Dear Link Sisters: 

These are exciting times!  I am passionate about the Eastern Area, its 74 chapters, and 2000 plus members.  Our theme, a Circle of Friends, guided how we planned, and created our program initiatives.  The Eastern Area Program team and our Program Coordinator, Link Modena Gooley, prepared the guide (distributed at the Circle of Friends Workday in October 2007) to assist all chapters achieve their Chapter, Area and National program goals.  Hope you found it helpful.

 Eastern Area Program Updates: 

1.   HBCU Endowment fund:  Plans for this activity are complete.  The 40^th Eastern Area Conference commemorative charms and pendants are on sale.  The design was changed to one that you will like even more and certainly want to purchase.  Gold did increase, but we have a piece of jewelry you will cherish forever.  All information (including pictures) regarding how to acquire your keepsake is on the website.  Please visit.  All proceeds will benefit the fourteen HBCU’s in the Eastern Area.  Chapters and individuals have contributed to the fund.  Thanks so much for your support! 

2.   The Links International and Foreign Affairs Empowerment Program for Youth (LIFE), a National initiative, is intended to prepare students to become more competitive globally and increase career options in international Foreign Service.  The kick-up activity is scheduled for Saturday, May 31, 2008, from 10:30-3 at the Howard University Bunch Center.  Join us!  Contact Link Constance McAllister for additional information (csmesq1@aol.com). Read her article in the Eastern Area newsletter for all the details.

             Life Program Brochure

            Young International Financiers Program

3.   Children from the Keystone Cluster school in South Africa will visit the United States beginning the last weekend in June.  Some of us will be in Seattle, but plans have been made to host the young people in royal style.  For more information, please contact, Link Claire Davis, the Eastern Area Chair of Education Across the Miles at smainc2k@earthlink.net.

4.   The National Trends and Service facet centered its activities, so far, on Links to Oral Health, HIV/AIDS in the African American Community, childhood obesity, My Heart, My Life (Cardiovascular Disease), and issues faced by members in the Sandwich Generation. The Area Breakfast in Seattle will feature the Honorable Elijah Cummings (D. MD), a strong advocate of dental care for children and youth. Link C. Virginia Fields, National Black Leadership Commission on AIDSS

Will also make a presentation during the breakfast.  Join us on July 4^th to honor our platinum and 50-year members, to share ideas and to have fun! 

5.   The Eastern Area Public Affairs Committee consisting of Links C. Virginia Fields, Denise Witcher Sessoms, and Kimberly Jeffries-Leonard, accompanied by our Eastern Area Director had its first collaboration session with members of Congress and Chris Bates from Health and Human Services to plan the first “Eastern Area Links on the Hill” for 2009.  We also plan a “strike day!”  It may be during the Assembly or this fall. What does “strike day mean?” Look for details on the website.

6.   The Women’s Issues Committee designed a survey to identify the needs, concerns, problems and obstacles to leadership for members of the “Sandwich Generation.”  The survey was sent to all presidents for dissemination to members.  In addition, you may access it from this website. Please respond.  We need your insight and experiences to plan for the future. Look for the National Trends and Services display in Seattle where all programs will be featured. Link Robin Williams (brwill4@aol.com) is chair of Women’s Issues and Denise Witcher Sessoms (whsessoms@msn.com) is chair of National Trends and Services.

7.   Services to Youth Facet joins the National Mentoring Movement.  Link Sheila Finlayson, outlined in her article in the newsletter the need and purpose of the Links, Incorporated’s partnership with Susan Taylor and Essence Cares. The goal is to mobilize thousands of men and women who are committed to mentoring young people and pair them with mentoring organizations desperately needing to increase their pool of volunteers.  Chapters should contact Link Sheila for additional information. This is a great way to partner with other organizations in our communities, plan umbrella programs and serve our youth. (msfin@aol.com)

8.   The Eastern Area supports the national initiative, The Young Achievers—Go to High School, go to College Program.  The Commonwealth Chapter and the Newport News Chapter along with their fraternity partners are moving forward to  plan and implement Young Achiever pilot programs.  The collaboration begins in September 2008.  Additional information is available in the article by Link Jackie Joyner, in our newsletter.  Link Jackie is chair of Eastern Area Education Linkage. (whijsj@mac.com)

           Eastern Area International Trends and Services Programs

9.   The Arts facet, chaired by Link Sandy Berger, among its initiatives, designed a program for chapters located in close proximity to an HBCU with an art gallery.  Select art by an African American that is need of preservation and provide the resources to refurbish the piece of art.  This program will introduce young African American children to the gallery and to a profession probably unknown to them.