Volume 5 Number 10 Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter 2013 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BASILEUS Marianne Walker ANTI BASILEUS Kim Topps Carter GRAMMATEUS Nicole Montgomery ANTI GRAMMATEUS Angela Williams NPHC Breakfast with Santa EPISTOLEUS Felicia Wright TAMIOUCHOS Cherise Story PECUNIOUS GRAMMATEUS Lisa Brooks ANTI PECUNIOUS GRAMMATEUS Diana Johnson PHILACTER Charvela Fearon HODEGOS Sheri Cole Angel Tree Project IVY LEAF REPORTER Davina Horace HISTORIAN Karen Aubrey GRADUATE ADVISORS: JoCarolyn Goode Gamma Psi, TSU Pamela Lazard Omicron Gamma, UHD PARLIAMENTARIAN Christina Allen-Crowder CHAPLAIN Mary Barnett Santa at the Ensemble MEMBERS-AT-LARGE Anja Llorens Joyce Jacquet Diane Merritte
GREETINGS FROM THE BASILEUS Soror Marianne Walker HO HO HO And Merry Christmas to All Dear Sorors, It s that time of year again, and aren t we all pleased about it! Some days of perfect weather, so far no snow, so maybe you can doubt it! Hearty appetites, and skinny dresses with diet food that tastes like mush! But Christmas is coming very soon, so you may just want to rush! Since autumn has come, you run, run, run, because you want to finish your shopping! Then clean the house, wax your floors, and don t forget your mopping! There s always food you like to eat, and not the usual old burger hopping. There are lots of parties and fun for all, and your feet are taking a beating! Maybe this year, you can stay in bed, and catch up on your sleeping! Happy Holidays, Soror Marianne Marianne Young Walker Chapter Basileus 2 Celebrating 85 Years of Supreme Service
SORORS IN THE SPOTLIGHT Kudos to our 85 th Anniversary Committee who worked tirelessly in presenting one of the most beautiful and elaborate events Sorors are likely to behold. Hats off to Sorors Willie Mae Evans, Pam Evans, Demonica Johnson, Joyce Jacquet, Tamara Cubit, Karen Grays, Tiffany Green, Melanie Smith, Diedra Fontaine, and their committees who made this event possible. If you have not bought your tickets, you will need to act fast they are almost all gone! Congratulations are in order for Soror Polly Turner, who recently learned that an award in her name will be listed at the University of Texas Health Science Center as Distinguished a first designation for a Black female scholar Alumnus. Soror Pat Grant was recognized for her outstanding work in education. The recent retiree says that her efforts keep her looking young! And Soror Alonie Moncrief was named Teacher of the Year at her school. Nurturing Our Ivy Please inform Soror Sheri Cole or the Basileus as you become aware of those who are ill or otherwise challenged. COMING SOON EVENTS YOU DON T WANT TO MISS UPCOMING LOCAL, REGIONAL, INTERNATIONAL EVENTS Alpha Kappa Omega s 85th Anniversary Celebrating 85 Years of Timeless Service The Westin Galleria Hotel 5060 West Alabama Houston, TX 77056 Saturday, December 28, 2013 6:00PM 12:00AM Tickets: $85.00 Sorors, Please Pray For. Soror Lillian Cook is thankful as she feels our love Soror Christina Allen Crowder is feeling better and is hoping to return to us soon Soror Dorothy Gabriel s husband who is recovering Soror Clarise Gatlin in serious injury to son in vehicle accident - (he is the brother of Sorors Ree and Dee Gatlin) Soror Lena Gilmore who has been hospitalized Soror Mary Jefferson who is not feeling well Soror Franceta Lane who is feeling stronger Soror Barbara Mathis who is recuperating at home Soror Gloria Melton who is feeling better Soror Brenda Peters Chase whose mother passed away Soror Betty Parish Riddle Harris who is improving slowly Soror Paula Saizan whose brother is very ill HMAC Founders Day Power Center 12401 S Post Oak Houston, TX 77045 January 26, 2014 South Central Region s 2013 Chapter of the Year 3
Breakfast with Santa Wows Kiddies and their Parents.And you thought this was just a fun day for kids??? (Boy oh Boy!) Were you wrong! On Saturday, December 7 th at The Blue Triangle Community Center was packed with over 276 children and more than 80 of their parents, as the Houston Pan Hellenic Council filled the bellies and the gift bags of some of Houston s neediest families with their children. The fun-filed day began with a hearty breakfast prepared by the Pan- Hellenic Men and served by the wonderful Sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Zeta Phi Beta, Delta Sigma Theta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. After eating all they could hold, the kids danced, shot hoops, sang Carols and grabbed hundreds of toys and gifts to take home. What a way to spend a great Saturday! Members of the divine nine made Santa feel quite welcome as he made his appearance in his upscale Santa Suit. South East Texas Cluster was G-R-E-A-T! Chapters from all over the South East Texas landscape were in Houston to be a part of the wonderful cluster coordinated by the Missouri City Sorors of Mu Kappa Omega Chapter. EYL Enjoys a Holiday Fieldtrip A fantastic journey was enjoyed by 38 members of our EYL club from Attucks Middle School to celebrate the oncoming Christmas holidays. The occasion was a wonderful experience for the young ladies who shared luncheon with their sponsors, school chaperone, and committee members. A chartered bus transported the students from the school on this past Saturday, December 14th to the Silver Palace Restaurant. A festive buffet was provided and the girls chose whatever they wanted to eat. While good table manners ere emphasized, most of the young ladies decided that a second helping would not be frowned upon. Soror Laura Allen - chairman, always calm and gracious, kept watchful eyes on the girls who were excited about the restaurant atmosphere. As Chapter Basileus of their sponsoring chapter, I encouraged each EYL member in attendance to be polite and careful during the holiday season. The culminating treat of the day was the continuation of the field trip to Houston s premiere theater THE ENSEMBLE, where the girls witnessed a wonderful Holiday production. This was a unique experience for many of the girls who had never seen a live theatrical production. Many of the girls said they would never forget this wonderful experience. All Alumnae Basilei from our area met with our Regional Director (Soror Chelle Wilson) on the Friday evening preceding the conference. Chapters dressed in business/ casual attire set the tone for a relaxed but professional tone for the day s agenda. Photos from Santa at the Ensemble Favorite topics were Protocol, Standards, and Sisterly Relations! Attention Code Pink! Sisterly discussions, friendly rivalries, and honest dialogue made for a great day of planning and strategic study. There were no empty seats at this Retreat! 4 Chapter Website http://www.alphakappaomega.com
Angel Tree Project Captures the Hearts of the Community AGAIN! On Saturday, December 14, 2013 Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter hosted its Angel Tree Christmas project for the third straight year. The event took place at the Change Happens Community Facility which is located in the heart of Houston (near downtown). Seventy children of all ages signed up to ask Santa to make their dreams come true. Over 50 Sorors from our chapter signed up to make these dreams happen. Gifts of every description appeared all at once, and children s eyes widened with joy and disbelief. Everything from bicycles to school uniforms, to toys, games, and electronics were delivered according to the wishes of the children. Several children had tears welled-up in their eyes. Many parents thanked the Sorors and explained that gifts would have been non- existent if it were not for our chapter members generosity. We all joined in, and sang Holiday carols! Then Sorors served individualized Pizza slices to all in attendance. Many of the youngsters described this day as absolutely perfect. or their best day ever! Alpha Kappa Omega welcomed this response and told the children that we thought the day was pretty cool too, and looked forward to seeing them again next year! Christmas just seems more meaningful, when you give of yourselves and straight from your hearts! SPECIAL OFFER AKA SPECIALTY LICENSE The Texas AKA Specialty License Plates are now available to order: http://www.myplates.com/ designseries/plpd129 Sorors, please update your personal information on the chapter s website at www.alphakappaomega.com. N E W S F L A S H Reservations for Sorority Meeting: Sorors, we are still requesting that you call or respond to your evite to make reservations for all sorority meetings. Please refer to the information below and call your representative, according to your last name, no later than: Monday, December 16, 2013 by 8:00 PM Katharine Brown A-Bo 713-729-7363 Nekeidra Brown Br-By 832-236-0966 Lena Gilmore C-E 713-528-3164 Rhonda Haralson F-G 713-413-9226 Demetria Williams H-I 713-748-1631 Melba Henry J 713-522-3004 Lillie Jones K-L 281-442-4759 Gloria Melton M-P 713-633-4803 Sydna Paul R-S 713-521-0646 Jamie Watson T-Z 832-687-0044 STAYING CONNECTED Chapter Programs & Committees: Soror Kim Topps Anti-Basileus ktopps@yahoo.com 281.842.7310 Dues, Reactivation, Transfers, Golden/Silver Star/Life Members: Soror Lisa Brooks Pecunious Grammateus 1231 River Rock Missouri City, Texas 77489 ltbrooks@peoplepc.com 281.835.3153 Courtesies: Soror Sheri Cole Hodegos sheridcole50@aol.com 713.340.2007 Information to be published in The Jewel : Soror Marianne Walker, Basileus akomegapresident@yahoo.com 713.523.9120 Change of Address, email or not Receiving The Jewel : Soror Felicia Wright Epistoleus felicia0103@yahoo.com 281.437.5756 Minutes of Chapter Meetings: Soror Nicole Montgomery Grammateus nicolemont.nm@gmail.com 713.739.4807 Tickets/Invitations to Chapter Events: Soror Paulette Frederick Ticketron Committee Chairman pmfederick@swbell.net 713.748.6606 Constitution, Manual of Standard Procedures and Chapter Bylaws: Soror Christina Allen Crowder Parliamentarian cjallen11@hotmail.com 512.619.4654 Death of a Soror or someone in a Soror s immediate family: Soror Marianne Walker, Basileus akomegapresident@yahoo.com 713.523.9120 Ivy Educational and Charitable Foundation of Houston, Inc.: Mrs. Staci Taylor Fullmighter President, Board of Directors staci_fullmighter@yahoo.com 713.471.4706 5 Chapter Website http://www.alphakappaomega.com