The KPL Sphinx - April 2014

APRIL 2014

A L P H A P H I A L P H A F R AT E R N I T Y, I N C .

THE KPL SPHINX KAPPA PHI LAMBDA CHAPTER • COLUMBIA, MD • WWW.APAKPL.ORG

Bro. Kerry G. Johnson, Associate Editor to The Sphinx - e-mail: caricatureKerry@verizon.net

BRO. CHRISTIAN HONORED WITH MAAC ALPHA AWARD

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ver the April 4-5 weekend, the District Conference of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Alpha Phi Alpha Chapters (MAAC) was held at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, MD. Kappa Phi Lambda (KPL) participated in the Alpha Chapter of the Year competition. KPL was not successful in winning the award, which went to Kappa Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Landover, MD. However, Bro. Cecil G. Christian, Jr. (KPL Parliamentarian) was honored with the award of MAAC “Alpha Man of Merit”. He now will go on to represent KPL and the District at the 82nd Eastern Region Convention in Baltimore held April 24-27.

Bro. Charles I. Stokes, (KPL Chapter Historian) thanks each Brother on the awards committee that did an outstanding job constructing the various displays and representing Kappa Phi Lambda at this annual event.

See more details, see Page 2 >>

ALPHAS ON THE ROAD Submitted by Bro. Lionel Perron Chairman Adopt-A-Road Service Project (edited by Bro. Kerry G. Johnson)

Have you noticed KPL’s “Alpha” sign alongside the road on Broken Land Parkway in Columbia? Many thanks to Bro. Lionel Perron who led the committee with the AdoptA-Road project. Bro. Perron thanks KPL and each Brother who participated in the service project.

For Brothers who would like to join in on the “fun”, please contact him to get your name added to the Howard County list. The committee continues to grow and KPL looks forward to seeing everyone at the next service project. Be on the lookout for the date and time of the next scheduled event.

Next KPL Meeting

Ojise Essay Winners Submitted by Bro. David H. Barrett Chairman Alpha Foundation of Howard County

The Alpha Foundation of Howard County, Inc. and KPL are proud to announce the winners of this year’s Ojise Essay Contest.

The winners and their high schools are listed below: First place: $100 Dustin Windon ....................................... Reservoir Robert Jett ..............................................Hammond Jamachi Eluchie .................................... Hammond D’Ante Colbert ................................... Long Reach Second place: $75 Zakria Kmir ..........................................Mt. Hebron In addition to the funds, certificates were presented by Bro. Norris T. Jennings (KPL President) and Bro. Brandon L. Barrett (KPL Director of Educational Activities) at the Seventh Annual Harambee Conference held on the campus of Howard Community College on March 25. The winners were among 148 Alpha Achievers from all 12 Howard County high schools.

More details, see Page 3 >>

Date: April 12, 2014

Location: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Repast: 5:30 p.m.

Meeting: 6:30 p.m.

Address: 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd., Laurel, MD 20723

If any Brother requires assistance getting to this KPL meeting or future meetings, please contact the chapter president, Bro. Norris T. Jennings via email: ntjenni1942@gmail.com

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Scenes from the District Conference

Bro. Opel T. Jones led a seminar for conference attendees on making “A Successful Transition from College to Alumni Life as An Alpha Man”

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CELEBRATIONS AND HIGH ACHIEVEMENTS

Submitted by Bro. Bruce Dorsey

Kappa Phi Lambda congratulations Bro. Dave Toomer (at right), who received the “Man of the Year” award from Life Change AME Church located in Columbia. Bro. Toomer was recognized for his devotion and service to the church and its mission.

BRO. WILMER TO BE HONORED WITH EDUCATOR AWARD KPL congratulates Bro. Da’Nall Wilmer who will be honored with the 2014 ENcouragED Educator Award during a ceremony on Saturday, May 10 at the Martin’s Valley Mansion in Hunt Valley, MD. Please contact Bro. Wilmer directly if you’re interested in attending this event.

PARLIAMENTARIAN’S CORNER Submitted by Bro. Cecil G. Christian, Jr. Kappa Phi Lambda, Parliamentarian Chairman, Election Committee

The election of Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter officers for 2014-2015 will be held at the May 10 meeting. Nominations for qualified and eligible Brothers should be given to Bro. Lee Harris or myself. A Brother may also nominate himself. A nominee should have agreed to be nominated for the position. Please provide nominations by Friday, April 30. Brothers currently serving a second consecutive term in the same office are not eligible for election to the same office for a third term. The offices affected are: President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Chaplain, Historian and Editor to The Sphinx.

Bro. Harris Ph: (301) 490-2559 email: harriswl@comcast.net

Bro. Christian: Ph: (410)531-2664 email: cgxian@verizon.net

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Harambee Conference brings Achievers together Submitted by Bro. David H. Barrett Chairman, Alpha Foundation of Howard County

The Annual Harambee Conference is made possible, in part, through a generous grant from the Local Children’s Board.

This year’s essay contest was based on three articles from The Washington Post, all of which appeared on the same day in December, 2013.

They were by columnists E.J. Dionne, Robert J. Samuelson and coauthors, Robert E. Rubin, Roger C. Altman and Melissa Kearney. The articles had common thread that spoke to the American economy, but each focused on a different aspect of that economy.

The students were required to devote a paragraph to each article; summarize each; take a position, pro or con on one of them, and write an essay that supported their position. The essay had to be two – three pages, double spaced.

The contest was open only to members of the Alpha Achievers academic club, the contestants were evaluated based on the following scoring rubric: • • • • •

Summaries of the three articles Clearly articulated main thesis Argumentation Presentation References apart from the articles

Founded in 1997 at Oakland Mills High School by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Alpha Achievers is an academic club that targets African American males who have a 3.0 or higher grade point average, the minimum average to qualify for membership.

Photos provided by William Jackson. To view more images, visit this link: http://willjackson.smugmug.com/Other/ALPHA-ACHIEVERS-HARAMBEE/38065926_6Tv9g3#!i=3143846147&k=HsgHbmx

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River Hill inducts new Alpha Achievers Submitted by Bro. David L. Campbell

The Alpha Achievers of River Hill High School in Clarksville, MD. conducted their Spring 2014 Induction Ceremony on March 25. Six new members were inducted into the group.

The guest speaker for the event was Bro. Dr. Robert L. Harris, National Historian of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and also a member of Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter.

KPL Summer Cookout Mark your calendars! The Fall 2013 neophytes are in the midst of planning Kappa Phi Lambda’s annual day of food, fun and fellowship. Stay tuned for additional information in future editions of The KPL Sphinx.

Sunday, July 20, 2014 Cedar Lane Park - East Pavilion 10745 Rte. 108 - Columbia MD 21044

AFHC Annual Golf Tournament Submitted by Bro. Derrick Leak

Chairman, The Alpha Foundation of Howard County, Inc. Annual Golf Tournament

ALPHAS AND THE ARTS

The Alpha Foundation of Howard County, Inc. will host its Eighth Annual Golf Tournament at Timbers at Troy Golf Course on June 2, 2014. We are anticipating a fun time and look forward to a huge turnout. A successful event will only happen with each Brother’s support. Please spread the word about this important fundraiser. The golf committee is still forming and if you’re interested in helping to make this an outstanding event, please contact me: Bro. Derrick Leak email: dcleak10@yahoo.com For more details: http://afhcgolfclassic.eventbrite.com/ The Timbers At Troy 6100 Marshalee Drive Elkridge, MD 21075

Bro. David H. Barrett (third from left) and other board members of the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society pose with Irish poets, Paula Meehan (center) and Theo Dorgan (third from right) at a brunch hosted at the home of board co-chair, Dr. Tara Hart and her husband, Steve Horvath. Following the poets’ reading at the 36th Irish Evening on March 18, The event was held at the Smith Theater on at Howard Community College. Bro. Barrett was board chairman for 12 years until his 2011 retirement.