The Ivy and You Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ® Omega Omega Chapter, Philadelphia, PA Chartered in 1926 Soror Carol Parkinson-Hall, Basileus Volume 66, Issue 1 January 2020 Happy New Year! In this issue: The year 2020 is the beginning of not only a new year, but a new decade faced with fresh perspectives, Upcoming events endless possibilities and enhanced purpose. Omega Omega has the ability to create a brighter tomorrow Excellence Program for the disenfranchised, the oppressed, and the voiceless globally. When I think of 2020, vision comes to my mind. As a child I boasted of having 20/20 vision and not having to wear glasses. I knew students who would try to memorize the Snellen chart just to be able to claim the coveted 20/20 vision. This is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. Vision, as a noun, is sight and, as a verb, is envision and both are useful definitions as we expand our outreach and strengthen our bonds of sisterhood. Our founders had a vision fair 112 years ago that was clear and concise to ensure our perpetuity and to improve the quality of life for all mankind. As we completed our end of the year reports and prepare our awards books, reflections of 2019 must propel us to ask questions. What do we see with 20/20 vision? How can we improve our vision and what resources will it take? What is our vision and what role do each of us play in that collective vision? Do we see Service with 20/20 vision? Do we see Membership with 20/20 vision? Do we see Connection with 20/20 vision? This same question can be applied to every committee and aspect of Omega Omega. This year is a critical year with the US census, presidential elections and yes, the 69th Boule. Let’s sharpen our vision by staying informed and abreast of the issues to enable better service to all mankind. Let’s sharpen our vision by seeing with our hearts to build a stronger sisterhood. I see you and what I see is sheer beauty and love, Sisterly, Soror Carol I can see clearly now the rain is gone I can see all obstacles in my way Here is that rainbow I've been praying for It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny…day Johnny Nash 2020 Chapter Officers 1 2020 Officers Agenda Carol Parkinson-Hall, Basileus Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® 1111 E. Phil-Ellena Street Omega Omega Chapter Chartered in 1926 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19150 Saturday, January 4, 2020 - 10:00 a.m. E-mail: Temple University Administrative Services Center [email protected] 2450 W. Hunting Park Avenue, Philadelphia, PA Home Phone: 215-924-6529 Presiding: Soror Carol Parkinson-Hall Cell Phone: 215-833-9417 Fax: 215-924-1537 Meditation Soror Suzzette S. Abdul-Hakim Ruth Marcus-Sturgis, First Anti-Basileus Adoption of Agenda [email protected] Approval of Minutes Ashley Session, Second Anti-Basileus [email protected] Officer Reports Basileus (10 minutes) Soror Carol Parkinson-Hall Shante’ Brown, Grammateus 1st Anti-Basileus/Program (10minutes) Soror Ruth Marcus-Sturgis Gwendolyn Brown, Anti-Grammateus 2nd Anti-Basileus/Membership (8 minutes) Soror Ashley Session Leslie Anderson, Epistoleus Aaliyah S. Johnson, Tamiouchos Tamiouchos (8 minutes) Soror Aaliyah S. Johnson Karen E. Hayes, Anti-Tamiouchos Anti-Tamiouchos (5 minutes) Soror Karen E. Hayes Brenda R. Johnson Best, Pecunious Grammateus Epistoleus (5 minutes) Soror Leslie Anderson Rose Brown, Anti-Pecunious Grammateus Hodegos (3 minutes) Soror Karla Brown Karla Brown, Hodegos Sandra Burney-Boxley, Parliamentarian Standing Committee Reports Bonnie Bowser, Philacter Archives (5 minutes) Soror Lorita Brockington Brenda Maiden, Ivy Leaf Reporter Awards (5 minutes) Soror Saundra D. Brown Jayne Downing, Digest Editor Connection (5 minutes) Sorors Carlene Neal and Candace Brown, Ivy and You Editor Nyne Sellers Graduate Advisors Sisterly Relations (5 minutes) Sorors Michele Wilson Dawson Inger Taylor, Gamma Epsilon and Stephanie Wilson Stephyne Walker-Hill, Delta Iota Technology (10 minutes) Sorors DeLisa Lewis and Patricia A. Massey, Delta Mu Kirby Brown Members-at-Large Special Committees Cressa Morris, Chairman EAF (2-3 minutes) Soror Stephyne Walker-Hill Nina Gordon 69th Boule (5 minutes) Soror Stephyne Walker-Hill Cassandra Murray Phillips Robin Chapolini Rhena Richardson New Business Happy Birthday Soror Gloria Todd Nominating Committee Announcements/50-50 (3 minutes) Kathleen G. Lacey, Chairman Mary Davis Founders’ Day Observance/Rededication Dana King (Business Attire NO Pants for Rededication) Terry Luna Tamara Thomas Smith Sorority Hymn North Atlantic Regional Delegates Pledge Danielle Brown Charlene Collins Adjournment Boule Delegates Jayne Downing Phaedra Brown Next meeting: Saturday, February 8, 2020 Temple University Administrative Services Building 2 2018-2022 Excellence Program Exemplifying Excellence Through Sustainable Service Soror Ruth Marcus-Sturgis, First Anti-Basileus/Program Chairman Contact information: [email protected] The Program Committee (Target Chairmen and Subcommittee Program Chairmen) will have a mandatory meeting on Thursday, January 9th at 6:30 p.m. at the ShopRite Supermarket Community Room, 2800 Fox Street, Philadelphia, PA 19129. Awards Book Submissions: Bring your computers / tablets Target 1: HBCU for Life: A Call to Action and #CAP Sorors Sirena Ollison and Denise Swann, HBCU for Life: A Call To Action Chairmen Sorors Amber Battle-Winston, Kendall Johnson McArthur and Tamara Thomas Smith, #CAP Chairmen HBCU for Life: A Call To Action and #CAP Committees volunteered at the Malcolm Bernard HBCU Fair. Members greeted participants, assisted students in completing FAFSA forms, distributed information, and the alumni assisted at their college table to recruit students. The next HBCU spotlight will be Howard University at January’s chapter meeting Target 3: Building Your Economic Legacy Sorors Leslie Morris and Phyllis Robinson, Chairmen Arms of Alpha Members of Omega Omega participated in the Arms of Alpha event on Thanksgiving morning. Omega Omega donated over 300 socks, toiletries, and clothing items. Chosen 300 Sorors Bonnie Bowser, Charlene Collins, and Amber Rowell, along with volunteers with Penn Medicine, helped to serve dinner at Chosen 300. Chosen 300 provides meals to our homeless population in West Philadelphia. Black Dollar 365 Bazaar Omega Omega hosted our annual Black Dollar 365 Bazaar at our December joint chapter meeting with Gamma Epsilon and Delta Iota. Mentor/Mentee Chat and Chew Gamma Epsilon and Delta Iota along with their Omega Omega mentors created 100 gift bags of toiletry items for donation to the Women Veterans Center. 3 2018-2022 Excellence Program Target 4: The Arts! Sorors Cassandra Murray Phillips and Jacynda Williams, Chairmen The Arts! Committee would like to thank you for all of your arts supplies and journal donations. With your support, we were able to donate the following items to the John F. Hartranft Elementary School: 17 packs of markers, 45 units of crayons, 6 boxes of chalk, 23 boxes of colored pencils, 18 units of paint, 17 rulers, 1 pack of highlighters, 20 poster boards, 5 artists canvases, 1 pack of Post-Its, 22 packs crayon sharpeners, 32 packs of scissors, 2 packs of craft sticks (1 plain, 1 colored), 7 packs of stickers, 6 packs of stencils, 1 pack of black card stock, 8 bottles of tacky glue, 17 bottles of regular glue, 18 glue sticks, and 3 packs of glitter We will have one more collection of journals at the January meeting for Paul Robeson High School. Thanks again for your support. We also thank you and our special guests from Rho Theta Omega and Omega Mu Omega for your support in attending the movie Harriet, last month. We sold 101 tickets and had almost every seat filled in the theater! We believe everyone enjoyed the movie. Our next committee meeting will be a conference call on Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Call number: 605-313-4231 Access and Brandy Mickel Rambus, Co Code: 826655 Target 5: Global Impact Sorors Sannah Crawford and Pat Peterson, Chairmen Relief for the Bahamas Global Impact and Disaster Relief Committees are happy to announce that during November's chapter meeting, we collected $176.00 for the victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. Global Assistance Activities Sorors Kimberly Mattaway and Amber Rowell, Chairmen Soles 4 Souls Thank you sorors, we collected 80 pairs of shoes at December’s chapter meeting! We collected a total of 1061 new and used shoes from January 2019 - November 2019. Please continue to clean out your closet and bring in shoes to support someone in need. We are collecting shoes at every chapter meeting. Lions Club Thank you sorors, we collected 46 glasses at December’s chapter meeting! Please bring in any old eyeglasses to decrease blindness, help restore eyesight and improve eye health and eye care for thousands around the world. Please no loose, broken or dirty lenses or eyeglasses. Please place eyeglasses in ziplock bags. We are accepting sunglasses as well! We are collecting eyeglasses at every chapter meeting. Refugees In America Assistance Program (RAAP) Omega Omega’s RAAP Committee donated school supplies on November 12th to the African Family Health Organization (AFAHO) located at 4415 Chestnut Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia PA 19104, 215-546-1232. AFAHO is looking for volunteers to assist with their Afterschool Program: Monday - Thursday, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The youth require assistance with writing papers, homework help, math, science, reading and assistance with English as a Second Language (ESL). The youth attend various schools in the city of Philadelphia and are in grades 6-12. The youth of the afterschool program are African and Caribbean immigrants. International Fun Day at the UniverSoul Circus Refugees In America Assistance Program (RAAP) committee sponsored students who attend the African Family Health Organization (AFAHO) After School Program to attend the International Fun Day at UniverSoul Circus on Sunday, November 17th.