The Roanoke (VA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated marked its 75th Diamond Anniversary in grand style at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center on Oct. 4 – almost 75 years to the day of the chapter’s chartering. In a beautifully decorated Crystal Ballroom, more than 200 guests joined in marking a significant moment in the chapter’s history.
The black-tie Gala program featured a video greeting from Lisa Loury Lomas, Ph.D., Eastern Area Director of The Links, Inc., a welcome by Roanoke Chapter President Rhonda Poindexter and Fundraising Chair Connie Steele, and a viewing of a video chronicling the Roanoke Chapter’s history. A plated dinner was served, followed by the musical entertainment of Groove Kontrol, a Christiansburg, Virgina-based R&B, soul, funk and FM rock band.
A 75th anniversary is a significant milestone for any organization, marking a long-standing legacy, a testament to the organization’s enduring success, and a chance to reflect on its history while looking forward to the future.
The Roanoke Chapter was chartered on Oct. 7, 1950. Its original 17 members – accomplished, trailblazing women – pledged to work in the spirit of friendship and service to improve the lives of people in Roanoke and surrounding communities.
The chapter’s work has flourished and evolved over the years, expanding to incorporate the cornerstone of The Links, Inc.’s service mandate – the five programming facets: Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, and Health and Human Services. As a result, the seeds of service that the 17 Roanoke Chapter founding members planted in 1950 have since flourished in the many ways current members serve the Roanoke and New River valleys, such as:
- Raising awareness about pressing health issues, including cardiovascular diseases, infant mortality, mental health and dental care for children;
- Awarding scholarships to graduating high school seniors;
- Honoring women veterans;
- Teaching phonetics to preschoolers, anti-bullying and healthy living to grade-schoolers, and financial literacy to high school students.
The chapter’s work reached a pinnacle with the creation of “Linked to Success: Growing up G.R.E.A.T.,” a program introduced in 2018 to address student achievement gaps and chronic absenteeism at Roanoke’s Hurt Park Elementary School. The program received a Legacy Program Award and a Best Practices Award at The Links’ 48th Eastern Area Conference in April.
“I am so proud of our rich history and our legacy,” chapter President Rhonda Poindexter said. “We have made indelible impacts in this community and abroad. We have helped so many people in so many ways, and we should be proud of our accomplishments over 75 years. This town is small, but we do some mighty great work.”
