DELTA SIGMA delta sigma theta sorority, inc. THETA SORORITY, INC.
Houston metropolitan alumnae chapter
September 2009 Volume XX Issue 36
“INTELLIGENCE IS THE TORCH OF WISDOM”
PRESIDENT ’ S PERSPECTIVE Greeting Sorors, It has been a short and extremely hot summer and we find ourselves on the eve of a new Sorority year with much work to do. With this in mind, I thank each and every one of you for the awesome work that you do and will continue to do. I want to give a special thanks to the committees that have been working diligently throughout the summer break (July and August) in the name of Delta.
SEPTEMBER SORORITY
MEETINGS Our Chapter Retreat was held August 1st, in which we were charged to “Remember the 22,” our Sacred Vow and the meaning of “COMMITMENT”. Other highlights of the weekend activities included on the EXECUTIVE BOARD agenda were workshops that covered the following topics: “Taking Care of Delta/HMAC’s Business” MEETING where we reviewed Program Planning and Development; Financial Fortitude, Robert Rules of Order, Tuesday Rituals, Ceremonies and Protocol, visited our Web-site at www.hmacdst.org to discuss its layout and September 8, 2009 ways in which we could improve and better communicate information to the sisterhood and the commu6 p.m. nity. On the lighter side, “TEAM HMAC,” set out to invigorate and renew our TEAM spirit and taught us 5441 Trafalgar our very own “HMAC Strut.” I am delighted to report that Sorors who were in attendance gave the Retreat an excellent evaluation, and we sit poised to make the year and the next retreat bigger and better thanks to you! Most recently, HMAC Sorors blazed the 42nd Regional Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, where we were represented well with over sixty members present and making history that we should all be proud of: Soror Jacquelyn A. Blossom, Elected Chair of Regional Nominating Committee.
HOSTESSES Chair: Fraulyn Baisey Co-Chair: Jacquelyn Blossom Lisa Baldwin-Andrews, Deatra Bennett, LaShandra Boddy, Barbara Branch
Also during the Conference, our National President, Soror Cynthia M. A. Butler-McIntrye, greeted us as we gathered in the name of sisterhood, scholarship and service guided by the biennial theme: “Delta Sigma Theta-A Sisterhood Called to Serve: Transforming Lives, Impacting Communities.” With these marching orders, our committees are busy planning our programs/projects/events for the year focusing on our Five-Point Programmatic Thrust and National Initiatives. With your support, talent, leadership abilities, and a servant’s heart, I know HMAC can make a positive impact on our community. I am CHAPTER MEETING counting on each of you to make a commitment, remember the “Good Times” and say, “I’ll Be There” for Saturday HMAC. September 12, 2009 10 a.m. Welcome Back TEAM HMAC! 5441 Trafalgar Yours In Delta, Pam Cashaw “Together Everyone Achieves More for HMAC"
TIME MANAGEMENT ALERT!!!
HOSTESSES
Sorors, it is imperative that our meetings start on time! Chapter Officers should arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. Chair: Stephanie Adams Hostess Committee should arrive by 9 a.m. for set up. Dues will be collected beginning at 9:30 a.m. Door prize Co-Chair: Joan Batie, tickets will not be distributed once the meeting has begun. Remember my sisters, in order for us to adjourn early, Ruby Adams, Jennifer Agnew, LaDonna Alex-Wynn, Donica Arnold, we must start on time.
BUSINESS ATTIRE - ALL WHITE FOR CHAPTER OPENING - “NO PANTS”
Katrice Baisey-Galloway, Lavern Battle, Keesha Bone-Smith
2
the TORCH
Committee Communications MEMBERSHIP CORNER Delta Dears! If you have recently joined this “exclusive” group of Delta women, please contact me so that I may add you to the list. We will be preparing a new directory, so please update all of your information. The pictures for the directory will be taken Saturday, October 10, 2009, 9:00 A.M., Metropolitan Place. More information regarding the Chapter Directory, picture cost and attire will be provided during September's Sorority meeting. During the month of September, let us be reminded of our illustrious Jewel, “Compassion.” Become a Mentor to a Delta Dear or a Newly Initiated Soror or a Reclaimed Soror. Journal Entry: Write about a time a Soror showed you compassion and describe how it made you feel. Practice acts of Compassion in the community. Sorors, the 2009-2010 membership stickers are available. The Membership Services Committee welcomes your creative ideas/suggestions relative to obtaining our goals/objectives. Chair, Shirley M. Johnson. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE “FASHION SHOW” HMAC On The Roll - This is How We Do It... Tickets for the Fashion Show will be available at the September Executive Board and the September Chapter meetings. Tickets are $50.00 each. For more information, please contact Chair, Terri Lynch. Location: Reliant Crowne Plaza Hotel Date: November 22, 2009 Time: 2:00 PM
BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE HMAC dues are still being accepted for the 2009/10 sorority year and should be submitted to the Financial Secretary. If you have any questions, contact Soror Tracee Fletcher via email at treasurer1@hmacdst.org. NOTE: Mailed payments should be addressed to HMAC, P. O. Box 56108, Houston, Texas 77256. Life Members $240 Regular Members Reinstating $355 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UNCF COMMITTEE The UNCF Annual Walk-a-thon will be held Saturday, September 19, 2009 at Tom Bass Park. The walk will begin at 7:30 AM. All participants will meet at the starting line at 7:15 AM. All monies collected for the walk will be turned into the sorority, and the sorority will submit a check on behalf of HMAC. After the walk, Sorors will meet-up at the Halliburton tent to eat and take pictures. For additional information, please contact Soror Victoria Lackey at 713.728.3712. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DELTA YOUTH-ACADEMY COMMITTEE Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy’s theme is “Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow, Preparing Young Women for the 21st Century.” Our symbol is the Dream Catcher, aimed to allow only good dreams to pass through the center of the dream hoop. Our primary goal is to prepare young girls for full participation as leaders in the 21st century through enriched and enhanced opportunities in literacy, math, science and technology. Won’t you join us in September, our recruitment month, in trying to provide these opportunities for our future leaders? For more information, please contact Chair, Gloria Hays.
the TORCH
3
Committee Communications PROGRAM PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
DEBUTANTE BALL COMMITTEE
PPD Officer met on August 25th with Committee Chairs & Co-Chairs to discuss the plans needed to implement the Chapter programs. Each committee Chair is asked to submit the following information: • Programs/projects/events that are based on Programmatic Thrust and National Initiatives. • Each program’s goals and objectives. • Evaluation after each event. • Annual calendar of programs/projects and events on or before September 25, 2009, by e-mail to lbandrews04@sbcglobal.net. Also, Soror Cashaw is requesting PPD and our Historian to work closely with all committees to ensure that we capture/document all major events in efforts for us to present our progress at year end as part of our May Week Celebration, Conventions and for our archives. Sorors, thanks for your support and I look forward to having a great year of programs that are worthy to be acknowledged at the National Convention in New Orleans. If you any have questions, feel free to contact Soror Lisa Baldwin-Andrews via email or at 832.607.0338.
Sorors, the 2009-2010 Debutante Ball Season is officially open. The qualifications are as follows: Graduating high school seniors for the 2010 school year or college freshmen, sophomores and juniors. The next parents’ meeting will be immediately after our September 12th Chapter meeting which starts at 1:30 PM. For more information, contact Chair, Shaundra Simmons.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SCHOOL AMERICA COMMITTEE The School America Committee will be visiting the Ronald McDonald House at Texas Children's Hospital on October 10, 2009. The purpose is to read books and participate in a few activities with the cancer patients. The School America Committee is in need of donations to make this visit a success. We will be collecting items at the September and October Meetings. The items are as follows: New coloring books, new or gently used books, magazines, travel size toiletries, Xerox paper, disinfecting items, and individually packaged breakfast snacks. Your participation is greatly appreciated. For additional information, contact Chair, LaShandra Boddy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CHAPLAIN’S CORNER FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE Build your life upon the principles of Faith, Hope, and Love… They will guide you and keep you on the right path. Mary Kaye Childs-Henry, Chaplain ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PHYSICAL & MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE Physical and Mental Health will focus its efforts on three initiatives and provide you with a monthly challenge. September 2009 Challenges are as follows: 1. Lose to win! Family healthy lifestyle weight and nutrition challenge - replace beverages with water. 2. Catching, Coping and Conquering - to raise awareness on the impact that chronic disease has on the Black Community! Go get a health screen. 3. My Cry in the Dark - to dispel the negative stigma associated with mental health disorders. Schedule 24 minutes of self meditation daily. Sorors be encouraged to record your achievements and report your progress to Sandra Green, Chair of Physical and Mental Health.
4
the TORCH
Committee Communications “CONGRATULATIONS”
FROM THE RECORDING SECRETARY...
To the “Back-in-Stride Again” Campaign Committee and HMAC Members for their support to elect our very own Soror Jacquelyn A. Blossom for the position of Chair, Regional Nominating Committee. Your hard work, donations and support truly paid off! HMAC is full of great leaders.
Committee Chairs, if you are scheduled on the Executive Board agenda, this is a reminder to please provide me with a written/typed copy of your committee report minutes immediately after you have given your report at each E-Board meeting. For more information, contact Donna Scott at recordsec@hmacdst.org.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COMMITTEE SIGN-UP Committee sign-up forms are available for those who didn’t get the opportunity to select a committee(s) in June or August. The form will be available at the September Executive Board and the September Chapter meetings.
Southwest Regional Officers 2009-2011 Southwest Regional Director Soror Mae Frances Rowlett Southwest Regional Representative Soror Charesse Woods Chair, Regional Nominating Committee Soror Jacquelyn A. Blossom Members, Regional Nominating Committee Soror Sylvia Jo Burley Goff Soror Andrea Dennis Member, National Nominating Committee Soror Crystal Barker Member, National Scholarship & Standards Committee Soror Karen Dourseau
Please fill out the form completely so that we are able to update your contact information. Indicate which committee(s) you are interested in serving on. Forms may be turned in during September meetings or you may mail them to: HMAC PO Box 56108 Houston, TX 77256-6108
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE Sorors we are being eco friendly! If you are interested in receiving your newsletter via email, please inform ReShane Dawn-Fowler csecretary@hmacdst.org or Pamela Cashaw president@hmacdst.org.
3 Help us reduce the impact on the environment. Please verify your e-mail address so that you can receive our chapter notices / newsletters electronically. Help us save trees!
SPECIAL NEWS POLITICAL AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT Troy Anthony Davis is an Africian American man who has spent the last 18 years on death row for a murder he did not commit. There is no physical evidence tying him to the crime, and seven out of nine witnessess have recanted. New evidence and new testimony have been presented to the Georgia courts, but the justice system refuses to consider the evidence,
which would prove Troy Davis innocent once and for all. The NAACP is supporting this cause. To read more about this case, visit www.iamtroy.com
these debates have their place, by themselves they prove woefully inadequate when making policy decisions.
Debates about the death penalty often take place in the abstract: is the state justified in depriving life from someone who has robbed it from someone else? Though
DO YOU REMEMBER Which month was the statue of Soror Barbara Jordon unveiled on the University of Texas campus? a.) February b.) March c.) April d.) none of the above
MR. PRESIDENT
PHYSICAL & MENTAL HEALTH
What do you know about President Barack Obama? Test your knowledge:
Perimenopause? I am experiencing what? Find out more about how Perimenopause may be affecting you.... www.bodylogicmd.com/for-women/perimenopause
http://wusatv9.gns.gannettonline.com/ apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090115/ OBAMAINAUGURATION05/90107008/-1/OBAMAINAUGURATION
ANSWERS IN NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE
6
the TORCH
Just a Reminder... SORORS IN PRAYER Shirlaine George - hospital Shirley Johnson - loss of Aunt Orlesia Jones - loss of husband Jan Matthews – shoulder surgery Audrey Pearsall - illness Zerline Prater - illness at home Opal White - back surgery
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEPTEMBER SORORS Karen Bledsoe, Cheryl Branch-Hancock, Pamela Broady, Tomira Eason, Maureen Gordon, Sandra Green, April Inman, Cheryl Jones, Victoria Lackey, Grace Macklin, Mildred Solomon, Darlyne Washington Whelan, Valeresa White, Ynolia Tramble
HMAC AT-A-GLANCE September 2009 09.08.09 Executive Board Meeting @ 6 p.m. 09.12.09 General Chapter Meeting @ 10 a.m. October 2009 10.05.09 Executive Board Meeting @ 6 p.m. 10.10.09 General Chapter Meeting @ 10 a.m.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT… "Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness." Martin Luther King, Jr.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “ If He doesn’t do anything else, He’s already done enough! Blessings are mine in 2009.” ~Anonymous
The TORCH Houston Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter Post Office Box 56108 Houston, Texas 77256-6108 www.hmacdst.org
Monthly Publication of Houston Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. STAFF ReShane Dawn-Fowler Chair layout/typesetting Rochelle Moore Co-Chair layout/typesetting Contributing Editors Lisa Baldwin-Andrews LaShandra Boddy Jamiee Cashaw Mary Childs-Henry Tracee Fletcher Sandra Green Gloria Hays Cynthia Humphrey Shirley Johnson Victoria Lackey Terri Lynch Donna Scott Shaundra Simmons Karolyn Williams