SAM’S TOWN HOTEL AND CASINO Shreveport, Louisiana November 22, 2014 • 8:00 A.M.—4:00 P.M.
South Central Regional Director Soror Chelle L. Wilson Supreme Basileus Soror Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson North Louisiana Cluster Coordinator Soror Susie Smith
North Louisiana Co-Cluster Coordinator Soror LaVerne Conley
Host Chapter Iota Rho Omega Soror Denise A. Webb, Basileus
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated 5656 S. Stony Island Avenue * Chicago, Illinois 60637-1997 * 773 684-1282 * Fax 773 288-8251
OFFICE OF: Chelle Luper Wilson South Central Regional Director 2525 Woodland Drive Cross Roads, TX 76227
November 22, 2014 Dear Sorors of the North Louisiana Cluster: I am literally tickled PINK to join you in Shreveport…Hollywood South, Port City, The Next Great City of the South, home to the Louisiana Boardwalk nestled right upon the rolling Red River. While ShreveportBossier City may boast all of those things, the best thing about our location this weekend is our host chapter Iota Rho Omega! Traveling up the highway from Minden, “The Friendliest City in the South,” with the warm and friendly southern hospitality they’ve brought with them makes this the perfect setting for us to come together and prepare for a productive launch into this new dimension of sisterhood and service. Just as effortlessly as the Red River flows each and every day, let’s expand our minds to all the ways that we too can effortlessly flow into this next chapter of our beloved sisterhood. We will start today as we enhance our knowledge of protocol and learn strategies to implement the new International Program, Launching New Dimensions of Service. We will also receive practical tools and techniques to help us become better sorors as we Nurture Our Ivy. Our Supreme Basileus, Soror Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, has a stellar vision to move our sisterhood forward while maintaining our status as the premier organization for collegeeducated women of color. I know that I can count on all of you to execute this vision in true Sensational South Central Style!
Please join me in extending warm expressions of gratitude to our North Louisiana Cluster Coordinator, Soror Susie Smith; Co-Cluster Coordinator, Soror LaVerne Conley; Host Basileus, Soror Denise Webb; Cluster CoChairmen, Sorors Jerri Lee and Vernadia Smith and the members of Iota Rho Omega Chapter who have stepped up to the call delivering a weekend that will undoubtedly be nothing short of phenomenal. From the warmest welcome to a gracious good-bye and all moments in between — nothing has been left to chance in the planning and implementation of this Cluster. Finally, I am grateful for each of you who took the time to join us here in Shreveport. I thank you for continually stepping up to keep South Central Sensational and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. supreme in service to all mankind! Sisterly Yours,
Soror Chelle Luper Wilson South Central Regional Director
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC. SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
NORTH LOUISIANA CLUSTER SUSIE COOPER SMITH • CLUSTER COORDINATOR
November 22, 2014
Greetings:
I
t is with great pleasure and excitement that I welcome you to the 2014 North Louisiana Cluster Retreat. We want you to enjoy each other as we fuel-up for “Launching New Dimensions of Service with Passion and Purpose”! We are thinking Pink and going Green on the Red (River).
Special thanks are extended to our host chapter, Iota Rho Omega, for their untiring work. They are passionate about making the retreat informative and engaging. Every effort has been made to make your stay memorable and worthwhile. A special word of gratitude is extended to our workshop presenters for sharing their time, resources, and talent. The information will prepare us for “take-off”. We are thankful for our Sensational South Central Regional Director, Soror Chelle L. Wilson and for her energetic leadership. With sincere pride and love, Sorors, I would like to thank each of you for your continued support. With the power of your collective thought and God’s help, we can make a difference in the life of children. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always. Love,
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC.
South Central Region North Louisiana Cluster Retreat CO- CHAIRS OF 2014 CLUSTER RETREAT
November 22, 2014
Dear Sorors, As co-chairs of the 2014 North Louisiana Cluster Retreat, it is our distinct pleasure and honor to greet you on behalf of Iota Rho Omega Chapter. We have eagerly awaited and planned for your arrival. We bestow a heartfelt welcome upon each Soror that has travelled to the red clay hills of North Louisiana. The sisters of Iota Rho Omega are proud residents of Minden, Louisiana, the “Friendliest City in the South!” and the surrounding areas. This weekend, we encourage you to join us in Launching New Dimensions of Service with Passion and Purpose, and enjoy retreating on the banks of the Red River in grand style. We are endeavoring to keep our bold Supreme Basileus’ spirit of sisterly relations foremost in our hearts and minds. We are grateful to our sisters along the I-20 corridor for motoring from Monroe, West Monroe, Ruston, and Grambling. We applaud our sisters from historic Natchitoches, Pineville, and Alexandria as well; we’re delighted that you have come. In addition, this event affords an opportunity to share the spirit of unity with our sisters from Shreveport /Bossier. We are looking forward to workshops, reports, and presentations that will enlighten us with current information that will assist us in our efforts to make our chapters run more efficiently. We trust you will enjoy yourselves as we enthusiastically serve and participate in this much anticipated event. We hope you enjoy the retreat so much that you return to your chapters filled with positive energy. Again, welcome to the 2014 North Louisiana Cluster Retreat! Sisterly, Jerri M. Lee Vernadia T. Smith
Dear Sorors, It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 2014 North Louisiana Cluster Retreat. The Sorors of Iota Rho Omega are excited to serve as your host chapter and have worked diligently in planning and preparing a memorable retreat. Over the course of this weekend, there will be fun, food and great fellowship as we set our course for Launching New Dimensions of Service with passion and purpose. Sorors, you have registered in record numbers and traveled from far and wide to share with us. Your presence is vital and without you our retreat would not be successful. Thank you for making the 2014 North Louisiana Cluster Retreat one for the record book – 233 sorors registered, the most in North Louisiana Cluster Retreat history! Let us take this time together to renew our passion for our great sisterhood and refocus on our purpose as Alpha Kappa Alpha women. Again, thank you for joining us and helping the North Louisiana Cluster lead the way in Launching New Dimensions of Service. Sisterly,
Denise A. Webb Denise A. Webb, Basileus Iota Rho Omega Chapter
NORTH LA CLUSTER RETREAT “LAUNCHING NEW DIMENSIONS OF SERVICE WITH
PASSION AND PURPOSE” NOVEMBER 22, 2014 Soror Susie C. Smith Cluster Coordinator Presiding REGISTRATION AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. CALL TO ORDER 9:00am INTRODUCTION OF PRESENTERS AND SPECIAL GUESTS Soror Alvina Thomas Omicron Iota Omega Chapter MEDITATION Soror Daphne Thibeaux, Sigma Rho Omega Chapter GREETINGS Soror Tari T. Bradford 22nd South Central Regional Director Soror Jerri M. Lee Co-Chairman, Iota Rho Omega The Honorable Tommy Davis Mayor, City of Minden INTRODUCTION OF REGIONAL DIRECTOR Soror Denise A. Webb Ioto Rho Omega Chapter STATE OF THE REGION Soror Chelle Luper Wilson South Central Regional Director WORKSHOP I Launching New Dimensions of Service: Introducing the International Program Soror Regina Carrington International Program Committee B R E AK P h o t o s e s s i o n • D o o r P r i ze s • V e n d o r s
CLUSTER LUNCHEON Presiding Soror LaVerne Conley Co-Cluster Coordinator GREETINGS Soror Crevonne J. Odom Iota Rho Omega MEDITATION AND GRACE Soror Rubye Lee Iota Rho Omega Chapter SERVICE PROJECT CHALLENGE NLA CLUSTER CLASSIC Soror Julia O'Neal Iota Rho Omega Chapter SERVICE PROJECT RECEPIENTS Mrs. Ethel Dansby • Boys & Girls Club Timber Ridge Mrs. Ursula Hullaby • Webster Parish School Board Mrs. Mary Armwood • First Baptist Church of Cullen ENTERTAINMENT Soror LaKeisha L. Grider Iota Rho Omega Chapter B R E AK P h o t o s e s s i o n • D o o r P r i ze s • V e n d o r s AFTERNOON SESSION Presiding Soror Susie C. Smith Cluster Coordinator WORKSHOP II Launching New Dimensions of Service...AKA...Nurturing Our Ivies... With Care, Kindness and Mutual Respect Soror Shirley R. Fisher International Sisterly Relations Committee 21st South Central Regional Director WORKSHOP III Launching New Dimensions of Protocol: Introducing the International Program Soror Velena McRae International Protocol Committee PRESENTATIONS CLOSING REMARKS Soror Chelle Luper Wilson South Central Regional Director SAFE TRAVEL AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Program Presenters Soror Regina Carrington Representative to the International Program Committee As a loyal and dedicated member, Soror Regina has served as Basileus, Anti-Basileus, Member-at-Large, and Graduate Advisor to the Gamma Psi Chapter, (where she was initiated 41 years ago). This Life Member and Silver Star has been appointed by our Supreme Basileus, Soror Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, to serve as International Program Representative for the Sensational South Central Region. Soror Regina looks forward to this special journey "Launching New Dimensions of Service" throughout our region and working with our dynamic sorors.
Soror Velena McRae Representative to the International Protocol Committee Velena Lewis McRae, Silver Soror, was initiated into Alpha Rho chapter at The University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff (UAPB). She is a member of the Alpha Xi Omega Chapter, where she has served as a member of the Protocol, Sisterly Relations, and Founders’ Day committees to name a few. She currently serves as the chapter Epistoleus and is a member of the Regional Protocol Committee. Velena was recently appointed as the 2014-2016 South Central Region Representative to the International Protocol Committee.
Soror Shirley Fisher Representative to the International Sisterly Relations Committee Soror Fisher was elected the 21st South Central Regional Director at the 68th South Central Regional Conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana, April 2000 and served from 2000 to 2004. After serving four years as Regional Director, she was appointed Chairman of the Educational Advancement Foundation Advisory Board for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Chairman of the Diamond/Golden/ Silver Sorors Anniversary Committee. Currently, she is South Central Representative to the International Sisterly Relations Committee.
North LA Cluster Retreat South Central Region Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
GRADUATE CHAPTERS DELTA LAMBDA OMEGA SHREVEPORT, LA KAREN L. LUCAS • BASILEUS
EPSILON PSI OMEGA GRAMBLING, LA SYLVIA DUPREE • BASILEUS
IOTA RHO OMEGA MINDEN, LA DENISE A. WEBB • BASILEUS
OMICRON IOTA OMEGA MONROE, LA BRENDA SHELLING • BASILEUS
PHI GAMMA OMEGA PINEVILLE, LA BRENDA DOZIER • BASILEUS
SIGMA RHO OMEGA SHREVEPORT, LA CANDICE C. COOPER • BASILEUS
ZETA LAMBDA OMEGA ALEXANDRIA, LA PATRICIA DEAL • BASILEUS
ZETA PHI OMEGA MONROE, LA GRETA M. WILEY • BASILEUS
UNDERGRADUATE CHAPTERS Alpha Theta Grambling State University Eta Chi Northwestern State University Tau Epsilon LA State University Shreveport Theta Lambda LA Tech University Theta Zeta
University of LA Monroe