Post on 28-Aug-2018
GAMMA CHI CHAPTER, INC.
Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. Spring 2016
Southeast Regional Conference 2016
Inside this issue:
Basileus Corner
Legislative Day
2
Sisterhood 3
Desk of Parliamentarian 4
SER 5
Accelerated Membership 6
Gamma Chi Shines 7
In Memorial 10
Gamma Chi Chapter members attending the SER Conference
Gamma Chi Chapter members following Memorial Service
T he 63rd Annual Southeast Region-
al Conference was held March 9-
16, 2016 at Hilton Head Marriott
Resort and Spa in Hilton Head, SC. Zeta Chi
Chi was the host chapter. Robbin M. Har-
mon, EdD, BSN, RN, Regional Director.
Our SER kicked off with its opening ceremo-
ny held on March 11, 2016. Our 1st Assis-
tant Southeast Regional director Cathy
Badgett presided. Musical selections were
provided by our own SER choir. The keynote
speaker was Ms. Cheryl W. Capers ,Director
of Accreditation St Joseph/ Candler Health
System. She kicked off the conference with
her message referencing the three P's
( preparation, participation, and promotion).
There were greetings from various officials
and remarks from both our immediate past
Regional Director Dr. Robin Harmon and our
Supreme Basileus Dr. Elcedo Bradley.
First time attendees and neophytes were
recognized, as well as the members who are
the longest consecutive attendee. Gamma
Chi Chapter had the largest number of first
time attendees and neophytes. Soror Clara
Cabey of Gamma Chi Chapter received
recognition as having the longest consecu-
tive attendance. Soror Cabey has not
missed a Southeast Regional Conference in
more than thirty years.
Continue on page 5
Basileus Corner
S pecial thanks to everyone who attended
the Southeast Regional Conference in Hilton Head
S.C. Again, Gamma Chi brought home the award
for the most members present. Zeta Chi Chi Chapter put on an
exceptional conference. The weather was excellent, the ocean
view was so relaxing.
We now have new officers, South-
east Regional Director, Dr. Rhonda
K. Hollis; Grammateus, Vanessa Bar-
low; and Alice Jackson was re-
elected as Tamias.
Conference observers are
still talking about the positive ener-
gy and enthusiasm Gamma Chi del-
egation showed with their, "I’m so
excited" performance led by our 2017 SER Conference Chair-
person Georgia Jackson, Co-Chairs Treva Carter, and Angela
Ward.
Gamma Chi get ready, get ready, get ready as we prepare to
host the 2017 Conference in Atlanta at the Buckhead Westin
Hotel, Lennox Square. We will need all members engaged and
ready to make our conference the very best. Mark your calen-
dar now for March 15-19, 2017.
I’m So Excited!
Juanita Gibbons-Delaney Basileus
GNA Legislative Day at
State Capital
P rofessional Nurses and Student nurses gathered in the
2nd floor South Atrium of the Georgia State Capitol on
Thursday February 4, 2016, to participate in GNA Leg-
islative Day. We were given material by the GNA staff and vol-
unteers to inform us of the agenda for the day at the Capitol.
At 9:00 AM, the GNA morning program began. Several mem-
bers of the GNA Board of Directors spoke to the Professional
Nurses and Student nurses. GNA Legislative Director Richard
Lampier greeted us and expressed his gratitude to see so
many in attendance at the Capitol. GNA President Amiee Man-
ion thanked the nurses for their dedication in delivering quali-
ty care to the patients in Georgia. She spoke words of encour-
agement to all. GNA CEO Debbie Bartlett and other VIP Guests
spoke to the nurses. One member advised that all nurses
should get to know their Senator, House of Representative
members and Local Officials. We were encouraged to visit their
offices get to know our politicians and let them know us. It is by
being involved and knowing our political officials that our Agen-
da will be addressed by them. They stated that if we did not
“Put our Agenda on the Table, “We will be Eaten-up at the Ta-
ble. “ Their message is to, “Get involved and Stay involved.”
At 10:00 AM we gathered on the 2nd Floor North Steps of the
Capitol and took pictures with Gov. Deal. Afterwards we visited
the House/Senate Gallery on the 4th Floor of the Capitol and
watched the Day’s Sessions. One Senator acknowledged the
Nurses in the Gallery. She stated that there were over 1,700
Sorors Delaney, Henderson, Braimah, Mills and Rawls
Soror Mills and Rawls with Legislator and Gov. Deal welcoming the nurses
GNA CEO Debbie Bartlett and GNA President Amiee Manion with Sorors
nurses and student nurses at the Capitol for Legislative Day.
After lunch we attended Committee meetings in the Coverdale
Building and tried to connect with our individual Officials. Our
day at the Capitol ended after 3:00 PM. The day was exciting
and informative. In attendance were Soror Juanita Delaney,
Soror Miriam Henderson, Soror Janet Braimah, Erica Mills,
Karen Rawls, and 3 other Gamma Chi Sorors.
Submitted by Soror Miriam Henderson
BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION
G amma Chi Chapter celebrated Black History Month
with a Black History Trivia Quiz, presentations by
Soror Georgia F. Jackson and Soror Vickie Spann-
Reeves. Sorors showed their regal beauty by wearing African
Attire. Soror Jackson is chairperson for the Black History Pro-
gram.
Sisterhood Celebration
T he Annual Sisterhood Luncheon was held February
13, 2016, at the 57th Fighter Squadron located on
Clarimont Road in Brookhaven, GA. The chairpersons
for the luncheon was Sorors Betty Fayoe and Eula Carroll. The
luncheon was filled with fun, food, and fellowship. It was fan-
tastic to have so many participants from Gamma Chi taking
part in the activities. This was our first year at the Squadron
but hopefully not our last.
Sisterhood Photos
Legislator speaking with RNs and nursing students.
T he Memorial Service at the 2016 SER Celebrated the
life of Soror Verdelle Bellamy. The 2016 SER Memorial
Service celebrated the life of our believer Soror
Verdelle Bellamy, who departed this life on April 22, 2015. She
was the 10th Supreme Basileus (1973-1977). Although it was
somber occasion, with all sorors attired in black, it allowed our
new sorors to appreciate the depth of our sorority, as all chap-
ters joined in the exercise to remember our deceased sorors.
This year’s choir was particularly dedicated. Gamma Chi also
remembered one of our Charter Members, Soror Betty L.
Bryson. The event took place from 7:30-8:30pm and was well
attended, although it made for a long day. (Memorial report
submitted by Soror Claudette Rainey).
O n Saturday March 12, 2016, the Sorors and Fraters
convened for a delightful luncheon and fellowship at
the signature Anita K. Bass luncheon. The room was
filled with a sold out crowd of members, family, scholarship
award recipients, and the recipient of the charitable donation.
The food and atmosphere were great, and there was a spectac-
ular array of classy green attire, some of
which was topped off with dynamic and styl-
ish hats. Nursing students were presented
with scholarship awards and the charitable
donation was presented the Union Mission,
which provides services for the homeless pop-
ulation. Robbin Harmon, SER Director
acknowledged past SER Directors, including
Catherine Binns and Georgia Faye Jackson.
She presented a plaque and a bouquet of
flowers in appreciation for their past service.
Gamma Chi Chapter was presented the
award for having the most members pre-
sent. There were 31 Gamma Chi members
present; three being first time attendees: Sandra Leonard, Son-
jile James, and Margaret Henry of The 8 Wonders. Our very
own Soror Janerio Farrington was the second place winner of
the Beta fundraiser, and she won a prize of $100.
After the event, the members of Gamma Chi joined the other
Georgia chapters outside to take a group picture. (Luncheon
report submitted by Sorors Treva Carter and Donna Carroll )
Sorors Treva Carver, Sandra Leonard, Sonjile James, Margaret Henry ,
and Georgia F. Jackson
Soror Farrington
Sorors Cabey, Lewis, Carroll, Carter, Jackson , Ladson, Perdue
Southeast Regional
Conference
2016 National Initiative:
Accelerated Membership
Intake Pilot.
I n response to significant feedback that the Supreme Basil-
eus has received over the years regarding the need to
increase the organization’s overall membership, Sorors
Treva Carter and Constance Hendricks were appointed by the
Supreme Basileus and charged with the task of developing a
process to improve the current Membership Intake procedure.
Sorors Carter and Hendricks co-chaired the Accelerated Mem-
bership Intake pilot (CAMIPP). The pilot modified the current
intake process which takes approximately six months and accel-
erated certain phases, which decreased the overall process to
approximately seven weeks. There were five chapters in the
Southeast Region and one chapter in the Middle West Region to
participate in the pilot. Omicron Chi from Sumter, South Caroli-
na was the first chapter to complete the Accelerated process,
and their two new members attended their first SER Confer-
ence. Due the overwhelming feedback the Supreme Basileus
received from other chapters wanting to participate, Sorors
Treva Carter and Constance Hendricks have been asked to start
a second pilot for the Accelerated process.
Front row: L-R: Arkeyra Aklin-Coles and Shanetta Ancrum-Lee- New
Members Back row: L-R: Treva Carter, Lorraine Singleton, and Con-
stance Hendricks
Gamma Chi Shines
D r. Sarah Killian, Assistant Professor of Nursing at
Georgia State University School of Nursing partici-
pated in a work shop titled “Preparing Nursing to
Become Global Citizens, held at the Sheraton Hotel in Atlanta,
Georgia. The workshop was sponsored by the International
Nursing Education
Consortium, of which
Dr. Killian is a mem-
ber of the Advisory
Board. Dr. Killian’s
presentation ad-
dressed evaluation of
a study abroad expe-
rience for student
nurses. The purpose
of the presentation
was to show not only
the importance of
having students
study abroad, but to
validate the outcome of the experience for the participants,
and determine if stated objectives were met. The presentation
showed accomplishment of stated objectives and the outcome
of student nurse learning, evidenced by student prepared pow-
er points and comments.
Other presenters included the President of the Multicultural
Nurses Society of Los Angeles, California, The Chair of the Inter-
national Programs and Projects of a national nursing organiza-
tion and the Director of the International Nursing Education
Consortium.
Dr. Killian is working on publishing the information gained
through evaluation of a study abroad experience, so that the
necessity and urgency of study abroad for student nurses may
be shared with other progressive institutions of learning with
nursing programs.
D r. Erica Mills was elected as the
2016-18 Chairperson of the
Metro Atlanta Chapter of the
Georgia Nurses Association. Soror Mills
has served as Chair-elect and as education
coordinator for the Metro Atlanta Chapter.
She has worked tirelessly to ensure Continuing Education Units
are presented at each chapter meeting as CEUs has become
mandatory for licensure renewal for RNs in Georgia.
S oror Claudette Rainey was nominated for the “Church
Woman of the Year” award from the Church Women
United (CWU) of
Georgia, Macon, GA on Febru-
ary 13, 2016. This is the eight-
eenth awards luncheon where
women from nine cities in GA
are recognized for their life
contributions to society. Soror
Rainey was the honoree from
the Atlanta unit, which meets
monthly. CWU is a women’s
movement which was formed
in 1941 during World War II
when it became necessary for
women to organize as their
husbands went off to war. It’s
a national volunteer Christian ecumenical women’s movement
initiated and carried out by women in the US and Puerto Rico.
Soror Rainey has been a member of CWU since March 2007
and has served as Vice President of the CWU Atlanta Unit since
2012. During 2015, she served as the catalyst to have the histo-
ry of the unit recorded by Story Corps by a number of members
of CWU Atlanta Unit. This history has found its way into the
Library Congress.
Soror Rainey relocated to the US in 1968 as a Registered Nurse
and Certified Nurse Midwife. She has been a member of Chi Eta
Phi Sorority Inc. since 1970.. An Adult Nurse Practitioner since
1973 she earned The State Excellence award from the Ameri-
can Academy of Nurse Practitioners in 1993. She was the Basil-
eus of Chi Chapter from 1996 to 2001 and earned Chi Eta Phi’s
National Special Achievement Award in July 1999.
The support of family and friends were evident. Forty people
including her pastor, Toni Belin – Ingram, family members from
Georgia, Rochester and Connecticut, Sorors Karan Lindo and
Janerio Farrington all boarded a bus bound for Macon. It was
a good day to be alive!
Dr. Sarah Killian
Erica Mills, PhD, RN
Gamma Chi Shines
O n March 20, 2016 Sorors Juanita Gibbons-
Delaney, Georgia Faye Jackson, and Juanita
Smith were newly inducted into the National
Council of Negro Women, Greater Atlanta Section. Our
Sorors Verdelle Bellamy and Catherine Binns were in-
ducted as honorary members.
Soror Louise Perdue is a new member of the DeKalb
Chamber of Commerce.
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
The committee did blood pressure screenings at
Ebenezer Baptist
Church on February 22,
2016. There was follow
up done for the three
(3) person with abnor-
mal blood pressures.
The Gamma Chi Stompers are preparing for the May 14,
2016 Relay for Life at Tri-Cities High School. This year’s
financial goal is $1,000.00
Soror Louis Purdue Published
Soror Purdue was recently published in Stroke Magazine
in affiliation with the American Heart Association and
the American Stroke Association.
International Stroke Conference Moderated Poster
Abstracts Session Title: Nursing Moderated Poster
Tour
Abstract TMP79: Inter-professional Implementation
of an Evidence-based Bedside Swallow Screen
Shelley Nichols1; Scott Russell1; Stacy Perrin1; Ash-
ley DePriest1; Jackellyne Calderon2; Louise Per-
due1
Abstract
Background: Swallowing difficulties can affect 85%
of acute stroke patients. A bedside swallow screen is
standard of practice to establish whether potential
acute stroke patients can safely swallow before re-
ceiving oral intake including medications. An inter-
professional performance improvement team con-
sisting of a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Speech Lan-
guage Pathologist, Registered Dietitian, Stroke Coor-
dinator, Unit Educator and Clinical Manager was
formed. The purpose of the team was twofold; to
standardize the process of performing a swallow
Sorors G. Jackson and Soror Juanita Smith
screen in stroke patients in response to a recent de-
cline in the screening compliance, coupled with the
directive to implement an evidenced-based tool.
Methods: A review of practice and policy identified
insufficient evidence for our three sip swallow test.
A literature review indicated a need for a defined
volume. The volume dependent screen detects the
more specific harm event, aspiration versus dyspha-
gia. Throughout the literature 3 ounces was demon-
strated to be the most frequently referenced vol-
ume. The Plan-Do-Study-Act model was then used to
implement a new process for swallow screening. Re-
educating the staff was paramount to the success of
implementing a new process. Nursing staff along the
continuum of care were educated with 91% current-
ly trained on the new process. Essential to the pro-
cess was updating the electronic medical record sys-
tem to ensure accurate and consistent practice.
Results: The team approach utilizing collaboration,
open communication and problem solving resulted
in the timely implementation of an evidence based
tool. In addition, there was an increase in the aver-
age swallow screen compliance from 78% for 2014
to 84% for first quarter 2015. Currently, intensive
weekly reporting of swallow screen compliance re-
viewed by the inter-professional team allows timely,
individualized education as part of our ongoing mon-
itoring.
Conclusion: The inter-professional team proved to
be an effective method to identify gaps in our prac-
tice and policy which led to a change in the defined
volume for the swallow screen. The team approach
resulted in the successful implementation of a new
process utilizing an evidence-based tool and in-
creased swallow screen compliance.
Gamma Chi’s Website
The website for the Chi page is: gammachi-chietaphi.org.
The email address for the chi page is:
Gammachixho@gmail.com
The gmail phone number associated with the gmail account is:
4045941778
This is a chapter effort, any info that members want on the site
should be emailed to the gammachixho@gmail.com account or
sent to the chapter Grammateus who can then email the
gammachixho@gmail.com account Submitted by Soror Ophra Odugbela
90th Birthday
S oror Iona
Ladson is a
bright shining star
within Gamma Chi.
Your sisters of Gam-
ma Chi send you
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
wishes as you cele-
brate your 90th
Birthday! Soror Iona Ladson
Betty Bryson Charter Member, Gamma Chi Chapter
January 30, 2016
Careen Lee
Gamma Chi Chapter /Mu Phi Chapter
February 01, 2016
Special Thanks
Deborah Davis
Juanita Gibbons-Delaney
Louise Perdue
Clara Cabey
Andrea Lewis
Georgia Jackson
Gail Stafford
Oprah Odugbela
Treva Carter
Janerio Farrington
Claudette Rainey
Tabitha Dumas
Gamma Chi Chapter