Chapter Newsletter Feb 2014

PINK PEARLS OF SERVICE Zeta Upsilon Omega Chapter

February 8, 2014

State of the Chapter Message Dear Sorors, I am happy to present our 2013 State of the Chapter. I would like to personally thank each member for their dedication and hard work in keeping ZUO in the forefront. We spend countless hours serving the St. Petersburg community and supporting our national program initiatives.

The mission to perpetuate a legacy of sisterhood and service for our illustrious sorority continues. We ended the year financially sound, reclaimed three sorors, distributed more than $7,000 to various community groups, collected coupons and clothing donations, attended Conferences, Cluster Meetings, Joint Founders Day Celebration, redesigned our website as well as hosted the first ever Little Miss Pink Petals Pageant.

The chapter also received media coverage for various programs and events including a service project grant from Jack and Jill and community recognition from the YWCA, NAACP and Urban League.

We also received an overall satisfaction rating on our annual chapter evaluation.

We will continue moving forward and focus on improving the following: Membership Retention, Chapter Operations and Financial Stewardship.

In the coming months, we will begin succession planning at our Executive Board Retreat. I invite all members to participate in the strategic planning process. Get involved and commit to working on a new committee or program initiative. We need every soror working to accomplish our goals.

Happy Birthday Sorors Feb. 4 - Soror Deloris Whitehead Feb. 7 - Soror Lolita Brown Feb. 8 – Soror Kathleen Young Feb. 10 - Soror Jackie Gayle Kelly Feb. 12 – Soror Deborah Figgs-Sanders Feb. 19 - Soror Renee Jackson Feb. 25 – Soror Constance Batty Feb. 26 – Soror Nora Coles Feb. 26—Soror Jean Davies

Soror Crystal L. Pruitt

In This Issue

Zeta Upsilon Omega Members Deliver Kindles and Books to Starling Day Care during MLK Day of Service

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Program Reports

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Committee Reports

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Upcoming Events

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Announcements

Committee Reports

Health Committee Get healthy and fit in 2014!

A special thank you to all sorors who came out and supported “Pink Goes Red for A Day� and Healthy Bodies/Healthy Minds

Social Justice Committee Requesting that each soror contribute to the South Atlantic Regional Conference effort to provide gift cards to youth aging out of foster care. Please provide a gift card to a fast food restaurant, Walmart, Walgreens or other national chain in the amount of $10-15. We will be collecting gift cards at the February and March sorority meetings. Sorors may also contribute cash which will be converted to gift cards by Soror Cassandra Williams. The cards will be donated at the sorority's regional conference in April.

The committee is still accepting non-perishable food items or toiletries for CASA. The next Social Justice meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. at the Enoch Davis Center .

Submitted by Soror Tamara Felton-Howard

Black Family

Education and EYL Committee Come out and support the MLK Essay Contest on Feb. 19 at Enoch Davis

We were able to wire $220.00 to Pastor Johnny Jones, Jr. in the Philippines. This act of kindness was made possible by contributions from sorors. Pastor Jones was so elated. He stated that our contribution is equal to 10,000 pesos in the Philippines and can purchase much more over there than here. The money value ratio is 45/1. They are ministering and meeting the needs of many in this region. You may go to his Facebook account, Faith Christian Center Johnny Jones, to view his church and other pictures.

Soror Earline Gilbert

Committee Reports MLK Sunday Supper The Zeta Upsilon Omega chapter co-sponsored a Candlelight Vigil with the Carter G. Woodson Museum on Sunday, Jan. 19. The theme was “Passing the Torch”. Our EYLers were asked to read excerpts from their Black History Month speech presentations and also served as ushers. The MLK Choir, which is comprised of several AKA Akademy students were on the program. Other community youth participated on the program reciting poetry and monologues, which reflected the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. After the program, there was a candlelight processional out to the garden where everyone sang “We Shall Overcome” and for the closing prayer.

MLK Day of Service The Zeta Upsilon Omega (ZUO) chapter held its MLK Day of Service Project on Monday, January 20, 2014 at the Starling School and Daycare in St. Petersburg, FL from 9am-12pm. ZUO partnered with the Eta Rho Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. The purpose of this project was to instill a sense of pride in the students knowing they are in a safe, healthy environment away from home by the beautification of the school grounds. We planted xeroscape type plants throughout the property and mulched two playgrounds. We also donated six Kindles and Books.

Submitted by Soror Cassandra Williams

Economic Security Events Money Sense will be at held from 9 a.m. until noon on Feb. 22 at the Enoch Davis Center. During the workshop, students will participate in “JA Personal Finance” activities. Junior Achievement Special Projects Director, Carol John-Williams along with participating volunteers will assist students with a game examining the concepts of budgeting, personal investment guide discussions and avoiding the pitfalls of credit debt and identity theft.

Sorors are asked to come out Saturday, March 15th-Get on the Bus for this years’ Cash Mob shopping excursion. The ladies of ZUO will be chauffeured to various Bay Area businesses to leave our AKAnomic footprint. More over, join us for this sisterly relations activity. Bring your wallets and pack your laughter while we learn about the small businesses within the bay area, enjoy one another’s company and break bread together. Cost for the bus is FREE. A sign up sheet will be available to get on the bus.

AKA AKAdemy February Activities

February 1

HB/HM – Lake Vista Community Center/Park

February 6

Black History Movie/Social @ CGW, 6 - 9 p.m.

February 7

Pink Goes Red @ Hospice, 530-730pm Parents Only!!

February 8

Boyz to Men-"Street Survival 101” Enoch Davis Center - Pathfinders Only!!

February 12

EYL Public Speaking Workshop

February 15 Parent Meeting (Mandatory) - 10-1130 @ PTEC iReady Diagnostic Testing (Registered Middle School Students) 10-12 @ PTEC February 19

EYL Black History Program

February 22

Money $ence @ Enoch Davis Center

March 1

Career Day

Submitted by Soror Manitia Moultrie