Message From The Alpha Wives Of Washington, DC, Inc.
Who We Are And What We Do
The Alpha Wives of Washington, DC, Inc are spouses of Alpha men. The group was organized in 1950 to support the goals and projects of Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. This support is provided in many ways, including:
Political - organize and present political forums, and support voter registration drives
Civic - provide financial and other help to daycare centers, hospitals, nursing homes, shelters and needy individuals
Educational - provide scholarships to high school and college students
Cultural - support and sponsor many activities such as theater outings, lectures, trips and book signings
Social - support and attend Annual Black and Gold Banquets, dances, brunches, luncheons, holiday parties and other activities.
Financial support for the various activities is provided through donations and fundraisers such as our annual card party, bus trips, and other events
Meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month at Plymouth Congregational Church, 5301 North Capitol Street, NE in Washington, beginning with a brief social period and luncheon at 12:30pm . Our regular meetings feature speakers on a variety of topics such as wellness, current events, fashion and travel.
Inside this Edition:
• The Executive Message
• Alpha Wives Section
• Beautillion Update
• Membership News
• The Cat in the Hat
• Haitian Relief Efforts Update
• 78th Eastern Region Convention
• People-4-People
• A February To Remember
• Black Facts
• Historical Moment
• Birthdays
• The Alpha House
Alpha Wives Scholarship Card Party/ Luncheon Coming in April
Our major fundraiser, the Annual Scholarship Card Party Luncheon is swiftly approaching. Proceeds from the event are used to help support two college students- an entering freshman, and a continuing student. This year the event will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at the Washington Navy Yard from noon to four PM. Donations for the event are $35.00. The event is well attended by bridge, pinochle and other card players. There is also a large contingent of popular table game participants. Attendees enjoy a delicious meal after which the games begin. It has proved to be a wonderful event. All Alphas and guests are invited. Come and join us in the fun. The chairperson for the event , Barbara Ramos, can be reached on 202-244-1308 for tickets and related information.
Got books around your house? Some for kids? Don't read them? If the answers to these questions are "yes", then you cancritically enhance a young boy or girl's educational opportunities in Africa.
Mu Lambda will be collecting old, new, and used books to donate to kids in Africa. Bring books for kids of all ages to each chapter meeting. We will then send the books to a few preselected villages in Ghana that so earnestly desire to read! You can make a difference by simply cleaning out your book shelf.
Beautillion Location Change
We will no longer meet at Howard University
We are now meeting at the following location: Noyes Elementary School Auditorium
2725 10th Street N.E. Washington, DC 20018
This is the same location that hosted the 2010 Beautillion Open House.
Per our dance instructor, everyone must be present, this means the Beau, your Mother and your Escort.
Dance rehearsal is expected to begin at 4:00 p.m. sharp immediately following the closure of the workshop. Please wear comfortable clothing. Please contact us should you have any questions, comments or concerns.
Thank you,
Bro. Darrell Chase
2010 Beautillion Co -Chairman
Phone - (202) 294-3383
Email - dchase1906@yahoo.com
Bro. Kent Benjamin
2010 Beautillion Co -Chairman
Phone - (703) 401-0888
Email - kabride62@verizon.net
Bro. Mark Ross
2010 Beautillion Committee Chair
Phone - (202)422-8493
Email - Rossmarka@aol.com
Membership News
Brother Rawn M. James, Jr.’s book launch for launches “Root and Branch: Charles Hamilton Houston, Thurgood Marshall and the Struggle to End Segregation” has been re-scheduled to Sunday, March 7th 4-6pm, Busboys and Poets, 2021 V Street NW, the corner of 14th & V Streets NW www.busboysandpoets.com
CORRECTIONS
In January’s Membership News, Bro. Charles Donegan’s son’s first name “Carter” was incorrectly stated as “Arthur”.
In February’s Membership News, Bro. Mario Simpson’s chapter of initiation “ Epsilon Gamma Lambda” was incorrectly stated as “Upsilon Gamma Lambda”.
The 2010 MAAC Conference has been rescheduled to March 5th and 6th and the location has also been changed to the University of the District of Columbia (4200 Connecticut Ave. NW; Washington DC 20008). Cost for parking is $3.50 at the University Garage. The MAAC website (www.mightymaac.org) will be updated with this information and the conference agenda.
Important Dates
78th AlphaEast Regional Convention Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel March 17-21, 2010
Daylight Saving Time Begins March 14, 2010
World Water Day Help Conserve Fresh Water Today March 22, 2010
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month March 1-31, 2010
March Service Project
Saturday March 27, 2010
We will volunteer at Martha’s Table from 10am-1pm preparing food, packing groceries and doing what ever they need us to do.
Noyes Education Campus celebrates the birthday of Dr. Seuss This is a very important day for our young learners as Dr. Seuss books introduce children to reading. We are inviting Brothers to read Dr. Seuss books to our students on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 from 9:3011:00( you do not have to stay the entire time). If you can and are interested in reading to a class (PK-2), please contact:.
Brother Sean Bellamy
336-575-7677 sean.bellamy@dc.gov
Alpha Phi Alpha returns from a humanitarian mission to Haiti Fraternity to assess situation, develop long-term support plan
In February, the fraternity sent a team to Haiti, on a humanitarian mission to provide assistance to families of their Alpha members. The delegation of Alpha men also assessed the situation and evaluated the need for long-term assistance and support for the Haitian people.
General President Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr., led this fact-finding mission. He was joined by several members of the fraternity who are practitioners in the health and medical fields. This team of Brothers augmented the fraternity members who were already in Port-Au-Prince working with the U.S. military and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
“We have been to Haiti, to see if Alpha could make a difference,” said Mason. “And now I know without a doubt, that Alpha can do great work with and for the Haitian people.” Specifically during the mission, from February 1 through 5, Brothers explored ways to continue working in Haiti including providing future medical support and participating in the rebuilding of the infrastructure.
Alpha’s main assignment there was to locate and provide assistance to families of Alpha members affected by the earthquake. Brothers also toured the capital city to see firsthand the scope of the damage and assess ways to participate in the rebuilding process, and to speak to members of the Haitian government about the progress of other organizations relief efforts in the country and ways Alpha could be the most helpful. Upon return from their mission, which included speaking with the minister of culture and communication, and the minister of the interior, members are developing information for brothers so they will have a better understanding of how Alpha can be of real help to those in need in Haiti.
While raising more than $25,000 for its Haiti Disaster Relief Effort, the fraternity is also exploring plans to “adopt” a school in Haiti. The organization sees this as a great opportunity for the first Black intercollegiate fraternity to stand in solidarity with the first independent Black Republic. Haiti will continue to need assistance after the aid workers have left and Alpha promises to position itself in such a way to help Haiti in the short term and in the years to come.
Along with the General President Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr., other members of the delegation included: Joseph Gambrell, M.D.; Ronald Peters, DrPH., associate professor, University of Texas Health Science Center and School of Public Health; Ricardo R. Jefferson, international consultant and attorney; U. Grant Baldwin, Jr., mental health social worker; Samuel Karl Darguin, partnership specialist, U.S Census Bureau; Jean McGianni Celestin, business development manager, writer and activist; Jean Guy Celestin, student, Haitian consultant; Ferrel Bonner, cyber-security practitioner and information-security officer; Ralph Thomas, student, Stony Brook University; Fedly Bonneau, Haitian consultant; and Bryan J. A. Kelly, director of communications for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
BLACK FACTS LITTLE KNOWN BLACK HISTORY
MOMENT
Captain Benjamin O Davis, Jr. and 2nd Lieutenants Mac Ross, Charles DeBow, Vonetta Flowers L R Curtis, and George S. Roberts became
October 29, 1973 the first cadets to graduate from the
First Black Gold Medal Winter Olympian Tuskegee Flying School March 7, 1942
Vonetta Flowers, (born Vonetta Jeffrey) on Captain Edward J. Dwight, Jr. became the October 29, 1973 in Birmingham, Alabama First Black Candidate for Astronaut Training is an American bobsledder and athlete. Flowers March 30, 1963 was a star sprinter and long jumper at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and originally aspired to make the U.S. Summer Olympic Team. After several failed attempts, Flowers turned to bobsledding, and found success as a brake-woman almost immediately. At the 2002 Winter Olympics, she along with drive Jill Bakken, won the gold medal in the two-woman event, becoming the first Black person to win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics. After the Salt Lake City Games, Flowers gave birth to twins and took some time off from the sport. In 2003, she returned to competition with new driver Jean Prahm. Flowers and Prahm competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, finishing sixth.
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 March Schedule.
Please mark your calendars.
Dinning Etiquette March 07
Becoming an Entrepreneur March 14
Self Esteem Building March 21
Social Etiquette March 28
(Save the date cards and tickets now available)
Flowers also won a bronze medal in the twowoman event at the 2004 FIBT World Championships in Konigssee, Germany. She retired from competition after the 2006 Turin, Italy Winter Olympic.
2002 Winter Olympics Official Photo
March Birthdays
2010 Mu Lambda Housing Assessment
Douglass B. Sands, Sr.
Brian C. Gibbs
Robert V. Mayo
Yettekov Wilson
Curtis A. Hunigan
Arthur DeLay
A. G. Douglas
Brent S. Gilmore
Antoine D. Tyler
Ladd B. Sawyer
James T. Speight, III
Noah R. Calhoun
Edwin C. Chapman, Sr.
Walter Whitley
Kevin R. Giles
March 01
March 03
March 05
March 08
March 14
March 15
March 18
March 18
March 18
March 20
March 21
March 23
March 25
March 28
Beautillion Academy is just around the corner
Glenwood J. Branche
Edwin F. Norwood, III
President
Vice President
March 29
March 30
March 30
Please remember to pay your 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
Associate Editor to the Sphinx Antwan Lofton 202-997-8498 antwan_lofton@yahoo.com
Editor of the Torch Walter Whitley 202-255-9258 walterwhitley@msn.com
Webmaster Larry Ware 202-621-3745 larryware@gmail.com
Director of Intake
Director of Education
James Heck 202-5352605 jkcjh@aol.com
Geoffrey Johnson 202-487-0785 noplga@aol.com
Parliamentarian Eddie Neal 301-440-4055 ewneal@hotmail.com
Member-at-Large Wiley Bowling, Jr. 301-218-3167 bowlingw@aol.com
Immediate Past President James McDonald 202-544-5026 macdee06@yahoo.com
www.mulambda.org
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Mu Lambda Chapter PO Box 1993 Washington, DC 20013-1993 ….Share the Light of the Torch with our inactive Brothers and Brothers new to the DC area…. March Meeting Thursday, March 04, 2010 7:06pm School of Dentistry Howard University Campus
