What a Blessing to witness the start of a New Year with the Brothers of Mu Lambda Chapter and all of the Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. New Year’s Day is always a great time to reflect on the past with fond memories and think heavily on all of the goals and accomplishments we look forward to in the future. One of my goals for 2010 is to make a positive and insurmountable difference in every endeavour in which I take part. One of those endeavours is to continue being a hand in helping our chapter reach new heights. My wish is for every Brother to pick up that mantle as we run this race together.
Take a moment the first week of this New Year and look upon your development in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Think back to your initial interview as you sought the Light and all of the ideals, hopes, and promises you felt you could bring to this great Fraternity. Have you reached your goals? Is there room for growth? Are you mentoring within and outside of the ranks of this great Brotherhood. Yes, being an Alpha Man is a great privilege and honor. Maintaining the foundation upon which Alpha is built is our great responsibility. This is our family-Mu Lambda- and each of us brings talents that will make the bonds of family stronger in the House of Alpha and in our communities. Our goal for Mu Lambda should be to tap into those talents because there is room and a need for EVERY Brother to contribute.
So, lift high your glasses as we salute the New Year, salute to every Brother, and a salute to our Dear A-Phi-A. As you celebrate all that you have accomplished and will accomplish at this time and in this place, I leave you with a thought all too familiar to each of us and pray that every Brother in Mu Lambda will carry the banner of “Esprit de Fraternite”- An Alpha Man’s attitude should not be how much can I derive from the Fraternity, but how much can I do for the Fraternity.
Inside this Edition:
• The Executive Message
• Alpha Wives Section
• December Meeting Highlights
• Beautillion Update
• Membership News
Skee Phi Clothing Drive
• Founders Day Social
• MAAC Conference Call
• Black Facts
• Historical Moment
• Birthdays
In proportion for what he does for his chapter and Alpha Phi Alpha will a member receive lasting benefit from the fraternity to himself in the way of self development by duty well done and by and by the respect of Brothers well served (Brother Charles Garvin).
“First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All”
Reginald O. Salter Vice President
ALPHA WIVES
Alpha Wives Christmas Dinner
Approximately 30 Alpha Wives and guests enjoyed dining by the large stone fireplace at La Feme Restaurant as they listened to Christmas music. The relaxing environment inside was a reprieve from the wintery elements outside. The food was delicious, and the company was delightful. All music requests were graciously and beautifully played by the pianist. Guests received gingerbread men cookies as reminders of the season as they left the event. Thanks to all Alpha Wives, Alphas and guests that attended, the event was a success and an elegant entrance into the holiday season.
SEASONS GREETINGS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO THE ALPHAS OF MU LAMBDA CHAPTER FROM THE ALPHA WIVES
Hotel Rooms only $99.00. No promo code needed
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Our next helping hands initiative.
This is will be on MLK's Day of Service.
When: January 18, 2010
Where: MLK Library Downtown Washington, DC
901 G Street Northwest, Washington, DC Time: 11am-3pm
Activity: Assisting in their MLK Day events
Please feel free to invite all Brothers, friends and interested gentlemen out to the event. This is another great opportunity for the interested person you are sponsoring or would like to support, to come out and meet other Brothers in Mu Lambda
Justin E. Davis
Photos by Bro. LeRoy Lowery
Membership News
Mrs. Helen Ogle Atkins, daughter of Jewel Robert Harold Ogle passed on Christmas morning at age 102. General President, Herman “Skip” Mason and Eastern Region Vice President, Sean McCaskill were among the more than 60 Alpha Brothers who attended her funeral services at St Peter’s Catholic Church on December 31, 2009 to lend their support to her daughter, Dr. Melanie Atkins Brown, her nephew, Brother Julian Wilson and their family. Mu Lambda Chaplain, Brother Tony Hawkins assisted with arrangements and chapter Brothers Tim Fitzgerald, James McDonald and Ed Norwood served as pallbearers along with Brothers Tony Cheatham of Iota Upsilon Lambda, James Wilson of Kappa Phi Lambda and Demon Proctor of Omicron Lambda Alpha.
Brother Charles E. Donegan
Attorney Law Professor Arbitrator
Brother Donegan has been married to the former Patty L. Harris since June 1963; their son, Arthur and his wife Yolanda are parents to twin sons. Brother Donegan enjoys reading, travel, sports, music and stimulating conversation. He is an activist in the pursuit of social justice and a mentor for younger lawyers.
A native of Chicago, he crossed the burning sands to Alpha through Theta Chapter, fall of 1954. He holds degrees from Roosevelt University, BSC, Loyola University, MSIR, Howard Law School, JD, Columbia Law School, LLM., and completed a NEH Post Doctorial Fellowship at Yale Univ.
A law professor, he taught at SUNY at Buffalo, Howard, Ohio State, Southern, NC Central, and LSU. He was voted Outstanding Law Professor at Southern Univ. in 1982.
Brother Donegan, along with Mu Lambda Brother Dorsey Evans, is a founding member of the National Conference of Black Lawyers; he holds membership in the American Bar, National Bar and the District of Columbia Bar Associations, and the American Arbitration Association. He is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who Among African Americans. He is a member of Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity, NAACP and the Urban League.
He has been engaged in private practice in Washington, DC and Illinois since 1984. His legal experience includes government service and corporate practice. He was the first African American elected to the DC Labor Law Steering Committee and he has arbitrated labor, employment, commercial, securities and consumer cases involving state and local governments, corporate and non-profit entities, and federal government agencies including the Federal Reserve Board. He chaired the Arbitration Section, National Bar Association from 1977 to 2008.
January Events in Washington
Choral Arts Society Tribute
To Dr. Martin Luther King
January 10, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC. Tickets: $20.
NBC4’S Health & Fitness Expo
January 16-17, 2010, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
This annual event held at the Washington DC Convention Center offers fun activities to motivate you to take charge of your health. Try a new sport such as golf, skiing or snowboarding with the virtual simulators. Check your body mass index, take a heart risk test and much more.
Important Dates
New Years Day
January 1, 2010
Use Used Day
Our stuff spends most of its life sitting around waiting to be used. Help save the planet by recycling and using used items.
January 10, 2010
MAAC Winter Staff Meeting
Westin Waterfront Hotel
Boston, Ma
January 23, 2010
Glaucoma Awareness Month
January 1 – 31, 201
December Meeting Highlights
Brother Jermaine Wilson receives C.C. House “Man of Merit” Award
Brother Eddie Neal receives Chapter Service
Brother Justin Davis receives Maryland D. Kemp “Brother Of The Year” Award “Neophyte Of The Year” Award
Brother Austin Matlock receives “New Member of Mu Lambda” Appreciation Certificate
December 12, 2009
Damien Ministries would like to thank all of the Alphas, AKAs, and friends who made our first Skee Phi Clothing Drive a huge success! Thanks to the efforts of our brothers and sisters in the entire DC metro area (and even Baltimore) we were able to collect enough bags of clothing to fill the entire waiting area of the Damien Ministries food bank!
Rashid Darden Director of Development & Communications Damien Ministries
Brothers
Photo one
Photo two
Huge amounts of donated clothing
Photo three
Damien Ministries, located at 22200 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20018
Brother Geoffrey Johnson doing a little Christmas shopping
Paraphernalia vendor Eric Black and his merchandise
Brothers Steven Riddick, Rashid Darden, Geoffrey Johnson, Larry Ware, Mark McDonald and Dontae Ryan
Wayne Ryan, Geoffrey Johnson and Sean Bellamy
Beautillion Update
The Beautillion Committee would like to extend a warm and sincere “Thank You” to all of the Brothers who volunteered their services for mentoring this beautillion season. Our program will continue to have successful growth with the tremendous efforts you put back into our community.
The January academy/workshops schedule will be held every Sunday beginning at 2:45 p.m. and will include the following:
January 3, 2010 – Nutrition. January 10, 2010 – Conflict Resolution and Negotiation Skills. January 17, 2010 – Exploring the African American Male. January 24, 2010 – Sex Education. January 31, 2010 – Financial Responsibility.
2010 Beautillion Gala
When: Friday, April 16, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Where: Martin’s Crosswind 7400 Greenway Center Dr. Greenbelt, MD
The Beautillion Committee is also asking for the support of ALL Brothers by purchasing a pair of tickets and attending the 2009 – 2010 Beautillion. For your convenience the committee has three (3) payment plan options available to assist you with your financial planning this season.
Payment plan options are:
Option #1 - Jewel table ($1000)
First payment in December - $400
Second payment in January - $300
Third payment in February - $300
Fourth payment in March - if needed with remaining balance due.
Option #2 - Standard table ($850)
First payment in December - $300
Second payment in January - $300
Third payment in February - $250
Fourth payment in March - if needed with remaining balance due.
Option #2 - Pair of tickets ($170)
First payment in December - $60
Second payment in January - $60
Third payment in February - $50
Fourth payment in March - if needed with remaining balance due.
As always, we thank you sincerely for your continued support. For details regarding the Beautillion Program and ticket sales, please contact the following Brothers for details:
Brother Mark Ross – 2009 – 2010 Beautillion Chairmen
Brother Kent Benjamin – 2009 – 2010 Beautillion Co-chairman
Email – kabride62@verizon.net
Cell Phone – (703) 401-0888
CONGRATULATIONS
Brother Roger Dorsey (Beautillion Class of 2004 and Henry Arthur Callis Scholarship Recipient) received the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Psychology during December Commencement at Fayetteville State University. Brother Dorsey, a Spring 2007 initiate of Epsilon Zeta Chapter, is a native of Washington DC and attended Washington Math, Science, and Technology Public Charter School. Bro. Salter attended the ceremonies.
103rd Alpha Phi Alpha Founders Day Social
The 103rd Founders Day of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was celebrated on Friday December 4, 2009. The Brothers of the Alpha Phi Alpha Mu Lambda Chapter commemorated the day by having a Founders Day Social at Posh Restaurant and Supper club located in the heart of Washington, DC. There were more than 100 Brothers from all over the area. AKA’s, family, and friends came out to share in this momentous occasion. A special “Thank you” goes out to Brother’s Justin Davis, Larry Ware, and Reginald Salter for assisting in the development, publicity, implementation and execution of the evenings events. True to the Alpha Phi Alpha standard; all the ladies in attendance were given yellow roses. Thank you to all those who showed support and ushered in, yet another year of manly deeds, scholarship and love for all mankind.
Onward Brothers! '06!
Justin Davis
Brother’s and the Ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha “getting’ their swag on” at Posh
BLACK FACTS
LITTLE KNOWN BLACK HISTORY MOMENT
A.B. Blackburn, inventor, patented the Railway Signal Barney L. Ford January 10, 1888 Runaway Slave, Denver Pioneer (1822-1902)
Jewel Eugene Kinkle Jones Died January 11, 1954
Grant Fuhr, Edmonton Oilers Goalie
Barney Ford was born into slavery on January 22, 1822 at Stafford Courthouse, Virginia.
He grew up on a plantation in South Carolina, Becomes First Black Professional where he worked the fields and farms. At 17, Hockey Player to join the NHL he left the South with help from the Underground January 18, 1981 Railroad, where he then became an operator of one of the station on the railroad in Chicago.
ΑΦΑ Tags for DC, MD & VA
The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity licenses plates for Washington, DC are on the road!!! Brothers interested in acquiring DC tags should contact Bro Arthur King at aking536@aol.com or 202.744.6624.
For Maryland tags contact Brother Vernon Dorkins at (410) 664-0911.
For Virginia tags contact Brother Chuck Johnson at chrlzej06@gmail.
2010 Beautillion Academy January Schedule.
Please mark your calendars.
Nutrition January 03
Team Building January 10
Exploring the A. A. Male January 17
Sex Education January 24
Financial Responsibility January 31
In 1850, he left Chicago bound for California with other “Forty-Niners”. After hearing of the Gold Strike of 1854, Ford tried to stake a mining claim but ran into the territory’s discriminatory statutes. Filing a claim in a white lawyer’s name in exchange for paying the lawyer 20 percent, Ford and three black companions, two of which were also runaway slaves, struck gold on a hill, but before they could enjoy their good fortune, a gang of white outlaws raided their camp. Escaping with only half a bottle of gold dust, the rumor circulated that Ford and this partners had a hidden fortune on the hill, and even though the gold was never found, the place was dubbed “Nigger Hill”, but was renamed in 1964 as Barney Ford Hill.
Ford went on to become a successful businessman, operating restaurants and hotels in the Cheyenne, Wyoming and Denver, Colorado area, including the luxurious four-story interocean hotel catering to Denver’s elite visitors. Many distinguished men including Generals Grant, Sheridan, Sherman and Dent were banqueted at his famous table. Barney Ford was not only a highly respected citizen at the time of the death, but was also the first African American to sit on Colorado’s Grand Jury.
Caterer, Restaurateur, Hotel Magnate Runaway slave
January Birthdays
Syl Lorenzo Shannon Jan. 01
Samuel E. Thornton, III Jan. 01
James T. Speight, Jr. Jan. 01
Neil S. Rodgers Jan. 03
Marvin Brooks Jan. 05
Melvin L. Clark Jan. 05
Vernon S. Gill Jan. 05
O. J. Cole, Jr. Jan. 06
Rhett R. Lucas Jan. 07
Charles P. Mouton Jan. 09
Earl W. Richardson Jan. 09
Fred L. Valentine Jan. 09
Samuel E. Thornton, III Jan. 11
Jonathan C. Rutherford Jan. 13
tillion Academy is just around the corner
Ronald D. Sullivan Jan. 18
Arthur L. Nelson, Jr. Jan. 20
John C. Eason, Jr. Jan. 21
James D. Greer Jan. 21
Jeffrey D. Poydras Jan. 23
Paul R. Webber, III Jan. 24
Dwayne M. Jackson Jan. 25
M. Christopher Brown, II Jan. 26
John W. McCaskill Jan. 26
Horace G. Dawson, Jr. Jan. 30
Melvin White Jan. 31
President
Vice President
Please remember to pay your 2009-2010 Housing Assessment: $50 per chapter meeting (10 meetings) or $500 for the year. Remit to Mu Lambda Foundation, PO Box 4582, Wash., DC 20017-4582
The 2009-2010 Executive Committee
Tim Fitzgerald 301-332-7507 timfitz06@comcast.net
Reginald Salter 301-379-6102 rsalterdds@aol.com
Recording Secretary Sean Bellamy 336-575-7677 sean.bellamy@dc.gov
Treasurer Mark Ross 202-422-8493 rossmarka@aol.com
Financial Secretary Arthur King 202-744-6624 aking536@aol.com
Corresponding Secretary Joseph Housey, III 561-932-3599 joe3rd@hotmail.com
Chaplain William Hawkins 202-583-3211 whawk39564@aol.com
Historian Justin Davis 678-787-8344 jed55@cornell.edu
