Volume XLII, Issue 1
Hello Autumn!
September 2017
HMAC: Sisters Lighting the Way | The Local Impact of Sisterhood
What’s Inside
by Ja’Milla C.K. Lomas, Corresponding Secretary
Metropolitan Leadership 2
Before the rains stopped and the waters still rose, our family of sisters, forever bonded in love and service, called to check on one another. Once the sun came out and the waters continued to advance, our circle of sisters and brothers widened, and the outpouring of love offerings amassed. Soon the strength of our sisterhood in action rose higher and more potently than any deluge of flood waters wrought by a storm on our city. In a few short days, as many were still assessing their damages, recovery efforts and donation drives had been organized and performed by members of Houston Metropolitan Alumnae, North Harris County Alumnae and Suburban Houston-Fort Bend Alumnae; and our National and Regional Leadership had reached out to our local Leadership to get to the crux of our membership needs.
Local Impact of Sisterhood 2 Program STOPlight: 2 Social Action Leading the Charge
We have many more miles to go on our road to recovery and revitalization, but we may rejoice that we are on our way, together. And, oh! what stories we may tell on this road of sisterhood and service we are traveling!! We are compassionate. We are impactful. We are strong. We are HMAC.
President’s Pointers by Candra O. Lacy Do you remember the twenty first night of September? Love was changing the minds of pretenders While chasing the clouds away… Do you recognize those lyrics? Yes, you know them. Those feel-good lyrics. That up-tempo beat. The smooth, sultry voices.They’re easily recognizable and they take me to a place of carefree goodness. I think of fall, HBCU football and tailgating, tasty food and fun times with old and new friends from near and far. Do you know what else I think of? I also think of love – not the eros/romantic love but the phileos love – the love between friends who are chosen and committed. We have chosen our cause (Service, Leadership and Empowerment) and we have uncompromisingly committed ourselves to it as women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Sorors, the Elements (Earth Wind and Fire) got it right when they sang about love in September. This month marks the time that we embrace phileos love.We tend to fall in love again, with our beloved Delta Sigma Theta in September. We are refreshed and rejuvenated. We’ve got new ideas and inspirations. We are excited to do the work that will make our chapter and communities stronger.We are unstoppable! When I promised to lead the magnificent, melanated and magical queens of the Houston Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter this
2017-2019
biennium, I promised to do so with and in love. Now, my charge to you is to join me as we think, create, execute, and accomplish our vision and goals with that same kind of love. Sorors, I am truly excited and hopeful and prayerful that the work we undertake this year will be seen as the standard of service and the beacon of love – not only in our beautiful Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., but throughout Houston and around the world. We know this is possible! Now groove with me… let’s continue the work of chasing the clouds away starting this September. In service and love,
Detour to Grace and Gratitude 2 Committee Interchange Dates to Remember
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HMAC in Pictures 3
Raise Your Torch Executive Board Meeting Wednesday, September 6, 2017 6:30 pm Metropolitan Place 5441 Trafalgar Drive General Chapter Meeting Saturday, September 9, 2017 10:00 am GCCSA 9320 Kirby Drive Business Attire
Note: All meetings will begin promptly and as scheduled. Debutante Kick-Off Event POSTPONED Pillowcase Project Saturday, September 16, 2017 9:00 am - 1:00 pm ARC Texas Gulf Coast Building 2700 Southwest Freeway St. Jude Walk/Run Saturday, September 23, 2017 7:00 am Minute Maid Park 501 Crawford Street
Little Pearls “We are society. We are not separate. What we do to our brother and sister, we do to ourselves.” - Wallace Huey
Metropolitan Leadership
The Local Impact of Sisterhood
(continued)
Candra O. Lacy President MaryKaye Childs-Henry 1st Vice-President April S. Inman 2nd Vice-President Ja’Milla C. K. Lomas Corresponding Secretary Keesha S. Bone-Smith Recording Secretary Sherri L. Daniels Treasurer Patricia A. Allison Financial Secretary Karen L. Bledsoe Demita N. Sweet Assistant Financial Secretaries Dana Burns Chaplain Cassandra Brooks Historian Tracee M. Fletcher Journalist Gloria Hays Keeper of Properties Barbara J. Branch Parliamentarian Victoria Lackey Judy C. Smith Jacqueline Moton Sergeants-at-Arms Chemene P. Jackson Web Administrator 2
Program Stoplight: Social Action Leading the Charge by Karolyn D.Williams, Social Action Chair; and Ja’Milla C.K. Lomas, Corresponding Secretary
The Social Action Committee was recognized at the 53rd National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada for our groundbreaking Roundtable Discussion on Race. Our resolution on Voter Registration, Education and Mobilization with High School Seniors was also adopted by the National Social Action Commission. A huge and heartfelt thank you goes to all of the Social Action Sorors of HMAC for all of their efforts. Our nationally reknowned, award winning Social Action Committee refuses to stop there. This August has been a busy one leading up to the official start of the sorority year, as our intreprid team makes certain that Houstonians are able to exercise their unalienable rights to life, liberty and the hard fought honor to V-O-T-E.
SAC started August by accepting an invitation to the Westbury Senior High School Back to School Bash, where we registered 32 citizens to vote. On the 21st, SAC partnered with the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector to host a Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrar Training. There were 65 Sorors and community members in attendance. Our Stellar Social Action Committee closed out the month by attending a community forum at Baptist Church ready to register more citizens to exercise their right. What an August!
Detour to Grace and Gratitude by Dana Burns Love in Action... What would our chapter look like if we treated every soror as a true sister? What would our chapter look like if we showed each other the same grace that we want shown to us? Let’s begin this sorority year doing everything as if we are doing it unto God and showing genuine love. 1 Peter 4:8 New King James Version (NKJV) And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. Prayer Requests Please keep those in sorrow, who have lost loved ones, and in mourning; those in pain, ill and aggrieved; and all those have been adversely affected by the impact of Harvey, in prayer. If you have prayer requests, please send them to Chaplain Dana Burns: dabsf88@yahoo.com.
Prayer conference call every Monday @ 6:13 a.m. Phone No: (712) 775-7031 Access Code: 697705#
Committee Interchange
Membership Services | “The Committee” Jewel of the Month Sorors, Compassion is the Jewel of the Month. Compassion is so very fitting since all of us have been devastated or impacted in some way from the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Let us all be motivated to go out of our way to help ease the physical, spiritual or emotional pain of others. Compassion is considered one of the greatest Virtues. HMAC Delta-versary This Sorority Year, we are planning to celebrate our 43rd Delta-versary! If you would like help us plan for this event, please come out and participate in the next Membership Services meeting. Post-Chapter Meeting Ice Cream Social After our first chapter meeting on September 9, 2017, Membership Services will host an ice cream social. This will give members and guests an opportunity to mix, mingle and express feelings of exaltation and salutation after the experiences of Hurricane Harvey.
Celebrating a Delta Milestone? Chapter members who are approaching their 25 years of service in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., please send your information to – dldelta97@gmail.com - or call Soror MaryKaye Childs-Henry at 281-236-8622.
Social Action Committee National Voter Registration Day is... ...Tuesday, September 26, 2017. In accordance with the adoption of the National Social Action Commission’s Resolutions, the HMAC Social Action Committee will begin Phase 1 of High School Voter Registration, Education and Mobilization. The HMAC Social Action Committee will again visit Westbury Sr. High School and register eligible students to vote. Please join us during the lunch hour if you can lend a hand. (11911 Chimney Rock Rd, Houston, TX 77035)
Dates to Remember...
HMAC in Pictures
POSTPONED: 2017-2018 Debutante Season Kick-Off Event Please stay tuned for new date to be determined.
Westbury Back to School Voter Registration August 17, 2017 | Social Action Committee
continued on pages 4 & 5
Please make sure you sign up with the American Red Cross.
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HMAC in Pictures . . . (continued) HMAC Delta Recovery Efforts at One Delta Plaza August - September 2017, Hurricane Harvey Relief
Sisterhood in Action at Metropolitan Place August - September 2017, Hurricane Harvey Relief Special thanks to the ladies of HMAC who worked tirelessly alongside our sisters of the Suburban Houston Fort Bend and North Harris County Alumnae Chapters; your commitment in assisting our sorors in their time of need allowed SISTERHOOD in ACTION to be an overwhelming success. The brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi (Houston Alumni) and the brothers of Phi Beta Sigma (Eta Rho Sigma Chapter and Alpha Beta Sigma Chapter) and many other Houston area sorors of Delta Sigma Theta also gave of their time to assist in our efforts. With the help of all of you (80+ volunteers) and 60+ donors we were able to provide 200 care packages for our Houston and Surrounding Area sorors who were impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
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. . . Finally (concluded) 53rd National Convention August 3 - 10, 2017 | Las Vegas, Nevada Convention was held in the city that never sleeps – Las Vegas, Nevada. Sorors were able to conduct business and fellowship with one another from across the nation. Houston Metropolitan was the recipient of several awards and recognitions while in Vegas. Kudos to our Sensational Social Action Committee for bringing home the Southwest Region Social Action Award of Distinction, to our Ever-So-Ready ERT Team for bringing home 2nd place for the Delta ERT Task Force National 2017 Be Delta Ready, and to our Efficient Economic Development Committee for bringing home $1,500 for 1st place in the nation for the Dfree Program. Also we received a Certificate of Appreciation for our participation in the PPD competition and for our participation with March of Dimes. We are HMAC Proud!!!!
Photo Credit: Sharon Farmer Congratulations to the newly elected National Executive Committee for the 2017 - 2019 biennium! Pictured (l-r): Deborah Jones-Buggs, Treasurer; Elsie Cooke-Holmes, Secretary; Jaria Martin, Second Vice President; Cheryl A. Hickmon, First Vice President; and Beverly E. Smith, President.
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THE TORCH
Place Postage Here
Houston Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter Post Office Box 56108 Houston, Texas 77256-6108
About HMAC The Houston Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter (HMAC) was chartered by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in October of 1974. Since its inception, HMAC has been actively involved in supporting national and local service agencies, all while sponsoring and presenting community workshops, awareness forums and health fairs. HMAC members and partners have provided over $700,000 in scholarships, directly benefitting the youth of the Greater Houston area. If you or your company/organization are interested in joining our community efforts, visit us at www.HMACDelta.org to learn how.
One Heart! One Purpose! Southwest!