Volume 1, Issue 7
December 7, 2012
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC.
PRESERVING THE RECIPE FOR TIMELESS SERVICE THROUGH GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
Sorors of the Southern
Louisiana Cluster journeyed to the quaint little
town of Baldwin, Louisiana to participate in and
celebrate the 2012 Southern Louisiana Cluster Retreat, themed Preserving
the Recipe for Timeless
Service through Global
Leadership. The endearing smiles of the host
chapter, Phi
Rho
Omega, welcomed sorors
as they entered the beautiful West St. Mary High
School.
Melodious
laughter and chatter filled
S. LA Cluster Co-Coordinator
Soror Altha Green &
S.C. Regional Director
Soror Chelle Wilson
the room as sorors
greeted each other and
found their seats in the
fabulously decorated
seating area. Tables were
adorned with uniquely
created cast iron pot replicas distinguished with
pink roses and pearls.
Soror Tequila “Tiki”
Ware, Cluster Retreat Co
-Chair, enthusiastically
introduced the dais as
they pranced in to the
smooth groove of
“Candy” by Cameo. A
powerful meditation was
done by Soror Laquita
Christian, Phi Rho
Omega. The Southern
Louisiana Cluster members were formally
greeted by the host chapter and by the Mayor Protem of the town of Baldwin, Mr. Mike Lancelin.
During his energetic welcome he invited us all
back to his special city
and to assure our return,
he provided Madame
R eg i o n a l
D ir e ct o r
Chelle Wilson with the
key to the city. He noted
that amidst all the beautiful women, he must have
been in heaven!
Then the heat was turned
up with the wild and exciting roll call lead by
Soror Dianne Wiltz of
Phi Rho Omega. As she
called out all the hardworking chapters of the
Southern Louisiana Cluster, each uniquely identified their excitement with
cheers and chants. Soror
Wiltz titled the sorors in
attendance
“brick
houses” as the song
played in the background
and sorors sang with
glee.
Clusters are always filled
with fun but the business
of Alpha Kappa Alpha
must also be handled.
Soror Robyn McCormick, Southern Louisiana Cluster Coordinator,
introduced Soror Chelle
Wilson in preparation for
the State of the South
Central Region.
She
noted that “she who
S. LA Cluster Coordinator Soror
Robyn McCormick & S.C. Regional
Director Soror Chelle Wilson
learns must lead…” and
Madame Regional Director Chelle Wilson is leading with Sisterhood, Service and Solidarity.
Soror Virginia “Ginny” Collins
Host Chapter-Phi Rho Omega
Basileus
South Central Regional Director Soror Chelle Wilson humbly
opened her State of the Region by saying, “This is the day that the
Lord has made and I plan to rejoice and be glad in it.” Our dynamic
regional leader spent the first few minutes of her address sharing her
extensive itinerary since installation The Southern Louisiana Cluster
Retreat was the final cluster conference and “there’s no better place to
end the fall cluster schedule than with the sorors of the Southern
Louisiana Cluster,” said Madame Regional Director. Soror Chelle
expressed her sincere gratitude to the cluster host chapter Phi Rho
Omega.
In her journey as the 24th South Central Regional Director, Soror Wilson has learned that Alpha Kappa Alpha
is not just about L-O-V-E but also a lot of W-O-R-K to keep it sensational. South Central proudly stands as
the 3rd largest region in Alpha Kappa Alpha and this coveted spot is sought after by several other regions.
Soror Chelle, in her usual charismatic way, shared a funny story about another Regional Director who told her
not to “get too comfortable in that spot,” to which Soror Chelle replied, “Oh, we’re not because we’re
planning to move up!” This cute banter ties into South Central’s membership goal of having 12,000 active
members by 2014. “To reach that goal, each of us has to embrace the membership campaign and commit to
retention and reactivation,” says Soror Wilson.
South Central’s programming efforts have been stellar and it was clear with chapters in our region receiving
four out of six program awards given at the 2012 Boule. She encouraged chapters to continue their stellar
work in implementing Global Leadership through Timeless Service as they were making a positive impact in
the communities they serve. She also shared how much she’d love to see South Central improve their award
record and receive six out of six awards at the 2014 Boule. Soror Chelle was also delighted to announce to the
Southern Louisiana Cluster that the Arbor Day Foundation/Alpha Kappa Alpha inaugural intern for the South
Central Region is Southern Louisiana Cluster’s own, Soror Asti Davis from Beta Upsilon Chapter at Dillard
University in New Orleans.
Soror Wilson reminded the sorors in attendance of her campaign commitment of “promises made, promise
kept.” Under her tenure thus far, attendance records have been set for Round-Up and several cluster
conferences. As promised, enhanced technology and communication “directly to your inbox” have kept sorors
informed and engaged on activities throughout the region. “No one can tell our story like we can,” says Soror
Chelle and she encouraged sorors who participate in social media to share the good work that our chapters are
doing in the community.
The state of the region ended with the song “Step by Step” by Whitney Houston. As the song played in the
background, Soror Wilson shared with the members of the Southern Louisiana Cluster that there was “no
limit to what we can achieve as we continue to Step Up and Move Forward: Keeping South Central
Sensational!”
Pinked In…..S. LA Cluster Retreat
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PRESERVING THE RECIPE FOR TIMELESS SERVICE
THROUGH GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
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Team AKA We Fight:
Global Leadership through Timeless Service
Soror Patricia Webb,
South Central Representative to the International
Program Committee, rallied the cluster by charging sorors to continue to
fight global poverty, domestic violence and human trafficking. It is
imperative for chapters
to turn in reports on
time, plan for the upcoming year and visit the
Program Calendar. She
wittily had the entire
crowd laughing with her
funny video which
stressed the point of
working “side by side”
with organizations, corporations, non-profits
and other civic/social
entities.
News regarding upcom-
ing service projects was
shared. Sorors are urged
to support the National
Founders’ Day service
project and donate intimate apparel for incarcerated women in the
Baltimore area. For the
South Central Regional
Conference, our goal is
to bring 20,000 school
supplies and self-help/
inspirational books to
New Orleans. Chapters
should partner with local Delta Sigma Theta
chapters for “Go Red for
a Day” in February. Soror Webb joked with the
crowd and urged sorors
to adorn our red outfits
with big pink flowers,
green scarves or pink
earrings. The MLK Day
grant winners for South
Central were announced
and the cluster enthusiastically cheered for
Gamma Psi Omega
from Lake Charles, Louisiana which was
awarded the grant for the
second year. South Central again led the pack
with the most applications for the grants.
South Central continues
to lead by example with
Soror Patricia Webb
programming efforts and South Central Representative
we want to continue to to the International Program
Committee
exceed. Other regions
are watching and Soror
Webb commented to
other members of the
International Program
Committee, “That’s what
we do!”
Sisterly Relations Activity:
Name that Green Thing
Soror Karla Vappie of
Phi Rho Omega, energized the cluster with a
fun sisterly relations activity titled “Name that
Green Thing.” The activity required sorors at
each table to answer
amusing questions which
had “green” ties to incorporate the “Go Green”
concept that our beloved
sorority is successfully
embracing.
There was so much excitement as sorors came
up with the answers that
Soror Vappie had to remind everyone to not
shout the answers out
loud. The Incredible
Hulk, the Grinch, green
pastures and four-leaf
clovers were some of the
many answers to the
brain teasers. Once the
Pinked In…..S. LA Cluster Retreat
sisterly relations activity
was over, Soror Karla
declared the Southern
Louisiana Cluster as
“green savvy!”
Soror Karla Vappie
Phi Rho Omega Chapter
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Conflict Resolution:
Managing Your Pink and Green Anger, Part II
Part two of “Managing
Your Pink and Green
Anger” was presented by
Soror Burnadine Moss
Anderson, South Central Representative to the
Internal Leadership for
External Service Initiative. Soror Moss shared
with the cluster the purpose of providing sorors
with the tools to effecSoror Burnadine Moss
tively handle the busiAnderson, South Central
ness of AKA. It is simRepresentative to the Internal ply in the best interest of
Leadership for External
our beloved sisterhood.
Service Initiative
Our Supreme Basileus,
Soror Carolyn House
Stewart, does not want
any soror differences to
escalate to a place where
we are not treating each
other appropriately. This
behavior jeopardizes our
organization as a whole
and there is no place
within the sorority for
such behavior.
chapters. As each team
correctly answered questions, the audience broke
into huge rounds of applause. At the end of the
game the Green team
rose as the victors.
Soror Moss engaged the
crowd with a classic remix of the popular game
show Family Feud properly renamed “AKA
Feud.” Two teams were
assembled, Pink and
Green, and the room was
split in half to eagerly
cheer for each team.
Team members were
asked questions based on
triggers that affect our
Soror Robyn presented
Soror Moss with a token
of appreciation for sharing part two of this important workshop. Sorors were given certificates for completing the
workshop and urged to
use their new found
knowledge in their respective chapters.
Afternoon Session
a Parliamentary Procedure and Constitution
and Bylaws presentation
by Soror Melanie
Cowart, the South Central Representative to the
International Constitution and Bylaws Committee. She reviewed
very pertinent details and
best practices regarding
running conference call
meetings and committee
meetings. Additionally,
Soror Cowart got volunteers to role play in front
of the audience to display both right and
wrong ways to handle
motions and business in
Following a delicious
lunch, our very special
pearls were recognized.
All Golden Sorors were
given a beautiful gold
fleur-de-lis Christmas
ornament for the holiday
season. Their contributions to our sisterhood
for 50 or more years can
never be matched and
the crowd showed them
much deserved loved
with cheers and applause.
Soror Melanie Cowart
South Central Representative
to the International
Constitution and Bylaws
Committee
Members of the Southern Louisiana Cluster got
back to the business of
Alpha Kappa Alpha with
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chapter meetings.
The Southern Louisiana
Cluster is committed to
the Asthma Awareness
focus under the Health
Initiative. Sorors Kim
Caesar, Debra McClarity and Diane Wiltz, all
of Phi Rho Omega chapter, shared personal stories of how asthma has
affected their lives and
the lives of their loved
ones. This over-arching
focus has inspired the
cluster to pledge 2,684
volunteer hours by the
end of 2012. The recipe
Page 5
Organization
Microsoft
Primary Business Address
Your Address Line 2
Your Address Line 3
Your Address Line 4
Soror Carisma Ramsey
SCR Information Officer
Soror Jenine McClaney
SCR Newsletter Editor-in-Chief
Soror Dawn Funches Allen
SCR Newsletter Editor
Soror Barbara Joubert
SCR Newsletter Editor
Soror Patricia Webb
SCR Newsletter Editor-at-Large
Soror Erayne Hill
SCR Head Writer/Editor
Soror
Ariel Martin
Southern
Louisiana Golden Sorors
Phone: 555-555-5555
Fax: 555-555-5555
E-mail: someone@example.com
Your business tag line here.
Soror Conchetta White Fulton
South Central Representative to the Membership
Committee
We’re on the Web!
example.com
Soror Sheryl Rodriguez
2013 SC Regional Conference
General Chairman
&
Soror Lynn Farris
2013 SC Regional Conference
General Chairman
sorors are up for the
challenge!
to continue their progress.
Soror Sheryl Rodriguez, General Chairman
of the 2013 Regional
Conference and Soror
Farris,AllGeneral
The
room
was
on
SCR updates.
you
Clusters and Chapters are like our Lynn
is your smart phone
mini communities
withinSoror
the needCo-Chairman
of to the
fire with
photosRegional
or videos Conferand
South Central
region andWhite
our take2013
Conchetta
Regional Director wants to email your one paragraph
Fulton as she pre- ence provided updates of
to
irehighlight all gatherings and s t o r i e s
the planning of our upsented
Memberevents in each the
cluster.
The porter@akasouthcentral.or
conference.
ship Matters
portion
iAKA reporter
positions
are g. coming
for Sorors
would likeWith
to
Committees are hard at
of who
the agenda.
participate
in an interactive
her signature
hot pink work preparing for the
group without a major comhard hat, she reiterated best regional conference
mitment of being on a large
the goals
of the region South Central has ever
regional
committee.
Sorors of the
and organization for seen.
Sorors
can South
share stories
2014.
Centralandhas Southern Louisiana
info
often
as littleactive
as
Cluster already know
a as
goal
of or12,000
they want! Anyone can do it!
sorors by the 2014 Boule how excited everyone is
Just share your stories about
andhappened
we must
heavily
rely to come to New Orleans
what
at your
cluster
and the cluster plans to
on
achieving
this
goal
retreat or chapter events and itby
may
end
up
on
akasouthcenretention and reclama- make it an event they
tral.org,
Twitter,
tion. Facebook,
The region’s
suc- will not soon forget.
the Sensation newsletter or
cess is a part of our or- These sorors are so dediganization’s success in cated that immediately
achieving 100,000 active following cluster the
members by 2014. SLA steering committee met
The sorors of Rho Pi
Omega and Tau Iota
Omega creatively invited those in attendance
to the 2013 Cluster Conference in Slidell, Louisiana. The skit inspired
all the sorors of the
Southern Louisiana
Cluster by asking “Are
you in?” Sorors one by
one eagerly responded
“Yes, I’m in!” Rounding out the invitation was
a sassy strut by members
of those
chapters.
NE Texas
Cluster Re- It left
treat
Pinked
Staff
the cluster Inexcited
and
motivated to venture
down the road to Slidell,
Louisiana in 2013.
for this success was
creatively presented
with chapter representatives in aprons
and chef hats. Fun,
Back Page Storyfun,
Headline fun!
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SOUTHERN LOUISIANA CLUSTER
Over 2600 service hours were pledged
in support of our regional asthma
initiative pledge! Thanks for helping
our children breathe easier!
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Southern Louisiana Cluster’s
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Over 2600 service hours were pledged
in support of our regional asthma
initiative pledge! Thanks for helping
our children breathe easier!
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Southern Louisiana Cluster Social Media Report
iReporter Social Media Blogger-Soror Troave’ Profice

15 new “likes” due
to the coverage of
the South Louisiana
Cluster Conference.

40 up to the minute
posts and photos
on coverage of the
South Louisiana
Cluster Conference.
Pinked In…..S. LA Cluster Retreat

Posts covering the
South Louisiana
Cluster Conference
viewed a total of
9,845 times.
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SO R O R
CH E LLE & SO U T H E R N
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LO U I SI A N A
SO R O RS
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SO R O R
CH E LLE & SO U T H E R N
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LO U I SI A N A
SO R O RS
Page 17
SO R O R
CH E LLE & SO U T H E R N
Pinked In…..S. LA Cluster Retreat
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LO U I SI A N A
SO R O RS
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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 iAKA
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 smart phone to take photos or videos and email your
one paragraph stories to ireporter@akasouthcentral.org.
Soror Carisma Ramsey
SCR Information Officer
Soror Chandra Stacie
SCR Writer
Soror Jenine McClaney
SCR Newsletter Editor-in-Chief
Soror Aundrea Young
SCR Head Photographer
Soror Dawn Funches Allen
SCR Newsletter Editor
Soror Cambria Jones
SCR Social Media Chairman
Soror Barbara Joubert
SCR Newsletter Editor
Soror Tanya Hamilton
iAKA Photographer
Soror Patricia Webb
SCR Newsletter Editor-at-Large
Soror Troave’ Profice
iAKA Blogger
Soror Erayne Hill
SCR Head Writer/Editor
Soror Sheryl Rodriguez
iAKA Blogger
Soror Ariel Martin
SCR Head Writer/Editor
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