Volume 1, Issue 4
November 1, 2012
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC.
“Strengthening Our Knowledge of Global Leadership Through Timeless Service”
The members of the Southeast Texas Cluster brought in an unusual cold
front to the Bayou City this past weekend for the SETX Cluster Retreat.
On a chilly Saturday morning, over 300 sorors were greeted with warm
welcomes from the host chapter, Alpha Kappa Omega. In a room
decorated with table centerpieces designed in ivy and pearl embellished
replicas of our national program seal, sorors gathered with the purpose
evident in the theme of the conference, “Strengthening Our Knowledge of
Global Leadership Through Timeless Service.”
Soror Betty Narcisse, Cluster protocol chairman, gave an energetic
introduction of the dais, VSGs, and regional officers. A heartfelt
meditation was given by Soror Anitra Provost, SETX Cluster Retreat
Co-Chairman.
Host chapter basileus, Soror Tamara Cubit,
encouraged sorors to have fun as she extended greetings to the body.
Soror Jullette Spivey, SETX Cluster Coordinator welcomed sorors to
the retreat and asked everyone to “Enjoy, engage and leave the retreat
eager to be of service to all mankind.”
Soror Spivey also presided over the event.
Do you know your AKAlphabet? Participating in a sisterly relations activity led
by Sorors Helen Houston and Angela Price of Alpha Kappa Omega chapter,
sorors were provided a list of the 26 letters of the
alphabet. They were then asked to list a word
beginning with each letter relating to AKA;
winners of the activity with the most answers
were recognized during lunch—some may have
even gotten an AKA perfect score.
Soror Edwina Johnson,
SETX Cluster Retreat Chairman
20th South Central Regional Director, Soror Polly
Sparks-Turner and 23rd South Central Regional
Director, Soror Gwendolyn J. Brinkley offered greetings during lunch, each
providing sincere words of wisdom and inspiration to attendees and warm
wishes to Regional Director Wilson. During the afternoon session, Soror Cubit
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Soror Tamara Cubit,
Basileus, Alpha Kappa Omega
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Soror Jullette Spivey, Madame Regional
Director Soror Chelle Wilson, and
Soror Jacqueline Williams
presented “Managing Your Pink and Green Anger, Part II”, leading
sorors in an enthusiastic AKA rendition of the game show Family
Feud to illustrate conflict examples. Small group engagement
discussions were held regarding anger management and
recommendations on how to handle personal and group conflict.
Another event highlight was an informative presentation by Soror
Linda Reed, South Central Region’s Tamiouchus on Financial
Procedures. She reminded sorors about budget guidelines, year-end
reports and chapter audits. Sorors definitely left the retreat more
knowledgeable and motivated.
Soror Linda Reed, SCR Tamiouchus
Congratulations and job well done to the SETX Cluster planning team
led by Soror Edwina Johnson, SETX Cluster Retreat Chairman.
Soror Angela Price, Soror Helen Houston, and
Madame Regional Director Soror Chelle Wilson
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The SETX Cluster is rich in history and is the
current home of two SENSATIONALLY SPECIAL
Supreme Basilei. The SETX sorors had the honor
of being greeted by the 18th Supreme Basileus,
Soror Mattelia B. Grays, who challenged each
soror to “always be reminded of the vows taken by
each of them.” Soror Grays said, “Bring and secure
the sisterliness back into sisterhood and make sure
to never forget the vision of the founders of Alpha
Kappa Alpha.” She also stressed the importance of
perpetuating the organization and setting a
foundation for generations to come and increase
understanding. Sisterhood was on the minds of the
entire body as the former Supreme Basileus had
everyone joins hands, look at one another and say,
“You have a sister forever and ever.”
Soror Faye B. Bryant, 21st Supreme Basileus
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Soror Mattelia B. Grays, 18th Supreme Basileus
Soror Faye B. Bryant, 21st Supreme Basileus,
gave a thought provoking greeting for the
retreat. Speaking on the importance of the love
we share for AKA, she discussed the meaning
of our P.E.A.R.L.S. via the use of an acronym for
the word. She further challenged members to
think about unity, which Soror Bryant said
makes us stronger, as well as sisterly relations,
enthusiasm, trust, and pride of the ivy which
we should utilize in our service to mankind.
Her expressions of congratulations and pride to
Soror Wilson were heartfelt and warm.
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Soror Edwina Johnson, Chairman of SETX
Cluster Retreat, provided an enthusiastic
introduction of South Central Regional Director,
Soror Chelle Wilson. Ironically, on her three
month anniversary of being installed as Regional
Director, Soror Chelle Wilson delivered the State
of the Region address to the body at the SETX
Cluster Retreat.
The South Central Region is the 3rd largest region
in the sorority with 6,374 active members. Soror
Wilson challenged the region to move higher in
our membership position and reminded the
group of the membership goals set forth by our
Supreme Basileus, Soror Carolyn House Stewart.
South Central Regional Director
Soror Chelle Wilson
The sorority has a goal of 100,000 active members while the South Central Region has a
goal of 12,000 active members by 2014. Soror Wilson said, “Sisterliness is key” to achieving
the membership goals. She also challenged sorors to exercise their right to vote in the
upcoming election and reviewed the requirements of the international Timeless History
project.
Soror Wilson also presented the platform of the Global Leadership Through Timeless
Service international program initiatives. She recognized the efforts of the cluster in the
EYL programs that have been instituted and encouraged sorors to continue to be role
models for our youth. Soror Wilson also announced that four out of six GLTTS Ethel
Awards presented at the 2012 Boule were awarded to chapters in the South Central
Region. She encouraged boasting by the SETX Cluster members, knowing that their
Cluster garnered three of the four national awards.
In closing, Regional Director Wilson restated promises made during her campaign and
highlighted to-date accomplishments, which included technological advances,
partnerships formed, mentoring opportunities, and innovative communication practices
since her installation. Soror Wilson energetically stated, “Promises Made, Promises Kept!”
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“Membership matters! Membership matters! Membership matters!,”
Soror LaRhonda Matthews, of Chi Omicron Omega, led the body in
a “membership matters” chant to open her presentation about the
New Member Century Campaign. The campaign has been
initiated to reclaim our lost pearls and increase membership in the
sorority as a whole. Soror Matthews laid out the goals for the
region which include 9,050 active sorors by July 2012 and 12,000
active sorors by July 2014. Chapters can compete to be recognized
for reclaiming sorors at the 2013 Regional Conference. Tier levels for
the awards are:
Award Level
Ignition
Thermal
Combustible
# of Reactivations
1-25
26-50
50+
Soror LaRhonda Matthews
Individually sorors can compete for reimbursable Regional Conference registration fees by reclaiming
inactive sorors. Soror Matthews reminded everyone to, “Embrace One, Keep One, and Bring One.”
South
Central Representative
Soror Patricia Webb,
to
the
International Program Committee, asked those assembled to “continue to fight.”
She encouraged sorors to fight financial illiteracy, domestic violence, and world
poverty as she discussed the national programs. Soror Webb reminded sorors of
programs as noted in the GLTTS Program Calendar that are required
implementation and the proper procedures for year-end reporting.
With partnership opportunities as the highlight of the presentation, Soror Webb
identified multiple upcoming partnership opportunities that will enable the
sorority to be of greater service to our communities. The partnership
opportunities include: the Arbor Day Foundation, Peace Corp, Pink
Goes Red for a Day (include Delta Sigma Theta partners), 40 Days of
Soror Patricia Webb
Peace, and the American Heart Association. Additionally, she informed
cluster members that GLTTS awards are to be included in regional award competition
during the 2013 Regional Conference. She further presented readiness reports for the
2013 National Founders’ Day, 2013 Leadership Conference, and 2014 Health Partner
Awards. Soror Tiffany Willie was introduced as the Social Justice Initiative
Coordinator and contact for the Martin Luther King Day of Service Project. Information on
the MLK Day of service has been disseminated to all South Central Region chapters. Soror Tiffany Willie
Finally, she advised that the 2013 Regional Conference Youth Summit’s will focus on entrepreneurship
and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics); donations of school supplies and
leadership/self-help books for youth will be collected. Ending on a note of excitement, Soror Webb
shared with the cluster that SCR chapters are joining together to change lives one little dress at a time
through the “Dressing Liberia” project. Chapters are coming together—and prior to Regional
Conference, 2,500 dresses will be created and designed from pillowcases and distributed through the
orphanages, churches, and schools in Africa.
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Soror Jacqueline Watson,
SCR Parliamentarian
Soror Jacqueline Watson, SC Region, led an interactive presentation
on Parliamentary Procedures. Soror Watson gave the report from the
65th Boule and polled the body on common parliamentary terms. Sorors all over the room eagerly answered questions about the different types of meetings, committees, and the flow of meetings. Soror
Watson also stressed the importance of having rules established
when conducting telephonic meetings. The body was actively engaged while inputting their own do’s & don’ts about telephonic meetings. The governing documents were also reviewed inclusive of
Constitution & Bylaws (2010), Manual of Standard Procedure (2010),
and Chapter Bylaws. Soror Watson encouraged sorors to actually
read their documents in an effort to effectively conduct business.
Roberts Rules of Orders (11th ed.) should be used as a supplement to
the sorority’s documents.
Attendees enjoyed the role play of seven sorors in the delivery of a
skit showcasing a “typical” meeting involving, a motion, amendment of the motion, debate, and voting on an agenda item. Areas in
which the meeting was conducted correctly and incorrectly were eagerly pointed out by the audience. Kudos to Soror Watson and the
assistance of the SETX “thespians” for an excellent workshop!
“Don’t be discouraged. This vote will take courage, “ said Soror
Shawn Simmons as she delivered
the Connection Committee Report.
She explained voting procedures
and important dates for voting in
Texas.
Early Voting * October 22 to
November 2, 2012
Election Day * November 6, 2012
At the conclusion of the
Connections Committee report,
our Regional Director, Soror Soror Shawn Simmons delivering
Chelle Wilson, was presented the Connections Committee Report.
with a beautiful pink and green
“Make Your Voice Heard” yard sign. Several sorors in the
cluster purchased a yard sign of their own . The entire SETX
Soror Faye Phillips, host chapter Connections area is sure to have a pink and green reminder to VOTE in this
Chairman, presents Soror Wilson with an
AKA “Make Your Voice Heard” yard sign. upcoming election.
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Hands raised and in verbal unison, sorors took a pledge,
led by Cluster special project chairman, Sorors
Katharine Brown and Eugenia Cain to: “educate and
bring awareness to families to help to reduce the adverse
outcomes of asthma among millions of children nationwide
who are impacted by this public health problem.”
Next, with mobile devices in hand and Montell Jordan’s,
“This is How We Do It” playing in the background,
chapter basilei tweeted the pledge hours of their
chapters for the Asthma Initiative using hash tag
#aka1908. A total of 3,409 hours have been pledged
thus far by the SETX cluster sorors! The SETX Cluster is
fueled to do more and presented Regional Director
Wilson with a sealed envelope pledge from the SETX
sorors of final committed hours for the Asthma
Awareness Initiative. The envelope is NOT to be opened
until December 31, 2012, but the SETX cluster is be
sure to be the Regional winner in the competition!
Madame Regional Director was presented with asthma
starter kits for her daughters. She expressed her
appreciation for the efforts made thus far by the cluster
as this initiative is near and dear to the heart of the
Sorors Katherine Brown and Eugenia Cain
South Central Regional Leadership team. Soror Wilson’s
youngest daughter, Saige, is an asthmatic as well as the
grandson of Soror Patricia Roberts, Regional Historic
Black College and Universities Initiative Chairman.
Soror Polly Sparks-Turner, SC Regional Asthma
Initiative Consultant, also shared the story of her late
husband who suffered with asthma and later passed
away as a result of a serious respiratory illness. Soror
Wilson stressed the importance of education, diagnosis
and treatment.
Sorors Natosha Roberts, Patricia Roberts, and
Madame Regional Director Soror Chelle Wilson
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Southeast Texas
Cluster Social
Media Report
SCR Social Media Blogger—
Soror Ashley Odom
 15 new “likes” due to
the
coverage
of
the
Southeast Texas Cluster
Retreat.
28 up to the minute
posts on coverage of
the Southeast Texas
Cluster Retreat.
Posts covering the
Southeast
Cluster
Retreat
Texas
viewed
a
total of 6,624 times!
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The Basilei of the
SETX Cluster
conducted their
own service project
in conjunction
with the SETX
Cluster Retreat.
They collected and
donated wigs of all
lengths, colors, and
sizes to Ms. Bonita
Graves, a breast cancer
survivor and founder of
Beauty: Before, During,
and After Breast Cancer.
The organization provides
wigs to breast cancer
patients and survivors and
focuses on improving the
self-esteem of its clients.
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Outstanding Cluster Retreat Attendance
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Clusters and Chapters are like mini communities within
the South Central region and our Regional Director wants
to highlight all gatherings and events in each cluster. The
SCR reporter positions are for sorors who would like to
participate in an interactive group without a major
commitment of being on a large regional committee.
Sorors can share stories and info as often or as little as
they want! Anyone can do it! Just share your stories about
what happened at your cluster retreat or chapter events
and it may end up on akasouthcentral.org, Facebook,
Twitter, the Sensation newsletter or our SCR updates. All
you need is your smartphone to take photos or videos
and
email
your
one
paragraph
stories
to
ireporter@akasouthcentral.org.
Soror Carisma Ramsey
South Central Region Information Officer
Soror Erayne Hill
SCR Head Writer/Editor
Soror Jenine McClaney
SCR Newsletter Editor-in-Chief
Soror Ariel Martin
SCR Head Writer/Editor
Soror Dawn Funches Allen
SCR Newsletter Editor
Soror Thelma Johnson
SCR Writer
Soror Barbara Joubert
SCR Newsletter Editor
Soror Tomayia Montgomery
SCR Photographer
Soror Patricia Webb
SCR Newsletter Editor-at-Large
Soror Ashley Odom
SCR Social Media Blogger
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