Scouts Running for Breast Cancer Awareness

The Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts in the Association of African Methodist Episcopal Scouts (AAMES) planned and executed a successf ul 1st Annual 5K In-Person/Virtual Run-Walk Race on October 8 – 10, 2022. Troops and units in African Methodist Episcopal churches in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Illinois embarked upon their first campaign to generate $25,000 to fight against breast cancer. Scouts chose Indigenous Peoples Weekend to focus on breast cancer, their charitable cause, impacting females and males in black and brown families in their local communities. Races took place at the Fort Washington National Park (Maryland), Fox Valley Park District (Aurora, Illinois), Lisle Park District (Lisle, IL), and Bolingbrook – Hidden Lakes Trout Farm (Bolingbrook, Illinois). The crisp fall chill in the air did not deter scouts from taking the 3.1-mile run/walk. Howard University’s Renee Nash, director of News and Public Affairs for 96.3 WHUR Radio, served as honorary chairperson of AAMES’ 5K Race. She assisted in the promotion of the event along with a team of race volunteers led by race director, Lieutenant Colonel Reginald Thomas. Robert and Janie Reeder, EEO contractor, Janver Inc., one of our top donors, said: “This 5K Race campaign was one of the most well-organized events in which they had participated.” ldbhfhFd

The scouts selected the Edith P. Wright (EPW) Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. as the worthy recipient of their charitable donation raised during our 5K race.

The EPW Breast Cancer Foundation is a Maryland based 501(c)(3) organization founded by the children of the late Mrs. Edith P. Wright, who courageously fought and succumbed to breast cancer at the age of 39. Officially incorporated in 2007, the Foundation has over 20 years of operation and annually serves over 400 members of the DMV community.

The four children of Mrs. Edith P. Wright began the Foundation with a firm commitment to keeping their mother’s legacy alive and strong while sharing her love of life! "Eydie," as she was affectionately known, was full of life, compassionate, artistic, and had an angelic voice. The Foundation's programs and activities have been shaped to reflect the essence of Eydie's spirit, style, and substance. The mission of the Foundation is to provide support services to families facing breast cancer. This mission is accomplished by a 3-pronged approach: Service, Education, and Celebration! EPW provides: 1) direct support services, such as house cleaning and grocery service, to families treated for breast cancer; 2) education awareness to the community through self-breast examination demonstrations, guest speakers, and information dissemination; and 3) founded the EPW Annual Awards, celebrating families fighting breast cancer, survivors, caregivers, and companies supporting the fight against breast cancer.

AAMES’ Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts planned their first successful 5K In-Person/Virtual Run-Walk Race. They made a substantial contribution to the Edith P. Wright Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., during a volunteer luncheon at a local restaurant. They look forward to the 2nd Annual 5K In-Person/Virtual RunWalk Race on October 7, 2023.

To learn more about AAMES and how to start a scout unit or the AAMES 2024 Camporee, contact Michele Neal, Connectional director of AME Girl Scouts; Email: michele@amescouts.org; Rev. Dr. Missiouri McPhee, Connectional director of AME Boy Scouts; Email: info@amescouts.org, and to see what AAMES is up to, visit our AAMES WEBSITE: amescouts.org; or our Facebook page: “AAMES Scouting Connection” ❏ ❏ ❏

December 2022

the recording secretary of the annual conference is to help expedite the transaction of the business of the conference.

The question is often asked, “What does the annual conference secretary do? “The truth is, the role and responsibilities of the annual conference secretary can be specific and vague. However, the work is necessary to help move the conference forward and assist the president of the annual conference. My service has taught me that nothing is ever accomplished at the annual conference without meticulous preparation and attention to detail.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught the general church the ability to pivot and reassess our effectiveness. Before the pandemic, our secretarial staff had already transitioned to multiple virtual platforms and apps to do our work effectively. For instance, all delegates and pastors of the conference had to provide email addresses to receive annual conference updates, minutes, and literary reports and have access to our secure portals to transact the business of the conference. The pandemic increased our reliance on the virtual space, yet it did not introduce anything members needed to be more comfortable utilizing. The ability to capitalize on the virtual space has been an absolute gift from God. Communication within the annual conference has increased, and accessibility has grown, making the work of the annual conference secretary more engaging and appealing to the masses.

One of the biggest hurdles for any annual conference secretary is maintaining the role of the annual conference. In the Palmetto South Carolina Annual Conference, we retain the roll using a secure Google sheet, allowing us to make certain that as members transition, transfer, or relinquish ties with the conference, we have realtime updates. In addition, this process will enable us to review the roll throughout the conference year to ensure the ordinations are correct.

In the Seventh Episcopal District, all traveling elders and deacons, local elders and deacons, and licentiates have a unique ID card they swipe as they enter the annual conference site. The ID card is digitally synced with the annual conference roll, making the roll call process much more efficient. For instance, the annual conference secretary only calls the roll of members who still need to check in digitally. This technology reduces the time spent on the roll and moves the conference forward.

As members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, we know that the annual conference is a legal and sovereign body. Yet, we should also understand that the annual conference is fluid enough to move, adjust, and operate under the influence of the Spirit of Christ. In sum, the work is really all divine. The daily rigors of being the annual conference secretary are innumerable. The reporting, printing, review of agendas, run of shows, formatting of literary reports, maintaining documents, travel and care on p19

Liturgical Colors 2023

Dates Color

Jan 1 – 6 .

Jan 7

Jan 8 …(Baptism of the Lord)

Jan 9 – Feb 18

Feb 19 …(Trans guration Sunday)

Feb 20 – 21

Feb 22 (Ash Wednesday) — Apr 6 .

Apr 7 – 8 …(Good Friday/Holy Saturday) . .Black

Apr 9 — May 27 …(Easter)

May 28 …(Pentecost Sunday)

May 29 — June 3

June 4 …(Trinity Sunday)

June 5 — Oct 31

Nov 1 …(All Saints Day)

Nov 2 – 25

Nov 26 …(Christ the King Sunday)

Nov 27 — Dec 2

Dec 3 – Dec 23 …(Advent)

Dec 24 - 31 …(Christmas Eve/Christmas)

Compliments of the AME Sunday School Union and the Christian Education Department