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December 2015 Annapolis Alumnae Chapter

The Delta Times

Greetings from the President Sorors,

As we prepare to celebrate the holidays with our families, friends, and loved ones, let us be

mindful of the many blessings that have been bestowed upon each of us.

As we enter the holiday season, let us do so with a

servant’s attitude. We all have a heart of compassion,

one of our nine cardinal virtues. The key is how do we

keep our hearts of compassion open? How can our

efforts serve as a blessing to someone who is hurting

or who is in need?

The answer is quite simple: by serving others. When

we serve others, which is a basic tenet on which Delta

Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, was founded, we

are serving God.

Service can come in many ways. It could be something

as simple as words of encouragement or support that

lightens the load or a simple gesture that makes a

difference in someone’s life. That is who we are as a Sorority and a chapter that has been in

existence for 68 years, serving communities in Annapolis and surrounding areas.

In continuing our tradition of service, during this holiday season, the chapter has partici-

pated in the Anne Arundel County Holiday Sharing Program in which we provided

Thanksgiving baskets to 10 families and will provide 10 Christmas baskets; assisted at a

food pantry; will donate items to the Crofton Baby Pantry in lieu of the gift exchange at the

December 19th chapter meeting at the Double Tree Hotel; and several members will also

participate in the Anne Arundel Toys for Tots Program.

But service is also exemplified in the way we treat each other as sisters.

Leading a chapter is not an easy task. Words cannot explain the joy and comfort I have

personally experienced through simple words of support and encouragement as well as acts

of kindness from chapter members at meetings, in the mall, in the supermarket, or via

email, and cards. These kind words and gestures truly made a difference in my journey and

have helped me to grow as a person. I will forever treasure them.

These gestures and acts of kindness extend beyond the physical act of holding hands at the

end of a chapter meeting and go to the very heart of who we are as a sisterhood. They truly

reflect the inner peace and strength that we all can gain from one another as we continue to

grow our chapter and do the work of Delta.

Thanks for responding with a servant’s heart in all that you do for our chapter and Delta as

a whole.

Sisterly,

Claudia J. Postell

President

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Arts and Letters…………………3

Delta GEMS……………………...4 Education & Youth……………..5

Health……………………………….6

Poem………………………………...7

Spring Activity……………….…..8

Chaplain’s Corner………………..9

Birthdays…………………… ..…….9

Founder’s Day….……..………….10

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ARTS & LETTERS

A "documentary film" is a non-fictional motion picture intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of or maintaining a historical record....described as a filming practice, a cinematic tradition, and mode of audience reception that is continually evolving and is without clear boundaries." (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Upon the recent receipt of an email from the National Arts and Letters Commission of our beloved sorority, a review of the films of the highlighted and forthcoming events, three of them are documentaries. Exploring another genre! How timely!

With the onslaught of global and national violence and the "open" recurrence of ap-parent racially-motivated incidents, what better way to record and tell the story of the victims or to celebrate the successes of those who have overcome.

On Monday, November 23, 2015, the third anniversary of the death of the son of one of our Sorors, an HBO Movie "3 ½ Minutes, Ten Bullets" related a story of the loss of her son to senseless violence as a result of Florida's "Stand Your Ground " Laws.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKbCoRA_UI).

The recent release of two documentaries that celebrate Misty Copeland - "A Balleri-na's Tale", although not available to view locally, can be rented through Amazon for a two-day rental for $6.99.(http://www.aballerinastale.com), and the film, He Named Me Malala" was released on October 2, 2015, and is to be available in local theaters.

In an effort to continue to fulfill the mission of National, the Annapolis Alumnae Chapter Arts and Letters Committee is encouraging the membership to tune in, download, and support the committee's effort to bring these films and this genre to you. The committee has selected the latter film for our December 2015 "Matinee at the Movies", if available.

Additionally, on Thursday, December 3, 2015, "The Wiz" Live aired on NBC at 8:00 p.m..

Keeping you informed and artistically fulfilled!

Submitted by: Soror Nancy Gailliard Gordon

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The GEMS committee is happy to share that it currently

has 21 young ladies registered in the program, held at Old Mill

High School in Crownsville, MD. The first session took place

on Oct 22nd and 16 girls and several parents were present. The

topic was self-awareness. The second session was held on

Nov 19th and topics included disaster preparedness and leader-

ship development through service learning.

The committee combined service learning by volunteering

at a local food pantry, Saturday Nov 14 from 9:30-noon. It will

hold its holiday session and lesson on Dec 17th and need your

help in filling gift bags for the participants. Please look contact

Chloe Knight, Chair of GEMS at chloek32@gmail.com.

Thanks for your support.

Submitted by: Soror Chloe Knight, GEMS Chair

DELTA GEMS

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The Chapter Participates in the Annual Halloween/Fall Festival

In keeping with our continued service to the community, on November 6 the Chapter

participated in the Halloween/Fall Festival at the Robinwood Community Center in

Annapolis. The event was sponsored by the Divine 9 of Anne Arundel County in part-

nership with the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis.

The event featured music, food, games, treats, face painting and a moon bounce.

The Chapter provided the hotdogs, buns and condiments and participated in activities

at the event. There were approximately 100 children in attendance.

Submitted by Soror Tanya Diggs, Education and Youth Chair

EDUCATION & YOUTH

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PHYSICAL & MENTAL HEALTH

December is Diabetes Awareness Month

10 Quick Facts: Diabetes Risk Factors

Your risk increases as you get older (over age 40-45)

If you are African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American or Pacific Islander

If you have a family member with diabetes (parent or sibling (higher risk))

If you are physically inactive

If you have pre diabetes or history of gestational diabetes

If you are overweight or obese

If your blood pressure is above (>140/90)

If your cholesterol is elevated (High “bad cholesterol” or low ”good cholesterol”)

If your diet is high is carbohydrates, red meat, fried, and sug-ary foods.

If you have other co morbid conditions i.e. Heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol)

Submitted by Soror Nnemdi Baird, Physical and Mental Health Chair

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by The Reverend Eric Cole

Who am I?

I claim the lives of your people.

I snatch their dreams, hopes and aspirations.

I take away the strength of the community by destroying your young men.

I take away the backbone in your community by destroying your young women.

I enter subtly and am powerful enough to annihilate an entire people.

I AM AIDS.

I am able to do what slavery could not do,

what the holocaust could not do,

what Apartheid could not do,

what substandard housing and belittling classism could not do.

I AM AIDS.

I have deceived you into thinking I am just

a homosexual disease,

a lesbian disease, a drug addict's disease,

an inner city disease.

I have deceived you into thinking I only affect "those" persons who do BAD things;

things much worse that YOU could ever consider doing.

I AM AIDS.

The time has come for me to unleash my furor,

my consuming passion,

my insurmountable power.

The time has now come for me to not only affect "those" people (outcasts, unwanted

in society) but by the end of the century, I will have impacted the lives even of those who are pristine, sanctimonious,

and judgmental. I will have impacted the lives of those who worship the living God (so they claim) but have not

compassion for others.

I AM AIDS.

I am no respecter of person.

I accept actors, actresses, singers, pimps, prostitutes, businessmen, business-

women, and everyday people just like you.

I am an equal opportunity destroyer.

I'll take elderly people,

middle-aged people,

teenagers and even infants before they utter their first words.

I AM AIDS.

Please continue to deny I exist.

Please continue to pretend I can't affect you.

Please continue to turn your head as I destroy present generations and detrimentally affect generations yet unborn.

That makes it so much easier for me to kill those you know, those you love, eventually…you

I AM AIDS.

Submitted by Soror JoAnn Scipio

I AM AIDS

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The Spring Activity Committee is gearing up for the chapter’s 33rd Annual Out-

standing Minority Scholar Awards Program and Fashion Show Luncheon, Sunday,

April 24, 2016 at the Doubletree Hotel, 210 Holiday Court Annapolis, Maryland.

We are excited about the new venue.

Tickets will be available starting January 1, 2016 at $60.00 each and may be pur-

chased at the chapter meetings, online through Event Brite, as well as postal mail

via the chapter mailbox. Tables of 11 tickets will be assigned in the order of pay-

ment received via first class mail, Event Brite or at the chapter meetings upon

confirmation from the president and financial staff.

Sorors sharing a table, must pay together combining payment in the same enve-

lope. Tickets will be distributed at monthly chapter meetings (Jan – April 2016).

If unable to pick up tickets, please make arrangements with a committee member.

The committee budget has no allowance for mailing tickets.

Attempts will be made prior to each chapter meeting to contact Sorors for table

selection to try to eliminate the hold-up of the selection process at the chapter

meeting.

The deadline for ticket sales is Saturday, April16, 2016. Advance ticket sales on-

ly, no tickets will be sold at the door. Please make sure that all guests have their

tickets with the designated table number upon arrival. Vendors will be available

for shopping at 2:00, doors open at 2:30, and program begins at 3:00.

YOU COULD BE A WINNER!!! Are you a member of the Hilton Honors Award

Program? If not, it’s easy and free to join. Simply go to www.hhonors3.hilton.com

and click on Join. New and Exciting this Year!!! The committee will be raffling a

chance to win all the points awarded from the April 24th event, exclusive to

chapter members ONLY. Stay tuned for more information.

SPRING ACTIVITY

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ANNAPOLIS ALUMNAE CHAPTER

CHAPLAIN’S CORNER

A Message from Our Chaplain

Greetings Sorors, In November and December, we gather with family and friends for feasting and giving thanks. I would also ask that you carve out time to thank God for his blessings, gifts, and never ending love.

Please enjoy the below poem.

I'm Thankful for You

Thanksgiving is the appointed time for focusing on the good in our lives. In each of our days, we can find small blessings, but too often we overlook them, choosing instead to spend our time paying attention to problems. We give our energy to those who cause us trouble instead of those who bring peace. Starting now, let's be on the lookout for the bits of pleasure in each hour, and appreciate the people who bring love and light to everyone who is blessed to know them. You are one of those people. On Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for you. By Joanna Fuchs

Submitted by: Soror Robin Lartigue, Chaplain

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