Torch XLI 19 (May 2017) by Houston Metropolitan Deltas

President’s Pointers by Shirley M. Johnson Greeting Sorors, As we prepare to conclude another great Sorority Year, our committees continuously shine above and beyond expectations. Our Membership Services Committee has been on a quest to reclaim our Sisters, facilitate their return to the fold, and foster an atmosphere of Sisterhood. Our Reclamation Fiesta was a great example of our bond and the ongoing mission of reclamation, retention and encouraging Sorors to remain active in the Chapter/Sorority. Many thanks for the wonderful job that you all do to keep us excited about HMAC. As you know, May 14, is Mother’s Day, and I present to each of you “Nine Cardinal Virtues of a Delta Mother.” A Delta Mother exemplifies the following: Compassion: ability to demonstrate gentleness, mercy and love; Courtesy: having genuine respect for the feelings of others; reminding us, “to do unto others, as we would have them do unto us;” Dedication: always following through to the end, ability to overcome obstacles to “keep on keeping on;” Fellowship: knowing that fellowship and friendship sustain and nurtures us

through all human experiences; Fidelity: having steadfast devotion, loyalty and faithful commitment; Honesty: the first requisite in keeping peace with self and meriting the trust of others; Justice: maintaining a firm continuous obligation to render to everyone acting righteously in relation to others; Purity: exemplary character, mind, and conduct; “Blessed are the pure in heart;” Temperance: having firm and moderating balance of emotions and reason of thought and action, of body and spirit. To all my sisters, let’s continuously strive to exemplify these nine cardinal virtues with our own mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, children, grandchildren, godchildren, nieces, nephews and other family ties. Happy Mother's Day!

HMAC Sisters Lighting the Way: Heritage & Archives Taking It to The Streets—Literally! By Candra O. Lacy Corresponding Secretary, Heritage & Archives Co-Chair ____ The Heritage and Archives Committee defied the odds, doing something that has never been done before—Taking Our Heritage and Archives to the Streets! Yes, the members of the committee packed and loaded up a U-haul truck of the HMAC Mobile Museum and set the display up for three days worth of history-sharing, sisterly bonding and community interaction in the lobby of the Hiram Clarke MultiService Center. This Community Impact program thoroughly displayed the Chapter’s history and active programs through presentation of wellpreserved images, presidential books and other historical chapter documents and presentation boards of our Program Planning and Development committees and others, inc. Ways and Means (Carnivale Mystique) and Debutante. Check out the images from the 3-Day event.

Metropolitan Leadership

Program STOPlight: May Week

Detour to Grace & Gratitude Committee Crossroads

2 Insert

Membership Services

Budget & Finance

HMAC in Pictures (Online) Visit: http://bit.ly/TorchMay17 to view photos.

Executive Board Meeting Monday, May 8, 2017 6:30 pm Metropolitan Place 5441 Trafalgar Drive General Chapter Meeting (ELECTIONS) Saturday, May 13, 2017 9:00 am

Gulf Coast Community Services Association—GCCSA

9320 Kirby Drive Business Attire Note: All meetings will begin promptly and as scheduled. Hostess assignments are listed on the Insert page.

All too often we underestimate the power of love, a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest accomplishment, or the smallest act of carrying, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

Program STOPlight: May Week 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

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. boasts members in a wide variety of professional fields. From Scientists to Politicians, to Creatives and Academics, our Sisterhood has it all. Historically, Delta has great roots in education and has continued her insistence on quality education for all and her support of the outstanding members of academia, and especially those who are Delta Women.

community, especially for black women.

As the academic calendar closes, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. celebrates May Week— a national program created in 1920 to highlight the academic and professional achievements of our member educators. Chapters also use this week to host community events that emphasize the importance of higher education in the

If you are an educator/administrator in education, or if you’d like to join this committee please contact the May Week Chairs, Victoria Lackey (713-728-3172), Cynthia Larkin (281-391-5307), or Daphne Moss (281-980-4425) so that you may be included in this year’s celebration.

This year the Houston Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter will celebrate May Week at on Sunday, May 21st at Boynton Methodist Church (2812 Milby St.) with dinner immediately following at Brady’s Landing or Holley’s Restaurant. The cost is $40. We will also donate to Boynton’s Scholarship fund. Attire is all white, no pants.

Detour to Grace and Gratitude “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10 What a wonderful thing to be a woman! Our beauty and strength, courage and fortitude, wisdom and intelligence have amazed mankind since the beginning of time. We are unstoppable and like our dynamic world-changing soror, Shirley Chisholm, despite our situations we must remain Unbought and Unbossed. We must remember that God made us more and in His image. Thank God for that! Prayer: Lord, I pray that my life shows the beauty of your grace, mercy and wisdom everyday. Amen.

Prayer Requests Please keep the following members and their families in prayer: Sarah Brown Alma Henley Cynthia Jones Zoia Jones Victoria Lackey Grace Macklin Betty Morgan Ida Callier Pennington Linda Shankle Vivian Vincent Brenda Washington Karolyn Williams Betty Zachery May Birthdays * Ruby H. Adams Cynthia Hynson Jacqueline F. Bostic

Regina Bradford-Walker Michelle Bryant-Lewis Mary Ann Culpepper Luella R. Frazier Shirlaine George Doris J Gill Sonia D. Gordan-Jordan Gloria J. Hays Cynthia H. Larkin Louise McGhee Tawana W. Muhammad Jalisa J. Ray Akwete Dayo Hines Andrea T. Smoot-Tolbert Brianna N. Wasson Opal M. White * 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

May Contributors Sherri Daniels, Sonika Kwarteng, Shirley M. Johnson, Victoria Lackey, Eryka Robinson, Karolyn D. WIlliams and all announcing committees.

Chapter Fellowship Dinner at the 53rd National Convention The chapter fellowship dinner at the National Convention in Las Vegas, NV will be held at Landry’s Seafood on Monday, August 7th from 7pm to 9:30pm. The cost is $45 and it includes a garden salad, an entrée choice of chicken and mushrooms, fried fish and shrimp or tilapia Bianca and dessert is cinnamon bread pudding. You may pay a portion of the total in May and the balance in June.

Temperance is restraint in conduct. It is moderation in action, thought, or feeling. Are you exhibiting temperance in your daily life? Do you force your agenda or opinion regardless of the consequences? To practice temperance, instead of going out to dinner with sorors, plan a fitness outing. Instead of saying the first thing that comes to mind, reflect on “What Would Jesus Say/Do?”

The National Membership Services Committee is asking you to purchase “Loving Sorors on Purpose With Purpose” stylus and fans for only $2 each. The proceeds will be used to help finance the hospitality suite at the National Convention in Las Vegas. So purchase a set for yourself and as a gift for a nonfinancial soror. The finance team will accept your payments. May’s meeting is the last opportunity to purchase these items.

MEMBERSHIP DUES The Finance Team is accepting dues for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. HMAC’s deadline was March 24, 2017 to allow processing time to meet Grand Chapter’s March 31, 2017 deadline. Now, dues paid should include the late fee of $5 (i.e. $370 for Regular Mambers). 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. The next Grand Chapter deadline for the 20172018 dues is June 30, 2017. HMAC's deadline will be June 23, 2017 to allow processing time to meet Grand Chapter's June 30, 2017 deadline.

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.

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.

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 sh rrdn ls @v eriz on .n et . SP EC IAL NOTE: Grand Chapter has advised that Local Chapters are to bear the PayPal fees for membership dues only. If you incur a fee associated with membership dues payment, please provide the support to Soror Daniels for reimbursement.

Please complete the "Annual Membership Dues Renewal FY 2017 -2018" form and place it inside the

NAME CHANGES Your profile in the Sister Portal of the National website dictates how

your name appears on HMAC signin 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) 9862400. 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 Sherri L. Daniels, Treasurer Patricia Allison, Financial Secretary Elizabeth Humphrey, Asst. Financial Sec. Ja’Milla Lomas, Asst. Financial Sec.

May 2017 Hostess Assignments The following sorors will host the May meetings. Please see your lead to plan and coordinate this assignment.

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING Donna Scott Courtney Smith Judy Smith Eryka Robinson

CHAPTER MEETING | Gayle Runnels Brenda Sanders Dawn Sawyer Andrea Scott Jennifer Scott Lindsay Seymour

Rosa Shelton Maryum Shittabey Dannie Simmons Robin Simpson Guelda Slade Junetta Slaughter Dana Smith Deandralette Smith

Jylisse Smith Rhonda Smith Sheila Smith Sonya Smith Demita Sweet Kimberlin Sturgis

Committee Crossroads: Announcements & Updates Committee & Member Kudos! The Educational Development Committee presented a fantastic STEM Project and Etiquette Class for the youth participants of the Delta GEMS, Delta Academy and EMBODI programs. THANK YOU Committee and special thanks to Sonja Jordan and Terri Gordon for your wondrous efforts with the STEM Project and a heartfelt thanks to Terri Lynch and Gregory A. Jordan for sharing your expertise during the Etiquette Class. Joan Graham was an Honoree at the Living Legends Luncheon at the Power Center on Saturday, April 22, 2017. She was recognized for her twenty plus years of service and contributions to the faith community of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. The Living Legend Luncheon is presented each year by the Knight of Peter Claver, Fourth Degree, Ladies of Grace, Inez Y. Bowman Chapter 2 Division. Congratulations to Soror Graham for being a recipient of the Living Legend Award. Jennifer Scott was appointed as Global Market Development Manager for Infrastructure for Olin Corporation.

Debutante Ball The Debutante Ball Committee is accepting names of interested young ladies for the 2017-2018 Deb Ball Season. The prospective debutante must be a 2018 graduating high school senior or a college student, no older than 20 years of age. Names and contact information may be submitted to Soror Daphne Moss at Dmosix@aol.com or Soror Ava McFarland at ava.mcfarland@gmail.com. IMPORTANT: The next Parent/Deb interest meeting will be Saturday, June 10th at 2:00 P.M.

Physical & Mental Health In Pictures 2017 Sisters Network Walk Donors

International Awareness and Involvement In Pictures Thank you to all who participated in our Dining Out For Life dinner at El Tiempo Restaurant on Thursday, April 27th.

March of Dimes 2017 Walkers

Committee Crossroads: Announcements & Updates continued... Social Action Updates The HMAC Social Action Committee will close out the 2016-2017 Sororal year by conducting a Voter's Registration Drive for Graduating Seniors at Barbara Jordan High School, Westbury High School and Jack Yates High School. Our intent is to register eligible students, particularly graduating seniors, in our Salute to Seniors 2017 campaign. We need your assistance on the following dates and times: Wednesday May 10, 2017 Westbury High School 11911 Chimney Rock Houston, Texas 77035 School Cafeteria 11:20 AM to 1:40 PM

Wednesday May 17, 2017 Barbara Jordan High School 5800 Eastex Freeway Houston, Texas 77026 11 AM to 1 PM (Location TBD)

Jack Yates Senior High School 3703 Sampson Street Houston, Texas 77004 School Cafeteria 11 AM. to 1:30 PM

The attire will be Red Shell, Black Pants and Khaki Jacket. Please reply via email or text on or before Friday, May 5, 2017, and let me know if you are able to attend any of the registration drives, in any capacity for any length of time. Thanks in advance for your assistance and all of your efforts this year.

Red & White Day at the State Capital, Austin TX

Delta Days at City Hall, Houston TX

Greek Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;National Pan-Hellenic Council of Houston, Inc. 2017 Greek Weekend & Picnic

Houston Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter 2017-2019 Slate of Candidates for Elected Office * This is NOT an election ballot. Items below are for informational purposes ONLY.

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!