Zeta Phi Beta Sorority INC. XI Iota Zeta Chapter of Bennettsville, SC

09/11/2026

We will never forget.

Each year, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated solemnly pauses to honor the lives lost, the courage of first responders who gave everything, and the resilience of survivors who continue to bear the weight of that day. We remember not only the tragedy, but the unity, strength, and humanity that emerged in its wake.
Our hearts remain with the families, friends, and communities forever changed by the events of September 11th. Their pain is enduring, and so is our commitment to remembrance.

09/10/2026

🎓 DAY 10 OF 30: MAJORITY MADE SIMPLE

You hear it all the time: That requires a simple majority.” OR “A majority is 50% plus one.”

But if we're going Back to Basics, let's get the terminology right. Under RONR, the term is MAJORITY.

A majority means more than half. And this is where precision matters:

More than half of WHAT? The answer depends on the basis specified for the vote.
A majority may be based on:
🔹 Votes cast - the usual basis when RONR requires a majority vote
🔹 Members present
🔹 Entire membership

Those are not the same calculation.

For example, if 11 votes are cast, a majority is 6 because 6 is more than half of 11.

📖 Explore Further: RONR (12th ed.) 44:1; 44:8-11

09/10/2026

A check-in can be simple: “How are you—really?”

During Su***de Prevention Month and on World Su***de Prevention Day, we remind our community that asking for help is an act of courage and offering support can be an act of love.

If you or someone you know needs immediate emotional support, call or text 988.

***dePreventionDay ***dePreventionMonth

09/10/2026

🎓 DAY 9 OF 30: “I CALL THE QUESTION!”

You've heard it: “Question!” “I call the question!”

And suddenly everyone thinks debate is over. Not so fast.

One member saying “I call the question” does NOT end debate.

Here's what should happen:

1️⃣ The member must obtain the floor.
You cannot interrupt another member who is speaking just to call the question.

2️⃣ It requires a second.
One member cannot unilaterally end debate.

3️⃣ It is not debatable.
Once the Previous Question is moved and seconded, the assembly does not debate whether it should stop debating.

4️⃣ It is not amendable.

5️⃣ It requires a two-thirds vote.
Why such a high threshold? Because ordering the Previous Question can take away members' remaining opportunity to debate. RONR specifically explains that the two-thirds requirement protects the democratic process.

NOW...NOTICE WHAT ISN'T ALLOWED.
❌ Interrupting a speaker to call the question
❌ Ending debate simply because one member yelled “Question!”
❌ Adopting the Previous Question by a majority vote
❌ Debating whether the assembly should close debate

And here's the part that sometimes gets missed: The vote on whether to close debate is taken separately from and BEFORE the vote on the pending question.
If the Previous Question does not receive the required two-thirds vote, debate continues as though the motion had not been made.

💡 TWYLAH'S TAKEAWAY
“I call the question” is a motion, not a command. One member can propose ending debate. The assembly decides whether debate ends.

📖 Explore Further: RONR (12th ed.) 16:1-7

09/10/2026

Dearest Finer of the Finest Readers,

Some of the most painful lines in sisterhood are the ones no one admits were drawn.

You were welcomed into the room… but somehow never into the circle.

You noticed the conversations that stopped when you approached. The opportunities everyone seemed to know about except you. The invitation you never received. The sisterhood that felt warm—until you realized the warmth had conditions.

And perhaps you questioned yourself.

Am I too much?
Did I do something wrong?
Why does belonging seem so easy for everyone else?

Lady Zaffire would remind you of this: Do not measure your worth by someone else's willingness to make room for you.

Every circle is not your assignment.
Every table is not your destination.
And every closed door is not evidence that something is wrong with you.

But there is wisdom for all of us here.

Because if we remember how it felt to stand outside the circle, we should be especially careful about the circles we create once we are inside.

Look around.

Is there a Soror or Amica hovering at the edge of the conversation?
A quieter Sister whose name is rarely called?
Someone new who hasn't quite found her place?
Someone who stopped showing up because no one noticed when she did?

Sisterhood is not simply being invited into the room. Sisterhood is being reminded that your presence matters once you arrive.

This Wisdom Wednesday, perhaps the assignment isn't to find a better circle.
Perhaps it is to become the Sister who widens one.

Yours in truth and accountability and a little bit of space to uplift the next,
Lady Zaffire

09/09/2026

JOIN US on Wednesday, September 16th as we welcome Dr. Twyla Jenkins, PRP to EAP's next Build Your Skills ParliSeries workshop as she breaks down what every member needs to know about meetings, motions, and parliamentary procedures. You don't want to miss it, aee you on the 16th at 7 pm CT!

ZOOM LINK: eparliamentarians.org/BuildYourSkills

09/09/2026

Hunger does not always look the way we expect—and it exists in communities across South Carolina.

During Hunger Action Month, let us turn awareness into action: support a local food pantry, organize a chapter collection, volunteer, or help connect a family with available resources.

A stronger South Carolina is one where every neighbor has enough.

09/09/2026

09/08/2026

Literacy opens doors that talent alone should never have to knock down.

On International Literacy Day, we recommit to reading, learning, mentoring, and helping every child and adult gain the tools to understand the world and shape their place in it.

Read with someone. Donate a book. Support a library. Invest in possibility.

09/08/2026

Through the Extraordinary Power of S.H.E., we reaffirm our dedication to advancing social, health, and economic justice for women, children and families everywhere.

Whether you're returning or just beginning your Zeta journey, remember this: we are stronger in sisterhood, united in purpose, and unstoppable in impact.

Drop a 💙 below if you’re ready to make this your FINEST year yet!