October 2007 Online Newsletter
Gamma News
Did you miss last month's newsletter? See what you missed!
Alpha Chapter Participates in Road Race
Alpha Chapter members Christi Bristol Bey, Wakilat Kasumu, and Rasheeda Salaam (L-R pictured above with Gamma Link Keyeric Bristol) participated in the September 8 Mohammad Ali road race held by the Mohammed Schools of Atlanta. The sorors finished the 5km walk/run in 55 minutes and twenty five seconds.
Participants in the road race enlisted the help of sponsors who made donations to the participants on behalf of the schools. Alpha Chapter President Wakilat Kasumu said, "Al-humdulillah, it was fun."
Epsilon Chapter members pause after helping to raise food
and funds for the needyMuslimahs use their creativity to benefit the Hungry of South Jersey Epsilon
On September 15th the Epsilon Chapter held their Art with Heart Iftar and Canned Food Drive at All Fired Up Pottery Studio. After a hearty yet simple meal of soup and salad, attendees all participated in the Empty Bowls Project. The sisters let loose their creativity to decorate the bowls which will all be donated to the Food Bank of South Jersey to help them in their efforts to fill the bowls of the hungry. In total, the group painted 35 bowls which should yield approximately $412 profit for the Food Bank. The chapter also collected about 100 non-perishable food items that have also been donated to the Food Bank.
Rasheeda Salaam to Chair GammaFest 2008
Planning CommitteePresident and Executive Director Dr. Althia F. Ali announced that Rasheeda Salaam has agreed to serve as chair of GammaFest 2008. This is the second year that Soror Rasheeda has taken on this responsibility. GammaFest is a weekend of fun and sisterhood for the sorors of Gamma Gamma Chi Sorority, Inc.
The Second Annual GammaFest is set for April 4-6, 2008, in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Ali said, "Rasheeda did a wonderful job in leading our effort last year as co-chair with Imani Abdul-Haqq. The sorors of Alpha Chapter tell us that they're excited about this GammaFest being held in Atlanta, and so are we! The Board agreed that we should use the same model for 2008 as for 2007, so our GammaFest Planning Committee will be comprised of one member from each chapter whom I will work with to develop a program that is fun and rewarding."
Chapter Presidents will identify their representatives to serve on the planning committee no later than October 15, insha'Allah.
Gamma Chapter Members Serve the Greensboro Community
Soror Robyn Abdusamad (pictured above, right) and Joy'el Dickerson (left) volunteered at the 23rd annual NICU reunion at the Women's Hospital on September 8.
The chapter also plans to volunteer at the Morningview Nursing Home in Greensboro and to paint some of the ladies' finger nails, call bingo numbers and read to some of the elderly residents at the home.
On October 6, Gamma Chapter members will participate in the 5K Diabetes Walk in Raleigh. Soror Robyn is Gamma Chapter president.
Epsilon Chapter Has Busy September
In addition to hosting community members at their own iftar (evening meal that breaks the fast), members of the Epsilon Chapter took the opportunity this Ramadan to network with other local Islamic organizations. Sorors attended functions throughout the Philadelphia area.
Sorors attend the Bi-Co Fast-a-thon sponsored by the joint Muslim Student Association (MSA) of Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges. The MSA asked their non-Muslim peers to "Get Hungry for a Change" and help them raise money for and increase awareness of the poor and Hungry. Muslims and non-Muslims all came together for iftar and enjoyed Quranic recitation, poetry by Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore and a khutbah (sermon) from Imam Siraj Wahaj.
The Philly-wide MSA iftar banquet was sponsored by CAIR and the MSAs of the University of Penn, Villanova University, Temple University, Drexel University, Bryn Mawr College and more.
Epsilon Chapter sorors also attend the Ramadan Youth Halaqa (educational lecture) and Quiz Competition sponsored by Masjidullah.
Epsilon Gammas lend a hand as they kick off a project to help a local Muslim family in need. Sorors began collecting money in September for Brother Sekou Sheriff who was paralyzed from the neck down in an automobile accident in July 2006. The chapter is raising money to help the brother with his medical bills.
Epsilon sorors join social networks to increase visibility. In addition to their official home on the internet, the Epsilon Chapter has launched pages on the popular social networking site MySpace as well as on MuslimSpace. Chapter President Coniqua Abdul-Malik says, "The chapter hopes that these measures will give us greater exposure and allow us a means through which to communicate with potential members."
In recognition of October's being Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Epsilon Chapter will be hosting a Greet & Eat Event at Fatou and Famas Restaurant to benefit the Baitus Salaam Shelter for Muslim Women and Children. Attendees will enjoy Senegalese, Caribbean and Soul Food and meet local organizations helping Muslim women in crisis. Fatou and Famas will donate a portion of the proceeds from each meal.
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President and Executive Director Attends
Interfaith Iftar on Capitol HillDr. Althia F. Ali joined nearly 500 Muslims and non-Muslims on September 19 at the second Annual Congressional Interfaith and Intercultural Ramadan Iftar Dinner on Capitol Hill.
Hosted by the Rumi Forum, the event featured interfaith presentations that included addresses by His Excellency Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference; Dr. Syeed Hossein Nasr of the George Washington University; Rabbi Joshua O. Haberman of the Washington Hebrew Congregation; Fr. Thomas Michel, SJ, of the Society of Jesus in Rome; His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; and His Beatitude Archibishop Mesrob II Mutafya, the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul. The event also included Islamic calligraphy and a traditional Sufi music performance.
Dr. Ali said of the event, "I enjoy attending Rumi Forum events. They seek to promote interfaith dialogue, and that is consistent with my interests and work, and it is sorely needed if ever we are to achieve a lasting level of trust and connectedness among people of all faith communities. The Rumi Forum is a wonderful resource in this community."
Your Help is Needed with our Partnership Activities
Time is running out to >>buy discount Macy's tickets for Shop for a Cause and to >>open a new account with SunTrust Bank. Shop for a Cause is set for October 13 at all Macy's stores. The SunTrust promotion is for all new accounts opened by October 12. Please help us while you get great deals!
The Gold Presentation is the first step in the membership application process after a membership inquiry form has been completed. The purpose of the Gold Presentation is to present information about the sorority, to answer questions that prospective members have about the sorority and the membership intake process, and to enable prospective members to socialize and get to know each other. Attendance at a Gold Presentation is required before a membership application can be reviewed. Attendance does not commit either the person or the sorority for membership acceptance.
Monthly Muslim Wisdom
An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Qur'an. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Qur'an just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?" The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."
The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got
back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
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This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into the river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!"
"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out. "Son, that's what happens when you read the Qur'an. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Allah in our lives."
The meaning of our letters, Gamma Gamma Chi
"gynaikes" is plural of "gyne" (woman), ev means "on";
"ge" (dative case of the word for "earth");
epi chronon ("for a time": "epi" is a preposition,
and "chronon" is the accusative case of the word for "time"Women on earth for a period of time.
Thanks to Dr. William J. Collinge, Knott Professor of
Theology, Mount St. Mary's University
Beta Chapter Provides Iftar for Students at Johns Hopkins University
Five sorors and two legacies of Beta Chapter were on hand to provide iftar dinner for hungry students at Johns Hopkins University on Sunday, September 30. Kesha Abdul-Mateen, community service chair, said "We had a very successful event. Although all sorors couldn't be on hand, every soror participated in making this happen." Mischelle Moody, one of the sorors on hand to serve students, said, " We had a ball and the (students) were so happy to have us." Pictured above, L-R: Yasmin Marquis waits to greet students arriving; Kesha Abdul-Mateen, Gamma Legacy Asima, Narmin Anwar, Mischelle Moody, Tasmim Anwar, and Gamma Legacy Ameerah all set to serve delicious food to students.
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Gamma Gamma Chi Sorority, Inc.
P. O. Box 15283
Alexandria, VA 22309
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