Volumes 7 & 8
2014
Sorors, On September 20th, Leadership Development hosted our first Boot Camp workshop. Thanks to Soror Lynda Tarver for chairing this activity and to the sorors who presented details on the offices slated at our October meeting. Eighteen sorors attended this workshop: Krista Butler, Toni Grayer, Leah Hill, Karla Barton, Jeanette Rogers, Alice Tittle, Sharon Armstead, Tiffany Wicks, Sharon Brown, Barbara McCreary, Cynthia Robinson, Rashea Ratliff, Sonya Bowen, Paris Winston, Valerie Pace, Kim Mitchell, Toya Harvey, and of course Lynda Tarver. I’m happy to say that several sorors in attendance volunteered to be slated for office: Leah Hill, Krista Butler, Sharon Brown, Paris Winston, Sonya Bowen, Toya Harvey, Toni Grayer, Alice Tittle, Jeanette Rogers, Cynthia Robinson, Karla Barton, and Valerie Pace. This is considerably more volunteers for office than we had last year, so I think the Boot Camp was successful. Another Boot Camp is planned for 2015.
11/3 – Initiative V Mtg. 11/5 – Leadership Dev Mtg. 11/6 – Jazz Fundraiser Mtg. 11/10 – Cotillion Parent Mtg 11/16 – Jazz in AKAnoon 11/17 – Cotillion Planning Mtg. 11/22 – Emerging Pearls, How the Grinch Stole Xmas 11/24 – Global Poverty Mtg.
The Cotillion Committee hosted a successful Informational Tea on 10/19. Presentations and information on our upcoming cotillion were given to parents and prospective debs in attendance. 2014 debutantes were on hand to show their dresses and to give their individual take on the debutant experience. A parent meeting is scheduled for 11/10/14 at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in Phoenix, IL. Please share this information with prospective debs you know. We’d like a minimum of 10 girls. The Jazz in the AKAnoon Committee is finalizing preparations for this fundraiser, to be held on 11/16/2014. Sorors, this is our last fundraiser for the year and we need your participation and. Please support this event with your attendance and by inviting guests. Raffle tickets are also available. See chairman, Marva Campbell Pruitt for details. Reminder; On 11/8, be prepared to vote for TPF Amended Bylaws, TPF Bylaws and 2015 officers. Sisterly, Jan Reed, Basileus
11/28 – Protocol Mtg.
(Our diversity is our beauty and our strength.)
HAPPENINGS FROM SUMMER BREAK On Saturday August 30th, Twenty Pearls Foundation hosted another successful AKA Klassic. For the second year in a row the event was held at The Society diversity is our beauty and our strength) Art Gallery in Chicago's(Our West Loop. Guests enjoyed a night of dancing to DJ Ron Troupe who played the best in hip hop and Chicago house music. In addition, several guests walked away with great raffle prizes including an Apple TV, overnight hotel stay, and comedy show tickets to name a few. It was a great time had by all as we successfully raised additional support for our foundation's philanthropic activities. The committee, under the leadership of Sorors Angela Williams and Rosalind Backstrom planned an event we were proud of. It was well attended and well organized. Congratulations on a job well done!
Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been. Draw nearer to God and move on. Don’t let negative words or actions of others affect what God is doing in your life. Decide that from this day forward each day is a new blessing. May God bless your New Beginning(s). God is Faithful
Soror Tina Hughes-Burke: Chaplin 2014
18 sorors were part of LTO’s first Boot Camp workshop. Those present were given details about the duties performed by officers to be slated in 2014. Thanks to Soror Lynda Tarver and her committee of presenters for chairing this activity and to sorors who participated: Krista Butler, Toni Grayer, Leah Hill, Karla
Barton, Jeanette Rogers, Alice Tittle, Sharon Armstead, Tiffany Wicks, Sharon Brown, Barbara McCreary, Cynthia Robinson, Rashea Ratliff, Sonya Bowen, Paris Winston, Valerie Pace, Kim Mitchell, and Toya Harvey.
On October 3rd and 4th, Cluster 8 hosted its Retreat in Oak Lawn, IL. Several LTO sorors were present and participated in this retreat: Jan Reed, Barbara McCreary, Leah Hill, Carol Sharp, Renee Collins, Marilyn Hamb, Pat Parrish,
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Casandra Watson, Alice Tittle, Joyce Duke, Joyce Nelson, Marydale Donald, Ethel Brown, Sandra Butler, Jeanette Rogers, Toni Austin Johnson, Veneeta Phelps, Sharon Brown, Stephanie Farrow, Cynthia Robinson, Krista Butler, Caletha White, Pamela Martin, Donna Fowler Canty, June Mitchell, Cassie Osbourne, Lynda Tarver, Jerry Bridges, Pat O’Neal, Toya Harvey,
Sharon Armstead, Melody Ferguson, and Salwa Dillard. Sorors Sonya Bowen and Audrey McFarlin attended retreats at different clusters. (Please notify me if your name is missing from this list.)
At our October TPF Board meeting, 2013 $1000.00 and & $2000.00 club members were recognized. Congratulations to our two $2000.00 winners Michelle Clark and Marilyn Hamb.
Our $1000.00 club winners were Ethel Brown, Rose Butler Hayes, Joyce Duke, Kristin Hamb, Saundra Jones, Audrey McFarlin, and Tiffany Wicks.
The TPF Bylaws committee, under the leadership of Rose Butler Hayes, has done a herculean job of updating our Board’s document. They have spent months consulting and conferencing to make sure our bylaws are legal and meet the needs of the foundation. The Ad Hoc Committee chairman and members are to be commended.
On Sunday, 10/12, the Membership Committee hosted AKA Mingle at the home of Soror Jaronda Hall. Missing Pearls and LTO sorors gathered to interact and have a great time. Several missing pearls reactivated as a result of this and other reclamation activities. Congratulations to Soror Audrey McFarlin and the Membership Committee.
The Sisterly Relations Committee hosted a brunch for our Golden Sorors on 10/18. Soror Tina Hughes Burke moderated this activity, which gave our Goldens an opportunity to share their experiences as Alpha Kappa Alpha women. This was a rewarding experience for Golden Sorors as well as others in attendance. Kudos to the Sisterly Relations Committee under the leadership of Soror Pamela Martin.
LTO’s Program Committees have been quite busy. These are just a few of their activities. Feel free to send me pictures and details if you’d like your activity included in future newsletters.
The Precious Pearls attended the 100 Black Men College Fair. Kudos to Chairman, June Mitchell, and her committee for providing such educational experiences for our mentoring group!
Initiative II, Health, hosted a Health and Wellness Extravaganza at the Phoenix Multipurpose Center. The committee partnered with Soroptimist International of Iliana to produce this event. Soror Marydale Donald and the Health Committee implemented an excellent event which was well attended.
Walk of Hope
In Recognition of UN (United Nations) Day on October 24th, Target V, under the leadership of Soror Casandra Watson, presented Karen Yarbrough, the Recorder of Deeds, with a copy of the United Nations Charter as well as a copy of the Declaration of Human Rights. These documents were also presented to John C. Allen, the Director of the Cook County Department of Administrative Hearings. Kudos to Soror Casandra and her committee for planning this presentation and photo shoot.
FYI The Presidential Seal The ivy leaf at the center symbolizes the strength and endurance of Alpha Kappa Alpha. The twenty white pearls that encrust the ivy leaf are in tribute to our organization’s founders and incorporators. The starburst within the ivy speaks to the power, vitality and innovation of our programs of service and the radiance of our bonds of sisterhood. The twenty-nine pink pearls that from the arch above the center ivy represent Soror Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson and the former Supreme Basilei who preceded Soror Buckhanan Wilson as the presiding officer of our sisterhood. The pink flourish at the base of the symbol is representative of our sorority’s roots which keep us grounded in our founding principles and traditions at the same time that they continue to grow and stretch in a never-ending quest to positively impact the world.
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The Launching New Dimensions of Service symbol is comprised of several interconnected components, which, when taken together, represent the vision, hope, determination and sisterhood that will be achieved through the implementation of a new series of international programs. The prominent ivy outline, nestled within both spheres, establishes Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s ivy leaf symbol of strength and endurance as the rooted core of our sisterhood’s existence. The Twenty Pearls in the ivy represent our Sorority’s founders and incorporators who conceived our beloved sisterhood and ensured its perpetuity. The illuminating starburst symbolizes the collective power, vitality and innovation that AKA has represented since 1908. The graceful lady at the symbol’s nucleus represents the Alpha Kappa Alpha woman. She emits light, hope, determination, warmth, kindness and love through her every thought, word and deed.
2014 The power of God protects you Wherever you are God is.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
The light of God surrounds you The love of God enfolds you The presence of God watches over you
Tina Hughes Burke: 2014 Chaplain: God is Faithful