Regina Jolivette Frazier

Regina Jolivette Frazier served as the 9th Southern Area Director from 1981-1984. She saluted past Area Directors with portraits to celebrate their outstanding leadership, initiated a Southern Area Scrapbook and authorized the printing and distribution of the Area By-Laws.

Sixteen years after becoming a Link, Frazier went on to become the first Heir-o-Link to be elected National President of The Links, Incorporated.  She served from 1986-1990.  Frazier led The Links, Incorporated to make the historic pledge of $1million to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.  She also enhanced The Links’ international character by establishing two chapters outside the continental United States:  Nassau, Bahamas and Frankfurt, Germany.

LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP: IN HER OWN WORDS

   There is no secret leadership formula that yields success. It is your style, your vision, your empathy and your passion that guide your achievement. Tenacity will take you a long way. Stay positive and dream…dream…dream.

   As women of African descent, we have our leaders to speak for us, our organizations to work for us, and our clergy to pray for us. But unless we – each and every one of us – make the individual commitment to rise to our full potential, we cannot expect our organization and our communities to do the same.

   When you think of our organizational tagline, Linked in Friendship, Connected in Service, I hope you take those words literally. The yardstick by which we as Links are measured is global, so we must be radical. It would be radical to double or triple your 48 hour service requirement. It would be radical to support the Foundation above and beyond the mandated amounts. It would be radical to eschew minutiae and concentrate only on substance. It would be radical to always be open to new ideas, new concepts and new ways of doing things. Just because a given way is the way we have always done things, doesn’t mean it is the best, most efficient or caring way to achieve our goals.

   In the overall scheme of things, we have less than a nanosecond to justify our existence. And you have less than that to impact our legacy as Links. That job is not solely our President’s task. Everything that you do creates a legacy for you and our organization. Just look what the legacy, vision, leadership and hard work of Margaret Hawkins and Sarah Scott hath wrought. It is because of these two remarkable women that we stand more than 12,000 women strong, linked internationally as a not-for-profit, powerhouse of programming excellence.

   In 1986, when I was elected to the presidency, I chose as my theme: Enhancing the Legacy – Fulfilling the Dream. Legacy is our raison d’ etre as Links. Plan your legacy! Where do your strengths lie? What is your level of expertise? Only you can create your legacy! It consists of your goals, achieved in your unique creative way. Once you plan your work, the hard part really begins. You have to work that plan. Marian Anderson knew, “If you have a purpose in which you can believe there’s no end to the amount of things you can accomplish”.

   You belong to a cadre of women, united under the banners of friendship, leadership and service. Our significant and vast support of the United Negro College Fund, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. and the National Civil Rights Museum has placed us high in the firmament of national recognition. Your skill sets have been honed. Never forget that our organization demands that you earn your place on our membership roll each year. To insure your leadership success, I offer the following:

   1. Set a leadership goal, programmatic or operational, and maintain the vision of attainment in your mind and heart. The cause must always predominate over self. Spiritual fortitude is also essential to success.
2. Get a mentor or be one. Not just anyone will do. I was truly blessed to be mentored by our 5th National President, the late Dr. Helen G. Edmonds. She taught me the significance of past as prologue in all of life’s endeavors.
3. Remember the global nature of our existence. We operate on the world stage with meaningful initiatives around the globe. It is a must to act locally, but think globally.
4. Do your homework so that you can be justifiably self-confident in all that you do. But never lose the humility of spirit that will allow you to interact openly and effectively with your sister Links.
5. Volunteer— take the initiative. Don’t wait to be asked to help, just help. Work hard, network effectively and approach all tasks with enthusiasm.
I dare you to be the change you want to see.
Now go forth and lead!

QUOTE: “We are part of a dynamic framework of more than 10,000 women volunteers.  We are the validation of the vision of Sarah Scott and Margaret Hawkins.  We have done much.  Let us recommit today to do even more. . . .  I challenge you individually and collectively to enhance the legacy of the Links, Incorporated through a passionate rededication to friendship, leadership and service.”