OPBSI Announces their New National Structure

New York, NY…January 25, 2008. Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated (OPBSI) is pleased to announce the establishment of the newly formed National Council of Officers (NCOO) and Board of Trustees (BOT) as of January 1, 2008.

After functioning as a National Board of Directors for 15 years, the new structure will bring the nearly 20-year old organization to new heights, with more women investing in the future of the organization. This year, the new NCOO plans to invest in sisterhood while simultaneously strengthening the foundation of OPBSI.

Under this new national structure, the role of the Board of Trustees is to create and maintain a long-term vision for the Sorority and establish appropriate goals and milestones toward its fulfillment. In short, the BOT is the ultimate governing body of OPBSI and oversees the progress of the National Council, Alumnae Association, and all relevant committees.

On the other hand, The National Council of Officers focuses on the day-to-day operations of OPBSI, and has full and final administrative authority over activities and operations, as well as the power to do what is in the best interest of OPBSI.

This change has been in the works for the past two years, spearheaded by OPBSI’s Quality and Assurance Committee. The committee worked diligently in light of a need for further national development, which resulted in a written proposal that was presented to and adopted by the general membership in 2006 changing the national structure to include the BOT and NCOO.

In light of the change we also welcome new national officers that have committed themselves to "Servir y Educar atraves de Nuestra Diversidad" (Serving and Educating Through our Diversity). These officers are:

BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
Monica Miranda Smalls, Chair
Ileana Adorno-Ramos, Vice Chair
Virginia Almendarez, Treasurer
Renee Paler, Secretary
Cher Treacy, Secretary

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF OFFICERS:
Elizaveta Cruz Reyes, National President and Interim Vice President of Membership
Cassandra St. Vil, Interim Executive Vice President and Interim Vice President of Operations
Tanya Ortiz, Alumnae Association President and Regional Director II
Christiana Gipson, Vice President of Policy & Compliance
Carolina Bonaparte, Interim Vice President of Finance
Esmeralda Gaton, Vice President of Expansion
Deyadira “Betty” Diaz, Vice President of Programming
F. Liliana Arvelo, Regional Director I
Jennifer Kamara , Regional Director III
Kelly Rodriguez, Regional Director IV
Jessica Lorenzo, Regional Director V
Erica Mazzini, Regional Director VI
Carrie Waddell, Regional Director VII
Jocelyn Tejeda, Director of Public Relations
Shaeina Bailey, Director of Community Service
Joanna Medrano, Director of Retention
Dulely Perez, Director of Academic Development
Catherine Fuentealba, Director of Information Technology

Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated is a Latina-oriented sorority founded on March 15, 1989, at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Seventeen women of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds came together to defy the injustices suffered by women, particularly women of color, in the academic, professional and political arenas. The purpose of OPBSI is to serve and educate people of diverse backgrounds through sisterhood, leadership, and guidance. As positive role models, we promote unity of all cultures, focus on the empowerment of our gender and raise the standards of excellence in our academic, social, and personal endeavors. For further information visit: www.OmegaPhiBeta.org

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