During the early 1990’s, four women, who were members of The Links, Incorporated, and who had retired to Sarasota and Bradenton began having conversations with women who resided in Sarasota and Manatee Counties about the possibility of forming a chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Link Betty Brown, Link Marian McClellan, Link Gwen

Morton and Link Lucinda White invited their retired friends and several other ladies of the communities of Bradenton and Sarasota to their first meeting at Payne Chapel AME Church to participate in the planning process. During the meeting they shared much discussions on the feasibility of a chapter in “Paradise.” The ladies in attendance at the first

meeting felt that they needed more time to think about the financial and time commitment of this new endeavor. Three months following the initial, a second meeting convened at a restaurant in Downtown Sarasota. The interested number of women had increased. It was during that meeting that the decision was made to move forward with the organization of a Links Interest Group.

It was 1991, under the leadership of Link Lucinda White, the interest group was formed. The group coined the name, Manasota Friends. The women worked tirelessly throughout the community, fulfilling their commitment to the purpose of The Links, Incorporated. Along the five-year journey, there were numerous members of The Links, Incorporated who offered their support in the organization of a chapter. The Manasota Friends Interest

Group was sponsored by Link Marie Beard and the Tampa (FL) Chapter and Link Lynette Edwards and the St. Petersburg (FL) Chapter. Link Joyce M. Dixon, Southern Area Director and Link Barbara Dixon Simpkins, National Vice President, Chairman of Membership and Chapter Establishment were charting officers. Under the leadership of Patricia Russell-McCloud, 11th National President, the Manasota Friends Interest Group was chartered as the Bradenton/Sarasota Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and the 265th Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, on February 10, 1996. The chartering took place at the Holiday Inn on Lido Beach.