The Torch
The Official Newsletter of Mu Lambda Chapter
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
September, 2011
Message from the President Brother LeRoy Lowery, 111
As the euphoria of the opening of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial subsides; the time for action is more critical than ever. There is no respite, no time for coasting, and no resting our laurels. Instead, the past weekend should serve as an invigorating catalyst to cause us to do more than before. Brother King showed that dedication and focus could accomplish much, particularly when the cause is genuine.
MuLambdaChapterhasaccomplishedmuchinthepast88years,butthereissomuch thatremainstobedone.Nowthatwehavebaskedinthelightofaccoladesletus preparetotoilforthoselessfortunate.Ispeakoftheworktoimprovethelotof personsthatremamlargelyinvisibleintheeyesoftoomany.Ispeakofthechildren the elderly, the folk condensed into the statistical morass of unemployed’ underemployed,andunderserved.Whowillspeakupontheirbehalf?Whocanbettergivethemthebenefitsofexperienceandwisdom?Whowillshowthemthe better life? An Alpha man, that’s who!
In1988,asthenewlyelectedpresidentofMuLambdaChapter,Iattendedameeting atthehomeofBrotherGeorgeSealey.Allareachapterpresidentswereaskedby BrothersAlfi-^Bailey,OscarLittle,EddieMadison,andJohnHarveytojoininthe fi^draisingeffortsforamemorialtoBrotherKing.Ivividlyrecallthatthere, about$8,000inthecoffers.IadmitIdoubtedtheabilityoftheseBrothers accomplishtheirgoalofraisingthetensofmillionsofdollarsthenthoughtnecessary tobuildapropermonument.WhenIreportedfordutyatthememorialfoundation officeinJanuary2002therewerelessthanS12Minpledges-SIOMfromGeneral Motors^dnotmuchcashonhand.However,therewasastrongdesiretomakethe visionofthosefiveBrotherscometofruitionandtherestishistory.
NowweofMuLambdahaveagrandedifice,alargefinancialmembershipandthe s^ergismbasedonastrongfraternalbond.Eachmonthaswesitatourown“Table ^Brotherhood,wewillmarkprogresstowardsourgoalofthebettermakingofmen 1heBrothersontheexecutivecommitteehavepledgedtoworkdiligentlytowardsthe effortofworkingforthe“commongood.”Idonothavetheslightestconcernthatwe willfailtoSvalkthewalk”-makingatangibledifferenceintheDCcommunity1 foankyouforyourpersonalsupportandforyoursupportoftheprogramswepropose by^devotingsixhourspermonth to AlphaPhiAlphaFraternity,Inc.Holdthelight
Bro. LeRoy Lowery, HI
2405 First Street, N.W.
Julius H, Brice, CLU. ChFC
VIu Lambda Foundation
Washington, DC 20001-1019
202.299.9635
August 29, 2011 1‘rcsideitt
Eddie W. Neal, Esq.
i'ice IWsIdtni
Mark Ross
Treasurer
LeRoy Lowery, IK
Secretary
James T. Speight, Jr.
Assistant Secretary
A. Gilbert Douglass, Esq. Hnaiiclal Secretary
Horace G. Dawson, Jr., Ph.D.
Timothy L. Fitzgerald
Rudolph Harris, Ph.D.
William A. Hawkins, Jr., Ph.D.
Adrian V. James
Arthur E. King
W. Jerome McGee, A1A
Lloyd McGriff, D. Min
Antoine D, Tyler
www.muIambdafoundation.org
Much as transpired since the June meeting.
The remodeling of the house is complete. The house was refinanced on Thursday, July 28, 2011. All loans on the house have been paid in full. There is only one mortgage on the house.
On Tuesday, July 26, 2011, the Mu Lambda Foundation received approval from the non profit organization,' Most Valuable Kids to receive free tickets for kids that participate in foundation funded programs.
On Monday, August 8, 2011, the Mu Lambda Foundation received approval from the Office of Personnel Management (0PM) to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Mu Lambda Foundation's number is 66770. Please make sure you share the number with every Federal employee you may know.
Brother King's memorial was unveiled to the brothers and family of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, inc. on Friday, August 26, 2011.
On Saturday, August 27, 2011, the Mu Lambda Chapter In conjunction with the Mu Lambda Foundation hosted avery successful Black and Gold Crab Feast. More than 200 brothers, family and friends were in attendance. The General President, Herman "Skip" Mason, Candidates for 34*^ General President Mark Tillman and Roderick Smothers, potential aspirants, and brothers interested In joining the chapter were also in attendance.
Brothers doubted the King Memorial could be built under the leadership of an Alpha man. 1was inspired by the work of Brother Johnson. It made me remember the power of an Alpha man. If one Alpha brother could lead the building of the King Memorial at acost of $120 million -Iknow the Mu Lambda Foundation in conjunction with the Mu Lambda Chapter can raise $1 million to retire the debt on the house and start an endowment.
Iwould like to lay out my plan to accomplish the above and then in return Iwould like to ask that each and every one of you pay the voted upon housing assessment in full.
Ihave appointed an experienced fundraiser, Lawrence Montgomery, to head acapital campaign. He has indicated the debt on the house will be retired in as little as 18 months or as long as five years. Antoine Tyler is the chair of the short term fundraising committee.
if you do your part, my administration will do its part. Together we will stay the course and complete the goal.
Sincerely,
Julius Brice, President
First Meeting of Season for Alpha Wives
The following offices were filled during the Alpha Wives of Washington DC meeting held on May 14, 2011:
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Amenities Chair
Valencia Barber
Claudia Postell
Charlotte Douglas /
Mary Murray
Alice Scipio
Jeanette Carr
Barbara Ramos
COLLEGE TOUR
OCTOBER 22 -29, 2011
Visiting HBCU’s in the following states: Alabama, DC, Georgia, North Carolina. Maryland, &Virginia
Cost: $625
Website: www.aDhia-etl.org
Mu Lambda contact: Bro John Mabry, iohnmabrv@qmail.com or 202.441.9910
Card Party Chair cell
Scholarship Chair
Telephone Tree Chair
Hostess Chair
Mary Murray/ Barbara Ramos
Evelyn Tuckson
Patty Donegan
The first meeting of the season for the Alpha Wives will be held on the second Saturday in September (September 10, 2011). The meeting will be held at the Alpha Community House at 2405 First St. NW, Washington DC. This will be an extremely important meeting as we have much to plan for and accomplish this year. The organization has made changes in the of meetings per year so that we can do more exciting things. We are encouraging all Alpha Wives, and especially wives of Alphas that have not attended meetings, to attend. Look for information in your next newsletter.
Prospective members please contact:
Valencia Barber: 202-327-3397, Modestine Lowery: 202-2913129, Charlotte Douglass: 703-671-8856, Mary Murray: 301-588-4663 so that we can answer any questions that you may have. Please call, come, and share your great ideas. We would love to have them.
BEAUTILLION
Greetings Brothers -1 am your Beautillion Chair for the Annual Beautillion.
Just an update on what has been happening and what is proposed for the Beautillion. The Beautillion has been broken into many committees to perform the work and prevent the burnout of individual brothers.
TheSiteSelectionCommittee(BrothersAdrianVincentJames(Chair),IsaacThweat,KevinGiles, LamontAkins,andSeanBellamy),researchedover20sites(DC,MD,andVA)usingcriteria(seating capacity,availability,dancefloorspace,andmostimportant-price)anddecidedthatholdingtheeventat HowardUniversitypresentsthebestvalue.TheBeautillionwillbeheldinApril.Theactualdatehasnot beendetermined.ThecommitteehasbeenincommunicationwithHowardUniversityandadatewillbe solidified in the near future.
DuetotheDistrictofColumbiaholdingtheapprovalofourrealpropertytaxexemptionapplication have to put more focus on recruiting Beaux who attend school in the District of Columbia. The CommunicationsCommitteewillprepareapublicserviceannouncementandpressreleasefordistribution and recruitment of District of Columbia Students.
The focus this year will be on mentoring. Mentors will be assigned October 31, 2011. Mentors will call theBeauxeveryTuesday.ToensurethementorsaremakingcontactwiththeBeaux,theMentor CommitteewillcalltheMentorseveryThursdaytocheckonthestatusofthementor/menteerelationship. TheMuLambdaFoundationhaspartneredwithMostValuableKids-asavalueaddedbenefit,the foundationwillreceivefreeticketstoWashingtonWizardsgames.EveryBeauandMentorwillattendat least one game or some other event together.
TheBeautillion’sopenhouseistentativelyscheduledforSunday,September25,2011.Addedtothe curriculumthisyearistheLeadershipWeekend,tentativelyscheduledforFriday,October21®*-Sunday October 23"*.
TherearetentativelytwocommunityserviceprojectsscheduledfortheBeaux-ThanksgivingBasket PreparationonTuesday,November22,2011.D.C.ChildandFamilyServiceswillidentifytherecipients ofthebaskets.ThesecondprojectwillbeclothesdrivescheduledforSundayDecember18,2011.The clotheswillgototheDamienMinistry.BothprojectswillbedoneinconjunctionwiththeMuLambda Chapter.
Anotherchangeistheticketsalesprocess.Allfinancialbrothersarebeingaskedtosellorpurchasea minimumoftwoticketstotheBeautillion.Duringthefirstchaptermeetingorsomefuturedate,each financialbrotherwillreceiveaninvoicefortwotickets.Thepriceoftheticketswillbe$100each ($1,000pertable)andtheJewelseatswillbe$125each($1250pertable).Therearetwoaddedbenefits -1.ThereisasixmonthpaymentplanavailablestartingSeptemberandendinginFebruary.2.Thereis a10%discountforeveryticketyoupurchase,iftheticketsarepaidinfullnolaterthanFriday,September 30,2011.IfyoupayinfullonOctober1,2011,youwillnotreceivethe10%discount.
Tableassignmentsarefirstcome-firstserved.Thefirstpersontoplaceadepositonatablegetsthefir<5t choicewhentheseatingchartisdetermined.Onetablehasalreadybeensold.Pleasehurry Fraternally,
Brother Eddie Neal
"First of all, servants of all!"
BROTHER’S KEEPER PROGRAM
The Brother's Keeper Program is aservice program developed with the mission of advocating for and improving the quality of life of retired, mature, and ailing Alpha Brothers, their spouses, and widows. Surveys are now being distributed for Brother's Keeper to solicit your input. It can be downloaded from our Mu Lambda Yahoo Group site or you my contact Bro. Pernell Williams at: pernell.williams@vahoo.com or at (202) 903-6704 for copies. Please bring your completed form to the next meeting, or email your answers to Bro. Pernell Williams. Also, call or email Bro. Williams if you would like to serve on the Brother's Keeper Committee.
Bro. Pernell Williams
INTAKE
Mu Lambda Chapter has been permitted to engage in the Fall Intake process for this year and has been chosen as one of the chapters to Beta test the new IMDP intake program. Presently the Intake dates are October 28 -30, November 4-6. 11 -13 and 18-20. Brothers who are sponsoring aspirants, need to contact Bro. Ryle Bell immediately and let him know the name of the aspirant. All sponsors MUST be fully involved in the intake process, must attend all meetings and be present during the in initiation service. Sponsors are expected to be lifelong mentors for their aspirants so if that is not the intention of abrother he should not sponsor an aspirant.
All aspirants, including those who were previously involved, should be informed to go to the Alpha Phi Alpha website and download the application form. They must comply with all requests and submit an entire application to Bro. Bell no later than Friday September 7. This will give the committee aweek to review the applications and vet them before the deadline date of September 16.
The Fall staff conference in Pittsburgh, Pa. September 8-10, will be the venue for education and certification for the IMDP process. All brothers who seek to serve on the Mu Lambda Intake committee should take the opportunity to attend the staff conference to learn about the new process. Any brother who is interested in serving on the Intake Committee should seize the opportunity to attend the conference.
BETA CHAPTER
Though cut short, the Brothers of Beta Chapter had an exciting experience being involved with the MLK Dedication events.OnThursday,historywaswitnessedasadjacenttothefraternity'splotonthemainyardofHowardUniversity atree was erected in honor of Bro. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his accomplishments in the area of Environmental Justice. This magnolia is symbolic in that it highlights an initiative of his that has traditionally remained unrecognized. Chapter members got the opportunity to interact with many Brothers and visitors during the event, and are excited to monitor and maintain the growth of the tree for years to come.
OnThursdayandFridayBrothersalsoservedastalentescortsforthoseattendingtheMLKDedicationGalaThey wereinvolvedwithsuchtalentsasBro.HillHarper,BrotherRolandMartin,Mrs.CassiDavis,Mrs.KeishaKnightPulliam,TerrenceHoward,andCubaGoodingJr.ParticipationwasgrantedtoBrothersbyreceptionoftheAlpha's Volunteer Service Awards (through our C2C initiative). Ten Brothers participated in the event.
Bro. Trevor J. Thomas , Beta Chapter President Jm
Bro. Ryle Beil
Chair Drive Update
„II
lOMir OF BRQ.KCRMTHHIGGINS
The chapter chair drive project needs your support. The Mu Lambda Foundation i: accepting tax deductible donations in the amount of $100 per chair. You don’t have to be aBrother to make achair donation: Alpha wives, friends and families are also encouraged to participate.
Uponreceiptofyourdonation,yourcontributionwillbepermanentlynotedforallto Yournamewillbeinscribedingoldletteringonablackchairaspicturedabove.
Donated by Brother (your name inserted) or In Memory of Brother
Supporters to date include:
Brother Julius Brice
Brother Eddie Neal
Brother LeRoy Lowery
Brother Charles Donegan
Brother Curtis Hunigan
Brother Timothy Fitzgerald
Brother Arthur King
Brother Michael Brown
Brother Michael Brown in Memory of Brother Kenneth Higgins
Brother Michael Carter
Brother Adrian Vincent James
BrotherAdrianVincentJamesinMemoryofBrotherRobert“Bob”Warren
Brother Syl Lorenzo Shannon
Brother John Eason
Brother Louis Ford in Memory of:
Brother Morris Hawkins
Brother Frederick Ford
Brother Earl Root
Brother Rudolph Scipio
BrotherWilliamCalbertinMemoryofBrotherSylLorenzoShannon
PleasecontactBrotherArthurKing(202-744-6624)orAkina536rf?iaoi youdliketomakeadonationortofindoutmoreaboutthisproject^
MuLambdaFoundationhasbeengrantedauthorizationtoparticipateintheCombinedFederalCampaign of the National Capital Area and the District of Columbia’s DC One Fund.
BrothersemployedbytheDistrictandFederalgovernmentsmightusethesevehiclestoprovidetheirtax deductablesupporttoourcharitableefforts,i.e.theCallisScholarshipFund,ourBeautillionProgramand otherfundingdirectedtoourFoundation.Encourageyourco-workers,familyandfriendstojoinyouin supporting our chartable programs.
The enrollment starts September T' for the CFC. Please use Mu Lambda Foundation -66770.
Contact your agency for the District of Columbia’s DC One Fund specifics. Please use Mu Lambda Foundation -9556.
DC ONE FUND
Eoch One Help One
CONGRATULATIONS!
Birth Announcement:
JoelleElysaSpeight,DaughterofBrotherandMrs.JamesSpeightIIIandGranddaughterofBro.and Mrs. James Speight Jr. 8-29-2011 1:48 PM 9lbs. 15.8 ozs; 21.5 inches.
Graduation: Brother Larry D. Keen II received his PH.D in Neuropsychology in Spring 2011. Congratulations to Bro. Dr. Keen!
BLACK FACTS
September 1 Robert TFreeman was the first Black to graduate from Harvard
September 3
September 4
September 7
September 8
Frederick Douglass escapes from slavery disguised as asailor, 1838
Dental School, 1867
Lewis HLatimer, inventor and engineer, born 1848-1928
Integration began in Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD public schools, 1954
Willdns, second Executive Director ofNAACP, died 1901-1981
POST OFFICE BOXES CLOSING
Correspondence to the Chapter and Foundation should be sent to: 2405 First Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20001-1019
The 2011-2012 Executive Board &Committee Chairs
Executive Board
President LeRoy Lowery III
Vice President Timothy Fitzgerald 301-332-7507
portal@starpower.net
202-487-3129 timfitz06@comcast.net
Recording Secretary rossmarka@aol.com Mark Ross 202-422-8493
Kevin_R_Giles@mcpsmd.org Kevin Giles 804-389-1906
Treasurer aking536@aol.com
Financial Secretary
Corresponding Secretary Dustin Baker whawk39564@aol.com
Arthur King 202-744-6624 dustinbaka-1906@aol.com 962-452-9930
Chaplain William Hawkins 202-583-3211 c.d.allen@hotmail.com
Historian
Craig Allen 314-607-9975
Archivist W. Jerome McGee 202-829-2634 wjmcgee@aol.com
Darryl Chase debase1906@yahoo.com
Associate Editor to the Sphinx James Harman 301-659-0442
Sergeant-at-Anns 202-294-3383 Lavalastwo005@yahoo.com
Editor of the Torch Kelvin McClinton kpm06@yahoo.com 202-285-5628
Webmaster Joel Grey 301-717-8508 Jgrey7@yahoo.com
Director of Intake Ryle Bell 703-620-2327 coollb@aol.com
Director of Education Sean Bellamy 336-575-7677 sean.bellamy@dc.gov
Parliamentarian Kwame Reed 703-328-6132 KwameOReed@aol.com
Member-at-Large
John Mabry johnmabry@gmail.com 202-441-9910
Immediate Past President Kwame Ulmer Kwame.ulmer@gmail.com 202-492-3487
Committee Chairs
703-314-1429
Auditing
Beautillion
Brother’s Keeper
Budget and Finance
Chapter of the Year
zurrick@msn.com
P.E. Parker 301^40-4055 eddieneal@training-center.com
Eddie Neal
Pemell Williams 202-903-6704 imhotep70@yahoo.com
Arthur King 202-744-6624 aking536@aol.com
Joseph Jones 301-949-0684 waazaj i@yahoo.com
Joseph Gibbs
Charles H. Wesley Award josephcgibbs@gmail.com 901-240-9039
Joel Grey Communication and 610-639-2964 jgrey7@yahoo.com
Technology
Education
Antonio Berrios achecol @yah oo.com 202-321-4722
Dustin Baker Membership 962-452-9930 dustinbaker1906@aol.com
Pan Hellenic Council
Jermaine Wilson jermain_wilson@hotmail.com 240-393-5176
Derrick Thomas Program 301-5891469 derrick.p.j.Thomas@axsysnet.com
Public Policy
Michael Collins 202-374-8974 cmedcollins@verizon.net
Social Cubie Coleman 202-369-1938 blackiceapollo2001 @yahoo.com
