Newport, TN/Alcoa, TN- As the sun rose in the East, the Smoky Mountains served as the backdrop for the chartering ceremony of a new chapter, Psi Zeta Omega. On Saturday, May 19, 2007, Soror Juanita Sims Doty, South Eastern Regional Director, was joined by Soror Ranika Sanchez, Second Supreme Anti-Basileus, former South Eastern Regional Directors, Soror Ida K. Martin and Soror Cynthia J. Finch, thirty-five charter members and guest sorors, in a moving chartering ceremony. Soror Juanita Sims Doty conducted the chartering ceremony at the Airport Hilton in Alcoa, Tennessee. Soror Allene McGuire, Chapter Music Chair, composed a special song for the group entitled, “We are the Smoky Mountain Pearls.” The chapter prides itself on making dreams come true to provide Extraordinary Service Projects that will focus on a “niche” service effort in rural communities. The chapter has vowed to serve six rural counties that are contiguous to a large metro city. These counties include: Cocke, Jefferson, Hamblen, Blount, Greene and Sevier. The chapter will be based in Newport, Tennessee. These counties represent a collective population of 117,057, in which 5.38% are African American. By implementing the ESP programs, the chapter’s goal is to have a strong and positive presence in these rural communities. Their primary focus is economic prosperity, creating wealth and focusing on the black family, with an emphasis on the black male. The newly chartered chapter has been working in these counties forming partnerships with the Boys/Girls Club of Newport/Cocke County, Tanasi Girls Scouts Council, Inc. Carson Newman College, local and regional authors, Beck Cultural Exchange Center and other historical cultural programs. After the ceremony the members of the new chapter hosted a public reception, where over 150 guests, including Tennessee State Senator Tim Burchett, Mary Leidig, Girls Scouts of Tanasi Council, CEO/President, Chris Tipton, Board Chair

and Shane Borie, Unit Director, Boys/Girls club of Newport/Cocke County, joined in the celebration. Soror Mary Conner, International Membership Representative and member of Kappa Lambda Omega, presided. Soror Tanya Coats, Basileus, Sheryl Rollins, Connection Chair and Cynthia Finch, 22nd South Eastern Regional Director, presented awards to the Boys/Girls Club and the Girls Scouts. The newly elected officers are, Sorors Tanya Coats, Basileus, Requitta Bone, First Ant-Basileus, Jessica Brown, Second Anti-Basileus, Kimberly Cannon-Atkinson, Grammateus, Wilhelmina Evans, Pecunious Grammateus, Miraquita Nash, Tamiouchos, Kimja Loyd, Epistoleus, Deven Mayes Tellis, Ivy Leaf Reporter, Crystal O’Neal, Hodegos and Felicia Evans-Smith, Anti-Hodegos. Other members of the newly chartered chapter are, Sorors Avanna Baldwin, Sandra Burke, Tyson Daniel Davison, Juana Dirl, Rhonda Dykes, Mary Ann Eckel, Cynthia J. Finch, Dianne Howard, Ann Lemon, Jennifer Lomax, Jessica Lomax, Gloria Lucas, Heneria Manning, Deborah Mayes, Allen McGuire, Rholedia Morgan, Verettia Nash Navarre, Beulah Oldham, Sandra Richards, Ella Kate Robinson, Sheryl Rollins, Angela Spann, Nikki Palmer Toombs, Sandra Walls and Shelia Walton. The three day event included a special guided tour for Soror Ranika Sanchez, by the local undergraduate chapter, an evening of dining at a famous southern restaurant and attending the Alex Haley Scholarship Auction, hosted by the University of Tennessee and chaired by charter member Rholedia Morgan. Psi Zeta Omega has already begun its planning for a Women’s Healing Retreat for the fall in Newport, Tennessee at the Baptist Conference Retreat Center. This chapter will truly have an Extra Special Presence in the lives of citizens in these communities.