2014 central area leadership summit · •fifty (50 ) young freshmen women to participate in the...

2014 CENTRAL AREA LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

Link Alice Strong Simmons 18th Central Area Director

Merrillville, IN~ October 24-26, 2014

2014 Central Area Summit Merrillville, IN

Links Pledge Link Shirley Thomas

Northern Indiana (IN) Chapter


Links Song Link Tina Patton

South Bend Area (IN) Chapter


Greetings and Purpose Link Alice Strong Simmons

Central Area Director


Summit Overview


Greetings Link Glenda Newell-Harris

16 National President


Recognition of National and Past National and Central Area Officers

Link Alice Strong Simmons Central Area Director

2014 Central Area Summit

Merrillville, IN

Mind, Body and Spirit Link Tara Bradley and

Link Suellen Hurt


Discussions in the Round


Young Women Empowerment Institute

Link Janice Garnett


HBCU Young Women Empowerment Institute

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have many noteworthy accomplishments. However, many HBCUs still struggle with low student retention rates (Wenglinsky, 1997). The majority of HBCUs invest in a variety of programs dedicated to improving student persistence, retention rates continue to be a challenge (Seidman, 2002).

• HBCUs bestow a high percentage of bachelor degrees for this portion of the population. It is imperative that these institutions implement strategies for improving retention rates of African American students at HBCUs which will benefit the students and the institutions as well as

society as a whole.


Pilot - Langston University

• Piloted during the Spring of 2014.

• Twenty (20) freshmen female students at Langston University.

• Engagement of participants through a series of meetings, social media platforms and workshops.

• Professional development sessions presented by subject matter experts.

• Development of a Life Plan.

• Link Alice Strong Simmons, Central Area Director and First Lady Tiffany Hill-Smith, Langston University coordinated the program at Langston University.


Vision • The Links, Incorporated envisions that young women, who

are first time, full-time, entering freshmen at HBCUs will be successful in various aspects of college life, graduate and lead a productive life.

• The Links, Incorporated Young Women’s Empowerment Institute is a one year program that provides young women between 17-21 years of age, who are first-time, fulltime, entering freshmen at HBCUs with transformational opportunities which improve their self-esteem and equip them with a Life Plan. 2014 Central Area Summit

Merrillville, IN

Outcomes • Short Term Outcomes

– Improved self- esteem of all participants

– All participants have written Life Plans that focus on graduation and include career planning for non-traditional fields

– All participants complete pre-enrollment for Sophomore year

• Long Term Outcome

• 90% of participants complete their life plans


Program Components

• Mentoring

• Professional Development

• Social Development

• Health & Wellness

• Life Planning


Planning for 2014 - 2015

• First full year implementation of program at Langston University

• Fifty (50 ) young freshmen women to participate in the YWEI

• Recruit and train 30 mentors

• Identify subject matter experts (SMEs)

• Present eight (8) professional development sessions

• Implement the life planning process for each participant 2014 Central Area Summit

Merrillville, IN

Support for Chapters

• YWEI Toolkit

• Webinar for SMEs – Professional Development

• Mentor Training Materials/Resources

• Life Plan Template


Interested in implementing the YWEI in your local area…

• Identify a local HBCU in your community

• Cultivate a relationship with the local HBCU

• Determine if your chapter can commit to sustaining the program for 2 years

• Integrate this institute into existing chapter programming

• Review the YWEI toolkit for more information


HBCU Endowed Scholarship and Community College Initiatives

Link Marie McCarther


Ethics and Standards Link Chalon Edwards Anderson


Ethics & Standards

• Procedure Outline:

• Identify Chapter Committee Members:

• Chapter Membership Chairman

• Chapter Parliamentarian

• Three members selected by the Chapter President, one of the members selected will serve as chair

• Send Committee Members Names to the Area Chair

• Chapters will Conduct an Ethics & Standards Workshop Annually


Ethics & Standards

• The Chapter Recording Secretary Must Maintain/File Annually:

• Original Acknowledge forms

• The Annual Workshop Agenda, send a copy to the Central Area Chair

• The Attendance Roster of the Workshop Attendees

• The Compliance Form

• Provide copies of all forms filed/maintained to the Chapter Ethics & Standards Chair, and Membership Chair


Ethics & Standards

• The Compliance Form is to be sent to the Area Chairman

• The form should indicate the number of members that sign the acknowledgement form either yes or no. The date of the workshop and the number of members in attendance will be indicated on the form.

• An Ethics & Standards Workshop should be included in new member orientation- new members are to be given the opportunity to sign the acknowledge form.


Ethics & Standards Committee

___________________________________Chair ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________

Members of the committee should include the Membership Chair, Parliamentarian, and 3 appointed members selected by the Chapter President. One of the 3 appointed members will serve as chair. Send this form to: [email protected]


Merrillville, IN

Compliance Form 2014-2015 Chapter _________________________________________________

Chapter: ___________________________________________________

Number of Active Members: ______________ Date of E&S Workshop(s): ____________________________ Every chapter must conduct 1 workshop by March 31, 2015. Number of Members Attending Each Workshop: _______________ Have all of the active members been given the opportunity to sign the Code of Ethics Member Acknowledgement Form COE61-1? Yes _____ #_____ No _____ #______ President’s Signature: ____________________________________Date: ________ Chair’s Signature: ____________________________________ Date: _________________

Completed original documents must be maintained by the Recording Secretary with copies to the Chapter Ethics & Standards Chair and Membership Chair. Please e-mail this completed form to: [email protected]


Merrillville, IN

mailto:[email protected]

Strategic Planning: Phase II Link Jill Bryant Veneable


Strategic Planning Committee

Jill Bryant-Veneable, Chair

Stevie Turner, Co-Chair

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Your Strategic Plan is your roadmap

SIX NATIONAL STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

FOUNDATION FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING

1. Deliver and Sustain Transformational Programs

2. Enhanced Member Service and Engagement

3. Fund Development and Fiscal Responsibility

4. Organizational Assessment and Alignment

5. Leadership Development

6. Promoting Links Brand

The six national priorities are the building blocks of every chapter’s strategic plan and your plan should be in alignment with these priorities by

having at least one goal related to each priority.

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YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR CHAPTER STRATEGIC PLAN

• Your strategic plan is a living/working guiding document.

• Monitor the plan to gauge your progress.

• Your strategic plan is your roadmap to a transformative process.

Make the Plan work for you!

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THE LINKS STRATEGIC PLANNING AND TRACKING SYSTEM CHAPTER DASHBOARD

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Updates should occur at least twice a year. October and April.

Strategic Planning Handbook

Available on National website under documents

Topics include: Strategic Planning in The Links, Incorporated

The Six National Priorities: Foundation for Strategic Planning

National Strategic Planning Committee at Work

A Year in the Life of Strategic Planning/Strategic Plan Template

Strategic Plan Tracking System

Transition

Additional Resources

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Next Steps…

Continue to work your plan

Evaluate & Measure (SMART Goals) Have your goals have been attained?

Are you are moving in the best direction?

Do you need to modify your goals and subsequently the strategic plan to move in the best direction.

Continue Implementing Transformational Programs

NSP developing additional training and webinars

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Next Steps…

Any questions please contact:

Jill [email protected]

248-875-4335

Stevie [email protected]

216-256-6939

THANK YOU!!!

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Questions and Answers


Programming The Heart of Linkdom Link Monica Allen and Link Vicki Hill Brooks


Program Goal 2013-2015

• To facilitate the empowerment of chapters in the Central Area to create, deliver, and sustain transformational programming thru Program Enhancement, Marketing/Communication, and Member Engagement


Program Enhancement

• Program Pearls, est. 2013

• Closing the Achievement Gap Webinars,

• Launched Women’s Empowerment Institute

• Continued the HBCU Initiative

• Best Practice Guide - Provides program summaries and ideas on improving Community Service impact.


Marketing/Communication

• Submitted Area and National Program articles

• Supported Program re-design of area website to increase effectiveness of tools used to support chapters programming and the program goals of the Area Director.

• Expanded/Updated chapter program teams contact profiles resulting in monthly communication to 300+ representatives from 68 chapters.


Member Engagement

• Provided Monthly Program updates on President’s and Vice President’s chat as needed.

• Conducted Annual Peer Reviewer Training- 33 Central Area members reviewed and scored reports.

• Conducted Annual Program Report Training, 100% chapter participation

• Chapter Report Submission – 100% submitted on time

• Empowered Area Facet Chair to address their chapter facet chairs, via conference calls and facet specific email updates/messages.


Merrillville, IN

Upcoming Program Events

• November 18th Pearls Call Focus: National Trends and Services

• Recruitment for Peer reviewers Nov/Dec.

• Peer reviewer training

• Program report training December/January

• Program reports due February 1, 2015


Merrillville, IN

Summit Program Workshops

• National Trends and Services –

Policy and Legislative Action to end Bullying

• The Arts, Services to Youth and International Trends and Services – The ART of Integration

• Health and Human Services

Health Literacy: A Game Changer

• Program Enhancement: Going from Good to Transformational


Best Practice Chapters

What is a Best Practice chapter?

• Those who have implemented stellar programs that are transforming their respective communities.

• In the last Program Evaluation Biennium, these chapters received scores of 80 and above.

• During the 2013-2014 program year,

40/68 Central Area chapters met this benchmark


Merrillville, IN

Program Results: National Awards -7

Services to Youth • 1st place - South Suburban (IL) • 3rd place - Shelby Cty (TN)

The Arts • 2nd Place - South Suburban (IL)

National Trends and Services • 3rd Place - Shelby Cty (TN)


Program Results: National Awards -7

International Trends and Services • 2nd Place-Twin Rivers (OH) • Legacy - Windy City (IL)

Umbrella • 2nd Place - Louisville, (KY) Chapter Exhibits • 1st place - South Suburban (IL)


Central Area Best Practice Chapters

• Ann Arbor (MI)

• Archway (MO)

• Central Illinois (IL)

• Cincinnati (OH)

• Circle City (IN)

• Charleston Institute (WV)

• Dayton (OH)

• Greater Kansas City (MO)

• Greater Wayne Cty (MI)

• Huntington (WV)

• Indianapolis (IN)

• Jackson (TN)

• Knoxville (TN)

• Lake Shore (IL)

• Louisville (KY)

• Madison Metro (WI)

• Memphis (TN)

• Milwaukee (WI)

• Minneapolis-St. Paul (MN)

• Music City


Merrillville, IN

Central Area Best Practice Chapters

• North Shore (IL)

• Oakland Cty (MI)

• Oklahoma City (OK)

• Omaha (NE)

• Queen City (OH)

• Renaissance (MI)

• River City (TN)

• Shelby Cty (TN)

• South Bend (IN)

• South Suburban (IL)

• Springfield (OH)

• St.Louis (MO)

• Topeka (KS)

• Tulsa (OK)

• Twin Rivers (OH)

• West Towns (IL)

• Wichita (KS)

• Wilberforce (OH)

• Windy City (IL)

• Youngstown


Merrillville, IN

Kudos to an AWESOME Program Team! Anne Lambert Johnson, Chair The Arts Greater Kansas City (KS)

Karen Patricia Williams, Chair HHS Lansing/East Lansing (MI)

Kimbra Bell Balark, Co-Chair HHS Chicago (IL)

Carolyn Kornegay, Co-Chair HHS Oklahoma City (OK)

Anne Williams, Chair- ITS Tulsa (Ok)

Teresa Bingman, Chair- NTS Lansing/East Lansing (MI)

Ailene Oliver Booker, Co-Chair-NTS River City (TN)


Kudos to an AWESOME Program Team! Sandra Haughton, NTS Comm Tri-City (MI) Carolyn B. Bishop, NTS Comm River City (TN) Janice Garnett, Chair Women’s Issues & Economic Empowerment Omaha (NE)

Glenda Overstreet, Chair Legislative Issues, Public Affairs, & Disaster Relief Topeka (KS)

Sarah Brown Clark, Co-Chair –Legislative Issues… Youngstown (OH)

Minnie Chambers Co-Chair Legislative Issues… Milwaukee (WI)


Kudos to an AWESOME Program Team!

Cecelia W. Sawyer, Chair- Services to Youth

Shelby Cty (TN)

Delta Jones Walker, STY Comm

Northern (IN)

Helen Jones Kelly, Chair-Education Linkage

Dayton (OH)

Everlyn L. Williams, Chair – Math and Literacy Initiative

Greater Kansas City (Mo)

Marie McCarther, Chair-HBCU Initiative

Jackson Cty (MO)


Kudos to an AWESOME Program Team!

Monica Allen, Program Co-Coordinator

Windy City (IL)

Vicki Hill Brooks, Program Co-Coordinator

Lake Shore, (IL)


Archives Maintaining our History

Link Lynnette Heard


LET’S PLAY…

Non-current records preserved because of continuing value

What are Archives?

• Establish/Activate Chapter Archives & History Committee as a STANDING Committee as prescribed in the Constitution & Bylaws

• Enact the establishment of an archival collection for your chapter

• Write a mission statement and a policy statement

• Collect/organize chapter materials (HOST ARCHIVES PARTY!!!)

• Handle and store materials according to standards

• Transfer materials and develop annual budget for archive quality materials

Par Excellence

What is the title of

The Links, Incorporated

Guide to Archives & History

Par Excellence in Archives and History:

A Definitive Guide for Chapters • Published in 2012, it is available to download from Members

Only section of national website

• Comprehensive primer for ready reference

• Provides specific details to guide chapters on preserving priceless history and artifacts

• Enables chapters and archivists to master the rudiments of capturing, collecting and preserving records, materials and artifacts.

Moorland-Spingarn Research Center

Where are

The Links, Incorporated

official records and archives stored?

• Located at Howard University, the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center is the official NATIONAL repository for The Links, Incorporated – established in 1993

• Central Area Archives located in the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Chicago, IL

• Repositories are central sites where chapter records are held and maintained primarily for research and display purposes

• Chapters, working with local educational institutions, libraries or museums, should initiate discussions and agreements to establish a repository

• Retain electronic files on separate electronic storage device • Cities with more than one chapter should avoid using the same

repository - to ensure disaster recovery)

Archival Holdings

What materials should be archived?

• Documents – chapter charter; The Links, Incorporated Constitution & Bylaws; Area and Chapter Bylaws; Procedural Manuals; Chapter Organization Charts; Chapter, Area and National Budgets

• Proceedings – Chapter, Area and Assembly minutes and agendas; Chapter, Area, and National Officer reports; Chapter legal documents/testimony

• Chapter, Area, and National Financial Statements • Program Materials - Chapter, Area and National Program

Handbooks, Planning Documents, Calendars, Timelines; Chapter Grants; Chapter Honors & Awards

• Leadership Chronicles by Service Date – Chapter Officers and Committees; Chapter Delegates to Area & National Meetings; Area and National Appointments of Chapter Members; Chapter Members of Distinction (recognition of members in their profession, community and other organizations)

• Publications – Chapter, Area and National Histories; Directories, Membership Rosters; Event Brochures, etc.

• Communication Files – Correspondence (including email) especially on issues and projects; news releases; oral histories (particularly with charter members and former officers); speeches, position papers, proclamation

• Materials and Media from Events – Printed programs, invitations, brochures, posters, fliers; scrapbooks and memorabilia; awards; photographs (5 x 7 or larger – B & W preferred); news clips, audiotapes, videotapes, DVDs, and digital collections

Annually on May 15

When is every chapter’s Legacy Keeper Scorecard

due?

• The Legacy Keeper Score Card is completed annually by the Chapter Archives and History Committee Chair and submitted electronically to the Area Archivist

• Score Card rating is 1(low) to 5 (high) • Is your chapter “Archive Ready”?

Legacy Score Card includes: • Archives & History Committee listed in Chapter

Bylaws as a STANDING committee • Chapter approved mission statement completed • Chapter representative in attendance at

Area/National Archives & History Workshop • Annual Legacy Keeper Profile completed • Archives & History Committee actively engaged in

preservation • Current Inventory of Collections completed

Legacy Score Card includes: • Legacy Keeper Fact Sheet completed • Call for materials issued • Chapter Records stored in a central location • Complete set of bound minutes in chapter files • Agreement with Repository completed • Transfer forms completed for officers ending tenure • Linked for Friendship and Service: The History of The Links,

Incorporated purchased and placed in chapter files and in one or more libraries or other educational/research venue

• Archival readiness reflected by other indicators

Frankfort-Lexington (KY) Chapter

River City Tennessee (TN) Chapter

Cream City (WI) Chapter

Which chapters in the

Central Area have been recognized with top

Legacy Keeper Awards?

*Frankfort-Lexington (KY) Chapter 2010 recognition at National Assembly

* River City Tennessee (TN) Chapter

2011 & 2012 Area & National recognition

* Cream City (WI) Chapter

2013 Area recognition

To protect and

preserve your chapter’s

legacy and history!

Why is the Archives & History Committee

ESSENTIAL?

• We expend endless time, talent and treasure to build, grow and sustain our chapter membership and programs.

• Our work contributes to the quality of life in the communities we serve. We have an obligation to our own history as well as the locales we serve to articulate our role in your community’s “story.”

• We must take the time and collective energy to preserve the present and past as preparation for the future.

Who can help preserve the history and legacy

of The Links,

Incorporated?

Thank You for Keeping Our History and

Legacy Alive!

This presentation was brought to you by the Central Area Archives Committee

Link Lynnette M. Heard, Queen City (OH), Chair/Area Archivist Committee Members:

• Link Angela Blair, Bloomington (IL) Chapter • Link Virginia Brown Calvin, South Bend Area (IN) Chapter • Link Florence Dukes, Cream City (WI) Chapter • Link Imogene Harris, South Bend Area (IN) Chapter • Link Gladys Smith, Advisor to the Archivist, Chicago (IL)

Chapter • Link Beverly C. Robertson, River City (TN) Chapter • Link Gladys Sawyer, River City (TN) Chapter • Link Espenola Turner, Oklahoma City (OK) Chapter

The e- Nominations Process Sign on

Link Awilda Hamilton


THE NOMINATING PROCESS

Central Area Nominating Committee

Link Awilda Hamilton, Chair

Link Angela Porter-Duerod

Link Rebecca H. McKeel

Link Lana Nayles

Link Inetta F. Rogers


AREA ELECTED POSITIONS

• Area Director

• Area Vice Director

• Area Secretary

• Area Treasurer

• Area Nominating Committee (5)

• Area Foundation Representative


NOMINATNG PROCESS

Call for Nominations

E-Submission of Profile of Candidate for Nomination form

Certification of Candidates

Electronic notification of Slate

Second request for nominees, if necessary

Posting of campaign material on the website

Election at the Area Conference


E-NOMINATION – SIGN ON Log into the Members Only section of the

national website.

Click the “Candidates for Office” button

Click on the “Candidate for Area Office Nomination Form”

Select which Area position you are seeking

Complete the form


Merrillville, IN

E-NOMINATION – SIGN ON Chapter President and Area Nominating Committee will:

Log into the Members Only section of National website

Confirm members good standing

Based on the Area Nominating Committee’s review of the candidate’s eligibility for the office, the candidate will be either approved or denied


Merrillville, IN

NOMINATING PROCESS TIMETABLE

Jul 31 Oct 15 Nov 30 Dec 31

If insufficient nominations are received by Oct 15… Nov 18 Jan 15

Jan 10


CAMPAIGN STANDARDS One piece of electronic literature may be posted on

the Links website

No other dissemination of campaign literature is

allowed

No campaigning, electioneering or paraphernalia on

the floor of the Area Conference is allowed


Q and A • 1. If I am interested in running for office what is my first

step?

• 2. If I have done all necessary assessments and evaluated carefully whether or not I want to run for an Area position, what is next?

• 3. How will the Chapter President access my profile after she has received notification?


Q and A (cont’d)

• 4. If I am the Chapter President and wish to run for an elected position, who is the online authorizer?

• 5. If a member holds an office in her chapter and wishes to run for an Area Office, at what time must she resign from her current position?

• 6. Are all offices open for nominations?


Q and A (cont’d)

• 7. Is your chapter’s consent or endorsement required in order for you to be a candidate for an Area Office?

• 8. When will nominees be notified of candidate certification?

• 9. Where can I find the qualifications for Area Officers?


Q and A (cont’d) • 10. What are the Area Secretary Qualifications in terms of

skills?

• 11. Where can I find the qualifications for Area Representative for the Links Foundation?


THANK YOU!

Step Up and Stand Out!


21st Century Critical Legislative Issues Link Glenda Overstreet


Critical Legislative Issues Identified for Action

Six key areas have been identified by the Central Area Public Policy and Legislative Issues Committee to be addressed by the Chapters:

• African American Unemployment

• Financial Literacy

• Gun Control

• Local Political Involvement

• Reproductive Justice

• Voter Protection


African American Unemployment

Facts: • Black unemployment rate consistently twice as much as white • 2.2 million unemployed • Highest rate of any racial group

Impact: • Major barrier to adequate healthcare • Reduced life expectancy • Inadequate and low quality housing • Decline in family relationships • Less likely to marry • Lower life satisfaction

Source: National Journal, May 2014

Adverse Impact on our Communities


Financial Literacy - the ability to see how money works

AFRICAN AMERICANS SPENDING POWER---$1.1 TRILLION !

Bad News: • Lack of financial education • Poor money management skills • Increased income ≠ increased financial literacy • Little/no saving for retirement • Living paycheck-to-paycheck

Impact: • Inability to build a legacy • Lower homeownership rate • Greater incidence of home foreclosure • Greater incidence of high cost auto / consumer loans


Gun Control - No government regulation on the manufacture, sale and possession of firearms (double-edged sword)

Facts: • 80 million Americans own more than 223 million guns • Gun rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment • U.S. has highest rate of gun ownership and gun homicide in the developed world • Annually, more than 30,000 people die from gun shots wounds (only 1,500 due to accidental

shootings) • 16% of African Americans are armed

Impact: • High Incarceration rate among African Americans • High death rate • Black-on-black crime • Gang wars • Columbine / Sandy Hook • Workplace shootings


Local Political Involvement

Lack of involvement produces: • Concentrated urban poverty • Underrepresentation in agencies, committees and/or councils • Adverse impact to community in bills created • Lack of funding injected in community • Lack of economic opportunity

Examples: • Community unrest in Ferguson and other communities • Failing pubic school systems • Lack of neighborhood improvements • Racial profiling

Source: New :York Times, 2012


Reproductive Justice

Concerns: • Roe vs. Wade • Economic status and reproductive justice • Inequality in status of women regarding health services and decision making

Impact: • Unintentional pregnancies • Increased poverty • Inadequate parenting skills • Health risks


Lack of Voter Protection

•Primarily impacts Hispanic Americans,

African Americans, the elderly, young

adults and low income residents

• Justice department considers Voter ID

laws restrictive

•Federal Judge to determine if Voter ID

laws are racist

IMPACT

•Discourages voting

•Little or no ID issuing offices open on

weekends

•Results to lean favorably toward one

party

Effective counter: Advance Voting

Integrating Legislative Issues into Programming Efforts

• Review White Papers on Issues

• Conduct additional research

• Identify specific problems in your community

• Determine methodology for addressing problems

• Seek community partners to address problem

• Identify outcomes to be obtained

• Develop action plan and implement

• Evaluate and measure effectiveness of action taken

• Document progress

• Share updates in community

Questions and Answers
