Chapter History

Chartered on November 28, 1964, the Baton Rouge Chapter of The Links, Incorporated was installed by Vivian Beamon, Fourth National President.  Charter members are:  V. Jean Butler, Lene R. Cooper (deceased), Bessie W. Holland (deceased), Marjorie D. Lawless (deceased), Thelma S. Perkins, Julia Brogdon Purnell, Allene K. Rayford (deceased), Jewell T. Thompson, Eva C. Williams and Dorothea Yates.

In addition to earning national and area program awards, members of the Baton Rouge Chapter has served as national officers:  Julia Brogdon Purnell-Seventh National President, Jewell T. Thompson and Frances Marsh Ellis-National Arts Directors, and Thelma S. Perkins-National Public Information Officer.  National committee appointments have included:  Thelma C. Cobb-National Constitution and Bylaws; Eula M. Masingale-National Services to Youth Committee; Allene K. Rayford-Links Foundation; Exyie C. Ryder, National Constitution and Bylaws Committee.  On the Area level, Exyie C. Ryder previously served as Area Parliamentarian and Area Services to Youth Director.  Billie D. Cunningham served as Area Ethics & Standards Chair.  The Baton Rouge Chapter has also impacted the national organization's history by sponsoring the National Assembly in 1972 in New Orleans with only ten members.  The first White Rose Banquet was initiated by the Baton Rouge Chapter during that Assembly.

The Baton Rouge Chapter pledges its expertise to foster partnerships with local, regional and national agencies that can provide opportunities for community development through monitored programs.  The organizational objectives promote:

• Eliminating disparities to reduce barriers to services through leadership, education, and service
• Providing a range of innovative, substantive and sustainable Pre-K-16 programming which contributes proven results to key educational or social/community issues
• Expanding the global platform for programs designed and developed to service the educational, health and cultural needs of people of African descent throughout the world
• Supporting the performing and visual arts, especially where it focused on the presentation of artists of color
• Collaborating with organizations with comparable goals and objectives to better leverage resources