CHAPTER
CHAPTER NEWS
EASTERN REGION
Zeta Omicron Lambda Philadelphia, PA
Historic Occasion Marked in Philly Thirty-second General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr.’s visit to the Alpha House, Inc. in Philadelphia on January 14, 2007 marked an historic occasion for the Philadelphia Metropolitan area Brothers. The visit represented the first time in 40 years that a sitting General President has visited the Alpha House in Philadelphia. The Fraternity House, located at 1611 W. Girard Avenue, is the first and only Alpha House in Pennsylvania. It was established in 1967 for the purpose of housing a meeting place for ZOL Chapter Brothers. In conjunction with its opening, the Chapter developed educational and cultural programs concerned with the community and the Fraternity’s national programs.
Zeta Omicron Lambda Brothers proudly hosted General President Matthews at the Alpha House and shared the experience with Brothers from Omicron Delta Lambda, Rho, Delta Pi, Nu, Pi Rho and Zeta Psi Chapters. Brothers Dr. Christopher Hannum, Chapter President; and Carl W. Bailey, Alpha House President and Eastern Region Life Membership Chairman, presented Brother Matthews with a generous financial gift from Zeta Omicron Lambda to the Alpha Phi Alpha Education Foundation fund. The day ended with members of the Brotherhood singing the Alpha Phi Alpha Hymn in front of the Alpha House. Approximately 75 members of the Fraternity were in attendance, including Brothers Sean McCaskill, President of the Pennsylvania Association of Alpha Chapters (PAAC); Leon Richardson, PAAC Assistant District Director; Mark Barnes, PAAC Area 2 Director; Quentin Hairston, PAAC Assistant Area 2 Director; Ernest Merriweather, Rho Chapter President; Eric Rugel, Delta Pi Chapter President (Cheyney State University); and Fadil Doctry, Pi Rho Chapter President (Temple University).
(l-r) Zeta Omicron Lambda Brothers Dr. Christopher Hannum, Chapter President; and Carl W. Bailey, Philadelphia Alpha House President and Eastern Region Life Membership Chairman, present General President Darryl Matthews with a generous financial gift to the Alpha Phi Alpha Education Foundation, Inc
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Spring • Summer 2007
Delta Lambda Baltimore, MD Delta Lambda Marks Successes The 2006-07 fraternity year was productive for Delta Lambda Chapter. Under the leadership of Chapter President R. Anthony Mills and Vice President Rev. Tim McFadden, reclamation and intake increased the Chapter’s financial membership by over 150 percent (with almost 20 Brothers becoming financially active via membership intake alone). Most rewarding is the fact that Comcast, one of the nation’s top cable providers, agreed to sign on to the annual Beautillion Scholarship program as a corporate sponsor, with a six-figure package. In May 2007, the Beautillion Program presented ten young men at Martin’s West Catering Hall in Baltimore. Through the program, which supports the Go-to-High School, Go-to-College national program initiated by former Chapter President and Past General President S.S. Booker, approximately $13,000 in scholarships were awarded to the beaus. Additionally, the Brother Joe Yates Memorial Scholar-Athlete Scholarship of $1,000, provided by his widow, Dr. Edmonia Yates, was awarded. The event is chaired by Brother Dr. Ralph E. Johnson, Chairman of the Alpha Phi Alpha Education Foundation. Also, a luncheon was held at Linwoods Restaurant in Owings Mills, Maryland in May 2007 to honor three Delta Lambda Brothers for outstanding scholastic achievement. The Brothers included Dr. Tyson King-Meadows who received a Ford Foundation Post Doctoral Fellowship, which he will begin this summer at Princeton University; Brothers Dr. Robert Palmer, who successfully defended his dissertation in Higher Education at Morgan State University, and Dr. Ezana Azene who successfully completed his medical degree at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In line with the fraternal aims of manly deeds and love for all mankind, Rosemont Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore presented a certificate of appreciation to Brother Gilbert Waters on behalf of Delta Lambda for the Chapter’s contribution to the education of Rosemont students through the Rosemont-Delta Lambda partnership. The certificate was awarded during the school’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Day in May 2007. Finally, the chapter has sponsored a host of efforts dedicated to uplifting the organization. Some of the year’s other activities include co-hosting Maryland legislative and U.S. Senatorial candidates’ forums, respectively; participation in Comcast Cares Day; giving several Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday baskets, respectively; a joint Centennial Founders’ Day Ball with Beta Alpha Chapter at Morgan State University and Sigma Sigma Chapter at Johns Hopkins University; hosting an annual Alpha Legislative night in Annapolis, Maryland; participation in the annual Baltimore City Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade; serving as a host chapter of the Diamond Jubilee 75th Eastern Region Convention; sponsoring a Delta Lambda Alpha Education Week in Baltimore City; participation in the March of Dimes WalkAmerica Walk-A-Thon; and the Chapter’s Annual Tennis Tournament.
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