Director of Social Activities; Curtis M. Flakes, Dean of Pledgees; Richard Hudson, Assistant Dean of Pledgees; and, Harry Williams, Sergeant-at-Arms. Havert L. Fenn
mississippi
Some of the brothers of Eta Kappa Lambda Chapter (Fort Pierce, FL): (I to r) B. C. R. Flowers, L O. Davis, C. E. Todd, V. Lee, M. Connor, and Ft. J. Bennett. Hines, L Floyd, W. Carter, H. Fenn, V. Floyd, andftNoble. of Indian River Community College. Also, Brother Ralph L. Flowers is serving his second term as a Municipal Judge in Fort Pierce. Our Community Projects Committee saw the chapter become involved with the Northside Little League program, headed by Brothers Charles Hines and Richard (Sid) Hudson. We became involved in the establishment of the first public swimming pool in the City, which is being funded by the Community Development Grant of the federal government.. The pool, located in a low socio-economic area, opened on August 1st. Eta Kappa Lambda joined other groups in exerting pressure on the City Commissioners to provide more and better street lighting. The lighting is now improved, thanks to the efforts of the chapter and other civicminded groups. The first social event of the fraternity year was a fish-fry, held during the Christmas season in lieu of our annual Christmas Party. This event was well attended and enjoyed by all. The Founder's Day observance in March covered a period of two weeks, during which many varied activities were held. Among them were: A graveside memorial service for one of our Chapter Founders, Dr. James Young (who entered Omega Chapter in 1971); Brothers assisted players from the Northside Little League program in collecting funds for their League; a Founder's Day Worship Service was held at the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church on Sunday, March 21st; Brothers were in attendance at the Community Black Coalition meeting which discussed ways and means of getting and keeping The Sphinx / October 1976
Blacks involved in City and County governments. To cap these activities, our Founder's Day Dinner and Program was a rousing success. The food was delicious and the speaker, Brother Julius Lee, was superb. The event was held at the Ramada Inn South. Upon leaving the Inn the brothers and their guests made way to the spacious home of Brother Marvin Conner, where they were royally entertained by the host (the last guest left at 3:00!). Our annual Black and Gold Cabaret Ball was held on April 9 at the Holiday Inn West. This invitational affair was attended by some 200 persons. Chapter President Bennett served as the main speaker for our Awards and Installation of Officers Banquet on June 19th. Awards were given as follows: Community Service Award - Vernon H. Floyd, Vernon M. Lee, Curtis M. Flakes, and Charles O. Hines; Chapter Service Awards - Havert L. Fenn and Bennie C. Clark; The President's Award - Havert L. Fenn; The Man of the Year Award plaque was presented to Robert J. Bennett. Finally, the Chapter Scholarship Award was presented to Vaschel Hines for the 1976 year. The 1975-76 chapter year has been a most prosperous one for Eta Kappa Lambda and 1976-77 appears to be even more promising under the leadership of our incoming officers. Officers for 1976-77 are: Vernon M. Lee, President; Robert J. Taylor, Vice President; Havert L. Fenn, Executive Secretary; O'Hara Davis, Treasurer; Ralph L. Flowers, Parliamentarian; James Miller, Editor-to-Sphinx; Vernon H. Floyd, Director of Education; Marvin Conner, Chaplain; Bennie C. Clark,
Mu Gamma Lambda . . . During the Spring of 1975, four men (Douglas Baker, Mance Langham, Howard Jones, and Dr. C.E, Smith) met at a restaurant and laid plans for bringing to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, an alumni chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. These brothers were joined at their next meeting by Brothers Gene Holmes, Charles Johnson, and Billy McDonald. It was decided to file immediately an application for a chapter charter. Joining Clark, with row) the C. aforementioned brothers as (Back charter members of the new chapter were Brothers Alfonso Clark, Helmon Johnson, and Dr. James Todd, Jr. On June 13 1975 the charter was granted! Thus, Mu Gamma Lambda Chapter was created, with the seat of the chapter being Hattiesburg-Laurel, Mississippi. The brothers were immediately joined by Brother Larry Hanshaw. Reviewing the background of the brothers, their names, place of initiation and present occupation appear as follows, Douglas Baker; Dillard U; Owner, Sokowiki's Gift Shop: Alfonso Clark; Alpha Epsilon Lambda, Owner, Clark's Funeral Home: Larry Hanshaw; Tougaloo College; Doctoral candidate, U of Southern Mississippi: Gene Holmes; Alcorn State U; Public School Teacher: Charles Johnson; Tougaloo College; Director, Operation Head Start, Hattiesburg: Dr. Howard J. Jones; Southern U; Assistant Professor of History, U of Southern Mississippi (resently at Prairie View U): Mance Langham; Alabama A & M; Principaj, Elemetary School, Hattiesburg: Billy McDonald; Alcorn State U; Employee, Georgia-Pacific: Dr. C. E. Smith; Tennessee State U; Physician: Dr. J. Ft. Todd, Jr.; Tougaloo College; Physician. These brothers kicked off their activities with a Fall Harvest Ball. Then, in December, Founder's Day Services were held at the Sweet Pilgrim Baptist Church. Later in that month, a Smoker was held at the home of Brother Charles Johnson in Collins, Mississippi. Nearing Christmas, a Brotherhood Dinner was held at the Wesley Foundation on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). To share some of their yuletide spirit with the general public, a clothing drive was held 57