January 1989
Message from
the President
MU LAMBDA Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated
For those of you who were unable to attend, 1am sure you will min roe in thanking Brother and Mrs. James E. Cheek for hosting our December meeting. The camaraderie, hospitality, fellowship, and good cheer served as agrand beginning of the holiday season for each of us. If there was abored, unhappy person in the crowd of over 200they were invisible.
Each year’s end finds many of us in areflective mood. It is a time to look back on the accomplishments of the previous 366 days, or the lack thereof. The resolutions made with such sincerity of purpose might just as well have been so much hot air if they were not fulfilled. It is also a time of thankfulness-being thankful for having been able to experiencethepast12months, bemg thankful for having the love and support of family and friends, and bemg thankful for the ability to help someone along the way.
It is further atime to express hopc^hope for those le^s fortu¬ nate,hop^foranevenbetteryear ahead and hope that we will be here in 1990 to look back at 1989.
As amember of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, bic., it is also
time to prepare to take the measures necessary to maintain the Fraternity's position of prominence. As the new General President, Henry Ponder, prepares for office, we should wish him the best and stand ready to offe*' our support. We should also resolve to assist Mu Lambda Chapter in its programs. You have already gone that extra mile by being financial and attending the monthly meetings.C3nyouaddonemore yard and agree to serve on one committee or aid in the execution of one program? It is said that in any organization 20% of the members do 80% of the work. In which
number will you be counted in 1989?
On behalf of the officers of Mu Lambda Chapter, Ilook forward to your continued support. With your able assistance we will continue M)ward our goal of making mu Lambda one of the top chapters in the Fraternity, "Making a difference" in D.C. since 1923. May each of you have ahappy and prosperous new year!!
3
Commitment to Education and Youth is Necessary, Brother Perkins Says
by Horace Dawson
Alpha Phi Alpha must have a commitment to education and to the encouragement of black youth to pursue it at ail cost.
This was the theme of the address by Brother Huel D. Perkins in the Founders' Day observance of our Fraternity's 82nd year on December 4in Washington, D.C.
Before avery receptive audience in Rankin Chapel at Howard University, Brother Perkins, Dsainnan of the Fraternity's Education Foundation, extolled the
value of education and deplored current attitudes which undervalue its significance. He cited statistics which indicate that "Black males are vanishing as role models," and declared, "If we don't do something soon, there will be no males in college for anyone to pledge into our fraternities."
The Founders' Day program was sponsored jointly by Mu Lambda, Beta, Omicron Lambda Alpha, Omicron Eta Lambda, Omicron Omicron, and Nu Beta. Representing Mu Lambda on the steering committee (see PerkinSy page 3t column J)
The Smoker for Beta Chapter was held on December 4in Rankin Chapel. Over 45 prospective pledges attended, along with present and former Beta Brothers and the Alpha Sweethearts. Brother Byron J. Grayson of Mu Lambda was the keynote speaker. Other speakers included Brothers Darrell Arnold, Brian Watkins, John Berry, Darryl Clinkscales, and LeRoy Lowery (Chapter Advisor).
Brother Cornelius Bates represented Beta at the College Brothers Retreat in Wilmington, Delaware on November 25-27. The weekend attracted approximately 70 Brothers from t^oughouttheEasternRegionto discuss such matters as chapter management, parliamentary procedures, and the Fraternity’s programs. Brother Lowery made a iresentatioo on the monthly ..eadership Development ftogram.
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in ©na in ce ®m(g la ii ^
Contributions to Mu Lambda's adopted charity, the Christian Action Center, will be collected at the January meeting. Checks should be made out to the "Christian Action Center."
Donations of food and used clothing will also be accepted by Brother Fred Jones, Chairman of the Public Policy ***»«**»«**»*»**Committee. ■ *
With the increased member¬ ship, there is aneed to resume the use of name tags by the Brothers. The plastic breast pocket name tags with the crest are available for $20 through the Sergeantat-Arms, Maryland Kemp (583-1261). He will have applications at the »**«»*»***«««****meeting.
Any Brother having acopy of the By-laws and amendments to the incorporation papers of the Beta-Mu Lambda Corporation is asked to bring them to the January meeting. See Brother Julius Brice.
1988-89 Dues
Remember: Dues for the Fraternal year are $85 for general fees (non- life members) and $75 for chapter dues. Brother Ernest Smith will accept your check at the January meeting.
Young Men of Class and Distinction-This is aprogram initiated by our 1988 pl^ge line for Anacostia Senior High School. The purpose is to establish a positive role model image development program amongst the students. Committee members are needed; call Frank Williams at 949-0708.
This is the first call for applications for prospective pledges for the spring '88 line. Questions should be addressed to Brother Lee Tyler, Dean of Pledges (723-9220). The deadline is February 1.
Newsletter Committee
Editor: William D. Thomas (363-7976)
Associate Editor: George R. Johnson, Jr. (654-2371) The deadline for submission of materials for the February issue is January 18.
Mu Lambda Chapter
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated P.O. Box 1993 Washington, D.C. 20013
President
Vice President —
Recording Secretary
Treasurer MaRing 3DIffertnee'
.. LeRoy Lowery, in (291-3129) Louis W. Buck (292-5492)
Robert M. Brown, El (354-8018) ... Curtis AHunigan (484-4944)
Associate Editor to The Sphinx ... Byron J. Grayson, Sr. (966-7129)
Chaplain Father Jerry Har^ove, Jr. (397-2525)
Education Director Melvin Clark (526-4662)
Historian J. Leon Langhome (529-3692)
Dean of Pledges Lee A. Tyler (723-9220)
Corresponding Secretary Louis AFord (723-8592)
Financial Secretary Ernest L. Smith (723-7844)
Sergeant at Arms
Maryland D. Kemp (583-1261)
Monthly Meeting
TheJanuary5meetingofMuLambdaChapterwillbeintheHowardUniversityBlackburn Student Center at 7RM.
PlansAgroupphotographofMuLambdaChaptermemberswillbetakenduringthismeeting. are to assemble in the Blackburn Center Auditorium at 7:30 RM. for the photograph. Brothers will be given the opportunity to purchase acopy of the 8" x10" photo. Ties and jackets are suggested.
Perkins (continued from page 1)
were Brothers Morris Hawkins, Jr. (Chairman) and Harold Hill.
Alpha men and others, "whoever they may be," must teach our young men "to sti^y in school, not to rob cclnvenieiice stores." He went on, "they must know that there is another way out of the ghetto besides athletics and entertainment; all have minds, and minds can be trained."
Brother President LeRoy Lowery, III presided; and Brothers David Masembwa, Nu Beta; Jerry H. Hargrove Jr., Mu Lambda; Steven E. Ethridge, Omicron Omicron; Cornelius Bates, Beta; Ray E. Spears, Omicron Eta Lambda; and Jimmy M. Boyd, Omicron Eta Lambda were featured in various roles in the very impressive program. again!'"
Brother Ryle A. Bell, Area Director, made closing remarks; and Brother Harry M. Thompson was organist for the occasion.
Brother Perkins cited Alpha programs of the past such as "Slay in School," "A Voteless People Is aHopeless People," "Go to School, Go to College," and suggested that attention be paid to programs of this kind.
"Education is our heritage and our future." To believe otherwise, the speaker went on, is to commit intellectual suicide. He encouraged greater cooperation among chapters, as illustrated by the Founders' Day program, and reminded the audience that Alpha '*'-’fepmitsverybeginninghas slr^sedtheimportanceof education."
In his address, Brother Perkins said Blacks must feel about the lack of readiness to embrace education as Jews do about t)i% Holocaust. "We must say,f t' 'Never again'... Once before in ^our history, the time came and we ■; were not ready to meet the ' challenge." Brother Perkins was i referring to the end of slavery when Blacks "had nothing to do f and nowhere to go." This V. condition was not the fault of Negroes at the time, the speaker f said, but today, "if we are not educated, and if we are not ^ seeking ^ucation, we have no ( one to blame but ourselves." >-
The problem is of such importance. Brother Perkins went on, that every organization in the Black community should be devoting itself to it. "At this critical juncture,wemustnotbefound wanting; we must say, 'Never
The Rededication Ceremony, which was highlighted by the lighting of candles for each of the Jewels, was led by Brothers Ray E. Spears (Omicron Eta Lambda) and Luther Falls (Omicron Lambda /Upha).
TRIVIA QUESTION
Who was the last Brother from the Eastern Region that was elected to the office of General President? For the correct answer, join us at the January meeting.
aapv Birthday!!!
January
Brothers E. Avery Adams (7); Michael A. Briley (25): Walter M. Bryant (11);BenjaminJ.Carson,III(11);MelvinClark(5);O.JacksonCole(6); John C. Eason. Jr. (21); Vernon S. Gill (5); Barry K. Hargrove (20); AllenR.Horton(25);WaylandD.McClellan(11);HermanL.Queen (27):MarionA.Thorpe(21);W.FrankWilliams,Jr(25);Charles Woodbury (20); and Warstein W. Zeigler (22).
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
January
5Monthly meeting of Mu Lambda, 7:00 P.M., Blackburn Student Center, Howard University.
6-8 Inauguration of General President-elect, Brother Henry Ponder, Nashville, Tennessee.
14 Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Celebration (Disco), sponsored by Omicron Lambda Alpha, Hyatt Regency, $10; contact Jimmy Banks, 568-4027.
16 Iota Upsilon Lambda's Martin Luther King Day Breakfast, Indian Springs Country Club.
16 Mu Lambda and Beta Observance of Martin Luther King Day, Blackburn Student Center, Howard University, 7:00 P.M.
17 Executive Committee Meeting, 7:30 P.M., 1724 Portal Drive. N.W.
20 Alpha Wives' Inaugural Prayer Breakfast; contact Mrs. Edna McClellan, 723-0453.
February
1Deadline for pledge applications to Brother Lee Tyler
2Monthly meeting of Mu Lambda, 7:00 P.M., Blackburn Student Center, Howard University.
21 Executive Committee Meeting, 7:30 P.M., 1724 Portal Drive. N.W.
Mu Lambda Chapter
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. P.O. Box 1993 Washington, D.C. 20013
.Rudolph 20011 Bro ^ 4407 16th Street, Washington, D.C.