DELEGATEREPORT

86th Mid-Western Regional Conference

Wichita, Kansas

March 17-March 20, 2016

The following is my report as delegate for the 86th Mid-Western Regional conference held in Wichita, Kansas.

Summary Events/Workshops/ Sessions Attended

Thursday

Program Committee Meeting

Friday

First and Second Plenary Sessions

Saturday

Leadership Breakfast

Workshop I

Workshop II

Third Plenary Session

Formal Gala

Plenary Sessions Summary

I attended all plenary sessions, which included the Ivy Beyond the Wall Ceremony and Rededication Ceremony. I served as the flag barer for Beta Sigma Omega during the roll call portion of the session.

Our Mid-Western Regional Director, Jan M. Carpenter Baker and our representative to the nominating committee were both re-elected. No names were submitted and no one ran from the floor.

The state of the region is positive with the region not in any debt. We currently have 1,594 total members in the region.

The state of the sorority said that the directorate would be proposing an increase to the per capita fee. The increase would be $35 for graduate sorors and $25 for undergraduates. Increase would be to cover five areas.Active membership is a record 65,000 sorors at the close of 2015.

The corporate office will be going under renovations and the monies will come from COIP. This is different than the increase in per capita. The project will include replace of items such as the AC/Heating unit and windows.

During the plenary sessions Beta Sigma Omega won the following awards:

  • Outstanding Graduate Soror (Soror Anika Wilson)
  • Outstanding Senior/Golden Soror (Soror Gayle Miles Scott)
  • Outstanding Chapter (Beta Sigma Omega)

Workshops Summary

Workshop I

Program: Launching Into Orbit! Year Two of LNDS

Presenter: Soror Zelia Wiley, International Program Committee, Mu Eta Omega and Soror Jasmine D. Adkins, International Program Chairman

This workshop mainly focused on Targets IV and V since those are the most questions chapters have on how to implement. Overall what was stressed the most was to document.

Target IV: Environmental Ownership

Recommendations – Use or partner supplies that the city/parks and rec have already bought but they just need the manpower to get it done. See if the city will allow sponsored by signs at the playground. Take before and after pictures.

Look for city clean up days and wear AKA shirt. These can be done outside of the playground project.

Target V: Global Impact

UN Day is October 24. UNA-USA mini simulations. Go to unausa.org/aka for possible joint activities.

Africare has a partnership with Tanzania where you can buy a Kenta cloth to support the cause.

Little Dresses for Africa is a great project. Take pics with the dresses being made before and after.

Also, touched on the other targets.

HBCU – Donations count to HBCU’s if you go to a gala, find out how much is going to the school. HBCU school membership dues do not count. Tom Joyner Foundation contribution only counts if you specify the school the money will goto. UNCF does not count. Chapter scholarships given to students going to HBCU does count.

Backpacks – Each Soror is responsible for five backpacks per year. Younger kids like the drawstring backpacks. Ask at drug store after they go on sale but do not see anymore. Sometimes they have in the back and will give you a deal.

NAMI – NAMI Walk if you are not able to make, you can wear a silver or green ribbon to bring awareness. People will ask what you are wearing the ribbon for. Give out ribbons at the October meeting. Wear green in October.

Workshop II

Finance Forum: Launching New Dimensions In Finance

Presenter: Soror Danette Anthony Reed, Supreme Tamiouchos

This workshop focused on giving more detail regarding proposed increase in dues and information on the renovation project to the corporate headquarters. The dues increase will help in the following five areas; Enhance Information Technology Systems, Increase Corporate Office Staff, Offset Inflation, Support The Boule Fund, and Corporate Office Infrastructure. As for the office renovation project, we were told that we will be using minority contractors and that the project is scheduled to be complete by summer 2017.

Also discussed were the details regarding the taxes paid by the sorority. Steps are being taken so that chapters will be given a does and do when doing activities and events.

Questions were taken from the floor to make all sorors feel comfortable regarding the increases.

I truly appreciated the opportunity to serve my sorority and represent the Beta Sigma Omega chapter.

Sisterly,

Monica Finley

First Anti-Basileus