Lto october 2016 newsletter

October 2016

Volume I Issue 8

Greetings Sorors,

As it relates to End of the Year Reporting, leaders required to sub-

mit reports include: Basileus, Anti-Basileus / Program Chairman, The last two months of the year are action packed. I hope that the Tamiouchos, Grammateus, Standards Chairman, Membership information provided in this article will be helpful to you as you Chairman, Archives Chairman/Historian, Technology Chairman, prepare for LTO Chapter Business including End Of the Year Re-

and Connection Chairman. In the folder provided to leaders at the

porting.

July 25, 2016 “A Conversation With Your Basileus,” information

In November we should anticipate the following:

was provided relating to the 10 reports to be submitted as part of the End of the Year Reporting, the process for filing reports to the

Chapter Self - Evaluation

Corporate Office electronically and to the Central Regional Direc-

Chapter Elections

tor via Dropbox. Lastly, the Officer(s) responsible for filing each

Chapter Budget Approval

report is/are listed. I hope that you enjoy this newsletter as much

Chapter Program Adoption

as we have enjoyed bringing it to you.

Strategic Plan Adoption In December: Fiscal Year Ends Installation of Chapter Officers TPF Elections Chapter Transition Meeting END OF THE YEAR REPORTING

Sisterly, Soror Barbara,s Basileus president@ltoaka.org

“Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about”

As we prepare for chapter elections, keep in mind the characteristics of a second century leader described in our document, “So

In This Issue:

Page

trustworthy, honest and candid. The document further describes

Spiritual Oversight

2

what a leader must do to establish and maintain a culture of trust.

Golden Soror Brunch

3

A leader must:

Pearls of Wisdom

4

So You Want to Run for Office

5

Now You Are Elected.” Second Century Leaders have integrity, are

Lead by example, seek first to understand then to be understood;

Connection

6

focus on the issue and interest related to it, not the individual;

Voter Forum

7

keep all players strong---commit to the success of all team mem-

Membership/Mentoring

8

bers; maintain positive relationships by eliminating fear; being

Quiet Giant

9-11

honest when asked for an opinion; valuing the people with whom

Cotillion Informational Tea

12

you disagree; take the initiative to make things better and clarify

AKAKLASSIC

13

goals, roles and processes.

Lincoln-Gavin School 100 Backpacks

14

AKAversaries

15 1

Upcoming Events

16

“When all members understand and share the same goals, high performance is much more likely.”

Spiritual Oversight Committee Follow The Leader

Scripture for meditation Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

You are blessed, because you see with your eyes and hear with your ears. Matthew 13:16 Turning to the disciples (Jesus) said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!”

Luke 10:23 Several years ago, an advertisement showed a symphony orchestra with the eyes of every musician focused on the conductor. No one was looking anywhere else. The captions on the advertise-

What is your example in leadership?

ment said: “The eternal importance of a leader.”

The advertising company was selling a series of

Pray for:

book on management and wanted to make an

Soror Joyce Duke who is healing from surgery

impression about the importance of leadership.

Soror Darcell Dieudonne & family on the loss of her

Your quite time with God helps you to keep your

cousin

eyes on Jesus. You can see more clearly in him

2015 Miss Prominent Pearl, Alicia Dieudonne

your call and your purpose. You can take from

Soror Toni Austin-Johnson & family on the loss of her

him cues and signs that direct you to God’s will

brother

for your life. Jesus is your leader. Follow him

Soror Audrey McFarlin on the loss of her mother-in-law

closely. When your eyes are on Jesus, you know where to go and what to do. On the same note, we must also yield to earthly authority, focusing on what God says about leadership.

Tina Hughes-Burke Spiritual Oversite Committee, Chairman

2

3

Pearls of Wisdom An Officer and a Soror

Only the strong survive. Are you strong? Are you Army strong? Examine yourself right now. You’re in

Leadership takes time to develop just like the

the sorority now. Are you a private (neophyte)

growth of a plant. To become an effective leader

ready to move on to a corporal (prophyte)? Are you

consider yourself as a seed. You must have the right IVY strong? Are you ready to move from sergeant conditions (desire & mentors) in order to grow,

(Anti-Basileus) to major (Basileus)?

learn, and produce. Growth is not an overnight process. It takes time to develop roots in the organiza-

Take your pearls from their hiding place, polish them

tion in which you would like to become an officer.

up, and prepare them for inspection. It’s show time. You are in full bloom. Go for it. Become a

In order to achieve success as an officer, you should committee chairman or an officer. The pay is more commit to lifelong learning, skill building, and team building. Weeds grow with the plant in the same

than twenty pearls per hour.

Keep blooming!

sun, dance with them in the same rain, and share the same dirt, however, weeds are foolers!!! You may think they are team builders. Effective leaders survive because they grow in the midst of weeds

Soror Toni L. Austin-Johnson Leadership Committee

and they are not choked out by the enemy nor devoured by the snakes in the grass. Effective leaders commit to lifelong learning by preparing themselves (attending Boules, Leaderships, Regional Conferences, Retreats, and Webinars.) Effective leaders encourage themselves daily by saying, “I am going to take the challenge to be an officer and I will survive”.

4

“So You Want To Run for Office�

This workshop was presented on Saturday, September 10, 2016 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Southland School. The main focus was to discuss the duties and responsibilities of each outgoing officer.

The offices up for election this year are: Grammateus, Anti-Grammateus, Hodegos, Ivy leaf Reporter, Membership Chairman, and Graduate Advisor. The five members of the Nominating Committee are elected each year. The duties/responsibilities of each officer can be found in Lambda Tau Omega Chapter By-laws, Article IV-Officers, pages 2-8.

Sorors in attendance felt that the information presented was valuable. A special thanks to all sorors making a presentation: Sorors Carol Sharp, Toni Austin-Johnson, Krista Butler, Toni Grayer, and Paris Winston.

Soror Jeanette W. Rogers, Chairman Soror Rose Butler-Hayes, Co-Chairman

Leadership Development Committee

5

Jerry D. Bridges, Connection Committee Chairman

September 2016, was a busy yet productive Connection Committee month.

September 1st, in collaboration with the League of Women Voters, we hosted a voter registration drive at Rich Central High school. We registered 32 new voters.

September 14th, we participated in the League of Women Voters Park Forest Area Potluck Supper.

September 15th, we hosted a voter registration drive at Southland. We registered 8 new voters.

September 26th, the Connection Committee partnered with the Sisterly Relations Committee and hosted a Clinton-Trump Debate Watch Party at the home of Soror Drella Savage.

And September 27th, we participated in National Voter Registration Day and hosted a Voter Registration Drive at Prairie State College.

Special thanks to the phenomenal Connection Committee for laboring and persevering through the extraordinary month of September. In particular, Sorors Ethel Brown, Ellen Douglas, Sandra Perkins-Butler, Jan Reed-Rankins, Carol Sharp, Jackie Young, Jeanette W. Rogers, Darcelle Dieudonne, Tammy Guyton, Marva Campbell-Pruitt, and Lynda Tarver. Special thanks to Soror Drel-

la Savage for welcoming us into her beautiful home and hosting our fantastically successful Debate Watch Party. Special thanks also to Soror ChaVale Conner and her Sisterly Relations Committee for volunteering to serve as Debate Watch Party Hostesses.

They were exceptional hostesses. A special thanks to Soror Alicia Dowell for facilitating our Rich Central voter registration drive.

Special thanks also to our LTO sorors who supported our Debate Watch Party with their presence

Oct. 11- Last day to register to vote Oct. 12- First day of grace period registration and voting Oct. 24- First day of early voting Nov. 3 - Last day mail ballot applications accepted Nov. 7 - Last day of early voting Nov. 7 - Last day of grace period registration and voting Nov. 8 - Last day mail ballots can be postmarked Nov. 8 - Election Day

6

7

Soror Judy Rush, Membership Chairman

8

It all started October 21,1948, Ruby E. Roberson, the youngest of three girls was born to Hattie & Wilbert E. Roberson on October 21, 1948. I never went to kindergarten because I preferred to be at home watching Ding Dong School w/Ms. Frances Hororwitz. It’s ironic that our first home was in Englewood, directly across the street from Lewis Champlain Elementary. But the first and only tantrum I was allowed to have, occurred during the first week that mother tried to make me go to kindergarten. The kind teacher said, “Don’t force her”.

My real education began at St. Martin Catholic School on 59th & Princeton. I was baptized and made my first communion there. I attended St. Martin’s through 7th grade. Anyone familiar with the parish knows that the church had a gold statue of St. Martin and a horse and beggar, on the top of the steeple. It was a magnificent church.

Upon completion of 7th grade, our family moved to 87th & Dauphin in Chatham, where I attended and graduated from 8th grade at St

Francis de Paula Catholic School in 1962.

Following graduation from elementary school, I enrolled in The Academy of our Lady Catholic High on 95th & Throop.

My dream after high school was to study to become a teacher. So of course, I enrolled in Chicago Teachers College, which is now known as Chicago State University. Well, after being with all girls for four years, boys were now really looking at me and I was looking back. Unfortunately, that meant that my grades suffered greatly. So, the school said, go home. Don’t call us and we won’t call you.

Those of you who are mothers know what came next. You’re right, my mother was not going to have me sitting around doing nothing, so I had to get a job. I wasn’t making much money and knew I had to do something else.. I began to research colleges and universities. My dad had left the day before I started high school and returned to Texas, his original home. Before I knew it, my mother had enrolled me at Texas Southern University in Houston where daddy lived. I enjoyed Houston and Texas Southern. Campus life was a good time. I arrived on campus in the summer of 1968. It was so exciting to be a college student again and to be on my own. Or so I thought. Keep in mind, I’m the youngest. Academically I did well, but I was home sick. So, at the end of every semester, I would call home crying that I wanted to come home. My mother, being the dynamic forward thinking woman that she is would always say “...come on home baby. Just think what you’ve done so far and you have that behind you”. For some reason, that would always make me want to stay; and I did for two years. In the spring of 1969 I took a chance and attended what was then known as a “rush” party for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gamma Psi Chapter.

Those Alpha Kappa Alpha women were “all that” on campus. In the spring of 1969 I became an Ivy. OMG, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. AKA’s ruled the campus at TSU and I was on my way to becoming one, I contend to this day that “pledging” was one of the most dynamic experiences I’ve ever had in life. Nothing inappropriately physical was done to us. However, we were mentally challenged on a daily basis. We were taught how to work together even if we didn’t care for someone. We were made to9 know that

you made sure that your sisters were always covered by picking up the slack if you had to. If one didn’t know something, no one knew it. Because, you couldn’t let your sister look bad by appearing smarter than she was.

There were 21 of us on line. Nineteen are still living and two are Ivies Beyond the Wall. Times have changed drastically since then. We began our “intake” process in May of 1969 and had NO idea if/when it would end. On the day that we were being pinned, we were made to believe that we were still on the journey. The destination was reached on December 12, 1969. I was officially a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc.

I left TSU at the end of the 1969-70 school year. Home sickness finally caught up with me. I transferred to Western Illinois University. When I arrived at WIU in August 1970, there were no other undergraduate AKAs, only me. Again, college campus life was grand. I was told that I was in the library studying when someone made me aware that there was an interest group

known as TIAKA. (Those Interested In AKA). I was wearing an AKA t-shirt which made them know that an undergraduate AKA was on campus. I can’t say that I remember what happened next other than it was the true beginning of the journey to becoming a charter member of an undergraduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

In February, 1971, Zeta Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. was chartered with thirteen members and yours truly serving as the first Basileus. Having been a member of the sorority since December 1969, this was a real adventure for 10me.

I completed my studies at Western Illinois University, receiving my Bachelors Degree in December 1972. Zeta Iota celebrated 45 years during homecoming weekend Oct. 7-9, 2016. It was glorious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ZETA IOTA 45-The Ultimate Weekend October 7-9, 2016

After leaving WIU, I earned a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Erikson Institute.of Loyola University of Chicago in 1976, while working as a day care teacher.

I began employment with Chicago Public Schools as an elementary school teacher , reading specialist and assistant principal.

While at CPS, I earned a second Masters Degree in Educational Administration from Governors State University in 1995.

Aer CPS., my first principal position was in Hazel Crest School District 152.5 at Ralph Bunche School, 1996-98. While in District 152.5, I began work on a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Loyola University of Chicago. That degree was awarded in 1999.

In 1998 I became principal of Franklin Elementary School in Dolton West School District 148. I became Superintendent in that same district in 2006 I retired from the educational system in August 2008.

After retirement, I worked for the Success For All Foundation training teachers in Guam , Hawaii, Nevada and Washington

State. The long distance travel become a bit overwhelming after making trips across the ocean back to back to back.

Finally, I grounded myself to enjoy the life of a retiree. My time is now spent going to the gym three times a week, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and enjoying time with friends and an 88lb canine companion.

11

12

13

Lincoln-Gavin Backpack Donation of 100 Backpacks October 6, 2016

14

october 2016 HODEGOS REPORT

hAPPY AKAVERSARY

Soror Krista Butler Hodegos

Soror Ellen Douglass

October 18, 1987

Soror Melody Ferguson

October 29, 1989

Soror Roshaunda Ross

October 29, 2000

Soror Chavale Connor

October 30, 2011

15

Oct. 30th: A Gospel & Jazz Brunch, The Serbian Social Center, 18550 Stony Island Ave. Lansing, Il 60438

Nov 8th: National Election Day Nov 12th: Chapter Voting Dec 10th: TPF Voting/Installation of all officers Jan. 28th: Joint Founders Day Luncheon, Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Newsletter submissions are due to the Basileus on the first Monday of each month. The November newsletter submissions must be in by November, 7, 2016.

Please send all submissions to: president@ltoaka.org.

Be sure to Cc Soror Ruby Roberson at ruby.roberson@sbcglobal.net.

Next month, featured articles will include: Quiet Giant

Many Hearts Beating as One

16