Greetings Sorors and Friends of Gamma Chapter! It is truly an honor to be serving as Gamma Chapter’s President for the 2009-2010 sorority year. I am walking in the footsteps of some great women and I will work to do them proud! My heartfelt thanks go to Gamma Chapter for this opportunity to serve you. This year, as Gamma Chap-ter moves towards our 79th year of service to Iota and the greater Washington , DC area we will work to increase our impact on the community by executing the programs of Iota, developing our member-ship and welcoming the mem-bers of the Eastern Region to our backyard. The national programs and projects of this organization are well tested and have changed lives across the country. We look for-ward to the creative and im-pactful implementation of these programs this sorority year. As the lifeblood of the organization, Gamma’s

membership will continue to be our focus. Not only do we continue to seek dynamic and accomplished women to add to our roster, we will also fo-cus on the active development of our current members through workshops and train-ing sessions. Finally, Gamma chapter will serve as co-host to the 2010 Eastern Regional Conference. Sorors, auxiliary members and guests from the entire region will converge for a weekend full of learning, l e ad i n g and l a u gh te r . Gamma…we will be busy! We must also not forget that October is Breast Cancer

2009-10 CHAPTER LEADERSHIP

GAMMA GAZETTE a quarterly publication by Gamma Chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Incorporated

Volume 3, Issue 1 Fall 2009

A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT Awareness Month. As an organization of women, bringing awareness to the ways we can eradicate this disease should be our focus year round. In particular this month, please remember to not only conduct your own breast self-exam but also en-courage the other women in your lives to conduct theirs. Early detection saves lives. For more information please visit http://www.nbcam.org. We look forward to honor-ing the great legacy of both Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. and Gamma Chapter with continued actions that meet the challenges of today. Yours in Sisterly Service, Adrienne

National Convention highlights 2

Planning Meeting highlights 2

Iota Member Celebrations 2

Membership Reclamation 3

Membership Recruitment 3

It’s Our Health 4-5

New National & Regional Officers 5

Upcoming Events back

Inside this issue:

Welcome to all new chapter officers (see photos, p. 3): President - Adrienne R. Birdine Vice President - D. Lynn Gilbert

Recording Secretary - Nancy Scott Corresponding/Financial Secretary - H. Gloria Moser

Treasurer - Vonetta B. Martin Journalist - Sonia D.R. Harris

Dean of Intake - Kimberly Morgan-Craft

Gamma Gazette, Page 2 Volume 3, Issue 1 Fall 2009

IOTA PHI LAMBDA TAKES HOUSTON BY STORM

PUBLICATION DEADLINES October 1 for Fall edition [activities held during July through September]

January 1 for Winter edition [activities held during October through December] April 1 for Spring edition [activities held during January through March]

July 1 for Summer edition [activities held during April through June]

Would you like to be featured? Do you have some advice or a yummy recipe to share? Send your typed submission to chapter journalist, Soror Sonia Harris, via email at journalist@iota-gammadc.org.

Copyright © 2009 Gamma Chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. • All Rights Reserved

BIRTHDAYS • ANNIVERSARIES • MILESTONES (FALL SEASON) BIRTHDAYS:

Ayauna Modlin, 8/19 Adrienne Birdine, 9/21

Helen Newberry-McDowell, 9/28 Nancy Scott, 10/16 Sonia Harris, 10/22

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: Sonia Harris, 11/20

Iota’s 2009 National Convention was held July 14-19 in Houston, Texas at the Houston Marriott West Loop Hotel. Gamma Chapter was represented by the following delegates: Sorors Jean East, Adrienne Birdine, and Sonia Harris. All three representatives found it quite busy in Houston and they each had their own responsibilities. Soror East, former National Treasurer, served as primary voting delegate; Soror Birdine was appointed by National President Doris Browning Austin to serve as Parliamentarian; and Soror Harris served as National Executive Director.

GAMMA HOSTS THE 2009 EASTERN REGION PLANNING MEETING As the upcoming hostess for the 2010 Eastern Regional Conference, Gamma Chapter welcomed all sorors to the Hilton Crystal City Hotel on Saturday, August 15, 2009. Sorors Lynn Gilbert, Nancy Scott, Gloria Moser, Adrienne Birdine, Sonia Harris, and Vonetta Martin participated in workshops and received updates from regional officers.

Gamma Gazette, Page 3 Volume 3, Issue 1 Fall 2009

SISTERHOOD MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS

As the 2009-10 sorority year gets underway, Gamma Chapter has been looking forward to growing its membership. Gamma began its planning with a meeting on August 5, 2009 to facilitate the leadership transition (followed by a social at The Greene Turtle restaurant). On the reclamation side, Gamma welcomed back three more members after a few years' hiatus: Sorors Kimberly Morgan-Craft, Leshaun Law-Moy, and Kimya Moore. Soror Kimberly Morgan-Craft, new Dean of Intake, led the Formal Rush on August 18, 2009. Special thanks to Sorors Tangela Sanders and Tiffany Payton, both of Kappa Chapter (Baltimore, MD), for supporting this event and providing attendees with a unique new member perspective on Iota. Applications have been received and the journey to Iotaland has begun. Stayed tuned to see who the newest additions will be...

ABOVE LEFT: Standing– Sorors Melba Eldridge-Lewis (Gamma’s immediate past President), Lynn Gilbert, Adrienne Birdine, and Vonetta Martin; Sitting– Sorors Sonia D.R. Harris and Kimberly Morgan-Craft. ABOVE RIGHT: Soror Kimberly Morgan-Craft presents information to Gamma sorors and guests. BELOW LEFT: Standing– Sorors Nancy Scott (Recording Secretary), Gloria Moser (Financial & Corresponding Secretary), Vonetta Martin (Treasurer), Lynn Gilbert (Vice President), and Kimya Moore; Sitting– Sorors Kimberly Morgan-Craft (Dean of Intake), Adrienne Birdine (President), Leshaun Law-Moy, and Sonia D.R. Harris (Journalist). BELOW RIGHT: Soror Adrienne Birdine does her happy dance version of the ‘cabbage patch’ when she finds out about Gamma friends and sorors giving her a surprise birthday cake and card!

Gamma Gazette, Page 4 Volume 3, Issue 1 Fall 2009

IT’S OUR HEALTH: A SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN’S HEALTH This season’s spotlight is about breast cancer. Yes, it’s a topic that some say receives too much

publicity, but we can never be too educated about this deadly disease. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

What is cancer? Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells become ab-normal and divide without control or order. Each organ in the body is made up of various kinds of cells. Cells normally divide in an orderly way to produce more cells only when they are needed. This process helps keep the body healthy. If cells divide when new cells are not needed, they form too much tissue. This extra tissue, called a tumor, can be benign or malignant. • Benign tumors are not cancer. Eighty percent of all breast tumors are benign. They can usually be re-moved, and, in most cases, they don't come back. Most important, the cells in benign tumors do not invade other tissues and do not spread to other parts of the body. Benign breast tumors are not life-threatening. • Malignant tumors are cancer. The cancer cells grow and divide out of control, invading and damaging nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break away from the original tumor and enter the blood-stream or lymphatic system. This is how breast cancer spreads and forms secondary tumors in other parts of the body. This spread of cancer is called metastasis. What is breast cancer? Breast cancer is cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare. How common is breast cancer in the United States? Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, aside from skin cancer. How can I tell if I have breast cancer? Most of the time, early breast cancer does not have any symptoms. As it grows, however, breast cancer can cause changes in how the breast looks or feels. Symp-toms include: ♦ A new lump in the breast ♦ A lump that has changed ♦ A change in the size or shape of the breast ♦ Pain in the breast or nipple that does not go away ♦ Skin anywhere on the breast that is flaky, red, or swollen

♦ A nipple that is very tender or that suddenly turns inward ♦ Fluid coming from the nipple when not nursing a baby What is advanced breast cancer? Breast cancer is considered advanced when it has spread from its original site to distant areas of the body. Physicians will look at a number of factors to determine the stage of breast cancer, including tumor size, lymph node involvement, and whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Once the stage of the dis-ease is determined, there are two different ways ad-vanced breast cancer can be classified: locally advanced or me-tastatic. What is metastatic breast cancer? The term metastatic breast cancer indicates that the cancer has spread from the breast to other parts of the body such as bone, lung, liver, or brain. See your health professional if you notice any of these symptoms. Most often, breast symptoms are caused by conditions other than cancer, but only your doctor can tell. If you have a question about any breast lump, if you no-tice a new lump, or if a lump has changed, talk with your health professional. Will health insurance pay for screening mammo-grams? Regular screening mammograms are covered by the U.S. government's Medicare and Medicaid programs and other private health insurance plans (women should check their own insurance plans for individual details). Free or low-cost mammograms are available for women without health insurance in many locations. For a pro-gram near you, contact the CDC at (888) 842-6355. To take a free online quiz, visit http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/breast-cancer-quiz.html

Gamma Gazette, Page 5 Volume 3, Issue 1 Fall 2009

IT’S OUR HEALTH: A SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN’S HEALTH (continued)

NEWLY ELECTED NATIONAL AND REGIONAL OFFICERS

What increases my chance of getting breast cancer? • Age: The older you are, the more likely you are to

develop breast cancer. The chances of dying from breast cancer also increase as a woman gets older, but dying from breast cancer is much less common than getting breast cancer.

• Family History: Having close relatives with breast cancer or ovarian cancer increases your chance of getting breast cancer.

• Race: All women can get breast cancer, but white women get it more often than Hispanic, African American, Asian, or Native American women. Al-though medical experts do not know why, African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than women of other racial and ethnic groups.

• Having Children: Not having children, or having your first child later in life (in your 30s or 40s), in-creases your chance of getting breast cancer.

• Certain Medications: Taking hormone replace-ment therapy (HRT) drugs after menopause may increase your chance of getting breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits for you.

• Personal History: Having had cancer in one breast increases the chance of getting cancer in the other breast.

RESOURCE CREDITS: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation

Pictured above: Sorors Cynthia Cheatham, Karen Braswell, Elsie Reavis, Beaulah Moore, Mary Harley, and Catherine Canady-Winston

2009-10 Eastern Region Officers 2009-11 National Board

National President Dr. Doris Browning Austin Kappa Chapter (Baltimore, MD)

National President-Elect

Phyllis M. Shumate Rho Chapter (Durham, NC)

National Recording Secretary Talmadge M. Jacques Psi Chapter (Dallas, TX)

National Treasurer Denise Ratliff Brandon

Rho Chapter (Durham, NC)

Regional Directors pictured below, left to right: Central, Dorothy White (Alpha—Chicago, IL); Eastern, Catherine Canady-Winston (Gamma Zeta– Hampton, VA); Far Western, Johnnie S. Loyd (Gamma Mu); Southern, Barbara Carter (Beta Zeta—Columbus, GA); and Southwestern, Charlotte Berry (Psi—Dallas, TX)

Director • Catherine Canady-Winston Gamma Zeta (Hampton, VA)

Assistant Director • Mary Harley Epsilon Zeta (St. Thomas, VI)

Recording Secretary • Beaulah Moore Alpha Chi (Norfolk, VA)

Financial Secretary • Elsie Reavis Gamma Zeta (Hampton, VA)

Journalist • Cynthia Cheatham Gamma Zeta (Hampton, VA) Treasurer • Karen Braswell

Beta Phi (Buffalo, NY)

Postage

Here

MARK YOUR CALENDAR; JOIN US FOR THESE EVENTS: December 19, 2009: Gamma Chapter Holiday Party, Washington, DC February 2010: Black History Month Activities, tba April 2010: Business Month Activities, tba April 2010: Eastern Regional Conference; Hilton Crystal City Hotel, Arlington, VA Chapter Meeting dates: 2nd Saturdays, 11am-1pm. Contact Soror Adrienne Birdine at president@iota-gammadc.org for attendance details. General membership questions: Contact Soror Kimberly Morgan-Craft at membership@iota-gammadc.org for information.

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Gamma Chapter Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. P.O. Box 56293 Washington, DC 20040 gamma@iota-gammadc.org