The Torch
The Official Newsletter of Mu Lambda Chapter
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
WWW.MULAMBDA.ORG
June 2012
Message from the President Brother LeRoy Lowery, III
“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.”
Edward R. Murrow
Two weekends ago, my wife and I drove to Atlanta for a brief visit. (Regular gas was $3.179 per gallon in SC). Here were two birthdays that weekend – our son, Scott, and my 92 year -old aunt. The two occasions meant there were dozens of relatives in town –including grandchildren and cousins – that we hadn’t seen in too long! The visit was relaxing and fulfilling as we caught up on activities that might have transpired since we last saw each other. It wasn’t an official family reunion, but it was quite close. On the return trip I smiled often as I reflected on the pleasure of seeing loved ones, seeing family. The importance of family members – individually and collectively, cannot be over stated. It is only natural to want all within your house to be well, to be prosperous, to be happy.
Next to my blood family, my fraternal family is very important. When my fraternal house is not in order it is unsettling, especially when you don’t know exactly what is happening. Today the House of Alpha is experiencing family issues that are exacerbated by no information or misinformation. The matter is compounded further by the use of social media to discuss/debate issues in public. I don’t want my family matters debated in open forum for outsiders to discuss and critique solely on rumors and half-truths. Brothers with discretion and in a fraternal manner should work out any problems within this House. It is in this vein that I have asked fraternal leadership to come to our meeting and tell us what is going on! We have been promised information that has not been provided by the general office. I am pleased to report that Brother Sean McCaskill, Eastern Region Vice-President, has accepted m y invitation and will “attend” our meeting via Skype to bring us up to date on the latest developments with the Board of Directors. We will also have our new District Director, Brother Sean Meredith, present to install the chapter officers and he, too, will be asked to provide clarity.
In the meantime, I ask that you be patient, do not feed into the rumor mill and do not discuss Alpha business outside of the House. We have not led the fraternal world for 105 years by caving in to dissent and surrendering to rumor and innuendo. That which does not kill us will make us stronger. Plan to attend the next meeting before we go on a muchdeserved vacation. After a few weeks to recharge our batteries we will start planning for next year’s activities. I think you will be excited about some of the ideas that are being proposed to maintain Mu Lambda’s prominence in the Washington area and beyond. See you Thursday!
Congratulations and Miles Stones
Brother Kenneth Washington received his certificate commemorating 25 years in Alpha
Brother William Page received his certificate commemorating 50 years in Alpha
Brother Louis Ford received his certificate commemorating 50 years in Alpha
Brother O. Jackson Cole received his certificate commemorating 50 years in Alpha
Brother Antwan Lofton , Ed.D in education leadership. Howard University
Brother Frank King, Masters of Science Information Technology in Homeland Security
Management. University of Maryland University University College
Brother Brian Moore, Master of Education in Administration & Supervision
Brother Issac Smith, Masters of Science in Social Work. Howard University
Brother Keone Thomas, Masters of Science Criminal Justice. University of Maryland
Brother Kerry Wilson, Master o f Arts in Public Administration. Howard University
Elected Chapter Officers for 2012- 2013
LeRoy Lowery III, President
Timothy Fitzgerald, Vice President, Kevin Giles, Recording Secretary
Michael Young, Treasurer
Arthur King, Financial Secretary
Keone Thomas, Corresponding Secretary
William Hawkins, Chaplain, Sulaiman Almaroof, Historian, W. Jerome McGee, Archivist
June
Alexander Pullen, Sergeant -at -Arm
James Harmon, Associate Editor to the Sphinx
Jason Clark, Editor of the Torch
Joel Grey, Webmaster
Arthur Fields, Director of Int ake
Sean Bellamy, Director of Education
Kwame Reed, Parliamentarian
Joseph Gibbs, Member-at -Large
Calendar of Events
1 – 10am, Noyes Middle School, Field Day
7 - 7pm, Mu Lambda Chapter meeting, Mu Lambda House
10 – 3 pm, Alpha Academy Awards, Mu Lambda House
16 – 9am, Chapter photograph, MLK Memorial, Independence Avenue,
19 - 7pm, meeting, Mu Lambda Foundation Board of Directors, Mu Lambda House
30 – Noon, Chapter Celebration cookout, Mu Lambda House
