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January 1991 Washington, D.C. MU LAMBDA Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated
December Chapter Meeting Recap
Message from the President Mu Lambda Celebrates Its 67th Year With New Challenges
Brothers! As we embark upon 1991, we face yet another series of challenges—the challenge of love for all mankind, the challenge of the gifts of peace and happiness, and the challenge of what we do next in the name of Alpha Phi Alpha.
Well let me say Brothers, as f have struggled over the last few weeks to correct the mistakes of others (not Brothers), Iam abit dismayed, but “... Ihave not winced nor cried aloud ...” The mistakes relate to our ability to conduct our meetings and carry out the business of Alpha in the spirit of the “House of Alpha.” This brings me to the challenge: What do we do next in the name of Alpha Phi Alpha? Are we going to build amemorial to honor our beloved departed Brother Martin Luther King, Jr.? Are we going to address and attack the baseless policies stated by such people as Assistant Secretary of Education Michael L. Williams, who issued a decree that scholarships reserved for African Americans in some unconstitu-
At its December Chapter meet¬ ing, Mu Lambda celebrated its 67th anniversary with asolemn recognition of the seven Jewels who founded the Fraternity. Lighting acandle for each Jewel, the Brothers observed amoment of silence in retrospect of the ideals of the Founders as well as the future of the Chapter and the Fraternity. Brother Morris Hawkins, President, in his presen¬ tation commemorating the anni¬ versary, challenged the Brothers to remember the Chapter’s illustrous history as an indicator of the challenges that the Frtatemity must confront in the future. Citing the slogan, “Making aDifference in D.C. Since 1923,” Brother Hawkins stressed the Chapter’s need to focus on the AfricanAmerican male as an endangered species.
Alpha man providing amentor re¬ lationship with ajunior high school African-American student, with the hopes of encouraging the student to finish high school and attend college. Each Alpha mentor will be asked to commit one year to the youth development program, which would include tutoring, counseling and recreational activi¬ ties. Brother Lowery hopes that Mu Lambda will initiate the pilot program.
Other Chapter reports included the Audit Committee, Housing Fund, and Beta-Mu Lambda Corporation. Committee, headed by Brother Aaron Copeland, C.P.A., high¬ lighted several Chapter accounting practices that should be modified for next year’s report, in order to produce amore efficient accounta¬ bility system. Brother Julius H. Brice, urging the Brothers to pay (continued on page 3)
supporting
Citing Mu Lambda’s renewed commitment to the D. C. commu¬ nity, the chapter embarked on its mission to make adifference in the Alpha Eastern Region by wholeheartedly Brother LeRoy Lowery’s “kick¬ off’ campaign for Vice President. The Chapter approved aresolu¬ tion to collectively support Brother Lowery’s campaign through volunteer and financial resources.
In light of the Chapter’s slogan. Brother LeRoy Lowery presented the Chapter with the find version of the National program, “Go to high school, Go to College.” This National program, to be adopted by each chapter, envisions each
Lowery Announces His Candidacy for Eastern Region Vice
President.
LeRoy Lowery HI, past President of Mu Lambda Chapter, an¬ nounced at the December Chapter Meeting that he would seek the Eastern Region Vice Presidency in April 1992. Next month's Torch will feature aspecial article on his campaign plans as well as his goals for the Eastern Region. circumstances tional? Are we going to acquire or (continued on next page) are □
(Omega
President's Message (continued from page 1)
build a“House of Alpha” in the physical sense, in order that we may go about Alpha ‘s business in Alpha’s way? Are we going to fete ourselves in aproper manner and in amanner to which we have be¬ come accustomed? Are we going to shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, and care for the disabled? Or are we going to literally do nothing, and sit on our a for another year?
Please Brothers, let me hasten to say that Irecognize that we all are doing things in our own way for the good of humanity. But I, as do you, have astrong commitment to Alpha. Iam fi nancial, Iam Brotherly, and Isuppon the ideals and aims of the Fraternity. Therefore, let us pool our re¬ sources and talents for Alpha’s sake. Face it! We are in the decade of the 90s changes and new ideals. Change is taking place all around us. Some of that change is affecting us greatly, and in afew instances ad¬ versely.
The District of Columbia is out of the race for location of the National Headquarters Building. Therefore, we may as well forget the events of the immediate past and concentrate on abuilding for the Beta-Mu Lambda Corporation. We need to help in carrying out the goals of the Corporation, as well as in fundraising.
Brothers, let us rekindle the fire of Brotherhood and fellowship. Let’s get together for breakfast. For lunch. For dinner. For adrink. For aparty. For adance. For bowl¬ ing. For tennis. For golf. For a concert at the Kenney Center. For anight of jazz at Blues Alley. For atrip to the Bahamas. For a trip to the races. For whatever! Don’t leave everthing up to the Social Committee. They plan a calendar of activities for the Chapter. They are not the entire Brotherhood, and hence cannot cover the needs and desires of all
2
the Brothers, young or old. Also Brothers, we are agood “social club” with an orientation towards service. Let us help each other on occasion. If you are involved in a community service project, invite the Brotherhood along once in a while. Obviously, all of us will not be able to attend, but enough of us will make it difference.”
Chapter efforts. The “Go to high school, go to college” campaign is here again. Act Now!
in order to “make a
Support the programs of the General Organization through our
Don’t forget “Project 200!” Please help to enlarge our Brotherhood. Bring anew Brother along to the January meeting. Tell him what we are doing ,what we plan to do, and what our potential is as aChapter. Remind him to bring his checkbook.
“First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All!
1990-91 Dues
Dues for the 1990-91 Fraternal Year are $95 for life members and $180 for non-life members. {The $180 includes a$10 late fee and $75 for the Grand Tax, which is pro-rated as follows for recently graduated Brothers: 1st year -$37.50; 2nd year -$56.00.) Dues may be mailed to Brother Beniamin J. Carson. Ill at 1417 Massachusetts Avenue #2. Washington. D. C. 20003. Remember to include your social security number on your check. Please take care of your financial obli¬ gations now. the decade of
Newsletter Committee
Editor: WiUiam D. Thomas (202-363-7976)
Associate Editor: C.C. Jones (202-483-3102)
Circulation Managers: Louis A. Ford (202-723-8592), Harold W. Hill (202-234-1906)
The deadline for submission of materials for the February issue is January 23.
Mu Lambda Chapter
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated P.O, Box 1993 Washington, D.C. 20013
President
Vice President
Recording Secretary
Treasurer
Associate Editor to The Sphinx
Chaplain
Education Director
Historian
Dean of Intake
Corresponding Secretary
Financial Secretary Sergeant at Arms
Morris Hawkins, Jr. (202-232-7265) Louis A. Ford (202-723-8592) RobertM.Brown,HI(703-354-8018)
Curtis A. Hunigan (202-4844944)
William D. Thomas (202-363-7976)
Father Jerry Hargrove Jr. (202-397-2525) C. C. Jones, HI (202483-3102)
Elmer D. Geathers (202-547-2625)
Herman L. Queen (202-397-8821)
Harold W. Hill, Jr. (202-234-1906)
.Benjamin J. Carson, HI (202-546-8704)
Maryland D. Kemp (202-583-1261)
December Meeting Recap (continued)
the National Headquarters Fund assess¬ ormentupdatedtheChapterregardingthe WHeadquarters location process. Each ^Brother is urged to contact members of the National Board of Directors to solicit their support for afair and equitable as¬ sessment of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area as apossible headquarters site. Brother James T. Robinson, HI, Secretary of the Beta-Mu Lambda Corporation, reiterated in his re¬ port Brother Lowery’s call for volunteers for the “Go to high school. Go to College” program, as well as the need for the Chapter to touch the community through service, public policy statements, and activism.
TicKer Tape
Mu Lambda
Support the Henry Arthur CalMs Scholarship Fund by sending your tax-deductible contributions to Brother Frederick J. Laney, 1834 Shepherd St., N.W.. Washington, D.C. 20011. Your generosity is most appreciated: help some deserving student today.
Happy Birthday!!! January
Brothers Melvin Clark (5); Vernon S. Gill (5); O. Jackson Cole (6); E. Avery Adams (7); Walter M. Bryant (11); Benjamin J. Carson III (11); Wayland D. McClellan (11); Barry K. Hargrove (20); Charles Woodbury (20); John C. Eason, Jr. (21); Marion A. Thorpe (21): Warstein W. Ziegler (22); Michael A. Briley (25); Allen R. Horton (25); W. Frank Williams. Jr. (25): and Herman L. Queen (27).
Belated birthday greetings to: Brother Ryland R. Harris (Dec. 6).
Brother Thaddeus J. Taylor was recently elected to the Board of the Beta-Mu Lambda Corporation of the Alumni Association, and aMember of the Board of Trustees of the American Baptist Seminary of the West, Berkely, California participants in the December Symposium by the Smithsonian Resident Associate Program on Restraint of Speech in aFree Society: The Limits of the First Amendment; his presenta¬ tions were on "Speech in the Market Place" and "Speech and the Arts.
Brother William E. Calbert was recently elected International President
Brother George R. Johnson, Jr. was one of 11 Brother 723-7844
Benjamin Carson and his wife Joyce celebrated their fi rst wedding anniversary this past Thanksgiving.... Mu Lambda extends prayers to Brother Earnest Smith, who underwent open heart surgery last month; he served as our fi nancial secretary for many years; cards may be sent to his home at 5730 Blair Road N.W., Washington, DC 20011 or call him at (202) Our prayers also go to Brother Elmer D. Geathers who had been scheduled for back surgery on December 21; he has been reviewing our archives as Chapter Historian to catalogue our history on videotape; cards may be sent to him at 644 6th Street N.E., Washington, DC 20002; telephone (202) 547 2625
Washington metropolitan area is not a fi nalist in the selection process of the National Headquarters site; possible sites are reportedly Winston-Salem, NC; Houston, Texas; And Atlanta, Georgia; Brothers are urged to contact National Board members to solicit their support for the Washington Metropolitan Area as an ideal site
to
Wayland
Johnson Xi Rho (San Francisco State University), '62, aDecember visitor, indicated that he is the grandson of aformer grand basilieus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; it took three generations to correct the mistake (smile) for assisting the area-wide Founders' Day—Program Committee Chair of Mu Lambda's Audit Committee, has opened an accounting fi rm located at 1730 KSt. N.W., Suite 304, Washington, DC 20006 Johnson, Wesley Brown, LeRoy Lowery, Dan Nowell, James Walker, Matthew Tassyn, and Morris Hawkins for their assistance in the candlelight ceremony honoring our Jewels in Congratulations to Brother Earl Burke, an initiate of Alpha Tau Chapter, who visited Mu Lambda in November, for passing the Georgia Bar Exam
Akron, Ohio,
January
Monthly meeting. Mu Lambda Chapter, 7:00 P.M., the Howard Inn. Plcase nOte the speciallocation!!!BrothersinterestedinvolunteeringforProjectAlpha,please hour early to meet with Brother Lowery.
Happy Hour. Join Mu Lambda Brothers at Eugertha’s Restaurant and Lounge at 6817 GeorgiaAve. N.W. from 6-8:00 P.M.; contact Ben Carson (202) 546-8704 or Juan Powell at (202) 291-7852.
I.U.L. Chapter's 14th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast, featuring DelanoLewis,PresidentandCEO,theChesapeakeandPotomacTelephoneCompany;IndianSpring CountryClub,13501LayhillRoad,SilverSpring,MD,7:45-10:00A.M.Adults,$18;Youth(age12 &under), $14. For tickets and reservations, contactThaddeusTaylor (301) 622-1248. For seating the Mu Lambda table, contact Brother Morris Hawkins at (202) 232-7265.
Men of Shiloh’s Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast, Henry C. Gregory Memorial Family Life Center, Shiloh Baptitst Church. For tickets ($13 per person), contact Brother William D. Ihomas, (2u2y ~ or George R. Johnson, (301) 654-2371.
Executive Committee Meeting, 7P.M., Armour J. Blackburn University Center, Room 142, Howard University.
Volunteer to help Shiloh Baptist Church members serve lunch at S.O.M.E. (So Others May Eat)- for further information, contact Brother William D. Thomas (202) 363-7976.
Eastern Regional Staff Meeting, Radisson Hotel, Wilmington, DE.
7 Monthly meeting. Mu Lambda Chapter, 7:00 P.M., Armour J. Blackburn University Center Restaurant, Howard University.
2 District VI Area Meeting, Aberdeen, MD. April
11-14 Eastern Regional Convention, Radisson Hotel. Wilmington. DE. May
17 Henry A. Callis Scholarship Fund’s Spring Dinner Dance. August 1-7 85thAnniversary General Convention, Stouffer Hotel, Baltimore, MD.I
Mu Lambda Chapter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. P.O. Box 1993 Washington, D.C. 20013