Delta's Stories of Triumph (DST in the News)

[CrimsonTide4]

On March 27, 2003, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, achieved
yet another great moment in its illustrious 90-year history.

The United Nations (UN) Department of Social and Economic Council
bestowed Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status upon Delta because
of the Sorority's commitment to political, social, and economic reform
around the world. The ceremony took place at the UN headquarters in New
York. Among the NGOs currently in existence, only 2 are African-American
organizations: National Council of Negro Women, and of course, Delta
Sigma Theta. (It was not known by the ceremony attendees whether the
Links have acquired this status.)

This was an historic moment. As the UN Security Council met in a nearby
conference room discussing the situation in Iraq, Dr. Hanifa Mezoui,
Chief NGO Section Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the UN,
presented the NGO proclamation to President Gwendolyn Boyd during a
luncheon in the UN delegates' dining room.

According to a 2000 UN publication, "Basic Facts about the UN," about
1600 organizations have our consultative status with the UN, partnering
with the UN to provide our demonstrated special expertise, technical
knowledge, and experience to the UN in areas of health, economics, etc.

After the presentation of the proclamation, appointees of UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan, including Gillian Sorensen, Assistant Secretary
General for External Affairs (Ted Sorenson's wife), and others briefed
Deltas on issues of global advancement of women, elimination of violence
against women, state of the world's children, and women and aging.

Achieving NGO status is the result of a multi-year application process,
as President Gwendolyn Boyd envisioned one day achieving this honor.
Just imagine, the UN will now consult with Delta Sigma Theta on policy
and program matters of mutual concern to both groups. We will be
working directly with the UN to meet the objectives of its Charter.

By the way, we saw immediate benefits in our status as a newly minted
NGO when the UN bookstore was ordered re-opened after it closed at 5:00
pm so that the ladies in red could shop...smile



Soror Boyd, take a bow as well as all SORORS who helped make this happen.

[ladygreek]

Kudos also to Past Presidents Marcia Fudge and Dorothy I. Height who began the multi-year process.

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by ladygreek
Kudos also to Past Presidents Marcia Fudge and Dorothy I. Height who began the multi-year process.

I shoulda have known those 2 were also instrumental. Soror Marcia is mayor where I grew up. I love her so.

[ladygreek]

I was hanging with her just last weekend. She keynoted the IL Statewide Founders and was awesome as usual.

From what I was told, Soror Height approached Marcia with the idea (because NCNW was doing it) while Marcia was president and the two of them pulled together the application and got the ball rolling. It took this long for the process to be completed.

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by ladygreek
I was hanging with her just last weekend. She keynoted the IL Statewide Founders and was awesome as usual.

From what I was told, Soror Height approached Marcia with the idea (because NCNW was doing it) while Marcia was president and the two of them pulled together the application and got the ball rolling. It took this long for the process to be completed.

Rome was not built in a day, anything worth doing takes some time. I am glad and proud to see this happen.

Both her and Soror Height are such beautiful women. Soror Boyd too. Soror LadyGreek you too. Heck we all are

[CrimsonTide4]

I was just informed that there are other orgs who share this honor of NGO status, but DELTA SIGMA THETA remains the newest.

At any rate, thanks to Shelacious for informing me that [color=royal blue]Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.[/color] and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. have also been bestowed with the NGO status from the United Nations.

Here is the complete listing of orgs with NGO status.

NGO STATUS ORGS

[treblk]

what an honor!!
Makes you feel all proud and stuff

[Eclipse]

Congratulations!!

[FeeFee]

I saw my organization on the list as well - Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.

A big congratulations to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for reaching NGO status.

[Mz. Sports Luva]

Congrats to DST! That's pretty cool.

[ladygreek]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Rome was not built in a day, anything worth doing takes some time. I am glad and proud to see this happen.

Both her and Soror Height are such beautiful women. Soror Boyd too. Soror LadyGreek you too. Heck we all are

I found out yesterday that the idea actually began during Hortense Canady's administration during the Women's Conference in China and was further germinated during the Women's Conference in Kenya. The final push then happened about 4 years ago.

So this has truly been an idea worth waiting for. I am also glad to see our other Sister Greeks having gained NGO status as well. Together we can make an even bigger impact.

[12dn94dst]

In an effort to educate myself on our newest honor, I did a little research. Apparently, there are 2 types of NGO status, NGOs associate with DPI (Department of Public Information) and NGOs with consultative status with ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council). You can have one, the other, or both. My Sister-Sorors of AKA and Zeta are NGOc with DPI, while Delta is NGO consultative status with ECOSOC. If you go here: http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/ngo...h/alphabet.htm and click on an organization's name, you will see what status they have, either DPI or E/D.

[DELTAQTE]

this was posted on kazo:
1. The original email, which has spread throughout the Internet, is not an official press release from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The official release will soon be on the national website.

2. NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are "any non-profit, voluntary citizens' group which is organized on a local, national, or international level." In the US we refer to them as nonprofits, social service agencies, etc. NGO is an international term that is mainly used in other countries to refer to their nonprofit sector. So in effect all of the BGLOs are NGOs.

3. AKA, ZPB, DST, Links, NAACP, and NCNW are all NGO associates of DPI, the Department of Information of the UN--AKA, ZPB, Links, and NCNW with a focus on women's rights, and DST and NAACP with a focus on human rights. This association is gained through an application process. To read more about what this means go to: www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/brochure.htm

4. In addition, NCNW and DST also have General Consultative and Special Consultative status, respectively, with the Economic and Social Council (ESOSOC.) This is also attained through an application process. DST received this status in Fall 2002, but the ceremony was just held last week. More info about what this means is also at the above link.

5. DST did not become an associate to DPI in the 50s or 60s. The resolution to have such associations was not passed by the Economic and Social Council until 1968. However, during the tenures of past presidents Dorothy Height (1947-1956) and Hortense Canady (1983-1988) , DST did host or participate in forums, meetings, etc. addressing various UN issues.

[Kimmie1913]

Thank you for your post and clearing up the questions that are now going around the internet. I think many were confused when it was stated that only NCNW and DST hold the particular status with the UN. Hopefully, this will clarify for people that while several African American women's orgs hold NGO status as associates of DPI, NCNW and DST hold General Consultative and Special Consultative status, respectively, with the Economic and Social Council (ESOSOC.)

Originally posted by DELTAQTE
this was posted on kazo:
1. The original email, which has spread throughout the Internet, is not an official press release from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The official release will soon be on the national website.

2. NGOs (non-governmental organizations) are "any non-profit, voluntary citizens' group which is organized on a local, national, or international level." In the US we refer to them as nonprofits, social service agencies, etc. NGO is an international term that is mainly used in other countries to refer to their nonprofit sector. So in effect all of the BGLOs are NGOs.

3. AKA, ZPB, DST, Links, NAACP, and NCNW are all NGO associates of DPI, the Department of Information of the UN--AKA, ZPB, Links, and NCNW with a focus on women's rights, and DST and NAACP with a focus on human rights. This association is gained through an application process. To read more about what this means go to: www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/brochure.htm

4. In addition, NCNW and DST also have General Consultative and Special Consultative status, respectively, with the Economic and Social Council (ESOSOC.) This is also attained through an application process. DST received this status in Fall 2002, but the ceremony was just held last week. More info about what this means is also at the above link.

5. DST did not become an associate to DPI in the 50s or 60s. The resolution to have such associations was not passed by the Economic and Social Council until 1968. However, during the tenures of past presidents Dorothy Height (1947-1956) and Hortense Canady (1983-1988) , DST did host or participate in forums, meetings, etc. addressing various UN issues.

[12dn94dst]

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
A Service Sorority
1707 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 2009
Telephone (202) 986-2400 Fax (202) 986-2513


(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)

NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: Lesley M. Eugene
Public Relations Specialist
leugene@deltasigmatheta.org
202-986-2400 Ext. 383


DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY AWARDED NGO CONSULTATIVE STATUS AT UNITED NATIONS

New York – March 27, 2003 – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has become a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) at the United Nations. In a presentation by Hanifa Mezoui, Chief NGO Section, Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the UN before 150 members of the organization from across the country, the National President, Gwendolyn Boyd, accepted the credentials on behalf of the sorority. Delta Sigma Theta was welcomed to the United Nations by Assistant Secretary General for External Affairs, Gillian Sorensen, who asked the sorority in her keynote address to, “Use your NGO status to monitor the status of women and children in the world and bind together with other NGOs to insure that the UN honors its commitments.” Delta Sigma Theta was granted Special Consultative Status as an NGO to the Economic and Social Council of the UN as a result of its volunteer services and humanitarian efforts performed to address issues throughout the world.

Special Consultative Status as an NGO allows the organization to provide analysis and expertise in monitoring and implementing international agreements on issues of mutual concern. As an NGO, Delta has the opportunity to gain access to and disseminate information concerning the range of issues on women and children in which the United Nations is involved. Delta’s representatives will attend regular briefings and disseminate information on UN activities to its members and the community at large.

Delta Sigma Theta is one of few African American women’s organizations to be credentialed by the United Nations with NGO Consultative status.

Delta Day at the United Nations events on March 27, 2003, included a welcome and overview session presented by Patricia Seghes who discussed the Millennium Declaration which sets forth the UN’s goals for the future, followed by a luncheon with Gillian Sorenson giving the keynote address. The topic was: “The Impact of Global Health Issues on Women”. A number of key UN officials addressed the group during the Delta forum on topics such as “Elimination of Violence Against Women,” “Global Advancement of Women,” “The State of the World’s Children,” and “ Women and Ageing”. Angela King, Assistant Secretary and Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, urged the group to be vigilant in monitoring issues that impact women. Maarit Kohonen, Human Rights Officer of High Commissioner for Human Rights, discussed the problems with U.S. women’s prisons and how to improve relations between NGO’s and the UN. Meg Gardinier, Chief NGO Officer, United States Office for Children (UNICEF), urged Delta to take an active role in the upcoming campaign to gain U.S. support for the Convention on the Rights of A Child and Alexandre Siderenko of Focal Point, United Nations Ageing, spoke on the importance of focusing on gender equity in policy development and the importance of sustaining health and wellness in old age.

National President Gwendolyn Boyd lead the delegation to the UN stating, “This is an historic day for Delta Sigma Theta as we continue to provide our technical expertise with our commitment to service to bring about positive growth and development in the lives of women and children throughout the world.” The Delta delegation consisted of members of the sorority’s National Executive Board, National Social Action Commission, federal and local officials, and other persons actively involved in community development and advocacy.

Founded on January 13, 1913, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has been involved in providing service and support to local communities, leading the dialogue on public policy issues, supporting quality education, providing scholarships, sponsoring artistic innovation, creating positive opportunities for the development of youth, and producing new projects to stimulate current and future economic growth. For more information, visit www.deltasigmatheta.org.