Message from the President Brother LeRoy Lowery, III · Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. _____...
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The Torch The Official Newsletter of Mu Lambda Chapter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. _________________________________________________________ September, 2011 Inside this Edition: • The Executive Message • Message From Mu Lambda Foundation • Alpha Wives Section Brother’s Keeper Intake • Beta Chapter • Black & Gold Crab Feast • Chair Drive Update • Combined Federal Campaign and DC One Fund • Congratulations • Black Facts • Henry Arthur Callis Golf Tournament • Summer and September Birthdays • Executive Board and Committee Chairs Brother Kelvin McClinton, Esq. Editor Mu Lambda Chapter has accomplished much in the past 88 years, but there is so much that remains to be done. Now that we have basked in the light of accolades let us prepare to toil for those less fortunate. I speak of the work to improve the lot of persons that remain largely invisible in the eyes of too many. I speak of the children, the elderly, the folk condensed into the statistical morass of unemployed, underemployed, and underserved. Who will speak up on their behalf? Who can better give them the benefits of experience and wisdom? Who will show them the route to a better life? An Alpha man, that’s who! In 1988, as the newly elected president of Mu Lambda Chapter, I attended a meeting at the home of Brother George Sealey. All area chapter presidents were asked by Brothers Alfred Bailey, Oscar Little, Eddie Madison, and John Harvey to join in the fundraising efforts for a memorial to Brother King. I vividly recall that there were about $8,000 in the coffers. I admit I do ubted the ability of these Brothers to accomplish their goal of raising the tens of millions of dollars then thought necessary to build a proper monument. When I reported for duty at the memorial foundation office in January 2002 there were less than $12M in pledges - $10M from General Motors – and not much cash on hand. However, there was a strong desire to make the vision of those five Brothers come to fruition and the rest is history. Now we of Mu Lambda have a grand edifice, a large financial membership and the synergism based on a strong fraternal bond. Each month as we sit at our own “Table of Brotherhood”, we will mark progress towards our goal of the better making of men. The Brothers on the executive committee have pledged to work diligently towards the effort of working for the “common good.” I do not have the slightest concern that we will fail to “walk the walk” – making a tangible difference in the DC community. I thank you for your personal support and for your support of the programs we propose by devoting six hours per month to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Hold the light high! Bro. LeRoy Lowery, III Message from the President Brother LeRoy Lowery, III As the euphoria of the opening of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial subsides; the time for action is more critical than ever. There is no respite, no time for coasting, and no resting on our laurels. Instead, the past weekend should serve as an invigorating catalyst to cause us to do more than before. Brother King showed us that dedication and focus could accomplish much, particularly when the cause is genuine. The Torch: September 2011 1
Transcript of Message from the President Brother LeRoy Lowery, III · Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. _____...
The Torch
The Official Newsletter of Mu Lambda Chapter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. _________________________________________________________
September, 2011
Inside this Edition:
• The Executive Message
• Message From Mu Lambda Foundation
• Alpha Wives Section
Brother’s Keeper
Intake • Beta Chapter • Black & Gold Crab Feast
• Chair Drive Update • Combined Federal Campaign
and DC One Fund • Congratulations • Black Facts • Henry Arthur Callis Golf
Tournament
• Summer and September Birthdays
• Executive Board and
Committee Chairs Brother Kelvin McClinton, Esq. Editor
Mu Lambda Chapter has accomplished much in the past 88 years, but there is so much that remains to be done. Now that we have basked in the light of accolades let us prepare to toil for those less fortunate. I speak of the work to improve the lot of persons that remain largely invisible in the eyes of too many. I speak of the children, the elderly, the folk condensed into the statistical morass of unemployed, underemployed, and underserved. Who will speak up on their behalf? Who can better give them the benefits of experience and wisdom? Who will show them the route to a better life? An Alpha man, that’s who! In 1988, as the newly elected president of Mu Lambda Chapter, I attended a meeting at the home of Brother George Sealey. All area chapter presidents were asked by Brothers Alfred Bailey, Oscar Little, Eddie Madison, and John Harvey to join in the fundraising efforts for a memorial to Brother King. I vividly recall that there were about $8,000 in the coffers. I admit I do ubted the ability of these Brothers to accomplish their goal of raising the tens of millions of dollars then thought necessary to build a proper monument. When I reported for duty at the memorial foundation office in January 2002 there were less than $12M in pledges - $10M from General Motors – and not much cash on hand. However, there was a strong desire to make the vision of those five Brothers come to fruition and the rest is history. Now we of Mu Lambda have a grand edifice, a large financial membership and the synergism based on a strong fraternal bond. Each month as we sit at our own “Table of Brotherhood”, we will mark progress towards our goal of the better making of men. The Brothers on the executive committee have pledged to work diligently towards the effort of working for the “common good.” I do not have the slightest concern that we will fail to “walk the walk” – making a tangible difference in the DC community. I thank you for your personal support and for your support of the programs we propose by devoting six hours per month to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Hold the light high!
Bro. LeRoy Lowery, III
Message from the President Brother LeRoy Lowery, III
As the euphoria of the opening of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial subsides; the time for action is more critical than ever. There is no respite, no time for coasting, and no resting on our laurels. Instead, the past weekend should serve as an invigorating catalyst to cause us to do more than before. Brother King showed us that dedication and focus could accomplish much, particularly when the cause is genuine.
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Mu Lambda Foundation 2405 First Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001-1019 202.299.9635 www.mulambdafoundation.org
August 29, 2011
Much as transpired since the June meeting.
The remodeling of the house is complete. The house was refinanced on Thursday, July 28, 2011. All loans on the house have been paid in full. There is only one mortgage on the house.
On Tuesday, July 26, 2011, the Mu Lambda Foundation received approval from the non profit organization, Most Valuable Kids to receive free tickets for kids that participate in foundation funded programs.
On Monday, August 8, 2011, the Mu Lambda Foundation received approval from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Mu Lambda Foundation’s number is 66770. Please make sure you share the number with every Federal employee you may know.
Brother King’s memorial was unveiled to the brothers and family of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on Friday, August 26, 2011.
On Saturday, August 27, 2011, the Mu Lambda Chapter in conjunction with the Mu Lambda Foundation hosted a very successful Black and Gold Crab Feast. More than 200 brothers, family and friends were in attendance. The General President, Herman “Skip” Mason, Candidates for 34th General President Mark Tillman and Roderick Smothers, potential aspirants, and brothers interested in joining the chapter were also in attendance.
Brothers doubted the King Memorial could be built under the leadership of an Alpha man. I was inspired by the work of Brother Johnson. It made me remember the power of an Alpha man. If one Alpha brother could lead the building of the King Memorial at a cost of $120 million – I know the Mu Lambda Foundation in conjunction with the Mu Lambda Chapter can raise $1 million to retire the debt on the house and start an endowment.
I would like to lay out my plan to accomplish the above and then in return I would like to ask that each and every one of you pay the voted upon housing assessment in full.
I have appointed an experienced fundraiser, Lawrence Montgomery, to head a capital campaign. He has indicated the debt on the house will be retired in as little as 18 months or as long as five years. Antoine Tyler is the chair of the short term fundraising committee.
If you do your part, my administration will do its part. Together we will stay the course and complete the goal.
Sincerely,
Julius Brice, President
Julius H. Brice, CLU. ChFC President Eddie W. Neal, Esq. Vice President Mark Ross Treasurer LeRoy Lowery, III Secretary James T. Speight, Jr. Assistant Secretary A. Gilbert Douglass, Esq. Financial Secretary Horace G. Dawson, Jr., Ph.D. Timothy L. Fitzgerald Rudolph Harris, Ph.D. William A. Hawkins, Jr., Ph.D. Adrian V. James Arthur E. King W. Jerome McGee, AIA Lloyd McGriff, D. Min Antoine D. Tyler
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ETA THETA LAMBDA CHAPTER
ETA THETA LAMBDA EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC. 30th ANNIVERSARY COLLEGE
TOUR OCTOBER 22 – 29, 2011
Visiting HBCU’s in the following states: Alabama, DC, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, & Virginia Cost: $625 Website: www.aphia-etl.org Mu Lambda contact: Bro John Mabry, [email protected] or 202.441.9910 cell
ALPHA WIVES
First Meeting of Season for Alpha Wives
The following offices were filled during the Alpha Wives of Washington DC meeting held on May 14, 2011:
President Valencia Barber
Vice President Claudia Postell
Secretary Charlotte Douglas /
Mary Murray
Treasurer Alice Scipio
Amenities Chair Jeanette Carr
Card Party Chair Barbara Ramos
Scholarship Chair Mary Murray/
Barbara Ramos
Telephone Tree Chair Evelyn Tuckson
Hostess Chair Patty Donegan
The first meeting of the season for the Alpha Wives will be held on the second Saturday in September (September 10, 2011). The meeting will be held at the Alpha Community House at 2405 First St. NW, Washington DC. This will be an extremely important meeting as we have much to plan for and accomplish this year. The organization has made changes in the number of meetings per year so that we can do more exciting things. We are encouraging all Alpha Wives, and especially wives of Alphas that have not attended our meetings, to attend. Look for information in your next newsletter. Prospective members please contact: Valencia Barber: 202-327-3397, Modestine Lowery: 202-2913129, Charlotte Douglass: 703-671-8856, or Mary Murray: 301-588-4663 so that we can answer any questions that you may have. Please call, come, and share your great ideas. We would love to have them.
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BEAUTILLION Greetings Brothers – I am your Beautillion Chair for the 17th Annual Beautillion.
Just an update on what has been happening and what is proposed for the Beautillion. The Beautillion has been broken into many committees to perform the work and prevent the burnout of individual brothers.
The Site Selection Committee (Brothers Adrian Vincent James (Chair), Isaac Thweat, Kevin Giles, Lamont Akins, and Sean Bellamy), researched over 20 sites (DC, MD, and VA) using criteria (seating capacity, availability, dance floor space, and most important – price) and decided that holding the event at Howard University presents the best value. The Beautillion will be held in April. The actual date has not been determined. The committee has been in communication with Howard University and a date will be solidified in the near future.
Due to the District of Columbia holding the approval of our real property tax exemption application, we have to put more focus on recruiting Beaux who attend school in the District of Columbia. The Communications Committee will prepare a public service announcement and press release for distribution and recruitment of District of Columbia Students.
The focus this year will be on mentoring. Mentors will be assigned October 31, 2011. Mentors will call the Beaux every Tuesday. To ensure the mentors are making contact with the Beaux, the Mentor Committee will call the Mentors every Thursday to check on the status of the mentor/mentee relationship. The Mu Lambda Foundation has partnered with Most Valuable Kids – as a value added benefit, the foundation will receive free tickets to Washington Wizards games. Every Beau and Mentor will attend at least one game or some other event together.
The Beautillion’s open house is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, September 25, 2011. Added to the curriculum this year is the Leadership Weekend, tentatively scheduled for Friday, October 21st – Sunday, October 23rd.
There are tentatively two community service projects scheduled for the Beaux – Thanksgiving Basket Preparation on Tuesday, November 22, 2011. D.C. Child and Family Services will identify the recipients of the baskets. The second project will be clothes drive scheduled for Sunday December 18, 2011. The clothes will go to the Damien Ministry. Both projects will be done in conjunction with the Mu Lambda Chapter.
Another change is the ticket sales process. All financial brothers are being asked to sell or purchase a minimum of two tickets to the Beautillion. During the first chapter meeting or some future date, each financial brother will receive an invoice for two tickets. The price of the tickets will be $100 each ($1,000 per table) and the Jewel seats will be $125 each ($1250 per table). There are two added benefits – 1. There is a six month payment plan available starting September and ending in February. 2. There is a 10% discount for every ticket you purchase, if the tickets are paid in full no later than Friday, September 30, 2011. If you pay in full on October 1, 2011, you will not receive the 10% discount.
Table assignments are first come – first served. The first person to place a deposit on a table gets the first choice when the seating chart is determined. One table has already been sold. Please hurry.
Fraternally,
Brother Eddie Neal
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BROTHER’S KEEPER PROGRAM "First of all, servants of all!" The Brother's Keeper Program is a service program developed with the mission of advocating for and improving the quality of life of retired, mature, and ailing Alpha Brothers, their spouses, and widows. Surveys are now being distributed for Brother's Keeper to solicit your input. It can be downloaded from our Mu Lambda Yahoo Group site or you my contact Bro. Pernell Williams at: [email protected] or at (202) 903-6704 for copies. Please bring your completed form to the next meeting, or email your answers to Bro. Pernell Williams. Also, call or email Bro. Williams if you would like to serve on the Brother's Keeper Committee. Bro. Pernell Williams
INTAKE
Mu Lambda Chapter has been permitted to engage in the Fall Intake process for this year and has been chosen as one of the chapters to Beta test the new IMDP intake program. Presently the Intake dates are October 28 – 30, November 4 - 6. 11 - 13 and 18 – 20. Brothers who are sponsoring aspirants, need to contact Bro. Ryle Bell immediately and let him know the name of the aspirant. All sponsors MUST be fully involved in the intake process, must attend all meetings and be present during the in initiation service. Sponsors are expected to be lifelong mentors for their aspirants so if that is not the intention of a brother he should not sponsor an aspirant.
All aspirants, including those who were previously involved, should be informed to go to the Alpha Phi Alpha website and download the application form. They must comply with all requests and submit an entire application to Bro. Bell no later than Friday September 7. This will give the committee a week to review the applications and vet them before the deadline date of September 16.
The Fall staff conference in Pittsburgh, Pa. September 8 – 10, will be the venue for education and certification for the IMDP process. All brothers who seek to serve on the Mu Lambda Intake committee should take the opportunity to attend the staff conference to learn about the new process. Any brother who is interested in serving on the Intake Committee should seize the opportunity to attend the conference.
Bro. Ryle Bell
BETA CHAPTER Though cut short, the Brothers of Beta Chapter had an exciting experience being involved with the MLK Dedication events. On Thursday, history was witnessed as adjacent to the fraternity's plot on the main yard of Howard University a tree was erected in honor of Bro. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his accomplishments in the area of Environmental Justice. This magnolia is symbolic in that it highlights an initiative of his that has traditionally remained unrecognized. Chapter members got the opportunity to interact with many Brothers and visitors during the event, and are excited to monitor and maintain the growth of the tree for years to come. On Thursday and Friday Brothers also served as talent escorts for those attending the MLK Dedication Gala. They were involved with such talents as Bro. Hill Harper, Brother Roland Martin, Mrs. Cassi Davis, Mrs. Keisha Knight-Pulliam, Terrence Howard, and Cuba Gooding Jr. Participation was granted to Brothers by reception of the Alpha's Volunteer Service Awards (through our C2C initiative). Ten Brothers participated in the event. Bro. Trevor J. Thomas Beta Chapter President
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Mu Lambda Alpha’s HouseAugust 27, 2011
Black & Gold Crab Feast
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Chair Drive Update
The chapter chair drive project needs your support. The Mu Lambda Foundation is accepting tax deductible donations in the amount of $100 per chair. You don’t have to be a Brother to make a chair donation: Alpha wives, friends and families are also encouraged to participate. Upon receipt of your donation, your contribution will be permanently noted for all to see. Your name will be inscribed in gold lettering on a black chair as pictured above. Donated by Brother (your name inserted) or In Memory of Brother ___________.
Supporters to date include:
Brother Julius Brice Brother Eddie Neal Brother LeRoy Lowery Brother Charles Donegan Brother Curtis Hunigan Brother Timothy Fitzgerald Brother Arthur King Brother Michael Brown Brother Michael Brown in Memory of Brother Kenneth Higgins Brother Michael Carter Brother Adrian Vincent James Brother Adrian Vincent James in Memory of Brother Robert “Bob” Warren Brother Syl Lorenzo Shannon Brother John Eason Brother Louis Ford in Memory of:
Brother Morris Hawkins Brother Frederick Ford Brother Earl Root
Brother Rudolph Scipio Brother William Calbert in Memory of Brother Syl Lorenzo Shannon Please contact Brother Arthur King (202-744-6624) or [email protected] if you’d like to make a donation or to find out more about this project.
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Mu Lambda Foundation has been granted authorization to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area and the District of Columbia’s DC One Fund. Brothers employed by the District and Federal governments might use these vehicles to provide their tax deductable support to our charitable efforts, i.e. the Callis Scholarship Fund, our Beautillion Program and other funding directed to our Foundation. Encourage your co-workers, family and friends to join you in supporting our chartable programs. The enrollment starts September 1st for the CFC. Please use Mu Lambda Foundation – 66770. Contact your agency for the District of Columbia’s DC One Fund specifics. Please use Mu Lambda Foundation – 9556.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Birth Announcement: Joelle Elysa Speight, Daughter of Brother and Mrs. James Speight III and Granddaughter of Bro. and Mrs. James Speight Jr. 8-29-2011 1:48 PM 9 lbs. 15.8 ozs; 21.5 inches.
Graduation: Brother Larry D. Keen II received his PH.D in Neuropsychology in Spring 2011. Congratulations to Bro. Dr. Keen!
BLACK FACTS September 1 Robert T Freeman was the first Black to graduate from Harvard Dental School, 1867 September 3 Frederick Douglass escapes from slavery disguised as a sailor, 1838 September 4 Lewis H Latimer, inventor and engineer, born 1848-1928 September 7 Integration began in Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD public schools, 1954 September 8 Roy Wilkins, second Executive Director of NAACP, died 1901-1981
POST OFFICE BOXES CLOSING
Correspondence to the Chapter and Foundation should be sent to: 2405 First Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20001-1019
Fro
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Birthday Greetings
July August September
Samuel Armstrong 1 Marc C. Fitzgerald 2 Brian Halliburton 2 Tremell A. Munford 1 Louis A. Mauney 2 Christopher Carter 4 Robert E. Richardson 1 Michael J. Brown 4 Ezra Merritt 4 Evans E. Crawford 2 Will Crossley 4 Ronald S. Flowers 5 Chesley (Rod) Richardson 2 Kerry Wilson 4 Vedoster Ingram 5 Rudolph Scipio 2 Larry Ware 5 Nathaniel R. Laney 10 E. K. Edwards 6 Michael A. Carter 9 Earl R. Fitzhugh 12 Larry V. Norton 10 Clyde Blassengale 10 Eddie W. Neal 12 Louis W. Buck 11 Juan H. Powell 11 William A. Hawkins, Jr. 15 Kelvin Stroble 11 Sean A. Bellamy 13 Hezekiah Smith 15 Kwame O. Ulmer 13 Berlin Madison 13 Lee A. Tyler 15 Pernell Hicks 14 Andre R. Lucas 14 Timothy L. Fitzgerald 16 Leroy Jackson 14 James R. Heck, IV 16 Robert M. Brown, III 18 Isaac Westley Kalue Thweatt 15 Antonio Berrios 17 Jeffrey Brown 19 Clinton C. Jones, III 20 Dustin B. Baker 18 Justin Davis 19 Julius C. Jefferson, Jr. 22 Tyress P. Jones 18 William M. Joyner 19 Henry Riley 28 Michael E. Collins 20 Brandon T. Winder 19 Kouri Marshall 31 Lonnie Cooper 22 Herbert L. Suber 21 Ronald E. Braxton 23 Paul A. Cotton 22
Lamar Lockridge 23 Robert J. Nickens 22
Kenneth Furlough 27 Cornell L. Kinard 24 Wendell P. Gardner, Jr. 28 Antoine M. Garibaldi 26 Carl Bennett 29 P.E. Parker 28 Richard A. English 29 Jeffrey D. Monroe 30 Lamar D. Revis 29 Thomas E. Gaither 30
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The 2011-2012 Executive Board & Committee Chairs
Executive Board
President LeRoy Lowery III 202-487-3129 [email protected] Vice President Timothy Fitzgerald 301-332-7507 [email protected] Recording Secretary Kevin Giles 804-389-1906 [email protected] Treasurer Mark Ross 202-422-8493 [email protected] Financial Secretary Arthur King 202-744-6624 [email protected] Corresponding Secretary Dustin Baker 962-452-9930 [email protected] Chaplain William Hawkins 202-583-3211 [email protected] Historian Craig Allen 314-607-9975 [email protected] Archivist W. Jerome McGee 202-829-2634 [email protected] Sergeant-at-Arms Darryl Chase 202-294-3383 [email protected] Associate Editor to the Sphinx James Harman 301-659-0442 [email protected] Editor of the Torch Kelvin McClinton 202-285-5628 [email protected] Webmaster Joel Grey 301-717-8508 [email protected] Director of Intake Ryle Bell 703-620-2327 [email protected] Director of Education Sean Bellamy 336-575-7677 [email protected] Parliamentarian Kwame Reed 703-328-6132 [email protected] Member-at-Large John Mabry 202-441-9910 [email protected] Immediate Past President Kwame Ulmer 202-492-3487 [email protected]
Committee Chairs
Auditing P.E. Parker 703-314-1429 [email protected] Beautillion Eddie Neal 301-440-4055 [email protected] Brother’s Keeper Pernell Williams 202-903-6704 [email protected] Budget and Finance Arthur King 202-744-6624 [email protected] Chapter of the Year Joseph Jones 301-949-0684 [email protected] Charles H. Wesley Award Joseph Gibbs 901-240-9039 [email protected] Communication and Technology
Joel Grey 610-639-2964 [email protected]
Education Antonio Berrios 202-321-4722 [email protected] Membership Dustin Baker 962-452-9930 [email protected] Pan Hellenic Council Jermaine Wilson 240-393-5176 [email protected] Program Derrick Thomas 301-5891469 [email protected] Public Policy Michael Collins 202-374-8974 [email protected] Social Cubie Coleman 202-369-1938 [email protected]
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Submit this form with your dues to the Financial Secretary. Name_____________________________________________________________________________________ Account or Life Member Number_______________________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________________________________ City _______________________________ State _____________________ Zip Code____________________ Birthday (Month/Day/Year) ___________________________________________________________________ Home Number _____________________________ Work Number ___________________________________ Email Address _____________________________________________________________________________ If transferring into Mu Lambda: Date of Initiation___________________ Chapter of Initiation________________ Chapter Dues: Life Member $150.00
Non-Life Member $300.00 1st Year Alumni $175.00 2nd Year Alumni $212.50 Graduate Student $250.00
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Mu Lambda Chapter 2405 First St. NW Washington, DC 20001-1019
….Share the Light of the Torch with our inactive Brothers and Brothers new to the DC area….
September Meeting Thursday, September 01, 2011
7:06pm Mu Lambda Chapter House
2405 First Street NW Washington, DC
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