97th Anniversary ^ - ^ 85th General
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<S^(/dKM Harry E. Johnson,
Sr., Esq.
(Editedfor publication) rothers, I am excited to be in the House of Alpha one more time, but more importantly to be in the Midwest Region; The Region that served as home to Alpha for well over fifty years. I am excited to be back in Detroit Michigan, the Motor City - a city that has not seen an Alpha General Convention for over thirty-five years. 1 am excited to be in a city once again that is an Alpha city. A city where the Mayor, is an Alpha man; City Council members are Alpha men; Judges are Alpha men; Business Owner's are Alpha men; The President of the School Board is an Alpha man; Everybody who is somebody in this city is an Alpha man. Brother Kilpatrick, Pickard, Boatwright, Watkins, Strong, you all are prime examples of the Poem "There goes an Alpha man." [applause] In just a few short years we have come so very far. Many of you have no clue as to how far we have truly come. I know that during the Regional meetings 1 have told you certain sayings that seem to knock you off your feet, and 1 saw the eyes and heard the woes when 1 said things like, "I can show you better than I can tell you," or "one call that's all" or even "If you don't know you better ask somebody." Someone once told me that a leader should be strong enough to really lead, have faith in his abilities, die courage to stand up for what he believes in and serve as an instrument for change. A leader should make a difference during his tenure in office, by moving the organization forward and taking it to new and unprecedented
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heights. To maintain the status quo should be considered a waste of time. Why should he have been elected in die first place if he had no plans to move die organization forward? Someone once stated that the greatest RISK in life is really to RISK nothing. Over die past diirty-two mondis, I believe Brothers that widi your support and encouragement we have taken this Fraternity to new and unprecedented heights and yet we have maintained the essence of what makes us special... Brotherhood. [applause] The service level that you now receive ought to make you "Alpha Proud". The standard of this Administration has been to forever hold high the light of Alpha and continue die legacy of knowledge and achievement. To receive die things mat you have paid for and have come to expect to me is not Brotherly but is Business. To receive your Sphinx, your Pin, your History Book and your Pass Card is our job. But my Brothers, to receive an unexpected Birthday Card, an unexpected Magazine or unexpected discounts on hotels, rental cars and other goods or services is not business - it's Brotherly. Nothing pleases me more than to receive a call or more importantly, a note from a Brodier of this organization thanking me for thinking of him on his birthday. Having an Alpha Attitude to me is really taking this thing we call Alpha to higher heights and to altitudes never before imagined. It can also be said that when our Jewels founded this organization, it was founded by the best and brightest, for the best and the brightest to serve those downtrodden and require die leadership of a group called Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
[applause] Our Jewels were ridiculed and knew that we would be ridiculed also for having elitist ideals, and wanting better not just for ourselves but also for an entire race of people. Harriet Tubman said it best "Yes, it has been said that I done freed 1000 slaves but 1 could have freed 1000 more if they only knew that they were slaves."
We must always understand that Alpha's true role is producing leaders. Look at other organizations and see who is at the helm, whether it is the Urban League, UNCF, Heads of cities, Leaders in the House of Representatives, City Councils or Universities. I know that some may poke fun at the fact that when an Alpha Man walks into a room, he walks in as though he owned the entire place. As General President of the Greatest Fraternity, I try to carry myself in the same manner and I don't diink that you would have it any odier way.
"The best way to knock the chip off your neighbor's shoulder is to pat him on the back." - Anonymous