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Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc.
AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NEGRO WOMEN
[[image: logo of AKM]]

A YEAR OF BRISK ACTIVITY

FIRST WESTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE

The forty-first year of Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority was a very active one.  On April 14-15, 1978, the First Regional Conference opened in San Diego, California, at the Catamaran Hotel, hosted by Alpha Gamma Chapter under the leadership of the Basileus, Mrs. Loisetta Norfleet Smith.  The Western Regional Director, Mrs. Thelma B. Wilson, who is also Basileus of Alpha Beta Chapter in Los Angeles, directed the entire Conference.  Twelve National Officers accompanied the National Grand Basileus, Mrs. Venice Harvey, to the Conference.  Dr. Geraldine Rickman gave the Keynote address at the Regional Community Awards Luncheon.  The awardees were Mrs. Catherine Lewis Montgomery, former California State Commissioner of the Fair Employment Practices Commission, and Mr. George D. Williams, Executive Director of San Diego County Human Relations Commission.

The following day, many delegates, the Grand Basileus, and many of the National Officers flew to Las Vegas, Nevada, to initiate a new chapter, Alpha Zeta Chapter, into the Sorority.  A fitting ending to Lambda Kappa Mu's First Western Regional Conference.

THE 1978 CONCLAVE

Hyatt Regency Washington Hotel was the site of the 1978 Conclave in Washington, D.C., July 5-9, under the skillful and competent leadership of the National Grand Basileus, Mrs. Venice Harvey, and was hosted by the local Theta Chapter.

This Conclave offered very significant highlights.  First, the thirty-eighth Conclave convened at 9 a.m., July 6, with the rapping of the gavel by the National Grand Basileus followed by "Greetings" forwarded from the Office of the President, Jimmy Carter.  Mayor Walter E. Washington personally presented the Sorority with the "Key to the City of Washington"; Theta Chapter gave an official welcome as the host chapter.  The Keynote address delivered by Honorable Wilhelmina Jackson Rolark, member of the D.C. City Council, rounded off the morning session.  Honorable Rolark addressed herself to the theme of the Conclave "Recognizing our obligations to society" (ROOTS).

[[image]]
[[caption]] The highlight of the Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority's 1978 Conclave at the Hyatt Regency Washington Hotel was the National Body of initiating Dorothy Height, Director of the Nat'l Council of Negro Women, into the Sorority.  Here, the Nat'l Grand Basileus of LKM, Mrs. Venice Harvey, is presenting Ms. Height with a plaque at the Conclave's Annual Community Awards Banquet which honored the National Council of Negro Women for the work and accomplishments of the organization.[/caption]]

[[image]]
[[caption]] Mrs. Loisetta N. Smith, Basileus of Alpha Gamma Chapter of San Diego, Cal., the Host Chapter, welcomes Nat'l Officers, delegates, and guests to the First Western Regional Conference.  From her extreme left: Dr. Geraldine Rickman, president and owner of her business consulting firm and November, 1978 election candidate for California State Comptroller, Key-noter; Mrs. Thelma B. Wilson, Western Regional Director and Basileus of Alpha Beta Chapter in Los Angeles.[/caption]]

The second highlight was the Annual Conclave Achievement Luncheon which was a "Salute to Black Women Achievers".  The National Honorary Sorors of the Sorority, the Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray, first women of her race to become an Episcopal priest (ordained at the National Cathedral, January 8, 1977), and Mrs. Cenora Johnson, a retired Director of the Washington Bureau of the Urban League, served as Honorary Chairpersons who made the "salute to Black women" in the National Government were Azie Taylor Morton, Treasurer of the United States; Dr. Joan Wallace, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture; Dr. Bernardine Denning, member of the White House Domestic COuncil.  Those in Washington local media honored were Carol Simpson, NBC National reporter; Carol Randolph, Maureen Bunion, and J. C. Haywood, all of WDVM-TV, Channel 9 (D.C.)

The third highlight took place Saturday, July 8, at 6 p.m.; the National Officers, delegates, and visiting sorors under the leadership of the Second Anti-Basileus, Mrs. Sallye Puryear, and the Grand Basileus presented a very elegant ceremony, but closed, which initiated Mrs. Dorothy Height into the Sorority; and Ms. Gertrude Farley of Staten Island's Lambda Chapter was awarded the Distinguished Service Pin for her outstanding service in both the local chapter and as a National Officer.  This was followed by the Conclave Annual Community Achievement Banquet.  There was a salute to the National Council of Negro Women to honor the organization's work and achievement on several levels.  Ms. Dorothy Height, Director of NCNW, responded to the plaque awarded.

The final highlight was the installation of National Officers which occurred near the end of the Banquet program.  Those installed were: Second Anti-Basileus: Mrs. Sallye Puryear (incumbent), Mu Chapter, Philadelphia; Keeper of the Seal: Mrs. Martha Henley, Kappa Chapter, Boston; Northeastern Regional Director: Mrs. Thelma Addison, Iota Chapter, Baltimore; Northcentral Regional Director: Mrs. Doris Brasher, Alpha Alpha Chapter, Columbus, Ohio.


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