The
The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Leadership
Seminar held in Atlanta, Georgia on July 13 – 17,
2011, was fabulous! It was definitely well planned
and executed. Congratulations and “hats off” to
Supreme Basileus, Carolyn House Stewart, Soror
Bernice Ripley, Chairman, Internal Leadership
Training for External Service Committee and Soror
Deborah Dangerfield, Executive Director and the
Corporate Staff for an exemplary job! The 2011
Leadership Seminar represents the largest
attendance to date for this venue; three thousand
nine hundred sorors registered. The Great Lakes
Region was represented by 266 sorors who took
advantage of the outstanding workshops, health
forums, social activities and dining experience.
Additionally, wreaths were placed on the graves of
Founder, Soror Marjorie Woolfork Taylor and
Honorary Member, Soror Coretta Scott King. Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority left its imprint in Atlanta via
the aforementioned as well as the many service
projects accomplished and the donation of school
supplies. All in attendance were proud to be
members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Incorporated!
This edition, the fourth and last edition in this
volume is dedicated to our undergraduates.
The Great Lakes Region was represented by three
outstanding young women who were a part of the
2011 Summer Leadership Fellows.
Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
Congratulations to Sorors Avery Autry, Bethlehem
Terrefe and Effi Taylor! We are very proud of you
and I trust your experience will help you as you
move forward in your respective careers. We are
hopeful that the Great Lakes Region will be
represented by four or more sorors on the Winter
Leadership Fellows team. The application for 2011
Leadership Fellows is included in this newsletter
and can be found on the Great Lakes website.
Sorors, we have reached the season in Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, Incorporated where we experience
three consecutive months of meetings. Planning
and re-planning has gone on for a couple of
months and hostess chapters are ready to
accommodate you. Please mark your calendars and
plan on attending the upcoming Cluster
Conferences. I am sure the Cluster Conferences
will prove to be well planned and informative. As
always, fellowship among sorors and genuine
hospitality from the hostess chapters will be
apparent. I hope to see all of you there! More
information regarding the Cluster Conferences is
available on the Great Lakes website. Registration
is open and also available via the Great Lakes
website. There will be no on-site registration.
As always, thank you sorors for your commitment
to our beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. See
you soon!
Always Sisterly and @ Your Service
Soror Charlene
Charlene Truitt Nelson
Great Lakes Regional Director
15 Financial Exercises to Keep Your Chapter Fiscally Fit
Are you ready to get fiscally fit with the desire to get your chapter operations in better
shape? In that spirit, the International Standards Committee is shining a spotlight on standards
that will help keep your chapter’s finances in tip-top shape all year long. Our tips are taken
from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Fiscal Fitness Guide to Chapter Financial
Procedures, Revised November 2010 with reference pages noted. As Second Century Leaders
of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, ® we can strengthen our standards muscles by
doing 15 fiscal exercises designed to make our chapters financially SMART
(Strategic, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Transferable).
Ensure the following:
1. All officers who sign checks and handle
money are covered on a fidelity bonding
insurance for amounts equal to or greater
than the amount of money that flows through
all chapter bank account(s.) Chapters should
review their bonding coverage annually
[pg.15]
6. Chapter Finance Committee develops,
presents for adoption and ensures
compliance with a set of financial
procedures/guidelines that are based on the
sorority’s International Guide to Financial
Procedures. These procedures/guidelines are
reviewed annually and revised as necessary.
[pg.6]
2. Chapter fundraising and operation funds are
to be maintained in separate accounts. [pg.
15]
3. Chapters submit annually to the Corporate
Office the following reports: Budget (Report
#1); Statement of Financial Operations
(Report #2); and Questionnaire for Return of
Organization Exempt from Income Tax Form
990 (Report #2A) which are available on the
sorority's website www.aka1908.com .
[pg.19]
4. Chapter Tamiouchos and Pecunious
Grammateus must maintain monthly
financial records and provide the
chapter with monthly written (Financial)
Reports. [pg. 7]
5. Chapter Tamiouchos reconciles the bank
statements each month. [pg. 9]
7. Graduate Advisors are bonded for the
undergraduate chapter. [pg. 14]
8. Graduate Advisors countersign all
undergraduate chapter checks. [pg. 17]
9. Chapters conduct internal audits and ensure
external audits are also conducted. [pg. 16]
10. Chapter budgets are realistic. [pg. 12]
11. Disbursements are approved by two
different officers on a voucher. The
Tamiouchos must be an approver. [pg. 7]
12. No one officer is permitted to both receive
and distribute funds. [pg. 6]
13. More than one signature is required to issue
a check. [pg. 15]
2 Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
14. At least three officers should be authorized
to sign checks. [pg. 12]
15. Each chapter must pay to the Alpha Kappa Alpha corporate Office the annual chapter tax which
must be submitted with the first remittance of the per capita tax. [pg. 4]
Sorors, we are the Second Century Leaders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and financial
accountability is imperative. Together, with our documents in hand, we can achieve ultimate
fiscal fitness and continue our mission of “Global Leadership through Timeless Service!”
Soror Joyce Henderson, Chairman
Soror Margaret Evans, Co-chairman
Soror Regina Randall Peal, PhD
●
●
●
A STANDARDS REMINDER....the
2011 standards end of year report
submission will be due December 31,
2011. Signed reports go to three
places: the regional director, the
international standards committee
chairman, and the standards regional
representative.
●
3 Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
●
●
Soror Avery Autrey – University of Detroit
Soror Avery Autrey graduated from the University of Detroit
Mercy cum laude with her Bachelor of Science degree in Business
Administration, with a concentration in Finance and Marketing.
During her university career, she served in numerous leadership
positions for organizations including: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.,
Theta Tau chapter; Student Advisory Board for the College of Business
Administration, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Student Senate,
Student Programming Board, National Society of Black Engineers, and
Student Freshman Transition Leader. Because of her dedicated
community service, Soror Avery has been honored as: Most Dedicated
Member, outstanding Basileus, the UDM’s Phenomenal Woman’s Award, the Dean’s Award,
and most recently she gained membership into Beta Alpha Psi, The National Honor Society for
Financial Information Professionals, Alpha Xi Chapter. She is currently employed with Kraft
Foods as a sales representative. Soror Avery plans on continuing to work for Kraft Foods,
explore personal business ventures, spend time with her family, and transition to Alpha Rho
Omega Chapter.
Soror Effi Taylor – Denison University
Born in Silver Spring, MD and raised in Accra, Ghana since the age of
one, Soror Effi Taylor is a junior at Denison University majoring in
Economics. Her top five strengths (according to the Strength Finders
book) are focus, futuristic, responsibility, discipline and significance
and she has used these strengths to achieve many goals. Soror Effi
has been a very active student on campus. Some of her activities
include: campus housing Resident Assistant and Founder and
President of the African Student Global AIDS campaign. She
volunteers weekly with the Humane Society, Big Brothers/Big Sisters
as a lunch buddy and mentor, ESL program as an English and math
teacher, mental health awareness and Legal Aid. Her goal is to attend
law school to become an attorney. Soror Effi has been on the Dean’s List and Honor Roll at
Denison and has received several awards and scholarships; she currently holds a 3.459
cumulative GPA as an honor student. She was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in
2010 through Pi Gamma Chapter and currently serves as Basileus.
4 Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
Soror Bethlehem Terrefe – Miami University
Soror Bethlehem Tesfaye Terrefe is currently a senior at Miami University
majoring in Biochemistry, with a minor in nutrition. While on campus, she
has been a very active soror including: member of the Miami University
Gospel Singers, Women of Worship Ministries and the McKee Hall
Community Council. Soror Bethlehem became a member of Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, Inc. earlier this year and is the treasurer of the National
Pan-Hellenic Council. She has also been active in the community by
volunteering at the McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital in emergency and
inpatient services.
5 Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
Congratulations to the more than 3900
sorors who recognized that membership in
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
has its privileges by attending Leadership
Seminar 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. The
conference offered 106 informative
workshops, staffed by 145 knowledgeable
presenters and over 300 experienced
facilitators.
During the seminar, sorors could complete
23 hours of training scheduled during preconference workshops, special forums and
seven workshop time blocks, as well as,
take advantage of comprehensive, broad
and diverse topics that were current and
aligned with today’s program initiatives and
global issues.
It is our hope that sorors are energized and
prepared to move their chapters and
regions to the next level of leadership. In
the spirit of each one, teach one and sisterly
sharing, sorors who attended the
Leadership Seminar should maximize what
they learn and PASS ON THE KNOWLEDGE,
not only in words but by their actions both
internally and externally.
The Internal Leadership Training for External Service Committee encourages you to:




Use it, don’t lose it. Put what was learned at into practice. The 2011 Leadership Seminar provided a
wide variety of workshops that are critical for effective chapter operations, knowledge of our rituals
and sorority protocol, implementation of our program initiatives, continued sisterly relations and
improved interpersonal dynamics and communication skills.
Encourage sorors to take advantage of the learning opportunities. There are numerous opportunities
to complete workshops in order to receive a certificate of completion for the 2010-2014 Internal
Leadership Training Program. Details of the program are highlighted in the article, Cultivate the Leader
Within for Timeless Service, pages 22 - 23, in the Spring 2011 Ivy Leaf.
Transfer and apply your knowledge and skills. The advantage of our formal Internal Leadership
Training Program is to ensure we present a poised and knowledgeable presence externally. As you
collaborate with our organizational and community partners, do so with confidence received through
your Leadership 2011 experience.
Always be prepared. Leadership is focused on "learning" about Alpha Kappa Alpha, and as such,
sorors should make sure they have all necessary sorority documents with them when they attend
meetings.
For more information, comments or questions related to the 2010-2014 Internal Leadership Training Program,
feel free to contact: internalleadership@aka1908.com
Soror Bernice E. Ripley, Chairman
Internal Leadership Training for External Service Committee
8 Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
Delta Pi Charter Members (seated) surrounded by former members of Delta Pi Chapter.
Delta Pi Chapter, Celebrating 50th Anniversary
The 50th Anniversary celebration of Delta Pi Chapter (Akron, OH) was April 15-17, 2011. Delta Pi Chapter was
chartered by ten bright, beautiful young ladies on April 15, 1961 and five charter members were in
attendance, including: Sorors Joanne Arnold Robinson, Yvonne Cade Bronner, Patricia Dawson Lee, Shirley
Lewis and Marie Parms.
Friday’s event began with a fun-filled reception that included games, singing and dancing. On Saturday,
everyone was treated to a tour of the University of Akron and the evening highlight was “The Pink Carpet
Affair” gala. Sunday morning began with the sorority worshiping together and a reception.
It is with deep sorrow that we report that charter member Soror Joanne Arnold Robinson has passed since this
event.
Front Row Left - Right
Melonie Wright, Noree Wright, Candace
Thomas, Courtney Keith, India Kaczmarek (50th
Anniversary Chairman), Erin Robinson (Basileus),
Lauren Redding, Brittani Davis, Phylicia Johnson
and Jazmyn Primes
Back Row Left - Right
Chan'lle Johnson, Danielle Thomas
9 Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
We want to pay special attention to chapters/sorors who were incorrectly listed in the
Award winners section from Regional Conference listed in the previous Great Lakes Service
Express newsletter:
1. L. Pearl Mitchell for Outstanding Chapter (10 or fewer) was awarded to Delta Pi at the University of
Akron - 1st Place. (Overall GPA of 3.5 for entire year of 2010)
2. The Laura T. Lovelace/Outstanding Soror Award given to India Kaczmarek is from Delta Pi at the
University of Akron.
Mu Alpha Chapter Supports- Dow RunWalk- June 4, 2011
As part of the Health Initiative, Mu Alpha Omega Chapter helped to support the "Dow RunWalk" event at the
Midland Community Center; chapter members and Emerging Young Leaders helped at the refueling station
and the children activities area. Over 3000 runners/walkers and 300 volunteers participated.
10Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
Northern District of Ohio –
Swears in the First African-American Woman to Serve as a Bankruptcy Judge
Soror Jessica E. Price Smith was sworn in as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the
Northern District of Ohio. Soror Jessica is the first
African-American woman to serve as a Bankruptcy Judge
in the Northern District of Ohio and is one of only 9 sitting
African-American Bankruptcy Judges in the country. Prior
to her appointment to the bench, Soror Jessica was an
attorney with the law firm of Brouse McDowell, where
she became the first African-American partner in
the firms 91 year history. Soror Jessica is a 20 year
member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, initiated in
Lambda Mu Chapter at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio
and is currently a member of Alpha Omega Chapter in
Cleveland, Ohio. She currently serves on the Regional
Standards Committee, the Standards Evaluation Team Evaluators (SITE) and the Standards
Investigative Team.
11 Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
The Unforgettable, Unsung Sorors of the Civil Rights Movement Exhibit
Alpha Kappa Alpha will honor the lives of sorors who are a part of our African-American history with “The Unforgettable,
Unsung Sorors of the Civil Rights Movement” exhibit being developed by the International Archives Committee for the
2012 Boule. Each region will be represented in the physical exhibit and will have a segment in the interactive online
exhibit. The exhibit will capture major historical events from 1954 through 1965.
All Archives Committees are encouraged to review chapter scrap books and monthly newsletters and to consider setting
an oral history taping date to gather and record the chapter memories. Each chapter Archives Committee Chair is asked
to submit information about the timeless Civil Rights service of past and current Unsung Sorors. Material received will
be used by the committee and then donated to the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center in Howard University’s
Founders Library at the close of the exhibit.
Please submit your information together with consent forms, to your International Archives Committee regional
representative before monthly conference call meetings. Mark your calendars with these submission deadlines:
September 20th, October 20th and November 20th.
1. Name of Unsung Soror: _______________________________________________
2. The Unsung Soror was involved in the following chapters of AKA:
Undergraduate Chapter (name; university; location):_________________________
Graduate Chapters (name; location): _____________________________________
3. A short biography of the Unsung Soror is attached.
4. A brief description of the Unsung Soror’s contribution(s) to the Civil Rights Movement is attached.
5. The Unsung Soror was an active participant in the following equal pay, human rights and social justice lawsuits and
initiatives. Attach information.
6. Is the Unsung Soror still living? If so, please provide contact information for her. If not, is there a family member who can
be contacted for further information? Please provide name, address, phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
7. Please identify and/or provide dated documentation.
 Newspaper articles
 Magazine articles
 Published writings
 Unpublished manuscripts
 Video
 Posters
 Tapes
 Oral History
 Programs
 Correspondence
 Speeches
 Banners
 Ivy Leaf articles and announcements
 Photograph of Unsung Soror (historic and/or
contemporary)
 Photograph(s) of Unsung Soror at events
 Event invitations
12 Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
2011 Leadership Seminar Atlanta, Georgia
15-17
Tuesday
7/14/2011
#2 Pencils
Black & Blue Pens
Colored Pencils
Crayons
Highlighters
Markers
Compass & Protractor
Glue Sticks
Index Cards
Ruler
Scissors
Composition Notebooks
Loose- Leaf Paper
Wednesday
7/15/2011
Clear Sheet Protectors
Dividers with Tabs
Pocket Folders with prongs
Thermal Laminating Pouch
Three Ring Binders
To-Date
Thursday
TOTALS
TOTAL
COLLECTION
4568
12368
27,782
2344
30,126
2814
366
5854
9,034
1704
10,738
3227
1204
3118
7,549
832
8,381
5419
544
12352
18,315
1184
19,499
484
232
1560
2,276
138
2,414
1700
161
3220
5,081
680
5,761
107
16
95
218
39
257
530
147
697
1,374
354
1,728
8200
8236
1845
18,281
7750
26,031
255
89
141
485
199
684
140
22
101
263
47
310
221
38
434
693
181
874
48060
11805
61014
120,879
20399
141,278
175
496
671
232
903
9860
500
10,360
144
10,504
477
796
1,273
450
1,723
310
16
152
478
126
604
490
275
1096
1,861
471
2,332
2
4
6
32
38
352
1,008
41
1,049
500
500
146
646
0
146
146
0
39
39
0
24
24
228,387
37,702
266,089
656
Pocket Folders w/o prongs
Erasers
Calculators
Sanitizers
TOTALS
Friday
7/17/2011
10846
Spiral Notebooks
5 Tab Manila Folders
Thursday
7/16/2011
July13-17
93,798
27,898
13 Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
106,691
14 Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4
Great Lakes SERVICE EXPRESs, Volume 1, Issue 4