President’s September Greeting
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.” Psalm 118:29 {KJV}
Greetings Fellow Doorkeepers!
I want to begin my September Greetings with a big thank you to the ICUA Ushers that served for the Missionary Baptist Ministers Conference of Washington, DC & Vicinity for their Closing Session and Scholarship Service on Monday, July 29th at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church! I was not sure whether the ICUA would be able to accept the invitation to serve from Reverend L. K Floyd – the President of this Conference – due to the National Centennial Convention scheduled to be in session in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the time of the request to serve. Thank God for the following Ushers who served for this special event, for it is our practice to serve for all requests, if possible! God made it possible!
Marie Thomas {Usher-In-Charge} – Macedonia Community Church
Betty Miller – Liberty Baptist Church
Delores Y. O’Bryant – Liberty Baptist Church
Evelyn Clark – Liberty Baptist Church
Nancy Wiley – Liberty Baptist Church
Grace Fort – Mount Pleasant Baptist Church
All praises to God for a blessed and successful 100th National United Church Ushers Association of America, Inc. Convention held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the week of July 28th through August 2nd. Thanks to our Heavenly Father for grace and traveling mercy! A few of our members spent several days in the hospital while in Philadelphia. We are blessed that they are doing much better and were able to return home after the Convention.
The focus of this Convention was centered around the 100 years that the NUCUAA Organization has been in existence. The Convention week consisted of the reenactment of the first Ushers’ Convention held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1919, and a Ribbon- Cutting Ceremony to officially open the “Centennial Museum” of numerous historical items from the four Regions {Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western} that make up the National Organization and Departments and Committees of NUCUAA. The following ICUA representatives participated in the reenactment of the first Ushers’ Convention:
George J. Irick – Brother William H. Davis {The First National Vice President}
Ronald L. Jones – Brother Arthur Edmonds {Chaplain}
Pansy Bradley-Cooper – Sister J. Beal {President of the Ladies’ Auxiliary to the Ushers’ Brotherhood}
A Banner Ceremony representing the 28 States in the National Organization was held on Monday, July 29th. Board of Trustees’ Vice Chairman Cynthia C. Archie and Trustee Dwight D. Williams, Sr! carried the Banner for the District of Columbia.
The District of Columbia – along with the States of Philadelphia, Delaware, New Jersey, and Massachusetts – were presented a Special Recognition Award for being the five Founding States of NUCUAA, Inc.
The following members received a Certificate of Recognition for 50+ Years of Attendance at the National United Church Ushers Association of America, Inc. National Conventions:
Sister Frieda Y. Alston – 57 Consecutive Years
Sister Lestine D. Braddock – 50+ Years
Sister Christine E. Ford – 50+ Years
Brother Roy L. Kelly – 50+ Years
Sister June D. May – 50+ Years
Sister Dorothy T. Thomas – 50+ Years
Sister Romaine A. Wilkins – 50+ Years
All Delegates received a Certificate stating – “This Certificate Certifies That {The Delegate’s Name} Attended and Participated in the National United Church Ushers Association of America, Inc. Centennial Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 29 – August 2, 2019.” The Certificate is signed by Ruth I Jones, National President – Patricia A. Holmes, Chairman, Board of Directors – and Sylvester T. Williams, Centennial Chairman.
At the James E. Anderson Unity Luncheon on Tuesday afternoon, July 30th, a segment in the program titled “Crowing of Twelve” Centennial Coronation 2019 consisted of three individuals from the four Regions representing the Past – Present – and Future. Sister Elrita F. James from The New Macedonia Baptist Church represented our Past, and Sister Setota Johnson from Mt. Sinai Baptist Church represented our Future.
Our Pre-registration and On-site Registration for the Convention consisted of 137 Seniors, 2 Young Adults, and 15 Juniors for a total of 154 Delegates. A special thank you to all of our Delegates for making the sacrifice to attend the 100th National Convention, and most of all, representing the District of Columbia!
I extend my sincere expression of thanks to Sister Corinne Mungo and Sister Juanita Prophet for their untiring labor of love and dedication. Sister Corinne Mungo served as our Credential Chairperson, and Sister Juanita Prophet researched and prepared the District of Columbia’s display for the Centennial Historical Museum. Ladies, you all are AWESOME!
Kudos to all assigned Delegates that represented the District of Columbia at Department / Committee meetings during the week of the Convention!
To Sister Druscilla J. Smalls and the Transportation and Housing Committee, thank you for organizing the roundtrip bus transportation for our Delegates attending the Convention!
To our First-Timers attending the Convention, I hope that your experience was one that you will remember for the rest of your life, that you will share your experience with your fellow Ushers, and encourage them to attend the 101st NUCUAA Convention next year in Orlando, Florida.
Please join me in extending congratulations to the following Elected and Appointed National Officers:
Senior Department
Elected
Brother Charles J. Brown – NUCUAA’s 1st Vice President and Eastern Region Director
Sister Melinda H. Wilkins – Chairman, Board of Directors
Sister Roslyn Moore – Financial Secretary
Sister Jeannette S. Riddick – Nominating Committee
Appointed
Dr. Linda A. Smallwood – National Parliamentarian / Member, R. E. Harshaw Jr. Foundation / Bylaws Committee
Brother Leroy I. Stewart – Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms
Sister Geraldine V. Washington – Chairman, Election Committee
Sister Romaine A. Wilkins – Counselor, Young Adult Department
Dr. Eddie Lee Key – Dr. Earl T. Matthews Parliamentary Staff
Sister Juanita Prophet – Chairman, Information Technology / Marketing Strategies Team
Junior and Young People’s Department
Brother London A. Lampkin – Chairman, Board of Directors
Brother Vondell Livingston – Sergeant-At-Arms
Sister Gabrielle Mebane – Chairman, Memorial Committee
Brother Vashone Muse – Chairman, Resolution Committee
Arts and Crafts Committee
Sister Briajia Johnson
Sister Setota Johnson
Brother Jeremiah Roper – Arts and Crafts Committee / School of Ushering
Young Adult Department
Sister Christie C. Savage – Board Member and Nominating Committee Chairman
Sister Karisse A. Carmack – Doorkeeper Chairman
WINNERS * WINNERS * WINNERS
We are very proud of the accomplishments of our members in the various areas of competition:
Senior Floor Demonstration Team – 1st Place {Score: 99.6}. Four States competed in the Senior Floor Demonstration.
Senior Drill Competition Team – 1st Place {Score: 99.6}. Five States competed in the Senior Drill Competition.
George T. Grier School of Ushering Department King and Queen Competition – Queen Cynthia L. Green, Galilee Baptist Church, was crowned 1st Place in “Class A” of the Competition. Her escort was Ronald L. Jones – Chairman – Board of Trustees. She raised a total of $6,725.
Congratulations to Vice President Brenda Gilliam from Hemingway Memorial A.M.E. Church on receiving the George T. Grier School of Ushering Department Rhunette Williams Advanced Instructors’ Seminar “2019 – 2020 Instructor of the Year Award.”
Young Adult Department – Queen Karisse A. Carmack, Mount Carmel Baptist Church, was crowned 2nd Place Winner. She raised $3,750.
Junior and Young People’s Department – Queen Setota Johnson, from Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, was crowned 1st Place Winner in the “Vicie Juran Flower Garden Pageant.” She raised $11,149.67. Setota’s escort was Brother Michael Robinson – the 2018 ICUA King – from Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. The Court consisted of Jeremiah Roper {First Rock Baptist Church}; Briajia Johnson {Mt. Carmel Baptist Church}; Vice President Jeremiah Catoe, and Sister Maya Catoe {First Rock Baptist Church}; along with Supervisor Iona Carter {Trinidad Baptist Church}; and Assistant Supervisor Earline Green-Croom {Mt. Carmel Baptist Church}.
The District of Columbia won 2nd Place {$1,422} in the Allan A. C. Griffith, Sr. Education Department Penny Bucket Contest.
Many thanks to the members of the District of Columbia for donating 72 backpacks of the total 190 backpacks filled with school supplies donated to two middle-schools in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.
The District of Columbia won the R. E. Harshaw Jr. Foundation 2nd Place Award for the $0.52 per Usher contribution.
The District of Columbia won the William H. Davis Award – 1st Place in “Class A” for Membership.
On Saturday – August 17th – we celebrated “Family and Friends Day” at Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The event was well attended with 206 Officers, members, and guests. Of that total, 82 of the 206 attendees were non-ICUA members. The fellowship – food – and games were great! My sincere appreciation to the Membership Services and Outreach Department – under the leadership of Director Frances S. Penn – for spearheading this Annual Event. Special Thanks and Kudos to the Committee for your labor of love that went into making this event special! Job well done!
All ICUA Elected and Appointed Officers, please mark your calendars. The next Executive Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 17th at the Headquarters, at 7:00 PM.
Ushers’ Ministry Presidents and ICUA Guardians, please mark your calendars for Saturday, October 19th. This will be our final meeting for the year The meeting will be held at the ICUA Headquarters, 1923 – 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC, starting at 8:30 AM with breakfast, and the meeting at 9:00 AM.
The New York State 99th Memorial Weekend – in conjunction with the Eastern Region Mid-Year Meeting – will be held November 9-10, 2019. The host Hotel is the LaGuardia Plaza Hotel, 104-04 Ditmars Boulevard, East Elmhurst, New York. The room rate is $172.00 across the board. One night room deposit is required with reservation. The reservation deadline is October 1, 2019. Make checks payable to “The Church Ushers Association of the State of New York,” and enter your arrival and departure date in the memo section. Contact Bridget Martin to make your reservations. The Pre-Memorial Musical will be held on Saturday, November 9th at 7:00 PM, and the Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, November 10th at 2:30 PM. Both Services will be held at Bethany Baptist Church, 460 Marcus Garvey Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York NOTE: The Eastern Region Mid-Year Meeting will be held on Saturday at the Hotel at 1:00 PM, and the Interstate Council Meeting will be held at the Hotel on Sunday morning at 11:00 AM.
Please join me in congratulating Brother London A. Lampkin {New Redeemer Baptist Church}on being this year’s recipient of the National R. E. Harshaw, Jr. Foundation and the District of Columbia Matching Scholarship Grant in the amount of $500.00.
Happy Birthday to all celebrating a birthday during the month of September!
Continue to pray for all sick, shut-in, and bereaved families.
Working together in Love and Unity pleases our Lord and Savior.
Yours in Christian Service,
Pansy Bradley-Cooper
President
