XUO Notes Xi Upsilon Omega Chapter

Volume 1, Issue 3

April, 2011

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Women’s Forum

Connection

“Pearl of the

Month”

Emerging Young

Leaders

Membership

Pearl Essence

Ball

HBCU College

Tour

58th

MAR

Conference

Sorors, Can you feel it!

Excitement reigns supreme as we prepare for our 58th MARC Regional Conference. Look out Richmond, here we come! XUO Sorors have worked hard over the last few months to provide support, strength and numbers all toward making this Conference historical.

Greater Tasks to Begin…

Thank you for your tireless efforts and participation. Remember, we’re the “Little Chapter that Could.” March was another month full of Chapter activities. XUO was in full representation at the Women’s’ Forum. Our display was impressive and attracted many visitors. Sorors also donated many pairs of shoes for our Soles4Souls collection. Clearly, we had more than a few pairs to spare.

Sorors, we are in a season of change. Change not for change’s sake, but change that is necessary and true to the heart of our sisterhood. Change that brings freshness, but respects and honors the traditions and past leadership of our Chapter. You have stepped

up to the charge and surpassed all of our initial program goals. Thank you for embracing our Initiatives and for putting the Chapter on solid footing.

On a personal note, I am celebrating 25 years of Sisterhood and Service this month with the “14 Sweet Sensations” and it feels like yesterday! Who knew that our ivy bond would endure and sustain us? Who predicted the relationships that have deepened over the years...the very presence of our link expressed in visits, hugs through triumphs and tears? From Ivies to Sorors to Silver....the journey continues.

Sisterly Yours,

Soror Tracey

Basileus

B. Geslock Women’s Forum

Xi Upsilon Omega Chapter

continued its excellent

partnership with the 29th

Annual

Barbara Geslock’s Women’s

Forum on March 19, 2011. Held

at James Monroe High School,

the event featured informative

workshops, seminars and a

spectacular vendor showcase.

Led by Soror Elma Coleman-

William, Conference Co-Chair,

XUO Sorors were highly visible

and fully participated in Forum

activities serving as greeters,

networking and manning the

exhibit area. Soror Mary Preston

provided the workshop

evaluation portion. Special

thanks to Soror Marian Harvey

for preparing the Chapter display

and Soror Sandi Terrell for

creating a beautiful gift basket.

Enjoy the Forum photos

from Soror Caldonia

Moore!

Soror Karen Griffin Stafford County Bd of Supervisors Mtg

page 2

March was AKA Advocacy

Month. In support, XUO Sorors

attended Board of Supervisors Meetings for Spotsylvania Co. (Soror Marian Harvey) and Stafford Co. (Soror Karen Griffin) to hear issues of concern and those of interest to our chapter. The Connection Committee met on April 7th and determined the following Smart Goals:

1) Support all initiatives delineated by the International Connection committee.

Connection 2) Support the Social

Justice Committee through a letter writing campaign to support the implementation of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) legislation in Virginia.

3) Assist at least 50 citizens in registering to vote and/or having their voting rights restored.

Voter Registration in

June

June 4th

will be the

launch of this chapter’s

first voter registration

drive in King George, VA.

Mark your calendars and

stay tuned for further

details.

Soror Joy Garner Chairperson

Our Spotlight is on Vernessa

James Ware, Tamiouchos

Place of Birth: Bowling Green, Virginia, Caroline County

Alma Mater(s): Virginia Union University; Virginia State University

Initiation: Xi Upsilon Omega, 1994

Family: Married to my high school sweetheart, David for almost 40 years. 3 children & son-in-law: Tia, Geno, Whitney (AKA & Miss Deb 2003); 5 grandchildren, 111 year old grandmother.

Occupation: Business and Information Technology Teacher – 39 years in the classroom.

“Getting to Know You” Pearl of the Month

My typical day is: Up at 5:50. Teach 8 classes. Stop by Caroline Learning Center to do booking and management functions. Check on my grandmother. After preparing dinner, work on Tamiouchos duties or grade papers until time for bed.

Prized Possession: An antique ring given to me by my grandmother.

Favorite Food: A good garden salad with baked or fried chicken.

Favorite Musician: My daughter, Tia. She blesses me every time I hear her sing.

Favorite Movie/Book: “Up from Egyptland” by Linda Thomas (one of my best friends)

How I relax: By sitting around in my sunroom, reading or watching TV and listening to music and talking to God.

I am most inspired by: My Christian Sorors and friends who strive to walk the walk and talk the talk by living a life of service and by my grandmother who inspires me to live each day as if it is my last on earth.

I love AKA because: It has been a vehicle by which I carry out God’s plan for my life – to be of service to all mankind. Serving as Tamiouchos has been a beautiful experience. I have met so many wonderful, talented, and beautiful women who have made my life richer by teaching me and showing me so much love.

The EYL Committee held an Informational Meeting for the Parents/Community on March 26, 2011 at Central Rappahannock Library. Eighteen Families were in attendance and the EYL Committee presented an overview of the program and explained the application process.

Emerging Young Leaders

EYL applications can be accessed through the chapter website. Completed applications must be postmarked by April 15 and mailed to Soror Nichelle Wright.

Sorors Mia Valentine & Nichelle Wright, Chairpersons

XUO Notes

s

"Reclaim, Rekindle and

Renew" has been the central

focus of the Membership

Committee. This month, XUO

Sorors enjoyed an evening of

Shopping and sisterly relations at

Monkee’s Boutique in historic

downtown Fredericksburg. On

April 1st, the Boutique closed the

store and re-opened it for a

private shopping experience for

Sorors, who in return, made

many purchases. Sorors sipped,

shopped and caught up with

each other after a busy week.

Under our reactivation focus, we

Membership

held our first “Breakfast with the

Basileus” Saturday, April 9th

before the Chapter meeting at

Mimi’s Café with recently

reactivated or transferred Sorors.

It was wonderful opportunity for

“new XUO” pearls to enjoy food

and fellowship with the Basileus,

Anti-Basileus and Membership

Committee members outside of

the meeting structure. Both

conversation and coffee flowed.

More activities to come!

Soror Penny Hairston

Chairperson

Sorors DeNae Samuel Overton, Tiaisha Myers & Mia Valentine enjoy shopping!

Sorors, we have a total of 12 young ladies to participate in the 2011 Debutante Ball! A Soror Sponsorship sign-up sheet will be available at April Chapter meeting. Sorors are encouraged to become Cotillion sponsors.

Debutante

Welcome Reception

May 7, 2011

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

During the Reception, an Orientation Meeting will take place along with distribution of the Debutante Handbook and a Question and Answer Session with Parents and Debutantes. England Run Library, 806 Lyons

Pearl Essence Debutante Cotillion

Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA. Fundraising and solicitation for ads will also begin.

HBCU College

Tour Tour Registration has closed and all fees have been collected. There are 11 students registered: Yaa D. Agyepong-Wiafe, Ashley N Anderson, Kamera E. Chandler, Armanni Patterson,Tatyania Williams, Laqesha D. Knox, India Kithcart, Shantel Harvey, Kiontay Reynolds, and Kanysha Reynolds. Students are from

Fredericksburg, Dumfries, Stafford, King George, and Jersey, VA and one from Gastonia, NC. The final meeting will be held on April 16

th at the

Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Porter Library in Stafford, VA from 1:00p – 3:00p.

The Group will depart on April 19

th at 4:00am from Wal-Mart off

I-95 South, Exit 126 and return April 20

th at 8:30p at the same

location.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s, 58th Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference will be held in Richmond, Virginia from April 20-24, 2011. The registration is closed.

Registration is open for the biennial Leadership Conference July 13-17, 2011 in Atlanta. The Internal Leadership Training for External Service Committee is charged with delivering a leadership development program that will enable sorors to deliver on our promise of Leadership and Service: A Timeless Mission. Early Registration has ended. Registration Deadline is May 16, 2011.

International & Regional News

“Breakfast with the Basileus”

Mimi’s Café April 9, 2011

page 3 XUO Notes

XI UPS ILON OMEGA

Post Office Box 8363

Fredericksburg, VA 22404

www.akaxuo.com

Xi Upsilon Omega Chapter

is a member of the Mid-

Atlantic Region of Alpha

Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

The Chapter was chartered

September 10, 1983 with

twenty-two members from

the city of Fredericksburg

and the surrounding

counties of Caroline, King

George, Richmond,

Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Westmoreland. Xi Upsilon

Omega operates in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Editor: T. D. Watkins

The 2011 “Get on the Bus” College Tour starts on April 19-20, 2011 and heads to Bennett College, North Carolina A &T University, St. Augustine’s College, and North Carolina Central University. Please contact Sorors Debra Graham and Normine Allen-Brown for more information.

Volunteers needed for the Easter Carnival at the Bragg Hill Family Life Center, Saturday, April 16th from 12 noon to 3 PM. For more information, contact Sorors Normine Allen-Brown or Karen Griffin by Friday, April 15, 2011.

On April 29, 2011 at 4:00pm the Chapter will celebrate Arbor Day with the

Fredericksburg Area Boys and Girls Club (Old Walker Grant Elementary School). More information will be forwarded via e-mail. Interested volunteers, contact Soror Caldonia Moore.

Xi Upsilon Omega Chapter will host an Asthma Awareness Workshop on Saturday,

May 7, 2011. A Flyer will be presented for distribution and posting on the website.

Join AKA Team Spirit! Sorors are encouraged to join the Chapter team to raise

money for the American Cancer Society event scheduled for May 14, 2011. Register at www.relayforlife.org/Fredericksburg. Contact Sorors Frances Collier or Kristen McKinney-Nash.

Announcements

April 4, 2011 Executive Board Meeting 7:00pm Salem Fields Regional Library

April 9, 2011 Chapter Monthly Meeting 10:00am Germanna CC Workforce Building

UMW Multicultural Forum University of Mary Washington

April 14, 2011 Special Chapter Meeting Chancellor High School

April 21- 24, 2011 58

th MARC Regional Conference

Richmond, Virginia

~ April Calendar ~

What is an Alpha Kappa Alpha Woman?

Alpha Kappa Alpha Mystique Beauty unparalleled, grace undefined,

An Alpha Kappa Alpha Woman is one of a kind. She walks in a room with her head held high,

Acknowledgement of her presences is an awe-filled gaze, or admiring sigh. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Woman is regal and profound.

She is the essence of feminism and these qualities abound. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Woman is honorable and oh so unique.

All of these qualities culminated, Created the Alpha Kappa Alpha Mystique.

By: Soror April Draine

Zeta Delta Chapter

page 4 XUO Notes