May 23, 2021. The newly elected officers bid adieu to five alumnae members from service to support roles while adding five newly inducted links to the fold. I wish to acknowledge and honor the strong leadership that brought us from an interest group, through the chartering process, and to a viable chapter that has established its place in our community.

As we press forward, each new officer vows to strengthen the pillars of friendship and service. We are proud of the virtual community service programs that were implemented throughout the global pandemic and approach the upcoming service year with the resiliency of our ancestors. Until we can assemble in friendship and service, we will continue to collaborate on quality interactions to transform our service area.

There is much work to do, but we are up to the challenge. We will navigate the changes before us with grace and dignity because we are the personification of womanhood. Our genuine concern for one another and the community we live and play compels us to continue the journey that began on November 4, 2017.

1946. The membership consists of nearly 15,000 professional women of color in 285 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.

As the 284^th Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, chartered on November 4, 2017, the women of the Hilton Head (SC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated embody the relentless spirit of the Lowcountry. With diverse professions and passions, we have given countless hours serving the community.

We are health-care professionals, corporate executives, authors, technologists, educators, scientists, entrepreneurs, members of the Bar, and veterans. We hail from Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Beaufort, Ridgeland, Yemassee, and Burton in South Carolina and Savannah and Pooler in Georgia.

We are board members of the United Way, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Junior Achievement, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Susan G. Komen, American Cancer Association, Red Cross, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, Mitchellville, Habitat for Humanity, National Dental Association, National Jack & Jill Association, Junior League, Urban League, NAACP, National Association of Colored Women, Greenbriar Children’s Center, Penn Center, King Tisdale, The Ronald McDonald House, sororities, and faith-based organizations, just to name a few.

We are passionate about serving others, especially children and we love to mentor younger women. We believe in advocating for the rights of others. We like to garden, travel, dance, golf, play tennis, yoga, attend book club meetings, play Bridge, Bid Whist, Mahjong, sewing, arts, crafts, cooking, exploring different cultures, and most importantly spending time with family and friends.

Because of our professions, service to our communities, and our passions of life, we are strong phenomenal Black women who believe in building each other up as we continue to climb. Prior to joining The Links, Incorporated, we bonded as friends through social activities to include a friendship tea, friendship walk on the beach and picnic, “Ole School Social”, “Lowcountry Boil’, “Line Dancing Class”, study groups, and many other activities.

Linked in Friendship, Connected in Service!

Marcy D. Johnson, Ph.D.

Immediate-Past President