Page 2 - JanuaryNewsletter

Eight Decades of Sisterhood and Success

By Thelma C. Ivery, Ph.D. Chapter Historian
Decade Five: 1977 – 1986

Soror Tyna Davis was President of Montgom- Feb. 1984, fifty-five MAC sorors traveled to Auburn
ery Alumnae Chapter (MAC) from 1977 to 1980. Un- to attend the Cluster Founders’ Day hosted by Auburn
der her administration we published the first issue of Alumnae at which Soror Shirley Chisholm was fea-
“The Torch,” our chapter newsletter. On Friday, May tured speaker. To our delight, Soror Hortense Canady,
19, 1978, in the Governor’s House Motel, we present- our National President surprised all of those present
ed our first Crème de la Crème, a new cultural and by attending the luncheon which followed. She said:
social extravaganza. The program included music by “I don’t believe in accidents. God intended for me to
the Zelpha Wells Trio, a Fashion Show by Parisian be here.”
Department Store, a skit by the seven young women Soror Myrtis Clayton Ramsey was President
who were contestants for the title, “Miss Crème de la from 1984 to 1987 as we carried out the sorority’s bi-
Crème,” a vocal rendition by a high school student, ennial theme, “Toward the Year 2000 – Challenge,
and a talent production featuring the contestants. Then Change, Choice.” The chapter conducted voter regis-
we presented “ Ten Best Dressed Women of Mont- tration campaigns and sponsored an adopted a family
gomery” followed by the crowning of the first Miss with presentations of food and clothing. Our March
Crème de la Crème, Miss Valda Minter, who was then 1986 Founders’ Day Speaker was the sorority’s 18th
a senior at Lee High School. National President, Soror Hortense Canady, who

The January 1980 Torch reported that the served in that position from 1983 – 1988. We con-
Special Services Committee had presented more than ducted tutorial programs at Brantwood Children’s
$600.00 in clothes, toys and food for the needy. Home and at Smiley Court Community Center, and
Chapter members traveled to Mobile for the 1980 presented test taking skills seminars for high school
Cluster Founders’ Day celebration at which Soror students, parents and educators. Our sorors assisted
Tyna Davis was the speaker. On February 29, 1980 we with staffing the phone banks for a United Negro Col-
presented our annual Sweethearts’ Ball at the Mont- lege Fund telethon.
gomery Civic Center with the theme, “Love - - A Re- Our sorors were pleased when a resolution en-
flection of our Hearts.”
couraging adoption of the third Monday in January
From 1980 to 1982, Soror Ann McMillan was each year as a national holiday in celebration of Dr.
President. Projects included the Educational Assay, a Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday was adopted at Del-
th
th
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tutorial program in basic skills for 2 , 5 and 6 grad- th
ers in Smiley Court, a career development and job op- ta’s 38 National convention in Dallas, Texas. We
portunities program, and establishing and furnishing were saddened by the loss of Delta Founders who en-
the Annetta B. Baugh Alcove at the Cleveland Avenue tered Omega Omega Chapter in years from 1977 to
YMCA. In addition, we sponsored a Little League 1986. They were Soror Ethel Cuff Black (September
baseball team, and made a $1000.00 cash contribution 1977), Soror Eliza Pearl Shippen (1981), and Soror
to Goode Street School for Exceptional Children for Winona Cargile Alexander (1984).
toys and clothing.
Soror Josephine Bolling McCall was President
from 1982 to 1984. Community projects included fi-
nancial assistance to Fairview Medical Center, tutori-
als at Brantwood Children’s Home, conducting test-
taking skills workshops, and sponsoring the Delta
Hornets Little League baseball team. MAC served as a
pilot chapter for” Summit II: A Call to Action in Sup-
port of Black Single Mothers.” In December 1983, we
presented “Visions of Humanity through the Arts” in
Tullibody Concert Hall at ASU. The program includ-
ed music, visual arts, dance and a readers’ theatre. In

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