President’s Pointers by Shirley M. Johnson February is the month in which we recognize the true meaning of love and celebrate the achievements of Black America through the lens of Black History Month. As we Deltas know, a heart of love exudes patience and is kind; slow to anger and not easily provoked. It is not selfish and seeks its likeness in the hearts of others. Through the love in our hearts we are moved to forgive, to serve others without reservation, and to work unselfishly for the good of humankind. Black History Month seeks to celebrate and uplift all mankind through the examination of Black America’s excellence and achievements. The founding of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and other black fraternal organizations, was an integral achievement in the advancement and sustainability of not only Black America, but the entire nation.
We are history makers.
On January 13th, we celebrated the 104 year old historical footprint of our Sorority and proclaimed our love for our 22 illustrious founders, joyfully wishing each other goodwill and cheer on that Founders Day. This month we will rededicate ourselves to Delta’s nine cardinal virtues with undying love, deep compassion and sincere devotion. As Delta women we are charged to display love to one another—and we know of all the characteristics possessed by a Delta Woman, the greatest of them is love. Therefore, during this time of gratuitous feeling and renewal of the sisterly bond we share with each other, I wish each of you peace, hope, and most of all love!
HMAC Sisters Lighting the Way: HMAC is Black History HMAC Sisters have accomplished many feats in the chapter and throughout our community. Test your HMAC Black History knowledge by answering the questions below. Bring your answers to the February General Chapter meeting for a chance to win a prize!
1. In 1974, HMAC was chartered by 17 women, ready to bear Delta's shining torch in the Houston Metropolitan area. Today, there are three charter members currently active in the chapter. Their names are: ______________________________________ 2. This HMAC member and Harris County Voter Outreach Coordinator galvanized the chapter and community in a massive effort, travelling to Louisiana in support of Robert Bailey, Mychal Bell, Carwin Jones, Bryant Purvis, Jesse Ray Beard, and Theo Shaw, collectively known as the Jena Six. Her name is: ____________________________________
3. A graduate of Texas State University and charter member of the Iota Omega Chapter, this HMAC past president and entrepreneur is a member of the tenacious and courageous National Black McDonald's Operators Association. She is: __________________________________ 4. This former HMAC president attended Texas Southern University, Hofstra College and Fisk University and has served on the national boards of the Young Women’s Christian Association of the United States and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Her name is: ____________________________________ 5. She was the first African-American Graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Medicine (now the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) and was elected first woman president of the National Medical Association. This HMAC member's name is: ____________________________________
Metropolitan Leadership
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Program STOPlight: PMH: Facts on Women & Heart Disease
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Detour to Grace & Gratitude Committee Crossroads
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Membership Services
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Budget & Finance
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HMAC in Pictures (Online) Visit: http://bit.ly/TorchFeb17 to view photos.
Executive Board Meeting Monday, February 13 2017 6:30 pm Metropolitan Place 5441 Trafalgar Drive General Chapter Meeting Saturday, February 18, 2017 10:00 am Metropolitan Place 5441 Trafalgar Drive Business Attire Note: All meetings will begin promptly and as scheduled. Hostess assignments are listed on the Insert page.
Learn to love without condition. Talk without bad intention. Give without any reason. And most of all care for people without any expectations.
Program STOPlight: PMH: Facts on Women and Heart Disease 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
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, killing 289,758 women in 2013—that’s about 1 in every 4 female deaths. Although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a "man's disease," around the same number of women and men die each year of heart disease in the United States. Despite increases in awareness over the past decade, only 54% of women recognize that heart disease is their number 1 killer. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for African American and white women in the United States. Among Hispanic women, heart disease and cancer
cause roughly the same number of deaths each year. For American Indian or Alaska Native and Asian or Pacific Islander women, heart disease is second only to cancer. About 5.8% of all white women, 7.6% of black women, and 5.6% of Mexican American women have coronary heart disease. Almost two-thirds (64%) of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms. Even if you have no symptoms, you may still be at risk for heart disease. (www.cdc.gov) Spreading awareness on heart disease is important. If you wear RED on Friday, February 3rd, let us know! Send a picture as you Go Red! to candra.o.lacy@gmail.com. #HMACGoesRed
Detour to Grace and Gratitude “Hatred stirreth up strife; but love covereth all sins.” Proverbs 10:12 The work we do as women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is inspired by love. Our work is so important, so life-changing, so powerful that we should be hard pressed find room for hatred, confusion and disdain in our hearts. If we claim to walk with God, let us walk in love, for it is love that makes us the force that we are. Dear Lord, we are grateful for your everlasting love. We pray that the love you’ve shown us is exemplified in our daily walk and talk as Deltas and as representatives of You. Amen.
Prayer Requests
February Birthdays *
Please keep the following members and their families in prayer:
Joan Batie Marjorie Gibson Emma Gray Mylana Jackson Yolanda Kelley Betty Morgan Dawn Paul Julia Patterson Andrea Scott Amelia Sawyer Dannie Simmons Courtney Smith Andrea Wells Tanya White Karolyn Williams
Keesha Bone-Smith Junetta Slaughter Cotton Margaret Henson April Inman and the Northwestern Women's Basketball Team/Family Doris Price Eryka Robinson Brenda Sanders Donna Scott Judy Smith Junetta Slaughter Vivian Vincent Sonya Smith Watson LaDonna Wynn
* 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
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February Contributors MaryKaye Childs-Henry, Sherri Daniels, Sonika Kwarteng, Shirley M. Johnson, Eryka Robinson, and Donna Scott and all announcing committees.
Collegiate Transition Task (CTT) Force: February is CTT Month. CTT helps collegiate sorors transition into alumnae chapters. This month let us all invite a collegiate member to an HMAC chapter meeting, or collaborate on an activity/program or invite them to a social activity or community service project. Think back to the time when you transitioned from a collegiate chapter to an alumnae chapter and reach out to a collegiate to assist with a smooth transition. Black History Violet and Delta Caregivers: During the month of February Membership Services shows our Delta Sweetheart Caregivers just how much we appreciate them. If you know any caregivers, please let us know so they can be recognized during chapter meeting. Also during February chapter meeting we celebrate and honor our Black History Violet. Our Black History Violet is a Delta Dear who has made a
contribution to her community and to her chapter. The honoree will be revealed during meeting. Monthly Jewel: Honesty: It is the first step in keeping peace with ourselves and meriting the trust in others. Let us commit ourselves to the pursuit of truth. Speak your truth quietly and clearly and with love. Journal entry: Reflect on how honesty affects your Delta walk. 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.
MEMBERSHIP DUES The Finance Team is accepting dues for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Annual chapter and Grand Chapter dues and fees for the upcoming/ensuing fiscal year are payable January 1, 2017 through March 31, 2017 without incurring a late fee of $5. Golden Life and Diamond Life member dues are $240, and never incur late or reinstatement fees. Regular member dues are $365, and are subject to late or reinstatement fees. HMAC's deadline will be March 24, 2017 to allow processing time to meet Grand Chapter's March 31, 2017 deadline. Dues paid between April 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017 should include the late fee of $5 (i.e. $370 for Regular members). HMAC's deadline will be June 23, 2017 to allow processing time to meet Grand Chapter's June 30, 2017 deadline. Reinstatement fee of $15 (i.e. $380 for Regular members) is due for 2017-2018 if you were not financial for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. Reinstatement fee of $25 (i.e. $390 for Regular members) is due if you have not been financial for two or more fiscal years. Please complete the "Annual Membership Dues Renewal FY 2017-2018" form and place it inside the HMAC payment envelope along with your payment of cash, check, or money order. Forms will be available at the Finance Table. Dues must be paid in full and cannot be divided into installment payments.
CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS ACCEPTED VIA PAYPAL To make any payment to the chapter, login to www.paypal.com and send money to treasurer@hmacdelta.org. Please include a brief description of payment purpose in the Memo area. If your payment is for membership dues, you still need to complete the Annual Membership Dues Renewal form. Please contact Soror Sherri L. Daniels for an electronic copy of form at shrrdnls@verizon.net. NAME CHANGES Your profile in the Sister Portal of the National website dictates how your name appears on HMAC sign-in sheets and financial roster. If updates are needed, please login and make them. If assistance is needed with your Sister Portal account, please contact Grand Chapter at (202) 986-2400. VOUCHER REIMBURSEMENTS When submitting vouchers for reimbursement of expenses, if your receipt is an ink generated one (i.e. Walmart), please include original receipt and a copy of the receipt behind the voucher. Due to the fact that ink fades, the copy is needed by Internal Audit for verification purposes during Quarterly Audits. Also, please provide vouchers or notify Soror Daniels of needed reimbursement at the beginning of HMAC meetings. Once the Finance Table is closed, vouchers will need to be provided at the next HMAC meeting. -Your Faithful Finance Team
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Place Postage Here
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 $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!
February 2017 Hostess Assignments The following sorors will host the February meetings. Please see your lead to plan and coordinate this assignment.
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING Karen Jackson Chemene Jackson
CHAPTER MEETING Mylana Jackson Melanie James Brenda Jefferson Earnice Jenkins Sonja Johnson Tomara Johnson
Cheryl Jones Cynthia Jones Kimilia Jones Orlesia Jones Shalandra Jones
Committee Crossroads: Announcements & Updates Committee Kudos! Congratulations and Thank You to the members of the Educational Development Committee and their partners. The success of the event played an integral part in the committees overall program achievement and we are excited about the 2017 event! The 2016 committee chairs are: Mary Kaye Childs-Henry and Lindsay Seymour, (Chairs), Brianna Wasson, Jasmine Lynch , Donna Scott (Co-Chairs) and Frances MontgomeryThompson (Site Chair). On January 28th, the Greater Houston Area Chapters celebrated Founders Day with a morning refresher, filled with good messages, good food and good fellowship. Special thanks to Joint Founders Day leaders: Karen Jackson (JFD Chair), Fraulyn Baisey, (Choir Chair) and Wanda Graves (Speaker Chair).
May Week The May Week Committee needs your help! The Committee is seeking a Title One school that may benefit from the Walk in My Shoes Campaign. Shoes will be donated in April or May, culminating with the May Week activities. If you are an educator at a Title One School and have a good rapport with the staff and can help students in the school who need shoes, then you are the person we need to meet. Email Victoria Lackey at vlackey98@hotmail.com or Soror Daphne Moss, or Cynthia Larkin. Worship Service If you are a member of a Methodist church and would like the Chapter to visit, please submit the following information in writing by emailing Cynthia Larkin, Daphne Moss or Vickie Lackey. You must be a member of that church, the church must have a scholarship fund, adequate and designated seating at the church, and available parking. The deadline to submit the above information is Thursday, March 23, 2017.
Physical & Mental Health The Physical and Mental Health Committee is excited to announce that HMAC will participate in the Sisters Network’s 8th Annual Stop the Silence 5k Walk/Run on Saturday, April 8th, 2017 with a VIRTUAL TEAM! Sisters Network is one of our Project 13 Partners as outlined by Grand Chapter, so your financial contributions are needed! A portion of the funds raised from this event will benefit Sisters Network Inc. Breast Cancer Assistance Program (BCAP). Registration is $35. Please make your donation at www.stopthesilencewalk.org and look for Team HMAC-DST. Let’s go, #TeamHMAC! Insert
Debutante Ball Attention…DEBUTANTE SEASON…Get Set…Ready…Go !!! It’s time to start your recruiting efforts to gather young ladies who are interested in the2017-2018 Debutante Ball Season. The young ladies must be graduating high school seniors (2018), or college students, no older than 20 years old. The Debutante Committee will begin meeting again in March, and the first parent interest meeting will be held in April. If you know of any prospective debutantes, please email their information to Daphne Moss @ dmosix@aol.com or Ava McFarland @ ava.mcfarland@gmail.com.
Committee Crossroads: Announcements & Updates Continued...
LAST CALL! 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 by February 6th!
Guests will enjoy dinner and dancing with Rhythm & Blues Entertainers Hard2Fine Sensational Silent Auction Fabulous Photo Booth High Quality Vendor Shopping Well-Stocked Cash Bar 50/50 Split Raffle
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