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Syntaktes

Griena Knight


 

Greetings,

 

My name is Griena Knight. It has been an honor to serve you as your 2008-2010 Regional Syntaktes.  Serving as the helm of this administration has been an awesome and challenging experience.  As a servant leader I have worked tirelessly to live up the hopes and dreams of our seven illustrious founders.

 

In August 2008, I introduced the regional focus/theme of  One Region. One L.O.V.E. for Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. L.O.V.E. is an acronym for Leadership Development, Outreach, Virtue, and Education.

 

In October 2009, I introduced the theme of  F.O.C.U.S. on Sisterhood and Service.  F.O.C.U. S. was an acronym for Faith, Outreach, Commitment, Understanding, and Service. As the newly elected syntaktes for the 2010-2012 term, the 2010 theme will be R.E.S.P.E.C.T.  It is a Golden Opportunity and a RHOyal Experience.

 

Programs and Projects

 

Programs, initiatives, and projects initiated by this officer are as follows:

 

The Syntaktes’ Challenge:  Encouraged the Southeast Region (Sorors, Philos, and Rhoers) to support national partnerships and philanthropic endeavors of the sorority by issuing annual challenges aimed to increase participating in giving, volunteering, etc.  In 2008, the challenge was to increase giving to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the 2009 challenge was to give to March of Dimes and to support the United Negro College Fund.

 

Desktop Community Service Projects:  Developed e-blasts and electronic flyers that sorors can use to “forward” information on critical issues affecting our local communities or to encourage support of national organizations and partnerships that the sorority supports.  The first e-flyer was in support of National Women and Girls HIV / AIDS Awareness Day on March 10, 2010.  The second e-flyer was to promote the importance of the US Census, “Fill it out…Mail it back.”  The April project focused on National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Presidential Proclamation to support efforts to strengthen families and communities and the May service announcement was to encourage support of the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers.

 

Mentoring the Next Generation of Leaders:  This officer has worked to motivate seasoned sorors to mentor to the new generation of upcoming leaders.  In order to bridge the generational gap in regional leadership, younger women in Sigma were appointed to committee chairs, as state liaisons, and as TORCH trainers to give them experience and exposure.

 

Southeast Region Goes Green:   In order to preserve the environment, the SE Region utilizes technology for communication and the dissemination of information. Officers are accessible via email and the regional website located at www.seregionsgrho.org is the one stop source for all regional information. All chapters, regional members, and life members are encouraged to get connected by obtaining an email address, joining the SE Regional Listserve (seregionsgrho@yahoogroups.com), and visiting the Regional Website.

 

Sigma P.E.A.R.L.S. Undergraduate Round-Up/Retreat:  In Fall 2010, I will pilot the first Sigma P.E.A.R.L.S. Undergraduate Round-Up Retreat in Birmingham, Alabama.  This one day workshop will help younger women in Sigma get her P.E.A.R.L.S. (The Plan for Excellence as a personal mantra,

Active Involvement in the sorority, Responsible Citizenship in local communities, Leadership Development, and Self Improvement of the mind, body, and spirit.)  Retreats will feature speakers and activities addressing topics and issues such as Protocol and Etiquette, Leadership Styles, Time Management, Program Planning, Women’s Health, Scholastic Achievement, Non-Profit Organizations, and Mental Health.  Participants will also have an opportunity to network with other sorors and share best practices, steps, chants, and other information related to the sorority.  The Sigma P.E.A.R.L.S. Project will become a template that can be implemented on the area level across the region or as a region-wide, weekend event.  All undergraduate sorors will be asked, “Do you have your Sigma P.E.A.R.L.S.?”

 

Syntaktes’ Activity Summary

 

The following is a summary of my activities since our last meeting in June 2009:

 

Attended the International Board of Directors Meeting and Officers Essentials Training at St. John’s University in New York in July 2009.

 

Actively supported and promoted the following partnerships, activities, or announcements from the International Headquarters or as directed by our International Grand Basileus:

·The Project Reassurance 5K Challenge/State Farm 50 Million Pound Challenge

·The Sprite Step Off

·The Lionsgate Partnership to promote the movie “Precious”

·March of Dimes Walk-a-Thon

·St. Jude Children’s Hospital

·The National Urban League’s I Am Empowered Campaign

·Operation B.A.M.

 

Presided over SE Regional Area Meetings between September 2009 and November 2009 at the following locations

            Huntsville, Alabama

            Fort Lauderdale, Florida

            Memphis, Tennessee

            College Park, Georgia

            Jackson, Mississippi

 

Attended the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Meeting in Washington, DC in September 2009

 

Attended the Regional Leadership Meeting during the Association of Fraternal Advisors Conference in Jacksonville, Florida in December 2009.

 

Served as the Greek Convocation Speaker at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama in January 2010.

 

Secured the contract for the 72nd SE Regional Conference in Birmingham, Alabama scheduled for April 2012.

 

Commissioned musicians Dr. Roosevelt Simpkins and Terrence Simpkins to produce the SE Regional Hymn as an MP3 file for easy dissemination across the region electronically.

 

Attended the Regional Leadership Meeting at the International Headquarters in Cary, North Carolina in February 2010.

 

Served as the Chapel / Assembly Speaker at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia in February 2010.

 

Served as a guest panelist for the Kappa Lambda Sigma Chapter Youth Symposium in Anniston, Alabama in March 2010.

 

Moderated the SE Region Listserve housed at www.yahoogroups.com.  Also used the SE Region Listserve as an electronic bulletin board to post announcements, news and information relevant to the SE Region and the sorority.

 

Organized a committee of the State Liaisons to develop an Advisor Certification Program.

 

Served on the Personnel Committee and the Regional Leadership Committee.

 

Presided over the 70th SE Regional Conference in Greenville, South Carolina hosted by the Xi Sigma Chapter of Spartanburg in April 2010.

 

Served as the NPHC Founders Day Speaker for the Montgomery NPHC in April 2010.

 

Secured the contract for the 71st SE Regional Conference in Biloxi, Mississippi scheduled for March 2011.

 

Served as the speaker for the Metro-Memphis NPHC Founder’s Day Observance in May 2010.

 

Served as the chairperson for the TORCH Train the Trainer Sub-Committee of the TORCH Committee.

 

Reactivations

 

The following chapters reactivated during the 2009-2010 sorority year:

Pi Eta-Florida Atlantic University

Pi Theta-University South Carolina-Aiken

Eta Upsilon Sigma-Brunswick, Georgia

Lambda Beta-Valdosta State University

 

Inquiries

 

The membership committee has been working hard to assist this officer with questions about membership, chartering, or reactivation.  Special thanks to Soror Jacqueline Certion who is the chairperson of the Membership Committee and to the State Liaisons who route information to local chapters in their areas.

 

The following institutions or cities are currently interested in chartering or reactivating:

University of Tennessee-Martin

Stillman College

Brooksville/Land O’ Lakes, Florida

University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix

College of the Bahamas

Talladega College

Mississippi Valley University

University of North Alabama

Decatur, Alabama

Newberry College

Davie/Weston, Florida

Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, Georgia

Ebonyi, Nigeria

Talladega, Alabama

St. Leo University

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

St. Croix, USVI

 

New Charters

 

The following chapter was chartered during the 2009-2010 year:

Sigma Omega-University of Tampa

Sigma Delta-Vanderbilt University

Kappa Psi Sigma-Valdosta, Georgia

 

2010 Area Meeting Schedule

 

This officer encouraged chapters to begin plans early and submit information for the 2010 Area Meetings so that chapters can begin to prepare early to attend these important meetings.  The 2010 schedule is as follows:

September 11, 2010    Troy State University, Alabama

September 25, 2010    West Columbia, South Carolina

October 2, 2010          Jacksonville, Florida

October 9, 2010          Jackson, Tennessee

October 30, 2010        Alcorn State University, Mississippi

November 20, 2010    Athens, Georgia

 

Conclusion

 

Thanks to the following Southeast Region chapters for their hospitality during my travels for this past sorority year:

  • Theta Theta Sigma and Kappa Iota Chapters-Huntsville, Alabama
  • Theta Gamma and Tau Sigma Chapters-Tougaloo College/Jackson, Mississippi
  • Delta Upsilon Sigma Chapter-Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • Gamma Chi and Omicron Sigma Chapters–University of Memphis, Tennessee
  • Rho Lambda and Zeta Alpha Sigma Chapters-Clayton State University, Georgia
  • Gamma Omicron Sigma Chapter-Jacksonville, Florida
  • Delta Omicron and Delta Alpha Sigma Chapters-Augusta, Georgia
  • Xi Sigma Chapter-Spartanburg, South Carolina
  • Mu Xi and Kappa Lambda Sigma Chapters-Jacksonville/Anniston, Alabama
  • Beta Sigma Chapter-Montgomery, Alabama
  • Omicron Sigma Chapter-Memphis, Tennessee
  • Omicron Iota Chapter-Auburn University

I truly believe that Sigma Women are resilient and tenacious leaders in the fraternal movement and that the Southeast Region is one region working together as a team with L.O.V.E. and F.O.C.U.S.ed on sisterhood and service.

 

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.fully submitted,

 

G. Knight

Southeast Region Syntaktes

 

c/o Miles College
5500 Myron Massey Boulevard
Fairfield, Alabama 35064
E-Fax (206) 203-3602

Email G. Knight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Griena Knight

Southeast Region Syntaktes

c/o Miles College
5500 Myron Massey Blvd
Fairfield, AL 35064
E-Fax (206) 203-3602

Email G. Knight

 

 

Area Meetings:

Alabama, September 11, 2010 (Troy, AL)
South Carolina, September 25, 2010 (West Columbia, SC)
Florida, October 2, 2010 (Jacksonville, FL)
Georgia, November 20, 2010 (Athens, GA)
Tennessee, October 9, 2010 (Jackson, TN)
Mississippi, October 30, 2010 (Alcorn, MS)

 

 

71st Regional Conference:

Biloxi, Mississippi, March, 2011

 

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