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“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>The St. Louis Metropolitan chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority had an extra special Founder’s Day for 2011 in the first Saturday of February.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Before I say anything else, I want to say thank you for a wonderful Boule,” said Carolyn House Stewart, the organization’s 28th president.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Please give yourselves a wonderful welcome. And I can’t wait until the third time around in St. Louis.”
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>She had assumed her position as leader in front of 10,000 members from around the world at America’s Center several months before.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>And fresh on the heels of playing host for the 2010 international convention (Boule), Alpha Kappa Alpha’s international president braved an additional five inches of snow to return to the birthplace of the sorority’s primary founder, Ethel Hedgeman Lyle.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>House Stewart stood in front of more than one hundred local sorors to offer thoughts and reflections in honor of Lyle and the rest of the founders of the first organization formed by women of African-American descent.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“On this day, we celebrate our founders – all twenty pearls. We honor our sisterhood that has a legacy of service that deepens – rather than ends – with college graduation,” House Stewart said.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“This is really a reflection of accomplishment for women fulfilling the dreams for generations of who we are, what we are and what we can be. The Alpha Kappa Alpha story is always “the best is yet to come.”
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>For this particular Founder’s Day, the theme “United in Sisterhood through Timeless Service” served as a reminder of the sorority to honor its purpose as well.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Through these 103 years, we have been defined by one purpose – service – and this timeless journey of transcending, transforming, transporting and enriching the lives of millions,” House Stewart said.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Alpha Kappa Alpha has been on the leading edge of developing programs and service to all mankind and this day is a time to reflect, a time to reconnect and a time for promises kept.”
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>She offered several examples from the Founder’s Day activities that were embarked upon by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Women in Little Rock, Ark. That included 15 service projects and initiatives, including a health fair, blood drive, soup kitchen, donation of thousands of care packages and clothing items, and hosting a civil rights and social justice roundtable.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I know some of you are thinking, ‘What does that have to do with Founder’s Day here in St. Louis?’” House Stewart said.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Everything. Because we are all bound in the human race, and Alpha Kappa Alpha women are connected. Little Rock was not a precedent, it was just a reminder of what we do as Alpha Kappa Alpha. It was a reminder of who we are – the builders, the history makers, the change agents, the advocates, the visionaries, the servants.
“mso-spacerun: yes;”> would change, so – clothed in Salmon Pink and Apple Green – they helped America to deliver on her promises.”
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>As she reflected on the legacy of her sisterhood, House Stewart couldn’t help but take a stroll down memory lane and carry the audience well into the present with respect to the contributions of the sorority.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>She pointed out that Alpha Kappa Alpha was the first Greek organization to partner with the federal government in a program to train women and give youth direction and guidance through Job Corps. It was the first Greek organization to become a life member of the NAACP.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>She also mentioned that Alpha Kappa Alpha purchased the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and, more recently, donated $1 million to Howard University during the centennial celebration in 2008.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“We made promises to dedicate our time, our talents and our resources to Alpha Kappa Alpha. We promised to continue the work so nobly began. We promised to accept the responsibilities and obligation of the sorors.”
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Alpha Kappa Alpha women in St. Louis who remained true to the mission were honored as part of the program as well. Honors for continuous, timeless service were given to Silver Star sorors (25 years), Golden sorors (50 years) and one Diamond soror, Gladavelle Bell – who celebrated her 75th anniversary of membership.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Sorors of the Year were recognized for being exemplary personifications of the organization’s founding principles that have withstood the test of time for more than a century.
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“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“In this timeless journey, I know that I will not be here in 3011, but I believe that Alpha Kappa Alpha will be here. We will continue to transcend, transport and transform our community, because each day is a new opportunity to change and to serve. Make a commitment today to rekindle this flame of service. Promise yourself to always be united in sisterhood for timeless service.”
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