President’s Pointers by Shirley M. Johnson HMAC, we’ve been busy! Fall is here, the leaves are changing and on Thursday, November 24, 2016, we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. This is a time to fellowship, reflect, offer thanks and gather with family and friends. I know that many of us have experienced difficulties, but finding a way to be grateful in spite of these things may bring a healing for our souls. Let gratitude and thanksgiving and love guide us in the coming months. Throughout this sorority year, HMAC has been blessed with many things to be thankful for. Last month, we celebrated 42 years of service in the community, and the steadfastness of our leadership, our Dynamic Charter Members, Past Presidents, Past and Current Officers, Chairs, Program Planning and Development Committees and all who commit themselves to the unwavering and sisterly service, keeping the vision of our Charter Members alive. For this, we are thankful! We also celebrate the accomplishments of our programs and the committees that lead them. Special thanks to...
Eryka Robinson, Membership Services Chair for creating a Joyous and memorable 42nd Chapter Anniversary celebration;
Mary Kaye Childs-Henry, April Inman, Donna Scott, of the Economic Development Committee for launching our second phase the dfree Millon Dollar Challenge; Ja’Milla Lomas, Chair of the Arts and Letters Committee, for ensuring that we attended ALL of Grand Chapter’s Red Carpet movies; and for organizing our visit with Delta member and Houston Grand Opera Principal Nicole Heaston Lane in “Elixir of Love”; Soror Karolyn Williams and the Social Action Committee for carrying out the charge to ensure that all members received voter education, encouraged members to be deputized, and enrolled the community to vote,
covered appropriate voting identification methods, provided a constant reminder to get out the vote mantra and mobilization for the presidential election on November 8, 2016;
Metropolitan Leadership
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Sonja Eckford and Cheryl Jones, leaders of the Emergency Response Team, for our commitment to the Red Cross’ Fire Safety project;
Program STOPlight: Social Action Updates Detour to Grace & Gratitude
Candra O. Lacy, led the National Domestic Violence program Violets Against Violence, mandated by Grand Chapter and lead by Jacquita Johnson, SW Regional Representative., with a special awareness presentation by Mrs. Yolanda Russell of the Fort Bend Women’s Center, culminating with the filming of an awareness message that included Delta Dears Divas and Dolls posted to the HMAC Facebook account reaching over 800 supporters and their networks. Mary Kaye Childs-Henry, Lindsay Seymour, Jasmine Lynch and Donna Scott of the Educational Development Committee, the youth participants, their parents, and Chapter members who volunteered at the Houston Food Bank, preparing food bundles for the families of thousands of school age children in the Greater Houston/Harris County area.
As you can see, we have so much to be thankful for! We can cultivate the joy of thanksgiving by celebrating the good that is already present in our lives. May this holiday season be peaceful and joyful to you and your family and that you enjoy yourself in the smallest of moments. Lastly, may you always live in gratitude and deep appreciation of each other. Let’s continue to celebrate and Happy Thanksgiving!
Budget & Finance and Committee Crossroads
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Membership Services
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HMAC in Pictures (Online) Visit: http://bit.ly/TorchNov16 to view photos.
Executive Board Meeting Monday, November 7, 2016 6:30 pm Metropolitan Place 5441 Trafalgar Drive General Chapter Meeting Saturday, November 12, 2016 10:00 am GCCSA (Gulf Coast Community services Association) Business Attire Note: All meetings will begin promptly and as scheduled. Hostess assignments are listed on page 4.
Someone is happy with less than you have. Having lots of material things does not depict your happiness.
Program STOPlight: Delta GEMS 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
A natural outgrowth and expansion for the continuation of the highly successful Dr. Betty Shabaaz Delta Academy: Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow, Delta Gems was created to catch the dreams of African American atrisk, adolescent girls aged 14-18. Delta GEMS provides the frame work to actualize those dreams through the performance of specific tasks that develop a CAN DO attitude. The goals for Delta GEMS are: To instill the need to excel academically ● To provide tools that enable girls to sharpen and enhance their skills to achieve high levels of academic success; ● To assist girls in proper goal setting
and planning for their futures high school and beyond; ● To create compassionate, caring, and community minded young women by actively involving them in service learning and community service opportunities. The Delta GEMS program offers a road map for college and career planning conducts activities that provide opportunities for self reflection and individual growth. HMAC is proud to continue this program with our own dash of SWAG (Sisters With A Goal)! If you know of a young lady who would benefit from participating in this program, contact the Delta GEMS Chair, Lindsay Seymour at 602793-0757 for more details.
Detour to Grace and Gratitude “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7) On Thanksgiving we celebrate the God's blessings and harvest and pray the same for future years. As Christian women and members of an organization established on Christian principles, we should recognize that every day is a day of thanksgiving. God has remained faithful to us for over a century - throughout our victories and defeats. For every mountain that God brought us over, for every trial
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HE has seen us through, for every blessing...Hallelujah! Let's always give Him a praise of thanksgiving! Prayer Requests Please keep the following sorors and their families in prayer: Family of Susan Feazell Mary Culpepper Sherri L. Daniels Emma Gray Maureen Gordon Darla Hall-Harris Gloria Hays Margaret Henson Zoia Jones Jamale Kempt Jan Matthews Rosalyn McClenon Judy C. Smith Demita Sweet Vivian Vincent
November Birthdays * Colette M. Adamson Sarah Malone Brown Morgan Burnett Mary Kaye-Childs-Henry Sherri L. Daniels Tina Elzy Miranda D. Gary Artie R. Hill Janice Hines Shirley M. Johnson Sonya A. Johnson LaToia Marks Gaylye Runnels-Pierce Brenda Sanders Robin Rashaun Simpson Mary L Williams Watkins Allison Wright * Please contact Eryka M. Robinson, 1st Vice President and Membership Services Chair for corrections or additions.
The Torch Contributors Candra O. Lacy, Editor-In-Chief Cassandra Brooks, Photographer Pamela Cashaw, Journalist 2
November Contributors MaryKaye Childs-Henry, Sherri Daniels, Donna Scott, Shirley M. Johnson, Eryka Robinson, and all announcing committees.
Are You Celebrating a Delta Milestone? If you are reaching a Delta milestone of 25 or 50 years in 2016 or 2017, OR have already reached your 25 or 50 year milestone and have never received your plaque, please contact Eryka M. Robinson so that your milestone plaque can be ordered. HMAC Love Train! Yes , the HMAC Love Train is taking off on Saturday, November 5, 2016 so save the date! We have two stops planned and more details are forthcoming. So, if the song “Love Train” by the O’Jays
comes to mind or if the Quad City DJs “C’mon N Ride It” makes you bob your head, we want all HMAC Members to get on the HMAC Love Train! Future Membership Services Updates 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 Eryka M. Robinson, 1st Vice President & Membership Services Chair at EMRobinson1913@gmail.com for details about these items.
See the Finance Team to purchase your Founders Day ticket today! Limited availability.
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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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Hostess Assignments The following members will host the November Meetings: EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING Pamela Cashaw MaryKaye Childs-Henry Sherri L. Daniels CHAPTER MEETING Michelle Bryant Morgan Burnett Rhonda Burnett Nikita Buskey-Davis Yahaira Campbell Veronica Chapman Rochelle Chivers Angela Courett Noelle Cunningham Candace Daniels Gloria Davis Jewell Davis-Lomas LaTrica Davis Marla Davis ReShane Dawn-Fowler Valerie Deese Cheryl Douglas Pamela Dyer
52 Week Money Savings Challenge Keep up the good work , Sorors! As of November 1st, members should have save saved $990!
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 or shrrdnls@verizon.net. 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 log-in and make them. If assistance is needed with your Sister Portal account, please contact Grand Chapter at (202) 986-2400. Lastly, when submitting vouchers for reimbursements, please include original receipt and a copy of the original receipt if it is an ink generated one. 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 Sherri Daniels, Treasurer Patricia Allison, Financial Secretary Elizabeth Humphrey, Asst. Financial Secretary Ja'Milla Lomas, Asst. Financial Secretary
Committee Crossroads: Announcements Scholarship Committee The Scholarship Committee will place applications in Houston Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter’s service area schools by October 31, 2016. The service area includes Houston Independent School District, Alief ISD, and Galena Park ISD. The Aster Lee Mock Application and the Delta Education and Charitable Foundation Community Scholarship Application may also be found on the website hmacdst.org.
Other applications such as the Leonia Dorsey Application, Melina G. Harris Chance for Change Application and HMAC Application will be available with a committee member at the general chapter meeting. If you receive an application for a student, please distribute within the service area. The Scholarship Committee Barbara Branch, Chair Brenda Sanders, Co-Chair
Carnivale Mystique Scholarship Gala Tickets are now on sale! Join us on Saturday, February 11th at the Houston Westchase Marriott Hotel for a the ultimate “party with a purpose”! Tickets are $65 or $650 for a table of ten. See Barbara Branch or Grace Macklin to purchase your tickets today!
One Heart! One Purpose! Southwest!