Volume 2 Issue 2
December 2013
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Blu’ Pearl SIGMA MU ZETA CHAPTER | STONE MOUNTAIN GRADUATE | CHARTERED 2001
A Word From Our President
I N S I DE T H I S I S S U E :
President’s Greetings
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Founders Day
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2013 SE Regional Conference
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Past,, Present Future Article
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Nelson Mandela
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Family Article
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Community Service
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Blu’ Notez
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Advertizments
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Calendar of ZVents
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SERVING IN
SCHOLARSHIP SISTERLY HOOD SERVICE FINER WOMANHOOD
“ A s i s t e r i s a g i f t t o t h e h e a r t , a f r i e n d t o t h e s p i r i t , a g o l d e n t h r e a d t o t h e m e a n i n g o f l i f e . ”
Season’s Greetings, It is my honor and privilege to welcome you to the December Holiday edition of the Blu’ Pearl newsletter of the Significant members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Sigma Mu Zeta Chapter. This newsletter will provide you with information about our community based programs and events that are designed to serve the needs of the communities in Stone Mountain, GA and surrounding areas. Since our inception, December 20, 2001, we have been impactful and made our presence known in our communities. We are dedicated to the mission of our organization. We faithfully reach out and collaborate with the community to identify and address areas of concern locally, nationally and globally that align with our International Grand Basileus, Mary Breaux –Wright, current theme "Building on the Principles of Zeta While Blazing New Paths." Sigma Mu Zeta has developed programs that directly address strengthening families, economic security, eradicating global poverty and providing greater awareness of important health related issues. We are proud of our legacy and thank our partners and families for helping us achieve our goals. We realize that support is critical to the success of our efforts in impacting the communities we serve. We ask for your continued support to bring about a positive social change through our fundraising activities and browse our newsletter for announcements relative to our extraordinary programs and public events. Sisterly,
Rosemarie
Soror Rosemarie Merritt Farngalo
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Happy Founders Day to the women of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.! The organization will celebrate 94 years in existence. Since the sorority was founded on January 16, 1920 at Howard University, the organization has amassed a membership of over 800 chapters in eight intercontinental regions. It was the first Greek-letter organization to establish a chapter in Africa and it maintains partnerships and affiliations with a range of institutions including the American Cancer Society and the United Negro College Fund.
It was a pleasure to attend the Regional Conference in Augusta; there were so much information to receive from the Financial Management Workshops, Going Paperless presented by our own Rebecca Johnson to Zeta Stork’s Nest, and MIP Certification. The registration team did a great job, shout outs to Jocasta (Regional Registration Coordinator), Tawhana, Julia, Karen H, Aleda, Serafina, Rosemarie (National Budget and Finance Committee Member and Candidate for National Tamias), and Rebecca (Presenter). Rosemarie, Jocasta and Maureen represented the chapter at the Life Member Luncheon and of course when Zeta called they jumped in and assisted. Maureen was the entertainment, rapping “The House by the Side of the Road” with an new unexpected twist. The audience clapped in the beat of “Rappers Delight” and joined in with her. The audience was in awe and excited to her comedic prowess and her take on our poem, it was defiantly memorable. Shout outs also to our State Director, Shanessa Alford for a job well done and we will be there March 12. 2014 for our State Conference, March 14-16, 2014 - Athens, Georgia., hope to see you all there.
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S e r v i c e
Community Service Initiatives Sigma Mu Zeta Chapter and our community friends donated their time to two worthy causes, the Elder Care Initiative at Traditions Health & Rehabilitations Center and the partnership with the Lithonia Chamber of Commerce and Stoneview Elementary for the 1st Annual Community Walk & Health Fair.
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aren Hughes was born in Passaic, New Jersey and is a graduate of Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey. She has been employed in the warehouse distribution industry for 27 years in various roles of specialist and management roles. She has been a Zeta for 32 years and was reclaimed with Sigma Mu Zeta Chapter in 2010. Since reclaiming, she has taken the bull by the horn and jumped right in. She is actively working for the good of Zeta in our community service ventures and is the ZHOPE Coordinator. She was featured with the chapter in the fall 2013 On Common Grounds Newspaper, were the chapter collaborated with the Lithonia Chamber of Commerce and Stoneview Elementary for the Health Fair. Recently she volunteered in her first Regional Conference in the registration process and is the brain child and leader of the chapters first Valentine’s Day Soiree and Breaking Bread with Sigma Mu Zeta. Karen is a force to be recon with, she is devoted, dedicated, and exemplified that which we love in a finer woman. She shares her Zeta life with her husband (Victor) of 20 years and 2 children Quinlan and Victor II.
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igma Mu Zeta is proud to welcome the newest members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.—Alpha Tau Chapter at Emory University. Congratulations Soror!
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W i s h e s
Carol and Dione ongratulations are in order to Soror Carol Williams, who is a newlywed as of December 4, 2013 to Frat. Dione Hester.
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Chew, Chat & Bowl
Interest Informational
December 29, 2013 The opportunity for the chapter to fellowship with any interest of the sorority. Location: Suburban Lanes, Decatur, GA Contact: Aisha Swope, smzmembership@yahoo.com
February 1, 2014, 4 p.m. (MIP Certified Sorors Only) Location: TBA Contact: Aisha Swope, smzmembership@yahoo.com
A Valentine’s Soiree
February 14, 2014, 9 p.m.—1 a.m. Purchase tickets: http://smzvalentinessoiree.eventbrite.com January 4, 2014, 10 a.m.—12 p.m. An event to celebrate Valentine’s Day It is a comprehensive program that also focuses on elder abuse Location: Stone Manor Events Facility awareness, financial peace, supporting the caregiver and volun- 3113 Stone Mountain St., Lithonia, GA teering at senior care facilities. Contact: Karen Hughes, (404) 247-1684 Location: Traditions Health & Rehab, Lithonia, GA Contact: Karen Hughes, (404) 247-1684
Elderly Initiative
Casino Bus Trip
February 15, 2014, 7 p.m.— 9 p.m. Bus boarding at 8 a.m., Departing at 8:30 a.m. January 15, 2014, After Chapter Meeting A Networking “Fun: Day Bring your hats, gloves & socks to pass out to the less fortunate Location: Creek Casino Montgomery Location: TBA Contact: Cheryl Bishop (770) 465-5110 Contact: Aisha Swope, smzmembership@yahoo.com EMAIL: SMZPUBLICRELATIONS@GMAIL.COM EMAIL: jtawahana@yahoo.com
Day of Service
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Founder’s Day January 16, 2014, All Day
Breaking Bread with Sigma Mu Zeta January 16, 2014, 7 p.m.— 9 p.m. To celebrate the Founder’s Day for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Location: Stonecrest Mall TGIF Contact: Karen Hughes, (404) 247-1684
Metro Atlanta Sigma & Zeta 2014 Founder’s Day Gala January 25, 2014, 7:00 p.m.—1:00 a.m. To celebrate the founding’s of both organizations. Location: The Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway Contact: sigmazetasfoundersday@gmail.com
Elderly Initiative February 1, 2014, 10 a.m.—12 p.m. It is a comprehensive program that also focuses on elder abuse awareness, financial peace, supporting the caregiver and volunteering at senior care facilities. Location: Traditions Health & Rehab, Lithonia, GA Contact: Karen Hughes, (404) 247-1684
New Bethel AME Church Food Pantry February 22, 2014, 9:00 a.m.—until The collection and delivery of can good to the pantry. Location: New Bethel AME Church 8350 Rockbridge Rd. Lithonia, GA 30058 Contact: Cheryl Nugent-Bishop, (678) 516- 8533
Sigma Mu Zeta Executive B oard Basileus Rosemarie Merritt-Farngalo 1st Anti-Basileus Aisha Merritt-Swope 2nd Anti-Basileus Rebecca Johnson 3rd Anti-Basileus Talissa Truitt Grammateus Tamara Franco Tamias Maureen Walker
Tamias Grammateus Jennifer Toussaint Phylacter Tawhana Johnson Historian/Keeper of Properties Maureen Walker Epistoleus Marketa H. Killingbeck Chair of the Executive Board Jocasta H. Frazier Executive Board Advisor Cheryl Nugent-Bishop
Quick Reminders Life Membership Is Still Open! The National Executive Board recently approved this level of membership to be offered to those Sorors who meet the criteria. The Life Membership drive opened on Jan. 25, 2013 until December 31, 2013.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Sigma Mu Zeta Chapter PO Box 136 Stone Mountain, GA 30086 March 2014 Newsletter Submittal Deadline: February 2014 Please submit all articles & pictures to smzpublicrelations@gmail.com
E-mail: sigmamuzeta@yahoo.com Website: www.sigmamuzeta.org Facebook: sigmamuzetachapter Twitter: #Sigmamuzeta1920
Newsletter designed by Public Relations Committee Editors: Soror Marketa Killingbeck & Soror Maureen Walker