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CharteringCharteringC I T Y W I N E R Y H U D S O N V A L L E YC I T Y W I N E R Y H U D S O N V A L L E YM A Y 1 9 , 2 0 2 4M A Y 1 9 , 2 0 2 4® N O R T H A T L A N T I C R E G I O NN O R T H A T L A N T I C R E G I O NKeepsake JournalKeepsake JournalT H A N K Y O U F O R S U P P O R T I N GT H A N K Y O U F O R S U P P O R T I N G Message

It is my esteemed pleasure to welcome you to this glorious and historic day as we gather to commemorate and celebrate the chartering of the V.I.P. Pearls of Orange County, New York Interest Group as they move towards becoming the newest chapter born within the family of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®.This chartering marks the occasion of the nation’s premiere sisterhood’s newest chapter now being added to the roster of more than 1,070 chapters and nearly 600 graduate chapters comprised of more than 360,000 members in all states and across 11 nations. These chapters execute the vision and purpose of Alpha Kappa Alpha, currently focused on Soaring to Greater Heights of Sisterhood and Service, by Empowering Our Families, Building Our Economic Wealth, Enhancing Our Environment, Advocating for Social Justice, and Uplifting Our Local Communities. The V.I.P. Pearls of Orange County, NY will forever have the distinction of being the FIRST official interest group established and then chartered as a graduate chapter under the North Atlantic Region’s F.I.R.S.T. Administration! The 27 charter members of this new chapter, ably led by Ms. Sonya D. Fiol-Grant, are committed to “V.I.P. Pearlfection” as they Soar F.I.R.S.T. in Sisterhood and Service throughout the Orange County, New York community, and beyond. May their unbreakable bonds of sisterhood, coupled with their demonstrated servant-leadership, propel them towards the perpetual rendering of supreme service to all mankind. Congratulations and best wishes V.I.P. Pearls of Orange County, New York Interest Group, on this, your very special Chartering Day! Sincerely, Elicia Pegues Spearman, Esq. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® North Atlantic Regional Director May 19, 2024 Dear Friends, Family, and Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha: Corporate Office - 5656 S. Stony Island Avenue - Chicago, IL. 60637 - (773) 684-1282 - Fax (773) 288-8251

Corporate Office - 5656 S. Stony Island Avenue - Chicago, IL. 60637 - (773) 684-1282 - Fax (773) 288-8251

As co-chairmen of the chartering committee for the new Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated chapter in OrangeCounty, we are profoundly honored and humbled to share this historic milestone with you. This journey, marked byperseverance and a steadfast commitment to the principles of Alpha Kappa Alpha, has been an extraordinary testament tothe power of collective vision and sisterhood.From the inception of this dream to its realization, we have been driven by the shared goal of extending the legacy of ourillustrious sorority into the vibrant community of Orange County, New York. Each step of this journey has been a labor oflove, requiring countless hours of dedication, collaboration, and unwavering resolve. We have witnessed firsthand thetransformative power of sisterhood as we worked side by side to lay the foundation for a chapter that will not only upholdbut also elevate the ideals of service, scholarship, and excellence that define Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.Our hearts swell with pride as we reflect on the contributions of each member of our committee and the broadersisterhood who have played an integral role in this endeavor. Your passion, creativity, and resilience have been the drivingforce behind the establishment of this chapter. It is through your efforts that we have been able to forge a new path, onethat will undoubtedly inspire and empower the Orange County community at large. We would like to take a moment to extend our deepest appreciation to The V.I.P. Pearls of Orange County, New York’sPresident, Sonya D. Fiol Grant. Your unwavering leadership, vision, and dedication throughout this journey is immenselyappreciated. Your ingenuity and passion for our sisterhood have been instrumental in bringing this chapter to life. Thankyou for your tireless efforts and for inspiring us all to strive for greatness.Additionally, we extend our sincere gratitude to our esteemed Regional Director, Elicia Pegues Spearman, for shining alight on us F.I.R.S.T.! Your guidance, support, and encouragement have been invaluable to our success. Your wisdom andexperience have helped shape our path, and we are profoundly grateful for your steadfast dedication to the growth anddevelopment of our sorority. Your consistent belief in our potential has fueled our determination to achieve this historicmilestone.As we commemorate this momentous occasion, we sincerely thank all who have supported and believed in this vision. Letus celebrate not just the establishment of a new chapter, but the beginning of a new era of service, leadership, andsisterhood. May this chapter stand as a beacon of hope, a pillar of strength, and a source of enduring inspiration in ourcommunity.With heartfelt appreciation and sisterly love,Dion Walker-Duncan and Debbie ThomasCo-Chairmen, Chartering CommitteeD I ON W A LK ER - DU NC A ND E BB IE TH OM A S

Congratulations to the V.I.P. Pearls of Orange County, New York on your Chartering Celebration Event.5.19.24

The V.I.P. PearlsThe V.I.P. Pearlsof of Orange County,Orange County, New York New YorkSonya D. Fiol-Grant, Presidentan Official Interest Group of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporatedan Official Interest Group of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ®®Sisterhood Servicestay connected with us@vippearlsofocny Impact Scholarship40 Fulton Street | P.O. Box 961Middletown, NY 109401.) Monica Blackwell Merritt2.) Jennee՜Coleman3.) Stefanie Crews-Brown4.) Sarada Dorce՜5.) Tanya M. England6.) Sonya D. Fiol-Grant7.) Ada Freeman8.) Nyhisha T. Gibbs9.) Michelle E. Gooch10.) Anquinette Hayles11.) Marsha Henderson12.) Lernice Henry13.) Janeth Herrera14.) Yvonne A. Holder15.) Jamiylah Kimbrough16.) Alita McCoy17.) Kimberly Moore18.) Tammy E. Powell19.) Robin L. Ransom20.) Tasmanika Rich21.) Netikka D. Seward-Holloway22.) Yalitza Sepulveda23.) Alicia Smith24.) Debbie Thomas25.) Aristian Torregano26.) Dion Walker-Duncan27.) Rasheena Wilson

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V . I . P . S P O N S O R SM O N I C A B L A C K W E L L M E R R I T TT A N Y A E N G L A N DS O N Y A D . F I O L - G R A N TA D A F R E E M A NN Y H I S H A T . G I B B SM I C H E L L E G O O C HL E R N I C E H E N R YJ A N E T H H E R R E R AY V O N N E H O L D E RA L I T A M C C O YK I M B E R L Y M O O R ET A M M Y P O W E L LN E T I K K A D . S E W A R D - H O L L O W A YA L I C I A S M I T HD E B B I E T H O M A SA R I S T I A N T O R R E G A N OD I O N W A L K E R - D U N C A NC I T Y W I N E R Y H U D S O N V A L L E YS T E P H A N I E S A N C H E Z & S T A F FT H A N K Y O U F R O M T H ES O U V E N I R J O U R N A LC O M M I T T E E

EVENT SPONSORSValidatoryJ. Foster Phillips Funeral HomeIlluminatingKimberly Davis MoorePhilanthropicTariq Collins - Eagle Financial GroupCrystal Run HealthcareElena M. MundeyTierra Oliver - Abundant Living Total Wellness, LLC.Kecia O’NealAngela Reese, Nikki Pitts, Esq., Elizabeth White, Dr. NatalieCumberlander Zolicoff & Joyce Thompson Mills, Esq.Icilma V. Fergus RoweEVENT VENDORSTrendzio Jewlery /Ralphpierre@trendziostore.comBabyschnooks, LLC /Babyschnooksllc@gmail.comThe Liq Tees /customerservice@theliqtees.comElizabeth Morgan/ info@isa-chic.comMane Motive Beauty LLC /manemotive@gmail.comSweet Heat/ The Silver Lining/ sterlinggrantt@gmail.comChic By Her /hello@chicbyhershop.comGettin Crafty Wit It /crafty@gettincraftywitit.com

Original Founders“Sincere and Rare”

As members of the charter line of Iota Upsilon of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ® at Syracuse University, We want to congratulate The V.I.P. Pearls of Orange County, New York on your Chartering Celebration! We wish you all the best! The Sizzling Sophisticates May 9, 1975 Kimberly ArmstrongPamela Shepherd-BenbowPastora BoldenSharon BrangmanValerie Brathwaite-NelsonSharon Burnett-MaignanNadine Burns-LyonsDonna Carrol Dixon JonesThomasina Etheridge-Skipper Linda Jo FullerMaryse Ferrus VieuxHyder Hicks-HoustonDeborah HoflerSchevon HoldenTamika McQueary-ReeseDebra ParrishCharmon Parker-Williams Brenda Stith Finch - Our Graduate Advisor

Soror Alita McCoy-Zuber on the chartering ofThe V.I.P. Pearls of Orange Cou nty, NYSpring 1993 Xi Mu Soror Yvette RascoeSoror Terri-Ann McKenzie Soror Elena MundeySoror Petrice Young

From the Motor City ofDetroit, MichiganBrother Mark S. Tillman34th General PresidentAlpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.andSoror Velicia TillmanAlpha Rho Omega ChapterAlpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Supreme inSisterhood, Service&Scholarshipsince January 15, 1908

Sophomore Founders“Strive and Do”

H O N O R I N G S O P H O M O R E F O U N D E R - H A R R I E T J O S E P H I N E T E R R YB O R N I N C O R N W A L L - O N - H U D S O N , N Y ( O R A N G E C O U N T Y , N E W Y O R K )

The V.I.P. Pearls of Orange County, New York is the F.I.R.S.T. interestgroup of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated to establish andcapitalize a $25,000 Endowment Fund for H.S. senior scholars residingin Orange County, NY.Additionally, our fundraising efforts underwrite the stellar community service programs and local scholarship opportunities.Our 2024 V.I.P. Pearls of Orange County, NY scholarship recipients are the following: Alyssa Worrell & Alana Bellamy - Newburgh Free AcademyZalaya Williams - Middletown High School

We, the members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Alpha Gamma EtaOmega Chapter, formerly known as The V.I.P. Pearls of Orange County, NY, would like toextend our heartfelt thanks for your continued support of our chartering celebration.To our Notable North Atlantic Regional Director, the entire regional team,our sister chapters, vendors, elected officials, community supporters, CityWinery, and anyone we failed to mention, thank you.As we reflect on the journey that brought us here, we are filled with gratitude for theencouragement and enthusiasm from our community. Your support has been instrumentalin helping us achieve this milestone, and we look forward to making a positive impact in thelives of those around us.Our chapter is committed to upholding the values and mission of Alpha Kappa AlphaSorority, Incorporated, by engaging in meaningful service and fostering sisterhood. We havean exciting lineup of initiatives planned for the coming months, focusing on education,health, and empowerment, which we hope will further strengthen our bonds and benefit thecommunity.Thank you once again for your unwavering support and belief in our vision.The Members of Alpha Gamma Eta Omega ChapterFormerly known as The V.I.P. Pearls of Orange County, NYAn official interest group of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®®®