The Promise Volume 2, Issue 4

A Message from the Basileus

I cannot think of a better way to close out Q1 than by reflecting on the amazing achievements displayed by our Chapter! We had a successful trifecta of events with our Voter Registration, Book Drive, and Pop-Up Prom Shop at Mt. Clemens High School. The 3 events were rooted in productive partnerships and were well attended. Pink Tea Roses to all of the members who came out and to those who contributed Kudos and Klaps to our hardworking Chairmen and Co-Chairmen: Sorors Montisa, Tomara, Heather, Stacey, Yolanda, Juanae, and Michele. Over 100 people circulated through our events!

The 93rd GLRC Conference was nothing short of spectacular! Chapter Sorors represented excellence with sisterliness, professionalism, style, and grace The OUTSTANDING Award-Winning OXO received the following awards: Membership Best of the Best, EAF Platinum Chapter, MRD’s Exemplary Chapter Award, Charlene Truitt Nelson: Outstanding Graduate Website - 1st Place, and Wilbretta P. Johnson: The Great Communicator - 1st Place! Thank you to Soror Nathifa, Soror Brianna, and the Awards Committee for their time and commitment.

Shout out to Soror Carla Postell, our Membership Chairman who attended the Membership Experience Certification with me. OXO is now ME certified for the duration of the current administration. Soror Carla aced her test with a 100% score! She is a TRUE ME Ambassador.

This month we will vote on our Boule delegates If you are interested in serving and have already registered for the Boule, please send me your confirmation along with an email expressing your desire to be considered no later than Friday, April 12th.

"Pray five times a day for peace. Peace in your life, peace in your spirit, peace in your family, peace in your community, in your city but most importantly peace in this world.”

- Soror Cathy Hughes, Founder and Chairperson of Urban One, Inc

Blessings, Soror Keia

Omega Xi Omega Chapter Values Statement

The Omega Xi Omega Chapter was chartered and exists as the result of clear collective vision and strong leadership As women of character, we seek to embody and enact the highest ethical standards within our chapter while fostering a culture of uncompromising unity both within our chapter - as evidenced by the strong bonds of sisterhood among our members - and within the community as demonstrated by exemplary programmatic service and our strong partnerships with local community leaders and service organizations.

CHAPTEROFFICERS

SororKeiaPerry-Farr

Basileus

SororCharoEarle

Anti-Basileus

SororTuandaWard-Holmes

Grammateus

SororCathyCarr

Anti-Grammateus

SororEdnaClark

Epistoleus

SororLindaEwing

Tamiouchos

SororConsueloMartinez

Pecunious Grammateus

SororVestaRumpy

Hodegos

SororKeaNorrell-Aitch

Philacter

SororStephanieEdwards

Parliamentarian

SororKaylaCollins

Ivy Leaf Reporter

SororCarlaPostell

Historian

SororJuanaeStephen Chaplain

SororMelanieHarris-Farmer

Member-at-Large

SororPamelaTinsley

Former Basileus

STANDINGCOMMITTEES&CHAIRMEN

Bylaws:SororStephanieEdwards

Finance:SororLindaEwing

Program:SororCharoEarle

Standards:SororRobynMurphy

Membership:SororCarlaPostell

Archives:SororCarlaPostell

Technology:SororNathifaCochran

LeadershipDevelopment:SororShawndalynn"Nikki"Roberson

Courtesy:SororVestaRumphy

Protocol:SororKimberleyWill

Fundraising:SororCydGrace

Publicity:SororKaylaCollins

EAF:SororLatashaDavidson

RiskManagement:SororShemyaDoster

Awards:SororBriannaHarris

PROGRAMINITIATIVES&CHAIRMEN

StrengthenOurSISTERHOOD:SororDwanMcGrady(SisterlyRelations)

EmpowerOurFAMILIES:SororTracyLathan

BuildOurECONOMICWEALTH:SororHelenaJones

EnhanceOurENVIRONMENT:SororHeatherLloyd

AdvocateforSOCIALJUSTICE:SororMontisaWatkins(Connections)

UpliftOurLOCALCOMMUNITY:SororTomaraNolen

ADHOCCOMMITTEE&CHAIRMAN

Rituals:SororPamelaTinsley

ScholarshipCommittee:SororMicheleGraham

InternalAudit:SororTuandaWard-Holmes

ChapterEvaluationsCommittee:SororCynthiaMiree-Coppin

GenerationNext:SororKaitlinMcQueen

NPHCRepresentatives

SororArgentinaAbney

SororKaitlinMcQueen

SororStaceyBanks

Chaplain's Corner

Please join me on the 19th of each month for the Sisters Refueling Our Faith Prayer Call from 7:00-7:08 pm via Zoomhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/82514228338? pwd=QkVGK1JTK0NnWVRSblB1Y2x5am1xdz09

Prayer

IfeelthepresenceandpowerofGodasIpray.

“InTheRevealingWord,UnitycofounderCharles Fillmoredescribedprayeras“themosthighly acceleratedmindactionknown.”

ThisawarenessismycomfortandassuranceasI releasemyworldlyconcernsandfeelthepresence ofGod.

AsIpray,IimmersemyselfintheSilencesoIcan bestillandknow.Fromthisplaceofdeep communion,Irelaxandfocusmyattentiononthe divineideasoflife,love,wisdom,strength,and order,whicharealwaysminetoclaim.Asthese spiritualtruthsflourishinmyconsciousness, thoughtsofmytroublesandworriesfadefrommy mind.

Inthepast,Imayhavebelievedprayerwasaway ofaskingGodforhelpandsolace.NowI understanditasoneofthebestwaysofhelping andupliftingmyself.

Bestill,andknowthatIamGod!Psalm46:10

Advocate for Social Justice

Be Informed, Give Back and Make Your Voice Heard on Election Day!

The Advocate for Social Justice Committee encourages Sorors to be informed, prepared, and engaged leading up to the November 2024 election. Below are resources and reminders for this election season!

1. Vote in Your Community Elections Elections Elections Elections

Check your county’s websites to make sure you have the dates for local primaries and other elections through November. Vote in every election!

https://www.macombgov.org/departments/clerk-registerdeeds/elections

https://www.oakgov.com/government/clerk-register-ofdeeds/elections-voting

https://www.waynecounty.com/elected/clerk/election-results.aspx

2. Know your Polling Location and Registration Status

If you are a new voter or have not voted in recent years, the State of Michigan provides registration status, polling place information, sample ballots, tracking for absentee ballots and more on its Voter Information. Website link: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/index

3. Work the Polls!

Working the polls on election day can be a great way to give back to the community, make some money and be engaged in the democratic process. Election Inspectors (Poll workers) usually greet and check-in voters, issue

ballots, and assist with tabulation. Individuals may also be hired to assist with processing absentee ballots. Poll workers can also earn up to $200 and must be a registered voter. Click the link to apply:

https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/pollworker#Become A Poll Worker

4. Join the Advocate for Social Justice Committee at the following Spring Events:

Saturday, May 11th – Voter Registration at New Haven High School’s Color Run Carnival from 10:30 am-12:00 pm

Thursday, May 23rd - “AKA Day at the Capital”. More details to come.

5. KNOW your 2024 Election Dates to Remember

April 16th – Special Election in Michigan House District 13 (Grosse Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods. Harper Woods, Wyandotte) and Michigan House District 25 (Dearborn Heights, Wayne, Westland)

● August 2nd – Deadline for Absentee Ballots for the August 6th Primary

● August 6th – Primary for Michigan Partisan Elections

● November 5th – General Election

THE BUZZ SURROUNDING THE EMPOWERING OUR FAMILIES SENIOR INITIATIVE. WELL OUR VERY OWN MADAM CO-CHAIRMAN APRIL SANFORD AND SOROR CATHY CARR GOT THE TEA HONEY! MADAM CO-CHAIRMAN SHARED HER KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE DIFFERENT MEDICINAL TEAS. FROM AIDING IN PAIN MANAGEMENT TO PROMOTING RELAXATION AND BETTER SLEEP, RESIDENTS WERE GIVEN KNOWLEDGE ON THE THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF BREWED TEAS.

SOROR CATHY BROUGHT CREATIVE FLAIR TO THE OCCASION, CRAFTING STUNNING FASCINATOR HATS FOR THE RESIDENTS. THE RESIDENTS WERE ABLE TO EMBELLISH THEIR HATS ACCORDING TO THEIR PERSONALITIES, ADDING A LAYER OF FUN TO THE EVENT. SORORS FROM THE CHAPTER WERE ABLE TO LEND A HELPING HAND, ENSURING EVERYONE HAD THE SUPPORT THEY NEEDED TO CREATE THEIR PERFECT HEADPIECE.

THE EVENT WAS A CHARMING HAT FASCINATOR TEA PARTY, FOR THE RESIDENTS AT THE VILLAGE OF PEACE MANOR AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE LEMON CUREDRUMORED TO BE AN ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE.

SO, THE NEXT TIME YOU NEED SOME PIPPING HOT TEA, DON'T HESITATE TO SEEK OUT MADAM CO-CHAIRMAN APRIL AND SOROR CATHY. JUST REMEMBER TO ASK FOR THAT EXTRA TOUCH OF LEMON CURD- AFTER ALL, IT'S THE LITTLE DETAILS THAT MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

WomenWhoTellOurStoryBookDrive

Women'sHistoryMonthCollaborationwith DeltaSigmaThetaandthe NationalCouncilofNegroWomen

OmegaXiOmegaChapter, AlphaKappaAlphaSorority,Inc.®

Collected333Books*

MacombAlumnaeChapter, DeltaSigmaThetaSorority,Inc.®

Collected183Books

MacombCountySection, NationalCouncilofNegroWomen

Collected81Books

597BooksDonated

Thankyou,Sorors,for donatingbookswrittenby AfricanAmericanwomento theWomenWhoTellOur StoryBookDrive!The schoolsinMacombCounty sincerelyappreciateour bookdonations andeagerlyanticipate furthercollaboration.

*Numberispendingsuccessfulcollection.

Enhance our Environment

Spring 2024- Tree Planting

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BUILD OUR ECONOMIC WEALTH

Are You Ready to File Your Taxes?

Tax season has begun and are you ready? Attached is a checklist and some information to help you get started.

Who has to file a tax return?

Not everyone has to, but most Americans likely will. This depends on income, filing status and age. If you make more than the IRS' minimum income threshold for your filing status (married, single, filing jointly, etc.), you have to file taxes.

People with "special situations" also may have to file a tax return, regardless of income. A few examples include high income taxpayers, household employment taxes, selfemployment net earnings of at least $400 or wages of $108.28 or more from a church exempt from employer FICA taxes.

Tax filing deadlines to know

The Internal Revenue Service started accepting and processing tax returns on Monday, Jan. 23. Employers are required to send you your W-2 by Jan. 31. Most 1099 forms are due by the end of January as well. Taxes are due by April 18 but aren't due until May 15 for residents in parts of California impacted by recent storms. If you're granted an extension, you'll have until Oct. 16 to file.

What are the 2022 US federal tax brackets?

A tax bracket is a range of incomes subject to a particular income tax rate. The IRS adjusts tax brackets every year to account for inflation, so the threshold for each of the seven tax brackets increased from 2021 to 2022 The IRS has already released tax brackets for this year that will be filed in 2024 based on average annual chained consumer price index from August 2021 to 2022, a period of historically high inflation

What is income tax? Does my state have state income tax?

Income tax is a tax on income that goes toward public services, government obligations and providing goods for the public. There are several different types of income tax:

Individual income tax (personal income tax): Tax on wages, salary or other forms of income. It is generally imposed by the state

Business tax: Tax applied to corporations, small businesses and the self-employed by subtracting operating and capital expenses from total income

State income tax: Most states have income tax, but Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming do not. New Hampshire is currently phasing out their income tax program.

trailblazer Award

WHAT WAS YOUR DRIVING FACTOR FOR CHARTERING A CHAPTER IN MACOMB COUNTY?

WELL, THERE WERE ACTUALLY TWO DRIVING FACTORS

ALTHOUGH I WAS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE SORORITY THROUGH THE REDFORD CHAPTER (TAU ALPHA OMEGA) FOR QUITE A WHILE, IT WAS BECOMING MORE AND MORE CHALLENGING FOR ME TO SERVE SO FAR AWAY FROM WHERE I LIVED THAT DIDN’T SIT WELL WITH ME MY HUSBAND ENCOURAGED ME TO RESEARCH WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO HAVE A CHAPTER IN OUR AREA THE SECOND DRIVING FACTOR FOR MY DESIRE TO CHARTER A CHAPTER OF OUR SISTERHOOD IN MACOMB WAS THE LACK OF AFRICAN AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES IN MACOMB COUNTY

ALTHOUGH TWO OTHER ATTEMPTS HAD BEEN MADE TO START AN INTEREST GROUP IN MACOMB COUNTY, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE WE HAD MEMBERS THAT LIVED, WORKED, AND CARED ABOUT THE INEQUITIES THEY WERE SEEING IN OUR AREA SPECIFICALLY IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SORORS WHO WANT TO CHARTER AN AKA CHAPTER?

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WOULD TELL THE SORORS IS NOT TO WANT TO START A CHAPTER JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING ISSUES IN THEIR CURRENT CHAPTER. WE’RE ALL LEADERS… AND SOME OF THOSE ISSUES MAY JUST FOLLOW THEM TO THE NEW CHAPTER I WOULD ALSO TELL SORORS TO DO THEIR RESEARCH AND KNOW THE AREA IN WHICH THEY WANT TO SERVE THEY SHOULD ALSO RECOGNIZE THE WORK, TIME AND PERSONAL SACRIFICE THAT WILL HAVE TO GO INTO THE EFFORT

W ERSHOULDPOSSESS?

EMPATHY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP SKILLS, I FEEL, A LEADER SHOULD HAVE WHEN LEADERS DON’T SHOW EMPATHY, PEOPLE FEEL UNDERVALUED AND EXCLUDED THAT ISN’T GOOD FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION OR YOUR BUSINESS HAVING EMPATHY DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU’RE A “WHIMP” AS A LEADER IT MEANS THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED ENOUGH TO PEOPLE AND THEIR LIVES TO KNOW WHAT ENCOURAGES AND MOTIVATES THEM TO BE THEIR BEST!

WHATISABIGCHALLENGEFACINGOURORGANIZATIONTODAY?

ON THE CHAPTER LEVEL, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES I SEE IS OUR LACK OF PURPOSE SOMETIMES, WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND ANALYZE WHY WE BECAME MEMBERS OF OUR GREAT SISTERHOOD DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR VOWS… ARE YOU REALLY HERE TO SERVE… WHY DID YOU WANT TO BECOME AN AKA… WAS IT THE PRETTY COLORS ? IT’S JUST MY OPINION, BUT UNLESS WE TAKE THE TIME TO REMEMBER THE REASON WHY WE ARE HERE AS AN ORGANIZATION, OUR CHAPTERS WILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER FROM LACK OF PURPOSE

NAMESOMEONEYOUADMIRE.WHYDOYOUADMIRETHATPERSON?

ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I ADMIRE IS DR CHRYSTAL TIBBS DR TIBBS WAS A PHENOMENAL EDUCATOR AND A PHENOMENAL ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA WOMAN! SHE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN MY DECISION TO CHARTER A CHAPTER IN MACOMB COUNTY. SOROR CHRYSTAL CAME FROM A WONDERFUL ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA LINEAGE. HER MOTHER WAS A DIAMOND SOROR SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, SOROR CHRYSTAL POSSESSED A WEALTH OF AKA KNOWLEDGE I WOULD SPEND HOURS AT HER HOME LISTENING TO HER WORDS OF WISDOM! ALTHOUGH SHE IS NO LONGER WITH US, I CAN STILL HEAR THE ENCOURAGING WORDS AND GUIDANCE SHE WOULD SHARE EVEN WHEN YOU DIDN’T ASK!

SOROR SQUAD SPOTLIGHT OF THE MONTH

“THE SENSATIONAL, SASSY AND AKA FABULOUS SORORS OF THE PHIRST SQUAD”

SQUAD MEMBERS - SOROR ROBYN MURPHY, SOROR KIMBERLEY WILL, SOROR AMBER WHITE, SOROR CYD GRACE, SOROR GERALYN PEARSON, SOROR JUANAE STEPHEN, SOROR TRACY LATHAN, SOROR YOLANDA CRAIN AND SOROR RAQUEL WELCH

The Standards Committee is committed to ensuring that Omega Xi Omega not only meets but exceeds the expectations of a Graduate Chapter in the areas of Service, Sisterhood and Operations. And with your help, we can do it!

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Surveying actions taken to know the measures that are needed.

Task…

Greater tasks to begin.

Attain high quality programming.

Normalizing excellence by diligently using operational systems

Designed for success.

Analyze data. Achieve results.

Roberts Rules of Order

Discuss, communicate and consider pros and cons

Soaring to Greater Heights of Service and Sisterhood.

As we continue to operate as a Chapter of Excellence by ensuring all members are working toward the same goal, let us remember the following :

Conduct business in an orderly and professional manner.

Non-agreement of an issue is not personal, it’s business.

Support the decision of the majority.

Commit to engagement and collaboration.

Continue to grow your knowledge of Chapter operations. S

SororPaulineGeorge

April9th

SororTomaraNolen

April7th

SororShemyaDoster

April11th

SororGianaAustin

April18th

SororLaKishaWhitehead

April8th

SororRobynMurphy

April20th

SOROR LINDA EWING XI (4/1983)

SILVER STAR

SOROR CATHY CARR

XI (4/1978)

SILVER STAR

SOROR ARDREA MURPHY

ZETA XI (4/1986)

SILVER STAR

SOROR MICHELLE WILLIAMS-WARD

NU PHI (4/1989)

SILVER STAR

SOROR PAULINE GEORGE

XI (4/1984)

SILVER STAR

SOROR ROBYN MURPHY

ALPHA PHI (4/1987)

SILVER STAR

SOROR PAMELA TINSLEY AL 5)

SOR LOYD )

SILVER STAR

SOROR KIMBERLY WILL

BETA MU (4/1990)

SILVER STAR

SOROR MELANIE HARRIS-FARMER

NU PHI (4/1990)

SILVER STAR

SOROR GLORIA WARE

ALPHA RHO OMEGA (4/2006)

SOROR HELENA JONES

ALPHA THETA (4/1998) SILVER STAR

SOROR CHARO EARLE

THETA TAU (4/2000)

SOROR LAKISHA WHITEHEAD

ALPHA RHO OMEGA (4/2006)

SOROR GERALYN JACKSON-PEARSON

GAMMA KAPPA (4/1995) SILVER STAR

MAILING ADDRESS:

Omega Xi Omega Chapter

P.O. Box 480435

New Haven, MI 48048

GOT QUESTIONS?

CONTACT US--WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU

Basileus: basileus@aka-oxo.com

Anti-Basileus: akaoxoantibasileus@gmail.com

Grammateus: akaoxogrammateus@gmail.com

Anti-Grammateus: akaoxoantigrammateus@gmail.com

Epistoleus: akaoxoepistoleus@gmail.com

Tamiouchos: akaoxotamiouchos@gmail.com

Pecunious Grammateus: akaoxopg@gmail.com

Hodegos: akaoxohodegos@gmail.com

Philacter: oxophilacter@gmail.com

Parliamentarian: akaoxoparli@gmail.com

Ivyleaf Reporter: akaoxoivy21@gmail.com

Historian: akaoxohistorian@gmail.com

Chaplain: akaoxochaplain@gmail.com

Member-At-Large: akaoxomemberal@gmail.com

Protocol: akaoxoprotocol1@gmail.com

Standards: akaoxostandards@gmail.com

Membership: akaoxomembers@gmail.com

Chapter Evaluation: akaoxoevaluation@gmail.com

OXO NPHC Representatives: oxoakanphcrep@gmail.com

APRIL

PRIL 14, 6:30 PM: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

APRIL 20, 7:30 AM: ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY CLEANUP

APRIL 21, 2:30 PM: CHAPTER MEETING/SILVER STAR DAY

April 27: EARTH DAY TREE PLANTING

PLEASE JOIN US FOR SILVER STAR DAY ON SUNDAY, APRIL 21ST AT THE CHAPTER MEETING. ALL SILVERS SHOULD WEAR SILVER DRESSES, SUITS, SKIRTS, BLAZERS, BLOUSES, ETC. WITH THEIR SHINING CROWNS!

JOIN THE NEWSLETTER TEAM

If you would like to join the newsletter team, please contact Soror Edna Clark at: akaoxoepistoleus@gmail.com

Submissions to The Promise are due on the 20th day of each month. Please contact Soror Edna Clark, if you have any questions or feedback.