THE WALL ST. ALPHA REPORT The official Wall Street Alphas newsletter, Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter, NYC
June / July 2008
SIP 4
Vol. 1, No. 6
President’s Letter
By Bro. Brian Pruitt Our 4th annual wine tasting on June 17th will be an exclusive event and be held at the Jack Shainman gallery. Renowned African American artist Kerry James Marshall’s work will be on display and the artist will be in attendance at the event. Jazz artist Teodross Avery will be performing. Proceeds will benefit the work of the Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation. This will be a great opportunity to socialize with friends and enjoy the brilliance of a rare talent. “Marshall’s work is based on a broad range of art-historical references, from Renaissance painting to black folk art, from El Greco to Charles White. A striking aspect of his paintings is the emphatically black skin tone of his figures, a development the artist says emerged from an investigation into the invisibility of blacks in America and the unnecessarily negative connotations associated with darkness.” (PBS.org). We have been blessed with great sponsors to make this a tremendous event. Current sponsors include: Nixon Peabody LLP, Pryor Cashman, B. Oyama, B. Lawrence Watkins and Associates, CW Capital, TyKu, JTE Spirits, Bacchus wine, K’orus wine, catering by Dawn Maloney, Karen’s Body Beautiful, Canyon Spa, and Black Enterprise Magazine.
Alphas Against AIDS By Bro. Tony T. Thompson Lisa was in love for the first time. She had sex before but at age 19 she was ready to make love. Trusting Ray and believing he loved her too, they made love for the first time after 6 weeks. Within 2 months they were making love regularly – unprotected. Unbeknownst to Lisa, Ray was an IV drug user who often shared needles. At 31 Lisa was consumed after several years of suffering. Ronnie was a “pretty boy” and had women falling at his feet. This ladies man had a revolving door on his bedroom and had broken many hearts. He would often find his car windows busted or tires slashed by one of the many women he had done wrong but this lothario had an even bigger problem. Ronnie did not believe in wearing condoms. He said “it Continued on page 5
As I write what will be my last letter to the chapter as President, I am filled with mixed emotions. On one hand, I am going to miss leading the most dynamic and fastest growing chapter in New York City and the honor that comes with it, yet, on the other hand, I am excited about our future. Regardless of the outcome of the chapter election, I believe we will be in good hands. I know this to be a fact because of three distinct reasons: 1) I believe in God; 2) I believe in the Brotherhood and 3) I believe in Alpha Phi Alpha. In my two terms, I have seen this chapter experience tremendous growth in not only its programs but its membership. Originally rechartered to be a reclamation chapter in 2002, the chapter functioned with a very small group of tightly knit friends. By the time I arrived at my first meeting in the spring of 2004 with my best friend, Bro. Samuel Parker, the chapter was at approximately six or seven members. In June 2004, Bro. Parker had to pay dues at the meeting so there could be quorum to conduct elections. Summer came and when the new fraternal year opened that fall, there was a vacancy in the Financial Secretary position. Bro. President Frantz Jean Baptiste appointed me to that office. I served in that position in his 2 terms as President. One of the things that struck me about his administration is how young he was at that time. He was approximately 27 years old. As for me, the last time I attended an alumni Continued on Page 2
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President’s Letter Editor’s Report KXL dads March for Babies & AIDS walks 7 Questions – Bro Kevin Powell Brother on the Move – Bro Marc Battle A bros thoughts on Sean Bell The Return of Zeta Eta
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