History of the Waco Central (TX) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated

The Waco Chapter of The Links, Inc. was chartered in 1974 in Waco, Texas. Link Dolly Adams petitioned the chapter’s charter while on leave from the Angel City Chapter of Los Angeles, California. At the invitation of Link Lavesta P. Rutland, a Link on Leave from the Fort Valley, Georgia Chapter, and Link Adams, ten outstanding women were invited to participate as charter members of the Waco Chapter. They were Beulah Barksdale, Marguerite Bennett, Joann Clark, Martha Forney, Dolores Harris, Iris Harrison, Barbara Hobbs, Jean B. Manning, Vivienne Mayes, and Deloris Reid.
The formal installation of the Waco Chapter was held on May 25, 1974, with Link Vera Codwell, the organization’s then-national vice president, serving as the installing officer. The first officers were: President Dolly Adams; Vice President Beulah Barksdale; Recording Secretary Marguerite Bennett; Corresponding Secretary Barbara Hobbs; Treasurer Lavesta P. Rutland; Financial Secretary Delores Harris; Parliamentarian Iris Harrison; and Inspiration Leader Vivienne Mayes. 
In May 1975, one year after the chapter was established, it received the “Outstanding Overall Program Award” at the 22nd Western Area Conference. The chapter continued to distinguish itself with programs of such quality and depth that it was awarded the honor again in 1977. The Waco chapter was the first to introduce the umbrella concept in working with the four Links program facets and continued to be recognized for its outstanding service to the community and quality programming into the new Millennium. 
The Waco Chapter has flourished since its inception. As the chapter’s presence and membership base expanded in the surrounding Central Texas communities, the need for its name to reflect its purposeful intent to serve those communities and its members became apparent. In 2014, the chapter petitioned to add "Central Texas" to its established name, thereby embodying broader representation while preserving its historic, chartered character. The proposed name change opened the door for the Waco-Central TX Chapter to brand its work throughout the communities it serves. Through friendship and service, the chapter proudly builds upon the rich legacy of excellence laid by the Waco Chapter's charter members and the visionary leadership of The Links, Incorporated's founders, Sarah Strickland Scott and Margaret Rossell Hawkins. 
Today, the chapter serves the following communities: Marlin, Waco, Hearne, Calvert, Killeen, Temple, and other nearby areas. In addition to fostering friendships among our members, we strive to improve the quality of life for residents in our service area by offering programming in five key areas: health and human services, national and international trends, the arts, and youth services.  
In 2009, the Chapter was recognized with a promising program award for its “Think Pink with Links” program. The program raised breast cancer awareness for women of color and provided free mammograms for underserved women through a partnership with the American Cancer Society. The chapter was recognized again in 2020 with the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Community Impact Award for successfully implementing the Chapter’s Oral health program. 1,500 Central Texas children received dental screenings, the highest number provided in the Western Area.  
Other signature programs include the Mental Health Program, Fall Into Reading Literacy Program, a partnership with Killeen ISD and other central Texas school districts; the ACE Baylor Links Digital Media Program, a collaboration with ACE, Baylor Journalism, Public Relations & New Media, Hearne and Calvert ISDs; and the Mental Health Program; the Central Texas Food Bank; The City of Waco Parks & Recreation; The City of Killeen Park & Recreation; Art Center Waco; Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival, Mentor Waco, Girls and Boys Club of Central Texas, Unbound, NAACP, and area school districts to name a few.

Our Mental Health and STEAM initiatives have forged new collaborations with the Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network to conduct Gang Awareness Prevention and Safety workshops, Mentor Waco for its Youth Mental Health Awareness program, and Goodwill Community Connects' Mental Health First Aid Certification courses. In addition to donating nearly 1,400 pairs of socks to various community-based agencies for distribution to those in need, we also recently contributed $1,300.00 to the Armed Services YMCA of Killeen to send 13 youth to their 2025 summer camp. 
The Chapter has had the great fortune of members rising to serve at the National and Area level of the organization. Most notably, Link Dolly D. Adams was elected the Eighth National President and was previously appointed National Program Director. Link Beulah Barksdale was appointed National Archivist in the Adams administration. Link Sarah Seldom was the first chapter member elected to an Area office as the Western Area Recording Secretary.
In 2015, the Waco Chapter experienced an emergence of leadership at the Area level with the appointment of Link Josette Ayres as Western Area Chair, “40’s under 40’s,” an Area initiative to engage and build retention of members under 50. She would also go on to serve as the Western Area Archivist.  Link Terri Woods Campbell was appointed and served two administrations as Western Area Conference Workshop and Vendor Chair. Link Mia Moody served on the Western Area Communication team, as chair of the Western Area social media committee, and was instrumental in the chapter’s recognition for best social media and web presence practices. Link Sharon Gilmore has served on the national and Western Area protocol committees. And in honor of the 75th Anniversary of The Links, Incorporated, Link Kerry Ann Frazier contributed as a Co-producer of “The Invitation,” a documentary chronicling the history of The Links, Incorporated.
The chapter proudly honors four Platinum members, women who have committed over 30 years of service to the chapter. Lillian Manning, Vern Elliot, Ruby Powell, and Luwenda Pollard (Active) faithfully support chapter activities and events. Beulah Barksdale, Martha Forney, Deloris Harris, Tommy Mitchell, and Gladys Mosely are recognized posthumously.