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Soror Terina J. MatthewsState Coordinator

Soror Gillian GriggsState Facilitator

Soror Yolanda DemareeState Secretary

Soror Kenya McGruderState Social Action Chair

Soror Dawn OffuttRegional Coordinator,Membership Services

Soror Lucera CrossRegional Housing &

Properties Committee

Soror Briggit MillerState PPD Chair

Soror Shannon DraneState Journalist

Ashley MillerEmergency Response

Team Chair

Soror Mary Elaine HornState Chaplain

2012 - 2013 Kentucky

Leadership Team

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was the first African American Greek Letter organization to have a float in the Rose Bowl Parade (Tournament of Roses Parade). There were 100 out walkers representing the 100 year centennial of the sorority, as well as, 22 walkers representing the founders of Delta Sigma Theta. The float had a rendering of Howard University where the sorority originated, a globe symbolizing the service of the sorority and its members around the world, and pictures depicting the five point thrust of the organization (Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement.) Fiesta Floats assisted the Sorority in developing the float, the animation of the float, and the decorating of the float. Sorority members were offered the option to assist in decorating the float. It was amazing to see the differing flowers, seeds, etc. used to bring the float to its final beauty.

The city of Los Angeles was very supportive of Delta’s efforts at making history and celebrating 100 years. They rolled out the red carpet by changing the airport lights to red and white, so that all planes descending on the city would descend on the colors of red and white. Local restaurants gave priority seating to members, and locals did not hesitate to give their well wishes. I must say we felt like celebrities. Speaking of celebrities, Delta Sigma Theta rolled out its own Red Carpet at the Hollywood Gala located at Club Nokia (L.A. Live) location. Celebrities present to celebrate the centennial kick off with sorority members were Blair Underwood, Faith Evans, Ledisi, Danny Glover, Sheryl Lee Ralph to name a few. (continue on page 2)

Proud moment for Paducah Alumnae Chapter Soror Sonya Thompson

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Overall, I can’t express in words what pride I felt walking down Colorado Avenue in Pasadena, CA. making history with my beloved sisters of Delta Sigma Theta. It was an honor and privilege being chosen out of 300,000 members to represent the sorority in this historic event. The parade and Gala were kick off events marking our centennial, and I can only imagine what is in store for the remainder of 2013. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. is known for public service, community involvement, and making history. This we did and we did in a big and profound way in Los Angeles. It is truly a blessing and honor to be a part of an organization of college educated women dedicated to “Transforming Communities through Sisterhood & Service” and how fitting, as this was the theme of our float in the Tournament of Roses Parade. The theme of the entire parade was “Oh the Places You Will Go!” This is, also fitting, as Delta made it to the Rose Bowl Parade…just think of the places we will go!

bySoror Sonya Thompson

Sorors of the Paducah Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. worked tirelessly to GET- OUT THE -VOTE for the 2012 election. They partnered with the NAACP and County Clerk offices to increase voter registration and voter information. Sorors became deputy registrars and registered students in high schools and junior colleges. In addition to going to the high schools and colleges, they registered citizens by going “door to door” which included public housing communities.

Another important part of the GET-OUT-THE-VOTE initiative included their work with area churches. Flyers were distributed which gave individuals important information concerning what was necessary to vote. An internet link was provided to inform voters where that could check their voting status and precinct. Also, the flyers outlined identification options if required to provide ID’s at the poll, addressed common questions, and provided telephone numbers if assistance was needed in the voting process. Paducah Alumnae sorors campaigned two Sundays prior to the election encouraging individuals to vote. Sorors offered individuals at area churches, the NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet, and other area events the opportunity to sign a pledge “committing to vote!”

Paducah Alumnae Chapter

Voter Registration Drive

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Kentucky State Coordinator,Soror Terina J. Matthews

Kentucky State Facilitator, Soror Gillian Griggs

Gree$ngs  State  of  Kentucky  Sorors!

HAPPY  CENTENNIAL  YEAR!  It  is  my  hope  that  you  created  a  memorable  experience  to  cherish  the  moment  when  our  Illustrious  Sisterhood  turned  100  years  old!  I  can  share  with  you  that  I  was  on  the  campus  of  Howard  University,  surrounding  For$tude  with  about  3000  of  our  Sorors  as  the  clock  struck  

midnight  and  you  could  hear  the  OO-­‐OOP  for  miles!It  was  simply  AMAZING  to  be  in  the  number  of  those  12,500  Sorors  registered  for  the  Centennial  Founders  Day  Celebra$on  and  it  was  awe  inspiring  to  realize  from  “whence  we  had  come!”  AYer  seeing  the  portrait  of  our  Founders  come  to  “life”  at  our  Founders  Day  Luncheon  and  hearing  how  that  first  conversa$on  occurred  as  to  whether  they  should  break  away  and  start  another  organiza$on,  I  was  forced  to  ask  myself  “Am  I  living  up  to  the  vision  that  our  Founders  had?”  “What  am  I  doing  to  make  my  community  be]er  as  a  member  of  Delta  Sigma  Theta?”  The  Founders  Day  luncheon  was  profound  and  I  am  glad  that  I  was  in  the  number.  Here  is  the  photo  of  the  Founders  portrait  that  was  brought  to  “life”  by  22  of  our  ar$s$c  Sorors.  In  the  end  Sorors,  if  you  weren’t  able  to  a]end  Centennial  Founders  Day  it  is  my  hope  that  you  are  able  to  a]end  Delta  Days  at  the  Na$on’s  Capitol  and/or  the  51st  Na$onal  Conven$on.  This  is  not  a  year  that  you  want  to  be  leY  out  of  the  number.  

 

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80th AnniversaryThe Lexington (KY) Alumnae Chapter, Kentucky’s first Alumnae Chapter, celebrated 80 years of sisterhood and service in the Lexington community on November 3rd. The theme of the event was “Delta 2013 and Beyond/Political Action – Our Responsibility”. Soror Sadiqa Reynolds, the JD of the Louisville Alumnae Chapter, gave the keynote address.

The event had many highlights, some to note were the many hats that our Sorors wore in honor of Soror Dorothy I. Height and the Debutante Ball celebrated 50 years. Also as part of the joyous festivities, all Delta Dears were honored and chapter Delta Dears with over 60 years of service were given special recognition, Sorors Dorothy Bibbs, Ann Black, Eunice Mills Esther Noland and Marie Shye.

This event also featured an “80th Anniversary Service Project” where children books were collected to be donated locally.

Lexington Alumnae Chapter

“Show  Me  the  Money”  Workshop

The  Frankfort  Alumnae  Chapter  held  a  workshop  for  middle-­‐  and  high-­‐schoolers  en$tled  “Show  Me  the  Money!”  at  the  Franklin  County  Coopera$ve  Extension  Office  on  Lakeview  Court  coordinated  by  Soror  Daphne  Jackson.  The  workshop  began  at  9:00a.m.  with  registra$on  and  refreshments.  The  par$cipants  were  divided  into  two  groups,  with  middle-­‐schoolers  and  ninth  graders  in  one  group  and  10th  –  12th  graders  in  the  other  group.  Each  group  par$cipated  with  a  panel  of  presenters.  AYer  a  short  break,  the  groups  switched  rooms  to  par$cipate  with  the  other  panel.

The  topics  and  presenters  were  School  Success  by  Omar  Gle]en  from  the  GEAR-­‐UP  Kentucky  Program,  College  Prepara0on  by  Rana  Johnson  from  the  Kentucky  Council  on  Higher  Educa$on,  Obtaining  Financial  Aid  by  Mark  Hoover  from  the  Kentucky  Higher  Educa$on  Assistance  Authority,  The  World  of  Work  by  William  Morton,  Frankfort  Business  Owner,  and  Military  Opportuni0es  from  Major  Bobbi  J.  Mayes  from  the  Kentucky  Na$onal  Guard.

Panel  highlights  included  a  slideshow  presenta$on  and  photos  from  Major  Mayes’  tour  in  Afghanistan  focusing  on  the  work  she  did  with  economic  and  social  enhancement  with  women  and  girls.  In  addi$on,  Mr.  Gle]en  engaged  the  par$cipants  in  a  team-­‐building  exercise  focused  on  thinking  outside  the  box  to  achieve  a  goal.

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Frankfort Alumnae Chapter

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Voice  is  Power              

On  October  25,  2012,  Mu  Epsilon  presented  the  voice  program,  which  was  directed  by  our  social  committee  chairs  Soror  Charissee  Ridgeway  and  Soror  Rebekah  Patten.    This  program  catered  to  the  entire  UK  student  body.    The  purpose  was  to  show  students  how  their  voice  can  be  an  active  tool  for  change  in  both  the  upcoming  election,  and  everyday  life.    The  participants  were  asked  to  perform  a  task  for  others  without  speaking.    

To  begin  the  activity,  we  passed  around  pieces  of  paper  to  each  participant.    The  paper  had  a  task  written  on  it  that  the  participants  had  to  complete  within  10  –  15  minutes.    The  students  could  not  speak  or  use  their  voice.    The  point  of  the  rule  was  to  show  students  how  difIicult  situations  can  be  when  they  don’t  have  a  voice  and  how  this  challenge  parallels  with  everyday  life.    This  activity  was  followed  by  an  engaging  discussions  in  which  attendees  shared  their  personal  experiences.

Our  social  action  committee  presented  hypothetical  situations  and  prompted  dialogue  that  focused  on  showing  the  audience  the  power  of  voice.    Our  guest  speaker  was  Stephanie  Spires,  the  3rd  District  Council  Representative  candidate  for  Lexington,  KY.    She  explained  how  students  could  use  their  voice  to  solve  local  issues  within  the  city.    We  left  our  audience  with  a  call  to  action  centered  on  using  their  voice.  

Mu Epsilon Chapter

The Mu Epsilon Chapter created a voter registration blitz in collaboration with Lexington Alumnae Chapter registering voters in Lexington, KY.

by Soror Amari Henderson

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Under   the  theme  “100   Years  of   Scholarship,   Sisterhood   and   Service”,   the  Sorors  of   Louisville   Alumnae  Chapter  commemorated  Delta  Sigma  Theta  Sorority  Incorporated’s  century  of  existence  through  a  four-­‐day  weekend  of  ac$vi$es  to  highlight  and  celebrate  the  impact  the  Sorority  con$nues  to  have  throughout  the  community,  the  na$on  and  the  world.    

On  Thursday,  January  10,  the  Scholarship  Commi]ee  hosted  “An  Evening  of  Jazz”.    More  than  two-­‐hundred  Sorors  and  guests  par$cipated  in  the  lovely  affair,  with  100%  of  the  proceeds  going  towards  the  chapter’s  scholarship  fund.    On  Friday,   January   11,   the  Membership  Commi]ee  hosted  “Cheers  to   100  Years”   at  60West  Bistro.    This  event  was  intended  to  be  a  sisterhood  reclama$on  ac$vity.      Sorors  were  able  to  have  dinner  and  socialize  with  one  another.  Eighty-­‐two  Sorors  and  sixty-­‐four  guests  were  in  a]endance.

On  Saturday,  January  12,  Louisville  Alumnae  spent  the  day  giving  back  to  the  community   through  service.  Eighty-­‐six   Sorors  conducted  three  community   service  projects  all  done  in  one  day   to  benefit  the  families  residing  at  the  Louisville-­‐area  Ronald  McDonald  House.     Chapter  members  cleaned  the  four-­‐story  Ronald  McDonald  House  building  from  top  to  bo]om.  They  collected  and  donated  a  total  of  651  items  to  stock  the  pantry   for   the  residents.     The  items  were  sorted  by   the  chapter  members  at   the  Delta  Life  Center   then  delivered  to  the  Ronald  McDonald  House.    Chapter  members  also  purchased  and  prepared  a  full  dinner  meal  for   the  residents  that   evening.     To  have  an   impact   beyond  that   day,   the  en$re  chapter   collected  through  chapter   member   dona$ons  as  well  as  through   the  chapter   community   service  funds  a  total  of  $2,000   to  adopt  a  room  in  the  name  of  Delta  Sigma  Theta  Sorority,  Inc.    The  entry   door   to  the  room  will  carry  a  plaque  designa$ng  it  the  Delta  Sigma  Theta  room  for  a  full  year  and  all  residing  families  occupying  the   room   to   live   there  free  of   charge  as  part   of   the  chapter’s  dona$on.       As  an  added   bonus  to  our  wonderful  day,  WHAS11  television  news  sta$on  reported  a  story   on  their   11pm  newscast  on  the  Day  of  Service  at  Ronald  McDonald  House  by  sharing  with  their  viewers  Delta  Sigma  Theta  spent  their  Centennial  Anniversary  weekend  by  giving  back  to  the  community.                                     (con0nue  on  page  8)

Louisville Alumnae Chapter

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Invest  in  Young  Minds

The  Hopkinsville  Alumnae  Chapter  presented  the  Annual  Christmas  Scholarship  Fundraiser  in  December  2012.    The  event  allows  the  community  to  join  the  sorority  during  the  holiday  season  to  celebrate  and  assist  in  the  Educa$onal  Development  of  the  5-­‐Point  Program  Thrust.    The  sorority  presented  the  scholarship  recipient  of  2012.  The  young  woman  selected  is  the  daughter  of  a  single  parent  and  has  six  other  siblings.      Nannie  Croney  (pictured  in  the  center)  with  Sorors  Bea  Standard  (L)  and  Bonnie  Lynch,  president  (R)  proudly  stands  as  a  authen$ca$on  of  determina$on  to  succeed.    Nannie  is  pursuing  her  studies  at  University  of  Louisville  and  has  a  4.0  grade  point  average.    Her  dream  is  to  become  an  a]orney  and  the  voice  for  juveniles  in  the  legal  system.    

Hopkinsville Alumnae Chapter

Finally,   on   Centennial  morning,   Sunday,   January  13,  ninety-­‐four  Sorors  from  the  chapter  and  their  families   joined   together   in   service   at   Quinn  Chapel   AME.     During   the   service,   special  recogni$on  was  given  to  the  Deltas  in  honor   of  our   Centennial  Founders  Day.     A   Congressional  Cer$ficate  of  Honor  was  presented   to   Louisville  Alumnae  Chapter   by  Kentucky’s  Third  District  US  Representa$ve   John  Yarmuth   and   was   received  by   2nd   Vice   President   Tina   Johnson.     Special  gree$ngs  to  the  chapter  were  also  brought  by  4th  District   Councilman   David   Tandy   and   Quinn  Chapel  AME.     Louisville   Alumnae   Chapter’s  1st  Vice   President   Soror   Carolyn   Whitaker-­‐Tandy  presented   to   the   congrega$on   Soror   President  Cynthia  M.A.   Butler-­‐McIntyre’s  Centennial  le]er  of  gree$ng  and  thanked  Quinn  Chapel  on  behalf  of  Delta  for  their  hospitality  and  accommoda$on.    Following  the  service,  Quinn  Chapel  hosted  a  fine  recep$on  for  all  of  the  a]endees.

An   incredible  weekend  was  celebrated   by   all—highlighted   and   themed   appropriately   in   honor  our   22   visionary   Founders  and   100   years  of  our  illustrious   organiza$on,   Delta   Sigma   Theta  Sorority,  Inc.

“100 Years of Scholarship, S i s terhood and Serv ice” Louisville Alumnae Sorors loading up for the Ronald McDonald House.