CHAPTER RETREATS: EXEMPLIFYING VIRTUAL EXCELLENCE

Chapters across Alpha Kappa Alpha exemplified excellence by hosting their first-ever virtual retreats. With themes highlighting the disruption to our lives caused by the pandemic, the creativity and technical savvy were matched only by the commitment to executing the excellence program and finding ways to pivot in our new normal. One of these chapters was Alpha Beta Omega Chapter. On August 8, 2020, over 120 sorors participated in the chapter’s virtual retreat focused on the theme, “Strengthening Our Sisterhood While Surviving a Pandemic.” Sorors were asked to wear classic white blouses or tops with pink accessories and to upload the virtual background customized for the retreat. Each registrant received an ABO Quarantine: “Brunch & Bubbly” Survival Kit which contained numerous items including hand sanitizer, a customized mug with the ABO Virtual Retreat Logo, green tea with a floral stainless tea stirrer, and an Ultimate Brunch Recipe Guide. The Survival Kit was presented in a labeled white box, wrapped in twine and ivy garland and topped with a multipurpose bookmark and delivered to each chapter member. Supreme Basileus Glenda Glover and South Central Regional Director Joya Hayes gave remarks. There were sisterly relations activities, skits and breakout sessions on topics such as: “We Help Each Other: Mental Health, Stress, Self-Care and Fitness; “Log-in, Soror!: Virtual TLC: Etiquette, Protocol, Social Media, Virtual Platforms + More; and “Toast to You: Forget a Seat at the Table, Build Your Own Table! Financial Planning and Literacy; Investments, Business Endeavors – Building Generational Wealth. ABO is to be commended for the flawless execution of their virtual retreat. Click here to enjoy photos from the retreat!

CHAPTER OPERATIONS

As COVID-19 cases spike around the country, the Directorate has made the difficult decision that Alpha Kappa Alpha will continue to operate in a virtual mode through the end of the year. Many chapters have fully complied with this virtual mandate and operated completely virtually as mandated. We continue to see too many chapters, however, that have not heeded the virtual mandate. Sorors are reminded that virtual means no in-person activities, programs or events no matter how well-intentioned the service project or activity, how few sorors there are or how effectively you plan to social distance. In-person gathering in any context for any reason is not authorized and is a violation of the virtual mandate. The expanded Pandemic Guide to Virtual Chapter Operations was released as an additional resource to supplement the previously-released Guide to Conducting Virtual Chapter Meetings and the AKA Virtual Program Activities guide in order to assist chapters as we continue to operate in a virtual environment. Thank you for your understanding and adherence and for exemplifying virtual excellence!

RISK MANAGEMENT/FACE MASKS AND COVERINGS

Alpha Kappa Alpha implores sorors to continue to adhere to the CDC guidelines regarding the use of masks and face coverings. We encourage sorors and chapters to donate N95 masks to healthcare professionals who continue to be in need of those protective medical masks. We also applaud sorors who made face coverings for personal use or to be shared with family members, close friends and sorors. Please refrain from placing the sorority crest or any other Alpha Kappa Alpha marks, brands or insignia on face masks and coverings. This prohibition includes chapter names. Please also help protect the Alpha Kappa Alpha brand by refraining from purchasing any type of Alpha Kappa Alpha-branded face coverings or masks from vendors as this merchandise is not authorized for sale by our Corporate Office. Face coverings and masks are not authorized to be made and/or distributed in the name of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. We thank you for your cooperation and adherence. Remember, each of us is a risk manager and must do our part. Click here to view the Wear A Mask: It’s A Serious Matter video created by the Program Committee in collaboration with the International Risk Management Task Force and the Pandemic Task Force and here to see the ways in which you can assist in getting the Wear A Mask message out.

MEMBERSHIP INTAKE PROCESS

Due to the continued risk to the health and safety of our members posed by the deadly coronavirus and troubling trends, including a steady increase in the national daily total of confirmed cases nationwide, the postponement of Member Intake will continue at least through the end of 2020. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we prayerfully consider when and how to safely resume in-person programs and operations, including Membership Intake.

Thank you for continuing to join your region’s weekly Day of Prayer calls. Let us continue to pray for families impacted by COVID-19, recent storms and flooding, healthcare workers, first responders and other essential workers, our sisterhood, this nation and our world. Please also pray for wisdom and compassion for national, state, and local leaders as they continue to make important decisions regarding safely re-opening our communities, businesses and schools. We also must continue to pray for justice and equal protection under the law for African Americans in this country. Sorors, the prayers of the righteous availeth much, so let's continue to remain prayerful.

COVID-19 BACK TO SCHOOOL DECISION-MAKING TOOLS

According to the CDC, choosing whether to send your child back to school can be difficult. Considerations should include:

• Your family’s unique needs and situation and your comfort level with the steps your school is taking to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
• Specific risks to members of your household if a child is infected in school,
• Access to school meal programs, social services, extended day childcare services and extra-curricular activities.
• Social-emotional support from peers and educators.
• School transportation.

Click here to access a questionnaire designed to help you weigh the risks and benefits of available educational options before you make a decision. Remember, each family is different so certain questions may be particularly important to you. There may be many unknowns, answer each question with a check in the column that most closely reflects you and your family today.

Review your answers. Multiple checks in the “Unsure” or “Disagree” columns might warrant a conversation with school administrators, your healthcare provider, or your employer. You may also want to use the tools to make the views, concerns and suggestions of your healthcare provider or your employer, known to school administrator.

Bear in mind that these questions address your views about how prepared your child’s school was to re-open for 2020-2021 school year. If you answer “unsure” to any items regarding your school’s plan, consider reaching out to your school administrator for more information.

Notification Protocols

The integrity of sorority impact data is directly tied to the information collected. Who should I notify?

• Notify your Chapter Basileus if you test positive for COVID-19.
• General Members should notify your Regional Director if you test positive for COVID-19.
• Undergraduate Members should notify your Graduate Advisor if you test positive for COVID-19, and the Graduate Advisor will notify the Basileus of the supervising Graduate Chapter.
• Chapter Basilei should notify the Regional Director.
• Inform your Chapter Basileus if you have been in close contact with other chapter members or sorors and where the contact occurred.
• Chapter Basileus will notify only sorors who are at risk for possible exposure without divulging the infected soror's name.
• Chapter Basileus will remind at-risk sorors to regularly monitor their symptoms and immediately notify their doctor if they become symptomatic.
• Chapter Basileus will remind at-risk sorors to quarantine themselves and STAY AT HOME for 14 days to stop the spread of the virus in the event they become symptomatic and test positive.

How has COVID-19 affected Alpha Kappa Alpha?

Visit https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ for up-to-date worldwide COVID-19 statistics.

Depression Symptoms 3 Times Higher During COVID-19 Lockdown

by Healthline

Being stuck in quarantine during a pandemic can take a toll on your mental health.

• A new study found that depression symptoms are three times higher during the COVID-19 lockdown.
• Experts say the COVID-19 pandemic is a traumatic event of a much larger scale.
• It has caused physical, emotional, and psychological distress, and not just for patients of the virus.

While we have been so focused on the physical impact of COVID-19 and ways to stop the spread, we may have let another condition in under the radar: depression.

In a recent study, Trusted Source researchers analyzed survey data from 1,441 participants, all U.S. adults aged 18 years or older.

It found that depression symptoms were three times higher during COVID-19 lockdown than before the pandemic, up from 8.5 percent before COVID-19 to 27.8 percent during. Click here to read more.

RECENT EVENTS

"This Is A Serious Matter" Town Hall: HBCUs- A Legacy of Excellence

Our fourth installment in the "This Is A Serious Matter" Series moderated by Soror Star Jones was held on September 16. We were honored and proud to feature Alpha Kappa Alpha HBCU presidents. Click here to see a replay of this timely and informative Town Hall.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Soror Glenda Glover
Supreme Basileus

Soror Joy Elaine Daley, International Regional Director (Chairman)
Soror Kimberly Esmond Adams, Special Assistant & Risk Management Task Force Chairman (Co-Chairman)
Soror Danette Anthony Reed, First Supreme Anti-Basileus
Soror Jasmyne McCoy, Second Supreme Anti-Basileus
Soror Cynthia Howell, Executive Director of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Soror Martha Perine Beard, Chief of Staff to the Supreme Basileus
Soror Ora Douglass, Program Committee Chairman
Soror Cynthia Finch, MIP Committee Chairman & Healthcare Professional
Soror Jasmine Adkins Moore, Disaster Relief Committee Chairman
Soror Kasey Coleman, Leadership Development Committee
Soror Carol Dixon, Corporate Strategic Partners Committee
Soror Kaylen Long, Membership Committee
Soror Hollye Weekes, Program Committee
Soror Robyn Jones, Physician & Medical Director for Women's Health