Legacy Award of Achievement

Graphic Design Bethune Cookman College

Bellverie Ross, was honored at the Annual Harambee Brunch at the Doubletree Hotel in Denver Colorado.
Sh was awarded the 2015 Dr. Mary Mc Leod Bethune Legacy Award of Achievement.  Congratulations Bellverie. The Far Western Region Sorors of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. Salute you.  

Host to the 69th FWR Conference

There is so much to do in Seattle we encourage you to plan ahead and schedule a 

couple of days before the 69^th FWR Conference to get in some great sight seeing.

There is the Iconic Space Needle, exciting Public Market, and the original Starbucks.

I think the tiny shoe store that was the original Nordstrom is gone but you can get in 

some good shopping at their Flagship store downtown. There is the Fremont Troll 

residing under the north end of the Aurora Bridge, the floating homes on Lake Union, Pioneer Square, and if you love books, you will have to visit the huge Elliott Bay Book Company still staying competitive with Amazon. 

Drive across the sound and have a meal at Salty’s on Alki Beach (just as the sun sets) 

it is a bit pricey, but I promise you, it is an unforgettable experience.  If you can 

squeeze in the time, take the Catamaran across to British Columbia and see Butchart Gardens.  Even if you don’t get to the Gardens having “Afternoon Tea” in Victoria, or 

simply wandering around the little jewel of a city is well worth the 2-3 hour cruise.

The nightlife is just as exciting in the Emerald City.  Seattle is well know for it’s world 

class jazz, so set aside a night to visit a club just blocks from downtown and the 

waterfront and listen to great music.

I hope you feel excited about spending a few days in Seattle.  Join us at the 69^th FWR

Conference to celebrate our achievements, plan for the coming year and have some fun.

On the Comeback Road

I was following a thread on my "Twitter Feed" and ran across the news of Oprah Winfrey's new effort: "Belief" a groundbreaking television event exploring humankind's ongoing search to connect with something greater than ourselves.   After I made sure the date and time of the show was posted in my calendar with an alert I decided to devote a few minutes to a video log presented by Tim Story.  Tim's message spoke to me and I think it will speak to you too.  In fact I think Tim Story has a message for the Far Western Region as we pave the road to a "Comeback".  This video post is about 30 minutes long so watch this video when you have a bit of time, a cup of hot tea and a snack.  I think you will be glad you did.   I hope you will find the time to listen and write your thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of this page. 

http://www.supersoul.tv/supersoul-sessions/tim-storey-the-heart-and-soul-of-a-comeback/

Team Work

Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work,                   a society work, a civilization work."    ~Vince Lombardi~

Beverly McMilan

Beverly McMillan  is a site leader for Alliance Data in Rio Rancho, capping a 27-year career in care center leadership. But in the community she is known for her work on domestic violence, and she was a key ally during the six years that Sage magazine presented public forums on the topic, from 1999 to 2005.

McMillan is still active on the boards of United Way of Central New Mexico and Albuquerque Community Foundation. She continues to be an advocate for victims of domestic violence as the go-to person at her church if someone is looking for services. “So that is still near and dear to my heart,” McMillan says. She also is president of the local branch of a national service organization called The Links Inc., a volunteer service organization that advocates for African-Americans.

What inspires her: “I’m old-school so I still believe in the human spirit, humankind. If we all put our heads together … we can come together and solve the problems of the world.”She says that if everyone “picked up one person, there wouldn’t be a single homeless person.”

Finding that passion: Young women should figure out what their passion is as soon as possible and follow it. She acknowledges that following that passion is going to get uncomfortable. But, she says, stick with it and you’ll not only see the rewards, you’ll get there faster.“Watch the self talk,” McMillan says. “Don’t get in your own way. It took me all these years to figure that all out.”

On who she is: “I’ve had a very interesting life. I don’t think I’d be Beverly McMillan if I changed it. I wouldn’t change a thing. I have no regrets.”

Dr. Arelia Powers-Harris, PhD.

Dr. Harris is the Acting Civil Rights Director for the Southwestern Region of the USDA Forest Service.  She received her Bachelors in Accounting from Southern University, her Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Florida an her PhD in Natural Resource Economics from Michigan State University. 

She began her professional career teaching at several Universities while completing her degrees.   She began her career in the Forest Service, as what was then known as the Student Career Experience Program.  While participating in the SCEP Aurelia worked in research at Michigan State University, at the Forest Service Northern Research Station in St. Paul, MN and at the Southern Research Station in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.  After receiving her Doctorate degree she moved on to the WO Timber and Planning Staffs in Fort Collins, Colorado where she served as an Natural Resource Economist.

After two and one half years Aurelia moved to The Southwestern Regional Office to serve as the Assistant Regional Economist on the Program Development and Budget staff in 1994.   In 1998 she was promoted and served as the Regional Economist in State and Private Staff.   In 2005 she accepted a position on the Regional Office’s Civil Rights Staff serving at the Regional Student Coordinator and EEO Specialist.   Aurelia is currently the Acting Regional Civil Rights Director serving the Region and working on the National Civil Rights Implementation Team.

Aurelia is a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority INC, an international service sorority, where she has served as Chapter president, Chapter vice president, Regional Nominating Committee Chairperson and Advisor to the Sorority’s undergraduate Chapter on the campus of the University of New Mexico.    She serves on the Board of Directors for New Mexico Jazz Workshop and the Sickle Cell Council of New Mexico.  Aurelia is a member of John XXII Catholic Community where she is a lector, CCD Instructor, Eucharistic Minister, and choir member. She continues to volunteer at several other non-profit agencies in the Greater Albuquerque area.

She is the proud mother of one daughter and grandmother of one granddaughter and mother-in-law of one son.

Dr. Harris is the Acting Civil Rights Director for the Southwestern Region of the USDA Forest Service.  She received her Bachelors in Accounting from Southern University, her Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Florida an her PhD in Natural Resource Economics from Michigan State University.  She is a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority INC,  serves on the Board of Directors for New Mexico Jazz Workshop and the Sickle Cell Council of New Mexico.  She is active in her church, John XXII Catholic Community where she is a lector, CCD Instructor, Eucharistic Minister, and choir member. She continues to volunteer at several other non-profit agencies in the Greater Albuquerque area.

Dr. Harris is the Acting Civil Rights Director for the Southwestern Region of the USDA Forest Service. She began her professional career teaching at the University level while completing her degrees, and her career with the Forest Service, as what was then known as the Student Career Experience Program.  In addition to her work, Dr. Harris serves on the Board of Directors for New Mexico Jazz Workshop, the Sickle Cell Council of New Mexico and volunteers at several other non-profit agencies in the Greater Albuquerque area.

Pamelya P. Herndon

Pamelya Herndon is a former Deputy Cabinet Secretary and General Counsel in New Mexico State government. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Howard University in Washington, DC and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Texas School of Law.
Ms. Herndon has an impressive professional career that includes serving as a senior litigation attorney with the Internal Revenue Service and as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of New Mexico. She is licensed to practice law in the states of Colorado and New Mexico, and before the United States Tax Court and United States Supreme Court. She is also a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the State of Texas.

Ms. Herndon has taught courses at the University of New Mexico Law School and most recently served as counsel with the Ahr Law Offices in Albuquerque. She has helped train paralegals and legal secretaries at Brookline College.

Ms. Herndon has worked to help an array of women of all races and ethnic backgrounds achieve their full economic and personal potential. She is a long time member of the National Council of Negro Women and sits as a member of the Board of Directors of Emerge New Mexico. Pamelya Herndon serves as the 1st Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of US New Mexico Federal Credit Union and President of the Board of the Con Alma Health Foundation. She is a strong advocate of the New Mexico Youth Entrepreneurship program where she helped a young woman of mixed heritage achieve her goal of writing a winning business plan for a future business. Ms. Herndon has been a leader in Emerging Young Leaders, a program spearheaded by the international Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. The program focuses on improving the social and educational stature of girls. On some Sunday mornings, Ms. Herndon can be heard as the Southwest Gospel Diva hosting the Train to Glory radio program on KUNM.

Ms. Herndon says she is humbled by her selection and is excited about the new challenges that await her. In addition to her focus on developing economic and educational programs for girls and women, Ms. Herndon will continue to carry out the core mission of the Law Center that includes eliminating gender bias, discrimination and harassment; lifting women and their families out of poverty; and ensuring that all women have full control over their reproductive lives through access to comprehensive reproductive health services and information.
Article retrieved from: Southwest Women’s Law Center
http://www.swwomenslaw.org/boardandstaff.htm