The Torch The Official Newsletter of Mu Lambda Chapter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. _________________________________________________________
March 2006 President’s Message Brother Edwin F. Norwood, III
“Am I My Brother’s Keeper” During the General Convention in Houston Texas, brothers voted and adopted a new special program called “Brother’s Keeper”. Brother’s Keeper is a service program with the mission of advocating for and improving the quality of life for retired, mature and ailing Alpha brothers, their spouses, and widows. The goal of Brother’s Keepers is to promote dignity and independence among retired and mature brothers, spouses, and widows. Americans are living longer and the number of older Americans is expected to double by 2030. Although life expectancy is increasing and health status is improving, the elderly may still have limitations that require assistance from others. Even when they are able to maintain activities of daily living, they may not be able to perform certain tasks such as driving a car, lifting heavy objects, or performing household chores. In some cases, their ability to handle personal finances may be impeded. Many elderly live alone. This may be due, in part, to the differences in life expectancy of men and women. Men generally have higher death rates than women and elderly women are much more likely than men to live alone. However, among both sexes the chances of living alone increases with age.
Inside this Edition: •
The Executive Message
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Announcements
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Beautillion Information
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Alpha Wives
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National Alpha News
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Celebrating 50 Years in Alpha
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March Birthdays
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MuLambda’s New Website
About 6 percent of persons over the age of 65 and 20 percent of those over the age of 85 need assistance with personal care. Among older adults who do not drive, two-thirds stopped driving because of physical
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