Sisterly Speaking Newsletter of the National President, Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. “A United Sisterhood of Business and Professional Women Striving for Economic Empowerment”
President’s message: Accomplishments “Be confident. Be expectant of grand and beautiful results from everything you do” - Patricia Sampson
I am confident that the 20142015 sorority year will be a tremendous year of growth and accomplishment for all of us. I wish each of you a Merry Christmas and may the best of the season be yours.
Greetings Sorors, As we wrap up 2014 and begin a new year, I am excited about Iota’s progress and the many steps we have been taking to achieve the goals this administration established in 2011. Updating our Iota tools, starting our capital campaign to purchase a building for our headquarters, and beginning the process of completing the latest volume of Iota’s history are a few of our accomplishments thus far.
goals. We must believe that there are no limits to accomplishing our goals when we have confidence in ourselves and continue to build on Iota’s great programs and projects. I often say if we haven't gotten the desired results we wanted in the past, it’s time to listen to and implement new ideas.
We often allow self-defeating thoughts and actions to pre- I believe in you and in Iota Phi vent us from realizing our Lambda Sorority, Inc., and
Remember the words of Denis Waitley: “It’s not what you are that holds you back, it’s what you think you are not”. Sisterly, Phyllis H. Shumate National President
2015 Regional Conferences Southwestern - March 6-8 Southern - March 13-15 Central - March 20-22 Eastern - April 17-19 Far Western — April 24-27
National Scholarships Scholarships are an important part of building a solid partnership between Iota and your local communities. Scholarship recipients and their families remember Iota long after they have received a scholarship from a local chapter. Our commitment to
the giving of scholarships affirms how much we, as a national professional organization, value education. All chapters should plan to give at least one local scholarship. When we give local, regional and national scholar-
Volume 2, Issue 1 Winter 2014 Inside this issue: Iota News Roundup
2-3
Iota Launches Capital Campaign
2
IRS Form 990-N Electronic Filing
2
Toys ‘U’ Can’t Return
4
86th National Convention
4
Announcements and Remind-
3
Application Deadlines for National Scholarships Scholastic Achievement Awards: Female high school senior. Due: 1/31 FIL Scholarship: Female or male high school senior. Due: 2/28 Alice P. Allen Scholarship: High school senior who is a teen mother. Due: 3/1
ships, we increase the buying Doretha N. Hornbuckle Memorial power of our high school senScholarship: High school senior interiors in their efforts to secure an ested in business, business admineducation. In awarding scholaristration, science, or engineering. Due: 3/1 ships, we also increase our visibility within our communities. Additional information on scholarships Sisterly, Stephanie Dilworth National President Elect
and application forms can be found in the REVISED WORKBOOK/ YOUTH MANUAL.
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Sisterly Speaking
IOTA NEWS ROUNDUP Iota Launches Capital Campaign Throughout the years Iota has had a space that we called “National Headquarters,” whether it was space in the home of one of our National Presidents, space in the home of our past Executive Director, or most recently, rental space in Washington, D.C. Iota has rented space in Washington to serve as our headquarters in three locations in recent years, with 1015 15 th Street NW, Suite 1110 as the current address. Sorors have supported the maintenance and vision of a national headquarters in many ways, including special individual and chapter donations, and through fundraising activities initiated by past National Presidents and National Boards. Monies previously raised have been used in support of various locations and storage units, and are currently supporting the latest rental office space. What has changed? Nothing has changed. We voted to fulfill Iota’s vision of owning our own space at the 2013 National Convention in Bloomington, Minnesota. We also voted to begin a five-year capital campaign in support of this vision of property ownership . Your support of the capital campaign is necessary to the success of this capital project. It is time for us as a collective body to make this happen. I am asking each soror to seriously consider an individual and/or support a Chapter’s pledge. Pledge cards were distributed at each 2014 Regional Conference. However, if you did not receive one and would like to make a pledge, contact Stephanie Diworth, your President Elect, at Stephanie.iota@gmail.com. —–—————————————————————————————————————————————————— June 1, 2014 was a historic day for Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. Not only was it a celebration of 85 years of history, but it also marked the launch of Iota’s Headquarters Capital Campaign, with the five-year goal of raising $917,000 to purchase a headquarters building of our own. Each soror and chapter can play a major role in supporting this endeavor by making donations and/or pledging financially toward the capital campaign. Your support is needed to realize our goal of owning our own building by 2019. Let’s make this happen!
Yes We Can and Yes We Will! National Committee Assignments National Committee Assignments have been mailed to all chapter presidents and committee chairpersons. Each chairperson should contact her committee’s regional representatives, who are expected to give reports at their respective conferences. National chairpersons will present full reports at the 2015 National Convention.
Congratulations to Alpha Chapter for an outstanding 85th Founder’s Day Anniversary celebration Congratulations to our newest Life Member: Soror Bessie M. Jowers of Alpha Xi Chapter, Knoxville, Tennessee
IRS Form 990 –N Electronic Filing The IRS requires that all subordinate chapters of Iota Phi lambda Sorority, Inc. electronically file IRS Form 990. For chapters with receipts of less than $25,000, Form 990 -N should have already been filed for the 2014-2015 sorority year. This form is also known as the e-Postcard. Filing procedures can be found at www.irs.gov. The IRS is required to revoke the tax-exempt status of any organization that fails to meet its annual filing requirements for three consecutive years. Chapters who fail to file will have their tax-exempt status revoked as of the filing due date of the third year. If this action occurs, chapters will then be re-
quired to submit an application along with an
application fee of $400.00. New chapter presidents: Please obtain your chapter’s password from the previous president. This will eliminate the need to request or establish a new password. The filing process can be completed in 15 minutes or less. Regional Treasurers must also file the 990 form electronically. Any questions about the 990 filing should be directed to the National Treasurer at iotabmj@aol.com. Bessie M. Jowers National Treasurer
Toys ‘U’ Can’t Return Toys ‘U’ Can’t Return, Iota’s teen pregnancy prevention program, was adopted as one of Iota Phi Lambda’s National Projects in 1987. A program brochure that will assist chapters in promoting this project will be available in early 2015.
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Volume 2, Issue 1
IOTA NEWS ROUNDUP
National American Education Week Congratulations to all chapters that have participated in the Evelyn D. Wilkey National Youth Essay Contest. Note: After local judging, all essays should have been mailed to regional representatives by November 30, 2014 , and to National President Elect Stephanie Dilworth for national judging by December 30, 2014.
From the Desk of the National Secretary, Wendy Jacques Things to Remember November 15, 2014 was the deadline for paying the National Chapter Assessment of $100 for graduate chapters and $50 for undergraduate.
Hats Off to all chapters who presented and/or participated in successful American Education Week programs.
Members’ per capita tax is $90 for graduates and $45 for undergradates New Member Package is $525.00 for graduate chapters and $479.50 for undergraduates
Iota’s History
Please submit a remittance sheet with all financial transactions. All monies due to the sorority are to be sent to the Office of the National Recording Secretary – 641 Nora Lane, DeSoto, Texas 75115.
To complete Iota’s National History, each chapter has been asked to prepare its individual history. Regional Directors were assigned the task of completing a regional history. If you have not sent your chapter’s history to your Regional Director, you should do so immediately.
If you had sorors who were not financial during the 2013-2014 sorority year and wish to become financial this year, they must first reinstate. If you have any questions, contact the National Secretary at wendyb.iota@gmail.com or (972) 274-3533.
2014-15 Chapter Rosters All chapters are urged to submit current rosters to their Regional Director. Because We Care: African American Women Caregivers and Their Families Because We Care, a partnership between the Black Women’s Agenda, Inc. and AARP, is a caregiver awareness and educational program designed to support and provide resources for African-America women and their families. As one of BWA’s 19 collaborating organizations, Iota continues to play a significant role in Because We Care activities in various cities. I commend all chapters and sorors who have participated on the panels and attended these informative workshops. Thanks for your support.
Chapter Newsletters A big “Thank You” to those chapters who have consistently e-mailed and or mailed copies of their newsletters to me and the National Board members. Keep those newsletters coming!
Sympathy Condolences Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. sends condolences to all sorors and their families who have recently lost a love one. We also send our thoughts and prayers to all chapters who have lost sorors to Iota’s Omega chapter. Chapters should keep the National Board informed of illnesses and deaths that occur. The PNOC is saddened by the death of Soror Jean East on October 4, 2014. She served as National Treasurer from 1994-1997 and authored our Founder’s Day Litany.
Recruitment I am committed to searching for potential members. I am committed to recruiting new members. I enjoy (love) talking to women about Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. I am excited about increasing membership in Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. I will purposefully wear IOTA colors and or Turtles once a week. I will always conduct myself in a manner that will reflect credit to Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. (my Chapter). I am committed to welcome new members with sisterly love and turtle hugs. I will happily promote the ideals of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. I am responsible for reaching out to potential new members and inviting them to planned events. I am a worker not a shirker.
Retention I will show sisterly love to my sorors. I am committed to recognizing the skills and talents of each member I will respect, honor and value each member’s differences. I am committed to making each soror feel appreciated and that they each know their presence makes a difference. I am responsible for giving each new member as much support as they need to make them feel comfortable. I am committed to helping sorors understand that their work contributes to the chapter’s success. I will recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of my sorors.
Reclamation I am committed to maintaining contact with in-active members via phone calls, emails and texting messaging. I will invite in-active members to attend programs and events. I will challenge my chapter sorors to make contact with in-active member.
I o t a P h i L a m b d a S o ro r i t y, Inc. 1015 15th Street, NW Suite 1110 Washington, DC 2005 Phone: 202-462-IOTA or 202-462-4682 E-mail: iotahq@verizon.net.
Bookmark the website: http://iota1929.org
The National Summer Executive Board Meeting was in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Most of our meeting was dedicated to planning Iota's 86th Anniversary Convention. The board worked diligently on the convention agenda in an attempt to reduce our meeting times, allowing free time to enjoy the island. The Call to Convention will provide more details and will be available in January 2015, following the National Winter Executive Board Meeting.
Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. supports the Black Women’s Agenda, Inc. in its call for electoral activism following the Grand Jury’s decision in Ferguson, Missouri As business and professional women, members of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., recognize that Ferguson is not the only city or town that holds local elections apart from the traditional electoral calendar. However, the shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown and the response of local elected officials vividly illustrate that Ferguson is a key place to lobby for change, and to launch an effort to amend similar election schedules across the country.
What is uttered from the heart alone, will win the hearts of others to your own”. - Johann Wolfgang Never forget to remember our sorors who are: Celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions Experiencing an illness Grieving A quick note or card saying “thinking of you” or a phone call will always be appreciated.
“We can boost each other”
Christmas is a time when our thoughts turn to special people in our lives — and in Iotaland, who can be more special than a Soror. May the true meaning of Christmas fill your heart with joy and love.