October 1989 MU LAMBDA Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated
Vlessage from the President
It has been apolicy of mine to view zealots with suspicion. All too often the impression is one of manufactured sincerity when the professing of one’s cause is done in afeverish pitch. Lest that be the case with regard to our next meet¬ ing—Fellowship and Parapher¬ nalia Night—the air must be cleared.
Two of the primary purposes of this event are reclamation of Brothers and introduction of pros¬ pective members. The importance of getting Brothers to return to the “fold” cannot be emphasized too strongly. Neither can the intake process of new membership be taken too lightly. However, we do not want to allow either of those acts to be clouded by overzealous¬ ness. The need for members is not to fulfill some ego-tripping desire to swell the rolls or to only collect the dues payment. To the contrary, as the Marines have said first, we are looking for “a few good men.” What better source is there than men who answered the call at an earlier date but for one reason or
'founders (Omega Chapter)
another have drifted away? Concurrently, we also accept the possibility that not all of the “good” ones have been admitted earlier, and tiierefore, aneed ex¬ ists for the pledge process at the graduate chapter level. Why do we need these men? To strengthen our effectiveness in attempting to improve the quality of life of our fellow man. With so much to do and so little time, we need the added presence of qual¬ ity to assist in the achievement of our goals. Former General Secretary James Huger said, “The program of Alpha has been broad¬ ened—we are putting action into
our program of action—this pro¬ gram must have the support of us all if it is to be an effective one. You can do your part, you must do your part and you, each of you, must see to it that some inactive Brother joins the fold to help push the action program to asuccessful conclusion.”
ixeed there be any more said? In planning for your attendance on October 5th, include acall to a Brother that has temporarily for¬ gotten the “Good Old Alpha Spirit.” Bring him along and, hopefully, you, he, Mu Lambda, Alpha Phi Alpha, and the (continued on page 4)
Reclamation Roundtable, Fraternal
Fellowship, and Paraphernalia Night
Black and Gold paraphernalia will be everywhere at the October meeting, as Mu Lambda kicks off its reclamation and intake program for the new Fraternal year. This meeting will be Mu Lambda’s unique opportunity to introduce to some and reacquaint with others the Alpha Phi Alpha experience in Metropolitan Washington. Potential fraternity pledges as well as inactive Brothers are invited to attend
Induction by state location, and 3) those with Alpha fathers, sons, and brothers. Most important, Brothers will have the opportu¬ nity, during our open microphone session, to share experiences on what Alpha Phi Alpha has meant in their life. Finally, we will dis¬ cuss how Brothers may reaffirm our commitment to the “House of Alpha” by reactivating with our Chapter.
Reclamation our
Roundtable” to enjoy the fraternal spirit that binds us all.
This year, the program will be led by two moderators who will guide us through discussions of the Chapter’s historic past, present, as well as the vision of the Chapter as we enter the 21st Century. We will also engage in our own “Trivial Pursuit” as we introduce Brothers by 1) decade of initiation, e.g., the 1970’s, 2)
Overall, the evening will be filled with fraternal fun, frolic, food, drink, and good conversation as Mu Lambda retraces its history and de fi nes its future course. Brothers, bring another Brother or potential pledge! Don’t forget to wear your paraphernalia; wear your old frat sweater (if it hasn’t shrunk). Let’s reaffirm the com¬ mitment to “our renowned Alpha Phi Alpha and dear fraternal bond."
COLLEGE
CORDER ^
In September, Brother John Berry, President of Bela Chapter at Howard University updated the Mu Lambda Brothers on his Chapter’s activities. September ac¬ tivities included “Making it at the Mecca”—a forum for incoming male students about handling the various aspects of college life; Credit card enrollment fund raiser; “Send One You Love aRose” fundraiser; Campus car wash; and Film—Who Was Marcus Garvey?
October will begin with Alpha Week, October 2-o, including a “Making it at the Mecca” forum for sweethearts. Other activities include apre-smoker, movie, an Egyptology seminar, and acam¬ pus party. Asmoker is tentatively set for December 4.
Omicron Omicron
Brother Aldean Pearson re¬ ported at Mu Lambda’s September meeting that his Chapter was in¬ volved in service projects: Voter registration in conjunction with the Wilder gubernatorial camlaign; NAACP membership Drive; Alpha Mentorship Program, which targets an elemen¬ tary school; and ElC. Village tu¬ toring. Afuture fundraising activ¬ ity will be the sale of custommade advertising buttons. Apresmoker is planned for midOctober before the smoker in November.
Brother Pearson ended his re¬ marks with a fi rst-hand account of the Labor Day disturbances at Virginia Beach. Several Mu Lambda Brothers took advantage of this opportunity to pose ques¬ tions to this young Brother who was at the scene, and thus clarified some misconceptions garnered from press reports.
1989-90 Dues
Dues for the 1989-90 fraternal year are $85 for life members and $160 for non-life members. (The $160 includes $75 for the National Grand Tax, which is pro-rated as follows for recently graduated Brothers: 1st year—$37.50; 2nd year—$56.00.)
Brother Ernest Smith/Brother Curtis Hunnigan will accept your check at the October meeting. Dues may also be mailed to Brother Smith at 5730 Blair Road N.W., Washington, D.C. 20011. Please take care of your fraternal obligations now; the chapter must forward Grand Taxes to the National by November 1to avoid late charges.
October :Pirttxcfca>ijs
CyrvLS TConesty (2), Louis T. 3-tarding (12), IT’iIXiam C. CJvllcters (16), :Aaron S. 3-turris (21), C. C. 3-touse (23), ]ames T. Wcdk^r (25), Ctement Cooper (26), Borrij 5A.. ]ofmson (26).
Newsletter Committee
Editor: William D. Thomas (363-7976)
Associate Editor: C. C. Jones (483-3102)
The deadline for submission of materials for the November issue is October 19.
Mu Lambda Chapter
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated P.O.Box 1993 Washington, D.C. 20013
President Vice President
Recording Secretary Treasurer
Associate Editor to The Sphinx
Chaplain
Education Director
Historian
Dean of Pledges
Corresponding Secretary
Financial Secretary Sergeant at Arms
LeRoy Lowery, HI (291-3129)
Morris Hawkins, Jr. (232-7265)
Robert M. Brown, HI (354-8018)
Curtis A. Hunigan (484-4944)
William D. Thomas (363-7976)
Father Jerry Hargrove, Jr. (397-2525)
Melvin Clark (526-4662)
William M. Joyner (256-4714)
Lee A. Tyler (723-9220)
Louis A. Ford (723-8592)
Ernest L. Smith (723-7844)
Maryland D. Kemp (583-1261) □
The following committees need Brothers to work with them to achieve their goals and objectives:
Anthony Bowen YMCA—
The “Y” is preparing to establish a Belford VLawson Room as part of their overall program to assist young people in becoming useful, productive citizens. They need our help. Call Brother Norris Dodson (726-4210).
Public Policy—A social action committee designed to make an impact on the community at large and support the Public Policy statements of the General Fraternity. One effort is to assist the other groups in generating a commitment to end hunger by the end of the century. Call Brother Wayland McClellan (723-0453).
Project Alpha—A special pro¬ ject of the General Fraternity is as¬ sisting in the reduction of teenage pregnancies by explaining the ramifications to young males. One or two seminars per year are planned. Call Brother Brother George Johnson (654-2371) Brother Harold Hill (332-4423).
Archives—Established to pre¬ serve the legacy and heritage of Mu Lambda, Beta, and Alpha Phi Alpha in Washington. The pur¬ pose is to collect, archive, and dis¬ play memorabilia for the enlight¬ enment of all. Call Brother William Joyner (256-4714).
Membership—The committee will enhance and encourage recla¬ mation and retention efforts to bring inactive Brothers back into the fold. They will also serve as a welcoming committee for visitors and new Brothers to make them feel “at home.” Call Brother Steve Tappan (232-7936).
Program—This committee plans the presentations for the monthly meetings as well as cer¬
tain special observances such as Founders’ Day or 25- and 50-year Brothers Luncheons, etc. The Chairman is Brother Morris Hawkins (232-7265).
Boy Scouts of America—We intend to work with an established Troop and supplement the leader¬ ship duties. (3all Brother Charles Patton (486-2426).
Auditing—Assembled to check the financial records of the chapter on an annual basis. Call Brother LeRoy Lowery (291-3129).
Newsletter—Functions to col¬ lect articles, prepare, publish, and disseminate the monthly organ of the chapter 10 times per year. Call the Editor, Brother William D. Thomas (363-7976). ^
Leadership Development Institute—A monthly program to supplement and. expand the princi¬ ples of the annual program. This is apilot program approved for the Eastern Region to reach more high school students on aregular basis. Call Brother Vernon X. Smith (686-6693) or Brother Maurice While (387-3734).
Telephone—This committee will alert the members of Mu Lambda to events that lake place between monthly meetings, spe¬ cial announcements, etc. Call Brother Arlester Brown (3909567) or Brother Louis Ford (7238592).
Budget and Finance—Formed to oversee the funds of the chapter and encourage fiscal responsibil¬ ity. Call Brother Ernest Smith (723-7844) or Brother Curtis Hunnigan (484-4944).
Social—Convened to arrange Chapter dances—the Spring Ball
c.
and the Fall semi-formal. Call Brother Rodman Turner (7233461).
Go to High School, Go To College (revisited)—This com¬ mittee will assist in developing and implementing the only na¬ tional program for Alpha Phi Alpha. It will be designed to in¬ spire our young. Black males to seek higher goals. Call Brother Frank Williams (949-0708) or Brother James McQueen (3625421).
Activities—Formed to design, promote, and implement fundrais¬ ing activities during the Fraternal year that will also extend fellow¬ ship. Proposals include tennis, bridge, and golf tournaments; group attendance at plays; and a major award banquet for area citi¬ zens. Call Brother LeRoy Lowery (291-3129).
Pledge—Assigned to oversee the intake process. They will re¬ view applications, conduct inter¬ views, screen applicants, and over¬ see the pledge period. Call Brother Lee Tyler (723-9220).
Step Team—Assembled to put the best foot (collectively) forward at various exhibitions throughout the area. One major event is the Delta Sigma Theta Graduate Step Show in the Spring. Call Brother Robert Brown (354-8018).
Amenities—Functions as the initial contact point in case of deaths, hospitalizations, nursing home stays, etc. Contact Brother Jerry Hargrove (397-2525).
□
President’s Message
(continued from page 1)
Washington community will be the better for it. And remember to temper your enthusiasm in ex¬ plaining the merits of rejoining the ranks, lest you become eager.” Think about dessert at an exclusive restaurant. You are not overwhelmed with mounds of whipped cream, say, atop a chintzy piece of tasteless pastry. Rather, the rich, creamy reward is portioned minutely. This requires that one consume it in small biles, savoring each morsel as the palate celebrates. Our ranks, therefore, will never be swollen by hordes of members rushing in to unleash mayhem. Instead, with aplomb and resolve, the members will set
'C'ONiriEsira
Name Che Newsletter!
When we started our newsletter last year, we appropriated the masthead and name used by the National for its newsletter. The time has now come for us to formally name our newsletter. Do you have any ideas? Please forward your suggested names in writing to the Newsletter Editor, Bill Thomas, 6972 Oregon Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20015. We ask that you do this by November 1, so that you may get credit for helping us make this great decision. over-
aboul their tasks with the con fi ¬ dence of knowing that an Alpha man is on the case. Not as azealot, but as one sure of where he is go¬ ing and how to get there. Taking names along the way, knowing “The Frat’ Difference.
TkCher Tape
iTIu Lambda
George H. Jr., Alpha's Martin Luther King Project Chairman, encourages all Brothers,
county
Brother Sam Evans, in addition to those cited in the September column, was in attendance at the 83rd General Convention in San Antonio, Texas Sealey, individuals, and organizations to do their part in honoring our late Brother King with a memorial in the Nation's Capital. Tax deductible contributions can be made with checks payable to the Alpha Phi Alpha /Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 94, 1377 KSt. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005 the air at his U.S. Naval Academy graduation 40 years ago and made history. The occasion was the graduation of the Academy's fi rst Black. Brother Brown was the sixth Black to enroll, however none of the others had made it past the fi rst year. "The Academy was iOO years old," said Brother Brown, 62, now aretired Lieutenant Commander with 20 years of naval service behind him. "I thought it was time. Chapter of Prince Georges County, Maryland, in arecent communique to Mu Lambda, extended greetings and best wishes to the Brothers of Mu Lambda for asuccessful Fraternal year. KEL has continually been adriving force behind scholarship and community service in the Brother A. Leon Langhorne, archivist emeritus of Mu Lambda, "was cited by the Chapter for his tireless efforts over the years in maintaining the history of the Chapter and the Fraternity. At the September meeting. President Lowery presented this former Chapter Archivist, Historian, and Editor to the Sphinx with aplague that aptly reiterated his continuous charge to the Brothers that "memorabilia not be held for Mu Lambda in Heaven
Brothers Ben Carson and Charles Patton represented Mu Lambda and Brothers are needed to represent We have received
Lowery to receive names of interested parties
all of Alpha Phi Alpha in the recent telethon for the National Civil Rights Museum and Hall of Fame, which will be built in Gary, Indiana Alpha Phi Alpha in the local Pan-Hellenic Council; meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of the month. To volunteer contact Brother Lowery (291-3129) employment inquiries from Brothers in the fi elds of real estate development and management analysis. If you, or your organization, agency, etc., know of openings, contact Brother Brother Derrick Weaver recently joined the Chartered Health Plan Company of Washington, D.C., as aMarketing Representative. He joins Brother Wayne Flynn who has been associated with the company since June, also as amarketing representative Law graduate recently joined USAir as Counsel.
Brother Wayne Reed, a1986 Howard □