NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETS IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA

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1 NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING February 1, 2016 Volume 2, Issue 1 NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETS IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA Members of the National Executive Board and over 200 sorors gathered at the Orlando Hilton on January 8-10, 2016, to take care of the business of Zeta and take care of the business is what we did! All agenda items were covered! Board members arrived on Thursday, January 7 and participated in a team building activity facilitated by Board Chair Ingram. The activity, This in Your Life afforded board members an opportunity to share aspects of a phase in their life that impacted them in Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and their service on the board. While the activity was a time to bond, members were not finished for the evening. Committee meetings were held: budget and finance, trustee board, constitution and bylaws, internal audit, board restructuring task force, board standard operating procedures, and personnel. Early on Friday, board members got to work on business after a touching meditation by Soror Melissa Walton-Jones, National Graduate Member to the Executive Committee, and greetings from local chapters, Zeta Amicae, State Director Karen Blount, Regional Director Dr. Yvonne Jefferson Barnes and International Grand Basileus Mary Breaux Wright. Sorors were made to feel extremely welcome. A response to these warm greetings was provided by Soror Valerie Hollingsworth-Baker, National First Anti-Basileus. As always, the Grand Basileus report was outstanding; receiving a standing ovation and a motion to accept with commendations. Highlights from the Grand s report are on Page 2. Oral reports were received from various officers. The board spent some time in Executive Session, participated in the Centennial luncheon, and received reports from the various board committees. Inside this issue Grand s Report...2 Report of the 1st Anti.3 BOARD WELCOMES KRYSTA JONES, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS Chair of the Board Report..3 Krysta has been hired as the Program Manager for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and has served as the organization s National Director of Social Action for 10 years. Prior to joining the Zeta headquarters staff, Krysta was the Director of Outreach for two Members of Congress: designing outreach strategies, developing relationships with key community leaders and communicating their legislative agenda via meetings and events. While serving in the Peace Corps in Paraguay from , Ms. Jones helped create student governments, and procured funding and provided training for a community radio station. Team Wright..4 She currently serves on the boards of the Women s Monument Commission of Virginia and the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization. She was recently elected to the board of directors for the Junior League of Northern Virginia. Restructuring the Board.5 Undergraduate Report...5 NEB Pictorial..6 Centennial Luncheon Pictorial..7 Special points of interest Grand Basileus Report Highlights Report of the committee tasked to restructure the board 1

2 REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL GRAND BASILEUS PICTORIAL OF THE GRAND S ZETA INVOLVE- MENT SINCE JANUARY 2015 International Grand Basileus Mary Breaux Wright delivered, as always, an outstanding report bringing sorors in the audience to their feet! Grand Basileus Wright shared her goals for : To evaluate the possibilities of putting National Headquarters into a Foundation (NEW) To revive the National Legacy Club (NEW) To appoint a National Handbook Committee to revise the written guidelines and organizational structure of our Sorority (COMPLETED) To update our history book for release at Boule 2016 to preserve the legacy of our Founders and include accomplishments that have occurred since the last publication (NEW) To have Avectra up and functioning (NEW) To have a fully operational and user-friendly national Website with a functioning Members Only section that is updated regularly (NEW) To implement a National Emergency Plan manual to ensure the safety of our sorors, auxiliary members, and our National Headquarters staff, in the event of a mandatory evacuation or a high-level security threat (IN PROGRESS) To develop a communication tool, specifically designed for military sorors, that will connect them to a region, and keep them informed, regardless of where they are deployed or stationed (IN PROGRESS) To utilize cutting-edge technology when communicating with the sisterhood through interactive sessions so everyone can remain informed, even those who are incapacitated and home-bound (IN PROGRESS) To provide online services, which include the submission of new member fees and implement online banking at national headquarters so we can operate more efficiently by paying our bills online (HALF COMPLETED) The re-opening and enhancement of Finer Women Don t Haze Campaign (WORKING ON) To increase our financial membership by 15%; this includes new membership and reclamation ( WORKING ON) To continue renovations on National Headquarters so that we may move back into OUR house (NEW) The Grand s report highlighted many of the programs and initiatives including (1) Get Engaged, (2) Elder Care, (3) the new Anti-Bullying Initiative, (4) Stork s Nest, (5) partnership with the March of Dimes, (6) partnership with St. Jude Children s Research Hospital, and (7) partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Grand Basileus shared activities of the Council of Presidents for the past year, where she served as the Chair. Sigma Gamma Rho President Bonita Herring succeeded her. 2

3 HIGHLIGHTS: REPORT OF THE NATIONAL FIRST ANTI-BASILEUS Membership Stats: Total number of Graduates approved Total number of Undergraduates approved Combined number of approved aspirants Total number of combined chapters that submitted MIP packets Financial Chapters as of December 15: 764; 190 submitted MIP packets which represents 24.87% of the total financial chapters. Approvals/Denial Ratio: 1. Total of 709 applications reviewed; 695 aspirants approved 2. 8 denials in total 3. 3 out of the 695 aspirants decided not to move forward with the process after approval 4. 1 was requested to be sent back prior to completion of review by an undergraduate advisor 5. 5 were requested to be sent back prior to completion of review by a State Director KUDOS to Soror Valerie Hollingsworth for a very comprehensive report presented to the NEB. Membership Goals for The Bridge Project (undergrad to graduate transition) tentative proposal completion - June 2016 Z-PEP (standardization of embellishment/mentoring as it relates to the 3 R s Retention, Reclamation and Recruitment) tentative Phase 1 proposal completion June 2016 REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD 3

4 REPORT OF TEAM WRIGHT Report of the National Tamias Soror Diane Fisher HIGHLIGHTS >>A positive trend towards the better utilization of the funds spent on expenses related to the operation of the organization. >>Acquired better pricing for some of our long term services. >>Developed specific procedures to protect the financial integrity of the Sorority and the employees with regards to handling money. >>Reduction of some monthly expenses >>Working on updating an asset policy for recording and tracking assets. >>Regularly reviewed quarterly financial reports with our CPA firm and IGB Wright. >>Worked on revising the financial manual to be submitted to the NEB for approval. >>Implementation of the Bill.com bill payment system has improved efficiency. 4 Each member of the WRIGHT TEAM, presented their individual region s report with enthusiasm and zeal for the work being completed in their respective regions. Hard working TEAM! Making Zeta look good!

5 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO RESTRUC- TURE THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD Pursuant to the request of the body in session at Boule 2014, a committee was established to consider the request to restructure the National Executive Board. The recommendations have been submitted to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee for Boule The Committee recommends the following changes through Constitution and Bylaws amendments to effect the following officer positions on the National Executive Board: RECOMMENDATIONS That the National Chairman of Trustees remain as a voting member of the National Executive Board and the remaining four National Trustees no longer be on the National Executive Board. That a new Advisory Board consisting of the four (4) elected National Trustees and elected National Chair of Trustees be established. That the National Executive Board positions of National Graduate Member to the Executive Committee; National Undergraduate Member to the Executive Committee; and National Undergraduate Representative to the National Nominating Committee be removed from the National Executive Board structure. Currently our Constitution states that the three (3) most recent Past International Grand Basilei sit on the National Executive Board. The committee recommends that only the Immediate Past International Grand Basileus remain on the National Executive Board. That the Chairman of the Regional Directors remain as a voting member of the National Executive Board and the remaining seven (7) Regional Directors be left on the National Executive Board without voting status but with all other board privileges and rights. That a member nominated or elected to the office of National Third Anti-Basileus must be an Undergraduate. Soror Scarlet Black, Committee Chair, providing background information on the Restructuring Committee Past Grand Dr. Barbara Carpenter making committee report UNDERGRADUATE REPRESENTATIVES HARD AT WORK FOR ZETA: Highlights of the NEB Report UNDERGRADUATES IN ACTION The Undergraduate Representatives on the board, Sorors Sade Adams, Leigh Ann Williams and Symona Gregory presented a joint report to the board. HIGHLIGHTS Operational Initiatives Promote the Year of the Undergraduates 1. Continue to promote and involve undergraduate chapters in Year of the Undergraduate activities. Walmart/Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated Initiative Utilize the National UG Council 1. Focus on activities to increase undergraduate involvement across Zeta utilizing this team including the Undergraduate Member-at- Large, Undergraduate to the Executive Committee, Undergraduate Representative to the National Nominating Committee and representatives from all eight regions. Continue UG Webinar Series 1. Continue National Undergraduate Webinar Series that will enhance the knowledge of all Undergraduate Sorors throughout the Nation. 1. Seeks to provide internships and employment opportunities for undergraduate members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. 2. Establish resume clinics in addition to webinar series. UG NPHC Representatives 1. Establish a National Pan-Hellenic Council of Undergraduates Produce community service ideas involving undergraduates from all nine organizations.

6 A Good Zeta is a Well-Informed Zeta YOUR LOGO HERE 6

7 CENTENNIAL LUNCHEON PICTORIAL Congratulations to Past Grand Jylla Tearte (Centennial Chair) and the entire Centennial Commission for an exquisite luncheon Saturday of the board meeting. The speaker, Ms. Cheryl Robertson, did an outstanding job providing information to make Zeta finer. Kudos to the Commission! 7