Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Southwest Region
Membership Services
STRATEGIC PLAN,
BEST PRACTICES &
IDEAS
RECLAMATI ON OATH
Hand to Heart, Heart to Mind
our sorors are who we strive to find,
with sisterly love and without the strain,
our goal is to bring back, reclaim and retain.
Remembering our Founders on this we agree,
to bring our sisters HOME to DST!
RECLAIM—SUSTAIN—REWARD
2
2018-19
SOUTHWEST REGION
STRATEGIC PLAN AND
OBJECTIVES
RECLAIM: To reclaim inactive sorors
SUSTAIN: To encourage sorors to
stay financially active and
engaged in sorority initiatives,
activities, and events
REWARD: To recognize chapters for
their efforts to RECLAIM and
SUSTAIN
3
2018-19
SOUTHWEST REGION
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES GOALS
GOAL 1: Increase Southwest
Region membership to 10,000 by
June 30, 2019 through reclamation
activities
GOAL 2: Transition collegiate sorors
to alumnae chapters upon
graduation
GOAL 3: Recruit 100 sorors across
the region to serve as Membership
Angels
GOAL 4: Recognize and award
chapters for outstanding
membership activities
4
GOAL 1:
Increase Southwest Region membership to 10,000 by June 30,
2019 through reclamation activities
Southwest Region Strategies:
Each chapter set their reclamation goal by multiplying 10% by the number of members your
chapter had on July 1, 2018
For example, if your membership was 300, your goal is 30
Each chapter offer a financial incentive to inactive sorors and/or chapter members
Each chapter conduct an event/activity on National Reclamation Day on January 13, 2019
Each chapter host a Regional Reclamation Signing Day(s) during Sisterhood Month in March
Each chapter trend on their social media sites using #Reclaim4Real and #JoyInOurSisterhood on
any posts pertaining to sisterhood, reclamation, and collegiate transition activities/events
BEST PRACTICES
AND IDEAS
Plan a 5th Sunday Sisterhood Unity Worship Service or a Sisterhood Month Unity Service: This is an
opportunity to visit the home churches of chapter members to meet new sorors, those who are
no longer financial, and/or those who are no longer active in the chapter activities. Thus,
allowing chapter members to engage these sorors, reconnect and open up opportunities to
personally invite them back to the Sisterhood. Each service is hosted by sorors who are members
of the respective church and fellowship can be conducted after the service at a local
restaurant or a meal provided at the church.
Encourage sorors to reach out to their line sisters and other inactive sorors in the area and invite
them to sorority meeting and chapter activities. The Soror who reclaims the most sorors during
the sorority year has the local portion of her dues waived for the upcoming sorority year or
offered a discount.
Extend greetings to visiting and returning sorors at each chapter meeting
Send cards/notes to inactive sorors to let them know you’re thinking about them
FROM THE NATIONAL RECLAMATION TOOLKIT:
Rush for Reclamation (Roundup): Host an event similar to a rush to pull in inactive sorors
Develop a “Welcome Kit” with pertinent information to give to visiting sorors at chapter
meetings. Suggested information to include are dues and fees schedule, chapter
calendar with dates, times and locations, chapter officer contact information, committee
lists with committee chairs, website addresses, chapter history, “welcome back” poems,
notes, and other applicable information.
5
GOAL 2:
Transition collegiate sorors to alumnae chapters upon graduation
Southwest Region Strategies:
Each chapter obtain contact information on every collegiate soror graduating in De-
cember 2018 and Spring 2019 from a nearby college/university
Partner with other Alumnae Chapters in the area and co-host a Regional Collegiate
Signing Day
BEST PRA CTICES
AND IDEAS
Create a Regional Collegiate Signing Day fun and exciting experience similar to the
Sports signing days to make the collegiate sorors feel special
Provide an opportunity for collegiate sorors to learn and obtain information about your
chapter
FROM THE NATIONAL RECLAMATION TOOLKIT:
Consider waiving a portion or all first-year local dues, if your chapter does not
have a policy established
Develop a “Welcome Kit” with pertinent information to give to visiting sorors at
chapter meetings. Suggested information to include are dues and fees schedule,
chapter calendar with dates, times and locations, chapter officer contact
information, committee lists with committee chairs, website addresses, chapter
history, “welcome back” poems, notes, and other applicable information
6
GOAL 3:
Recruit 100 sorors across the region to serve as
Membership Angels
What Membership Services need:
Volunteers from chapters to serve as Membership Angels
Chapter presidents to email volunteer names to [email protected]
Membership Angels to provide support at Statewide meetings, Regional Conference,
and National Convention as requested from State, Regional, and National Leadership
GOAL 4:
Recognize and award chapters for outstanding membership
activities
Who Can Submit:
Award Category and
Brief Description
Sisterhood
Award recognizes chapters who have Alumnae and Collegiate Chapters
demonstrated creativity, uniqueness in stimulating
activities and events to promote a culture of
fellowship through sisterhood.
Reclamation
Award recognizes chapters who have reclaimed Alumnae Chapters
the most inactive sorors during the 2018-19 sorority
year.
Collegiate Transition
Award recognizes the alumnae chapter with the Alumnae and Collegiate Chapters
most transitioned sorors from a collegiate chapter
and the collegiate chapter with the most sorors to
transition to an alumnae chapter.
7
MORE BEST PRACTICES
AND SISTERHOOD MONTH IDEAS
Acknowledge visiting sorors, birthdays, and other achievements at every chapter meeting
Conduct a new member orientation
Have a lunch and movie day (free) with the Delta Dears
Visit a Delta Dear and provide service if asked or if needed at home or hospital
Recognize sorors that receive awards
Sing happy birthday to celebrate monthly birthdays
Recognize sorors who attained Delta Dear at January meetings each year
Have sorors adopt a Delta Dear
Host a card party during Sisterhood Month for Delta Dears
Conduct line dancing classes specifically for Delta Dears and showcase them at a social event
Park N Ride Service - To ease the burden of finding a parking space while attending chapter
meetings, arrange a park and ride service for Delta Dears and sorors who need assistance.
Host bi-monthly information sessions for sorors that are new to the chapter, who recently joined
the chapter, thinking about joining the chapter, or returning to the chapter. An agenda may
encompass elected officers, committee chairs, a review of official Delta songs and a protocol
moment.
Conduct a Meet and Greet before or after chapter meeting to allow sorors the opportunity to
socialize
Doll, Diva, and Dear Recognition
Recognize a Doll, Diva and Dear each month with a certificate and a small token of Delta
Love. To be recognized a soror must:
Be a financial member of the chapter
Be an active member of the chapter
Represent 3 Jewels of the Sorority
Conclude the Sorority Year with the selection of a Dynamic Delta. To be recognized as a
Dynamic Delta a Soror must:
Be a financial member of the chapter
Be an active member of the chapter
Be active in her community
Represent 3 Jewels of the Sorority
Create a calendar of fun, innovative activities to celebrate Sisterhood Month; have each day
include opportunities to fellowship, perform community service, or perform an act of random
kindness
A bundle of small stuffed animals, coloring books, crayons and puzzles were donated to a
children’s hospital
8
MORE BEST PRACTICES
AND SISTERHOOD MONTH IDEAS
Collegiate Chapters
During the “Announcements” section of each chapter meeting, allow sorors time to
mention any accomplishments she has made since the last meeting. For example: sorors
accepted into graduate schools, becoming president of other organizations, winning
awards, etc. Also, read thank you cards that are sent to your chapter from organizations
you’ve worked with.
Graduation Celebration – Have chapter members get together to cook a large dinner,
share stories, and have a good time in celebration of graduating seniors. Have seniors
give advice to those remaining in the chapter.
At 7:13pm on a particular day, sorors hosted dining opportunities in 10 different locations
throughout their city and one location during a State meeting. Over 100 Sorors of all ages
participated. Each location had its own flavor, including gift bags, caricature artist, balloons, a
lesson on acupuncture, and more
Local Greek women organizations were invited to wear the colors of her Sorority to a gathering
at the four corners of the city; the event concluded with a release of balloons and each
Sorority placing items on a community table to be donated to the charitable organization of
the hosts chapter’s choice.
New or gently used books were donated to 10 different organizations that service children ages
pre-k to 12 grade and adults. The area collegiate Sorors contributed by sponsoring a campus
children’s book drive on their campuses.
Painting parties
Contact chapter members who have missed several chapter meetings to let them know you’re
thinking about them
Have a chapter member who knows the inactive soror such as a line sister, call her to invite her
to a chapter meeting, reclamation event, etc.
9
Michelle Brown
Regional Director
Tierra Shepherd
Regional Representative
REGIONAL MEMBERSHIP SERVICES COMMITTEE
Tonya Derrick
Regional Membership S ervices Co-Coordinator
Dallas Alumnae
Karen Vander
Regional Membership Services Co-Coordinator
Slidell Alumnae
Rosemary White
Arkansas Membership Services Coordinator
Pine Bluff Alumnae
Jasmyne Cooks
Louisiana Membership Services Co-Coordinator
Beta Gamma
Gisele McKinney-Hawkins
Louisiana Membership Services Co-Coordinator
Lake Charles Alumnae
Sharon Penson
Louisiana Membership Services Coordinator
Shreveport Alumnae
Patricia Jenkins
Texas/New Mexico Membership Services Coordinator
Collin County Alumnae
Cassie Levy
Texas/New Mexico Membership Services Co-Coordinator
Suburban Houston-Fort Bend Alumnae
CONTACT US: [email protected]
10