Excellence EDITORIAL
SPECIAL EDITION APRIL 2020
WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. A word from the South Atlantic Regional Director So many of us are feeling afraid, anxious, or weary right now. We are wondering what is next and when we will once again be able to assemble together. Because we want to be sensitive to what each of us is feeling right now and not let the beautiful service of the South Atlantic Region get lost in the shuffle of things that are plaguing our thoughts during this time, we have decided to hold the first-quarter issue of Excellence Editorial for a few more weeks. During this time, I am leaning heavily upon the Sorors, your accomplishments will not go
Lord by walking in faith, not fear and
unnoticed. We will still disseminate the most
irrationality; and I am using the wisdom,
recent version of the newsletter when we have a
knowledge, and understanding He has
better sense of the direction in which our
imparted upon me. Our God is not the author
country is headed as well as the next several
of chaos, and we will not fall victim to it. I
months’ plans for the sorority and the South
pray that we will continue to lead, serve,
Atlantic Region. The region’s updates will be
grow, connect and call on the Lord during this
included in the newsletter, in addition to our
pandemic and that we will come out of this
regular features of Impact Days, individual
health crisis even more loving, caring, and
chapter service projects, and AKAlades.
compassionate for our sisters and brothers.
Right now, we present this special edition of the
God bless every one of you. Stay safe, sorors.
newsletter to you, because we want to ensure that you know how you can continue to be of
With sisterly love,
service to those who need you and also how you can find the essential resources you and/or your loved ones need – whether they are spiritual-, financial-, health- or social-related.
South Atlantic Regional Director
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VIRTUAL SERVICE PROJECTS Keep Doing What You Do While we can't gather in person, we can still continue working on our mission to be of service to all mankind. Below are some ideas for your chapter to participate in virtual service projects:
Target 1: HBCU for Life: A Call to Action We will continue our focus on education with an emphasis on historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Make a donation to the HBCU of your choice. Many have Emergency Funds set up to help students impacted by COVID-19. Host an HBCU Forum using webinar technology. Promote HBCUs on your personal social media pages as well as your chapters social media pages. Encourage #CAP students to stay positive.
Target 2: Women's Healthcare and Wellness We will continue to raise community awareness of critical health issues impacting African-American women. The primary focuses will be breast cancer awareness and prevention, heart health, nutrition and wellness, and care for the caregivers. Continue/begin to put YOUR health first. We cannot be of service to all mankind if we are not in good health. o
Perform monthly breast care examinations.
o
Walk around your neighborhood.
o
Exchange healthy meal ideas with sorors.
Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention can be executed through education. Share national statistics and highlight a soror’s survival story. Heart Health activities with your loved ones can be planned while maintaining the social distancing guidelines. Consider a chapter fitness class…virtually! Nutrition and wellness can be as easy as sharing a new recipe with the chapter. All sorors who try it can share their photos and review via their social media pages or any medium they chose. Caregivers need our prayers and encouragement. A hand-written note can sometimes lift the spirits of those who are often overlooked.
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Target 3: Building Your Economic Legacy We will emphasize financial planning, asset accumulation, and wealth building including savings and investments, managing debt, and improving credit. While hosting a webinar, a viewing party or a virtual book club meeting is great for the community, this is a good time to get your own house in order. Personal Financial Planning and Asset Accumulation: Seek information on saving, investing, and retirement planning. There are sorors skilled in these areas, but any reliable source is encouraged. Share what you learn. Credit Repair and Monitoring: Learn ways to repair you credit, if necessary. Explore debt repayment options that extend grace to borrowers. Your mortgage company as well as other loan servicers may have a forbearance option that may allow you some financial breathing room for a few months. Entrepreneurship and the Black Dollar 365: Seek out small business owners in your chapter, in your community or even online. Keep a list and share with others. Operation AKA Assist: There are several organizations helping those in need. Have chapter members make a contribution of $19.08 to offer local support.
Target 4: The Arts! We will expose students to arts enrichment and culture by focusing on visual and performing arts and by showcasing talent through the exploration of writers, entertainers and various other artists. Host a webinar for the target audience to augment their homeschooling experience. Host a viewing party of a documentary. Host a virtual book club meeting.
Target 5: Global Impact We will engage in programming designed to enhance the international footprint of the sorority. National Global Impact Day was Friday, April 10, 2020, but you can still make a donation to an organization that makes a difference worldwide or a local organization that assists refugees in America. Global Assistance Activities can benefit from the decluttering you are doing! Start a pile for each organization listed. You can also pull out your sewing machines. o
Soles 4 Souls (Shoes)
o
Lions Club International (Eyeglasses)
o
Pillowcase Project (Handmade Masks)
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Each state has made several resources available.
GEORGIA RESOURCES Information about SNAP and other social benefit programs, Medicaid and health benefits, unemployment services, veterans services, and other assistance programs available during the COVID-19 outbreak:
Services and Assistance Programs
Health Updates and Guidelines
FLORIDA RESOURCES The COVID-19 Call Center is available 24/7 at 1 (866) 779-6121
or COVID-19@flhealth.gov
Services and Assistance Programs
County-specific Health Updates
SOUTH CAROLINA RESOURCES The Department of Health and Environmental Control continues to work with federal, state and local partners as it investigates COVID-19 casesin South Carolina. DHEC’s top priority remains protecting the public during this national and state emergency.
Resources for Home and Community
Testing and SC Data
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67TH REGIONAL CONFERENCE UPDATE Our Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Constitution and Bylaws state that we must have a Regional Conference each year -and we will, sorors. We do not yet know the time or place, but we will work to make sure that we adhere to the mandates within our documents and give all of us the opportunity to fellowship, learn, do the business of our region, and rededicate ourselves. We know that we all have come to anticipate this time each year. We will share more information as details are solidified.
Below are the hotels in which we reserved room blocks:
Aloft Charleston Airport and Convention Center Doubletree by Hilton Convention Center Crowne Plaza Charleston Airport Convention Center Embassy Suites Charleston Airport Hotel & Convention Center Fairfield Inn & Suites Charleston Airport/Convention Center Fairfield Inn & Suites Charleston North/Ashley Phosphate Hampton Inn & Suites Charleston Airport Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Airport Holiday Inn Express & Suites - Charleston North
Since the postponement of the 67th South Atlantic Regional Conference in
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charleston - Ashley Phosphate
Charleston, South Carolina, our legal team has been in discussion with the venues because of contractual agreements. We are still in talks with the Convention Center with no resolution yet to offer you.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charleston Airport & Convention Center Homewood Suites by Hilton North Charleston Airport Hyatt Place Charleston Airport and Convention Center
As a result of other negotiations, all hotels in which the region reserved a room block are sending cancellations for your reservations. If you have not received a cancellation notice, you may cancel your
Marriott Hotel North Charleston Residence Inn Ashley Phosphate Sleep Inn Charleston North TownePlace Suites Charleston Airport/Convention Center
reservation via a link in your confirmation email or by calling the hotel directly.
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PRAYER
New Prayer Request Line and Weekly Prayer Call
Every Thursday through the end of this pandemic has been designated as our Day of Prayer where we will use our collective voice to ask God to intercede in this pandemic. Until this pandemic is over, Madam Regional Director has suspended her monthly regional prayer encounter. The designated prayer times are 7:00 a.m., 12:00 Noon and 6:00 p.m. EST. Pray once, twice, or all three times as your schedule allows. Just pray. Sorors, we know the power of prayer. So, continue to remain prayerful.
Call 319-527-3511, 211712#
And now, if you have special requests, you can use the region's new prayer line!
Email your prayer request 24/7 to SARprayerrequests@gmail.com. Your request will be made known to the region during prayer times. For personal prayer, please include your phone number and a member of the SAR Spiritual Oversight Committee will call you.
Visit our social media
https://www.twitter.com/AKA_SARegion
pages to be uplifted during this time. We have
https://www.facebook.com/AKA.SAregion/
daily inspiration as well https://www.instagram.com/aka_saregion/
as trivia/games, fun things to do, and more.
http://aka1908.com/southatlantic