ABOUT TLOD Baytown
WHO WE ARE
WHY WE DO IT
WHO WE ARE
Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. (TLOD), is a 501(c)3 organization, under the leadership of the National President and CEO, Lady Eddie Lee Marsh. TLOD declares that the purpose of this organization shall be to advance the standards, ideals, and general welfare of the community through service by encouraging, promoting, and extending activities that will be conducive to the betterment and ultimate welfare of people.
Top Ladies of Distinction have over 125 Chapters across the United States and currently with a membership of over 7,500 and approximately 3,500 Teens. The Mission of TLOD is to enhance and enrich the lives of youth and adults through national programs, projects, and partners.
WHAT WE DO
WHY WE DO IT
WHO WE ARE
Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. sponsors Top Teens of America to provide opportunities for their potential and to promote their educational, social, spiritual, moral, cultural, and economic
development; to assist in the promotion of wholesome and meaningful living of Senior Citizens; to improve the Status of Women, and develop, promote, and support activities that are
designed to preserve the physical beauty in our communities through Community Beautification. To fulfill this vision is to bring together , through partnerships, mutually collaborative existing community, educational, and business-based interests that are conscientiously attempting to assist us in developing a better citizenry for the globalized technical world. Our projects include NCNW, NAACP, UNCF, Sickle Cell Awareness and Literacy.
WHY WE DO IT
WHY WE DO IT
WHY WE DO IT
Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. identifies current trends that are impacting our communities negatively and implements strategies, through our programs, projects, activities, and events to shed light and educate communities on these issues. We unite as an organization to take a stance on mental and physical health disparities, economic imbalances, environmental concerns, human trafficking, gun violence, voting rights and opportunities for youth to succeed in this ever-changing world. We can be effective.
HISTORY & FOUNDERS
Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. was chartered in Texas on September 8, 1964, as a non-profit educational, humanitarian organization. The vision and service of eight dedicated women from Texas, Tennessee, and Washington, DC, incorporated the National Chapter of TLOD and was led by Lady Franchelle Boswell of Tyler, TX. The Baytown Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. began in the late 80s with a vision from Lady Burnia Broussard. She worked at Exxon in the Lab and was a dietician at HISD. Because of her humanitarian spirit, she sewed dresses to give to kids in her neighborhood. She always looked for ways to help people in the community. She was thinking of doing something special for young people and was instrumental in starting the BWAC, which supports the development of teenage girls. Lady Burnia believed strongly that the Baytown area needed an organization to keep young people occupied meaningfully. Then she visited an aunt in New Iberia, LA, and returned home excited about starting a TLOD chapter. With her enthusiasm, she immediately called some of her friends for a meeting to tell them of her idea and to ascertain if there was enough concern, interest, and strength among distinguished women (who would agree to work cooperatively) to help with the youth in the Baytown area communities. In September 1985, they met at the home of Lady Willia Harris. Everyone present agreed with her idea and wanted to pursue the opportunity. So, she contacted Lady Bobbie Morehead, the National President of TLOD. Lady Burnia contacted Lady Luberdia Meyers, the Area One Director, to help her with a formal briefing. Lady Bobbie Moorhead, the National President, Lady Luberdia, and Lady Dorothy LaBoistrie attended the formal meeting. Twenty-four local women in attendance agreed to join the organization. In February 1986, the Baytown Chapter was chartered in Galveston, TX, at the 17th Area One Conference. 16 dedicated, distinguished, and respected women answered the call from this idea and nucleus group. The chapter’s first meeting was held in March 1986, and the officers were elected:
President: Lady Burnia Broussard
First Vice President: Lady Bonnie Bradford
Second Vice President: Lady Willia Harris (deceased)
Treasurer: Lady Elvia Pieternelle
Recording Secretary: Lady Annie Elmore
Financial Secretary: Lady Stephanie Porter
Top Teen Advisor: Lady Erma Outley
Corresponding Secretary: Lady Leona Crichlow
Member: Doris Gobert, Barbara Thomas, Wilda Neal, Bridget Edwards, Linda Robinson (husband was our photographer), Carolyn Alfred, Linda Felder, Zsa Zsa Jenkins
