Page 14 - 4-3-15 Friday's Edition

Day At The Capitol
Organization Visits Tallahassee For ‘Links Day At The Capitol’
Several organizations from throughout the state visited Tallahassee last Thursday. The organizations took part in the Annual Black Democratic Cau- cus weekend.
Among the various groups participating in the event was The Links, Inc. The members of the organization took part in a full day of activities that began at 7:30 a.m., and culmi- nated at 8 p.m.
Some of the issues and
concerns of the organization focused on STEM education, mentoring, childhood obesity, domestic violence and racial disparities surround- ing Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.
Southern Area Director Eneid A. Francis for Florida’s largest Links net- working event as we continue to Effect Change Through the Power of Friendship and Serv- ice.
Link Arthenia Joyner, who is currently serving as the Minority Leader of the Florida Senate, extended a welcome to The Links during their Tallahassee visit on “Links Day At The Capitol.”
Link Peggy A. Quince, Florida Supreme Court Justice, at Capitol with Link Verneka L. Rhodes, Chairperson of Links Day at the Capitol.
Tampa Links Verneka L. Rhodes and Janice Carter-Collier joined the Southern Area Director of The Links, Incorporated, Eneid A. Francis (center), for Florida Links Day at the Capitol.
Ms. Gayle Andrews, of An- drews Plus Communications, talked about Effective Media Strategies with Link members.
Rep. Darryl Rouson, of St. Petersburg, addressed issues on the Links Legislative Agenda with visiting members.
FAMU Participates In Annual ‘Day At The Capitol’
CAROLYN COLLINS
On March 26, 2015, during the 2015 Florida Legislative Session, Florida A & M Uni- versity and the FAMU Na- tional Alumni Association participated in the Annual FAMU Day at The Capitol. The events began at 9 a.m., and concluded at 8 p.m.
During the visit, FAMU alumni, students, faculty, friends and supporters at- tended the planned events. The group visited the Florida Legislators from 9:30 a.m., until 3 p.m. They gathered at the House of Representatives Gallery from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., and participated in the FAMU Reception hosted by the FAMU NAA, that began at 6 p.m.
Thomas Mitchell, Sr.,
President, FAMU National Alumni Association, wel- comed the support of the FAMU constituency in an ef- fort to highlight the 1890 land-grant institution to the state leadership.
Mitchell said, “We are anticipating that alumni, stu- dents, friends and supporters from all over the state will at- tend this event and show great pride in FAMU. This is a uni- versity that serves the global community with ‘Excellence with Caring.’”
Mitchell also talked about important legislative initiatives that will have posi- tive impacts.
Dr. Carolyn Hepburn Collins, Governmental Rela- tions Chair, FAMU NAA, en-
couraged FAMU Alumni to contact legislators in person or by telephone, fax, mail, and social media to seek their sup- port of the 2015 legislative budget requests for Florida A & M University.
Dr. Collins also stressed the significance of these strategies to position the uni- versity to achieve the man- dates of the Board of Governors (BOG) for the SUS institutions, couples with the expectations of the FAMU Board of Trustees (BOT).
“This is the type of support that allows FAMU’s light to shine so bright for Florida that U. S. News & World Report has recognized FAMU as one of the best na- tional universities and the na- tion’s top ranked public HBCU. Legislative interven- tions make great universities,” Dr. Collins said.
Alumni Executive Direc- tor Carmen Cummings agrees that the 2015-2016 budget requests focus on some of the strategic areas that are designed to foster in- novation and produce gradu- ates needed for a highly skilled workforce which is critical to Florida’s and our nation’s future.
For more information, contact Dr. Carolyn Collins, Chairperson, FAMU NAA Governmental Relations Committee, at (813) 679-3268 or Director Cummings, FAMU Office of Alumni Af- fairs at (850) 599-3861.
CARMEN CUMMINGS
PAGE 2-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015