1,908 steps begin healthier lifestyles

By KaRonda Fleming

Kinston, N.C. - The Ladies of the Zeta Omicron Omega’s Kinston Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha walked 1,908 steps June 28 on Kinston High Schools track.


In conjunction with the Centennial President and Dr. Ian Smith, (State Farm-50 Million Pound Challenge), every chapter across the United States, including chapters outside the USA walked simultaneously to kick off the celebration.


This was the beginning of what will culminate during the 2008 Boule in Washington D.C. during the Centennial Walk.

Photo by Faith Bynum
Members of the Zeta Omicron Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha walk during an ESP Walk June 28 at KHS.

Young ladies learn the discipline of saving money through AKA programs

By Jada Mumford

Kinston, N.C. - The Kinston High School Young Women’s Empowerment program welcomed Mrs. Jennifer Howard, Chief Executive Officer for the Greater Kinston Credit Union.
Howard provided a plethora of information concerning the importance of being disciplined in saving money and not incurring debt by obtaining credit cards. She provided the young ladies with a bag of materials on how to establish a savings account and how to maintain a good credit rating.


Some of the young ladies also attended the Teen Fest, sponsored by Lenoir County’s Young Women Outreach Center this summer. The teens attended workshops on self-esteem, exhibiting independence, teen pregnancy, and gang violence.


Soror Camille Braxton gave a presentation to the young ladies on etiquette and proper attire for different social settings. The students were completely engaged and asked very relative questions.


To culminate this activity, an evening at the Broken Eagle was indeed a joyous occasion that exposed our young ladies to one of Kinston’s finest eateries.

Photo by Jada Mumford

Camille Braxton gives a presentation to KHS females during a presentation on etiquette and proper attire which can be implemented at various social settings.

Sorority Engages in the Significant Voting Progress

AKA to Spearhead National Voter Registration Drive
Historic election sparks novel get-out-the vote initiatives

Washington, D.C. - As part of its mission to ensure that citizens register to vote, Alpha Kappa Alpha will mount a national two-pronged blitz.


Sparked by the reality that much is at stake in this election, the initiatives are aimed at getting out the vote and making certain that citizens vote on Election Day, November 4.


Alpha Kappa Alpha will launch a “voter registration blitz” from September 6 through October 4, spearheaded by the Sorority’s Connection Committee. To ensure the campaign’s success, AKA will partner with churches, the NAACP, other Greek organizations and other social action groups.


The second component of the crusade is the “Take Five” program. In this initiative, members are being urged to “Take Five” registered voters to the polls. With members Energized, Stimulated and Passionately committed to these programs, voter turnout should be high and everyone should be empowered knowing that their votes will count.

MAR Celebrates 100 Years of Service

By KaRonda Fleming

Laurinburg, N.C. - The 2008 Eastern Carolina Cluster was hosted by the Rho Alpha Omega Chapter of Laurinburg on September 13. With a total of 19 chapters present, nearly 200 ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha celebrated their 100 years of service.


During cluster, several workshops such as the Code of Ethics, Standards, Financial Procedures, Parliamentary Procedures, and Protocol were discussed.


Musical entertainment was provided by saxophonist, Mr. Carl Sinkler, as he played several tunes during lunch. Also, a female trio sang a capella and a young sixth grader captured a standing ovation after she sang her song.


Vendors sold paraphernalia throughout the day and each registrant posed for the cluster’s group photo that will be submitted to the next issue of the Ivy Leaf Magazine.


Attending cluster is a great experience for new and seasoned members of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Not only do they get to meet other members from nearby chapters, but they also get a chance to learn the newly updated material that affects each member of the Sorority.

Photo by Faith Bynum

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, Soror Ruby B. Archie blows out the 100 year Centennial cake during the Eastern Carolina Cluster Sept 6 in Laurinburg, N.C.

ZOO are Hostesses to Jazz Celebration

By KaRonda Fleming

Kinston, N.C. - Members of the Zeta Omicron Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha were the hostesses for Kinston’s presentation of Jazz during a Jazzy Jam Session September 18 at the Kinston Community Council for the Arts.


A variety of foods were displayed and served as jazz greats played songs for the audience to enjoy. The Kinston Community Council for the Arts is showcasing several Jam Sessions, which began September 2 and will conclude on December 6.


The sessions feature the David Leonhardt Jazz Trio of Pennsylvania and are open to the public.
Photographs and documents drawn from archives around the country are displayed in the Arts Center showing various tours of jazz legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman as they traveled the globe on behalf of the U.S. State Department.

Photo by Barbara Seaforth
The ladies of Zeta Omicron Omega’s Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha were the hostesses for a Sept. 18th Jam session at the Arts Center.

Zeta Omicron Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha

ZOO.AKA@gmail.com

Zeta Omicron Omega Chapter
Kinston, North Carolina
Chartered March 19, 1955

Charter Members

Eleanor Allison * Mabel Lenhardt

Thelma Best * Bernice Lloyd

Marilyn Cogdell * Myra McLendon

Mary Danyus * Grace Murphy

Charlotte Holt * Gloria Payne

Dorethea Jenkins * Dorothy Pitt

Grace Johnson * Fannie Slade

The establishment of Zeta Omicron Omega Chapter in 1955 was the fulfillment of a long awaited dream for the Sorors of this small Eastern North Carolina community. There was not a sufficient number of Sorors in Kinston to meet the requirements for a chapter, and consequently, the Kinston Sorors originally joined with Sorors from Goldsboro, whose Epsilon Phi Omega chapter was chartered in 1952. When the number of Sorors increased, it was agreed that a division of the chapter would render more effective service to the respective communities. The Sorors from New Bern, Williamston, Roberson, and Morehead City, joined the Sorors from Kinston and formed a nucleus for Zeta Omicron Omega Chapter on Saturday, March 19, 1955. Soror Grace Matthews Pleasants, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director presided over the ceremony. The homes of Sorors Mabel Lenhardt and Marilyn Cogdell were used for the ceremony and the banquet.

From the chapter’s beginning, the major focus has been to render services that would improve the quality of living for families of African-American descent. The chapter’s efforts in the mid 1950’s and early 1960’s were reflective of the needs of the people in the areas of education, economics, employment, and health. The chapter sponsored job opportunity workshops, adult tutorial programs, clothing closets, shoe banks located in various schools, and book fairs to make available updated materials for student;s in their homes.

The continuum of health and social services has existed through the 70’s and 80’s as two of the largest state facilities for youth with special needs located n our city adjudicate juvenile delinquents and the mentally handicapped. The chapter received citations from the governor for volunteer services to these institutions from 1975 to 1985.

From 1971 to 2008, Zeta Omicron Omega has sponsored seventeen biennial Debutante Cotillions, one of the most prestigious social and culture event of Eastern North Carolina. The Sorors provide six months of training in the social graces and social deportment and exposure to a variety of cultural affairs. Each Soror serves as a mentor for each debutante, making this an enriching and rewarding experience.

Through 53 years Zeta Omicron Omega has continued to flourish and has maintained very special bonds of sisterhood with those chapters that have emerge from our sisterhood. Following the precepts of our Founders, we have established scholarship, leadership, and the pursuit of excellence as our major goals.