President’s February 2020 Greeting

“…God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him.”

1 John 4”16 (KJV)

Greetings Fellow Doorkeepers!

The first Business Meeting of the year was held at Peace Baptist Church.  The Meeting was well attended with members of the ICUA.  God started the year by blessing the ICUA with one new Church and one Associate member joining the ICUA.  The Church was Word for Life Church Ministries – Fort Washington, Maryland, and Associate Member Sister Teri Daniell Burnett.  Please welcome and extend encouraging words to our new members when you see them.

Congratulations to Sister Lucille W. Wells from Mt. Moriah Baptist Church on receiving the National William H. Davis Honorary Medal.  Sister Wells has been an outstanding member of the William H. Davis Honor Club on the Local level for over 35 years.  She served as Chairman of the ICUA William H Davis Honor Club for many years, and she consistently worked to ensure that members were active and supported the William H. Davis Honor Club.  On the National level, Sister Wells attends the meetings on a regular basis.  She has been a member of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church for over 50 years.  She is very active in her church and her community.

Dr. Linda A. Smallwood installed the following Appointed Officers at the meeting:

Senior Department 

• Onetia J. Evans – Chaplain
• Quintina Kornegay Brown – Correspondence Secretary
• Renard L. Bythewood-Huckeby – Parliamentarian

Events Department

• Eunice B. Wise – Director
• Alma J. Edwards – Assistant Director

Membership Services and Outreach Department

• Frances S. Penn – Director
• Meleanie R. Bell – Assistant Director

Education and Scholarship Department

• Phyllis P. Dorsey – Director 
• Betty M. Bright – Assistant Director

Alma Cooper Hawkins Public Relations Department

• Brenda J. Sellers – Director
• Rosie C. White – Assistant Director

Thelma D. Goodwin Policy and Rules Department

• Vernard E. Jackson – Director
• Jean E. Jalloh – Assistant Director

Budget and Finance Department

• Jacqueline P. Byrd-Tillman – Director
• Darrell W. Johnson – Assistant Director

Young Adult Department

• Roslyn Moore – Counselor
• Angela O. Walker-Suttles – Co-Counselor

Junior and Young People’s Department

• Iona P. Carter – Supervisor
• Earline Green-Croom – Assistant Supervisor 

Randy L. Perrin Men’s Day Committee

• George J. Irick – Chairman
• Clarence O. Dillahunt, Sr. – Assistant Chairman

Christine M. Green Women’s Day Committee

• Helon V. Smith – Chairman
• Frances Jackson – Assistant Chairman

Transportation and Housing Committee

• Druscilla J. Smalls – Chairman
• Lestine D. Braddock – Assistant Chairman

June D. May Building Fund Working Unit

• June D. May – Coordinator 
• William E. Bolden – Assistant Coordinator 

Ritualistic Coordinator

• Druscilla J. Smalls

Photographer

• Omar J. Mitchell

JUNIOR AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S DEPARTMENT

• Jayvon Peach – President
• Michael Dunn – Vice President
• Jeremiah Catoe – Recording Secretary
• Stafford Connelly, III – Financial Secretary
• Darnel Gilliam – Assistant Financial Secretary
•                       – Chaplin {Vacant}
• Kelsey Shannon – Assistant Chaplin
• Michael F. Robinson – Sergeant-At-Arms
• Briajia Johnson – Assistant Sergeant-At-arms

Congratulations to all Elected and Appointed Officers!  I am looking forward to working with each Officer throughout the year.

Junior President Jayvon Peach and yours truly – Senior  President Pansy Bradley-Cooper – presented our  Presidential Addresses at the Business Meeting.

President Peach is interested in Computer Science and love programming.  His plan for the future is to go into cybersecurity.  His scripture for the Junior and Young People’s Department is Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit in me.”  He believes that God is saying don’t just put on clean clothes when you get up but clean up your mind and spirit.  Start new; get rid of your old ways.  “Restore unto me the joy of the salvation and uphold me with tat free spirit.”  I believe in 2020 we all should follow the scripture Psalm 51:10 and work on our hearts and spirits.  Vision and Goals for the year are as follows:

1. To increase membership by having an Open House.
2. Training in technology – Google Classroom 
3. Continue annual events:
   1. Susie Gomes Program
   2. Mother’s Day Luncheon
   3. Vicie Juran/King and Queen Pageant/Luncheon
4. Fundraisers – selling Krispy Kreme Donuts
5. Community Outreach – Donating socks to men and women in shelters.

I pray this year goes well and as the new President, I will strive to do my best to work towards my vision and goals.

I presented my final Presidential Address as the 18^th President of the ICUA.  I started my Presidential Address by giving all honor and praise to my heavenly Father for His blessings, grace, and mercy for allowing me the opportunity to stand before the best Church Ushering Organization in the United States to give my 2020 Presidential Address.

For the past 3 years, I have used the theme “The Power of Love and Unity” – with scriptural reference of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 1 – Verse 10: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” as our theme for 2020.  However, we will focus on the word “togetherness.”  This is the year of togetherness!

I reported on the “State of the ICUA.” We are blessed to end the year 2019 in the black.  We are no longer robbing Peter to pay Paul.  This is due to the oversight and partnership of our finances by the Board of Trustees and the Budget and Finance Department making certain that the Departments, Committees, special activities, and events stay within their prescribed budget.

Over the past 3 years, we have accomplished a lot.  To name a few accomplishments:  2017 – The main goal was to improve the communication process with timely information being shared with the membership.  Members are now informed of local, Region, and National communications in a timely manner. 2018 – We honored the Pastors of our member churches with a “Pastors’ Appreciation.” 

Mini topics on health issues are being shared with the membership.  Free Workshops were offered to the membership, i.e. Excel ad Effective Leadership.  – We collaborated with First Rock Baptist Church on a facility to hold a Saturday School of Ushering Class for our Juniors.  – 2019 was our “Stretching” year.  We honored 20 dedicated and faithful members aged. 60+ at the Alberta T. Leonard Golden Age Luncheon. In an effort to increase our membership, we held an “Open House” at the ICUA Headquarters. Our Thanksgiving Basket donations increased from 44 in 2018 to 95 in 2019.  The Alumni Working Unit increased the number of “Brown Bag Lunches” for the homeless; the number of winter coats donated to schools in the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County in Maryland was increased; our monumental stretch for 2019 was the 107^th ICUA Anniversary.  We raised over $9,000.00 for the ICUA Building Maintenance Fund.

My Goal and Initiatives for 2020:

1. This year before December 31, 2020, we will have definitive Standard Operating Procedures for all Departments and Committees – including the Board of Trustees and the Catherine E. Mills School of Ushering.
2. In keeping with the sequence to have the Pastors’ Appreciation every other year, we will honor the Pastors of our member churches on Saturday – September 19, 2020.
3. We will continue to seek and come up with creative ways to increase membership.
4. This year, we plan to publish our second Pictorial Documentary covering the period 1999 to 2020.
5. We will continue to do more Outreach type projects, similar to the “Warm Nights New Blanket Project.”
6. We will offer the Fancy Napkin Folding and Centerpiece Arrangements Workshop again this year
7. We will have an evening of Fun and Games on Saturday – July 11, 2020.
8. The Juniors will be working with our Seniors to show them how to navigate their iPhones and Android Cell Phones.
9. Lastly, we will begin to prepare to host the 64^th Eastern Region Conference in conjunction with our 109^th Memorial Weekend.

Thank you to members of the ICUA!  Thank you for your confidence in me to serve as your President, but most of all, I would like to thank you for your support, commitment, and dedication as we work together to fulfill the Purpose and Mission of the ICUA!  The organization that has been in existence for 108 years,

On Sunday – January 19, 2020, we had a spirit-filled “Re-Dedication Service” at Galilee Baptist Church.  The 2020 Re-Dedication Service theme was “Servants Committed to God’s Service” – Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans – with a scriptural reference of Proverbs 16:3 {KJV}. Rev. Dr. Lloyd T. McGriff was the Preacher for the occasion.  Dr. McGriff’s Sermon topic was “Commit.”  The ”Re-Dedication Service” is our first official program for the year.  We want to start the year off by Re-Dedicating our service unto God and the ICUA.  Thanks to the Catherine E. Mills School of Ushering for serving at the program, Evangelist Stevie Henry, Sister Anna Rowe, and the Created Vessels from Galilee Baptist Church for rendering the musical selections!  Many thanks to the Events Department, Re-Dedication Working Unit for planning a spirit-filled program!

On Saturday – January 25, 2020, we held our 2020 Vision Planning Meeting at Macedonia Community Church.  The total pre-registration was very impressive. We had  77  Seniors and 22  Juniors for 99 to pre-register for the meeting.  The sub-theme for the meeting was “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” {Proverbs 29:18}.  The meeting consisted of presentations by the Junior and Young People’s Department – Budget and Finance Department – Board of Trustees – A group exercise on “Strategic Planning” – and a review of the ICUA Calendar of Activities and Events for the year.  

The Ushers’ Ministry Presidents’ / ICUA Guardians’ Meeting will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2020, at Macedonia Community Church, 1026 46^th Street, NE, Washington, DC.  The meeting will start with breakfast at 8:30 AM, and the meeting will start promptly at 9:00 AM.

All Elected and Appointed Officers are required to attend the Executive Committee Meeting on Monday, February 18^th at the ICUA Headquarters at 7:30 PM.

Reminders and Updates:

The 63^rd Annual Eastern Region Conference will convene on Friday – March 13, 2020, through Saturday – March 14, 2020, at the Doubletree Hotel Downtown, Wilmington, Delaware.  Our Johnnie F. Knighton Prayer Breakfast Honorees – Dolores Wallace and Sister Eunice Wise – will be honored on Saturday morning – March 14, 2020.  The State of Delaware will be observing their Memorial Weekend on Saturday evening. with a Pre-Memorial Musical, and the Memorial Service on Sunday, March 15, 2020, at 2:30 PM. 

The State of Virginia will observe their 57^th Tri-Annual Memorial Weekend on April 4, 2020, with a Pre-Memorial Musical at 7:00 PM, and the Memorial Service will be held on Sunday – April 5, 2020, at 2:30 PM.  Both services will be held at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 909 Queen Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.  Hotel reservations have been made with the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton, 5821 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, Virginia 22303.  Telephone Number 703-329-1400.  The room rate is $119.00 plus 12% tax {subject to change}.  A complimentary breakfast will be served for hotel guests from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM.  The reservation is under the name “ICUA of Virginia.”

Do not forget to make your lodging reservations for the 101^st National Convention.  The Host Hotel is the Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Drive, Orlando, Florida.  The hotel rate is $139.00 per night.  The hotel tax is currently 13.63% {Subject to change.}  You will be required to pay a 1-night with taxes deposit when making reservations.  The total amount is $157.95.  Reservation Number:  1-800-204-7734 or https://www.nationalchurchushers.org

Click on Convention / Conference – Select 101^st National Convention – Click on NUCUAA for online reservations.

Let us all continue to work together in “Love and Unity.”

Happy Birthday to all celebrating a birthday during the month of February!

Please keep Mother Elaine S. Flanagan and Father Roy L. Kelly in prayer, as well as all sick, shut-in, and bereaved families.

Yours in Christian Service,

Pansy Bradley-Cooper

President

Happy Black History Month & Valentine’s Day!