Page 39 - The Scepter - Fall 2016_Winter 2017

Dodson used the time to reintroduce herself to the area, technology updates the organization was implementing,
and Virginia State Delegate Cliff Hayes presented Area including the new TLOD website, from Lady Crystal

II with a life membership NAACP award. The Ladies Davis, national assistant director of technology.
dazzled in their white attire and showed off their vari-

ous colored gloves amid candy buffets, cake towers, Following another plenary session, the Ladies were back
cookie platters, and martini glasses of sweet cider. The in the clinics again, this time focusing on caregiving.

highlight of the evening came with the performance of The “Preparing for Caregiving” panel featured Tresser-
“The Gospel Violinist” Eric Taylor. Taylor brought the lyn Jones, the associate state director community out-

Ladies and Lords to their feet with rousing renditions of reach for AARP Virginia, Lisa Wright-Martin, director
such songs as “Total Praise,” “Amazing Grace,” and of Faith Community Health Ministry Services at Bon

“How Great Is Our God.” Secours Hospital and Lady Crystal Davis, financial advi-
sor at Davis & Ritter CPAs and H.D. Vest Financial

While the Ladies spent much of their time in plenary Services. Facilitated by Lady Dee Raynor, the national
sessions on Friday, the Teens were out touring the cam- and Area II senior citizens chair, the panelists tackled

puses of nearby Hampton University and Norfolk State the various resources, self-care and finances needed to
University. Hound Dog Bus company provided trans- aid caregivers.

portation for the Teens and their advisors. First, the
Teens visited Hampton University and heard President While the Ladies were in plenary sessions and clinics,

William R. Harvey speak about the opportunities availa- the Teens were in plenary sessions of their own, giving
ble at the college. Tour guides led the Teens to different chapter reports and recognizing Area II’s various ac-

areas of the college, sharing information about each lo- complishments. The highlight of the plenary session
cation, including the school’s Black History Museum. came with the Area II Spelling Bee. Teen Gabriella

Segears of the Dale City-Prince William Chapter took
After lunch at Shiloh Baptist Church, the Teens headed first place, while Teen Sasha Carter of Prince George’s

to Norfolk State University, which rolled out the red County Chapter and Teen Tyrese Jenifer of the South-
carpet. The tour guides escorted the Teens into the au- ern Maryland Chapter placed second and third, respec-

ditorium for a fun-filled presentation with ambassadors tively. The Ruth Payne Smith Speaker’s Tournament
and admission officers of the college. Then the Teens was held after the plenary session, with Teen Darius

toured several newly constructed buildings, including Phillips of the Alexandria City Chapter winning the
the Department of Nursing and Allied Health building tournament. Teen Kevin Moone of the Hampton Roads

and the expanded library while learning about the quali- Chapter took home 1st place in the Augusta Cash Lat-
ty education the college would provide. ham TTA Essay Contest.

After returning to the conference site, the Teens spent The Ladies and the Teens got the chance to come to-

time in their plenary sessions and preparing backpacks gether for the TTA Blue and Silver Luncheon. National
for the Blessings in a Backpack initiative. National TTA TTA First Vice President Teen Alexandria Green and

Assistant Director Lady Velda Hunter shared quality National TTA Assistant Director Lady Velda Hunter
time with the Teens, as did Lady Ozell Dean, who pre- opened the luncheon by welcoming all the guests, in-

sented them with ink pens of prayer. Candidates for Ar- cluding several TLOD and TTA partners. The Teens
ea II TTA executive offices had the opportunity to presented the backpacks for the Blessings in a Backpack

share their qualifications for office. initiative to Dr. Yvette Williams of Virginia Head Start,
who thanked Top Ladies of Distinction and Top Teens

The Teens ended their Friday with a Game Night, pro- of America for donating to such a worthy cause.
vided by Lady Katina Robinson-Wright and the Prince

George’s County Chapter. There, they had the oppor- Former Top Teen Tysheba Randall shared some of her
tunity to mingle with other Teens, play video games, life story of living with sickle cell disease as well as her

sing karaoke and eat healthy snacks and drinks. appreciation for all that the Ladies and Teens do to con-
tribute to find a cure. April Stilwell, a representative of

The Top Ladies and Top Teens spent their Saturday March of Dimes, shared a video of families with prema-
morning voting before heading into clinics and plenary ture babies as she thanked the Teens for their contribu-

sessions. The first clinic of the morning for the Top La- tions to prevent premature births. Teen Kameron Pil-
dies was TLOD-focused as they learned about all the low, Area II March of Dimes chair, shared blankets