Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Fall 2023 11 SAIs in e News to receive a proclamation by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb naming both as "Distinguished Hoosiers." e International Conductor's Guild (ICG) was happy to recognize the maestro and suggested the band members provide a lasting gi for their leader. Members contributed $2,000 to pay Jasek's lifetime dues for the International Conductor's Guild. At the May 2022 concert, a plaque was presented to Jasek from the ICG as well as a copy of the "Congressional Record." U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan obliged by reading a proclamation into the record recognizing the Highland Community Band on its 30 th anniversary, as well as its maestro, noting his membership in Sigma Alpha Iota as a National Arts Associate. As the Highland Community Band moves toward its 35 th anniversary, this small-town band realizes and relishes the opportunity to have created so many friendships and a sense of community amongst themselves, thanks to the foresight and support of two very distinguished members of Sigma Alpha Iota. Peggy Glennie, an initiate of Beta Lambda Chapter at Valparaiso University, was a longtime member of the Lake County Alumnae Chapter, served as Beta B Province Officer and Region V Regional Officer, and is currently a member of the Oak Park Alumnae Chapter. As the VP of Marketing and Communications for the Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society (RBPSOC), SAI Rev. Dr. Sonja Elise Freeman successfully developed and executed the 1st RBPSOC Black Music Month's International Library Curation and Virtual Lecture Campaign, along with Founder, CEO, and President, Mr. Perry Thompson, from June 1-30, 2023. This campaign involved fifteen United States PWI and HBCU libraries, as well as one United Kingdom college and one community library, participating in a showcase for their patrons of up to 50 books, videos, albums, CDs, and sheet music to celebrate Black music culture. The Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society is a 501c3 nonprofit based in Atlantic City, New Jersey, founded in 2018 with a mission to "preserve Black music culture one record at a time" by "spearheading having African American Music Studies degree programs in colleges and universities in America by 2030." (RBPSOC) Freeman will also compete as Ms. Achievement Barbados 2023 in the Ms. Achievement World 2024 Pageant produced by Dr. World Productions based in Kentucky Saturday, July 29, 2023, a virtual event. Her platform is Black Music Preservation. She also received the President's Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award on July 7, 2023, in Houston, Texas for her years of service and for achieving 4,000 community service hours in various community organizations in 2022-2023. — Submitted by Ayanda L. Wright, Editor and Yearbook Directory Chairman, New York Alumnae Chapter You can learn more about The Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society at: https://www.youtube.com/@RBPSOC S A I A LU M N A H I G H L I G H T

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