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MU LAMBDA Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated

Message from the President State of the Chapter

Though we feel we accom¬ plished much this past fraternal vear, there is much to be done, '^ne has only to read today's newspaper to conﬁrm the need to ^improvetheplightofmanyofour people. The tragedy would be in not trying to lend ahand, ignoring the call of those less fortunate. With your continued help the collective energies of this chapter will be used to try to make a difference in someone's life.

The calendar does not lie, it definitely has been one full year since the current administration was sworn into of fi ce. How time flies when you are having fun! The faith you have placed in our .programs, as evidenced by your votes during the last meeting, and your support, as evidenced by your participation on committees, is heartwarming. We can state, unequivocally, that you haven't seen anything yet! The first twelve months allowed us to gel our “sea legs,” now we expect to raise our sails for arace that will make the America's Cup attainable.

Two of the ofﬁcers for 1988-89 chose not to run for another term—Brothers J. Leon Langhorne and Byron Grayson, Sr. They are thanked sincerely for their service ‘ove and beyond the call of duly.

Fournier.': (Omega Chapter)

Henry A. Callis Charles H. Chapman

Along the way we will support the programs of the general fraternity and have some fun, loo.

Each Brother is asked to be a committee of one to identify projects and issues that should be addressed next year. There is no mention of any of the Jewels being shy and withdrawn in our history book, so the current membership should be no exception. One of the most important characteristics we hope to maintain is the ability to “act” rather than just “react.”

Ipropose to give my assessment of the State of the Chapter at this time. This would have been done at the June meeting, but, in the interest of time, Iwill do it now. The chapter was passed to the current administration in excellent shape.

(continued on pa^e S)

Local Alpha Artifacts Exhibited at Annual Scholarship Ball

by J. Leon Langhorne

As an added attraction to the memorable Mu Lambda Chapter Dance at the Shoreham Hotel on May 11, the Chapter's Archives Committee, chaired by Brother J. Leon Langhorne, with the able assistance of committee members Elmer Geathers and Earle Jones, presented aten-table, outstanding and signiﬁcant exhibition of Alpha fraternity artifacts covering the period from the fraternity’s founding in 1906 to the present time. The audience viewed the historical exhibit with great interest and appreciation.

All kinds of distinguished memorabilia were presented, including framed pictures of Alpha founders and individuals, groups, and national convention pictures, all displayed on ﬁne easels; and plaques, trophies, awards, news articles, scrap books, etc. The ten-table display revived old memories and presented anovel and innovative approach toward putting in general perspective Alpha Phi Alpha's illustrious history in the nation's capital.

The committee's exhibit had atwo-fold purpose: ﬁrst, to

(continued on page 2)

Eugene Kinckle Jones George B. Kelley Nathaniel A. Murray Robert H. Ogle Vertner W. Tandy

Artifacts exhibited (continued from page 1)

perpetuate the memory of the chapter's activities and the out¬ standing careers of its members, and secondly, to furnish an unsurpassed source of information concerning the cultural develop¬ ment of the Bela undergraduate and the Mu Lambda graduate chapters in Washington, D.C. The growing and vast collection of artifacts concerning Alpha's local history is preserved in astorage facility in northeast Washington D.C.

June

LeRoy Lowery, III (5), William R. Spaulding (15), Harold W. Hill, Jr. (17), Earle Jones (21), Edward G. Taylor (24), Walter Daniel (26)

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 June meeting.

Name

Newsletter Committee

Editor: William D. Thomas (363-7976)

Associate Editor: George R. Johnson, Jr. (654-2371) The deadline for submission of materials for the September issue is August 17.

Mu Lambda Chapter

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated P.O. Box 1993 Washington, D.C. 20013 July J. Leon Langhorne (28)

August

Edgar S. Burke (8), Thurlow E. Tibbs (8), Damon Larry (9), Theodore E. Taylor (11), Charles E. Morgan (13), J. Rupert Picott (25), Wendell RGardner, Jr. (28)

President Vice President

Recording Secretary

Treasurer .. LeRoy Lowery, in (291-3129) Louis W. Buck (292-5492) Robert M. Brown, III (354-8018) ... Curtis A. Hunigan (484-4944)

Chaplain

Education Director

Historian

Associate Editor to The Sphinx ... Byron J. Grayson, Sr. (966-7129) Father Jerry Hargrove, Jr. (397-2525) Melvin Clark (526-4662) J. Leon Langhorne (529-3692)

Dean of Pledges

Corresponding Secretary

Financial Secretary

Sergeant at Arms

Lee A. Tyler (723-9220)

Louis A. Ford (723-8592)

Ernest L. Smith (723-7844)

Please make sure that the Corresponding Secretary has your birth month and day for inclusion in our data base. page 2 Alpha Newsletter, Mu Lambda Chapter /June 1989

Maryland D. Kemp (583-1261)

rPresident’s Message— State of the Chapter

(continued from page 1)

The first priority was to not let it lake astep backwards in any fashion. Next, the goals were to prosper in size and in quantity of programs. The current financial membership is approximately 135, about the same as last year. In terms of programs mandated by the General Office, we still have a deficiency in that we have not addressed the Boy Scouts of America. Acomprehensive approach involving Mu Lambda and Beta is expected to be in place by September. With regard to Project Alpha,” we implemented, under the guidance of Brothers George Johnson and Harold Hill, amonthly program at Kramer Junior High School in southeast Washington. The program was held five times, after alate start. An evaluation will be made over the summer as to the merits of the monthly approach, but the basic program will be maintained.

The Leadership Develop¬ ment Institute has been special to Mu Lambda for many years (in part because the Eastern Regional chair, since 1984, has been from this chapter). The annual prog¬ ram's success led to amonthly spin-off chaired by Brothers Vernon X. Smith and Maurice White that has received “mixed reviews.” Starting with 30 nominees from three area high schools, the monthly LDI has achieved moderate success despite limited personnel. This, too, will be evaluated over the summer from the standpoints of curriculum and format. The annual program will continue to be fully supported as in the past six years.

Financially, the chapter is as sound as ever. Although we did not achieve the membership levels

anticipated in the budget estimation process, we were able to fund all approved activities and many unforeseen ones. For next year, the dues structure will be established initially and budgetary approval will be made on anticipated membership levels. In the area of reclamation, the chapter did not fare as well as we had hoped it would. It is the belief of this administration that inactive Brothers can only be persuaded to rejoin the fold when there are meaningful, viable programs in place to attract and hold their interest. To this end anew approach will be implemented in September that will call for the following: an optional, ﬂexible dues payment plan; activities that appeal to younger and more mature Brothers; programs and activities involving the general public that can raise funds through individual donations or corporate sponsorship; more of an effort to get visiting Brothers to join with us; more energy expended in letting Brothers in the D.C. area know that Mu Lambda wants and needs their participation; and an improved channel of communi¬ cation to respond to the desires of the membership in terms of activities and programs.

The Headquarters Fund Drive has been designated priority number one by our General President, Brother Henry Ponder. We have always been in the forefront throughout the fraternity in terms of total amount given. The ultimate goal—that 100% of our members comply with the requirement for paying their assessment—remains unful¬ ﬁlled. Other chapters have done it, Mu Lambda should do no less.

Our monthly Alpha Newsletter has been well received throughout the year. It has become aprimary medium for communication within the chapter

and throughout the area. More use needs to be made of this oracle as a reclamation tool, aforum for developing positions and ameans of gelling to know one another better. No amount of accolades could express the appreciation for the efforts of our editor. Brother William D. Thomas, though we still try. He has done ayeoman's job in putting together amasterful document on arepetitive basis. More reporters and authors are needed to contribute articles, proﬁles, etc. to ensure the continued prominence of this scribe.

Wuh re<^2T‘d^ co^’’^unitv service, we initiated support of the Christian Action Center under the auspices of the Public Policy Committee, chaired by Brother Frederick W. Jones. We need to provide more in the year ahead. In April, we let the world know that Mu Lambda is alive and kicking (though, maybe, not as high) by participating in the Delta Sigma Theta Step Show (for their scholarship program) led by Brother Robert M. Brown, III. We expect this effort to continue— just for the fun of it!

The Social Committee, under Brother Rodman Turner, pul on an excellent affair for the annual chapter dance on May 12th. Pass the word— ﬁ let mignon is back! We hope to see that committee arranging for group excursions to social events such as plays, dance recitals, movies, etc.,

(continued on page 4)

President's message— State of the Chapter (continued from page 3)

in the coming year. The presidents of Iota Upsilon Lambda (Montgomery County), Kappa Epsilon Lambda (Prince Georges County), Omicron Lambda Alpha and Omicron Eta Lambda, along with their wives or dates, were invited to the spring ball as another effort towards increasing area¬ wide participation and support in all fraternal matters. KELandlUL have reciprocated in kind and, further, have indicated their support of more joint endeavors. The cosponsoring of the reception honoring Brother Louis Sullivan was an example of multi-chapter cooperation. The Founders Day program held at Rankin Chapel, ajoint effort by the D.C. chapters, was yet another activity that went to the heart of fraternalism.

TheCallis Scholarship Fund Committee, chaired by Brother Frederick Laney, continued their outstanding job this year. If you attended the dance you know they awarded seven $1000.00 scholarships to deserving high school students. Though they have lost the the matching fund program that was available through the District government until last year, they are carrying on in true Alpha fashion.

The Program Committee, chaired by Brother Morris Hawkins, sustained the legacy of bringing interesting, topical

presentations to the chapter meetings. We expect to repeat the Fellowship and Parapher¬ nalia Night, also. The initial impressions received were favorable and the digression from the normal meeting format was pleasurable.

Several activities that did not take place this year are being planned for this fall. One, a pledge line under the direction of our Dean of Pledges, Brother Lee A. Tyler, should begin in October. Any Brother intending to sponsor acandidate should contact Brother Tyler f'723-92201 for the forms, plans, etc. Secondly, the 25- and 50-year Brothers will be acknowledged in the fall. Brothers attaining those lofty plateaus in 1988 or 1989 should contact Brother Hawkins (232-7265). Thirdly, although the Alpha Wives sponsored both the Inaugural Prayer Breakfast and the Christmas Dance, which were well-attended by many of the Mu Lambda Brothers, there is aneed for more joint projects with the Alpha Wives. Such projects will be discussed this summer with Mrs. Mary Kelly, their president. Brothers are reminded that all of our spouses are welcomed and encouraged to join the Alpha Wives.

The Beta-Mu Lambda Corporation has returned to the scene after ahiatus of afew years. We have welcomed and supported the resurgence of this organization under the leadership of Brother Julius Brice. We look forward to the corporation meeting on June

1st and to many positive developments toward the goal many of us hold dear—the acquisition of an “Alpha House in Washington. This void has existed for over 24 years and, with the assistance of the Brothers in Mu Lambda and the other chapters in D.C., this administration will do all within its power to assist the corporation to ﬁll that void.

Sufﬁce it to say, the Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated is considered to be not only alive and well, but prospering and growing as it enters its 66th year. There cannot be amore diversi ﬁ ed, more distinctive chapter in the “House of Alpha.” (Even the editor of the Sphinx recognized this when he called Mu Lambda “one of the most notable chapters in Alpha.”) The esteem in which this chapter is held throughout Alphadom is a source of great pride and pleasure. The energy and effort put forth in seeing to it that this position is maintained is atrue labor of love. It has been afrequent source of amusement and embarrassment when others express surprise that the president of Mu Lambda is “young.” Where else can one expect Brothers such as C. C. House, J. Leon Langhorne, the late Waller Booker and others to admonish me with the statement, “I have been aAlpha longer than you have been alive, young man!” The lateness of my entry into the House of Alpha ensures that Iwill not attain the 50-year level or what have you. But, Iwill endeavor to see to it that ihe quality of the years that Ispend serving this fraternity will make up, in some small measure, for the lack of quantity. Iask your continued support and encouragement for the efforts put forth by this administration as it carries on the legacy of Mu Lambda—^‘Making A Difference In D.C. Since ’23! jj □