President Farewell Speech, November 16, 2010

It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve my members.  As President it was very challenging for me to ensure that the business of the chapter was run efficiently and smoothly.  My goals were to highlight our chapter here at the Library, at BIG National Office and Region XI events as well as in the local community.  I feel I have surpassed my goal – we are now known in New York City at the Apollo Theater and at the historic Cotton Club in Harlem!

It has been an honor and a pleasure to work cooperatively with our Executive Board and members. I have been truly delighted over the years with your conversations and your words of encouragement.  The networking experience, at times was overwhelming.  Since I love good conversation the opportunity to network has developed into many friendships’ over the years with other BIG members throughout the US. 

I am leaving a strong foundation and blueprint for the incoming Chapter leaders to follow.  I credit my strong leader skills especially from the mentoring I received from the “BIG Darlene Young Leadership Academy” and the many BIG Leadership workshops taken over the years.  I have a strong commitment to BIG and I will continue to work and support the LC BIG Chapter, Region XI and the BIG National organizations.

I look forward to seeing your name on the ballot as you step up to become a great leader too!

May God Continue to Bless you all…………..
 

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – May 11, 2010

Welcome to our second General Membership meeting.  Your support is truly valued and needed, and your presence here today is a good reflection of your interest in making our chapter successful.  Our meeting will be brief today in order for some of us to attend the GUILD Nomination meeting.

May is our National Membership Month. This month, we have our annual Youth Day Celebration on May 26, with Eliot-Hines Middle School Eagle Steppers and Templeton Elementary School Hand Bell Choir. On May 18th & 20th, we will sponsor a membership table outside the Madison Snack Bar.
 
At this time, I would like to introduce our 2010 Executive Board members.
Please join me in applauding them for their dedication and time spent working diligently for our chapter.  As a small token of my appreciation for all their hard work, the Board joined me at Tortilla Coast on April 23rd in celebration of Administrative Staff Appreciation Day.

Since this is my last six months as president, I will continue my principal visions to:

• continue providing lunch time Job Preparedness workshops and cultural events
• broaden our Chapter’s financial resources
• expand our presence in our community by participating in outreach programs sponsored by BIG National and Region XI.
• Continue to volunteer at local schools and support needy families during the holiday seasons. 

As of today, the majority of our members have paid their $5.00 chapter dues that were adopted in our chapter by-laws, dues that are used to support programs and events. 

Our 2010 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) application has been approved and we will continue to advertise our chapter’s participation as an eligible organization to receive donations through the CFC campaign.  I am pleased to announce that we received a letter and a check from CFC for our 2009 pledge amounts. Our Treasurer, Cynthia Everette will report the amount received from CFC.

BIG’s Annual National Training Conference (NTC) will be held August 16-20 in Kansas City, MO. The National Delegates Assembly will start Sunday, August 15, and Monday, August 16.   Several of our Board members have submitted paperwork to their service unit requesting funding.  We will determine in early July how many delegates will represent our chapter and what available funds will be available to supplement per diem and hotel stay for attending the Delegates Assembly. The Delegates Assembly is a great opportunity for us to learn more about the operations and financial business of the organization.

We all know the government’s travel and training budget is limited so if you would like to attend the conference this year, please submit your training and travel paperwork to your service unit first to see what funds might be approved. If funds are not approved then we can determine if the chapter has resources to supplement your training.

In order to receive chapter funds you are required to actively participate in our fund-raising events or be actively involved in chapter’s programs and committees.  Fund-raisers that you can participate in include:

• Travel to Sight and Sound Theater on September 25, 2010 to see the play “Joseph”, enjoy dinner at Good n Plenty Restaurant and shopping. Cost $125.00 per person.
• Verizon Velocity Program – order a new qualifying Verizon residential product and our Chapter will receive a donation from Verizon.  Flyers are available in your packet.
• St. Mary’s Raffle ends May 13, 2010. Five chance to win five 2010 Vehicles.

Our next General Membership Meeting will be in September, and our Annual Meeting and elections will be held in November. (More details will be announced.)  As part of our Annual Meeting, the Election and Nomination Committee will contact all members announcing the nomination and election process.
 
In closing, I appreciate all your support and look forward to more members actively participating in committees and chapter activities.  If everyone gives a little support then our chapter will continue to grow here at the Library and become more visual in our local community.

I thank you for coming and I look forward to working with you in future endeavors.

Darlene J. Flowers, President
LC Chapter of BIG
www.bigloc.org
CFC# 94291
707-4529 office
202-498-5828 cell

Thank You for Thinking BIG!

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PRESIDENT MESSAGE – February 3, 2009

Welcome to our first general membership meeting.  I think it is fair to say that your attendance is a good reflection of your interest in making our chapter successful.  And I really appreciate your willingness to be here.
At this time, I would like to introduce our 2009 Executive Board members.

My principal vision as president is to broaden the Chapter’s financial resources – so we can expand our programs and services here at the Library and in our local community. 

Last week, we delivered our 2009 CFC application and if approved these contributions will help us broaden our programs and services.  The 2008 CFC donations will start coming in April and we will report how much money was received.
In November, the chapter voted to establish chapter dues in the amount of $5.00.  Our chapter Bylaws was approved at the January BIG National Executive Board.  We will distribute a signed copy once we receive them.

As you know, we do not receive any outside financial support and we are no longer able to fund-raise here at the Library. There is a greater need for us to have chapter-based member contributions. 

This year BIG’s National Training Conference will be held in Baltimore, Maryland, August 24-28, 2009.  This year we would like for some of our new members to attend the National Assembly.  The Delegates Assembly is two days and starts on Sunday morning at 8:00 am., and resumes on Monday afternoon.  We will probably pay for hotel stay for one night and depending on our funds we will determine if any additional expenses will be paid.  The Delegates Assembly it is a great opportunity for you to learn about the operating and financial business of the organization.

We all know the government’s travel and training budget is limited so if you would like to attend the conference this year then you need to let me know.   We ask that you submit your travel and training paperwork to your service unit first to see what funds might be approved.

In order to receive chapter funds we need you to participate in our fund-raising events or serve on the committee.  Upcoming fund-raisers that you can participate in:
-selling St. Mary’s Raffle Tickets for $5.00 (tickets will be available on February 17th.

PRESIDENT MESSAGE - September 23, 2008

Dear Members,

Welcome to our general membership meeting.  I think it is fair to say that your attendance is a good reflection of your interest in making our chapter successful.  And I really appreciate your willingness to be here.

For our new members let me take the time to introduce our Executive Board.
Clark Brown, 1st VP – Program Chair
Mia Baker, 2nd VP Membership chair
Cynthia Everette, Treasurer
Angela Harris, Historian
Gary Shorter, Sargent at Arms
Patricia Evans, Region Rep
Gary Evans, Parlimentarian
Linda Thomas, Secretary

This year our Board has been working very hard to provide our members with quality programs and events. We are proud of some of our accomplishments:

- Approval of 2008 National Capital CFC Campaign
- Recipient of BIG Sterling Sliver Award
- Fundraising Events:  Pre-Mother’s Day Breakfast, St. Mary’s Car Raffle, Verizon Velocity Program, Tyler Perry Play, Scrapbooking and more to TBA.
- Programs: MLK Jr., Black History, Youth Celebration Day, Juneteenth Celebration, Ethnic Scrapbooking and our upcoming Educational Financial Seminar on 9/24/08.  In October, the OPM Chapter will give a presentation on developing KSAs.  We will announce the date once the speakers have confirmed.  In December we will have our Annual Kwanza Celebration, December 10th at 12:30 PM in Montpelier Room.
- Our Executive Board recommended changes to our By-Laws as follows: 
- Article VI, Section 1. A. – General Meetings change to quarterly meetings held in Jan, May & September.
- VIII, Section 2. - Chapter Dues will be paid by all members in the amount of $5.00.  Life members’ yearly dues will be paid in January.  Other members’ dues will be included in their renewal fee. 

Other News: 
- BIG NTC Outreach to stuff a notebook with supplies was a big success and the support was overwhelming.
- BIG’s 30th National Training Conference held in New Orleans, August 11-15, 2008 had the largest attendees in the history of BIG. 
- Delegates Assembly was able to conduct the business of BIG.  LC BIG had 8 Primary and 1 Alterante at the assembly.  We elected a new National President Mr. J. David Reeves from HUD Chapter. 
-Upcoming 31st Annual NTC will be held in Baltimore, Maryland, August 24th-28th, 2009.
- Elections of 2009 Officers. Nominations process will begin October 15, 2008 and end October 31st at 5:00 PM.  An email will be sent by Shamika Mungin announcing the nomination for 2009 Officers.  The candidates nominated will be announced at the Annual Meeting on November 12, 2008 in LM-222 at 12:00 PM.  On November 12th you will receive an email from Marieta Harper explaining the voting process via email.  She will send the list of all candidates and you can reply to sender - casting your vote.  The voting process will end on November 19th at 5:00 PM and members will be notified via email on November 20th of the 2009 Officers. 

In closing, I look forward to more members becoming involved in committees and chapter activities.  With your support our chapter can become more visible here at the Library and in the local community.

I thank you for your continual support and look forward to working with you in future endeavors.
Best regards,
/ s /
Darlene J. Flowers
President
Library of Congress Chapter of Blacks In Government
dflo@loc.gov
202.707.4529 office
202.498-5828 cell
www.bigloc.org
CFC designation number 94291

Thank You for Thinking BIG!

PRESIDENT MESSAGE  -  April 22, 2008                                                                                 

Dear Members,

Welcome to our second general membership meeting.  I think it is fair to say that your attendance is a good reflection of your interest in making our chapter successful.  And I really appreciate your willingness to be here.

For our new members let me take the time to introduce our Executive Board.
Clark Brown, 1st VP – Program Chair
Mia Baker, 2nd VP Membership chair
Cynthia Everette, Treasurer
Angela Harris, Historian
Gary Shorter, Sargent at Arms
Patricia Evans, Region Rep
Gary Evans, Parlimentarian
Linda Thomas, Secretary

This year our Board has been working very hard to provide our members with quality programs and events.

- Complete our CFC application and was approved for the 2009 CFC Campaign.
- Outright local Program
- Chapter Dues ($5.00)
- Cook out in late Jul or Aug
- BIG NTC Outreach to stuff a notebook with supplies
- LC decided to stuff a notebook with cash to donate to one of public schools in New Orleans
-BIG’s National Training Conference will be held in New Orleans, August 11-15, 2008. 
- Delegates Assembly starts on Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m.  Thus, most of our delegates arrive that Saturday.
  We will select our Primaries and Alternates once we get our final membership count. 

In order to defray the cost for attending the Delegates Assembly we raise funds.  Since we are not able to fund-raise at the Library we asked members for donations and to participate in our fund-raising events: We have two events going that money is due:
                -selling St. Mary’s Raffle Tickets for $5.00 May 15th
                -Mother’s Day Breakfast/Bazaar cost $25.00 April 26

You can see Cynthia Everette after the program for more information and tickets.

In closing, I look forward to more members becoming involved in committees and chapter activities.  We all need to look at what we can do to support our chapter and make it a more visible presence here at the Library and in the local community.

I thank you for coming and look forward to working with you in future endeavors.
Best regards,

Darlene J. Flowers
President
Library of Congress Chapter of Blacks In Government
dflo@loc.gov
202.707.4529 office
202.498-5828 cell
www.bigloc.org

Thank You for Thinking BIG!

PRESIDENT MESSAGE - March 12, 2008

Welcome to our first general membership meeting.  I think it is fair to say that your attendance is a good reflection of your interest in making our chapter successful.  And I really appreciate your willingness to be here.

At this time, I would like to acknowledge our Executive Board members and express my gratitude to them.  They have all performed their duties in an exemplary fashion.  They respond immediately when a task is needed to be performed. I truly value them and appreciate all their support.

My principal vision as president is to broaden the Chapter’s financial resources – so we can expand our programs and services here at the Library and in our local community.  Yesterday, we delivered our CFC application and if approved these contributions will help us broaden our programs and services.  We also need our members to support our chapter by establishing provisions for chapter dues.  As you know, we do not receive any outside financial support and we are no longer able to fund-raise here at the Library. As a consequence, there is a greater need for us to have chapter-based member contributions. 

This year BIG’s National Training Conference will be held in New Orleans, August 11-15, 2008.  Ever year the National Office determines how many delegated we are allowed to attend the Delegates Assembly.  The Delegates Assembly starts on Sunday morning at 8:00 am so most of our delegates arrive that Saturday.  Last year, we had 4 primary and 4 alternates to attend.  The government does not normally pay for Saturday travel so we use our funds to subsidize the cost.

We all know the government’s travel and training budget is limited so if you would like to attend the conference this year then you need to let me know.   We ask that you submit your travel and training paperwork to your service unit first to see what funds might be approved.  In order to receive chapter funds we need you to participate in our fund-raising events.  At this time, we have two fund-raisers that you can participate in:

                -selling St. Mary’s Raffle Tickets for $5.00 and
                -Mother’s Day Breakfast/Bazaar cost $25.00

You can see Cynthia Everette after the program for more information and tickets.

In closing, I look forward to more members becoming involved in committees and chapter activities.  We all need to look at what we can do to support our chapter and make it more visible to our local community.

I thank you for coming and look forward to working with you in future endeavors.

Best regards,

Darlene J. Flowers
President
Library of Congress Chapter of Blacks In Government
dflo@loc.gov
202.707.4529 office
202.498-5828 cell
www.bigloc.org

Thank You for Thinking BIG!