Volume 1 Isssue 6

Serving chapters in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina and The Bahamas

An E-Publication from the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated - Eneid A. Francis, Southern Area Director

Effecting Change Through the Power of Friendship and Service

ADVANTAGEThe Southern AreaThe Southern Area

Greetings fromthe Area Director

Page 3

Congratulations to the NewSouthern Area SHLI Class

Page 4

Joys and Pains of Being aFirst Term Chapter President

Page 6

Ethical MisstepsMitigating Risks in Linkdom

Page 8

Healthy LinkingPage 9

Mentoring Key to More Minority Males in STEM

Page 12

Bylaws and Standing RulesEquate to Orderly Chapters

Page 14

Archives: What to ThrowAway, What to Keep

Page 15

Ready, Set, SHOPMaking the most of the Assembly vendor experience

Page 16

Friendship: The GreatestMiracle of All

Page 22

Angels in Red DressesChapters celebrate Heart Health Month

Page 31

Coffee & ConversationsPage 52

inside this issueinside this issue

* Cover photo: New Orleans area sister chapters march for HIV awareness2

Dear Link Sisters,

Spring is the favorite season for many people, and it is certainly easy to understand.With spring, the first flowers begin to bloom and the world turns a lovely Links green.It’s the season of renewal and a time for celebrating life.

Spring is also the time for renewal and celebration in The Links,Incorporated. During springtime, chapters will elect and install

new officers and welcome new members into our circle offriendship and service. This year, chapters in the SouthernArea extended invitations to membership to about 200 dy-namic women. We are looking forward to welcoming thesewomen into Linkdom. Many former members will also bereinstated to membership.

Additionally, spring provides our chapters with the oppor-tunity to reflect on what they have accomplished and wherethey want to go. Last fall, we engaged in strategic planningand set the course for the future. Take some time to reviewyour goals and congratulate yourselves for your progress in

reaching those goals.

The Southern Area, composed of 77 chapters in seven states and the Commonwealthof the Bahamas, with close to 4,000 members, represents the largest Area in The

Links, Incorporated. This concentration of service-oriented women is poised to im-prove the lives of the individuals in the communities we serve. We can play a pivotalrole in helping to correct the disparities in the African American community in matric-ulation rates, college admissions, obesity and home foreclosures. Through our awe-some coalition of determined women dedicated to friendship and service, we areEffecting Change Through the Power of Friendship and Service.

In the spirit, _|Ç~ XÇx|w

Eneid A. Francis

Southern Area Director

3

The Southern Area of the Links, Incorporated

is pleased to present the area’s 2012-2014 Scott Hawkins

Leadership Institute Cohort V Fellows

Cassan Blake

N. Broward County (FL)

Paula Orr

Charleston (SC)

Cori Brock Cooper

Pontchartrain (LA)

Sidney Echevarria

Piedmont (NC)

Vera Jordan

Montgomery (AL)

Tara Reid - Jones

Triangle Park (NC)

Countess Thompson

Natchez (MS)

Royshanda Smith

Greater Mobile (AL)

Kimberly Ford

Greater Huntsville (AL)

Yolanda Hill

Baton Rouge (LA)

Susan Branch

Charlotte (NC)

Tammy Reed

Dade County (FL)

4

“The Spiritual Side of Success”One day, two brilliant thinkers found themselves sitting next to each other

on an airplane. They started talking and soon began a lively discussionabout literature, politics and science.

After a time, one of the ladies said, “By the way, I’m an astronomer. Whatkind of work do you do?” The other lady replied, “I’m a Theologian-a BibleScholar.” The astronomer says, “You know, I’ve never understood how a per-son could spend their entire life studying the Bible when the whole thing issummed up by, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” TheTheologian smiled and said, “That’s an interesting coincidence, because I’venever understood how a person could spend their entire life studying astron-omy when the whole thing is summed up by, Twinkle, Twinkle little star, howI wonder what you.”The Biblical Principles for true success in our realistic bottom-line world

can be summed up in these 5 dynamics:1. Believe the truth about yourself; don’t underestimated or exaggerated

your potential, position or abilities. Play your part, but stay in your lane. Seeyourself as God sees you.2. Discover the Blueprint for your success; follow your Divine design for

this leads to your inner peace even if the road is bumpy.3. Play by the Rules; in our hearts, we know right from wrong. Doing busi-

ness ethically is simply a matter of adhering to a system of moral values.Good Character is doing what’s right even when no one is looking.4. Check your own self; we all have limitations and shortcomings. Rid your-

selves of attitudes and practices that you know deep down are not right.5. Love Others; Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as

one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other canreach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trou-ble. We were created to live in unity. Not only will you benefit in the long run,but so will those who are around you. - Joy Wallace

_|Ç~áÑxÜtà|ÉÇ

5

There’s a First

Time for Everything

Now, I want you to think about your

chapter. What’s going on within your

chapter? What is your status as a

member, a chairperson, and as a

friend? Are you doing what you prom-

ised? Are you maintaining your

pledge? The answers are what leg-

ends are made of.

However, the orchestration of every-

thing that happens within and sur-

rounding our chapters are lead by one

person- the chapter president. Have

you ever pondered about the position?

Do you see yourself fulfilling that role

if you have not already done so?

Does it scare you? Does the

challenge excite you? What do

you believe your chapter presi-

dent thinks about being the

president?

As I am writing this, I can’t help

but chuckle (sisterly, of course)

about a fellow Link sister who

asked years ago what the job

description looked like for the

chapter president. I had to laugh

out loud the more I thought

about it… Not because it’s was

that funny, but because the pres-

ident’s role is ENDLESS.

Many first term presidents have re-

vealed they spend an average of 5-10

hours a week serving their chapter.

That’s a lot of time for already busy

successful women. Chapter presi-

dents cannot be selfish with their time.

First we will not let them (smile) and

second, there’s always service to per-

form and programs to plan.

Though many of our first term presi-

dents previously served in other ca-

pacities within Linkdom and other

organizations, presidential leadership

in Links can be an eye–opening, hum-

bling experience. If you read about

leadership or Google it, you will see

“visionary” as a key word. Leadership

in Linkdom requires a visionary leader.

Much of this acknowledged ‘on the job’

training is innate before a president

takes office.

Eileen Davis-Jerome of the Fort

Lauderdale Chapter stated “I am a left-

handed, right brained, (I think out of

the box) visionary. While some may

think that I am delusional. I like to think

I am respectfully, creative.”

Barbara Crenshaw of Natchez

Chapter believes she has “imple-

mented core values.” She feels she

has communicated the vision, empow-

ered relationships, and demonstrated

innovative actions within her chapter.

Let’s set the record straight. Being

the president of your Link chapter is an

honor. Your chapter nominates and

votes for you to take the lead. They

trust you. They are saying in so many

words, we know you can get the job

done! The tricky part of this is our first

term presidents need us to stay true to

what we have pledged. In many cases,

Links in Leadership

by Kenyonn DempsFor a moment, I want you to

close your eyes and reflect onyour personal journey intoLinkdom.

How were you inducted? Whatyear? Who was present? Howdid you feel? Did your chapterembrace you with Link hugs,kisses, spirit, and an armful ofLink gear?

For most of us, that’s exactlywhat happened. The induction isour special time.

It just feels good!

Barbara EdwardsDade County (FL)

Betty CodyJacksonville (FL)

Eileen DavisFort Lauderdale (FL)

Faye Tate WilliamsDurham (NC)

Katrena GrantTuscaloosa (AL)

F I R S T   T E R M C H A P T E R   P R E S I D E N T S

6

our presidents are in good hands.

Betty Cody of the Jacksonville (FL)

Chapter admitted having a fantastic

Executive Board is the secret to her

success and Faye Tate Williams of the

Durham (NC) Chapter feels she has

been “supported by her chapter over-

whelmingly”.

Unfortunately, that feeling is not uni-

versal.Several first term presidents

wish they could wave a magic wand

and make their role as president easier

by:

1. Generating increased support from

their charter members

2. Freezing time

3. Leading peaceful, “let’s agree to

disagree meetings”

4. Enforcing members to read the by-

laws

5. Securing a easy way to tell mem-

bers that “integrity” is the only way to

report data on Link reports

6. Reigniting Link passion within

those members who prefer to write a

check instead of serve, and,

7. Decreasing the demands and de-

liverables from area and national

It’s not easy being a leader. It’s not

fun holding people accountable, and

its definitely not trouble-free being a vi-

sionary. However a first time president

does receive some wonderful experi-

ences. Carolia Malone of the Colum-

bus (GA) Chapter expressed her joy in

seeing contentment in asking her

chapter what type of programs they

wanted to be involved in. The chapter

listed them and so far, all besides one

has been fulfilled. Katrena Grant of the

Tuscaloosa (AL) Chapter noted her

greatest joy as “seeing the goals of the

organization come to fruition in the

local community.” As a recipient of a

grant for the Youth Leadership and

Mentoring Program, SuccessLinks,

everyone in her chapter was excited.

Others find their joy through the orga-

nization’s foundation. Renee Jones of

the Greater Miami (FL) Chapter

shared, “we strive to celebrate Friend-

ship Month not only in November, but

throughout the entire year.”

The life of a first time chapter

president can be rewarding,

spirited, humbling, exhausting,

exhilarating, frustrating, and at

times radical decisions have

to be made. Barbara Edwards

of the Dade County (FL)

Chapter shared, “immedi-

ately following a very suc-

cessful planning retreat, I

attended a Southern Area

Leadership Summit. I

called my Executive Board

from the Summit and told

them we were not going to

implement the service

project we had worked so

hard developing at the

retreat. I recommended

that we postpone it. Instead, I

wanted the chapter to implement the

Childhood Obesity Prevention Curricu-

lum Project encouraged by the South-

ern Area leadership at the Summit. As

it turned out, everyone agreed and it

was a highly successful umbrella proj-

ect.”

Another first term president men-

tioned her most radical decision was

removing chapter members who had

not met their Link obligations and

Eileen Davis-Jerome of the Fort Laud-

erdale (FL) Chapter’s most radical de-

cision was “maximizing the use of

members’ talents.” Renee Jones of the

Greater Miami (FL) Chapter believes

her most radical decision was imple-

menting four Childhood Obesity Pre-

vention programs simultaneously at

four different sites within a six month

period from the south to the north end

of Miami-Dade County.

Through trials and triumphs, our first

term presidents have to be

a m a z i n g

women in and

out of chapter meetings. Mendee Bull-

Ligon of the St. Petersburg (FL) Chap-

ter concluded, “being president means

representing our organization locally

and also leading and assisting chapter

members in the direction proposed by

our national organization.”

We have some very awesome women

who have stepped up to lead our chap-

ters. Let’s remember to always re-

spect and support our leadership.

Together we will continue to Effectchange through the power of friend-ship and service is a cohesive effort.

Remember, our presidents need us! Aswe continue providing unconditional support,respect, and servicealong their side, we canpersevere in movingmountains, changinglives, and making a positive impact.

Renee JonesGreater Miami (FL)

Sharon Reed LeFleur’s Bluff (MS)

Mendee Bull LigonSt. Petersburg (FL)

F I R S T   T E R M C H A P T E R   P R E S I D E N T S

Barbara CrenshawNatchez (MS)

CHAPTER PRESIDENT JOB TITLE: Chapter PresidentRESPONSIBLE TO: The chapterand the communityDEPARTMENT:All facets,committeesand sub-com-mittees

PERKS: Unlimited serviceopportunities and boundlessfriendshipDUTIES: Transformationalleadership HOURS: 24/7

7

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Standard: Financial Operations

Q: A Link’s chapter sponsored a fundraising luncheon hon-oring “Youth Role Models”- wherein community funds andpublic donations were secured. Applications for role modelswere solicited from the community and winners would to berecognized with plaques and monetary gift certificates. Thegrandson of a Link’s member was recommended as a candi-date. Would it be appropriate to award and recognize a Link’sgrandson as the Top Role Model?

A: In accordance with Standard 2: Fi-

nancial Operations, B. Recusal from

Participation in Sponsored Public

Fundraising Activities Involving, Lot-

teries, Auctions (silent and live),

Awards, Gifts or Prizes, the situation as

described would be inappropriate.

“Members and their immediate family

members shall recuse themselves from

participating” (in such activities) “and

shall not accept any prize or gift at any

such event.”

The Standard: Conflict of Interest

Q: A dynamic and savvy new member-with exceptionalfundraising credentials - was appointed by the president tochair the Chapter’s Funds Development Committee. Duringthe course of the year, the chair secured huge, sponsorshipdonations from several businesses with which she has a rela-tionship. It was noted by the financial secretary that checksmade payable to the chapter had been presented by the mem-ber as payment for her dues.When questioned, the memberstated the sponsorships had been provided by the businesses-specifically for her dues. Can monies donated to chapters by

sponsors be designated as payment for a Link’s dues? Has themember violated the Organization’s Code of Ethics and Stan-dards?

A: Standard 2: Financial Operations, A. Use of Public

Funds states: “Monies collected from the public for service

projects and other charitable activities shall be used for the

stated purposes only.” If the member in fact asked for the funds

to sponsor her dues, and the businesses provided the funds

specifically for that purpose, then no violation of Standard

2: A. has occurred and the monies can be designated as such.

However, the potential for a Con-

flict of Interest may be of concern

in this situation and the nature of the

relationship between the member

and the businesses should be ex-

plored.

Standard 5: Conflict of Inter-

est, A. Refraining from Engaging

in a Conflict of Interest states: “To

promote further our core values of

integrity, honesty, responsibility

and accountability, each member

shall refrain from engaging in any activity or action that consti-

tutes a conflict of interest or that gives the appearance of a con-

flict of interest. A conflict of interest may be potential or actual

and can be caused by a personal relationship, a financial rela-

tionship or in rare cases, an unwavering position or belief.”

The determining factor in this situation would be whether or

not the member has a financial relationship with the busi-

nesses, and whether said relationship was misused to

seek the funds. If this is the case, then a violation of Standard

5.A. has occurred.

Next issue: Communiations

Xà{|vtÄ `|ááàxÑáMMitigating Risks in Linkdom

by Selma Robinson-Ayers

Ethics,, Chair

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!” Ethics is paramountin maintaining a culture of integrity;, and as members of The Links, Incor-

porated, we have the ultimate responsibility to carry out the day-to-day business of the organizationin an ethical manner. An ethical misstep can have severe consequences for members and wide-spread repercussions forCchapters. By understanding the guiding principles and recognizing andmitigating risks early, we can advance our culture of integrity and uphold the highest ethical stan-dards of conduct inLinkdom!

As part of the Southern Area’s commitment to provide enhanced communications and continuouseducation, the Commission on Ethics and Standards would like to share some Frequently AskedQuestions (FAQs), as a valuable resource in understanding the Standards and ensuring compliancewith the Code!

8

by Cori Brock CooperChair, S.A. Health and

Juman Services Every year most of us make

the same resolution; - loseweight, exercise more, get organized, or make ajob transition.

So who’s to say, you can’t have all of the above?Having it all, takes preparation, knowledge andcommitment. While developing a mantra andstarting to develop new healthy habits are critical,committing to our resolutions means having aplan. Let’s start with “lose weight and exercisemore.” The foundation of losing weight is “calo-ries in, calories out.” Unfortunately, most of usdon’t know how many calories we need to con-sume daily and as a result, we don’t know how todecrease our dietary intake to promote weightloss. The key to a healthy weight is understandingyour metabolism. Metabolism is the process bywhich your cells use and store energy. As we age,our metabolism slows due to decreased musclemass and decreased cell turnover; therefore, ourcaloric needs decrease. An equation is availableto calculate your metabolic rate and caloric needs.For women, the equation is as follows:

(10 x weight) + (6.25 x height)– (5 x age) – 161 =

Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) or calories burned at rest

[weight is in kilograms (pounds divided by 2.2)and height is in centimeters (inches multiplied by2.54)]

For example, a woman that is 43 years old, 5’7”tall, and weighs 175 pounds would have a RMR of:

(10 x 80) + (6.25 x 170) – (5 x 43) – 161 = 1,487

caloriesTo know the num-

ber of caloriesyou need to con-sume daily tomaintain yourweight, multi-ply your RMRby your levelof activity.See tablebelow.

The RMR in theprevious examplewas 1,487. Therefore,the equation for awoman that works at a deskdaily and walks for 30 minutes - 3days per week while socializing with a friend is asfollows:

1,487 x 1.375 = 2,045 calories (the number of calories you can eat daily without gaining weight)

To lose weight, you must subtract 500 caloriesfrom that daily total, (i.e.) 1,545 calories.

Calculate your RMR and if you want to loseweight, subtract by 500! Start working on keepingyour metabolism in check today !

MIND BODY

Healthy LinkingKnow the Equation forEffective Weight Loss

SOUL

1.2Sedentary –barely or no

exercise

1.725Very Active – hard

exercise 6 or 7days a week

1.55Moderately Active– moderate exer-cise 3 to 5 days

1.375Lightly Active –

easy exercise 1 to3 days per week

1.9Extremely Active –very hard exerciseand/or a physical

9

Links get ready for the

Southern Area BoutiqueDEBUTING MAY 1st

featuring an all new selection of Link specialtyitems just in time for your chapter inductions!

STAY TUNED FOR DETAILSItems will be available online with

proceeds to benefit the Southern Area

got links? the ultimate friendship and service experience

LINKS LINKS

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LINKS I LINKS

got links? The ultimate experience in friendship and service

S, M, L, XL, 2XL $20

I HEART LINKS: Available in short and 3/4 sleeve

S, M, L, XL, 2XL $20MOUSEPAD

$7

X Large Latte Mug$10

Customizable official Southern Area Charm pin with THREEstarter charms $50

Southern Area Crystal Ring $20

PROTOTYPE

10

11

by Dorothy Rowley

When it comes to propelling the

careers of young African Ameri-

cans into the fields of science,

technology, engineering and math

(STEM), the numbers are sorely

lacking. They are even more dis-

mal among black males, who –

along with their Latino counterparts

– now bear the distinction of being

equally disenfranchised from enter-

ing and succeeding in STEM.

But Ray Jones, an associate

professor at Clemson Uni-

versity in South Car-

olina, who was

among 200 individ-

uals who at-

tended a recent

s y m p o s i u m

on the mat-

ter, said

there are

s e v e r a l

reasons for

the ab-

sence of

m i n o r i t y

males in

STEM pro-

grams.

“ C o m i n g

through the early

grades, our male

students are not pre-

pared with an academic

foundation or disposition to

compete in STEM fields,” Jones

said. “Many are still not ready by

the time they reach high school to

enter STEM programs � as for

most of our black males, it’s not

been sexy to get into science and

math.”

Jones alluded to the “tremen-

dous” need for role models in the

black community, saying for in-

stance, that there are not enough

Ph.D.s in South Carolina to en-

courage kids. “As a result, many of

them are unaware of the possibili-

ties in STEM – it’s just something

that they don’t routinely know

about,” Jones said.

According to findings from the

landmark study, “The Quest for Ex-

cellence: Supporting the Academic

Success of Minority Males in Sci-

ence, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics (STEM) Disciplines,”

it is

incumbent upon high-achieving mi-

nority males already working in

STEM initiatives to mentor youth in

order to spawn and nurture their in-

terest in those disciplines.

The 73-page study – which was

distributed during the February 28

symposium at the National Aero-

nautics and Space Administration

(NASA) headquarters in Southwest

– states that encouraging black

youth toward STEM programs can

be further buttressed through in-

volvement in undergraduate re-

search and financial support.

Overall, the purpose of the sym-

posium, that was sponsored by the

Minority Males in STEM Initiative

(MMSI) of the Washington, D.C.-

based Association of Public and

Land-Grant Universities (APLU),

was to collaborate with the Ameri-

can Association for the Ad-

vancement of Science and

NASA to find ways to

better support the

academic suc-

cess of minority

males who

choose to

major in

STEM dis-

ciplines at

the grad-

u a t e

level.

A larger

reason for

the lack of

m i n o r i t y

students in

STEM has

hinged on fear

of racial antago-

nism. That alone,

has kept many away

from those disciplines, ac-

cording to a recently published

book by Maya A. Beasley.

The author notes in “Opting Out,”

that oftentimes black students at

elite universities already grapple

with social and institutional obsta-

cles of their own which “ultimately

drive them away from the high-sta-

tus, high-paying jobs that they’re

qualified for in fields such as engi-

neering, science, finance and infor-

mation technology.”

Mentoring, Financial Aid Key to

12

More Minority Males in STEMBeasley, who also believes

schools are partly to blame, main-

tains that in order to attract and re-

tain more black students in STEM,

schools like the University of Mary-

land at Baltimore County, have cre-

ated special scholarship programs

to get more minority students into

these fields.

Beasley also points out that while

black students who graduate from

the more prestigious colleges and

universities tend to gravitate to jobs

outside of STEM disciplines, fear of

being possibly targeted in affirma-

tive action lawsuits could hinder

those colleges from doing more to

promote STEM initiatives aimed at

minority students.

“Unfortunately, racial representa-

tion is a cycle: the more African

Americans there are in an occupa-

tion or academic field, the more

there will be in the future,” Beasley

wrote.

Meanwhile, findings in the APLU

report – gleaned from methods that

included reviews of background lit-

erature and related policy and ex-

amining successful programs –

were based on a survey of nearly

1,500 STEM students. More than

100 STEM faculty and about 70

university administrators at 14

higher education institutions also

participated in the survey which

was conducted during the fall 2011

semester. Among the cross section

of colleges and universities that

participated – offering their prac-

tices in recruiting, retaining and

graduating minority males were the

traditionally black Delaware State

University, Florida A&M University

and the Southern University sys-

tem.

“This report – which in my per-

sonal opinion, is the first of its kind

– reveals what four-year universi-

ties are doing to specifically serve

minority males in STEM disci-

plines,” said Lorenzo Esters, APLU

vice president and MMSI project di-

rector.

Esters, 36, said the report “re-

veals the good, the bad, and the

ugly about the state of minority

males in STEM in the U.S.” He said

the documentation also highlights

opportunities to change systems

and processes to more effectively

support a unique segment of the

U.S. population – all of which are

seen through the lived experiences

of minority males themselves, and

sheds light on what it takes to sup-

port them.

“Particularly, the students we sur-

veyed who were successful minor-

ity males,” Esters said, “they had

an average GPA of 3.0 or 3.49, and

what we found is that many of

these students were from low-in-

come backgrounds.”

Esters continued: “There were

certainly implications for us . . . We

need to find ways to support these

students financially that include

Pell Grants and institutional schol-

arships. We need more welcoming

relations between faculty and stu-

dents – inside and outside the

classroom – and to ensure that stu-

dents from low-income back-

grounds are exposed to what it

means to go to college.”

APLU staff associate, Jamel

Hodges, 37, added that the study

found that males at HBCUs felt

their mentors were very supportive

in their quest for STEM-related ed-

ucation. He said that although a lot

of work remains to be done “at all

levels of the education pipeline,”

opportunities for improving out-

comes are limitless.

“The influx of people in these

fields helps them as well as their

mentors,” said Hodges who re-

cently completed work on his doc-

torate degree. “I want to put to use

my dissertation and passion to help

minority students succeed, into

practice.”

13

by Rozlyn Fuse-HallS.A. ParliamentarianBylaws are rules that outline the order

for conducting its affairs and its mem-bers within our chapters. Bylaws notethe chapter’s official name, purpose,structure and basic procedural rules. Inmany instances, bylaws are interpretedas “the law” in a chapter; however, weshould treat them as the rules that theyare and not use them as instruments of

control. Bylaws ensurethat standards of opera-tions are established; theyare published so every-one will know how to con-duct the business of thechapter, and they can beused to ensure that orderis maintained and busi-ness is conducted in aneffective and efficientmanner. Further, our na-tional parliamentariannotes, “In order to give thechapter the greatest free-dom to act within its ob-ject, bylaws should bemade no more restrictivenor more detailed in spec-ification than necessary.”

Bylaws are intended to provide a foundation for the organ-ization, changing infrequently. When amending bylaws,chapters should consult the bylaws as to how such amend-ments shall occur. If the bylaws are silent, then the parlia-mentary authority, usually Robert’s Rule of Order NewlyRevised (the current edition is the 11th edition), outlines howamendments should occur. Previous notice shall be givenbefore the adoption of any amendments. Further, it is ad-vised that amendments are written and distributed to themembership before the vote occurs. Moreover, the amend-ment should note what section is being amended with theoriginal language; another column that notes the proposedlanguage, and then a column that notes how the new amend-ment would read if adopted. The proposed language shouldbe specific. Most importantly, bylaws must be voted upon. Achapter may amend “bylaws at any regular business meetingby a vote of the majority of the entire membership; or, if theamendment was submitted in writing at the previous regularbusiness meeting, then they may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those voting, a quorum being present.” (RONR,p. )

Drafting the amendments should be deliberative andthoughtful. Wording is critical. Amendments may “insert” or“add” new language within existing language. Adding lan-guage occurs when you are putting new information at theend of the existing language. An amendment may “strike outand insert” language by striking through the old languageand inserting the new language. To “substitute” is to strike

out an entire paragraph and insert another. A substitute is atechnical parliamentary term that is not applied to anythingless than a complete paragraph of one or more sentences.

As noted earlier, bylaws should provide the framework forconducting business and behavior of the chapter members;however, a great partner to bylaws that is not often used isstanding rules. Standing rules are administrative in nature,providing the details that are mentioned in the bylaws. More-over, standing rules provide greater flexibility in altering,since these may be changed with a simple majority and maynot require prior notice. These rules compliment bylaws as

illustrated by theexample below:

EXAMPLE:Bylaw: Section III, Mem-

bershipA. A member is

in good standing ifall dues are paid infull and her servicehours requirementhas been met.

Chapter Stand-ing Rules:

1. Dues are paidin full when thetotal amount ofdues of $600 ispaid to the treas-urer on or before

February 1 each year. 2.The service hour requirement is met when 48 hours of

service as approved chapter, area, or national activities havebeen completed between May1 - April 30th.

Standing rules assist the chapters with the details that maymake bylaws too rigid and inflexible. Chapters are encour-aged to review their bylaws and explore the use of standingrules where it may be better suited for detailing informationthat is likely to change frequently. Chapter bylaws shouldalign and not conflict with national bylaws. However, eachchapter’s bylaws, while following the bylaws template (whichI am happy to share with anyone), should reflect how theywill conduct their business in accordance with our nationalorganization.

All chapter members are encouraged to become familiarwith our documents, such as the National Constitution andBylaws. Only national has a constitution; respective chaptersshould not have constitutions. Chapter charters establishyour essential characteristics and chapter bylaws outline howyou will conduct business and the behavior of your members.The Manual of Procedures outlines many of the processesfor conducting our affairs. Moreover, we have the protocolmanual, Code of Ethics and the Financial Handbooks. All ofthese documents can be found online at www.linksinc.org inthe “Members Only” section. And of course, I am happy toassist anyone at anytime. As Link sisters, orderly service isthe name of our game. With our bylaws and standing rulesin order, we will remain on top of our game!

Bylaws +

Standing

Rules =

ORDER

14

By Link Kimberly SweetSouthern Area Archivist

Not just a dusty file or faded photo-graph, Chapter archives bear witnessto what we have accomplished and laythe foundation for what we hope to doin the future. If these records tell our"story", which details make it in andwhich get left out?

There are no hard and fast rules.Your intuitive sense of what is impor-tant is likely right. To ensure that allyour bases are covered and critical de-tails aren't deleted, here are somegeneral guidelines of what should beincluded. These items are generatedby the Chapter and affect Chaptermembers.

Operational documents are de-

fined as items which govern the

body. They include:

-Chapter Charter-The Links, Incorporated's Constitu-

tion and Bylaws-Area and Chapter Bylaws-Manual of Policies and Procedures-National, Area and Chapter Budgets-Organizational Charts (which delin-

eate authority and define responsibil-ity)

Procedural documents detailing

decisions made and business con-

ducted. They include:

-Chapter, Area and Assembly minutesand agendas-Chapter, Area and National Officer

Reports-Chapter Legal Documents/Testimony-Chapter and Area Financial State-

mentsProgram Materials evidence of

service projects chosen, planned

and executed.

-Chapter, area and national programhandbooks

-Planning documents, calendars,timelines-Chapter grants (including applica-

tions and supporting documentation)-Chapter honors and awards (includ-

ing criteria and description of theawarding body)

Leadership Rolls list members'

terms of service and recognition of

their efforts.

-Chapter officers and committees-Chapter delegates to area and na-

tional committees-Area and national appointments of

members-Chapter member honors (profes-

sional recognition or citations fromcommunity and other organizations)Publications include items printed

and distributed (including those cir-

culated electronically) to members

or the community.

-Chapter, Area and National Histories(both written and oral)

-Directories, membership rosters,event brochures, etc. Communicationfiles recount information shared andexchanged among members and withthe community.Correspondence (including e-mail)

on Issues, Projects and other Mat-

ters.

-News releases-Speeches (texts or transcripts), posi-tion papers, proclamations, etc.

Materials and

Media from Func-

tions and Events

document the re-

sults of involve-

ment in both

community pro-

grams and proj-

ects.

-Printed programs,i n v i t a t i o n s ,brochures, posters,fliers (circulated byhand, mail or elec-tronically)-Scrapbooks and

memorabilia (including printed market-ing materials or souvenirs)-Awards-Printed photographs (Black and

White preferred and at least 5 X 7 insize or saved on a CD/jump-drive)-News clips, audiotapes, videotapes,

DVDs, digital collectionsSeem like a lot? Not if you organize

and collect your information on a reg-ular basis (as often as monthly) andreview files at the end of each yearwith each change in administration.

Is your chapter still operating out ofboxes in your garages? Increase yourchapter's efficiency by convertingthose files to a jump-drive or other dig-ital storage which will make archivemaintenance less time-consuming andmore effective. The resulting recordswill yield a treasure trove of informa-tion- just when you might need it moston topics ranging from last month's de-tails on chapter fundraising to 30 year-old memorabilia from a chapter'schartering for use in an upcoming an-niversary celebration.

Remember, to think of archival worknot as a look at the past, but rather asan important foundation- upon whichwe achieve meaningful work in the fu-ture!

A R C H I V E S What to Throw Away What to Keep

15

by Natille DuncanSouthern Area

Vendor ChairAlright Link Sis-

ters, we’re down tothe wire and it’s of-ficially shoppingseason! If you’ve

not yet hit the stores in order to snagsome fabulous new spring finds, thevendors at the National Assembly inOrlando, Florida, will meet your needs.From clothing and accessories to sta-tionery and artwork, the vendorsshould have it all!

Why should I purchase products

and services from an approved ven-

dor with The Links, Incorporated?

The Links, Incorporated expectsvendors to sell authentic garments andaccessories. An applica-tion must be completedand approved prior to par-ticipating as a vendor forThe Links, Incorporated.The Vendor Approval andCertification Process is atool used to identify ven-dors interested in sellingproducts and providingservices at the 38th National Assemblyand 2013 Area Conferences. The ap-proval and certification program con-sists of two parts: vendor certificationand The Links, Incorporated logo ap-proval. Vendors who would like to usethe Links, Incorporated logo mustmeet certain qualifications prior tobeing approved to sell any and all mer-chandise and promotional productsbearing The Links, Incorporated logoat the 38th National Assembly and

2013 Area Conferences. This certifi-cation does not grant any vendors theright to sell any products bearing TheLinks, Incorporated logo online or atany other events.

Q: I’m enjoying the conferenceand vendors; however, I need tostay within my budget. Can I stilllook fabulous on a budget?

Yes, you can be frugal and fabulouswhile enjoying the conference and thevendors. Most vendors showcasingmerchandise from their boutiques arealready offering great deals in order tomake room for seasonal fashions andaccessories. Meet and establish con-tact with vendors, and take advantageof the many great offer-ings at the conference.Several vendors you

met at the last confer-ence (even in a differentregion) may even contact you to informyou of their location in the vendor areaand fabulous items being showcased.Be considerate to vendors and the va-riety of goods they have to offer.

I made a purchase at the confer-ence and now have decided to re-turn the item for exchange and/orrefund. What can I do?

Vendors want you to be satisfied with

your purchases;however, inquireabout return policies prior to makingpurchases. Some return policies mayinclude exchanges only, store creditonly, all sales final, or a vendor mayoffer full refunds. More often than not,a vendor will offer you an exchange orrefund within a reasonable amount oftime, but remember to ask about thereturn policy details which may beprinted on the receipt or their businesscard.

How can I recommend a vendor to

participate at the next National As-

sembly or Area Conference?

For further information regarding

vendor recommendations for TheLinks, Incorporated, please contact thefollowing:

The Links, IncorporatedAttn: Janelle Mungo

1200 Massachusetts Avenue Wash-ington, DC 20005

Until the next issue - remain focused,friendly and fashionable!

Ready, Set

SSHHOOPP

The vendor experience is a wellanticipated facet of conferenceand assembly attendance. It isoften the only opportunityLinks have to stock up on Linksparaphernalia and often offersexclusive shopping experience.

16

-

-

-

-

-

-

Details printed courtesy of the Central Area

All chapters are requested to have at least ONE member register for each session of the Communications Webinar

17

Shown above is four-year-old Elsie Vanderpuye in Liberia wearing a dress provided by the Vicks-

burg (MS) Chapter. The dresses, were designed by chapter’s International Trends and Services facet

chair, Jan Duncan (inset).

The International Trends andServices Facet of the Vicksburg(MS) Chapter is making a differ-ence in the nation of Liberia.

Under the guidance of facet chairJan Duncan, the chapter recentlysent a wardrobe of dresses foryoung girls to the Mission of HopeOrphanage in Gbarnga, Liberia forthe use of young orphans. The sig-nature project represents a first inthe Southern Area's diverse inter-national outreach.

“Our mission is to change the lifeof women around the world withevery stitch and seam we create,”said Link Jan. Under her guidance,the dressers were designed andpersonally sewn for the youngsters.No doubt a perfect marriage for

Links and the country, their goal isto combine fashion and charity tohelp the women of Haiti and Africa.

Dresses for Africa is an exchangeof change for worldwide change,where everyday citizens can makea contribution by making dressesknowing that these little dresses willbe donated to organizations com-mitted to helping women and chil-dren all over the world. It wasbegan in 2007 by Rachel O’Neill .Today the concept has impactedthe lives of over 10,000 youngladies who might not ever had theopportunity for a new dress –something every young lady shouldhave at least once.

The dresses are distributedthrough missionaries, who take

them to orphanages, churches, andschools in Africa. The response hasbeen overwhelming for more seam-stresses to donate their talent. In-novative concepts chapter’s canincorporate include dress makingparties or making assembly kits topartner with another chapter to ac-tually sew. To make one dress, ittakes approximately 1 hour and20(minutes). “A small price to payto impact the self esteem of theselittle girls hope and let them knowthat they are worthy,” says LinkJan.

For more information on how yourchapter can become a part of thisproject, Link Jan welcomes allquestions. She can be reached atdrjduncan@rocketmail.com.

Vicksburg (MS) Dresses African Orphans for Emotional Success

18

The New Orleans (LA) Chapter de-veloped a mentoring program to en-courage students to pursue careersin the fields of science, technology,engineering and mathematics. Thisproject is a component of the chap-ter’s Services to Youth Committee’son-site tutoring program for BethuneElementary School (3rd through 6thgrades). The program has severaltiers designed to help students’ en-hance their vocabulary, spelling,grammar, math and science skills.Additionally, the tutoring programaims to boost the students’ self-con-fidence, enhance their public-speak-ing skills, and improve languageusage.

The mentoring program is basedon the STEM career initiative de-signed to expose and prepareAfrican American youth for 21st Cen-tury careers. It is the goal of the NewOrleans Chapter to help close theeducation gap and encourage stu-dents to pursue higher educationprograms that focus on STEM fields.The STEM sessions introduce stu-dents to various careers through aspeaker’s bureau that features pro-fessionals in various fields such asavionics, genetics, culinary arts, en-gineering and epidemiology. Each

speaker demonstrates how science,technology, engineering and mathplay a part in their careers. The ob-jective of the mentoring program is tohelp students realize the impact thatSTEM related careers have on ourcommunity. Dr. Howard Conyersworks as an engineer at NationalAeronautics and Space Administra-tion (NASA) and was the featured

speaker in February. Dr. Conyers in-spired the children as he presentedcaptivating information on space ex-ploration.

The chapter hopes that programparticipants will be motivated to com-pete effectively in a global workforcethat relies on science, technology,engineering and math related areasof expertise.

New Orleans (LA) Hosts Monthly MentoringPrograms Exploring STEM Careers

Dr. Conyers reads to the children as Edna Moore, New Orleans

Chapter President, looks on.

19

Please plan on joining your fellow Southern Area Links at the National Assembly

HHoossppiittaalliittyy SSuuiitteeThursday, June 28, 2012, 7-9 p.m

Southern Area BreakfastSouthern Area BreakfastSaturday,June 30, 2012, 7- 9 a.m.

MIAMI – In February, three SouthFlorida chapters of The Links, Incorpo-rated joined together to launch theMiami Cluster of The Links, Inc. Child-hood Obesity Prevention Initiative. Thesuccessful initiative created aware-ness among parents and childrenabout the health risks associated withchildhood obesity and the importanceof eating healthy and getting regularexercise. Through a grant from TheLinks Foundation, Inc., the three chap-ters - Dade County (FL), GreaterMiami (FL), and Miami-Biscayne Bay(FL) – worked collaboratively to host atown hall meeting at Golden GladesElementary School and a StudentSummit at Nathan B. Young Elemen-tary School.

The student summit also featurednationally-recognized Dietician RojeanWilliams and Chef Michael Schwartz,better known as the “Short Chef.”Both Rojean and Schwartz gave cook-ing demonstrations and presentationson preparing and eating healthy

meals. Students also participatedin several physical education activ-ities to stress the importance ofregular exercise.

The initiative’s two-pronged pur-pose includes educating the blackcommunity about the childhoodobesity epidemic and forming anObesity Prevention Advocacy TaskForce. The goal of the initiative andawareness campaign is to reach 5,000black households with a message ofhealthy eating and healthy choices.

In addition to the town hall meetingand student summit, the Miami ClusterTask Force commissioned a commu-nity advocacy task force comprised ofhealth professionals, elected officials,civic activists, and local business menand women. To expand awareness,the Miami Cluster Task Force part-nered with Clear Channel to create abillboard encouraging children to eathealthy and make good choices. Thebillboard is located two blocks north ofN.W. 167th Street on N.W. 27th Av-

enue. “It is imperative that we teach all chil-

dren the importance of adopting ahealthy lifestyle with healthy foodchoices,” said Arleen Poitier, memberof the Dade County (FL) Chapter ofThe Links, Inc. and Miami ClusterChildhood Obesity Task Force Chair.“Children should exercise 60 minutesa day and consume 5 servings of fruitsand vegetables every day as well.These important measures will cer-tainly help with preventing Type 2 dia-betes in our community.”

For more information about theMiami Cluster of The Links, Inc. Child-hood Obesity Prevention Initiative,please visit www.linksincsaccop.com.

South Florida Chapters JoinForces Against Childhood Obesity

Shown above is the Miami Cluster of The Links, Inc. Childhood

Obesity Prevention Initiative Billboard. Right, youth participants

enjoy a healthy salad.

20

Links Cori Brock Cooper andConchetta White Fulton of thePontchartrain Chapter in New Or-leans, LA recently showcased thechapter’s community service andtheir professional work during the5th Annual Health Disparities Con-ference held March 6-8, 2012. TheXavier University of Louisiana Col-lege of Pharmacy’s Center for Mi-nority Health andHealth DisparitiesResearch and Edu-cation (CMHDRE)hosted the confer-ence, with the theme“Achieving HealthEquity through Ac-cess, Advocacy,Treatment, and Pol-icy Development.”

Link Cori pre-sented the Pontchar-train Chapter’sUmbrella ProgramProject LIFE—LinksIncreasing Foodand Energy. ProjectLIFE seeks to transform the NewOrleans metropolitan area and Haitiby forming collaborative partner-ships that address hunger andpoverty in both locations. Thesegoals are accomplished by:

• Impacting hunger and povertythrough Chapter provision of 1,500pounds of food between August2010 and April 2012 to Just TheRight Attitude (JTRA) Food Bankand thus enabling JTRA to providemeals Monday through Thursdayeach week to the needy and boxesof groceries to individuals and fam-ilies, and residents of three seniorcitizens complexes.

• Chapter members securing atleast 15 partners who will providean additional 1,000 pounds of fooditems annually to JTRA.

• Raising awareness through atleast two media appearances, onespecial event, and collaborationwith at least two governmental,non-governmental, or communityorganization entities between Au-

gust 2010 and April 2012.• Adopting the Hope for Haitian

Children Foundation and providingclothing, food, money, supplies,and books between August 2010and April 2012 to feed and care forthe 39 children at its Espoir PourLes Enfants Orphanage and the 76additional children who attend itsschool daily.

As a result of their initiatives, Proj-ect LIFE has recommend and im-plemented the following:

• New Orleans City Council de-clared November 8th “Just theRight Attitude Food Bank Day.”

• An Annual Day of Service was

led by the Pontchartrain (LA) Chap-ter of The Links, Incorporated.

• The Pontchartrain Chapteradopted an orphanage in Haiti todemonstrate global commitment todecreasing hunger and poverty.

In addition to the presentation onProject LIFE, Link Conchetta pre-sented research entitled An Exam-ination of Ethnic Health Disparities

in Osteoporosis AmongWomen in the City ofNew Orleans. This re-search sought to exam-ine the knowledge ofwomen concerning os-teoporosis and its ef-fects. Once incorrectlythought by African-American females to benon-existent in theirpopulation, the dataanalysis provided use-ful insight into theprevalence of risk fac-tors of osteoporosisamong a predomi-nately African American

sample of women in the City ofNew Orleans.

Greater education on the diseaseand its associated sequelae couldreduce African American women'srisk of the disease. Lastly, furtherresearch with a larger sample sizeis necessary for more robust exam-ination of these findings. The re-search continues with a secondposter accepted for presentationduring the International Symposiumon Osteoporosis Translating Re-search into Clinical Practice(ISO12), April 25-28, 2012, in Or-lando, Florida.

Pontchartrain (LA) Sheds Lighton Minority Health Disparities

Xavier University College of Pharmacy Practice Resident Liliana

Cosenza, Pharm,D. (R), Link Conchetta White Fulton, Pharm.D., FASCP.

21

Today's world is complicated, to say the least. Coun-

tries at war with each other; a constant threat of ter-

rorism; global economic turmoil; civil unrest; moral and

ethical battles in our courtrooms; heated policy de-

bates in our schools, our churches, our workplaces,

and even our homes. It seems like every day the news

just keeps getting worse and worse.

In the face of despair and disillusionment, many peo-

ple turn to bad habits to distract them - drugs, drinking,

gambling, pornography, overeating, or anything that

will give them some temporary relief and take their

mind off what's happening in the real world. But the

key word in that statement is the word "temporary."

For a permanent solution to easing tension and

soothe the rough waters of the world, you can't

beat the support and encouragement of a friend.

Friendship is one of the most basic, most essen-

tial human experiences. Every major religion in the

world has described the importance of friendship,

from the Greco-Roman story of the friendship of

Pylades and Orestes, to the tale of David and

Jonathan in the Abrahamic religions. In the Bible,

Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this,

that a man lay down his life for his friends." Discus-

sions and analysis of friendship is included in many

disciplines, including sociology, philosophy, anthropol-

ogy, psychology, and even zoology.

The idea of friendship consists of a basic under-

standing between people, involving a complex array

of emotions - mutual interests, affection and esteem,

respect, and the ability to offer help or service to others

in times of need. Friends are glad to see each other

and welcome the opportunity to spend time together.

Some friends exchange advice with each other; some

exchange recipes, books, movies, and hobbies; some

exchange jokes; some exchange e-mails and letters.

Friends help each other in times of trouble and exult

with each other in times of joy and excitement. For

many people, friendship is an elaborate, ongoing

dance of keeping things equal and staying in touch;

for others, friendship is as simple

as just knowing that you have

someone you can trust to always

be there for you.

Friends - true friends - are hon-

est, supportive, encouraging,

empathetic, and loving. They

don't care about how much money you have, where

you work, what kind of background you come from, or

what you will be able to do for them. One popular

anonymous quotation gives a very good definition of

the value of a true friend: "Money might make you

wealthy, but a real friend makes you rich." Many fa-

mous authors and poets have expounded on the value

of friendship:

"A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway."

- Fr. Jerome Cummings

"What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bod-ies." - Aristotle

"Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides theevil." - Baltasar Gracian (1647)

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest ofthe world walks out." - Walter Winchell

"Your friend is your needs answered." - Kahil Gibran

The poet Robert Louis Stevenson said, "A friend is

a present you give yourself." And Marlene Dietrich

added to that sentiment: "It's the ones you can call up

at 4:00 a.m. that really matter." The times we're living

in now are certainly proving that statement to be true.

The greatest miracle you can experience is to have a

true friend who will always be there, no matter what -

a friend that you can call up at 4:00 a.m. if you need

to, and even if you don’t

Friendship

the greatest miracle of all

by Buzzle Staff

22

The Jackson (MS) Chapter held its14th biennial Beautillion fundraiser onMarch 24, 2012, during a spectacularblack tie affair. The chapter celebratedits 25th anniversary of cultivatingyoung and talented black males forleadership. Each Beau was pre-sented in recognition of hisdemonstrated achievements inacademics, sports, the arts, lead-ership, and his overall commit-ment to the advancement of hiscommunity. Sixteen (16) hand-some, accomplished, and smartyoung men from the Metro Jacksonarea participated in self-help work-shops, father/son dinners, etiquetteclasses, community service projects,worship services and dance lessons.In addition, they gained extensiveknowledge about the rich history ofThe Links, Incorporated and the role ithas played in society. During theevent, the winner of the 1986 Beautil-lion, Attorney Malcolm O. Harrison,commented on his Beautillion experi-ence and encouraged Beaux to con-tinue striving toward making an impacton the community and the world.Chapter President Mavis James gavespecial recognition to Link Janice Dun-

can, due to herleadership and vi-

sionary guidance byintroducing theBeautillion conceptto the chapter 25years ago.

The winners of the 2012 Beautillionare first place (Mr. Esquire) BeauJaren Reeves-Darby, son of Link.Vonda Reeves Darby and Dr. AlvinDarby; second place (Mr. Debonair)Beau Johnathan Smith, son of Mr. andMrs. Sutter Smith; and third place (Mr.Image) Beau Jonathan Taylor, son ofLink Jasmine Taylor and Dr. Herman

Taylor.The Beautillion continues to provide

an avenue to showcase the positiveimages of youth in the community andproceeds are used for scholarships,and to fund community service andfacet work of the Jackson (MS) Chap-ter. The event was chaired by Edith S.Rayford and co-chaired by EvelynJohnson and Frances Ashley.

Jackson (MS) Beautillion Celebrates 25 Years ofCultivating Young Black Males for Leadership

The Jackson Chapter with their Beaus

Left, Chapter President Mavis James lauds

member Janice Duncan. Right, Beautillion win-

ners are (L-R) Mr. Image, Jonathan Taylor, Mr. Es-quire, Jaren Reeves-Darby and Mr. Debonair,Johnathan Smith.

23

Mississippi Chapters Attend 2012 LDACSenators Kenneth Wayne Jones,

Hillman Fraizer, and Representa-tive Chuck Espy, were among themany legislators who participatedin Mississippi’s Links Day at theCapitol on March 1, 2012, in thestate’s capitol of Jackson, Miss.

After being recognized for theircontributions to the community,Links representing Mississippichapters had the opportunity tomeet with legislators to discuss pre-vention and education regardingChildhood Obesity and Charter

School legislation. LDAC Chairs,Links Rhea Bishop, Evelyn John-son, and Irene Jones, also invitedother officials to participate in thelunchtime panel, including Missis-sippi NAACP President, DerrickJohnson.

SSOOUUTTHHEERRNN AARREEAA CCHHAAPPTTEERRSSThe time is now to start organizing

your local media clippings?Hopefully, everyone has been saving their local

media clippings and reels. Chapters will receive in-

formation shortly from their Regional CPR Chairs

on submitting their local media reports and an up-

date on the standings of the Southern Area News-

maker Award.

24

W.J. Christian School’s Junior United Nations Teambrought home two awards at the student run UnitedNations Assembly held recently. The team is spon-sored by the Birmingham Chapter. The seventh gradedelegation represented the African nation of Ghana.

Team member, Jarian Lee, received the “Outstand-ing Boy Delegate” award and the “Erin McPhersonAward for Outstanding Leadership.” Other team mem-bers were: Jarian Lee, Maya Martin, Lia Barnes,Zachary Pruitt, Andrew Robinson and DeLanyaStorey.

The Junior United Nations Assembly (JUNA) is a stu-dent run model United Nations Assembly for Alabamastudents in grades six, seven and eight. The two dayevent included: a parade of nations, opening assem-bly, committee meetings and General Assembly meet-ings - in which resolutions are were presented,discussed and voted upon. JUNA develops skills inpublic speaking, critical thinking, teamwork and lead-ership.

Members of the chapter worked with the team priorto the assembly them in preparation for the Januaryevent. In October, they conducted a “speed lesson” onthe United Nations. Each Link presented a United Na-tions topic to a group of six students and then rotatedto different tables every 10 minutes. It was a fun, in-teractive way for the students to get immersed and in-troduced to world issues.

In November, Gwen Amamoo, Cherrye Parker andScotty Colson - from the “Birmingham-Ghana SisterCities Commission”- introduced the students to thecountry of Ghana with pictures from their recent trip.

In addition to providing scholastic resources to thestudents, the Birmingham Chapter paid for the stu-dents’ sponsorship and costume fees. Zakayia Jenk-ins is the team’s teacher sponsor; Michael Davis(Connecting Link) is the school’s principal. The Birm-ingham Chapter’s President is Vanessa Falls and In-ternational Trends and Services Committee Chair isSamuetta Nesbitt.

Shown above center is teacher and sponsor Zakayia Jenkins,

surrounded by the W.J. Christian School’s, Junior United Nations Team

Birmingham (AL) Sponsored

UN Team Wins Awards

25

Get Your copy of the

SSoouutthheerrnn AArreeaa HHiissttoorryy BBooookk

AVAILABLE NOW

“Embracing Our Legacy” profiles the Southern Area Directors, National Presidents with Southern Area ties, and has information on each of the 77 chapters

Delivered to your home for $27For information please e-mail

archiveschair@salinksinc.org

The book will also be available at the Southern Area Boutique at the National Assembly for $20

26

The Alexandria (LA) Chapter hosted a CommunityShowcase at the Broadway Resource Center to en-courage and highlight volunteerism in the local area.Organizations were invited to describe their role in as-sisting the community and how they can be supportedin those endeavors. The Alexandria Chapter of theSickle Cell Anemia Research Foundation and RapidesChildren’s Advocacy Center, Inc. were among the par-ticipating organizations. The National Trends andServices Facet of the Alexandria Chapter also hosteda booth in the exhibit. Several churches and commu-nity members attended the event that was free and

open to the public.

TEACHING LEGAL CONSEQUENCES TOMIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH

Alexandria’s newly elected City Marshal, Mr. TerenceGrines, participated in the Alexandria Chapter’s Proj-ect Lead Initiative. Marshal Grines addressed thechapter’s mentees, The Links Rosebuds - which in-cluded a group of 30 young ladies who are studentsattending Arthur F. Smith Middle School. The topic ofhis discussion was behavior and consequences withrespect to the law.

Alexandria Links table at the Community Showcase

Link Maxine Gaines - representing Sisters on a Mission(African America cancer survivors), B. J. Gallent - recruiterfor CASA, & Link Barbara Banks - board members for CenlaCommunity Action Committee.

Chapter members participate in the Black History Month Parade. Alexandria Rosebuds

Alexandria (LA) Chapter Educates, Informs, Inspires and Tributes Throughout the Community

27

28

Parents of students at North Birmingham El-

ementary participating in the Kids’ Edition

Curriculum, with members of the Birmingham

Chapter (AL) should not be alarmed when their

children come home talking about preparing

meals with low fat ingredients and requesting

fresh fruits and vegetables. On February 28th,

the students participated in Session Five of the

Kids Edition Curriculum.

This session focused on healthy meals:

planning, shopping and preparation. The stu-

dents, dressed in chef’s hats and aprons, were

divided into groups and placed in one of five

food stations. Rica Lewis Payton, Co-Chair of

the Health and Human Services Facet, briefed

the students on the objectives of the session

and talked about healthy snacks, and what

makes a snack healthy. Each student helped

prepare a delicious healthy snack. After prepar-

ing the meal the students rotated to each of the

five stations to taste the other snacks which in-

cluded Sandwich Cutouts, Snack Fruit Ke-

bobs, Breakfast Parfait, Cherry Cream Cheese

and Trail Mix.

They were given the recipe for each of the

snacks so that they could take them home and

share with their families. They were also pro-

vided “Ten (10) Tips for Healthy Eating”,

along with a quiz to determine whether their

eating habits were healthy with the goal of tak-

ing steps to improve.

The goal of the program is to teach children

healthy eating habits so parents can keep them

at a healthy weight. The habits learned when

they are young will help them maintain a

healthy lifestyle when they are adults.

Members assisting with this cooking project

were: Links, Rica Lewis-Payton, Cheryl Ce-

phus-Vickers, Tamara Travis, Karla Fields,

Samuetta Nesbitt, Iris Williams, Camelia

Holmes, Diann Jackson, Kim Hitchens, and

Vanessa Falls.

North Birmingham Elementary School students with LinksVanessa Falls and Cheryl Cephus-Vickers.

Birmingham Teaches Healthy Eating Habits

In celebration of Black History Month, The InternationalTrends and Services Facet of The Winston-Salem Chapterof the Links, Incorporated in col-laboration with the InternationalPrograms Department of Win-ston-Salem State University co-sponsored the Bunce IslandExhibition from January 28,2012-February 10, 2012, at TheDelta Fine Arts Center in Win-ston-Salem, NC.

The exhibit, produced by Pro-fessor Joseph Opala of JamesMadison University, is a histori-cal photo documentary which fo-cused on the Bunce Island SlaveCastle in Freetown, Sierra Leone on the ‘rice coast’ of Africawhere arguably the largest number of slaves was broughtto the United States. It consisted of a series of 20 door-sized display panels containing images and text on BunceIsland’s history and its links to African Americans. Also de-

picted were photographs of three pilgrimages made by theGullah people from Georgia and South Carolina to Bunce

Island in 1989, 1997, and 2005.The Gullah people have man-aged to maintain their specificidentity and so much more oftheir African cultural heritagethan any other group of AfricanAmericans.

The week- long exhibition, en-lightened more than 300 church,school, senior citizen groups,and other individuals from thecommunity who were personallyenlightened by Link Docents, Toy

Beaty, Carolyn Black, D’Walla Sim-mons Burke, Kay Clark, Cheryl Dickson, Joia Johnson,Rose Marie Norman- ITS Chair, Connecting Link-B.G. Nor-man, Rosa Tribble Wilson, and P. J. Williams who guidedattendees daily through the experiential exhibition with sto-rytelling and other technological caveats.

Winston-Salem (NC) Hosts Black History Month Exhibit on Gullah Culture

School Day at the Exhibit

29

30

FRIENDSHIP

365

The West Palm Beach (FL) Chapter recently invited their neighboring Fort Pierce (FL) Chapter

to Wellington, Florida for a friendship activity and to enjoy the festivities of an International Polo

Match. Sisters brought their beautiful hats and fashionable polo attire. The match was fun and ex-

citing for the Links who enjoyed the camaraderie of the two chapters. Both chapters look forward

to supporting each other in service and friendship in the near future.

Celebrating friendship not just one

month, but all throughout the year

Jovita Williams and Heir-O-Link Rashondia Gaines

Florida’s West Palm Beach and Fort Pierce Chapters join each other for a polo match and a day of friendship

LaMargo Sweezer-Fisher, Heir-O-Link Jerome Stone and Candace Stone

Taunya Bryant and Arlena B. Leewith Heir-O-Link Arlena D. Lee

Myrna Bridges with friend Lynne Williams andRuth Bridges from the Penn Town (PA) Chapter

Angels with a red dress on!

LINKS EDUCATE AND INFORM DURING HEART HEALTH MONTH 31

This February, known across the nation as Heart Aware-ness Month, the Winston-Salem (NC) Chapter collaboratedwith the American Heart Association, Forsyth Medical Cen-ter, the Mayor’s Office and the Winston Salem JuniorLeague to raise awareness about the leading cause ofdeath among women, heart disease.

Under the guidance of the Health and HumanServices Facet, the chapter presented their an-nual Woman to Woman: Heart to Heart outreachevening with the Junior League. The evening in-cluded a reception complete with a healthyrepast and an Educational Forum and PanelDiscussion. The panel was comprised of femalemedical and mental health and nutrition profes-sionals. These informed women began the dis-cussion with brief overviews of their specialties,followed by questions from the audience.

Outreach continued the following day with theannual Go Red for Women Luncheon on Febru-ary 3rd. The event was an afternoon of educa-tion and inspiration as two local womensurvivors of heart disease shared their experi-ences, the excellent care received at the hospitaland the necessary life enhancing changeswhich they have made. National Vice Presidentof The Links, Incorporated, Dr. Glenda Newell-Harris served as the keynote speaker. Dr. Harrisis also the daughter of Winston-Salem (NC)chapter member, Virginia Newell.

Her address urged attendees to take charge of theirhealth through knowledge and prevention. She referencedthe steps enumerated by the survivors and encouraged allto become more proactive and committed to taking per-sonal steps to improve their health through the lowering of

risk factors subject to behavioral changes.

Shown above: (Front row)  L-R are Links Mable Stevenson, BrendaHodge, Chapter Vice President Rosa Wilson, PJ Williams, CarolynBlack, Kay F. Clark. (Back row) from left; Links Linda JacksonBarnes, Rose Marie Norman, Amy White, Chapter President JanetWheeler and National Vice President Dr. Glenda Newel l-Harris.

National Vice President Keynotes Winston-Salem’s (NC) Heart Healthy Weekend

To celebrate one of the Heart Links to Heart Health signature program goals, chapter membersdressed in Red for their February Chapter meeting. As part of the agenda program, the Health andWellness Committee presented “Heart Healthy Facts” to the chapter. One of our younger memberstalked about an experience that encouraged her to make a big life style change and brought homethe message of the importance of knowing your “numbers!” Your Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure,and Cholesterol numbers. No matter your age, Heart Health counts.

Charlotte Links Wearing Red

32

On Sunday, Feb-ruary 26, 2012, the Augusta (GA)

Chapter presented a “Go Red for Women Fash-ion Show and Heart Disease Symposium.” Morethan 100 participants attended the event that washeld at the Salvation Army Kroc Center. Theevent was free to the public and included a fash-ion show, light refreshments and door prizes.

The fun was accompanied by a lecture given bylocal cardiologist, Dr. Mac Bowman. He is cur-rently a partner with Augusta Heart Associates in Au-gusta, GA. And completed his cardiology training atBrooke Army Medical Center in Ft. Sam Houston, TX.Dr. Bowman informed the audience that the symptomsof a heart attack for women might be very differentthan the symptoms for men. He encouraged everyoneto ask their personal physician to order an advancedlipid profile blood test. This includes additional teststhat are more specific for heart disease and goes be-yond checking cholesterol, LDL, and HDL. Dr. Bow-man gave examples of patients with normalcholesterol levels that suffered heart attacks and werelater found to have abnormal advanced lipid profiles.He also discussed the importance of maintaining a

normal blood pressure below 135/75 mmHg and a bal-anced diet and regular exercise 5 to 6 days/week wererecommended to maintain a healthy weight.

Kimberly Scott of the local ABC affiliate (WJBF)served as Mistress of Ceremonies. The Health andHuman Services facet, chaired by Link Miriam Atkins,was joined by the following community partners in pre-senting the program: The Salvation Army Kroc Center,Cassi’s Fotography & Graphic Design, Unique Events& More, Jennifer’s Cakes, Red Top Cake Shop, TracyLynn Jewelry, Kharisma Hair Studio, Kimberly Kelly,and Komika Robin. Clothing for the Fashion Showwas provided free of charge by Macy's, David's Bridal,Curvitude Boutique, Elegant Bridals and DesignerCosigner of Augusta.

Go Red for Women Fashion Show and Heart Disease Symposium

Presented by the Augusta (GA) Chapter

33

On February 25th, at the monthly meeting of the Brevard County (FL) Chapter, members enthusiasticallyembraced a “Heart to Heart” theme by viewing an NIH, National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute (NHLBI) pro-duced educational video on Women’s Heart Health featuring practical tips on preventing heart disease andmaintaining a healthy heart. Each member received a heart scarf, literature from NHLBI - that included in-formation on the importance of exercise and nutrition in maintaining heart health, and a Heart Healthy HomeCooking African American Style cookbook. Members were asked to support heart health and prevent dis-ease by incorporating some of the recipes and heart healthy tips in their daily regime.

Brevard County Celebrates Heart Health

Fort Lauderdale (FL) Purchases Home, Food and Supplies for Haitian Relief

The Fort Lauderdale (FL)Chapter, The Links, Incor-porated, purchased a fam-ily home, food andsupplies for Habitat ForHumanity, Haiti. The checkwas presented to Robin G.Mahfood, President ofFood for The Poor, on Feb-ruary 3rd, (Go Red forHeart Day) by Sister Links:Patricia Carter, Correspon-ding Secretary; E. PearlMaloney, Vice President,Membership; Dr. EileenDavis-Jerome, President;and Jeannie B. Floyd, In-ternational Trends Com-mittee Chair. (Shownright).

34

The Jackson (MS) Chapter-recently partnered with the Jack-son-Hinds Comprehensive HealthCenter (JHCHC) and the AmericanCancer Society to present “LadiesNight Out.” This impressive nightof activities at the Historic Alamo

Theater featured a premier at themovies with pink carpet, maleservers handsomely dressed intuxedos, gifts for attendees anddoor prizes.

This health initiative featured well-ness brochures, breast cancer

screenings, and a groundbreakingoriginal movie featuring an all-starcast entitled “Five.” The movie, isan anthology of five short films ex-ploring the impact of breast canceron people’s lives. It highlights theshared experience each short film’stitle character endures from the mo-ment of diagnosis, through an inter-connected story that uses humorand drama to focus on the effectbreast cancer and its differentstages of diagnosis have on rela-tionships and the way women per-ceive themselves while searchingfor strength, comfort, medicalbreakthroughs and a cure.

As a result of this event, severalwomen who participated in breastcancer screenings were referred forfurther testing. This initiativebrought awareness to the impor-tance of early detection. Link Jas-mine Chapman serves asExecutive Director of the Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Cen-ter.

Pictured from left to right - Terryce Walker, Delores BoldenStamps, Geraldine Chaney-Buie, Mavis James, Denise Owens, Jas-mine Chapman, Limmie Flowers.

Jackson (MS) Partners in “Ladies Night Out”

The Albany (GA) Chapter sponsored a production bythe Atlanta Opera entitled, “Rabbit Tales.” This worldpremiere Atlanta Opera commission is based on theBr’er Rabbit stories by Joel Chandler Harris. The con-temporary, light-hearted opera combines sev-eral story lines from NativeAmerican, African and CajunFolklore. On Thursday, February16, 2012 at Albany High School,nearly 2,000 elementary studentsattended the first showing for theDougherty County School System.A repeat performance was given formore than 300 K-5 students in theLee County School System on thefollowing day.

Students cheered the performers asthe story for the opera unfolded. The production com-pany provided lesson plans prior to the event so the

music teachers would have an opportunity to preparestudents for Rabbit Tales. Beginning in DoughertyCounty in 1991, this was the 21st consecutive year the

chapter has worked to keepalive a love for the performingarts by sponsoring the AtlantaOpera for area elementarystudents.

The Arts Facet, chaired byKarla Heath-Sands, in part-nership with Mrs. Jane Will-son and The DoughertyCounty School SystemMusic Department pre-

sented the event. Additionalmembers of the Arts Facet are: JoAnne Taylor

(Co-chairman), Connie Adams, Flo Hill, Joyce Griffin,Brenda Hodges-Tiller, Sandra Parker, ObzeineShorter, Lula Stokes, and Valerie Thomas.

Albany (GA) Introduces Art Through Opera

35

The National Trends and Services Facet of the Columbia

(SC) Chapter, recently held a mentorship dinner for girls at

W.A. Perry Middle School. The facet is focusing on Sci-

ence, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

(S.T.E.M.). The chapter has partnered with W.A. Perry to

develop a mentoring relationship for girls to encourage them

to pursue S.T.E.M. fields.

The keynote speaker for the mentorship dinner was chap-

ter member Bettie Wilson, who by profession - is a Senior

Information Security Engineer. Ms. Wilson delivered an in-

spirational message to the young girls empowering them to,

“Take Control of your Future.” She highlighted her career

in technology, her educational prepara-

tion and the career opportunities that

exist in the field. This event was the first

of a series of planned mentoring activi-

ties for the W. A. Perry S.T.E.M. partic-

ipants.

The program is funded through a

grant that is used to defray costs and as-

sist in the implementation of the men-

toring activities for the S.T.E.M.

project. Members of the chapter who

work in S.T.E.M. related careers were

also in attendance serving as resources

and discussing career options at the ta-

bles with the girls during the family-style

dinner. In attendance to share with the

girls were Dr. Benetta Bell, DDS, Dr. Karen E. Johnson,

DDS, and Dr. Janice Coleman, obstetrician. The chairperson

to the National Trends and Services Facet is Dr. Debra

Brathwaite. Link members who supported the endeavor

were Olive J. Foster and Mary Miller McClellan.

The principal of W.A. Perry Middle School, Dr. Quantina

Haggwood, and her staff have embraced the S.T.E.M. col-

laborative initiative with the chapter and were participants

at the mentorship dinner.

For additional information, visit our website at:

www.columbiasclinks.org.

Bettie Wilson, Karen Johnson, Quantina Haggwood, Principal, BenettaBell, Debra Brathwaite and the WA Perry S.T.E.M. participants.

For the Baton

Rouge and La

Capitale Chap-

ters, it is a

monthly activity

called a Links’ Mixer that has become

a “much anticipated” event. What was

originally a “Happy Hour” occasion

designed to provide members the op-

portunity for additional linking time

with one another, members of the other

chapter, and alumni members, has

evolved into a social event with bene-

fits. The Links’ Mixer is held at a dif-

ferent restaurant each month and a

charity is pre-selected as the service

project to which participants con-

tribute. Contributions are based on the

needs identified by the charity.

March 14th marked the third an-

niversary of the “Links’ Mixer” which

now includes a brief meeting to discuss

and select the next charity for support.

The Links’ Mixer, the brain child of

Link Charlotte Hen-

derson of The Baton

Rouge Chapter, has

created a bond of ca-

maraderie between the

two chapters and provided assistance

over the past three years to over 17 or-

ganizations such as St. Vincent de Paul

Society, the Baton Rouge Food Bank,

the Battered Women's Shelter, Com-

munity Association for the Welfare of

School Children, Grandparents Raising

Grandchildren, Young

Leaders Academy, Sickle

Cell Anemia Foundation,

Battered Women's Program,

YMCA, Dress for Success,

Big Buddy Program, Baton

Rouge Speech and

H e a r i n g

Founda t ion ,

Baton Rouge

Autism Speakers Series,

Baton Rouge Child Advocacy Center,

and the Family Road of Greater Baton

Rouge. The participation has increased

over the years and members of both

chapters are hopeful that the support

for the Links’ Mixer continues far into

the future.

Columbia Hosts STEM Mentorship Dinner for Youth

Baton Rouge (LA) Holds MonthlyFriendship Mixer with Sister Chapter

Does a glass of champagne, crab cakes,stimulating conversation, laughter, music,and hugs all while providing service to thecommunity sound like a great idea?

36

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Fort Lauderdale

Launches

Childhood Obesity

Prevention

FIT- 4- FUN - LIFE©

ProgramMembers of the Fort Lauderdale

(FL) Chapter’s Services To Youth

and Health And Human Services

Committees recently launched the

2012 Childhood Obesity Prevention

Program at the Central Charter

School of Broward County.

The program provides after school

services to approximately 50 chil-

dren with a series of spring work-

shops, including: Building BetterBodies and Making Wise Choices,Selecting Nutrient Rich Foods , Fit-4-Fun (Physical Activity) HealthyMeals: Planning, Shopping andPreparation. Workshops are open

to students and parents.

The program’s S.T.E.M. compo-

nen introduces students to careers

in the Health Sciences. Cynthia

Borders-Byrd chairs the STY Com-

mittee and Jasmin Shirley chairs

the H and H S Committee. Dierdre

Satterwhite-Wilson presented an

Art Component: the 2011-2012 Na-

tional Poster Art Contest theme, -

Healthy, Active and Wise focusing

on Childhood Obesity Prevention

and supporting positive health,

wellness and exercise habits.

Chapter President, Eileen Davis-

Jerome introduced students to

School Board Chair, Benjamin

Williams, who addressed students

at a workshop, encouraging them

to continue their program exer-

cises. Project partners have in-

cluded: New Mt. Olive Baptist

Church, Commit 2b Fit, Inc.,

Broward Health, Bank Of America,

Central Charter School, and Whole

Foods.

37

2012 Book & Author Luncheon

Featuring Acclaimed Author

Terry McMillan

The Azalea City (GA) Chapterhas presented a new exhibitionwith an oral history film based onthe history of Georgia’s Black Leg-islators that will be placed at theAuburn Avenue Research Library.

The first group of Reconstruction-era African American elected offi-cials in Georgia included threestate senators – Aaron A. Bradley,George Wallace and Tunis G.Campbell Sr. – and thirty state rep-resentatives elected to serve in theGeorgia Legislature in 1868.These African American Legislatorswere expelled from the GeorgiaLegislature, approximately twomonths after they were elected, be-cause they were Black. This is aBlack history fact that many haveforgotten. The achievements ofBlack elected officials in Georgia -such as Julian Bond, Grace TownsHamilton, and Leroy Johnson-must be embraced in history for the

benefit of future generations. The plight endured by Georgia

Legislators is the reason behind thenew exhibit entitled “Georgia Leg-islative Black Caucus: Remember-ing Our Legends and Honoring OurTorchbearers.” Viewing beganMarch 31 through May 13. It in-cludes an extensive collection ofrare documents and personal pa-pers that depict the social, political,economic, and moral issues, frompast and current Georgia legisla-tors. The exhibit is a significantmilestone in recalling Georgia’s his-tory which will focus on the contri-butions of the men and women whohave been a part of the GeorgiaLegislative Black Caucus (GLBC).The purpose of the exhibit is tohonor those Black men who wereexpelled from the Georgia Legisla-ture in 1868, and honor and paytribute to Senator Leroy Johnson,who served from 1963 to 1975 as

the first African American to servein the Georgia Assembly since Re-construction.

The chapter will sponsor a “WhiteGlove Affair” reception following theexhibition’s ribbon cutting on Sun-day, April 15, 2012, at 3:30 p.m.Guests will have the opportunity toexamine the rare documents thathave impacted Georgia’s politics. Adocumentary entitled “The AfricanAmerican Georgia Political Legisla-tive Journey,” is being createdwhich features the oral history,recorded as interviews, from manyLegends and Torchbearers, pastand current Black Legislators, whoare telling their stories about poli-tics in the Georgia dome. The filmwill be shown during the receptionand will remain as part of the exhi-bition and the archives at the Re-search Library.

Emeritus Associate Professor,Link Lucretia R. Payton-Stewart,

Azalea City (GA) Celebrates African American

Members of the Azalea City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated received a certificate from Governor Nathan Deal con-gratulating them for their work in celebrating the contributions made by current and former members of the Georgia Leg-islative Black Caucus. Links pictured left to right: Judge Yvette Miller, Bunnie Jackson-Ransom, Ellen Wade, Kathy AmosLamar (Chapter Vice President standing in for President Michele S. Gandy), Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, Dr. LucretiaPayton-Stewart, Josephine Reed-Taylor, Deidra B. Dennie, and Virginia W. Harris.

38

(Georgia State University Depart-ment of Educational Policy Studies)serves as chairperson of the chap-ter’s archives committee. The ab-sence of information about BlackGeorgia Legislators was discov-ered while collecting material forthe chapter’s archives andwanted to do something aboutthis oversight. She adds,“The momentum of this proj-ect escalated and we werefortunate to secure the coop-eration and partnership ofThe Georgia HumanitiesCouncil and the GeorgiaLegislative Black Caucus.”

The Georgia LegislativeBlack Caucus is the largestlegislative Black caucus in theUnited States. In 1976, theGLBC commissioned a six-foottall bronze historic marker ac-knowledging the Black men whowere expelled from the GeorgiaLegislature in 1868. This markerwas vandalized in the 1980’s, buthas recently been restored and cur-rently stands on the grounds of theGeorgia State Capitol. The GLBCtook this occasion to re-dedicatethe historic marker and where it re-mains as a memorial to these menand their contribution to Georgia’shistory.

State Senator Emanuel Jones,Chair of the GLBC, states, “Thecurrent members of the GeorgiaLegislative Black Caucus are ex-tremely honored and proud to be apart of “Remembering our Legacyand Honoring our Torchbearers”and we will continue to build on thisrich history left to use from thosewhose shoulders we stand on. Wecontinue to draw from their strengthand fortitude.”

Today’s Black elected officialsserving the General Assembly ofGeorgia include many legislators

that are extraordinary in their lead-ership. Representative Calvin

Smyre, elected in 1974, was theyoungest member elected at 26, isone of the deans of the Assembly.Representative Carolyn Hugley,

elected in l992, serves as theDemocratic Minority Whip andis a formidable member of theWomen’s Legislative Caucus.Representative StaceyAbrams, serves as theHouse Minority Leader.She is the first woman tolead either party in theGeorgia Assembly and isthe first African Americanto lead the House of Rep-resentatives.

The collection’s papersand other materials were alldonated to the exhibit bymembers of the Georgia

Legislative Black Caucus,offer to the public an opportu-

nity to remember the Legisla-tors who started the journey in

1868 and passed it on to our pres-ent-day legislators. “We must neverforget,” said Azalea City Link Pres-ident, Michele S. Gandy.

The Expelled Because of TheirColor Monument on the northeast

corner of the Georgia State Capitolgrounds facing Capitol Avenue.

Georgia Legislators, Past and Present

* SAVE THE DATE *

Southern Area

Leadership Summit

October 4-6, 2012Savannah, Georgia

39

Columbia (SC) Links Day at theCapitol (LDAC) was held at theSouth Carolina House of Repre-sentatives with members from TheLinks, Incorporated visiting legisla-tors to address voter ID and voterregistration issues. 45 membersfrom chapters in Charleston (1951),Columbia (1952), Greenville(1953), Orangeburg (1964), Spar-tanburg (1975) and Aiken (1989)were in attendance. Chapters inSouth Carolina are listed accordingto the year each chapter wasfounded (and not in alphabeticalorder).

LDAC is the annual legislativeday where members across thestate come to the State House tomeet with legislative leaders to dis-cuss major policy issues of concernin the communities Links serve. Aprimary focus of the NationalTrends and Services Committee ofThe Links, Incorporated this yearwas voter education and voter par-ticipation. This issue is critical toeducating the public and ensuringthat the electoral process in SouthCarolina remains available and ac-cessible to all voters and com-pletely transparent in itsprocedures.

The group was introduced fromthe floor in the State House by Rep-resentative J. Seth Whipper and re-ceived a standing ovation followedby a picture opportunity with eachlegislative delegation.

Immediately following their intro-duction during the morning sessionof the SC House, members of TheLinks and their guests sponsored aforum on voter ID and registrationat the Capitol City Club for theblack legislative delegation.

The speakers were: Senator Ger-

ald Malloy, Representative GildaCobb Hunter and Dr. Lonnie Ran-dolph of Columbia (President of theSouth Carolina State Conference ofthe NAACP).

Challenges emphasized by thespeakers included: 1) getting or-ganizations to be creative aboutworking in their communities andon local college campuses to getpeople registered to vote, 2) initi-ating grassroots’ efforts to get peo-ple to the polls, 3) organizingchurches to become involved in en-couraging their members to vote,and 4) encouraging those who mayneed to vote absentee ballot, to doso, as one of their legal options.

Marguerite Archie-Hudson(Charleston) is the Southern AreaChair of Legislative Issues, Public

Affairs and Disaster Relief. TheCharleston (SC) chapter was re-sponsible for organizing this year’sLDAC. Tamara C. Curry and Vir-ginia Weaver were co-chairs.

Others assisting them with thisyear’s event included : MignonClyburn, Lisa King and Juanita Mid-dleton (Charleston); BrandolynPinkston (Program Committee Co-Chair), Lynne Rogers (ProgramCommittee Co-Chair), and KarenRutherford (Columbia); FloraRatliff and Linda Russell, both onthe Program Committee(Greenville); Gloria McCutcheonand Georgia Montgomery (Orange-burg); Kira Reaves and Rhonda F.Young (Spartanburg); and BeverlyClyburn and Rosemary English(Program Committee) (Aiken).

South Carolina LDAC AddressesVoter ID and Voter Registration

40

On February 27, 2012, theBrunswick (GA) Chapter celebratedthe culmination of Women’s HeartHealth Month. Activities held dur-ing the month included wearing redon February 3, 2012, to celebrateNational Red Dress Day. Healthand Human Services Facet Co-chair, Link Marvara Green, encour-aged her male and femaleco-workers at Coastal RegionalCommission to wear red with theLinks to honor the day. Link sisterswere also asked to wear red everyFriday during the month to cele-brate heart health month and tohave a discussion with at least twowomen about the importance ofheart health.

The Ladies in Red Luncheon washeld at Southeast Georgia Re-gional Medical Center where aheart healthy lunch was provided.Sixty-two ladies, all dressed in red,attended and were excited to be apart of the activity. The chaptergathered gifts as door prizes andpresented each participant with adoor prize. This was the first timethe Brunswick Chapter has heldthis event, but it certainly will not bethe last.

One of the attendees was an 87-year old, cardiac surgery patientwho told the story of her experi-ence. This August, she will cele-brate 40 years of “life afterquadruple by-pass surgery.” Sheinspired three others to share theirstories of living with heart diseaseafter surgery. Each respondentwas given a red rose and a stand-ing ovation in celebration of his/hersuccess and longevity.

Mr. Adam Butler, of Care Im-provement Plus, and Ms. RebeccaMiller presented information onHeart Disease Prevention and Liv-

ing with Heart Disease. Theystated the worse time for heart at-tacks is the weekend because mostphysicians are not working duringthat time. Many heart attacks occuron Sunday because people arepreparing for the upcoming weekand are stressed about returning towork on Monday. Mr. Butler wasvery knowledgeable regarding hissubject and presented the informa-

tion in an entertaining manner thatwas easily understood by every-one. He told the story of his 85-pound weight loss journey andentertained questions as he pro-gressed through the presentation.Handouts and pedometers werealso distributed to motivate every-one to live a heart, healthy lifestyleand empower them to take hearthealth seriously.

Busy February Highlights Brunswick (GA) Chapter’s Wear Red Luncheon and Annual Men of Distinction

Shown above are the 2012 honorees at the Men of Distinctionevent: (L-R): Griffin Lotson, Robert Griffin, Charles Jordan, andNathan Gilbert. Back from left: Peter Baker, Bryan Thompson,Craig Peeples, Floyd Phoenix, Craig Campbell, Joseph Lanham,and Duane Harris.

2nd Annual Men of DistinctionThe Brunswick (GA) Chapter hosted their second

Men of Distinction Recognition Banquet in February.The event was well attended and included a capacitycrowd of sponsors, patrons, and guests at the GrandOaks Hall on Jekyll Island. This year’s eleven hon-orees were recognized for their involvement andcommitment to their communities of Camden, Glynnand McIntosh counties. Dr. Jerry L. Hardee, a nativeof Brunswick, was the guest speaker.

41

The Savannah Chapter (GA)opened the 11th Annual New Be-ginning Youth Art Exhibition with areception on February 7, 2012.The goals of this program are toprovide positive publicity andrecognition for talented art students- as well as support for school pro-grams. The exhibit celebrates thetalent of local middle school andhigh school students. More than350 works from 13 middleschools and eight high schoolswere featured. Since 2003,The New Beginning Art Exhi-bition has been included onthe list of activities during theBlack Heritage Festivalweek sponsored by the Cityof Savannah and Savan-nah State University. This year,the exhibit was based on the 2012Black Heritage Festival theme,“Journeys, Passages, and Transi-tions.” Angel Miew Xinn Ang’s

mixed media, “A Nation Under OurFeet,” won Best of Show. Angel is

a student at Savannah Arts Acad-emy.

The Sa-v a n n a h - C h a t h a mCounty Public SchoolSystem is a valued partner with the

chapter. Together, the following ob-jectives are being met:

Encourage the development ofyoung and talented artists enrolledin local middle and high schools; ̦Provide a professional forum for

the young artists to display their artwork; and

Celebrate the culture and historyof diverse groups of people throughthe medium of art.

The members of the SavannahChapter are proud to say that TheNew Beginning Art Exhibit has be-come a very popular event and isheld in high regard by school lead-ers, art teachers, students, parentsand community partners. The ex-hibit was available at the GalleryS.P.A.C.E. from February 7 –March 2, 2012, and was availableduring the month of March at theSavannah/ Hilton Head Interna-tional Airport Art Gallery where itwas open to the public.

Savannah (GA) Hosts 11th Annual New Beginning Youth Art Exhibit

Saturday, February 25, 2012, wasa very special day for the children

of Newnan, Georgia,and the LaGrange

(GA) Chapter ofThe Links, In-

corporated.Youngstersages 2 to14 braveda miser-ably, windyday and at-

tended afree dental

and obesityhealth fair. The

event took place inNewnan, Georgia on the

parking lot of the Golden Corral

restaurant from 9AM to 2PM.The children received free dental

screenings by local dentists whoare also Connecting Links. Dr. Jor-dan A. Brunson (Lisa) and Dr.Charley Cheney (Tash-Marie) se-cured and manned the “Help AChild Smile” mobile van. Approxi-mately thirty children received freedental screenings and several willreceive complimentary follow-updental services. Children with se-vere problems were referred to or-thodontists and other dentalspecialists. In addition to the freedental screenings, participants alsoreceived fruit, water, healthyrecipes and information on child-hood obesity.

The Health & Human Services

Facet began planning this event inOctober of 2011 for the FebruaryDental/Obesity Fair in observanceof Children’s Dental Health Aware-ness Month. In preparation, dedi-cated facet members secured alocation for the event, designed fly-ers and posters, distributed infor-mation, met with school systemand health services officials, socialservices groups, and local newspa-pers. Local businesses were so-licited for samples andmerchandise for the giveaway bags- as well as information on child-hood obesity.

The project also had overwhelm-ing commitment and support fromthe chapter with a near 100 percentattendance.

LaGrange (GA) Provides Free Dental Care to Youth

42

Links Day at the Georgia Capitol2012 took place on March 14th withmembers of The Links, Incorpo-rated from 15 Georgia chapters lo-cated in Albany, Athens, Atlanta,Augusta, Fort Valley, LaGrange,Macon and Savannah attendingthis full day of activities.

Georgia Legislators, who aremembers of The Links, Incorpo-rated - Senator Freddie Powell

Sims of District #12 Albany (GA)Chapter and Representative Car-olyn Hugley of District #133 Colum-bus (GA) Chapter – also served ashonorary chairs of the event andwelcomed the group of 125 pluswomen to the Georgia Capitol. Itwas a lively panel dialogue devotedto the topic of “Understanding theLinkages Among Childhood Obe-sity, Science, Technology, Engi-neering and MathematicsEducation (S.T.E.M.) and Closingthe Achievement Gap” that kickedoff the discussions for the day.Judge Yvette Miller Azalea City(GA) Chapter, from the GA Court of

Appeals, and Patsy Jo Hilliard At-lanta (GA) Chapter- former Mayorof East Point- moderated the panelthat included: Dr. Henri TreadwellAtlanta (GA) Chapter, Director andSenior Social Scientist for Commu-nity Voices and Professor at More-house School of Medicine; Dr.Bradley Scott, Senior EducationAssociate with the Intercultural De-velopment Research Association;

Dr. Carmen Sidbury, AssociateProvost for Research at SpelmanCollege, and Tiffany Calloway Fer-rell, Director of Regional Opera-tions, AGL Resources, Inc. Linkmembers continued to pursue thechallenges of childhood obesityand closing the achievement gapwhen meeting with their legislatorsfrom throughout the state.

The delegation visited the Sen-ate where Lt. Governor CaseyCagle acknowledged The Links, In-corporated prior to Senator GloriaButler presenting a resolution rec-ognizing The Links on the floor ofthe Senate.

Former Southern Area Director,Mary Currie, addressed the Senateand reminded them that “childhoodobesity has become an epidemic inGeorgia as one in every three chil-dren in our state is overweight orobese.” She also spoke about howobesity adversely impacts studentperformance and student achieve-ment.

Legislators who met with Links,

included: Senators Emanuel Jones(Chair of the Black Caucus),Donzella James, Ed Harbison, Vin-cent Fort, Lester Jackson, MiriamParis, and Gail Davenport. Othermembers of The House of Repre-sentatives who visited included:State Representatives CalvinSmyre (“Dean” of the Legislators),Roger Bruce, Billy Mitchell, NikkiRandall, Calvin Hill, Keith Heard,Winfred Dukes, Hardie Davis,Steve Henson, Wayne Howard,Quincy Murphy, Dar’shun Kendrick,Nikki Randall, Rahn Mayo, and Vir-gil Fludd.

Continued on next page

Georgia LDAC Unites Links With Their Legislators to Rally For Combating Childhood Obesity

43

Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART 2011-2013

SYLVIA PERRY Communications/PR

SHARLYN W. SMITH

Int’l Trends

SELMA ROBINSON

Ethics

JUNE MICHEAUX Protocol

KIM SWEET Archives & History

MAXINE SMITH Awards &

Recognition

RUTH TERRELL Conference &

Event Planning

JUANDA MAXWELL Rituals

Ruth W. McKay Fund Dev.

NATILLE DUNCAN Vendors

ELECTED

APPOINTED

ROZLYN FUSE-HALL

Parliamentarian

TAMARA Y. LEE Vice Director

ANNE T. HERRIOTT Secretary

BESSIE ISOM Rep. to the

Links Foundation

MIGNON B. EARLY Co-Chair Programs

JANICE R. NELSON Treasurer

CHARLOTE HENDERSON Financial Secretary

FAYE HARGROVE Organizational Eff.

LUCINDA R. SULLIVAN Ed. Linkage

BRENDA JAMERSON

STY

CORI BROCK COOPER

HH Services

KAREN M. COMBS

The Arts

MARGUERITE A. HUDSON Leg. Affairs

DENISE COOPER

Nat’l Trends And Services

Technology

OPHELIA NICHOLSON Nominating

Committee Chair

ENEID A. FRANCIS Southern Area Director

Southern Area Chapters

DAISY WALKER Program Coordinator

Continued from page 43

Following lunch in the Coverdell Legislative Office Building, special

recognition and honors were given to several deserving public servants

and elected officials including- Atlanta Mayor, Kasim Reed. He was

celebrated for his support of Atlanta’s children through his efforts to es-

tablish the new Centers for Hope, and State Representative, Nikki Ran-

dall, was also honored for her work with Healthy Children in Georgia.

Service awards were also given to Dr. Henrie Treadwell, a member of

the expert panel and Chairperson of the Links National Childhood Obe-

sity Initiative; and Immediate Past Southern Area Director, Link Mary

Currie. Link Mary was honored for her foresight in leading the charge

with the childhood initiative in 2007- during her administration as the

17th Southern Area Director of The Links, Incorporated.

Georgia Links Day at the Capitol 2012 was chaired by Dr. Ruth Sim-

mons-Herts, a member of the Magnolia Chapter of The Links, Incorpo-

rated. Link Simmons-Herts stated, “I did not do this alone. I had the

best team of Link sisters working with me. The entire team did a superb

job. This 2012 Day at the Capitol was the largest delegation of members

to participate in our program in Georgia. We thank all Georgia Links

who joined us here today.”

More than 125 Links Attend Georgia LDAC

44

The 18th Southern Area Administration welcomes you to utilize SOLACE

S O L A C ES O L A C ESupport of Links All Concern Encouraged

The Southern Area’s new initiative, SOLACE, allows Links

and their families who are experiencing a crisis due to death,catastrophic illnesses, sickness, or other life altering events,

to receive meaningful and compassionate support from Links throughout the Area who can assist them.

The way the program works is simple:1. A Link will go to the Southern Area website, click on the SOLACE link to send a

confidential communication discussing her need or the need of a chapter member. 2. The Southern Area Technology Chair, who is responsible for monitoring the com-

munications, will then send a confidential e-blast across the Area requesting mem-bers for assistance.

3. The donor(s) will then be connected to the Link in need. Assistance can rangefrom donating hotel points, airline miles, arranging appointments for medical treat-ment, donating blood, providing financial assistance to sending words of support orcards.

S

ECALO

Visit the salinksinc.organd click on SOLACE

Technology Chair anonymouslyblasts your need to our sisters

You are connected withyour voluntary donors

Florida - Georgia Bahamas -North CarolinaLouisiana - Mississippi-

South Carolina - Alabama

Support

of

Encouraged

Concern

All

Links

45

The New Orleans (LA) Chapterhas established an incentive-basedNational Read in Day program atMary McLeod Bethune ElementarySchool in New Orleans, Louisiana.The Services to Youth Facet Com-mittee initiated the program that isno longer referred to as a “day”since it is conducted one hour,each week, during the academicschool year. The book selected forthe Winter/Spring 2012 programyear is The Young Landlords byWalter L. Dean. The Links’ pro-gram facilitator leads the 27 stu-dent-participants in reading one

chapter of the book during eachmeeting. To date, student-partici-pants have completed 14 chaptersof the 20-chapter book.

The Young Landlords is an en-gaging story of five young friendswho become landlords and work toimprove the conditions of a Harlemapartment complex, ‘The Joint’.This story offers the reader, and inthis instance, our eager Bethunestudents, an opportunity to: (1) togain knowledge of owning a busi-

ness, (2) todevelop publics p e a k i n gskills, (3) tobuild readingcomprehen-sion and selfcon f i dence ,and (4) to en-hance pronun-

ciation and vocabulary. Incentives have also been incor-

porated into the program and areawarded during the National Readin Day Game Day component.During Game Day sessions, stu-dent-participants are divided into 4teams that are given 23 questionsto answer based on a prior readingassignment of two chapters of thebook. The teams are awardedprizes that include various itemssuch as tickets to the local zoo or

books.The teachers, administrators and

the members of The New OrleansChapter (LA) of The Links, Incorpo-rated are exceptionally proud of thestudent-participants who have ex-citedly embraced reading this bookthat is above their current readinglevel. Congratulations! As weprogress with the program, we willcontinue to emphasize readingcomprehension skills and strate-gies via the Game Day exercises.

Bethune’s vice principal attendedGame Day and was so impressedwith the concept of the entire pro-gram- especially the skill-buildingstrategies and student enthusiasm-that she has decided to use thechapter’s National Read In Day andGame Day programs as a model toteach other subjects in the school.

A MODEL FOR SUCCESS

New Orleans (LA) Creates National Read in Day Program

Students excitedly read their provided books.

46

The International Trends and Services Facet of theMonroe-Grambling chapter recently hosted theHealth Awareness Seminar: Phase III on February24, 2012, at Grambling State University. This semi-nar was third in a series of six. The previous healthawareness programs were held on October 22,2009, and February 28, 2011. The theme for PhaseIII was Make Time for HEALTH. Program partici-pants will obtain the following objectives:

• Identify and discuss some important componentsthat are necessary to promote a healthy lifestyle andhelp prevent obesity;

• Describe the HEALTH Model as a tool for helpingto promote healthy living.

Link Katina Beverly of the Monroe-Grambling (LA)Chapter of The Links, Incorporated was the featuredspeaker. Dr. Beverly is a pediatric dentist practicingin Monroe, Louisiana and provided an excellent multi-media presentation that focused on the importance ofgood dental care as a tool to promote healthy living.Her presentation was followed by a question and an-swer period. Mr. Tavell Kindall, a registered nurse andAssistant Professor of Nursing at Grambling State Uni-versity, prepared an outstanding presentation and dis-tributed a very informative handout to all participants.He focused on the importance of eating healthy foodsand exercising properly to help promote and maintaina healthy lifestyle.

During the seminar, teacher candidates and ad-vanced candidates from Grambling State Universitypresented the Health Awareness Literature-Basedprojects they had designed and implemented in the el-ementary classroom. They shared creative interactiveproject boards and story boxes related to a specifichealth related children’s book. The audience had anopportunity to participate in the literature-based healthawareness activities that the students completed in theclassroom using the interactive teacher-made devices.This activity was designed to use literature for childrenand youth to emphasize the importance of good nutri-tion, proper exercise, and frequent medical check-upsto help promote healthy lifestyles.

Using the theme Make Time for HEALTH, the Mon-roe-Grambling Chapter emphasized the HEALTHacronym with each letter representing an importantphase of the process.

H represents Healthy Foods;

E represents Exercise Properly; A represents Attitude of Commitment to Health and

Wellness; L represents Linking Good Health Habits to Daily

Use; T represents Taking time for Health Check-ups; and H represents Healthy Lifestyle is the first priority.In honor of American Heart Month in February and

Literacy Week during February 8th -12th, the candi-dates in the Department of Curriculum and Instructionplanned and designed the Health Awareness LiteracyProjects that focused on the use of children’s books tostress important tools for promoting healthy living. Theprogram was well attended by the target audience thatincluded community leaders, teachers, administrators,K-12 parents/guardians, and representatives fromcommunity organizations. The program was adver-tised at community agencies, churches, and PK-12schools. Grambling Radio Station, KGRM, and theGrambling State University Media Relations Divisionalso provided publicity. The program received rave re-views from all participants.

The Monroe-Grambling Chapter formed partnershipswith the Grambling State University School of Nursingand Department of Curriculum and Instruction as wellas the North Louisiana Reading Council. Link LorettaJaggers serves as International Trends and ServicesFacet Chair and thanks the following members of hercommittee: Links Jean G. Brown (Co-Chair), ShirleyHenderson, Gertrude Roebuck, Arlena Stringer, andKoyne Smith.

Monroe-Grambling (LA) Sponsors Health Awareness Seminar: Phase III

Patricia Battle stands next to one of the informative displays.

47

On Saturday, March 10, 2012,members of the Crescent City (LA)Chapter sponsored a Red UmbrellaSecond Line Parade. Hundreds ofcitizens participated in this NationalTrends and Services program. Thepurpose of this Second Line paradewas to raise community awarenessabout the alarming and rising rate ofHIV infections in the New Orleans'African American community. The"sea of red" traveled through the 7thWard of New Orleans, and into the-historic neighborhood, The Treme.Everyone wore red, had a red um-brella or red feather boa to symbol-ize the unnecessary and needlesstoll HIV continues to plague the mi-nority community. WDSU TV's med-ical editor, Dr. Corey Hebert, and106.7FM radio hostess, Kelder Sum-mers, hosted the event.

Featured speakers gave their emo-tional accounts of being personallyimpacted by the disease. StateRep. Austin Badon, who representsEastern New Orleans, addressedthe crowd. In addition to the speak-ers, Michael Hickerson who is thecreator of the Red Umbrella Coali-tion, and Link Piper Griffin, who wasrecently sworn in as the new ChiefJudge of the Civil District Court forOrleans Parish, were on hand to mo-tivate the crowd. Nikki Napoleon,continued through tears, as she read

an emotional poem entitled, "She isLeaving the Planet." The poem wasin honor of her sister who died fromHIV/AIDS. Her inspirational worktouched the crowd. Deon Haywoodwith Women And HIV/AIDS, a non-profit organization, also spoke. Hermessage was one of hope and con-cern about the lack of HIV preven-tion programs for women withsubstance abuse, sex abuse, trans-gender women and women inpoverty. The event was also recog-nized by a city proclamation to theRed Umbrella Coalition.

Louisiana ranks 5th in the U.S. forAIDS cases and 12th in AIDS casesreported in 2009. Also, 61 percentof people in the metro area livingwith HIV are African American. In2010, 72 percent of new diagnoseswere African American and 25 per-cent were female.

This is the second year the RedUmbrella Parade has been spon-sored by Crescent City. The RedUmbrella Coalition’s mission is tocreate a healthier community by re-ducing the rising rate of HIV/AIDS in-fections among African Americans inNew Orleans through: education,awareness, advocacy, and preven-tion strategies to dispel myths,stereotypes and misinformation.

For more information visithivnola.com

Crescent City’s (LA) Red Umbrella ParadeBrings Attention to Louisiana’s HIV Epidemic

48

The Columbus (GA) chapter cel-ebrated its 11th Links Day andEmerald Ball on Saturday, March10, 2012. The special guest for theoccasion was world-renowned jazzdrummer and vibraphonist, JasonMarsalis. Mr. Marsalis is theyoungest son of Ellis and DoloresMarsalis and the youngest siblingof Wynton, Branford, and Delfeayoof the famous New OrleansMarsalis jazz family. The Servicesto Youth Facet Committee coordi-nated a Links Day celebration thatbegan with a free music workshopat noon in the Studio Theatre of theRivercenter for the Performing Arts.Local high school musicians- withan interest in jazz- were invited toparticipate in the workshop led byMarsalis and hosted by The Colum-bus, Ga. Chapter.

The day of celebration continuedwith the chapter’s signaturefundraiser, the Emerald Ball, thatwas held at Green Island CountryClub in Columbus, Ga. Over twohundred guests enjoyed an

evening of dinner and musicalentertainment provided byJason Marsalis and The AtlantaSoul Band. The evening’s fes-tivities included a “Key to theCity” to Marsalis by ColumbusMayor Teresa Tomlinson. Theprogram for the evening high-lighted the chapter’s many ac-complishments in service to thecommunity. The event alsomarked the inaugural presenta-tion of the June Russell WrightScholarship for Nursing Education.This award is granted in honor ofdeceased chapter member, JuneWright, who was a devoted mem-ber of The Links, Incorporated for37 years and a dedicated nurse for34 years. The $1,000 scholarshipwas presented to 4.0 ColumbusState University nursing student,Ms. Breanna Miller.

Proceeds from the Emerald Ballfund the chapter’s community serv-ice projects that include: helpinglocal youth attend summer camps,hosting poster arts contest for stu-

dents at the Boys and Girls ClubsInc., preparing Christmas gift bagsfor residents at The Ann ElizabethShepherd Home for Girls, donatingfifty $25 gift cards to families serv-iced by The Department of Familyand Children Services, collectinggently worn shoes for Soles4Souls,and supporting the arts through aWalk-of-Fame at The Liberty The-ater, Columbus Georgia's firstAfrican-American theater in the city-which was originally built in 1924.Valerie Richardson served as chair-person of the Ball, and Carolia Mal-one is the Chapter President.

Jason Marsalis Headlines Columbus (GA)Chapter’s Emerald Ball, H.S. Jazz Workshop

Shown above at the Emerald Ball are Columbus (Ga) chapter members.Shown right are students receiving instruction from Jason Marsalis.

49

Have You Missed anIssue of the Advantage?

Volume 1 Isssue 1

ADVANTAGEThe Southern AreaThe Southern Area

Serving chapters in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina and the Bahamas

An E-Publication from the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated - Eneid A. Francis, Southern Area Director

Effecting Change Through the Power of Friendship and Service

Past issues can always be viewed via the Southern Area website at salinksinc.org.

to the right of the homescreen

ADVANTAGEThe Southern AreaThe Southern Area

Effecting Change Through the Power of Friendship and Service

Volume 1 Isssue 2

Serving chapters in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina and The Bahamas

An E-Publication from the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated - Eneid A. Francis, Southern Area Director

Volume 1 Isssue 3

Serving chapters in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina and The Bahamas

An E-Publication from the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated - Eneid A. Francis, Southern Area Director

Effecting Change Through the Power of Friendship and Service

ADVANTAGEThe Southern AreaThe Southern Area

Volume 1 Isssue 4

Serving chapters in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina and The Bahamas

An E-Publication from the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated - Eneid A. Francis, Southern Area Director

Effecting Change Through the

Power of Friendship and Service

ADVANTAGEThe Southern AreaThe Southern Area

Volume 1 Isssue 4

Serving chapters in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina and The Bahamas

An E-Publication from the Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated - Eneid A. Francis, Southern Area Director

Effecting Change Through the

Power of Friendship and Service

ADVANTAGEThe Southern AreaThe Southern Area

The Advantage - thenew E-Zine of the

18th Southern AreaAdministration - isfull of program and

operational informa-tion in addition tochapter news anddetails to enhance

your Link friendshipexperience!

50

Members of the BirminghamChapter recently presented a$5,200 check to the North CentralAlabama Birmingham affiliate ofSusan G. Komen for the Cure. Thedonation is specifically earmarkedfor the Komen “Circle of Promise”initiative that is designed to furtherthe education of African Americanwomen in the fight against breastcancer. Komen, in partnership withthe Birmingham Chapter, haspledged to make a positive differ-ence in the lives of African Ameri-can women surrounding theincrease of breast cancer aware-ness, support and empowerment.

Passionate about Komen and theCircle of Promise initiative, theChapter sought to take action. OnFriday, October 27, 2011, individu-als from throughout the communitygathered to contribute to this mostworthwhile cause. A reception tosupport the Circle of Promise initia-

tive was hosted by the BirminghamChapter Health and Human Serv-ices Facet at the home of Link Car-netta Davis and Connecting Link,Norm Davis. Assisting AfricanAmerican women who are finan-cially unable to afford mammo-grams was the primary focus of thisendeavor. Those attending con-firmed their commitment to thisproject through their generous con-tributions. In addition to their contri-butions, individuals shared awonderful evening of down home,southern hospitality with Komenrepresentatives, Links membersand our special guest - LisaRayeMcCoy, the Susan G. Komen Circleof Promise Global Ambassador andwell renowned actor/entertainer.

The reception was outstanding.The goal, mission and purpose ofthe event were accomplished.When the check was presented,Ellen Vahariadis, Komen, Execu-

tive Director, expressed her over-whelming gratitude for the donationand for the partnership with theBirmingham Chapter. In Workingtogether, the Susan G. Komen andthe Birmingham Chapter of theLinks, Inc. “will” make a significantimpact among African Americanwomen in the fight against breastcancer.

\Ç `xÅÉÜ|tÅLink Jo Neal Freeman of the

Albany (GA) Chapter has

passed. Link Neal served as the

Vice President of Program and

the first lady of Al-

bany State Univer-

sity. Link Neal will

be missed and may

she rest in peace.

Birmingham Chapter Presents Check to Susan G. Komen Circle of Promise

L to R: chapter members Diann Jackson, Cathy Bradford, Marva James, Carnetta Davis, Tamara Travis,guest LisaRaye McCoy, Chapter President Vanessa Falls, Camelia Holmes and Carol McElderry.

51

As America commemorates the

anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking

and the blockbuster movie that told

its’ story, many people are not

aware that there were actually

Black passengers aboard. Joseph

Laroche, a Haitian-born, French-

educated engineer traveling with

his family, is believed to be the only

black man among the passengers

on the Titanic.

When the Titanic set sail,

Laroche, 26, his pregnant wife, Juli-

ette, 22, and their two daughters

were on board to leave France en-

route to Haiti because Laroche

couldn't find work in his profession

as an architect because he was

Black. He had decided to return to

his homeland where his uncle was

the president and his job prospects

would be much better.

The young Laroche grew up in a

well-to-do Haitian family. When he

was 14, his parents sent him to

France to study engineering. There

he met Juliette, who was white and

whose father owned a winery.

Laroche's mother had sent the

family first-class tickets to travel on

the French liner France. But just

before de-

p a r -

ture, the

Laroches learned

that the ship

wouldn't allow

them to dine with

their children. Out

of concern about

the younger

daughter, who

was sickly, they

traded their tick-

ets for second-

class tickets on

the Titanic.

According to

museum exhibits,

the family

boarded the Ti-

tanic on the

evening of April

10, 1912, at

C h e r b o u r g ,

France. They

spent most of

their time enjoy-

ing the British lux-

ury liner. But

some crew mem-

bers did make

disparaging com-

ments to Laroche

and his daughters, believing they

were Italian or Japanese because

of their darker skin.

On the night of April 14, Laroche

was in the smoking parlor with

other men traveling second

class when he felt the ship hit

the iceberg. He ran back to

his room to check on his

wife and daughters.

When the ship began to

sink, Laroche placed the

family's money and valu-

ables in a coat and draped

it around his wife's shoul-

ders. (The coat was later

stolen.) He then placed his family in

a lifeboat and stayed on the ship

helping get other women and chil-

dren to safety.

He told his wife he would meet

her in New York. But he didn't sur-

vive and his body was never found.

Juliette Laroche, their two daugh-

ters and unborn son survived, and

when they eventually returned to

France, her father had lost his win-

ery during World War I. The family

lived in poverty for a few years until

she won a settlement from the Ti-

tanic disaster.

The 100th anniversary of the Ti-

tanic's sinking is April 15th.

History Never Shows the Titanic

Had Black Passengers on Board

Joseph Laroche and family in Paris. He and his chil-

dren were the only black passengers on the Titanic.

52

Members of The Arts and Serv-ices to Youth Facets of The Natchez

Chapter (MS), have implemented aprogram for Tweens (children ages9-12) in five counties - Adams, Clai-borne, Lawrence, Lincoln and Pike– all within a fifty mile radius. Eachyear, the organization provides an

activity in the field of The Arts forunderprivileged, middle school stu-dents. The objectives of the pro-gram facet are: to encourageappreciation and support for cul-tural enrichment of the arts, to em-power artists to be an integral partof global art, and to assist youth indeveloping artistic talents.

For the last several years, thechapter has emphasized healthyeating and lifestyles. The “healthy

tween” aspect of the program is es-pecially pertinent to Mississippi, thenation’s most obese state. Thisyear, the chapter will provide theperformance of the musical, TheLion King to approximately 150 chil-

dren and adult sponsors from des-ignated youth groups.

The “Imagine Me” Obesity groupwill be in attendance. Most of thechildren have not experienced alive, musical performance. The mu-sical will be performed by JubileePerforming Arts Center - which is asmall private, performing artsschool comprising a majority ofAfrican American tweens andteens. This annual event will occuron the Natchez Campus of AlcornState University Saturday, April 21,2012, from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

The chapter will also providehealthy snacks and lunch through-out the afternoon.

Natchez (MS) Presents Annual “Natchez (MS) Presents Annual “Day of The Day of The Arts With The LinksArts With The Links” Featuring The Lion King” Featuring The Lion King

Thanks to theNatchez (MS)Chapter, many youth will witness their first artistic liveperformance

According to Link Barbara Mooreof the Brevard County (FL) Chap-ter, she never meets a stranger,only family. With this life’s philoso-phy, the organization, LEAD Bre-vard, a 22-yrs old organization,recently awarded her the Leader-ship Icon Award. The honor is givento an individual who has exhibitedthe main pillars of its mission state-ment by creating, developing, en-couraging, and supporting youngprofessionals in the area for lead-ership.

Link Moore, president and CEOof Child Care Association of Bre-vard for 39 years of service, wasacknowledged for serving as an ex-ample for young leaders. Her or-ganization helps families securesocial services for their childrenand help parents become self-suf-ficient. She established thecounty’s first after school program.

She said while she is honored toreceive the award, she doesn’t un-derstand all the hoopla for doingwhat her father once told her to do.“He wanted us to serve and realizeit was our responsibility to giveback. I feel great in being in a posi-

tion to make some big impact,”says Moore. Feeling motherly toeveryone, Link Barbara shares,simply put, “it’s a matter of showingconcern and care for other people,”a philosophy revealed not only inwhat she says, but in her actions.

Brevard County’s (FL) BarbaraMoore Lauded for Leadership

Barbara Moore sits next to her award.

53

By Link Kimberly Sweet Many people associate heart at-

tacks with men, but they aren’t the onlyones at risk. In fact, heart disease isthe leading killer of women in theUnited States. The Heart Truth Cam-paign, National Wear Red Day and ourown Heart-Links efforts have made adifference educating women aboutcardiovascular health. The majorthrust of recent efforts, however, hailsfrom medical research.

Members of the LeFleur's BluffChapter (MS), recently received an up-date from one of the country's leadingcardiovascular medical researchers.Connecting Link Dr. Herman Taylor,Principal Investigator of the Jackson

Heart Study, addressed the group aspart of its observance of AmericanHeart Month.

The Jackson Heart Study is thelargest single-site, prospective, epi-demiologic investigation of cardiovas-cular disease among AfricanAmericans ever undertaken. It is apopulation-based longitudinal studybased in Jackson, Mississippi. At 36.3percent, Mississippi has more AfricanAmerican residents than any otherstate.

Since there is a greater prevalenceof cardiovascular disease amongAfrican Americans, the purpose of theJackson Heart Study is to explore thereasons for this disparity and to un-

cover new approaches to reduce it.The study also aims to involve ourcommunity in significant medical re-search and prepare minority studentsfor careers in health sciences.

While the study's definitive resultsaren't expected for awhile, there aresome early conclusions which Taylorsays should prompt some importantlifestyle changes. He told LeFleur'sBluff members that daily exercise,along with a diet low in fat, bad choles-terol, sugar and calories can make adifference. Additionally, those affectedby high blood pressure, diabetes andobesity should work to control and re-verse those conditions. Finally, Tayloralso urged all smokers to immediatelyquit.

Several members of the LeFleursBluff Chapter are enrolled in the studyand hope that their participation, alongwith the input from thousands of oth-ers, will bring about the ultimate goalof the project which is to "transform ahistory of African Americans’ heart dis-

ease into a legacy of heart health."

Leading Cardiologist Enlightens LeFleur’s Bluff (MS) Chapter on Heart Health

No girl should have to miss her promsimply because her family can't afford adress. The Buckhead/Cascade CityChapter has partnered with the En-chanted Closet to offer a solution to fi-nancially challenged families that haveto choose between paying for prom ex-penses or household needs. This year,the Enchanted Closet celebrated its 10thAnnual Prom Dress Giveaways on Sat-urdays, March 3rd and 31st. The mem-bers of Buckhead/Cascade City Chapterdidn’t have to dig too deeply into theirclosets to find over 30 gently used ballgowns to donate to the cause.

Bonita Johnson is the EnchantedCloset President and CEO and said,“We are fortunate to have the support of theBuckhead/Cascade City Chapter of The Links, Incorpo-rated. There are so many young girls in need and we ap-preciate the ongoing dedication of these socially conscious

women.”The Enchanted Closet, Inc. is a nonprofit organization

benefitting the Girls of Metro Atlanta. They have en-chanted the lives of more than 4,000 metro Atlanta girls,not just for a night, but for a lifetime.

Buckhead/Cascade Supports the Enchanted Closet

Link Beryl Clark, Bonita Johnson, President and CEO, Enchanted Closet,and Link Leslie Hamilton Thomas.

Have You Registered for the SouthernArea’s Green Pages Resurce Guide?

Register your profession, hobby or interest in our upcoming mem-bers only, online resource guide. You never know when you mayhave an opportunity to be of service or be in need of assistance.

Visit WWW.SALINKSINC.ORGVisit WWW.SALINKSINC.ORG

54

Vice DirectorTamara Y. Lee

Tuskegee (AL) Chapter

vicedirector@salinksinc.org

SecretaryAnne T. Herriott

Miami (FL) Chapter

secretary@salinksinc.org

TreasurerJanice R. Nelson

Bold City (FL) Chapter

treasurer@salinksinc.org

ParliamentarianRosalind Fuse- Hall

Tallahassee (FL) Chapter

parliamentarian@salinksinc.org

Chair, Nominating

CommitteeOphelia Nicholson

Shreveport (LA) Chapter

nominatingchair@salinksinc.org

Southern Area Rep.

The Links Foundation, Inc.

Bessie Isom

Greater Mobile (AL) Chapter

linksfoundationrep@salinksinc.org

Financial SecretaryCharlotte Henderson

Baton Rouge (LA) Chapter

financialsec@salinksinc.org

Chair, ProgramsDaisy R. Walker

Charlotte (NC) Chapter

programschair@salinksinc.org

Assistant Chair, ProgramsMignon Breaux Early

Greenville (SC) Chapter

asstprogramschair@salinksinc.org

Chair, National Trends

& ServicesDenise M. Cooper

Savannah (GA) Chapter

nationaltrendschair@salinksinc.org

Chair, Legislative Issues,

Public Affairs and Disas-

ter ReliefMarguerite Archie- Hudson

Charleston (SC) Chapter

publicaffairschair@salinksinc.org

Chair, Services to YouthBrenda T. Jamerson

Orangeburg (SC) Chapter

youthchair@salinksinc.org

Education LinkageLucinda R. Sullivan

Augusta (GA) Chapter

educationchair@salinksinc.org

Chair, International

Trends & ServicesSharlyn Wilson Smith

Nassau (Bahamas) Chapter

internationaltrends@salinksinc.org

Chair, The ArtsKaryn M. Combs

Pensacola (FL) Chapter

artschair@salinksinc.org

Chair, Health

& Human ServicesCori M. Brock

Pontchartrain (LA) Chapter

healthchair@salinksinc.org

Chair, Ethics and

StandardsSelma Robinson-Ayers

St. Petersburg (FL) Chapter

ethicschair@salinksinc.org

Chair, Organizational

EffectivenessFaye Hargrove

Augusta (GA) Chapter

effectivenesschair@salinksinc.org

Chair, ArchivesKimberly Sweet

LeFleur’s Bluff (MS) Chapter

archiveschair@salinksinc.org

Chair, Awards and

RecognitionMaxine Smith

Charleston (SC) Chapter

awardschair@salinksinc.org

Chair, CommunicationsSylvia Perry

Bold City (FL) Chapter

communicationschair@salinksinc.org

Chair, Conference

& Event PlanningRuth H. Terrell

Fayetteville (NC) Chapter

conferencechair@salinksinc.org

Chair, Fund Development

Ruth Waters McKayBold City (FL) Chapter

fundchair@salinksinc.org

Chair, ProtocolJune W. Michaux

Durham (NC) Chapter

protocolchair@salinksinc.org

Chair, RitualsJuanda F. Maxwell

Selma (AL) Chapter

ritualschair@salinksinc.org

Chair, Technology

Chair, VendorsNatille E. Duncan

Jackson (MS) Chapter

vendorschair@salinksinc.org

As a pledge for my administration, we will have an open door policyfor all Links. The Executive Committee is here to discuss everythingfrom membership issues and facet questions to grant writing and protocol.

If you have a question or concern for any member of the leadershipteam, feel free to contact us. Eneid

Southern Area Exec.Committee Directory

Area Director:Area Director: Eneid A. Francis

Pontchartrain (LA) Chapter

(H) 504.284.3660 (F) 877.284.3660 Southernareadirector@salinksinc.org

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ADVANTAGE

Southern Area Communications Team

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONSWe encourage you to submit your information by the 15th of the month for inclusion in future issues. Submitted events must

have occurred within the past 30 days. Information can be sent from chapter members as well as Chapter CommunicationsChairs to their regional chair shown above. Members of the Area Communications Team are in contact with their region’s chapterCommunications Chairs to ensure a channel of communication is maintained.

Be in the Advantage1. Stories/articles on your various programs. Please submit QUALITY high resolution photographs in .jpeg or

.bmp format and details surrounding your program. If there are less than five people in the picture, please includenames (L-R) for EVERYONE (including children) on the photo. “Cell phone” quality photos will not be published/ac-cepted.

2. Upcoming dates. Is your chapter celebrating an anniversary, hosting a fundraiser or having a special event?Share the news with your sisters! You never know just who may come. Please be sure to include a contact numberand email address for more information.

3. Post-event information. After your special events, please feel free to share your photos and details.4. Going Places. Have you recently received a promotion? Celebrated a significant milestone? Getting married?

Graduating? Expecting? Elected to public office? Retiring? We want to know! Please share with your Area sistersas we join in celebrating your accomplishment.

REGION 1

REGION 2

REGION 3

KIMBERLY LaMOTTELa Capitale (LA)

Louisiana and Georgia Email: LinkKimberlyLaMotte@yahoo.com

JOY WALLACESt. Pete (FL)

Florida, South Carolina and the BahamasEmail: wallacejoy27@yahoo.com

NATILLE DUNCANJackson (MS)

Mississippi, North Carolina and AlabamaEmail: krossdun@yahoo.com

EDITORS AT LARGE

KENYONN DEMPS Jacksonville (FL)

THELECIA WILSONBold City (FL)

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