RAC Pass the Torch 2020-2021

Pass the Torch

RICHMOND ALUMNAE CHAPTER Delta sigma theta sorority, inc

CHAPTER THEME

A YEAR OF PASSION HASHTAG

#RACVIRTUALLY UNSTOPPABLE AUGUST 2021

TABLE of Contents

CHAPTER HISTORY SISTERLY CONNECTION PAST CHAPTER PRESIDENTS ELECTED OFFICERS AND APPOINTED POSITIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRS FIVE POINT PROGRAMMATIC THRUST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH POLITICAL AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT ARTS AND LETTERS RED CARPET EVENTS ORATORICAL CONTEST DELTA ACADEMY DELTA GEMS EMBODI JABBERWOCK CULMINATING EVENT MAY MONTH MEMBERSHIP SERVICES PROTOCOL AND TRADITIONS 108TH FOUNDERS DAY 20TH SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE OMEGA OMEGA CHAPTER

RICHMOND ALUMNAE CHAPTER

y Chapter Histor Chapter History 1937 ~ 1942 ~ 1958

The Richmond Alumnae Chapter traces its history back to December 4, 1937, when the first formal meeting of the Beta Epsilon Chapter was held at the home of Grace Hughes.

The chapter engaged in many community projects and sponsored its first Jabberwock in March 1938.

On November 15, 1941, members voted in favor of the Regional Director’s decision to form separate graduate and undergraduate chapters. In 1942, the chapter was officially divided into the Beta Epsilon, the undergraduate chapter, and Beta Theta Sigma, the graduate chapter. In 1958, the graduate chapter's name was changed to Richmond Alumnae to comply with the Grand Chapter ruling.

Richmond Alumnae Chapter is a part of Delta Sigma Theta’s Sorority, Inc., South Atlantic Region.

Charter Members: Virginia Asbury Annie Brown Leola Cephas Aldena Davis Grace Hughes Alice Jackson Clara Jackson Helen Jackson Lois Jackson Theresa Jackson Sylvia Jennings Mary Elisabeth Johnson Pearl Juette Johnson Edith Lattimore Ruth McGuinn Beluah Milton Alice Reid Theresa Sublett Helena Walker Phila White Hilda Yates Zemoria Wood

SISTERLY

Connection

My Dear Sorors, This past sorority year has been 10 months to remember. Life in the midst of COVID-19 changed the entire landscape of how we as Deltas interacted with our communities, performed our chapter duties, and socialized with each other. The landscape changed, but the Delta purpose and PASSION did not.

Our focus remained on scholarship, sisterhood, and service while moving the Richmond Alumnae chapter’s entire calendar to a virtual platform. The change was challenging, but our service commitment to the Five Point programmatic thrust kept us engaged and motivated.

In this issue of Pass The Torch, you will find highlights from every committee, which includes our national initiative focus along with our local programming that keeps us grounded in the community that we serve. During the August 2020 retreat, the term “Virtually Unstoppable” was spoken and the Richmond Alumnae Chapter made that our defining mantra for every program, meeting, and fellowship event.

Thank you to the Executive Board members, committee chairs, and chapter members. I am so appreciative of all that we were able to accomplish in our first-ever virtual Sorority year. Zoom meetings and webinars became our friends, or at least our constant companion, but we made it work. We came together to accomplish creative programming and events and continued to fellowship to stay connected as a sisterhood.

Kudos to the Public Relations Committee and our Journalist for this fabulous “Chapter Yearbook” that documents the hard work and creativity of our committee chairs and members.

Sorors, I am extremely grateful for each and every one of you for the PASSION, and sisterly spirit, that you bring to the Richmond Alumnae Chapter.

Sisterly, Vanessa Evans Chapter President

PAST CHAPTER PRESIDENTS

r e t p a h C e a n m u Richmond Al

LaVerne Spurlock

Iris King

1958 - 1960

1986 - 1988

Hattie M. Morton

Francine Young

1960 - 1962

1988 - 1990

Ruby Mitchell

Thelma Pettis

1962 - 1964

1990 - 1994

Joan Barnes Montgomery

Mamie Brown

1964 - 1965

1994 - 1998

Carolyn Mosby

Phyllis Booth

1965 - 1968

1998 - 2000

Jacquelyn Thomas

Estella Randolph

1968 - 1972

Katie D. Watkins 1972 - 1976

Phyllis Booth 1976 - 1978

Margaret Dungee 1978 -1980

Thelma Pettis 1980 - 1983

Annette Ward 1983 - 1986

2000 - 2004

Gale Jones 2004 - 2008

Mildred Barden 2008 - 2012

Anna Gee 2012 - 2016

Connie Cuffee 2016 - 2020

Omega Omega Chapter

ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICERS AND POSITIONS 2020-2021

r te p a h C e a n m lu A d n o Richm

President

Member, Internal Audit

Vanessa Evans

Tonia Churchwell Melody Reives

First Vice President, Scholarship

Bernita Williams

Member, Finance and Budget

Second Vice President, Membership Services

Gwendolyn Davis Kendra Pugh

Anita Roane Third Vice President, Program Planning & Development

Kimberly Dabney Recording Secretary

Brenda Long Assistant Recording Secretary

Beverly Walker Corresponding Secretary

Stephanie Shepard

Chair, Nominating Committee

Monica Davis Member, Nominating Committee

Nikki Deveaux V. Denise Harrington

Terri Pollard Satara Woodson Chaplain

Takeisha Brown

Assistant Corresponding Secretary

Assistant Chaplain

Tamara Temoney

Carla Jackson

Treasurer

Parliamentarian

Katrina Riddick Cheatham

Valerie Jones

Assistant Treasurer

Sergeant-At-Arms

Kimberly Elliott

Barrhonda White

Financial Secretary

Tia Murphy Assistant Financial Secretary

Tonza Exum Sidney Edwards Chair, Internal Audit

Thalia Edmonds

Custodian

Dunhree Davis Historian

Yolanda Taylor Journalist

Tiffeney Brown Risk Management Coordinator

Member, Internal Audit

Renee Fleming-Mills

Carolyn Ashaye Kysha Banks

Immediate Past President

Connie Cuffee

COMMITTEE CHAIRS 2020-2021 pter

Cha e a n m u l A d n o Richm Economic Development

Michelle Brown

Educational Development

Dionne Ward & Decardra Jackson

International Awareness and Involvement

Lanett Brailey

Physical and Mental Health

Marsha Witherspoon & Ajaya Mitchell Social Action

Valena Dixon & Rashida Mitchell Adopt -A-Street

Sandee Smith Art and Letters

Antoinette Rogers Delta Academy

Christina Peterson Finney Diana Herndon Delta GEMS

Shiron Haskins Delta Pearls

Dana Dargon EMBODI

Terri Pollard Emergency Preparedness and Response

Karla Peters

Finance and Budget

Katrina Riddick Cheatham Heritage and Archives

Yolanda Taylor Jabberwock

Bernita Williams Leadership Development

Estella Randolph May Month

Tranelle Pollard Membership Services

Anita Roane Minerva

Kimberly Dickerson Policies and Procedures

Carolyn Johnson

PROGRAM COMMITTEE CHAIRS 2020-2021 pter

Cha e a n m u l A d n o Richm

Program Planning and Development

Ritual and Ceremonies

Kimberly Dabney

Constance Thompson

Protocol and Traditions

Scholarship

Stephanie Miller Chartrice Thorne

Bernita Williams Strategic Planning

Monica Davis

Public Relations

Tiffeney Brown

Technology

Christina Byerson Monique Randolph

Risk Management

Renee Fleming Mills

Collegiate Advisors

Beta Epsilon Virginia Union University

Rho-Rho University of Richmond

Sabrina Meade-Skipper

Bernita Williams

FIVE-POINT PROGRAMMATIC THRUST

ter p a h C e a n lum A d n o m h Ric

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Economic Development The Committee offered programs for the sorority year that were virtually unstoppable. The focus for the year was on guiding sorors to embrace identifying areas of growth with some of their financial management needs.

The kickoff to the sorority year offered two webinars entitled “Understanding Your Finances” and “COVID-19 Scams.”

The second program initiative to engage sorors was a Virtual Stock Exchange Simulation Challenge. This initiative was designed to empower sorors to gain knowledge about how the stock market worked and how to read and manage investments with a low risk to their actual funds.The committee did not stop there but offered weekly trader tips for a more rich and engaging challenge to increase sorors' financial stewardship.

For the month of November the committee also promoted the annual initiative: “Shop Local, Shop Black,” challenge to sorors to commit to shopping Black-owned businesses for the holiday season. At the conclusion of their shopping, the committee introduced the use of the Receipt Pal app to record their receipts and earn points toward Amazon gift certificates.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Joice Conyers

Michelle Wilkerson

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Trader of the Week Winners

Week #1

Week #2

Week #6

Week #7

Week #3

Week #8

Week #4

Week #9

Week #5

Week #10

EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The

Hats and Gloves Drive EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The

committee members would like to extend sincere gratitude to our sorors and community members for supporting the hat, glove and mitten drive for students attending John B. Cary Elementary School. Due to the generosity of volunteers and donors, the drive was a huge success. The outpouring of donations from many enabled us to provide items to children in need. This initiative was made possible through the planning and organizational efforts of several on the committee. A special thank-you goes to Soror Tina Peterson for generously lending the space in Cary to collect and distribute the warm winter accessories.

EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

College Shower Program EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The

Educational Development Committee was proud to sponsor the “College Shower” program. This program is designed to lessen the burden of college expenses by purchasing needed miscellaneous items for students to be successful when their college experience begins.

The Delta House Foundation, in partnership with Richmond Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., continued the annual ISP despite the pandemic. The program was hosted on October 31, 2020, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

The SWAP (Students with a Promise) program was also concluded in June with 21 schools from Richmond Public Schools participating.

SWAP recognizes students from Richmond Public Schools who showed significant improvement in the area of Language Arts with a certificate, a gift card and a personalized engraved medallion.

Students With A Promise EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Read Across America Day

Soror Ward

EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Soror Cuffee

Mayor Levar Stoney

Soror Mitchell

Delegate Betsy Carr

Thanks

are extended to all who participated in this year’s first virtual “Read Across America” program that was held March 1-5th, 2021 at Blackwell Elementary, Woodville Elementary, Overby Sheppard Elementary, MLK Learning Center, and Summer Hill Pre-School.

Reading is one of the entryways to countless proficiencies and possibilities and it sets children on the track to a life of discovery. We

continue to be proud to support this program each year that was initially started by Soror Lola McDowell. This year’s event was successful despite a few technical issues that were beyond our control and were at the school level. We had a total of 87 readers and over 30 remarkable videos were uploaded for students to enjoy during the next several months from various leaders in Richmond City including Mayor Levar Stoney, First Lady Pamela Northam, Delegate Betsy Carr, School Board Member Dawn Page, officers that serve in the Richmond Police Department, VCU Health Care Nurses, University of Richmond professors, school social workers, current and former RPS employees, our own Richmond Alumnae Sorors, and other outstanding community members.

EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Delta Teacher Efficiency Campaign DTEC

INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT

Committee Members

ROCK THE RIBBON

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL AWARENESS

The Physical and Mental Awareness Committee offered opportunities during the sorority year to remind Sorors of ways to navigate and maintain good health and wellness. This event captured a unique twohour virtual symposium featuring a round table discussion on understanding various coping strategies during this age of pandemic living.

POLITICAL AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT SOCIAL ACTION WE ARE

Women Who Lead!

POLITICAL AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT SOCIAL ACTION

GOTV CAR PARADE

GET OUT TO VOTE POLLING STATION PHONE BANKING

POLITICAL AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT SOCIAL ACTION

o h W n e l a m o u n W " A n A G V 35th D D Lead"

Members

of local and state chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in Virginia convened in the state capital of Richmond over the course of two days to make their presence and their positions on legislation known to members of the state legislature as part of Delta Days at the Virginia General Assembly. This milestone year, celebrated with the theme “Women Who Lead,” marked the first time Delta Days was presented on a virtual platform.

POLITICAL AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT SOCIAL ACTION

l e l & l t a a r a u o C A g n t l n G e a l l A n V o e e h D R D S D 35t

PRESENT

22

POLITICAL AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT SOCIAL ACTION

l a u n n A h t 35 Michelle McQueen

Taryn Anthony

Thelma Pettis Dr. Patricia Johnson - Regional Director

A G V D D

ARTS & LETTERS

RED CARPET EVENTS The Arts and Letters Committee of the Richmond Alumnae Chapter proudly presented a Delta Virtual Red Carpet Event for HEARD. HEARD is a locally produced documentary that chronicled the stories of residents in public housing in Richmond, Virginia.

ARTS AND LETTERS RED CARPET EVENTS

ARTS AND LETTERS ORATORICAL CONTEST

P V O ICES W E R

DELTA ACADEMY Th Re e Ci act spons vic inf ivity ibilit y p Ac orma rovi ded ade tio nt fam my g ot he i r ou l s sL a ead bout ers .

For the 2020-2021 calendar year,

Delta Academy led several activities for girls, ages 11 to 14 years old. Monthly topics included the following: Literacy, Health and Fitness, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), Civic Responsibility, and the closing program was The Leader in Me.

T An he H n-F o Cit ran nora ble y c es o Dis tric f Rich Lam b tC m oun ond ert , 3r cil Wo d ma n

rs: sion cus derato s i D o sM e, tion e Andr ter s e u i l at Q a Nat ives M ve tati ck L Bla presen Gunn, , Re Myia Me ’ n y i K r Ms. Leade ative t The resen p e R

Committe Members

Featured National and Local Leaders

DELTA ACADEMY LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP

T Ma he H rci on Sec a L. F orab le r u Th etary dge, eH of U .S H Lo uis onora UD . , e Sta Luc ble L t a t . n e s , e Sen , VA sid ma ato Pre Oba rey, , r, f k r c e n ble ra Wi lk a a onora , H B h e W h n ra s, J. and T McClella Op C. bram erg, r e m f b i r. da , Jenn y A ins enato S e Ma tace er-G arris t a t S VA S ad aH l B ma th Ru , Ka VP

DELTA GEMS

#B LA CK

Ex cel G len IR ce L

#B LA CK

Ex cell GI enc RL e #BL AC KG IRL

Excell ence

Committee Members #B LA CK

Ex cell G enc IRL e

CH HOT O & PC O L A AIN TE T

#B LA CK

Ex cell G enc IRL e DELTA GEMS

WORKSHOP SERIES

#B LA CK

Exc elle GIR nce L

EMBODI

Committee Members

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE COMMITTEE

The

Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee is responsible for planning and preparing for emergency incidents for the chapter. This was accomplished this sorority year by providing helpful safety tips to chapter members in The Minerva.

Also, to be in line with Delta's National Emergency Response Team, the committee will be getting a new name next sorority year -- the Richmond Alumnae Chapter Emergency Response Team.

Thanks to the relaxed COVID-19 restrictions in Virginia in April, EP&R was able to host its first community blood drive in partnership with St. Philip's Episcopal Church and the American Red Cross.

JABBERWOCK & SCHOLARSHIP

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Over $43,000 was awarded in scholarships to 19 students during our Virtually Unstoppable Sorority Year High Achievers Scholarships $14,000 RAC DST General Scholarships $27,625 Joyce C. Johnson Memorial Scholarship $1,000 Lori Ann Whitehurst Scholarship $1,000 Jabberwock Scholarship $5,000

MAY MONTH

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

MAY MONTH

Delta Milestone 75Years

MAY MONTH

Delta Milestones 50 Years Not Pictured Mary Churchill Linda Cobb Portia Jones

Delta Milestones - 25 Years 2019-2020 Not Pictured Kenya Simmons Nicole Thomas-Jackson

Delta Milestones - 25 Years 2020-2021

Not Pictured Cheryl Ball, Vicki Ballard, Carolyn Crawley, Kimberly Berry -Hale, Avis Jeter, Jean Lawson, LaFondra Mathis, Evelyn Reives Jacquelyn Salaam-Hicks

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

Golden Dear Car Parade RAC Membership Services was a force to be reckoned with during the 2020-2021 Sorority year. In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2nd Vice President, Anita Roane and her committee had no interruptions providing "a hand and a heart" to chapter members to support and recognize their life moments or simply to say, "We care about you!"

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

CAR PARADE

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

In

normal times during the holidays, Richmond Alumnae Chapter hosted sisterhood activities after the December chapter meeting. With the disruption the COVID-19 pandemic created, the annual festivities created room for creative thinking outside the box as chapters have had to do this year.

The Membership Services Committee actively planned not one but three fun and engaging virtual activities for sorors to experience the joy and excitement of anticipating holiday cheer in the spirit of sisterhood with activities of excellence which allowed sorors to continue to embrace the “wow” factor of the holiday season with relaxation, fun, and fellowship.

Despite the limitations of physically coming together, Richmond Alumnae Chapter maintained their level of excellence in maintaining virtually unstoppable events to engage members.

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

winner

diva

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

SISTERHOOD MONTH ACTIVITIES

Prayer Call

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

SISTERHOOD MONTH ACTIVITIES

Cooking with Shane Roberts-Thomas Southern Kitchen

MENU ITEMS

Salmon Cakes Fried Cabbages Candied Yams

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES END OF YEAR EVENT Featuring

Lucy Kilpatrick & The Jason Jenkins Trio

FIRST PLACE Soror Vanessa Evans

SECOND PLACE Soror Gloria Smith

THIRD PLACE Soror Lola McDowell

cheese cheer jazz event

PROTOCOL AND TRADITIONS

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

108TH FOUNDERS DAY

More

than 11,000 members tuned into the National Founders Day Celebration as National President & CEO Beverly E. Smith reminded us of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated's dynamic legacy. Fitting tributes to our beloved Founders and inspirational words from our Past National Presidents rounded out this phenomenal event. Many thanks to the innovative and hardworking planning committee led by our tri-chairs for helping us kick off the new year in Delta style!

(National Founders Day Tri-Chairs: National First Vice President Cheryl A. Hickmon, National Secretary Elsie Cooke-Holmes, Soror Tya Mathis-Coleman)

20TH SOUTH ATLANTIC VIRTUAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE

RAC VICE PRESIDENTS

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS #DSTVIRTUAL2020

20TH SOUTH ATLANTIC VIRTUAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE

SORORS READY FOR BUSINESS #DSTVIRTUAL2020

20TH SOUTH ATLANTIC VIRTUAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE

SORORS READY FOR BUSINESS #DSTVIRTUAL2020

OMEGA OMEGA CHAPTER

Soror Roberta Harris Cuffee Soror Diana King Jackson August 1, 2020 August 6, 2020

Soror Charlotte Addie West Melton November 13, 2020

Soror Laura Y. Norrell December 4, 2020

Soror Eula Virginia Jones September 15, 2020

Soror Connie Glass October 13, 2020

Soror Myra Brown February 16, 2021

Soror Juanita Threadgill Bates March 5, 2021

OMEGA OMEGA CHAPTER

Soror Lela Saberna Morris March 16, 2021

Soror Dr. Iris Lucille King April 22, 2021

Soror Sally Shaw March 16, 2021

Soror Mary Moore April 19, 2021

Soror Susie Banian June 20, 2021

Soror Mamie Stevens August 15, 2021

ENCE SUMMER 2022 RICHMOND VIRG INIA SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL CON FERENCE SUMMER 2022 RICHMOND V VIRGINIA SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE SUMMER 2022 RICHMON ND VIRGINIA SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIO NAL CONFERENCE SUMMER 2022 RIC MOND VIRGINIA SOUTH ATLANTIC RE GIONAL CONFERENCE SUMMER 2022 RICMOND VIRGINIA SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE SUMMER 202 VIRGINIA SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE SUMMER 2022 RICHMON ND VIRGINIA SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIO NAL CONFEREN S,,,UMMER 2022 RIC MOND VIRGINIA SOUTH ATLANTIC RE GIONAL CONFERENCE SUMMER 2022 RICMOND VIRGINIA SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE SUMMER 202 VIRGINIA SOUTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE SUMMER 2022 RICHMON

South Atlantic Regional Conference Summer 2022 Richmond, Virginia