GAMMA GAZETTE a quarterly publication by Gamma Chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Incorporated

Volume 3, Issue 1 Fall 2009

A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT

Greetings Sorors and Friends Awareness Month.
of Gamma Chapter! As an organization of
It is truly an honor to be women, bringing awareness to
serving as Gamma Chapter’s the ways we can eradicate this
President for the 2009-2010 disease should be our focus
sorority year. I am walking in year round. In particular this
the footsteps of some great month, please remember to
women and I will work to do not only conduct your own
them proud! My heartfelt breast self-exam but also en-
thanks go to Gamma Chapter courage the other women in
for this opportunity to serve your lives to conduct theirs.
you. Early detection saves lives.
This year, as Gamma Chap- For more information please
ter moves towards our 79th membership will continue to visit http://www.nbcam.org.
year of service to Iota and the be our focus. Not only do we We look forward to honor-
greater Washington , DC area continue to seek dynamic and ing the great legacy of both
we will work to increase our accomplished women to add Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.
impact on the community by to our roster, we will also fo- and Gamma Chapter with
executing the programs of cus on the active development continued actions that meet
Iota, developing our member- of our current members the challenges of today.
ship and welcoming the mem- through workshops and train-
bers of the Eastern Region to ing sessions. Finally, Gamma
our backyard. The national chapter will serve as co-host Yours in Sisterly Service,
programs and projects of this to the 2010 Eastern Regional
organization are well tested Conference. Sorors, auxiliary
and have changed lives across members and guests from the Adrienne
the country. We look for- entire region will converge for
ward to the creative and im- a weekend full of learning,
pactful implementation of leading and laughter. Inside this issue:
these programs this sorority Gamma…we will be busy! National Convention highlights 2
year. As the lifeblood of the We must also not forget that
organization, Gamma’s October is Breast Cancer Planning Meeting highlights 2
Iota Member Celebrations 2
2009-10 CHAPTER LEADERSHIP Membership Reclamation 3
Welcome to all new chapter officers (see photos, p. 3): Membership Recruitment 3
President - Adrienne R. Birdine It’s Our Health 4-5
Vice President - D. Lynn Gilbert
Recording Secretary - Nancy Scott New National & Regional Officers 5
Corresponding/Financial Secretary - H. Gloria Moser Upcoming Events back
Treasurer - Vonetta B. Martin
Journalist - Sonia D.R. Harris
Dean of Intake - Kimberly Morgan-Craft
IOTA PHI LAMBDA TAKES HOUSTON BY STORM
Iota’s 2009 National Convention was held July 14-19 in Houston, Texas at the Houston Marriott West Loop Hotel.
Gamma Chapter was represented by the following delegates: Sorors Jean East, Adrienne Birdine, and Sonia Harris.
All three representatives found it quite busy in Houston and they each had their own responsibilities. Soror East,
former National Treasurer, served as primary voting delegate; Soror Birdine was appointed by National President
Doris Browning Austin to serve as Parliamentarian; and Soror Harris served as National Executive Director.

GAMMA HOSTS THE 2009 EASTERN REGION PLANNING MEETING

As the upcoming hostess for the 2010 Eastern Regional Conference, Gamma Chapter welcomed all sorors to the
Hilton Crystal City Hotel on Saturday, August 15, 2009. Sorors Lynn Gilbert, Nancy Scott, Gloria Moser, Adrienne
Birdine, Sonia Harris, and Vonetta Martin participated in workshops and received updates from regional officers.

BIRTHDAYS • ANNIVERSARIES • MILESTONES (FALL SEASON)

BIRTHDAYS:
Ayauna Modlin, 8/19
Adrienne Birdine, 9/21 WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES:
Helen Newberry-McDowell, 9/28 Sonia Harris, 11/20
Nancy Scott, 10/16
Sonia Harris, 10/22

PUBLICATION DEADLINES
October 1 for Fall edition [activities held during July through September]
January 1 for Winter edition [activities held during October through December]
April 1 for Spring edition [activities held during January through March]
July 1 for Summer edition [activities held during April through June]

Would you like to be featured? Do you have some advice or a yummy recipe to share? Send your typed
submission to chapter journalist, Soror Sonia Harris, via email at journalist@iota-gammadc.org.

Copyright © 2009 Gamma Chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. • All Rights Reserved

Volume 3, Issue 1 Gamma Gazette, Page 2 Fall 2009

SISTERHOOD MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS

As the 2009-10 sorority year gets underway, Gamma Chapter has been looking forward to growing its membership.
Gamma began its planning with a meeting on August 5, 2009 to facilitate the leadership transition (followed by a
social at The Greene Turtle restaurant). On the reclamation side, Gamma welcomed back three more members
after a few years' hiatus: Sorors Kimberly Morgan-Craft, Leshaun Law-Moy, and Kimya Moore. Soror Kimberly Morgan-
Craft, new Dean of Intake, led the Formal Rush on August 18, 2009. Special thanks to Sorors Tangela Sanders and
Tiffany Payton, both of Kappa Chapter (Baltimore, MD), for supporting this event and providing attendees with a
unique new member perspective on Iota. Applications have been received and the journey to Iotaland has begun.
Stayed tuned to see who the newest additions will be...

ABOVE LEFT: Standing– Sorors Melba Eldridge-Lewis (Gamma’s immediate past President), Lynn Gilbert, Adrienne Birdine, and Vonetta Martin; Sitting– Sorors Sonia
D.R. Harris and Kimberly Morgan-Craft. ABOVE RIGHT: Soror Kimberly Morgan-Craft presents information to Gamma sorors and guests. BELOW LEFT: Standing–
Sorors Nancy Scott (Recording Secretary), Gloria Moser (Financial & Corresponding Secretary), Vonetta Martin (Treasurer), Lynn Gilbert (Vice President), and Kimya Moore;
Sitting– Sorors Kimberly Morgan-Craft (Dean of Intake), Adrienne Birdine (President), Leshaun Law-Moy, and Sonia D.R. Harris (Journalist). BELOW RIGHT: Soror
Adrienne Birdine does her happy dance version of the ‘cabbage patch’ when she finds out about Gamma friends and sorors giving her a surprise birthday cake and card!

Volume 3, Issue 1 Gamma Gazette, Page 3 Fall 2009

IT’S OUR HEALTH: A SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN’S HEALTH
This season’s spotlight is about breast cancer. Yes, it’s a topic that some say receives too much
publicity, but we can never be too educated about this deadly disease.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
What is cancer?
Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells become ab-
normal and divide without control or order. Each organ
in the body is made up of various kinds of cells. Cells
normally divide in an orderly way to produce more cells
only when they are needed. This process helps keep the
body healthy. If cells divide when new cells are not
needed, they form too much tissue. This extra tissue,
called a tumor, can be benign or malignant.
• Benign tumors are not cancer. Eighty percent
of all breast tumors are benign. They can usually be re-
moved, and, in most cases, they don't come back. Most
important, the cells in benign tumors do not invade
other tissues and do not spread to other parts of the
body. Benign breast tumors are not life-threatening.
• Malignant tumors are cancer. The cancer cells
grow and divide out of control, invading and damaging
nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break
away from the original tumor and enter the blood-
stream or lymphatic system. This is how breast cancer
spreads and forms secondary tumors in other parts of
the body. This spread of cancer is called metastasis.
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is cancer that forms in tissues of the
breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the
nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in
both men and women, although male breast cancer is
rare.
How common is breast cancer in the United
States?
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women,
aside from skin cancer.
How can I tell if I have breast cancer?
Most of the time, early breast cancer does not have any
symptoms. As it grows, however, breast cancer can
cause changes in how the breast looks or feels. Symp-
toms include:
♦ A new lump in the breast
♦ A lump that has changed
♦ A change in the size or shape of the breast
♦ Pain in the breast or nipple that does not go away
♦ Skin anywhere on the breast that is flaky, red, or swollen
Volume 3, Issue 1 Gamma Gazette, Page 4
♦ A nipple that is very tender or that suddenly turns inward
♦ Fluid coming from the nipple when not nursing a baby
What is advanced breast cancer?
Breast cancer is considered advanced when it has
spread from its original site to distant areas of the body.
Physicians will look at a number of factors to determine
the stage of breast cancer, including tumor size, lymph
node involvement, and whether the cancer has spread
to other areas of the body. Once the stage of the dis-
ease is determined, there are two different ways ad-
vanced
breast cancer can be classified: locally advanced or me-
tastatic.
What is metastatic breast cancer?
The term metastatic breast cancer indicates that the
cancer has spread from the breast to other parts of the
body such as bone, lung, liver, or brain.
See your health professional if you notice any of these
symptoms. Most often, breast symptoms are caused by
conditions other than cancer, but only your doctor can
tell.
If you have a question about any breast lump, if you no-
tice a new lump, or if a lump has changed, talk with your
health professional.
Will health insurance pay for screening mammo-
grams?
Regular screening mammograms are covered by the U.S.
government's Medicare and Medicaid programs and
other private health insurance plans (women should
check their own insurance plans for individual details).
Free or low-cost mammograms are available for women
without health insurance in many locations. For a pro-
gram near you, contact the CDC at (888) 842-6355.
To take a free online quiz, visit
http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/breast-cancer-quiz.html
Fall 2009
IT’S OUR HEALTH: A SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN’S HEALTH (continued)
What increases my chance of getting breast
cancer?
• Age: The older you are, the more likely you are to
develop breast cancer. The chances of dying from
breast cancer also increase as a woman gets older,
but dying from breast cancer is much less common
than getting breast cancer.
• Family History: Having close relatives with breast
cancer or ovarian cancer increases your chance of
getting breast cancer.
• Race: All women can get breast cancer, but white
women get it more often than Hispanic, African
American, Asian, or Native American women. Al-
though medical experts do not know why, African
American women are more likely to die from breast
cancer than women of other racial and ethnic
groups.
NEWLY ELECTED NATIONAL AND REGIONAL OFFICERS
2009-11 National Board
National President
Dr. Doris Browning Austin
Kappa Chapter (Baltimore, MD)
National President-Elect
Phyllis M. Shumate
Rho Chapter (Durham, NC)
National Recording Secretary
Talmadge M. Jacques
Psi Chapter (Dallas, TX)
National Treasurer
Denise Ratliff Brandon
Rho Chapter (Durham, NC)
Regional Directors pictured below, left to right:
Central, Dorothy White (Alpha—Chicago, IL); Eastern, Catherine Canady-
Winston (Gamma Zeta– Hampton, VA); Far Western, Johnnie S. Loyd
(Gamma Mu); Southern, Barbara Carter (Beta Zeta—Columbus, GA); and
Southwestern, Charlotte Berry (Psi—Dallas, TX)
Volume 3, Issue 1 Gamma Gazette, Page 5
• Having Children: Not having children, or having
your first child later in life (in your 30s or 40s), in-
creases your chance of getting breast cancer.
• Certain Medications: Taking hormone replace-
ment therapy (HRT) drugs after menopause may
increase your chance of getting breast cancer. Talk
to your doctor about the risks and benefits for you.
• Personal History: Having had cancer in one breast
increases the chance of getting cancer in the other
breast.
RESOURCE CREDITS:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation
2009-10 Eastern Region Officers
Pictured above: Sorors Cynthia Cheatham, Karen Braswell, Elsie
Reavis, Beaulah Moore, Mary Harley, and Catherine Canady-Winston
Director • Catherine Canady-Winston
Gamma Zeta (Hampton, VA)
Assistant Director • Mary Harley
Epsilon Zeta (St. Thomas, VI)
Recording Secretary • Beaulah Moore
Alpha Chi (Norfolk, VA)
Financial Secretary • Elsie Reavis
Gamma Zeta (Hampton, VA)
Journalist • Cynthia Cheatham
Gamma Zeta (Hampton, VA)
Treasurer • Karen Braswell
Beta Phi (Buffalo, NY)
Fall 2009
Gamma Chapter
Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. Postage
P.O. Box 56293 Here
Washington, DC 20040
gamma@iota-gammadc.org

TRAVEL WITH GAMMA™

Need travel? Want to take a cruise?
Need hotel accommodations?
Travel with Gamma to make
your arrangements! Visit
http://www.travelwithgamma.com!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR; JOIN US FOR THESE EVENTS:

December 19, 2009: Gamma Chapter Holiday Party, Washington, DC
February 2010: Black History Month Activities, tba
April 2010: Business Month Activities, tba
April 2010: Eastern Regional Conference; Hilton Crystal City Hotel, Arlington, VA

Chapter Meeting dates: 2nd Saturdays, 11am-1pm. Contact Soror Adrienne Birdine at
president@iota-gammadc.org for attendance details. General membership questions: Contact
Soror Kimberly Morgan-Craft at membership@iota-gammadc.org for information.