November 2023 | Volume 11 | Issue 1

Virtual November Chapter Meeting

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Chapter Meeting - 1:00 PM



Chapter meeting agenda, minutes, committee reports, and documents will be available prior to the meeting in the Members Only section of the chapter website at https://dst-sla.org.  Please review, download, and bring your copies to the meeting.

Business Attire

Please note: The Members Only area is restricted information for financial members and is password protected. Your username is your membership number and the password is the first letter of your first and last names plus the last four digits of your membership number.



The password is case-sensitive and must be in all caps.

Example: Mary Smith - User Name (123456) Password: (MS3456)

Disclaimer: If you don't have access to the website currently, you will receive a notification with further instructions in the near future.

Greetings Sorors of the Saint Louis Alumnae Chapter:

Fall is my favorite time of the year. The cooler temperatures, falling leaves and early evening sunset hours are just a few of the signs that the Fall season is quickly approaching. I also look forward to the first holiday of season, Thanksgiving. Sorors, as we begin the holiday season by celebrating Thanksgiving, take a moment to stop and think about our many blessings. Each of you, my sorors, is a blessing to our chapter and I am thankful for each of you. We are more than just an organization; we are a sisterhood. As sisters, we have a bond based on eternal love and respect. So, as we approach this special season, let’s continue to be thankful for each other and all that we have to share.

Chapter Strategic Planning

As I mentioned last month, this month I’d like to share the strategic planning process at the chapter level. The Five-year Strategic Plan at the National level is based on the Five-Point Programmatic Thrust. The purpose of the Chapter level action plan is to help our chapter and members understand and implement components of the Five Priorities of the National Strategic Plan. It is imperative that all chapters implement the annual identified focus areas.

In March of 2023, a team from our chapter attended a workshop in Wichita, Kansas to prepare us to develop our chapter plan. The Central Region developed a document that captures each chapter’s programs/activities and events. The plan does offer flexibility; however, a major component of the plan is the use of assessment tools to measure the overall impact of our programs and events on the community and our chapter.

Each plan submitted by a committee must include the following:

• Name of the activity, program or event
• Identification of the type of activity, program or event as defined by the Central Region
• Executive Board or Chapter approval
• Identification of the target audience
• Identification of the Programmatic Thrust, Commission, or Committee
• Identification of the Strategic Priority to be addressed (Organizational Health, Social Action,

Community Impact, Empowerment of Women and Girls, Appreciation of our Culture)

• Identification of the assessment tool to be used

The written summary must answer the following questions:

• What is the Big Picture?
• What are the overarching goals?
• How does the activity, program or event align with the selected Strategic Priorities?

For more information on strategic planning, visit the following link:

https://members.dstonline.org/Portal/Committees/Strategic_Planning_Committee/Strategic_Planning_Committee.aspx

With a Thankful heart,

Bernadette White

President

Saint Louis Alumnae Chapter

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

President's Committee Chairs, Co-Chairs and their contact information may be downloaded here. 

*This list is for chapter internal uses only. Any other use is strictly prohibited and subject to sanctions as defined in Code of Conduct Section 4.C.

In Person (7 meetings)

September – Retreat

December

January - Rededication

April

May – Election

June - Luncheon

Virtual (3 meetings)

November

February

March

November Calendar Dates

4 SLA Chapter Meeting 1:00PM – Virtual – Registration Required

14 SLA New Chapter Member Orientation – Virtual

18 Executive Board Meeting 10:00AM – Virtual

21 Regional Parliamentary Webinar – Virtual – Registration Required

COMMITTEE SIGNUPS

Committee Sign-Up

St. Louis Alumnae Needs You

▲PRESIDENT'S STANDING COMMITTEES

▲PROGRAM PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES

▲MEMBERSHIP SERVICES COMMITTEES

HEY SORORS, we don’t want you all to be left out, so grab your tickets ASAP for the Crimson & Crème Ball before they sell out! You can purchase individual tickets through Eventbrite by clickg the link below.

Or, if you would like to purchase a table (10 to a table) please contact, Soror, Felicia Echols (314) 616-8047 or Soror, K. Michelle Piphus (314) 882-6042.

Crimson and Crème Ball: Sneaker Edition is Friday, January 12, 2024, 7:30pm - 12:30am.

Location: Renaissance Hotel

9801 Natural Bridge Rd.

St. Louis, MO 63134

Doors open @ 7pm. Dinner served promptly @ 7:45 pm. No dinner service after 8:15pm.

There are limited hotel rooms available. You cannot go through the hotel directly to receive the special package promotion. You must go through the Chapter.

Hotel package $160 - includes overnight stay with 1 breakfast. Additional breakfast is $20 per person.

We will have fantastic raffles during this event that you won’t want to miss out on. You must be present to win.

LOTTERY OPPORTUNITY: Sorors, please share the post for the Crimson & Crème Ball on your social media platforms. The post can be found in the newsletter or on the Chapters Facebook (The Saint Louis Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.) or Instagram (sladst1913) pages. For everyone who receives 100 likes for their post, please send a screen capture to Soror K. Michelle Piphus (314) 882-6042 and you will be entered into a drawing to receive 2 free tickets to the Crimson & Crème Ball. The contest will start immediately and go until December 1^st. The drawing will take place during the December Chapter meeting (December 2^nd) and the winner will be announced then. Good luck to all and remember to Share, Share, Share!!!

Greetings Sorors! 

Again, thank you to all committee Chairs and Co-chairs for your willingness to serve in these positions that serve our community. Program, Planning, and Development is off to a great start from preparations for Breakfast With Santa to the Physical & Mental Health walks and ‘Live Well’ initiative. With Risk Management training nearing completion, we will see the launch of our youth programs with an ‘Open House’ event for our youth programs. The SLA PP&D committees are moving “Forward with Fortitude: Engaging Our Sisterhood, Empowering Our Communities and Elevating Our Impact. It is the work that we do and will do in this sorority year that continues to give life to Delta’s Five Point Programmatic Thrust. 

Happy Thanksgiving Sorors!

Warmest regards,

LaVerne James-Bady 

1st VP – Program Planning & Development

[email protected]

A list of all PP& D Chairs, Co-Chairs and their contact information may be downloaded here. 

*This list is for chapter internal uses only. Any other use is strictly prohibited and subject to sanctions as defined in Code of Conduct Section 4.C.

Greetings Sorors!

It’s time to GET INVOLVED! We are off to an awesome start to our sorority year. I want to thank each of you for stepping up to join, chair, or co-chair a committee. Membership Services committees are in full swing and are off to a great start. If you have not signed up for a committee, please contact the chair of the committee to get information regarding meeting times and locations. GET INVOLVED!

Save The Date: Founders Day will take place on February 24, 2024. If you have a milestone anniversary, please be on the lookout for instructions on how to submit your information to be included in the celebration.

The Reclamation and Retention committee hosted our first SLA Academy session where the Public Relations committee educated the chapter on their purpose and the process for committees to publicize chapter activities, events, and programs to the community. The next SLA Academy session will take place on December 5, 2023 and the Technology committee will be presenting. A registration link is available in November. Save-the-Date, December 16, 2023, for the chapter dessert social. Additional details are forthcoming.

Sorors, we have so much for which to be thankful. I am thankful for each of you. I’m thankful and blessed to call each of you, my sister. As we begin this season of sharing and giving, let us not overlook those strong sisters closest to us. Sometimes they need us more than we realize.

Sisterly,

Tracey Carter

2^nd Vice President – Membership Services

[email protected]

A list of all Membership Services Chairs, Co-Chairs and their contact information may be downloaded here.

*This list is for chapter internal uses only. Any other use is strictly prohibited and subject to sanctions as defined in Code of Conduct Section 4.C.

Saturday, December 9, 2023

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Carr Lane VPA Middle School

1004 N Jefferson Ave

St. Louis, MO 63106

 Countdown to

Breakfast with Santa

Have you made your donation?

Check out the flyer and information below to help us reach our goal of serving 500 children and their families this holiday season!

BWS Amazon Wishlist Link

https://rb.gy/5oviq

Financial Support

Monetary donations can be made to the Financial Secretaries.

Gayle Abram (314) 494-4314

Latashuia Browning (314) 420-5645

Carolyn Thomas (314) 761-3156

or via PayPal

[email protected]   Note: BWS

All toy purchases and financial donations should be received by Saturday, December 2, 2023.

Thank you for your continued support,

Tonya, Rega & Paula

“Putting a Dent in Hunger” – Central Region PP&D - Saturday, October 7

September was Hunger Awareness Month! The Community Awareness and Involvement committee supported the regional imitative, ‘Putting a Dent In Hunger” by collecting canned goods and other non-perishable items from chapter members.

The Saint Louis Alumnae Chapter donated three large boxes of over 300 canned goods and non-perishable items prior to chapter meeting, Saturday, October 7, 2023. Immediately following the meeting, the Community Awareness & Involvement Committee members delivered the donated items to the “Helping Hands Food Pantry”. The food pantry serves residents of North St. Louis County. Several Sorors support the mission of this ministry in North County.

Pictured: Sorors Shawn Wade, Ebony Carter of Alpha Omega City Wide Chapter, Jimell Anderson Foote, and Dorothy Winton

Fire Safety Falloween Festival

1421 N. Jefferson Ave / Saturday, October 21 - Noon – 3 pm



Community Awareness & Involvement partnered with the St. Louis City Fire Department by having 2-3 vehicles in support of their Fire Safety Month “Falloween Festival”. For this activity, the committee passed out treats from their vehicles. Also, since it is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the committee distributed literature to promote domestic violence awareness and resources for victims. A lunch was served for the firefighters. This event is in support of the Central Region PP&D October initiative.

SLA Day of Thanks & Giving

Veterans Hospital 915 Grand Blvd / 7am-9am Wednesday, November 8

The committee is in the planning stage for this event. Breakfast will be served by the committee to the veterans in honor of Veteran’s Day. This event is in support of the Central Region PP&D November initiative.

Your Economic Development Committee is here to help!!!

The Economic Development Committee is excited to assist you with tips, thoughts, and training that will help you improve or sustain your financial health. Our desire is to provide you with information and tools as you make financial decisions for you and your family. We are passionate about Economic Development and the building of generational wealth, one decision at a time.

To help us in the selection of topics and workshops, please complete a brief survey by clicking the link below to indicate your areas of interest.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss opportunities for collaboration, please reach out to Soror Gwen Blackmon (314-537-2260, [email protected]) or Soror Lucille Sibert (314-608-6341, [email protected]).

Sista Strut Photos

St. Jude Walk Photo

Thank you, Sorors for your Mind Guard donations!

Please join the Regional Parliamentarian Committee for a four-part series with Delta's National Parliamentarian, Wanda Nelson. The second sessions will educate members on the various classes of motions and characteristics of Robert's Rules of Order and parliamentary procedures:

Session II: Classes of Motions & Characteristics

November 21, 2023 from 7pm CT - 9pm CT / 6pm MT - 8pm MT

Session III: Practices in Motion

January 16, 2024 from 7pm CT - 9pm CT / 6pm MT - 8pm MT

Session IV: Practices in Motion

March 19, 2024 from 7pm CT - 9pm CT / 6pm MT - 8pm MT

Please make sure that you have at least one of the following documents so that you can fully participate in the sessions:

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, 12th edition Paperback – by Henry M. Robert III, Daniel H Honemann, et al. | Sep 1, 2020

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief, 3rd edition

by Henry M. Robert III, Daniel H Honemann, et al. | Sep 1, 2020

 The Regional Program Planning and Development Committee has released several regional initiatives for chapters to execute in line with our national strategic plan. Please support the chapter by volunteering to help execute both initiatives.

1. Collect and distribute 1932 canned goods to area food pantries and food banks.

2. Show honor and support to our first responders by providing them with a meal and goodie bag.

Chapter Presidents have been challenged to develop their members and community through the Grow with Google Program. Chapters will offer members and community workshops to help build and strengthen business and technical skills for various work environments, especially for chapter members seeking leadership positions in and outside Delta.

Chapters that provide at least four different Grow With Google Workshops for their members and or community (can be combined) will be eligible for award consideration at the 2024 Central Regional Conference..

If you would like to take advantage of these enrichment opportunities, please contact your Chapter President for information on when the chapter will provide these workshops.