President's Note: June 2021

6/10/2021

June is here and the end of our Chapter year!
We are at the end of our Chapter Year! Time for a short break! This past Chapter year has come and gone so quickly! We pulled off some great events! Our year in Review:

Kudos to 87 Smithites becoming members of the chapter.
In a Pandemic we were able to:
- Hold a HC Battle vs. Charlotte and won with the highest donation amount of $2,110 in 2 hours!
- Held a virtual Holly Jolly Holiday Party with great fellowship and donations to the President Gap Fund.
- Shared holiday treats with some Seasoned Members we haven’t seen.
- Held a Coat Drive for Charles Drew ES and donated over 100 coats including cash donations to purchase coats.
- Reactivated committees and began new ones: College Outreach, Community Service, Fundraising/Scholarship, Hospitality
- Supported the annual MLK Breakfast (with an ad and attendees-Smithite/friends)
- Chapter members participated in the University Choir Vesper Service and Spring Concerts
- Government Job Tips Workshop/Alumni Spirit Week
- Outreach to DMV area students
- Celebration of Smithites with Doctoral degrees, Retirement, President Inaugural Performance by our very own Smithites.
- Monthly Virtual Chapter meetings with 25 or more in attendance
- Upcoming HBCU 5k Run/Walk with 10 participants (more would be great)
- Successful Fundraiser exceeding our $5k goal, raising over $8k to support area students-pulled off by 18 Smithites and amazing contributors.

An incredible year with so much more to come in 2021-2022!
Let’s continue to lift each other up in prayer and encourage each other to do more for our Alma Mater. HBCUs, our HBCU, need us more than ever. There are opportunities to support the University other than money; learn how to get involved and make your voice heard!

As more restrictions are being lifted, we will continue to practice safety protocols and continue to have conversations about our first in-person gathering. So let us support our fellow alumni all over the country, locally, and do what we can to support area students and the University.

I look forward to continuing to improve, innovate, create, encourage more to participate, and Hold High the Gold and Blue! Congratulations Smithites on an awesome year! Don’t Stop!

See you at the next meeting, Saturday, June 12th, 12noon

Hold High the Gold and Blue!

Nina Newton, ‘92
Chapter President
jcsudcalumnipresident@gmail.com
Phone contact: (202) 240-270-2193