PTO December Newsletter Final

Pi Tau Omega Newsletter December, 2016Terry E. Mann “Perseverance is stubbornness with a purpose.” Basileus Josh ShippNisette Gray Warm Holiday Greetings, My Sorors!Anti-Basileus Mary N. Moore As you know, the upcoming General Membership Meeting, on December 8, 2016, is our last Grammateus meeting of the year. While there’s much to celebrate, we still have chapter business to complete, and new officers to install, so please arrive on time, come prepared with your Carol Turner governing documents and remain engaged and sisterly.Anti-Grammateus Our Basileus-Elect, Soror Nisette Gray, is asking ALL chapter members to wear pink and/or green Epistoleus with the LNDS scarf (or AKA alternative), no paraphernalia, please. Officers being installed are required to wear a pink and/or green skirt-suit, dress or blouse and skirt. At the conclusion of the Angela Lewis meeting, photos will be taken of the Chapter officers as well as the entire membership. Tamiouchos Connie Pinnock It is hard to believe that the end of the year is upon us! Sorors, we have been busy providingPecunious Grammateus service to the Southfield Community for the last 12 months, which has made the time pass very quickly! As the year comes to a close, it also is important for us to reflect back on our manyToya Jefferson achievements. Let’s take a look at some key 2016 accomplishments:Anti-Pecunious Grammateus CHAPTER Twila Leigh  Pi Tau Omega collaborated all with Metropolitan Detroit and Ann Abor chapters for a 2016 JointIvy Leaf Reporter Founders’ Day to celebrate 108 years of the Sorority.Former Basileus  We supported Zeta Beta Omega Chapter at their Ivy House in Flint, Michigan by delivering 18 cases of bottled water for distribution to the Flint Community.Cassandra Hall  Our conference presence was significant: 23 of us attended the Great Lakes Regional, 56 attend- Hodegos ed Boule, 4 attended Undergraduate Roundup and 19 attended the Michigan Cluster  Chapter Acknowledgments: Jacqueline Smith-Davis  Regional Awards Graduate Advisor  S.T.A.R Award International Standards Committee Terry E. MannAssistant Graduate Advisor  Gold level EAF Award  2nd place Charlene Truitt Nelson Chapter Website Award  2nd place Outstanding International Program Digital Scrapbook  Regional Director’s Exemplary Achievement AwardGloria Brown  Platinum Chapter Award EAFPhilacter COMMITTEES: Dorothy Dean  Soror Dorothy Dean, AKA Connection Coordinator, hosted two Candidates ‘Meet and Greet’ Re-AKA Connection ceptions, one in June and the other in October, with the National Congress of Black Women.  Chairman and Co-chairman, Sorors Linda Carter McClure, Anita Lowe, and the MembershipNancy Quarles Committee sponsored a New Members Orientation, established a Konnected Pearls sororParliamentarian mentoring program and hosted a Membership ‘Glam Shots and Games’ Retreat.  AKATeen Committee Chairmen, Sorors Patricia Tims and Doreen Green and their committee,Monica Craig gave unwavering service, guidance and mentoring to our teens. Their commitment has not gone Historian unnoticed by me, the teens, or the membership of PTO. Throughout all of their activities, our AKATeens have demonstrated great character and poise attributed to the entire AKATeens Com-Sherrie Ross mittee and teen mentors. Chaplain  Teller Committee Chairman, Soror Ceretta Moore-Westbrook, and those who helped collect and count ballots during the year.  Soror Clara Hardy-Stone and the Audit Committee for completing our 2014 & 2015 Financial Au-Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®  dits. P O. Box 0794 Soror Sherrie Ross, Chaplain and the Pi Tau Omega Prayer Warriors, Sorors Jasmin Barnett,Southfield, MI 48037 Nancy Benjamin, Monica Craig, Joyce Matthew and Julie Price kept the chapter andwww.akasouthfield.org sorors lifted in prayer. 1

 Soror Peggy Dunigan, Chairman, and the Sisterly Relations Committee for keeping us on point to be sisterly at all times as well as honoring and acknowledging our Golden Divas and Silver Stars. Soror Rhonda Reynolds Williams, Chairman, and the Ways & Means Committee for raising funds needed to support Pi Tau Omega programs and for bringing back our always successful ‘Pink Hustle’. Soror Kimberly Cobb, Chairman, and the Technology team for an awesome chapter website and passing website evaluation. Soror Venus Norwood, Chairman, and the Standards Committee for working with your Chapter Basileus to ensure we had all required documentation for the chapter evaluation and working diligently to complete a Chapter Strategic Plan, with Soror Jane Hammond keeping all on point to meet requirements and deadlines. Our EAF Coordinator, Soror Gwendolyn Montgomery, and NPHC Representatives, Sorors Britney Horn and Kimberly Cobb, who kept us aware of related initiatives and events.Target 1: Educational Enrichment – Sorors Debbie Young, Nilda Tomas, Nancy Benjamin, and Antonia Watkins ASEND’s work with our students and the new partnership with Progressive Insurance Think HBCU donations. Remember, it’s not too late to make a donation for the 2016 Tax Year. Right Soror Nancy Benjamin?! One Million Backpacks: PTO donated 252 backpacks filled with school suppliesTarget II: Health Promotion – Sorors Estella Lee-Renfroe, Latonia Beech, Ceretta Moore-Westbrook, Veretta Nix, GailStevenson, Janet White, Susan Gordan-Jackson and Ivy Horn “Take Care of Yourself” – Health Fair event at St. John Providence Hospital Mental Health Matters in collaboration with the Southfield Library Longest Day Walk, NAMI Walk, the Fountains of Franklin service project Pink goes Red Hustle nights “Take Control of Your Diabetes” with members of the NPHCTarget III: Family Strengthening – Sorors Zena Kyles, Camille Walker, Kim Hurns and Ebony Morning Youth Financial Literacy Food pantry donations at Birney School and the Southfield ShelterTarget IV: Environmental Ownership – Soror Sheila Harton, Yvonne Solomon, and Angela Kemp Collaborating with Principal Hill in establishing a new partnership with Birney K-8 School in Southfield Cleaning out our closets and books to help others in needTarget V: Global Impact – Sorors Janather Mason, Brenda Jones and Dorothy Dean Southfield’s Martin Luther King March and Celebration UN Day in collaboration with Southfield Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta SororityWell Sorors, there you have it... our 2016 year in review! As you can see, we accomplished a lot over the last 12 months.THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!!To all elected and appointed officers, Sorors: Nisette Gray, Anti Basileus; Mary N. Moore, Grammateus; Carol Turner,Anti-Grammateus and Epistoleus; Angela Lewis, Tamiouchos; Connie Pinnock, Pecunious Grammateus; Toya Jefferson,Anti-Pecunious Grammateus; Gloria Brown, Philacter; Monica Craig, Historian; Cassandra Hall, Hodegos; Nancy Quarles,Parliamentarian; Dorothy Dean, AKA Connection Coordinator; Jackie Smith-Davis, Graduate Advisor; Twila Leigh, Ivy LeafReporter; Sherrie Ross, Chaplain; Frances Snider, Nominating Chairman and the rest of the Nominating Committee, NancyBenjamin, Jane Hammond, Zena Kyles, and Miriam Blanks-Smart, thank you all so much for fulfilling the duties of your officewith such dedication and commitment.To Soror Nisette Gray, the Target Program Chairmen, Community Impact Day Coordinators, and all Program Committeemembers, thank you for the fantastic activities that supported the Southfield Community and the LNDS Program. Jobs welldone!To the entire chapter membership, my thanks to each of you for your contribution to the success of Pi Tau Omega in 2016. Ialso want to thank all of the Sorors who served with me in some capacity 2014 and/or 2015. You helped lay the foundation forour 2016 year of accomplishments and I’m confident we will have an even better one in 2017. Always remember: ‘Alpha Kappa Alpha before Pi Tau Omega, Pi Tau Omega before Soror, and Soror before self.’Your support over the last three years has meant the world to me and you will always hold a special place in my heart. As myterm concludes and I quietly take my seat among you, let me again say THANK YOU. I appreciate everyone’s efforts to keep thechapter on track and moving forward. Know that I could not have done it without each of you and I am eternally grateful foryour love and the experience. I wish all of my Sorors a Happy Holiday Season and a Prosperous, Healthy and Happy New Year!Sisterly,Soror Terry E. MannBasileus 2

Launching New Dimensions of ServiceSMPTO Programs…always making a positive impact on Our CommunityTHANK YOU, to all my Pi Tau Omega Sorors. Your contributions of time and sincere effort led to oursuccessful work in our Southern Oakland communities. These are our leaders that paved the way.I am beyond proud of our accomplishments. We executed programs, in the last two years, whichraised awareness of how to become a well-educated, healthier, family-focused individual with theability to be a better steward of their environment while being a good neighbor to those that sur-round us whether far or near.You have all blessed me with the ability to grow as a leader. I learned so much from each of you.THANK YOUPassionate about PTO,Soror Nisette GrayProgram Chair and [email protected] Program Chairman: Soror Nisette GrayA.S.C.E.N.D.SM Target 1: Educational Enrichment Soror Nilda Thomas Co-Chairman Soror Deborah Cook-Young Chairman Soror Carol Turner(Consultant and Great Lakes Representative to the International Program Committee)Think HBCU SM Soror Nancy Benjamin ChairmanOne Million Backpacks SM Soror Antonia Watkins Chairman Target 2: Health Promotion1. Stroke and Heart Disease Soror Estelle Lee-Renfroe Soror LaTonia Beech2. Alzheimer Disease and Caregiver Support Chairman Co-Chairman Program3. Mental HealthFebruary, 2015 Community Impact Days Soror Veretta NixPink Goes Red for Heart Health Da Co-CoordinatorApril, 2015: AKA /NAMI Alliance Soror Ceretta Moore-Westbrook Coordinator Soror Janet WhiteJune, 2015: Longest DayTM Alzheimer’s Co-Coordinatorsupport Activities Soror Gail Stevenson Soror Ivy Horn Coordinator Co-Coordinator Soror Susan Gordan-Jackson CoordinatorJuly, 2015: Mental Health Awareness Day Observance to be held at International ConferencesDiabetes and Women’s Wellness Soror Nadine Cook Soror Camille Walker-Banks1. Childhood Hunger Initiatives Coordinator Co-Chairman2. Family Seasonal Wraps SM3. Fiscal Responsibility Programs Target 3: Family Strengthening Soror Ebony Morning Co-Coordinator Soror Zena Kyles Chairman Soror Yvonne Solomon Co-Chairman Community Impact Day Soror Brenda JonesOctober, 2015 Soror Kim Hurns Co-ChairmanChildhood Hunger Awareness Day Coordinator1. AKA 1908 Playground Project SM Target 4: Environmental Ownership2. Restore, Refresh, Renew Project SM3. Acts of Green Program SM Soror Sheila Harton Chairman Community Impact DayMay, 2015 Soror Angela Kemp1908 Playground Mobilization Day Coordinator Target 5: Global ImpactUNA-USA Global Classrooms Project Soror Janather Mason(United Nations Association) Chairman Community Impact DayJanuary, 2015 Soror Dorothy DeanMLK Day of Service Coordinator 3

Community 2017 MLK Day of Service Activities Include Collecting Donations for the Homeless and Partici- Impact Day pating in the Annual MLK Peace Walk and Program January 16, 2017MLK Day of Service On Monday, January 16, 2017, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force will hold its 32nd annualSoror Dorothy Dean Peace Walk and Program. Pi Tau Omega has volunteered again this year to participate by providing Coordinator water to participants. PTO will have a table at the Pavilion to make the community aware of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s presence in Oakland County and the State of Michigan. Additionally, PTO will make the federal holiday a day of service for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and provide a location at the event to drop off items needed by a local homeless shelter due to the extreme cold weather. The items to donate are: Children’s ages 1st grade to High School- Gloves, Hats, Coats, Hand sanitizer, Scarves, Book Bags, Lotion, Soap.Additionally, PTO will participate in the 32nd Annual Peace Walk at Hope United Methodist Church. Marchers should arrive at theChurch at 9:00 a.m. on the Gymnasium side. The PTO Banner should be visibly shown and marchers will march down Civic CenterDrive to the Southfield Pavilion. At the Program, an AKA PTO table will be available near Registration to drop off items at the eventat the PTO Table. Be sure to sign in to receive credit for the event or donation. This is a community service event.Volunteers are needed:Table Display: The display table at the City of Southfield Pavilion needs to be decorated. On Sunday, January 15, 2017, the Pavilionwill be available at 3 pm. to 6 p.m for decorating tables. Contact your MLK Community Impact Coordinator if you want to assistwith setup.Soror Dorothy DeanMLK Community Impact CoordinatorSorors, thank you for taking the Longest Day Journey with us as Ways and Means Committeewe discovered facts on brain health, the 10 warning signs ofAlzheimer’s disease, research opportunities, attended the Still Soror Rhonda Reynolds-WilliamsAlice movie, visited nursing homes, community education, Chairmanfundraising, outreach, walked and provided awareness forourselves and our families. Sorors,Soror Susan Gordon-Jackson and Soror Ivy Horn, PTO We appreciate your support of the 2016 Ways and MeansCoordinators for the International Community Impact Day tosupport the Alzheimer’s Association Partnership. Committee. Your participation in this year’s fundraising events helped us to meet our financial goal. Thank you for making 2016 a successful year! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! Sisterly, The Ways and Means Committee Soror Miriam Blanks-Smart, Soror Sharon Burnett, Soror Gloria Brown Soror Bessie Burden, Soror Christina Carson Soror Heidie Cobb, Soror Nadine Cook, Soror Palina Drake, Soror Kristina Johnson, Soror Nisette Gray, Soror Toya Jefferson Soror Zena Kyles ,Soror Karmyn Lett So- ror Leslie Petty Soror Theresa Matthews, Soror Rhonda Reynolds-Williams Soror Ebony, Robinson Adams, Soror Nilda Thomas, Soror Camille Walker-Banks, & Soror Denise Williams 4

A message from Very Important Financial Information Starting December 20th the financial team will be on Christmas break for the rest of the year.your Tamiouchos The last day, the financial team will accept Chapters dues, Income receipts, and Vouchers for the year is December 19, 2016. Just a reminder, the 2017Soror Angela Lewis Membership dues should been paid December 31, 2016 and the month of January is a grace period. Anyone who pays before February 1st, will still have continuous service. Personalchecks will be accepted through December 31, 2016. Beginning January 1, 2017, only cash, cashier’s checks, or money orderswill be accepted. Please make your check, or money order payable toAlpha Kappa Alpha.The last day to turn in any outstanding receipts for 2016 is January 12, 2017. After January 12, 2017, the outstanding receiptis considered a chapter donation.If you have any questions about your 2017 membership dues, please call/text Soror Angela Lewis at 586-907-2296.2017 Dues Schedule from Dec 1,, 2016 Please Mail your payments to: New Voucher Process:thru February 1, 2017: Soror Connie Pinnock The new voucher process started May 23rd at Regular Members - $355 17870 Elder Drive the Retiree Members - $311.25 Clinton Township, MI 48038 Executive Board Meeting. Life Members/Regular - $230 214-213-4696 Cell a) When you submit your voucher, we need Life Members/Retired - $186.25 OR Reactivation - $375 Soror Toya Jefferson your original receipts and a Xerox copy of 29340 Stellamar Drive the original receipts. Southfield, MI 48076 248-252-7541 2016 Financial Cards: The 2016 Financial Cards are in! Please see the Pecunious Grammateus, Soror Connie Pinnock to pick up your card.You can pick up your 2017 Membership invoice form starting November 28th at the November Executive Board meeting.Starting February 2, 2017, a late fee fine will be charged. 2017 Membership dues and fines paid in the month of February orlater for the current fiscal year must be paid by cash, cashier’s check, check, or money orders. Please make your check, or moneyorder payable to Alpha Kappa Alpha.Per the Bylaws (Article III – Membership, Section 1A):1. A Financial PTO member meets all Chapter and Corporate financial obligations. A financial member has the following rights and privileges: to participate in chapter business discussions, make motions, speak in debate, vote on all questions, serve on committees, received chapter newsletters, access PTO Yahoo Groups, attend PTO events, is a member of the Pearls of Services Foundation, Inc. and all other rights and privileges as described in the Chapter’s Bylaws and Manual of Standard Operating Procedures (MSOP).Per MSOP (Section 5(d) - Financial): (d) A Soror is not considered a financial Chapter member until her dues are received and the Corporate office has officially placed her name on the corporate membership roster for PTO.Soror Toya Jefferson is responsible for the Dues Alliance program. The last date to pay on the Dues Alliance account will beDecember 8, 2016. All Dues Alliance accounts must be paid in full by December 8, 2016. Just Reminder, the financial team will be only available to process financial paperwork Parliamentary Corner Soror Nancy Quarles, ParliamentarianDuring the November 10, 2016, General Meeting the chapter passed the 2017 budget which contain the 25%retiree reduction in dues. This action requires an update to the Manual of Standard Operations (MSOP). Below you will find theupdated language for the MSOP, Section 5 -Financials, Dues on page 8:Dues(g) Any Soror who has reached the age of 62, or who has retired from active employment due to time on the job or disability, asdefined by IRS standards, and has held membership with the chapter for a minimum of four (4) consecutive years, shall be eligi-ble for a 25% reduction in her Chapter dues. She continues to be responsible for all other financial Chapter and Corporate obli-gations, including EAF membership dues and Pearls of Service Foundation, Incorporated dues.During the December General Chapter meeting, I will have an addendum for the MSOP to give to all financial sorors containingthe updated MSOP Section 5. 5

Quote from Soror to Soror Guide: “Alpha Kappa Alpha programs have 2017 Founders’ Daybeen at the forefront of positive change for Blank women throughoutthe world. Respecting our leaders is what we do as Alpha Kappa Alpha The PTO Founders' Day Celebration iswomen. Respect is defined as a feeling of deep admiration for some- February 18, 2017.one or something elicited by their abilities, qualities or achievements.The record of great leadership in Alpha Kappa Alpha started in 1908 Ticket sales will begin in December. Table assignmentsand continues to thrive each year,” will only be given for paid tickets. This is an open event, so please invite other Sorors, Greeks and Pi Tau Omega has had a nearly 30-year history of great leaders that have helped our chapter to grow and excel in sisterhood and service friends. Rededication will not be held at this event, but to our community. They have volunteered time, ideas, resources, will occur at the January General Membership and ingenuity to assure that Pi Tau Omega keeps its ongoing com- Meeting. mitment of Service to All Mankind. At the December chapter Founders’ Day Chairman, meeting, be sure to thank our leaders (officers and committee Mary Neyland Moore The PTO Soror-to-Soror Christmas Gift Exchange It’s almost Christmas! Let’s give (and get) a gift! At the DecemberPTO Chapter Meeting, we will again do our Soror-to-Soror gift exchangePlease bring a gift to the December meeting. If you bring a gift, it is guaranteed you'll receive a gift..Your gift should be valued at $20 and, of course, given with sisterly love!When you come to the meeting, drop off your gift in the box near thetable in the back of the room. Don't forget to sign your name on the Membership Updates\"From\" spot on the gift tag. Also, highlight your name on the roster pro-vided so we'll know who is participating. PTO Pictorial Directory project has been postponed un- til the Members Only section of the PTO Website has been established. The new process for producing theStandards Committee Pictorial Directory will be less labor-intensive than pre- vious editions. The Membership Committee will be workingHello Sorors, closely with the Technology Committee on this endeavor.We will be reviewing the Strategic Plan during our next chapter An updated photo of all PTO members in the Dropboxmeeting on December 12th before presenting it to the Regional folder would be ideal for the Members Only section.Director. The Plan addresses many of the gaps that the sorors of Sorors who took glam shots will be includedPi Tau Omega addressed during the membership survey in Janu- automatically in the Dropbox folder. Collection of photosary of this year. will continue until Friday, December 23. A reminderPlease come prepared with any questions you may have. The notice for loading the Dropbox folder will be issued fordocument is fluid and can be changed if adjustments need to be sorors who wish to use their personal photo.made as we move through the next two years. It will be im-portant to understand what is in the plan as we move into 2017. In early November, the Konnected Pearls, PTO Soror-toSeveral committees are impacted and will be evaluated based on Soror Mentoring Program led by Soror Anita Lowe, heldthe information those committees provided. its first forum, which featured a rich and informative dicussion by former and current PTO leaders. Led byCalling All Sorors! Soror Terry, the forum culminated with a video and anIf you are a committee chairman, co-chairman, or committee invigorating discussion on the biggest mistakes a leadermember, you will want to be present at the 2017 Operations can make. On behalf of the Membership Committee,Workshop. Save the date of Saturday January 7, 2017. We will bediscussing the changes in reporting for all committees, the we wish you and yours:Strategic Plan evaluation, technology changes, and several other Merry Christmas! Happy Kwanza!topics. A formal invitation will be forthcoming and the Joyous New Year!Standards Committee hopes to see you there. Soror Linda Carter-McClure, Chairman Soror Anita Lowe, Co-ChairmanSisterly,Venus Norwood, Standards Chairman 6

AKATeens Soror Patricia Tims, Chairman Soror Dorene Green, Co-Chairman The AKATeens had a successful retreat. The teens received valuable information about financial aid and submitting college and scholarship applications early. They learned about creating a budget and pro- tecting their credit score. They had hands on experience with the technique of applying a facial. They al- so engaged in Zumba and Yoga exercises. The teens participated in a karoke dance off contest and manne- quin pose challenge. The teens had a lot of fun learning and bonding with one another. The success of the retreat would not have happened without the help and assistance of the AKATeens committee and mentors. Mentor Mentee Outing was held at JD Racing. A great time was had by mentees as well as mentors driving the race cars. Thanks to all of the sorors for their donations and participated in the activities.Upcoming EventsAKATeen Meeting @HUMC (3-6) December 11thChristmas Caroling @Lasher Hills Care Center (6:45) December14thCommunity Service Items Donations at K-Love Hope Center (3-5) December 16th Pink and White Ball Soror Rhonda Reynolds-Williams, Chairman Tickets are available at all Pearls of Service Founda- tion, Inc. and Pi Tau Omega-AKA Meetings. 7