Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

ETA UPSILON SIGMA CHAPTER
ISSUE #1
“Greater Service, Greater Progress”
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
January 30, 2016
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR LOCAL SIGMA GAMMA RHO WOMAN
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority's
aim is to enhance the quality of
life within the community. Public
service,
leadership
development and education of
youth are the hallmarks of the
organization's programs and
activities. Sigma Gamma Rho
addresses concerns that impact
society educationally, civically,
and economically.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority
provides
service
to
the
community through its national
programs. All sorority national
programs and initiatives are
under the “umbrella” of a
signature program entitled,
Project Reassurance. Through
Project Reassurance, Sigma
Gamma Rho Sorority seeks to
promote responsible living
highlighted by the slogan “H3:
It’s All About ME!” which
focuses on Healthy Living,
Healthy Choices, and Healthy
Generations.
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Operation BigBookBag
Hattie McDaniel Breast
Cancer Awareness
Project Cradle Care
Girl Scouts of the USA
March for Babies
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The National Campaign to
Prevent Teen and Unplanned
Pregnancy
Act Against AIDS Leadership
Initiative (AAALI)
USA Swimming
St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital Campaign
Mwanimugimu (Wah-nahmoo-gee-moo) Essay Contest
IN THIS ISSUE
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Purpose
Page 1
Sigma Spotlight-Ellie Dahmer
Page 2
Rhoer Club
Page 3
Becoming a Member
Page 3
We visualize a world in
which all women and their
families reach their full
potential in all aspects of life
and are able to create
unlimited opportunities for
future generations.
FACTS
ESTABLISHED: NOVEMBER 12, 1922, AT
BUTLER UNIVERSITY, INDIANAPOLIS,
INDIANA.
SORORITY FLOWER: THE YELLOW TEA
ROSE.
SORORITY MASCOT: THE POODLE.
SORORITY COLORS: ROYAL BLUE AND
GOLD.
A Glance in the Southeastern Region
Page 3
SWIMM 1922
Page 4
SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC. “GREATER SERVICE,
GREATER PROGRESS” | Issue ISSUE #1
GOLDEN ALERT is
in
effect for Sigma Gamma Rho
Sorority, Inc. We are calling
for immediate action to
address the various injustices
and conditions plaguing our
communities. Sigma Gamma
Rho is equipped to make an
impact and take a proactive
approach to be catalysts for
change through education and
community empowerment.
SIGMA SPOTLIGHT: ELLIE
DAHMER – CIVIL RIGHTS
ADVOCATE… 50 YEARS
AFTER THE VOTING RIGHTS
ACT. Cary, NC August 7, 2015 –
Times were very different fifty
years ago. Turmoil and necessary
change were intertwined. It was the
height of the Civil Rights
Movement. The country was still
healing over the assassination of a
president. Slowly, but surely,
things were changing. President
Lyndon B. Johnson signed the
historic Voting Rights Act of 1965
into law. For the first time,
American citizens like Ellie
Dahmer would be allowed to vote.
Unfortunately, there was tragedy
before Dahmer could cast her first
ballot. “Fifty years ago, those were
turbulent times. I’ve seen a lot of
things change. I saw black and
white signs. I had to sit behind
curtains on buses. I sat in back
sections of trains and buses,”
Dahmer remembers. “It was
degrading. It was humiliating.”
Even after the president’s signature
on that historic document, her fight
in the Civil Rights Movement was
far from over.
At 90 years of age, Dahmer has
quite a story to share. She believes
“education is the key to getting
better jobs for ourselves. When we
get better jobs, we can provide for
our families and then help others.”
She knows firsthand about the
results of a good
education. “I saw
what it did for the
black race. My
mother
could
hardly read or
write. She worked hard to see us
get to high school and college.”
While attending Tennessee State
University, Dahmer discovered
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
But, she couldn’t become a
member. “I didn’t have the
finances to join. There were five in
college at the time of my
graduation in 1947. I was trying to
get out so I could help some of the
others who were in college.”
Dahmer eventually moved to
Hattiesburg,
Mississippi
and
became a teacher. She continued to
admire what Sigma Gamma Rho
was doing and was able to join in
1953. “I still believe in Greater
Service,
Greater
Progress.”
Interestingly, she could tell her
community that she was in a
sorority. But, she couldn’t
publically admit to being a member
of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP) because of fear of losing
her job. Despite that, she stood by
her husband, Vernon Dahmer who
was a Civil Rights activist and
president of the Forrest County
Branch of the NAACP.
August 6, 1965 was a very
important date. Soror Dahmer, her
PAGE 2
husband and 27 others thought they
would be able to cast their ballot.
They were denied the right and
they sued. In retaliation, Dahmer
says on January 10, 1966, four
members of the Ku Klux Klan
burned down
her
family
business. Four
others bombed
her house. She
and
her
husband plus
three of their
children were in the home. “We
jumped out the back window. Fire
was in the hallway. We couldn’t
get to the basement.” Mr. Dahmer
died as a result of his injuries. After
his death, the 5th Circuit Court of
Appeals in New Orleans ruled that
Mr. and Mrs. Dahmer as well as the
others would be allowed to register
to vote and cast their ballot. They
got their voter registration’s card.
But, it was too late for Vernon
Dahmer.
Fifty years later, voting is still very
important to Soror Dahmer. She
goes to the polls and votes in every
election. “I want to go to the poll. I
want to sign my name. I want to put
my card in the machine.” She
appreciates a right that was denied
to her for 40 years. A right she
knows first-hand that so many
people, including her husband,
died for us to have. “We didn’t do
all this dying for you not to go to
the polls. All elections are
important.”
SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC. “GREATER SERVICE,
GREATER PROGRESS” | Issue ISSUE #1
PAGE 3
To learn more about Sigma
Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. in
Brunswick, Georgia contact us at
[email protected].
Who Are RHOERS?
by Linda Mann
The Southeastern Region
Rhoer Clubs are organized on a
local, regional and national level.
Local clubs are advised by chapters
of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority,
Inc. and attend annual regional
meetings to meet other Rhoers
from their region.
The purpose of the Rhoers Club is
to provide a positive experience for
young women ages 13 to 18 in
leadership development, academic
counseling, personal counseling,
mentoring, community service,
and rites of passage. They
participate in many of the activities
of the sorority as well as special
youth development programs.
Rhoer Clubs offer girls the
opportunity to build their self
esteem, learn about their heritage
and develop the skills needed to be
personally
and
academically
successful.
Leadership,
Community
Service
and
Scholarship are the hallmarks of
the activity of the Rhoer Club.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
believes in training young girls to
be leaders in their own lives and
their communities so they will
make a difference. The sorority’s
motto of “Greater Service, Greater
Progress” reflects its drive to train
girls to serve their community to
improve the quality of life for all.
Girls are taught the importance of
Scholarship because only through
education will anyone ever reach
their full potential.
BECOMING A MEMBER
New members of Sigma Gamma
Rho Sorority, Inc. are accepted on
both the undergraduate and
graduate levels. Potential graduate
members must hold a degree from
a four-year accredited educational
institution.
A woman may be admitted for
membership in an undergraduate
chapter only while in attendance at
a four-year accredited college or
university. Candidates may be
accepted
for
undergraduate
membership after successfully
completing one quarter, semester,
or trimester. The cumulative grade
point average required for
membership is 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale).
SIGMA GAMMA
RHO SORORITY,
INC. DOES NOT
TOLERATE HAZING
OF ANY FORM.
HAZING IS WRONG,
PROHIBITED AND
UNAUTHORIZED.
is comprised of the states of
Alabama,
Florida,
Georgia,
Mississippi, South Carolina,
Tennessee,
the
beautiful
Bahamas, and the serene Virgin
Islands.
The
Southeastern
Region has four Past Grand
Baseli in the region: Past Grand
Basileus Evelyn Hawkins Hood,
Past Grand Basileus Cleo S.
Higgins, Past Grand Basileus
Helen Owens, and Past Grand
Basileus Katie K. White.
The Southeastern
Region has a long
and rich history
within
the
archives of Sigma Gamma Rho
Sorority, Inc. The history of the
Southeastern Region begins with
the Fourteenth Boule that
convened in New York, New
York. This Boule took place from
December 27-30, 1939. This
Boule was instrumental because
this was the Boule where the
Regions within Sigma Gamma
Rho
Sorority,
Inc.
were
established. The acceptance of
regions was a sign of the growth
of the sorority, and the national
membership advancements that
led to this decision. Prior to this
decision there were only two
regions within Sigma Gamma
Rho Sorority, Inc. this move led
to four regions. This decision
also led to the office of Regional
Syntaktes to lead each one of the
regions.
SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC. “GREATER SERVICE,
GREATER PROGRESS” | Issue ISSUE #1
 PROJECT HIGHLIGHT
As the National Governing Body
for the sport of swimming in the
United States, USA Swimming is a
400,000-member service
organization that promotes the
culture of swimming by creating
opportunities for swimmers and
coaches of all backgrounds to
participate and advance in the
sport through clubs, events and
education.
Our membership is comprised of
swimmers from the age group level
to the Olympic Team, as well as
coaches and volunteers. USA
Swimming is responsible for
selecting and training teams for
international competition including
the Olympic Games, and strives to
serve the sport through its core
objectives: Build the base,
Promote the sport, Achieve
competitive success.
MISSION STATEMENT
USA Swimming is the National
Governing Body for the sport of
swimming.
We
administer
competitive
swimming
in
accordance with the Olympic &
Amateur Sports Act. We provide
programs and services for our
members, supporters, affiliates
and the interested public. We
value these members of the
swimming community, and the
staff and volunteers who serve
them. We are committed to
excellence and the improvement of
our sport. We are committed to
providing a safe and positive
environment for all members.
VISION STATEMENT
To inspire and enable our
members to achieve excellence in
the sport of swimming and in life.
PROMOTE THE SPORT
We want swimming to receive as
much publicity as possible
because we believe that the more
people learn about our sport the
more inclined they will be to join
the ranks of our membership. We
are proud of our sport and we seek
to celebrate it whenever possible.
ACHIEVE SUSTAINED
COMPETITIVE
SUCCESS
USA Swimming has
been ranked as the
number one swimming nation in
the world for more than 40 years.
We seek to continue this tradition
of competitive excellence. When
our elite athletes are successful in
fulfilling their Olympic dreams our
society
benefits
from
the
inspiration these athletes give us.
PAGE 4
The partnership with Sigma
Gamma Rho is a groundbreaking
initiative that seeks to
strengthen USA Swimming’s
commitment to Diversity and
Inclusion by partnering with
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
to increase swim participation
and decrease drowning rates in
the community. In keeping with
USA Swimming’s core objectives:
Build the Base – Promote the
Sport – Achieve Competitive
Success and the Sigma Gamma
Rho motto of Greater Service,
Greater
Progress,
these
organizations come together to
affect change and influence the
community of black women and
girls.
Eta Upsilon Sigma Chapter
Linda Mann, President
P.O. Box 2245
Brunswick, GA 31521
International Headquarters
1000 Southhill Drive, Suite 200
Cary, NC 27513-8630
1.888.SGR.1922
Office: (919) 678-9720
Fax: (919) 678-9721