The Ivy Volume I, Issue IV

Volume I, Issue IV

April 2016

THE IVY Official Newsletter of Sigma Omega Chapter Contact Info

Happy Spring Sorors!

Whitney B Gaskins, Basileus

I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for all you have done to make the first quarter of 2016 an amazing quarter. There are so many things we can be proud of as a chapter. We have 142 chapter members, participated in every community impact day, improved our graduate/undergraduate relationship with mixers and the mentoring program.

whitney.gaskins@gmail.com (513) 535-0270 (Cell) Carole Cutter-Hawkins, Anti-Basileus carolehawkins@cinci.rr.com (513) 703-0345 (Cell) (513) 531-1807 (Home) Sandi Mosley, Editor Newsletter@akasigmaomega.org Sigma Omega Chapter PO Box 17194 Cincinnati, OH 45217-0194 akasigmaomega1924@gmail.com

Web Presence http://akasigmaomega.org

In this issue Basileus Speaks Online with the Anti-Basileus Birthdays & Anniversaries AKAlades to Our Educators Our Golden Girls About Our Programs Budget/Finance Committee Social Media Committee

Basileus Speaks Accomplishments were not only within the chapter but also individual soror attainment. We have more than five sorors turning silver and 1 turning golden. We have sorors delivering keynote speeches and leading city initiatives. It is such an exciting time to be a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, especially Sigma Omega Chapter. With all of our first quarter accomplishments I am excited to see what the 2nd quarter will bring.

Our committee chairmen have been working hard to restore our operational efficiency while keeping sisterly relations in the forefront of all we do. Please remember the commitment we all made to the sisterhood and ensure we are all doing our part to make Sigma Omega one of the best of the best. If you haven’t been able to participate on a committee please sign up. Committee chairmen are always welcoming new committee members to their team. If you haven’t been able to attend our programs this year please consider volunteering with Closing the Health Gap, the Black Family Reunion or any of our target committees as we have a lot planned.

Thank you for all you do and let us continue to make a lasting impact on our community.

Sisterly love, Soror Whitney B Gaskins Basileus

Undergraduate Updates Our Thoughts Are With You

The Ivy

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Volume I, Issue IV

April 2016

Online with the Anti-Basileus Greetings Sorors, I hope everyone had a happy and blessed Easter and for those on Spring Break continue to enjoy a much needed rest and/or departure from the rigors of your regular routine.

http://www.aka1908.com

Did you remember to take the NAMI “Pledge To Be Stigma Free” online? If not, please go to https://www.nami.org/stigmafree then click on “Take the Pledge”.

Sorority Social Media Sigma Omega Chapter Twitter: @AKASigmaOmega Instagram: AKASigmaOmega Great Lakes Regional Office Twitter: @AKAGreatLakes Instagram: @akagreatlakes Corporate Office Twitter: @akasorority1908 Instagram: @akasorority1908

Chapter Program Calendar April 2016 Saturday, April 02, 2016 - Xavier University 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ASCEND℠ Session Saturday, April 30, 2016 - Washington Park 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Health Expo, Closing the Health Gap Saturday, May 07, 2016 - Sawyer Point 9:00 AM Check In | 10:00 AM Start Time NAMIWalks Southwest Ohio

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While donations are appreciated, there is no financial requirement to take the stigma free pledge, which is a way to show support for the 1 out of 5 Americans affected by mental illness. Also, save the date, May 7, 2016, for the annual NAMI Walk at Sawyer Point to help raise funds for this important cause.

Many thanks to those who donated book bags filled with supplies for the service project at this year’s Great Lakes Regional Conference. Through your support, Sigma Omega Chapter has contributed more than 40 book bags to date.

The Health Committee is preparing for our participation in the annual Closing the Health Gap event at Washington Park. Sorors who signed up to volunteer, please remember volunteer training is required. If you have questions, please contact Soror Denia Redford by email at denia.redford1@gmail.com.

Your willingness to provide service to the community is what sets Sigma Omega Chapter apart. “Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.” ~ Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Sisterly, Soror Carole Cutter-Hawkins, Anti-Basileus

Community Impact Days Alpha Kappa Alpha members will implement International Community Service Days annually to highlight the organization’s collective impact in program target areas: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January) Pink Goes Red for Heart Health Day (February) 1908 Playgrounds Mobilization Day (May) The Longest Day™ Alzheimer’s Support Activities (June) Mental Health Awareness Day (July) Childhood Hunger Awareness Day (October)

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Volume I, Issue IV

April 2016

AKA lades to our Educators 8th Annual Diversity Conference Awards, presented by its namesake, Marian Spencer, Diamond Soror (lower left corner)

Birthdays | April 2

Monica Newby

4

Kinah Willis

7

Esther Smith

18

Kerri Coburn

21

Cassia Dubose

25

Kristina Thomas

Happy AKAversary

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) 19th Annual Golden Torch Awards Dr. Janice A. Lumpkin Educator of the Year Soror Whitney Gaskins, PhD

1944 1948 1956 1956

Jeanette Billings Sarah Hale Bertha Jones Gwen Walton

1991 1991 1991 1991

Norma Holt-Davis Nicolle Donald Frances Keels LaTonya M Lampkin

1969 1970 1972 1980 1980

Sheila Taylor Coeany Bryant Patricia Stone Sheila Hill Sharron Moon

1991 1991 1995 1998 2003

Sandi Mosley Donna Shirley Sarah Harris Karyn Frost Kristina Thomas

Sisterly Relations | Anisha Daniels, Chairman ~ Corrine Witherspoon, Co-Chairman

Doctoral Candidates

The Sisterly Relations Committee visited with Soror Jeanette Billings (pink tshirt) , who donated a book bag filled with school supplies.

Soror Anisha Daniels (left)

Happy Birthday Soror Bertha Jones (pictured below; seated fourth from the right)

Soror Corrine Witherspoon (right)

Soror Elaysha Wright (left)

Soror Candace Kirksey (above) to attend NYU for her Masters Degree

The Ivy

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Our Golden Girls Born and raised in Dayton Ohio, Soror Rita is the youngest of three children in a strong Christian and musical family. She has sung in church choirs, given poem orations, speeches and essays in many venues. The mother of two, James and Crystal Bain, and two grandchildren, Soror Rita has has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Caribbean, Mexico and the Philippines.

Rita L Bain-Wilkins Golden Soror “Good, better, best, never let it rest until your good becomes your better and your better becomes your best.”

School: Central State University Chapter: Beta Xi Chapter

Her teaching career spans 44 years of mentoring and teaching fellow educators, college, high school, middle school and elementary school students and parents. She served as a member of United States Peace Corp in the Philippines at the Tambo Regional In-service Trainer Center for Teachers. In Iligan City, Lanao del Norte Province, Philippines Soror Rita taught methodology in science and modern mathematics to fellow educators. In turn, she learned the National Language of Tagalog and the Visayan dialect for the island where she lived.

EDUCATION 1966, Central State University, Wilberforce, OH - Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education US Peace Corp Training Program 1966, Radcliffe College, Cambridge, MA 1972, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, Master of Education in Reading Specialist Program and Postgraduate courses in Administration MEMBERSHIPS Cincinnati Chapter of the Central State University Alumni Association American Federation of Teachers Classical Roots Choir The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra HONORS 1978 Edition, World Who's Who of Women in Education 1988-1989 Edition, Who’s Who in American Education 1989, National Recognition on Mary Kay's Queens Courts of Sales in Dallas, TX March 2006, Cincinnati Public Schools, 15 Years of Service as Lead Trainer in the Career in Teaching Program

Our Sorority Watch your email for information and updates regarding our sorority on the International and Regional levels.

The Ivy

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About Our Programs Target II: Health Promotion | Denia J Redford, Chairman NAMIWalks Southwest Ohio Saturday, May 07, 2016 Sawyer Point Check In: 9:00 AM Start Time: 10:00 AM

Target I: Educational Enrichment, ASCEND℠ | Sandi Mosley April Session

UN Classroom Activity Jeopardy Game Water Crisis in Flint, MI - How Can It Be Fixed?

Rho Psi Chapter College Exploration Financial Responsibility While in College Benita Mannerly International Business & Marketing Linders College Group Preparation for Final Project UN Presentations/Debate in May Soror Joya Dillard-Dozier

Family and friends, join Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Sigma Omega Chapter has partnered with National Alliance on Mental Illness in Southwest Ohio (NAMI) in raising funds to expand and maintain local services for persons affected by mental illness in the Greater Cincinnati community.

May 7, 2016 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon, at Sawyer Point, Sigma Omega AKA's will participate in NAMIWalks, a 5K (3.1 mile) walk to "Stomp Out the Stigma of Mental Illness" and encourage awareness. Please click here to support Sigma Omega AKA's in our fundraising and mental health awareness programming as an event participant or by volunteering in other ways. You can also donate funds that directly help local NAMI programs designed to support caregivers, family members and prevent of mental illness.

Sisterly, Denia Redford, Target II: Health Promotion Chairman denia.redford1@gmail.com Patrice McCarter, Sigma Omega AKA’s Team Captain pinkivy7@gmail.com

STEM Smart Camp Activity University of Cincinnati Student Soror Whitney Gaskins ASCEND℠ Cycle Three Discussion Soror Sandi Mosley ASCEND℠ Presenters

(pictured above, left to right) Joya Dillard-Dozier (Sigma Omega Chapter) Antronette Black, Kylie Jones, Lauren Anderson (Rho Psi Chapter) Sandi Mosley (Sigma Omega Chapter) Miani Cylear (Rho Psi Chapter)

The Ivy

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Volume I, Issue IV

April 2016

2016 Chapter Officers Whitney B Gaskins Basileus Carole Cutter-Hawkins Anti-Basileus Kerri Coburn Grammateus Mildred Kennedy Anti-Grammateus Sharron Moon Pecunious Grammateus Shelly Sherman Greene Anti- Pecunious Grammateus Diane McDowell Tamiouchos Sandi Mosley Epistoleus Kathleen Foster Hodegos Crystal Cook Philacter Ashley B Mallory Parliamentarian Lillian Hawkins Ivy Leaf Reporter Tina Merriweather Member at Large Elaine Stubblefield Chaplain Sandra Parks Officers’ Assistant

Budget/Finance Committee | Diane McDowell, Chairman Fiscal Fitness When a committee is responsible for planning an event, what’s the first task to complete?

(A) Call around for venue prices (B) Hire a caterer (C) Build a budget If you chose (C), you’re way ahead of the curve.

Building a budget is crucial to planning anything from a fundraising event to how a committee will use it’s line item during the year. At the first committee/planning meeting, be the soror who asks, “where is our budget?” Remember, it’s not exact. Its a flexible guide. As long as we stay within the limits of our budget then all’s right with the world.

Social Media Committee | Joya Dillard-Dozier Chairman Last issue we learned the account names for Sigma Omega Chapter, Great Lakes Regional Office and Corporate Office; the list also on page 2 of the newsletter.

This month…#Hashtags They’re those short links preceded by the pound sign (#), may seem confusing and unnecessary, but they are integral to the way we communicate online and it’s important to know how to use them. Plus, they can be a lot of fun.

On Twitter, Instagram and Google+ the pound sign (or hash) turns any word or group of words that directly follow it into a searchable link. This allows you to organize content and track discussion topics based on those keywords, such as #AKAImpactDay, #NAMIWalk or #ThinkHBCU. In a tweet, click on a hashtag to see all the posts that mention the subject in real time.

Which characters can you include in a #hashtag?

First, spaces are an absolute no-no. Even if the hashtag contains multiple words, group them all together. If you want to differentiate between words, use capital letters instead, such as #AKASigmaOmegaChapter. Uppercase letters search results so searching for #AKASigmaOmegaChapter will give the same results as #akasigmaomegachapter.

Janet Coleman, Graduate Advisor Omicron Chapter

Second, numbers are ok so use #AKA1908 as much as possible. However, punctuation marks are not recognized so leave them out.

Joya Dillard-Dozier, Graduate Advisor Sheila Taylor, Assistant Graduate Advisor Lambda Mu Chapter

Keep in mind, the @ sign is something altogether different. Using @ before a person’s Twitter, Instagram or Google+ username will send them a direct message (DM); a hashtag does not do this.

So choose wisely.

Linda Tooson, Graduate Advisor Jeanette McGee, Assistant Graduate Advisor Rho Psi Chapter

The Ivy

Our Corporate and Regional offices will let us know what hashtags to use for events and programs so be on the look out and always add #AKASigmaOmega to your tweet or Instagram posting so our sorors can see our service to the Greater Cincinnati area.

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April 2016

Undergraduate Update Omicron Chapter University of Cincinnati Lambda Mu Chapter Miami University Rho Psi Chapter Xavier University

Rho Psi Chapter, Xavier University | Linda Tooson, Graduate Advisor ~ Jeanette McGee, Assistant Graduate Advisor At the Annual Xavier Muskies Awards Program Rho Psi Chapter won Outstanding Organization of the Year, 25 members & smaller category, given to a recognized organization demonstrating ongoing commitment to excellence in all programming and development areas. This is the first time the chapter was nominated and the first time an African-American organization won.

Second, Soror Antronette Black, former chapter basileus, won the Look at Me Now Award, presented to a senior showing significant growth and transformation rooted in the Jesuit ideals and improving Xavier during her attendance through active involvement. Her peers view Soror Antronette as an outstanding leader on campus.

Art Committee | Thelma L Thomas, Chairman Local Area Events: Miss Black Teen 2016 Cincinnati Black Theatre Company RLH Pageants Unlimited New Prospect Baptist Church 1580 Summit Rd, Cincinnati, 45237 April 23, 2016 | Cost: $ 25.00 Magical Music of Broadway Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra April 22 - 24, 2016 Childrens Tickets $ 10.00 Classical Roots Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra April 29, 2016 $ 25.00 balcony seats $ 40.00 orchestra seats Aretha Franklin at Riverbend July 24, 2016 Tickets: $ 63.00 Contact Riverbend for information more (513) 381-3300

Our Thoughts Are With You Prayers/Condolences Sorors Bea Melvin,Bonita and Erica White on the lost of a family friend Soror Gwen Parham on the lost of her brother and her cousin

Call Soror Thelma L Thomas at (513) 241-1835 with questions

The Ivy

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