Torch Magazine January 2011

The Torch

The Of fi cial Newsletter of Mu Lambda Chapter

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

January, 2011

Message from the President

Brother Kwame Ulmer

Strengthening and Protecting Mu Lambda's Brand

Anyone who was involved in providing services to the Philadelphia homeless in the 1970s and 1980s knew Ron Ulmer. The city social worker had areputation for acalm demeanor, kind word and genuine desire to get the homeless to shelter. As achild, I would remember my father come home tired from work. He would have malodorous gloves, yet asmile on his face, because he knew he treated his clients with care and respect. He did what he loved and it showed. So much so that he was known as Saint Ron. In 2011 we would say Ron Ulmer had atight brand.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Mu Lambda chapter, has avery strong brand. We can point to mentoring over 100 young men. Most of these men have gone on to college. We can proudly boast being home to General Presidents, Jewels, and University Presidents. Most recently, our own Brother M. Christopher Brown joined the ranks of academic leaders of Mu Lambda. It is because of your love for Alpha that you pay your dues, housing assessment and provide community service. When you do these things you represent Alpha well.

Yet, it goes beyond that. You were all taught that you represent Alpha 24 hours aday, 7days aweek. Importantly, you are Alpha when you deal with your brother. We always aim to deal with our brother directly and speak tenderly. When we interface with the outside world, we project an image of mature men who have nothing but respect for our neighbors. We are dignified and probably tend to amore conservative and classic look. We generally do no sport Mohawks or follow trends that will fade. We wear suits and ties at our business meetings. Dressed down for us, may be dressed up for many. As afamous artist. Notorious BIG said, we are “classy not ashy’*. Our Holiday Gala was an excellent example. From marketing, to event implementation, and follow up thank you to guests. We represented well.

We must continue to strengthen and protect our brand. To this end. we will take a fresh look at all legal and fraternal requirements when we engage the public. This means that we will ensure we adhere to all relevant laws and project the best possible image. This means Intake, Beautillion, our new Alpha Academy, and even Brother's Keeper will be implemented with the utmost care. 1will personally engage every committee chair to ensure we are following all relevant policies and procedures. We will implement new ones if necessary. Iwill review any advertisement that bears Mu Lambda’s name. Why? Because our brand is just that important to me and Iknow it is cherished by you. As we increase our activity in the New Year; always ask the question ‘is this agood representation of Mu Lambda?" If you have any doubt, give me acall.

Your partner fora strong and mighty Mu Lambda.

Brother Kwame Ulmer President

ALPHA

60TH YEAR AT ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY AND DINNER

Membership &Brotherhood News

Congratulations to Brother Dr. M. Christopher Brown, II on his appointment as the President of Alcorn State Univei-sity.

The Alpha Wives Christmas party and dinner, held on December 12th at the Mu Lambda House, was an extra special occasion this year. Not only was it an event that we look forward to each year to help usher in the Christmas season, this year it was also our 60th anniversary as an organization.

The organization dates back to 1950 when 35 to 40 wives responded to acall from men of Mu Lambda Chapter to help decorate their recently purchased Alpha House in Northwest Washington. The spirit of cooperation in this endeavor was so strong that the wives believed that apermanent organization should be formed. Thus, the seed for establishing the Alpha Wives of Washington, DC, Inc. was planted and has been nurtured by ideas and action for 60 years.

Alpha Wives, Alphas, and guests were welcomed by the ambiance of Mu Lambda’s beautiful house decorated for the season with greenery beginning at the entrance and continuing inside on the stair railing and fireplace. Inside also were wreaths, lighted Christmas trees, bright red table cloths with centerpieces on the tables, and candles in the fireplace. Thanks to Alphas Sean Bellamy and Lamont Akins, and Alpha Wives Claudia Postell and Modestine Lowery for decorating.

Abrief program led by Charlotte Douglass and Alice Scipio included awelcome to everyone, candle lighting for our The program continued while the group enjoyed abuffet-style dinner of delicious food. President Julius Brice and several members of the Mu Lambda Foundation Board were present, including Eddie Neal, LeRoy Lowery, Gilbert Douglas and Tim Fitzgerald. founders, departed Alpha Wives and others, poetry reading by Ella Green and caroling.

The event was agreat success.

Congratulations to “Brothers at the Bar

Brother Charles E. Donegan, Esq. joined our dear Fraternity in 1954 at Theta Chapter. He was a volunteer Moot Court Judge for the American Bar Association Regional Law Student Labor Law Trial Advocacy Competition on October 30, 2010 and the American Bar Association Regional Law Student Arbitration Advocacy Competition on November 13, 2010 in Washington, D. C. Brother Donegan, a fonner law professor, has been alabor arbitrator since 1971.

Brother Khama Sharp, Esq. was recently sworn into the Illinois Bar Association. ASpring 2009 ^nitiateofMuLambdaChapter,hecompletedhisundergraduatestudiesattheUniversityofMinnesota ^-Monis and his legal training at Howard University School of Law. He is considering deploying his legal skills in the US military. in

Brother Eathen Gums IV, Esq. has been admitted to the New Jersey State Bar. ASpring 2003initate of Iota Iota Lambda Chapter, he is aCalifornia native. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California- Berkley, holds amasters degree from Cornell University, and earned his Jurist Doctor at the Georgetown University Law Center.

Mid-Atlantic Association of Alpha Phi Alpha Chapters (MAAC) at Chair Drive Update

On Saturday, December 18, 2010, Brothers of the MAAC volunteered at Damien Ministries, bringing clothes to assist this faith-based non-profit organization in their efforts to help people in the Metropolitan DC area living with HIV and AIDS.

Below is correspondence from Brother Rashid Darden. Director of Development and Communications at Damien Ministries, of the impact Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the Pan-Hellenic has had, and continues to have, in support of Damien Ministries' mission of supporting those in need.

Well done Brothers!

The chapter chair drive project is well underway. The Mu Lambda Foundation is accepting tax deductible donations in the amount of $100 per chair. You don't have to be aBrother to make achair 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 ablack chair as pictured above.

Donated by Brother (your name Inserted) or In Memory of Brother Dear Brothers.

Damien Ministries extends awarm and sincere thank you to all of you who attended our Second Annual Skee-Phi Clothing Drive on Saturday.

The dozens of bags of clothing and shoes (as well as food and financial donations) which the brothers and friends of Alpha Phi Alpha donated on yesterday will make adifference in the lives of our clients for months to come.

Damien Ministries has had adeep connection to Alpha Phi Alpha and the Pan-Hellenic community for years, with Alphas and AKAs on our board of directors.

We appreciate your generosity immensely and hope to continue this relationship for years to come.

As afinal note. Damien Ministries welcomes chapters of Alpha as well as informal groups of volunteers to come distribute condoms in the community surrounding Damien Ministries beginning in .Tanuary 2011. You may make volunteer arrangements with use by visiting the volunteer section of our website: http://www.damienministries.org/pagc.php71brm id^l926

Fraternally grateful.

Rashid Darden

Director of Development and Communications

Damien Ministries

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

Please contact Brother Arthur King (202-744-6624) at AkinQ536@aol.com if you’d like to make adonation or to find out more about this project.

Beaut fl lion Mentors

If Brothers would still like to be mentors, it’s not too late.

Please contact the following Brothers for more information:

Brother Mark Ross: (202) 422-8493

Brother Darrell Chase: (202) 294-3383

Brother Kent Benjamin: (703) 401-0888

Beautillion Academy Session

Mu Lambda Holiday Social and Toy Drive

On Saturday. December 18. 2010 Brothers came out to the Mu Lambda House in support of the Holiday Social and Toy Drive. It was awonderful time, in the spirit of the holidays. suiTounded by fellow Brothers, family and friends. Thank you to all the Brothers who came out and support the social committee in this spectacular event. Toy donations went to children at The United Medical Center in the Children's National Medical Emergency Department.

James T. Speight, Jr.

Samuel E. Thornton, III

Jonathan C. Rutherford January 13 January I

Ronald D. Sullivan January 18 January 1

Arthur L. Nelson, Jr. January 20 January 3

Charles Donegan

Kenneth F. Holbert

202-829-7161 CEDonegan@gmail.com

301-907-8179 kfholbert@vahoo.com

Kenneth f. hoibert@vahoo.com

Neil S. Rodgers 313-550-5779 202-450-5754

Marvin Brooks

Melvin L. Clark

Vernon S. Gill

O.J. Cole, Jr.

John C. Eason, Jr. January 5 January 21

James D. Greer January 5 January 23

Jeffrey D. Poydras January 5 January 23

January 6 Paul R. Weber, III January 24

Rod Richardson

Herbert Suber

Lawerence K. Montogomery M. Christopher Brown, III January 26 January 7

taDaseo@live.com rilevlawnet@vahoo.com hlsnccu@gmail.com

2112 Branch Ave. SE

Rhett R. Lucas 202-234-9459

Charles P. Mouton January 30

LaVertC. Seabron John W. McCaskill January 26 January 9

Horace G. Dawson, Jr.

Earl W. Richardson January 9 whawk39564@aol.com

Fred L. Valentine Melvin White January 9

January 31

President

Kwame.ulmertagmail.com 202^92-3487 Kwame Ulmer

rsalterdds( fl aol.com 301-379-6102 Reginald Salter Vice President freshlook(rt vahoo.com T. Paul Jones 202-557-6246

Recording Secretary

Collins rossmarka@aol.corn Mark Ross 202-422-8493 Treasurer aking536@aol.com Arthur King 202-744-6624

Financial Secretary

Derrick P.J. Thomas ioe3rd@hotmail.com Joseph Housey, III 561-932-3599 Corresponding Secretary whawk39564@aol.com William Hawkins Chaplain 202-583-3211 301-218-1976

Kelvin McClinton Craig Allen c.d.allen@hotmail.com 314-607-9975 Historian Kevin Giles 804-389-1906 Kevin RGiles@mcpsmd.org Archivist

Adam X. Salters 202-730-0770 Earl Root@vahoo.com Sergeant-at-Arms Emeritus Earl Root 202-294-3383 dchasel906@:vahoo.com Darryl Chase Sergeant-at-Arms

James Harmon Arthur DeLay 504-635-5993 arthur.delav@vahoo.com

kpm06@vahoo.com

adam.x.salters@gmail.com

iameseharmon@gmail.com

Editor of the Torch

Associate Editor to the Sphinx 508-846-3957 simpson rnario@:hotmail.com Mario Simpson

Director of Intake 336-575-7677

Joseph Gibbs John Mabry 301-717-8508 apo71 llo@vahoo.com Samuel Armstrong Webmaster ikcih@aol.com James Heck 240-535-2605

Director of Education Sean Bellamy sean.bellamv@,dc.gov Eddie Neal 301-440-4055 ewneal@hotmail.com

Parliamentarian

iosephcgibbs@gmail.com

iohnmabry@gmail.com

achecol@vahoo.com

Antonio Berrios igrev7 @:vahoo .com 610-639-2964 Joel Grey

Member-at-Large Timothy Fitzgerald timFitz06@:coincast.net 202-678-0821

Immediate Past President

Member Committee Chair

cci.caa.edi@verizon.net

igrev@vahoo.com Campbell Johnson rilevlawnet@:vahoo.com Henry Riley 630-532-0665

www.mulambda.org

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

James

Samuel

Neil

The Brothers of Delta Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc And Brother Delegate Keith Haynes

Invite you to join us at our annual Alpha Phi Alpha Night in Annapolis Monday January 24, 2011 Lowe Office Building, Room 170

Meet- Department of Legislative Seivices Information Desk. Basement, Maryland State 4:30 a,m. House, 100 State Circle, Annapolis. Maryland Marvin

Tour Historic Rooms and Chambers of the Maryland State House

The 2010-2011 Executive Board &Committee Chairs

President Kwame Ulmer 202-492-3487 Kwame.ulmer(a.,gmail.com

Vice President Reginald Salter 301-379-6102 rsalterddsi^ aol.com

Recording Secretary T. Paul Jones 202-557-6246 freshlooktr/ yahoo.com

Treasurer Mark Ross rossmarkata aol.com 202-422-8493

Financial Secretary Arthur King aking536faaol.com 202-744-6624

Corresponding Secretary Joseph Housey, III 561-932-3599 ioe3rd(ahotmail.com

Chaplain William Hawkins 202-583-3211 whawk39564(aaoi.coin

Historian Craig Allen 314-607-9975 c.d.allenfo-.hotmail.com

Archivist Kevin Giles 804-389-1906 Kevin RGilesfamcpsmd.org

Sergeant-at-Arms Emeritus Earl Root 202-730-0770 Earl Root(a:vahoo.com

Sergeant-at-Arms Darryl Chase 202-294-3383 dchasel 906(avahoo.com

Associate Editor to the Sphinx Arthur DeLay 504-635-5993 arthur.delavfavahoo.com

Editor of the Torch Mario Simpson 508-846-3957 simpson mario(a)hotmail.coin

Webmaster Samuel Armstrong 301-717-8508 apo71 llofawahoo.com

Director of Intake James Heck 240-535-2605 ikcihfoiaol.com

Director of Education Sean Bellamy 336-575-7677 sean.bellamvfadc.gQv

Parliamentarian Eddie Neal 301-440-4055 ewneal fi ^hotmail.com Joel Grey Member-at-Large 610-639-2964 igrev7(g-vahoo.com

Immediate Past President Timothy Fitzgerald 202-678-0821 tiin fi tz06('a!comcast.net

Henry Riley Member Committee Chair 630-532-0665 rilevlawnetf fl /vahoo.com

www.mulambda.onz

Submit this form with your dues to the financial secretary.

January Meeting Thursday, January 06, 2010

Repast: 6:30pm; Meeting: 7:06pm