In 1957, a young lady by the name of Alma Cooper Hawkins was the Regional Director of her sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho.  At the same time, she was an active and outspoken voice in the National United Church Ushers Association of America, Inc. (NUCUAA, Inc.).  Sis. Hawkins believed that a regional director of all the eastern states of the NUCUAA, Inc. would allow the representatives to communicate and work together to build the organization, much in the same way as in her sorority.  She felt that this type of communication would facilitate the unification of the Eastern Region in meetings to discuss the business of the national body before the annual convention.  This idea, once presented, was well received by Bro. Raymond A. Smith, Fourth Vice President, of the NUCUAA, Inc.

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In May 1957, Raymond Alexander Smith, National Fourth Vice President, NUCUAA, Inc. met at the YMCA in Washington, D.C. with a representation of five States:  Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania,  and the District of  Columbia (96 persons were in attendance) and organized the Eastern Regional Conference.  Vice President Smith served as Eastern Regional Director for 11 years.  In July 1957, 4th Vice President, Bro. Smith presented the idea of establishing the Eastern Region to the NUCUAA, Inc.  Brother Henry Ballard, President of the NUCUAA, Inc. allowed the convention to hear the recommendation. The idea was accepted by the voting body of the NUCUAA, Inc. which organizationally established the Eastern Region and other regional delegations.

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 Today, the Eastern Region consists of 10 states:  Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts,  New   Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. 

 

 The Regional Director is 4th Vice President, NUCUAA, Inc., Sister Donna A.W. Hines.