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Upsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter History1994 - 2007
“Ladies of Vision,” the interest group for the Baltimore County Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha was formed on July 10, 1991 by Dolores Morton Spriggs, Gretchen Styles, and Juanita A. Tillery. Over the next three years, other ladies joined with these ladies and on June 26, 1994, the Upsilon Epsilon Omega (UEO) Chapter was chartered in a ceremony conducted by Erma Barron, former North Atlantic Regional Director. Chartering members included Joy Alford Graham, Princess F. Battle, Patricia T. Brent, Vanessa D’Arville, Brenda Davis, Linda Davis, Donna Dawson, Monica L. Gaines, Carol Hayward-Faulk, DeBorah Holt, L. Michelle Jackson, Tammy L. Jones, Leslie S. Lyles, Lisa L. Mack, P. Dolores Mbah, Thetius Saunders, Greer Shorter, Dolores Morton Spriggs, Gretchen Styles, Juanita A. Tillery, and Ursula Walston.
With an emphasis on the Catonsville community, Upsilon Epsilon Omega has been devoted to serving Baltimore County. We are committed to effective chapter operations through chapter management, implementation of national and local Sorority programs, and chapter growth. To learn more about UEO, visit our website at http://www.akabaltimorecounty.org. Read further for chapter highlights under the leadership of each of our presidents.
1994 ◊ Dolores Morton Spriggs, Ed.D. Under the leadership of UEO’s first president, the chapter’s Program initiatives had an emphasis on women and children. Highlights of some of the activities are as listed.
| ◊ The Sexual Assault Recovery Center is an organization for which we held food and clothing drives to benefit the women and children the center serves. |
| ◊ The House of Ruth is an organization to which we donated clothing to children of battered women who were in need of a safe place to reside. |
| ◊ St. Vincent's Center, a temporary residence for battered and abused children, was a location where we read stories and played games with the children. |
1995 - 1997 ◊ Thetius Saunders
Thetius Saunders, UEO’s second president, developed the first chapter newsletter, The Vision. Our first chapter retreat, first Annual Crab Feast, and first Membership Intake were held and our first partnership was formed with Southwest Academy. During President Saunders’ term, UEO held voter registration drives, bone marrow drives, and participated in the Sorority’s National request to send shoeboxes filled with school supplies to the Ivy AKAdemy established in Africa. Joining the Baltimore Metropolitan Pan Hellenic Council, UEO participated with area Greeks in events such as scholarship fundraisers and walkathons. UEO also served as the graduate chapter to Lambda Epsilon Chapter located at Frostburg State University. Highlights of other Program initiatives developed under President Saunders’ leadership are below.
| ◊ Black Dollar Month recognized in March of each year, is a time when sorors are encouraged to support black-owned businesses. UEO has held activities such as art showings by African American artists, showcases of Soror entrepreneurs, and economic empowerment workshops in support of Black Dollar Month. |
| ◊ National Family Volunteer Day, held on the 3rd Saturday of November has been acknowledged through activities such as food drives, work with the Maryland Food Bank, and collection of school supplies for children in need. |
◊ The Annual 6th Grade Science Bee is held at Southwest Academy in Catonsville. Each year, the 6th grade science classes have mini-Science Bees to select approximately 25 students who advance to the main Science Bee.
UEO awards savings bonds and trophies to the winners and certificates to all participants. |
1998 - 2003 ◊ Linda Davis
Under Soror Davis’ leadership, Upsilon Epsilon Omega established the Upsilon Epsilon Omega Book Scholarship. We participated in national Program initiatives such as Buckle Up for Safety, Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention (Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure & Making Strides Against Breast Cancer), and O.N. T.R.A.C.K. We also participated in Cluster 1’s AKA Coat Day and formed a partnership with Grace A.M.E. Church in Catonsville. Highlights of UEO’s Program initiatives during Soror Davis’ leadership are below.
| ◊ The Health Education Resources Organization (HERO) Annual AIDSWALK is an event the chapter has participated in for more than 8 years. Each year, the chapter donates over $500 in pledges. In 2006, the chapter raised more than $2,900.00. |
| ◊ The Ivy Reading AKAdemy was launched in September 2003. As our signature activity through 2006, every 1st & 3rd Saturday, we tutored a group of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders in reading. The AKAdemy was located at Grace A.M.E. Church. |
| ◊ MLK Day of Service is recognized annually in an effort to make Dr. King’s birthday “a day on and not a day off”. UEO has acknowledged this day through activities such as a Dr. King Recognition Weekend and a Dr. King Creative Writing Contest. |
| ◊ Catonsville Commons of Genesis ElderCare is the site of our programming addressing needs of the elderly. At least three times a year, UEO takes the residents on virtual trips to travel destinations such as Hawaii, Jamaica, and California. We also hold additional activities such as game day and an Annual Holiday Celebration. |
| ◊ The Black Barbie Doll Project is an activity in which the chapter donates a minimum of 40 black Barbie dolls to Grace A.M.E. each year at Christmas. The dolls are placed in Christmas baskets of families in need with young girls. In the last two years, our donations have increased to a minimum of 60 dolls per year. |
2004 - 2005 ◊ Pamela Fletcher Woods
Pamela Woods, created the chapter’s motto Upsilon Epsilon Omega – Uplifting and Empowering Ourselves, Uplifting and Empowering Others. Under her direction, UEO: launched the chapter website; received Honorable Mention from the North Atlantic Region for our Ivy Reading AKAdemy; held the chapter’s 10th anniversary celebration; hosted the 2005 Cluster 1 Leadership Conference; achieved “Ivy Level” recognition for retention/reactivation of sorors; received an EAF platinum membership; established the MLK/Helen Hill Library at Grace A.M.E. Church; received computer donations from the Lazarus Foundation for the Ivy Reading AKAdemy and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for the Hillendale PAL Center; joined Cluster 1’s team in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure; and began development of the Chapter Manual of Standard Procedures and Chapter Operations. Highlights of community service initiatives implemented under President Woods’ leadership are below.
| ◊ Woodlawn Recreation and Parks provides another partnership for the chapter. UEO has a seat on the board and holds our monthly Executive Committee and Business Meetings at their facility. We earned publicity in the Woodlawn Villager and Baltimore County Times for our participation in Pitch In For Progress (a grounds beautification project) and the Woodlawn Holiday Celebration (an Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony co-sponsored with local businesses). |
| ◊ The Holiday Basket Give-Away is an activity in which the chapter contributes canned goods collected during our Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive to Grace A.M.E. Church for placement in baskets that are distributed to families in need. UEO also adopts one family to which we give a Thanksgiving and Christmas basket each year. |
| ◊ The Hillendale PAL Center, located in the Hillendale/Towson area of Baltimore County is the site of chapter projects such as homework study hour, chaperoned teenage girls’ sleepovers, and hosted holiday parties for the girls and boys. |
2006 - present ◊ Tamara L. Lewis, Ed.D.
In January 2006, Tamara L. Lewis, built upon the chapter’s motto, Uplifting and Empowering Ourselves, Uplifting and Empowering Others by adding a focus on Utilization of Effective Operations. UEO continues to partner with Southwest Academy, Grace A.M.E. Church, Woodlawn Recreation and Parks, the Police Athletic League, and the Baltimore Metropolitan Pan Hellenic Council. We joined the Cluster 1 team in the 2006 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in which UEO raised more than $1,300 in donations. Our team of walkers also participated in the American Diabetes Association’s 2006 walkathon raising more than $1400 in donations. The chapter continues our traditional community service initiatives such as MLK Day of Service, AKA Coat Day, the Annual 6th Grade Science Bee, and the Black Barbie Doll Project. New initiatives implemented under Basileus Lewis’ leadership are as listed.
| ◊ Project H.O.P.E. (Help Other People Excel) held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, was an opportunity for UEO to partner with Rho Xi Omega in distributing food and clothing items to the homeless. |
| ◊ The Children’s Home, located in Catonsville is where the chapter held an activity with a group of 6-11 year old girls who reside at the facility. Members met with the girls several weeks before Christmas and distributed Barbie dolls and engaged in an educational but fun activity on Legends in African American History. |
| ◊ The AKAnomics AKAdemy commenced in January 2007. As our signature activity, the AKAdemy addresses the area of economic empowerment and consists of a series of financial seminars promoting economic awareness, economic sufficiency, and an economic engagement for betterment. |
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