Theta Omega
Committed to Serving With Excellence Soror Carol R. Dixon Far Western Regional Director Rho Delta Omega
workshops/ reports 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. “Exemplifying Excellence in Service”
Soror Audrey Owens Far Western Region Resource International Program Committee Tau Tau Omega
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. “Enhancing the Membership Experience”
Soror Desi Deshay-Weakley Far Western Region Representative International Membership Committee Southern California Cluster Coordinator Eta Lambda Omega
12:00 p.m. Invocation
Soror LaVern Tarkington 23rd Far Western Regional Director Delta Beta Omega
2018 Intermountain Cluster Conference | Committed to Serving with Excellence
9
Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated
®
Fabulous Far Western Region
2018 INTERMOUNTAIN CLUSTER CONFERENCE
Committed to Serving With Excellence Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Intermountain Cluster Conference
Agenda
Lunch 1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Soror Joyce Suber “Exemplifying Excellence…MIP Excels” Far Western Region Representative International MIP Committee Epsilon Xi Omega 1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Sisterly Relations Activity
Soror Zephanye Sistrunk Intermountain Cluster Coordinator Psi Upsilon Omega
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Connection & Social Action
Soror Berna Rhodes-Ford Nevada State Coordinator Theta Theta Omega
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Conference Wrap Up
Soror Billie Rayford Far Western Region Representative International Graduate Advisors Certification Cluster Conference Chairman Theta Theta Omega
3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Closing
Soror Carol R. Dixon Far Western Regional Director Rho Delta Omega
2018 Intermountain Cluster Conference | Committed to Serving with Excellence
10
Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated
®
Fabulous Far Western Region
2018 INTERMOUNTAIN CLUSTER CONFERENCE
Committed to Serving With Excellence
2018 Intermountain Cluster
Workshop PRESENTERS Soror Desiree DeShay-Weakley Southern California Cluster Coordinator, Desiree DeShay-Weakley, is a 22year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and was initiated in 1996 in the Epsilon Eta Omega chapter in Pomona, California. She has held numerous leadership positions including Basileus and AntiBasileus. Other leadership positions include committee chairmen, Graduate Advisor, Parliamentarian, and Administrative Assistant for Undergraduate Affairs to the 24th Regional Director, Soror Barbara Denson Trotter. Soror Desiree was recently appointed the conference chairman for the upcoming 90th Far Western Regional Conference. She is a Mental Health Training Coordinator for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology from Grambling State University and a Master’s degree in Social Work from California State University Long Beach. Soror Desiree is married to Paul A. Weakley and the mother to a beautiful daughter, Taylor LeJon Weakley. A servant leader who can best be described as an advocate for the injustices that plague our communities and a voice for the meek and voiceless.
Soror Audrey J. Owens Soror Audrey J. Owens serves on the International Program Committee. Initiated into Alpha Gamma Chapter at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Fall 1993, Soror Audrey is a newly crowned Silver Star serving in her 25th year. She’s an active member of Tau Tau Omega Chapter in Santa Monica, CA where she has held numerous leadership positions including Ivy Leaf Reporter, Audit Committee Chairman, Fine Arts/Founders’ Day Committee Chairman and is in her third term as the current Graduate Advisor. Honored to receive the 2017 and 2018 Far Western Region Lucille B. Bryant Graduate Advisor Award, Soror Audrey is proud to supervise her beloved and award-winning Alpha Gamma Chapter. Additionally, Soror Audrey is the Twenty Pearls Heritage Foundation President, Tau Tau Omega’s 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Originally from San Jose, Soror Audrey enjoys spending time with her family and friends, supporting community service activities, and attending theatre and movies. 2018 Intermountain Cluster Conference | Committed to Serving with Excellence
11
Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated
ÂŽ
Fabulous Far Western Region
2018 INTERMOUNTAIN CLUSTER CONFERENCE
Committed to Serving With Excellence
2018 IntermountainCluster
Workshop PRESENTERS Soror Faith Singleton Faith Singleton is a resident of Sunnyvale, CA and a member of the Rho Delta Omega Chapter in Palo Alto, CA. Faith was appointed as Far Western Representative to the International Program Committee at the 2018 Boule. Initiated into the Nu Alpha Chapter at Emory University in the Spring of 2015, Faith has had the honor of serving in both international and chapter positions. Internationally, she has served Alpha Kappa Alpha as Undergraduate Member-atLarge and Undergraduate Representative to the International Building and Properties Committee. Additionally, Faith had the distinct honor of being a member of the 2016 Leadership Fellows Cohort. Professionally, Faith recently began a new role as a Legal Investigations Associate at Google. Faith loves blogging, mentoring, reading, and spending time with her mother.
Soror Joyce Y. Suber Joyce Suber is a Silver Star member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Xi Omega Chapter, and San Diego. She has served as Southern California Cluster Coordinator and in Epsilon Xi Omega she has held several positions including Basileus, First and Second Anti-Basileus, Anti-Grammateus, Parliamentarian, Historian, ASCEND Coordinator, Debutante Ball Chairman, and served on several committees. Joyce has been the recipient of many awards including Woman of the Year, Phi Delta Kappa’s Outstanding Educator, and more. Joyce retired in 2012 as the San Diego County Office of Education, Regional Director of the AVID Program. Joyce has a legacy daughter, Arika Wells who resides in Tucson Arizona with husband Raymond and two sons, Delawrence and Jeremiah. Her son Christopher was recently married and resides in San Diego. Joyce was proudly initiated at Washington State University in 1975 with the Zeta Omega Omega Chapter. 2018 Intermountain Cluster Conference | Committed to Serving with Excellence
12
Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated
®
Fabulous Far Western Region
2018 INTERMOUNTAIN CLUSTER CONFERENCE
Committed to Serving With Excellence
2018 Intermountain Cluster
GRADUATE CHAPTERS Delta Beta Omega – Phoenix, AZ Eta Epsilon Omega – Tucson, AZ Theta Theta Omega – Las Vegas, NV Upsilon Beta Omega – Salt Lake City, UT Psi Upsilon Omega – Henderson, NV
UNDERGRADUATE CHAPTERS Zeta Alpha – Arizona State University Iota Tau– University of Arizona, Tucson Kappa Xi – University of Las Vegas, Nevada
2018 Intermountain Cluster Conference | Committed to Serving with Excellence
13
Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated
®
Fabulous Far Western Region
2018 INTERMOUNTAIN CLUSTER CONFERENCE
Committed to Serving With Excellence
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc
FAR WESTERN REGION ONLINE
WEBSITE: www.aka1908.com/farwestern
TWITTER: @AKAFarWestern
FACEBOOK: @AKAFarWestern
INSTAGRAM: @AKAFarWestern
2018 Intermountain Cluster Conference | Committed to Serving with Excellence
14
Intermountain Cluster
Community Service Project Operation AKA Assist A Program to Assist Homeless Youth
Gift Cards for HELP OF SOUTHERN NEVADA Shannon West Homeless Youth Center www.helpsonv.org-youth.php
State of Homeless Youth in Nevada • There is a rising trend of homeless youth • The state ranks 4th in the nation in total number of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth • The state ranks 1st in the nation in rates of Unsheltered Unaccompanied Homeless Youth • The rate of unaccompanied youth homelessness is greater than the state as a whole and far greater than the national average (24.7% compared to 6.54%) • 2,794 minors were recovered from human sex trafficking by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department from 1994 through 2016 • Per Clark County School District statistics, the homeless student population exceeded 11,000 during the 2016-2017 school year How can the InterMountain Cluster assist? Goal: $1,000 • Make chapter or individual gift card donations in denominations of $10 - $20 • Suggested merchants • Walmart • Marshall’s • Fast Food Restaurants • Target • Albertsons/Vons • Subway • Old Navy • Smith’s Food & Drug/Kroger • Port-A-Sub • Ross • Sally’s Beauty Supply • Pizza Hut How will donations be collected? You can make donation when you register for the conference or You can turn in the donation at the conference Contact: Soror Anitra Harris - anitraharris@yahoo.com or Soror Berna Rhodes-Ford – berna@rhodesford.com