What's Happening in the Arlington Links the Week of January 27, 2020

What's Happening This Week in The Arlington Links?

Check out what we will be up to this week of January 27, 2020

This Week's Communication

Contains The Following:

Mark Your Calendars
Chapter Updates
National Headquarters Update
Prayers, Blessings and Celebrations
January Birthdays

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

12 th ANNUAL LINKS DMV RED DRESS EVENT

Hilton Alexandria Mark Center

5000 Seminary Road

Alexandria, VA

February 7, 2020

Vendor Expo and Reception 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Speakers and Panel Discussion 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

**Please remember to wear your Red Dress pin from previous years!**

ANNUAL LINKS DMV RED DRESS SUNDAY

Ebenezer AME Church

7707 Allentown Road

Fort Washington, Maryland

February 9, 2020

Links arrive in Red for reserved seating 10:15 a.m.

Worship Service 10:45 a.m.

Reception held immediately following the service.

Arlington (VA) February Chapter Meeting

Hilton Alexandria Mark Center

5000 Seminary Road

Alexandria, VA

February 8, 2020

11:00 a.m.

CHAPTER UPDATES

Learn More and Register Here

Rock Your RED and Rock The VOTE

NTS Volunteers Needed

As we move further into 2020, and Primary Elections and Census are quickly approaching, NTS stands ready to provide critical information and resources for the Northern Virginia Community.

Please join us in covering the NTS resource table at the Red Dress Event on Friday, February 7th. We would appreciate volunteering for a 30 or 60 minute time slot on that evening starting at 6pm. Please send an e-mail to Link Debra Long Doyle at the link below .

Thank you in advance for your support!

Link Debra and Link Tameka

National Trends and Services Facet

Red Dress NTS Volunteer Registration

Drop-off Gift Cards for MC 2020

at February Chapter Meeting

At the Monte Carlo in past years, Bingo players have had great fun playing bingo and winning gift cards. In order to continue this tradition, we are in need of any and all gift cards in any denomination. Lower denomination cards are used for easy games of bingo, and larger denomination cards are used for more difficult games.

If each Link sister were to bring one gift card to the February meeting, we would have ample cards. Please don’t delay responding to this request until March, as things will be very busy then with last minute preparations. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Turn in Your

75 MILLION STEPS CHALLENGE Tracking Sheet

In last week's WRW, we asked chapter members to take at least 5,000 steps a day and for those members that can walk, we encouraged you to move — even if it is just a few simple stretches while at home.

As the end of the month is coming to an end, download the easy to use worksheet to record your steps. You may send your totals to to our HHS Co-Chair, Link Yolanda Holmes at yolholmd@verizon.net or bring them to the February Chapter Meeting.

KEEP MOVING!!!!

Link Yolanda and Link Lisa G.

Health and Human Services Facet

75 Million Steps Tracking Sheet

Arlington (VA) Chapter Recognized by

Eastern Area ITS Chair

The Eastern Area International Trends and Services (ITS) Facet has joined hands with Pat Russell-McCloud, 11th National President of The Links, Incorporated and Bishop E. Earl McCloud, Jr., 14th Episcopal District of the AME Church. Members, friends, family, and colleagues are being asked to support the Education Across the Miles: Linking to West Africa Initiative to advance STEM education at Monrovia College and AME University in Liberia. The initiative will endow computer, science and biology labs at these two schools.

A request to provide monetary donations or in-kind equipment for the labs has been made to all Links Chapters in the Eastern Area. In response, The Arlington Chapter made an initial donation of $1,050 to fund equipment for the biology lab at Monrovia College. ITS will also be exploring the possibility of identifying in kind donations of equipment from organizations and corporations. For additional information, please visit the Eastern Area website www.ealinks.org (Select Programs and then International Trends and Services).

ITS is excited to share an email beloreceived from Eastern Area ITS Chair, Cynthia Jacobs Carter, thanking the Arlington Chapter for being among the first to support this signature program in West Africa.

Way to go Arlington Army!

Links Elaine Bush and Deborah Foster, Co-Chairs, ITS Facet

Date: January 8, 2020

Subject: Thanks So Much Arlington Chapter!

D ear Link Debbie,

We are so excited and appreciative regarding Arlington Chapter’s donation of equipment for our deserving schools in Liberia. You are kicking off the Linking with West Africa initiative in such an inspiring and impressive way!

Thank you, and please thank our Arlington Chapter Link Sisters for us. We will be celebrating all our donors and will provide information about that later in the program year.

Your chapter will certainly be recognized by all in the labs and on the donor wall in Liberia. We will be giving chapters a progress report after we’ve collected enough items to make our initial shipment.

Link Debbie, will you give a 2-3-minute report during the Forum tomorrow night about how your Chapter made this important donation? I think our Link sisters would love to know how easy the step-by-step process was once your Chapter decided to support this effort.

I would be happy to discuss this with you by phone today or tomorrow, if you have questions.

Again, huge congratulations and many thanks!

In friendship and service,

Link Cynthia 💚

Cynthia Jacobs Carter

Eastern Area, ITS Facet Chair

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS UPDATES

Project LEAD: High Expectations - Responding to the Current Drug Epidemic

January 30, 2020 | 9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. EST

Hosted by: Sonya Simril

Director, National Trends and Services

Christine Guillory & Flavia Walton, Co-Chairs

Project LEAD: High Expectations Signature Program

Project LEAD: High Expectations (PLHE), a signature program of The Links, Incorporated, is being revived to address the current drug epidemic that is impacting the mental, physical, family, economic, and social health of our communities. This webinar will examine ways chapters can address this crisis through developing single facet, integrated, or umbrella programs, or incorporating evidence based strategies and activities into existing programs.

PLHE focuses on opioids, marijuana, tobacco (including vaping), and alcohol among youth in grades K-12, college students, especially those on HBCU campuses, young adults, seniors, and the impacts on the health of the individual, family, community institutions, and society.

Who should attend: National Trends and Services chairs and co-chairs, program chairs, chairs, co-chairs, and any member interested in learning how to address the drug crisis in the community

Celebrate American Heart Month:

A Heart-to-Heart Link-to-Link Conversatio n

February 4, 2020 | 9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. EST

Hosted by: Nicholette Martin,

Director, Health and Human Services

Please join Arlington Chapter's Link Nickie Martin, and the HeartLinks/Walk for Healthy Living Committee to learn more about how you can prevent heart disease by following a heart healthy lifestyle. It will be a great opportunity to learn about resources and tools that we can use for our program efforts to raise awareness about heart disease and encourage heart healthy lifestyles in our chapter and in the communities we serve.

PRAYERS, BLESSINGS, AND CELEBRATIONS

Prayers for Link Lori Stith

Link Lori Stith had knee surgery last Friday and is recovering nicely, but has expressed some frustration with trying to maneuver while using her crutches! Please send Link Lori some love and words of encouragement as she continues to convalesce.

You may send cards and words of encouragement to:

Lori Stith

8912 Garden Gate Drive

Fairfax, VA 22031

loristith54@gmail.com

Prayers for the Loss of a Link Sister

Lynn Marie Ellis

I t is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the loss of Link Lynn Marie Ellis, of the Prince George's County (MD) Chapter. The family would like to share details of the funeral arrangements for Lynn’s Love and Light Celebration. The full celebration will include a visitation, organization ceremonies, the service and a repast.

Lynn’s Love and Light Celebration

When: Saturday, February 1, 2020

Where: Shiloh Baptist Church (1510 9th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)

Times :

Visitation 2pm-3pm

Organization Ceremonies 3pm-4pm

Funeral Service 4pm-5pm

Repast 5pm-7pm

**Parking will be a challenge, so you are encouraged to carpool, Uber or Lyft.

Celebration Details:

All activities will occur at Shiloh Baptist Church.

Organization Ceremonies (Spelman, AKAs, Links and Girlfriends) will occur from 3pm-4pm . AKAs and Links are asked to wear uninterrupted white.

Honoring Lynn:

The family is pleased to share the establishment of the Lynn Marie Ellis Scholarship at Spelman College, her alma mater, to honor her. For those who would like to make a gift in lieu of flowers, contributors should take the following steps:

1. Visit www.spelman.edu/giving

2. Under Designation click "other" and enter in memory of Lynn Marie Ellis '90

3. Scroll down to Tribute Gift and fill in the requested information.

If you chose to send flowers to the church, they can be received only on Saturday Feb 1. The church cannot receive floral deliveries prior to Saturday morning.

JANUARY MEMBERSHIP UPDATES

Strength for Today

and

Bright Hope for Tomorrow

We often begin to romanticize historical events, persons, situations over time. Sometimes because we are far removed from the situations we only have a visceral relationship and connection. The movie Harriet, moved me beyond the visceral and intellectual. Reason and intellect told me that her mission was extremely dangerous. Emotions erupted when I dwelled on her amazing call. But, it was the movie Harriet that somehow made her a real live breathing woman to me. She was a woman who experienced love, and fear, but displayed an enormous amount of courage and strength. I attribute this to Almighty God and the Holy Spirit. You know that kind of Holy Ghost strength that comes when all hell has broken loose. The kind that helps a mother lift her child from safety for example. Harriet’s call to save slaves at the cost of her own life may seem idealistic or romantic to us now, but reality tells us otherwise.

What have you come through that you know only God could have been your companion and guide? When you look back over your life and think things over, you must know that an all wise God, bought you through many trials and tribulations, and the crazy stuff. And the wonderful thing about our God is that God never leaves nor forsake us. God hangs in there with us no matter what we go through or what we do. Seems impossible, but true. You may not have been called to physically free slaves as Harriet Tubman, but we all have been called to tell of our glorious God, of the Gospel of salvation and set at liberty those who are shackled and enslaved by sin. We all are Harriets, each in our own way. With your tremendous hearts and hands for service, hungry children are fed and clothed, healthful information is shared, clean water is provided, creativity is encouraged and community is engaged.

“If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods keep going. If there is shouting after you, keep going. Don’t ever stop, keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.”

--Harriet Tubman

Let us pray,

Glorious God, we give you praise for all those who have gone on before, who have paved the way for us to be here and experience today. We are eternally grateful for their witness and the legacy they have left us. As we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King we are reminded that the dream lives on, and that we continue to make the dream happen. We thank you for the life of Harriet Tubman another of your warriors and servant leaders. Keep us ever mindful of the call you have on each of our lives, to serve others and to share the Gospel. Bless my Link Sisters, the Harriets who strive to make the world a better place. We will keep on going in your name! Amen.

Reverend Dr. Cheryl Coleman Hall

Chaplain