Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. Gamma Chapter President s Corner Newsletter - Fall 2016 Greetings and Welcome to the 2016-2017 Sorority Year! I am excited to continue to lead the charge in my second term as President of Gamma Chapter as we continue to Empower through Education, Business and Leadership. Our theme for this year is G.O.L.D.E.N. Guiding our Labor of Love to Deliver Essential Educational Needs! As your Chapter President I am committed to promoting a new way of doing work and getting back to the basics by promoting education, business and leadership internally and externally. We have a great year of workshops, leadership opportunities, special projects/initiatives and sisterly events planned. I look forward to working with you all this year! ER Leadership Conference Gamma Sorors headed to Hartford, CT to participate in the Leadership Training. The meeting was filled with great leadership lessons. The workshop If you don t like the Centerpieces just don t look at them provided useful tips and tools for all in attendance on how to deal with the day to day and build strong productive leadership teams. The conference rounded out with a great review of the Iota Tools Workbook and Technology Mash Up. Gamma Sorors returned energized and charged to take on the SY16-17. Gamma Sorors with Eastern Regional Director Harley Black Women s Agenda Gamma Sorors attended the Black Women s Agenda luncheon & prayer breakfast. We also had the opportunity to host our President-Elect, Soror White for dinner the evening prior. This has become an annual event for Gamma, with the number of Sorors in attendance each year growing. We are proud to continue to support our partner organizations.
2016 Backpacks for Education Campaign Prior to the beginning of Sorority Year 2016-2017, Sorors of Gamma chapter collected various styles and colors of back packs, along with school supplies for high school students. All items were gathered at the 1 st chapter meeting and prepared for distribution. On September 27, 2016, 1 st Vice President, Soror Nicole George presented 8 back packs filled with binders, spiral notebooks, loose leaf paper, pens, pencils, erasers, highlighters, and more to Suitland High School, Business Academy coordinator, Ms. Jasmine Shearin. Ms. Shearin was elated to receive the supplies and shared that you (Iota) all always do so much. The back packs will be awarded to 8 deserving students.
College Trippin 2016 Towson University On September 29, 2016, 2nd Vice President, Soror Tiffany Taft joined teachers and students on their campus tour to Towson University. The Towson student tour guides were more than welcoming, knowledgeable, and provided great information for the students to seriously consider their road to Towson as a viable option. The students of the Dunbar NAF Academy will begin prepping for entrance tests and submitting college applications over the next few weeks as they complete the tours. So many options but they are part of an elite group of outstanding STEM scholars and the future leaders in their respective fields. Towson University was the third of many college tours taken so far. From Penn State to Alabama State, they certainly will have many viable options to select the environment that best suits their journey of the next four years after graduation. The academy s academic director, Dr. Kourtney Purham-Belton was more than grateful for Gamma s continued support and engagement in our second year of service. This academic year will prove to be a major milestone for moving this partnership forward in the community.
Future Iota Leaders (FIL): Friendship, Integrity, Leadership Opening Day: Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History & Culture A People s Journey, A Nation s Story On September 22, 2016, 2 ND Vice President, Soror Tiffany Taft and Sorors and FILs of Gamma chapter participated in opening day viewing of the long anticipated opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History & Culture in downtown Washington, DC. The day was FULL and filled with rich with history and raw depictions of A people s journey, a Nation s Story. Gamma had 2 FILs in attendance for this historic event and opening and there where many questions to answer. One thing is for sure, the architects, legislatures, sponsors, and family, friends, and people came from all over to be a part of this week long grand opening celebration and historic moment in history. The museum is filled with rich history and present day accomplishments made by African Americans far and wide. It is certainly a lesson in history that the children will soon not forget. Future Gamma plans are already in the works to go back and explore more with a much larger group in the spring. For now, please enjoy a few of the pictures that capture the moments of the day.a last minute excursion more than worth the experience.exposing our future leaders to the truths of the journey.
Paul Laurence Dunbar, Dr. Charles Drew Engineering Academy Back to STEM Night 2016 Before the beginning of Sorority Year 2016-2017, Sorors of Gamma chapter participated in Back to STEM Night 2016 with the student and faculty of the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, Dr. Charles Drew Engineering Academy located in Washington, DC. The chapter has committed to leading the way to service and providing funding for academic opportunities for students who wish to pursue degrees in higher education. The night was filled with excitement, games, refreshments, panel discussions, and activities, all geared toward building relationships and strategic partnerships in support of this National Academy Foundation (NAF) Academy. On August 18, 2016, 2nd Vice President, Soror Tiffany Taft was joined by several members of the Gamma Executive and Regional board members past and present in support of the school s pre-school launch. Gamma created and hosted a Pokemon scavenger hunt to help students become orientated with their new school and key places to know around the school. Meet the members of the Dunbar NAF Academy Code Quest. This was the schools 3 rd year in celebration and promotion of the academy and it proved to be yet again, a huge success. The academy s academic director, Dr. Kourtney Purham-Belton was more than grateful for Gamma s continued support and engagement in our second year of service. This academic year will prove to be a major milestone for moving this partnership forward in the community.
Gamma Spirit of Summer Tour In the spirit of Friendship & Love, Gamma Sorors spent the summer months fellowshipping with MOI, family and friends of Gamma. You Hold the Key Gamma Paint Night Gamma Sorors, MOI and FIL enjoy a free concert at the Laurel Town Square Shopping Center Sorors enjoying dinner at Acadania during DC Restaurant Week Great night with Sorors & friends
Congratulations Marriages Soror Nicole Darden - Ford Soror Jennifer Porter (Sinkfield) Soror Annie Rouse (Gaye) Promotions/New Job Soror Judy Belton Soror Vonetta Martin Soror Tangila Sanders Welcome Baby Soror Annie Rouse & MOI Justin Rouse Contact Visit us on Facebook for all the latest Gamma news & events Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram To join our mailing list, Email: journalist@iota-gammadc.org