President’s Pointers by Soror Shirley M. Johnson Greetings Sorors! Congratulations and many thanks to Houston Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter sorors who attended the 45th SW Regional Conference, San Antonio, TX . The excitement was evident throughout the conference and it was awesome to see everyone. My heart was overwhelmed and proud of HMAC’s involvement and attendance. A big thanks to all conference choir members, members participating on conference committees, workshops participants, photographers and VIP Escorts. You are all commended for an excellent display of love and support, and you are to be commended for a job well done. We applaud the Program Planning and Development Committee leader and chairs for your outstanding work ethics and submission efforts. You are all HMAC winners and I encourage each committee to continue to submit programs.
Place Winners for their 52-Week Savings Plan Challenge and the dFree start up program. Also, we received a certificate for the Strategic Partnership Taskforce (Project 13), and March of Dimes Certificate signed by the National President, and an honorable mention of the Emergency Response Team submissions. While we were at the Regional Conference, calamity struck in South Louisiana and Southern California. As unprecedented flooding and wildfires took over, our chapter rose to the call of our Southwest Regional Director Soror Pamela M. Rogers, to collect resources for those areas. Thank you to everyone who contributed and to those of you who have family and friends in the area are in our thoughts and prayers. Sorors, we have a lot of work ahead of us for the 2015-2016 Fiscal Year. We need your ta len ts, lea dersh ip skil ls , a nd commitment to enthusiastically see us through to a successful new year. Let’s keep the fire burning for Delta!
Metropolitan Leadership
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Program STOPlight: Join a Committee!
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Detour to Grace & Gratitude Committee Crossroads
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Membership Services, Budget & Finance
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HMAC in Pictures (Online) Visit: http://bit.ly/TorchSept16 to view photos.
Executive Board Meeting Tuesday, September 6, 2016 6:30 pm Metropolitan Place 5441 Trafalgar Drive
A very special thank you to the Economic Development Committee for being the 1st
General Chapter Meeting Saturday, September 10, 2016 10:00 am GCCSA 9320 Kirby Drive, Suite 100 All White Attire (Dresses or Suits). No Pants.
Program STOPlight: Back-to-School with Smart Social Action
Hostess assignments are listed on page 4.
Awards
and
Recognitions
On August 6th, the Social Action Committee collaborated with the YWCA to send our kids back to school safely. Representatives from Free The Captives addressed Human Trafficking, Harris County Constable Precinct 7 addressed gun safety, violence and interacting with the police and Attorney Brandon Ball addressed Racial Profiling. Each child in attendance received a backpack full of school supplies, light breakfast and pizza for lunch. Thank you to the YWCA and all HMAC Sorors who helped prepare the kids for a positive back-to-school experience!
The biggest communication problem is that we do not listen to understand. We listen to reply.
Program STOPlight: Join a Committee Today! Shirley M. Johnson President Eryka Robinson 1st Vice-President Keesha Bone-Smith 2nd Vice-President Candra O. Lacy Corresponding Secretary Karen Jackson Recording Secretary Patricia Allison Financial Secretary Elizabeth Humphrey Ja’Milla K. Lomas Assistant Financial Secretaries Sherri L. Daniels Treasurer Mary Kaye Childs-Henry Chaplain Jacquelyn Blossom Delta Internal Development Cassandra Brooks Historian Pamela Cashaw Journalist Gloria Hays Keeper of Properties Barbara Branch Parliamentarian Victoria Lackey Cynthia Larkin Sergeants-at-Arms Chemene Jackson Webmaster
HMAC works tirelessly to uphold the principles of our Sisterhood and serve the community we committed to serving by subscribing to the Five-Point Program Trust, as established by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The thrust specifically targets the following areas:
Examples of the program efforts designed to positively impact our community include:
Economic Development Educational Development International Awareness and Involvement Physical and Mental Health Political Awareness and Involvement
52-Week Money Savings Challenge & the dFree Program Delta GEMS & Delta Academy Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital Journey to Wellness Initiative The Affordable Care Act Voter Registration & Texas Voter ID Laws Gun Violence and Open Carry Laws
To learn more about these program committees , contact the chairs listed on page 3. There are many other committees that members can share their talents and skills.
Often referred to as PPD (Program Planning & Development) Programs, we enact programs under each thrust on various levels, ensuring that our community is better served because of our commitment.
Cont. on page 3
Detour to Grace and Gratitude Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. (Psalms 127:1a) Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is house filled with women laboring for the greater good of humanity. As we begin this new sorority year let us draw courage and fortitude from our faith in God, knowing that He will not only sustain, but increase the fruit our labor yields. Prayer: Father, thank you for reminding us that our labor of love and service is greater when we labor in You. Amen Prayer Requests Please keep the following sorors and their families in prayer:
Sarah M. Brown Mary Culpepper Emma Gray Zoia Jones Paulette Prince Junetta Slaughter
* Please contact Soror Eryka M. Robinson, 1st Vice President and Membership Services Chair to have your birthday announced.
September Birthdays* Jurodell Banks Karen L. Bledsoe Carnelliue S. Braden Pamela J. Broady Maureen Gordon Cheryl Branch Hancock Jolene A. Hardy-Johnson Zhela M. Harris-Layne April Inman Melanie Ecter James Cheryl H. Jones Victoria Elaine Lackey Morgan Lynch Grace M. Macklin Zella Butler Minter Mary Patten Mildred Solomon
Congratulations Ja’Milla Lomas, Appointment Member, Alumnae Association Smith College Board of Directors Teneshia Hudspeth Babalola Birth of Baby Josiah (8/11) Johari Jones Williams (Mom) Cynthia Jones (Grandmother) Birth of Baby Jase (8/16)
The Torch Contributors Candra O. Lacy, Editor-In-Chief Cassandra Brooks, Photographer Pamela Cashaw, Journalist 2
September Contributors MaryKaye Childs-Henry, Sherri Daniels, Donna Scott, Shirley M. Johnson, Eryka Robinson, and all announcing committees.
2016 HMAC Chapter ReCHARGE!
Future Membership Services Updates
If you missed this year’s Chapter ReCHARGE, you missed a treat! Sorors not only received important information from our 45th Southwest Regional Conference, but participated in a mandatory Risk Management Workshop that will help members who lead our youth. Check out the pictures from the event by visiting http://bit.ly/TorchSept16.
If you have any questions or concerns about any of the Membership Services projects or activities or if you want more information on how to join this committee, contact Soror Eryka M. Robinson, 1st Vice President & Membership Services Chair at EMRobinson1913@gmail.com for details about these items.
Portal account, please contact Grand Chapter at (202) 986-2400.
The Finance Team is accepting 2016-2017 dues. Please complete the "Annual Membership Dues Renewal FY 2016-2017" form and place it with your payment of cash, check, or money order in the HMAC payment envelope. Forms will be available at the Finance table. Dues must be paid in full and cannot be divided into payments. The current Grand Chapter assessed late fee is $15 for Regular Members. Golden and Diamond Life Members are NOT assessed late fees. If you have any questions or concerns , please contact Sherri Daniels at (713) 304-7289.
Lastly, when submitting vouchers for reimbursements, please include original receipt and a copy of the original receipt if it is an ink generated one. Sorors, ink fades and disbursements need to be verified for accuracy by Internal Audit during Quarterly Audits. If you need to be reimbursed for expenses, it is greatly appreciated that you notify the Finance Table at the beginning of HMAC meetings before the Finance Table is closed. Your Faithful Finance Team Soror Sherri Daniels, Treasurer Soror Patricia Allison, Financial Secretary Soror Elizabeth Humphrey, Asst. Financial Secretary Soror Ja'Milla Lomas, Asst. Financial Secretary
Your profile in the Sister Portal of the National website dictates how your name appears on HMAC sign-in sheets. If updates are needed, please login and make them. If assistance is needed with your Sister
If you are interested in working on any of our other committees, complete the form on page 5 and submit it to Soror Keesha Bone-Smith, 2nd Vice President and PPD and SPT (Project 13) Chair via keeshabone@hotmail.com or in person. Contacts for the PPD Committees are: Arts and Letters Chair, Ja’Milla Lomas jcklomas@hotmail.com Economic Development Chair, Mary Kaye Childs-Henry dldelta97@gmail.com
Delta GEMS - Chair, Brianna Wasson (512-619-1762) EMBODI - Chair, Mary Kaye Childs-Henry (dldelta97@gmail.com) and Jasmine Lynch (jasminel51@yahoo.com)
International Awareness and Involvement Chair, Melanie James melanieljames15@gmail.com Physical and Mental Health Chair, Shonika Abney Kwarteng sbabney05@hotmail.com
Political Awareness and Involvement Educational Development Chair, Karolyn Drisdale Delta Academy - Chair, Lindsay Seymour (602-793-0757) diamondlifeduece@yahoo.com
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Hostess Assignments The following sorors will host the September Meetings: EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING Patricia Allison Fraulyn Baisey Jackie Blossom Barbara Branch CHAPTER MEETING Stephanie Adams, Chair Rosalyn Arceneaux Marna Arvie Loretta Ausbie Lauren Banks Jurodell Banks Joan Batie Laverne Battle Karla Bell Annie Benifield
52 Week Money Savings Challenge Keep up the good work , Sorors! We hope ALL Sorors are participating
It’s Your Money… Economic Development Tip of the Month
Our Award Winning Economic Development Committee is committed to the goals and objectives of Financial Fortitude.. Thanks to each of your for being a part of this Winning Team, a Movement of Living Debt Free and Investing in your financial future and your family. Please continue to stay committed to the 52 Week Savings Challenge and Living dFree of Debt, Delinquency and Deficits! We are looking forward to starting the dFree 12 week sessions this upcoming sorority year. The classes will last 1-1.5 hrs. Please plan to attend and stay committed to the class schedule. You can also purchase the audio of the dFree book if you choose to. Below is a link on Reverse Mortgage. Watch out for these drawbacks of using a reverse mortgage to fund retirement. http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/on-retirement/2012/12/11/5reasons-to-avoid-a-reverse-mortgage You can click on truth about reverse mortgages in the article above on 5 Reasons to Avoid A Reverse Mortgage.
Remember, It's Your Money! Manage It, Don't Let it Manage YOU!
Committee Crossroads: Announcements 45th Regional Conference Member Recognition Daphne Moss Member (Announcer), National Taskforce on Site and Concierge Cassandra Brooks Karen Jackson Regional Photographers Candra O. Lacy Jasmine Lynch VIP Escorts
Demita Sweet Sandra Finger Membership Services Room Sandra Finger Sherri L. Daniels Louise McGhee Dana Smith Conference Choir Martinera Henry Delta GEMS, Presidential Care Package
Delta GEMS & Delta Academy Round-Up Calling all young girls ages 11 to 18! Join us for the 2016-2017 HMAC Educational Development Committee’s annual Delta GEMS & Delta Academy Round-Up! We’re kicking off and exciting year and we want you to be a part. The event will be on Saturday, September 17th at Luby’s (1727 Old Spanish Trail) at 8:30 AM. Cost is $5 per person. Contact Sorors Lindsay Seymour (602-793-0757) or Brianna Wasson (512-619-1762) to learn how you can get involved.
Copies will be available at the September Chapter Meeting.
Houston Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter Post Office Box 56108 Houston, Texas 77256-6108
The Houston Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter (HMAC) was charted 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 $200,000 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.
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