Pearls of the Eastern Shore

Kappa Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was chartered on October 26, 1985 at the Easton Fire Hall in Easton, Maryland. Soror Ruth C. Easley, the North Atlantic Regional Director at that time, conducted the chartering ceremony.

The primary geographic area served by the chapter is the five-county area ofTalbot, Dorchester, Caroline, Queen Anne’s, and Kent Counties of the upper Eastern Shore of Maryland. The vision of Kappa Theta Omega was not only to bring the sorors in this area closer together in the bonds of Alpha Kappa Alpha sisterhood, but also to unite in “service to all mankind” by making substantial contributions to the communities they represented.

Over the years, the chapter has been active in a number of service projects and activities that support the sorority’s national programs and are responsive to loca lneeds. The chapter actively supported the Cleveland Job Corps and Africare through various donations, the Veterans at Perry Point, MD with Christmas gifts, and hurricane and disaster relief efforts for Hugo, Katrina, Rita, and Haiti with monetary and product donations.

In 1990, the chapter sponsored its first banquet honoring successful and talented Black business persons in Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Caroline, and Dorchester Counties.Annually the chapter awards scholarships to deserving high school students in the counties the chapter serves. Through the Young Authors Program; the chapter donated “The Voices of Young Authors” to area elementary schools.

Each year the sorors conduct nursing home visitations and/or sing-a-longs atCorsica Hills and other locations, participate in Project SHARE and community drives, collect and distribute food, clothing, and other items to seniors and low income residents in local communities; and promote the arts by assisting schools, the local museum, and community groups. Since 2008 the chapter has sponsored a Community Health Fair that has included giving local students much needed school supplies.

Through collaboration and partnerships, the chapter participates in the Dr. MartinLuther King, Jr. Day service projects, The Annual Talbot County Multicultural Day, The Salute to Middle School Youth Achievements, cancer and other healthcare awareness programs, NAACP Education Projects, and voter registration/voter education/get-out-the-vote campaigns. Routinely, the chapter makes church visitations, contributes monetary donations and personal support to select charities, and participates in sisterly relations with our sister chapter, Delta Sigma Omega Chapter in Salisbury, MD.

To fund our community service activities, the chapter has sponsored functions such as Kalendar Kid, AKA Dances/Galas, Fashion Shows and Luncheons, afternoon teas, discos, radio-thons, Meet the Author’s, and most recently a “Sweethearts”dance in celebration of Valentines Day.

Annually, the chapter observes Founders Day with an observance hosted by the chapter or held in collaboration with other chapters. In 1990 the chapter hosted its first Founders’ Day Program celebration, with Soror Regina Humane of Camp Springs, MD as speaker and North Atlantic Regional Director Soror Idell Pugh inattendance. Also, in 1990 the chapter hosted the North Atlantic Region’s Fourth Cluster II Leadership Conference at the Tidewater Inn. In 2005 the chapter held its Twentieth Anniversary Celebration also at the Tidewater Inn, with Former North Atlantic Regional Director Soror Ruth C. Easley as keynote speaker. In 2008 the chapter once again hosted the Cluster II Leadership Conference in Dover, Delaware.

The local communities have honored the chapter for the effectiveness of its services with recognitions such as the UMOJA Award presented by the Kwanzaa Foundation of Easton in December 2003, Certificates of Participation in the National African American Read-In to promote literacy presented by Chesapeake College in 2005 and 2006, and the State Excellence for Minority Achievement Award given by former State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick, Maryland StateDepartment of Education in 2006. In 2009 the chapter received regiona lrecognition from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. for its Community Health Fair and the Community Service Award from the Talbot County Branch of the NAACP.  In 2010 the chapter received Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s Citation for outstanding work in the support of youth.