The Pearl Gazette | May 2022 Edition

71 DYNAMIC WOMEN...NOW MEMBERS OF Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated

GAMMA THETA OMEGA CHAPTER

ISSUE 5 | MAY 2022

A GLANCE INSIDE THIS EDITION

BASILEUS NEWS

1ST ANTI-BASILEUS

2ND ANTI-BASILEUS

COMMITTEE NEWS

HISTORY COMMITTEE

MEMBERSHIP

COVER STORY

SISTERLY RELATIONS

SORORS ON THE MOVE

PROGRAMS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 And, in this season, we are growing. This growth is evident by our 71 new members. Again, welcome to our illustrious Sisterhood. And now, you are a part of our storied history. With this new growth we will increase our footprints of service in the Tampa Bay community. We will do more, care more and serve more. We will . . . Go Greater as we lockstep together and fulﬁll our commitment to service.

As Alpha Kappa Alpha Women we are called to a higher standard - one of service excellence and not mediocrity. We are expected to lead with passion and dutifully follow with a sense of urgency. It is our responsibility to increase our awareness of social issues and concerns and seek to rid our community of social ills within our power to do so. Sorors, I encourage you to support necessary change that aligns with our mission, aims and objectives.

1. Is knowledgeable of her documents

Sorors, I remind you to be the member that:

2. Attends meetings and conferences

3. Participate in Chapter events and

4. Is a lifelong learner

5. Obtain specialized certiﬁcations

6. Timely meets all ﬁnancial obligations

7. Serve to make a difference

8. Care more than is necessary

9. Sign up and work on Chapter

and publications programs committees

10. Practice random acts of kindness

I believe that one woman with courage can change the world, Katherine Johnson did. I believe a Chapter of likeminded College Trained women coming together on one accord can change the trajectory of many more lives than we could begin to know. I’m encouraging each of you to commit to intentional service that causes Gamma Theta Omega to continue to be a beacon of light in all that is good and right with our community.

Serving to make a difference, as we Go Greater – Together!

A MESSAGE FROM THE BASILEUS

Basileus, Gamma Theta Omega Chapter

Soror Tangela D. DuPree

TANGELA D. DUPREE

BASILEUS

MONIQUE SMITH-SLATER

First Anti-Basileus SERVICE IS OUR Foundation Foundation

Greetings Sorors!

We serve with passion! May is a month full of opportunities to engage, educate yourself, take care of your mental health and advocate on behalf of others. This May, GTO will be highlighting several workshops focusing on equipping others with the knowledge, skills, and access to such topics as ﬁscal ﬁtness for those of all ages.

We strive to make a difference in our community . We have encouraged Sorors to patronize black businesses and entrepreneurship. We have provided workshops and community awareness on building your economic legacy through ﬁnancial literacy and homeownership.

Sorors have tutored students on reading and spelling. Our goal has been to improve the student’s reading skills while making it enjoyable. Giving back and assisting others is the basis of community service. The Community Service Committee and hostess groups began this week by packaging nonperishable food items that will be distributed on the last day of school for elementary school students.

The Committee packaged over 600 bags for the students to take home for the summer break. The importance of service lies in how it connects us to the community by improving it and making it a better place. Our efforts are not in vain.

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES FOR JUNE

June 4: Adopt-a-Road Cleanup

Global Impact Pen Pal Program-ongoing

June 18: Health Committee Participates in Health Fair

June 19: Gonzmart Foundation Walk

Look for ﬂyers for details in the Tea Rose

Weekly eblast for all programming activities and events. You are encouraged to invite non-members to our public events. And please share our upcoming public events on your social media pages and in your social circles. Make sure to use the applicable “#” for each activity.

Let’s continue to have Service with a Heart, Service with Passion, and Service with a Purpose!

Soror Monique Smith Slater Anti-Basileus/Programs Chairman

MERVELLE A. SAGE

Second Anti-Basileus

Greetings Sorors!

It’s May already can you believe it? What is most important to note that we are in the prime leg of scholarship season. Students are wrapping up their classes, deciding on their ﬁnal school choice, and applying for any other scholarships they can. So why should we continue to keep scholarships to the forefront of our community efforts? I will share with you this month the why.

8 Things to Know About

Scholarships

1. There are over 1 million scholarships available to students every year — with a signiﬁcant percentage of them going unclaimed. The same goes for federal and state ﬁnancial aid – where more than $130 billion dollars is dispersed every year. Eligible students are not taking the time to apply.

2. Colleges and Universities provide the largest number of scholarships for the students that attend their schools but do not overlook small and large businesses and special interest organizations such as us.

3. The most prestigious, competitive, highly ranked colleges do not provide any merit-based scholarships and private colleges give out the most money.

4. You don’t have to have perfect test scores or straight A’s. There are many scholarships for various activities and talents. Many categories to investigate just do your research.

5. On average, 67% of scholarship applicants are female. We need that number to grow. We also need to encourage our young men to apply. Promoting #CAP will be the best bet and that committee is doing an amazing job!

6. 42% of scholarships can’t be found searching Google due to the antiquated way so many scholarships are set up on charity or foundation websites.

7. Timing is everything! Make sure you review everything in scholarship requirement package. Submit complete applications early.

8. Make sure understand the difference between scholarships, grants, and loans. Try to apply primarily for Scholarships and grants. Although they may have certain criteria once you follow their guidelines you will not have to pay them back.

Do you have a highschooler? Make sure that you start early and do your research. Seek out community programs such as our #CAP program for help and apply for everything!

Scholarship Committee Updates

GTO Inaugural Poetry Jam

Friday, June 3, 2022, at 8:00p.m. via Zoom

We are partnering with the Arts committee and the event cost is $20. Please see the Tea Rose and our social media pages for registration information.

Miss Teenage Tampa Scholarship

Pageant: Awaiting Corporate Ofﬁce

Final Approval

It is the 50th Anniversary of the Miss Teenage Tampa Scholarship Pageant and the committee is in the planning phases. If you are interested in serving on the committee, please contact me as we are still in need of your talents to serve on the MTAT advisory council.

Sorors there would be no us without you. We hope you will work with the committee to provide additional scholarship activities within the chapter. Together we can truly make a difference!

Always in service,

Soror Mervelle A. Sage

Second Anti-Basileus

HISTORY COMMITTEE SEE FOR TICKET PURCHASE Tea Rose

MemberShip

Ahoy Sorors!

The MemberShip stopped at Port Regent and picked up 71 new passengers. On the way, we held numerous workshops, sisterly relations activities and a community service project that provided $324 toiletry items for Mr. Bubblez Mobile van which provides showers to the homeless population.

I would like to thank all of the workshop presenters:

Soror Tangela D. DuPree

Soror Monique Slater

Soror Carolyn House Stewart 28th International

President

Soror Peggy Quince- Retired Justice

Soror Elaine Bryant

Soror Iva Carter

Soror Rhonesia Dennard

Soror Chiquita Henderson

Soror Jessica Holmes

Soror Tracy Holt

Soror Jeri Horne

Soror Priscilla Howard

Soror Brenda Jackson Lee

Soror Kassidy Johnson

Soror Patrice Joseph

Soror Carolyn Lewis

Soror Yvonne Long

Soror LaTina McKinon

Soror Antina Mobley

Soror Vanessa Paige

Soror Idelia Phillips

Soror Yvette Rhodes

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE APRIL SOROR IN THE SPOTLIGHT

“Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success”. I could not have made a successful journey without crew members Soror Danece Davis, Soror Rhonesia Dennard and Soror Patrice Joseph. The Membership Intake Process required all hands on deck. I am THANKFUL to this amazing committee:

2022-2023 Membership Committee Members

Soror Bertha Baker

Soror Deborah Barnes

Soror Katrina Blaine

Soror Lacquitta Fullilove Berry

Soror Sunny Royal Boyd

Soror Donna Cason

Soror Shayla Cason

Soror Dorsity Cole

Soror Donna Douglas

Soror Tangela D. DuPree

Soror Ashley Foxworth

Soror Jewell Fye

Soror Melanee Gardner

Soror Angela Gilmore

Soror DeShone Glenn

Soror Earnestine Glenn

Soror Janice Jacob

Soror Tara Legree

Soror Yvonne Long

Soror Jackie Marcelin

Soror Fontaine Marion

Soror LaTina R. McKinon

Soror Jocelyn Moore-Hill

Soror Dionne Moragne

Soror Joann Myers

Soror Lavonne Malphus- Nelson

Soror Bethoria Paige

Soror Kisha Porter

Soror Gretta Powell

Soror Marion Rhodes

Soror Yvette Rhodes

Soror Charmayne Sauri

Soror Ronja Smith

Soror Jocelyn Stephens

Soror Carla White Sunday

Soror Sonja Wise

Soror Jada Wright-Greene

Stay tuned for information on our next port of call which will be the chapter retreat. Please complete the survey in our Tea Rose to assist with planning.

Please continue to send all questions and directory updates to: thegtomembership@gmail.com

See you on the ship,

Soror Deidre R. Jones

MemberShip Chairman

Soror Monica Williams Harris

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MAY SOROR IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Soror Joann Myers

Deidre R. Jones Patrice Joseph Rhonesia Dennard Danece Davis

GET ON BOARD THE MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMEN

GAMMA THETA OMEGA CHAPTER

FEATURE 71 DYNAMIC WOMEN...NOW MEMBERS OF Alpha Kappa

COVER

Alpha Sorority, Incorporated

SOROR Chloe Babb-Johnson SOROR LaToya Ballard SOROR SaLisa Berrien SOROR Kiana Blaine SOROR Kimberly Brown SOROR Tiatasha Brown SOROR Jessica Bryson SOROR Faith Burriss SOROR Tyangela Carroll SOROR Tametria Chambers SOROR Tyzsa Chatman SOROR Jasmine Crawford SOROR Kaela Crowell SOROR Jennifer Efﬂer SOROR Carlisa Felder SOROR Ja'Nicion Flournoy SOROR Tanya Freeman SOROR Angela Fullwood SOROR Andreyne Fye SOROR LaTorya Gladden SOROR Salvatrice Hall SOROR Melanee Holder SOROR Gabrielle Holmes SOROR Kiara Howard SOROR Renee Hutchinson SOROR Victoria Jackson SOROR Allie Johnson SOROR Ashley Jones SOROR Kristen Jones SOROR Juanita Jubity SOROR Kamille King SOROR Nicole King SOROR Crystal Leach SOROR Nicole Lewis SOROR Jacqueline Liggins SOROR Danielle Long SOROR Sonya Love SOROR Melissa Flowers-Matos SOROR DeWana McCarty SOROR Diamonde McCollum SOROR Nishira Mitchell SOROR Rondell Nairn SOROR Derrika Paige SOROR Dwanda Palmore SOROR Samanthia Paris SOROR Catrice Reese SOROR Jacquelyn Reese SOROR Tamika Russell SOROR Gina Sanders SOROR Karen Chambers