Senior Kappa

from The Eastern Province Khronicle, Winter 2022 edition

A Brief History

UDC (Beta Kappa) Wins

Washington (DC) Alumni Chapter By: John Cotten In an effort to strengthen our relationship with our undergraduate brothers, members of the Flagship came out and supported the brothers of the Beta Kappa (UDC) as they came in First Place in the UDC Homecoming Step Show.

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Senior Kappa Committee Report

Hyattsville/Landover (MD) Alumni Chapter By: Troy Stewart The Hyattsville/Landover (MD) Alumni Chapter participated in a myriad of activities this fall. Some of those activities consisted of Senior Kappa IT training, where the senior brothers received information on the latest and greatest tips and tricks when using their mobile phones and computers. They also participated heavily in assisting with Chapter Reclamation efforts to bring brothers back into the fraternity and the chapter. 38

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to rework our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, where we’d normally get together and prepare food baskets for needy families and deliver them. As an attempt to stay safe and keep others safe, the committee decided to disperse grocery store Gift Cards for the Thanksgiving Food Drive, mostly from donations from the brothers of Hyattsville/Landover. This enabled families to shop for the things that they needed themselves. The Senior Kappas also stepped up and hosted the Chapter Holiday Mixer, which enabled the chapter and our guests to bring the holidays in right. Because the Thanksgiving food drive was such a success, the chapter with the help of the Senior Kappas, decided to duplicate its efforts and host a Christmas Holiday Gift Card Food Drive.

This fraternal year began with a reorganized Senior Kappa Committee under our new Polemarch Brother Richard C. Baker. Polemarch Baker asked Brother Lawrence Robinson to chair the Senior Kappa Committee. The Senior Kappa Committee meets twice monthly, every first Tuesday of the month for planning and the second Tuesday for a Senior Kappa Luncheon. The first meeting of the Senior Kappa Committee (SKC) was a joint in-person and Zoom meeting. It was determined that the priority for our Senior Kappa members was to get some training on how to access Zoom on the computer and cell phone and how to access and use Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms.

With approximately 150 financial members in our chapter, 60 of those members (60) are Senior Kappas. The SKC continuously invites unfinancial and non-affiliated brothers to join us at the Hyattsville/Landover (MD) Alumni Chapter by attending special reclamation events or joining us for our monthly lunch, which takes place at a local restaurant.

Food Gift Card distribution. Funds from the National Senior Kappa Endowment Fund and donations from the chapter were used to help needy families in Prince George’s County put food on their tables for Thanksgiving. Senior Kappa Brothers helped with the Gift Card distribution.

The Senior Kappa committee hosted the 1st Annual Chapter ‘Holiday Mixer. ’ Chapter Brothers and their significant others spent the evening celebrating the holidays, socializing, and dancing while enjoying spirited music. As an added bonus, we also held a holiday raffle, with door prizes and a grand prize winner of $100. The Senior Kappas also assisted with the Chapter’s Christmas Food Drive distribution of gift cards the week before Christmas, assisting the committee with their distribution efforts of food gift cards to needy senior citizens of the county. The Senior Kappa Committee of the Hyattsville/Landover (MD) Alumni Chapter is a very energetic and socially active group. They look forward to doing great things for the chapter and the community it serves. God bless all Senior Kappas! Senior Kappa Visit

Roanoke (VA) Alumni Chapter By: Emanuel Arnold

January 7, 2022–Members of the Roanoke (VA) Alumni Chapter coordinated a special holiday visit to see their chapter brother and Senior Kappa, Sherley Stuart. Stuart lives in an assisted living facility in Roanoke, Virginia. A 1977 initiate of the Roanoke (VA) Alumni Chapter, Stuart was a loyal and hardworking member of the chapter and a legendary coach at William Fleming High School in Roanoke, Virginia. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to rework our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, where we’d normally get together and prepare food baskets for needy families and deliver them. As an attempt to stay safe and keep others safe, the committee decided to disperse grocery store Gift Cards for the Thanksgiving Food Drive, mostly from donations from the brothers of Hyattsville/Landover. This enabled families to shop for the things that they needed themselves. The Senior Kappas also stepped up and hosted the Chapter Holiday Mixer, which enabled the chapter and our guests to bring the holidays in right. Because the Thanksgiving food drive was such a success, the chapter with the help of the Senior Kappas, decided to duplicate its efforts and host a Christmas Holiday Gift Card Food Drive.

Senior Kappa Report

Chesapeake/Virginia Beach (VA) Alumni Chapter By: Troy Lindsey The Senior Kappa Brothers of the Chesapeake-Va. Beach (VA) Alumni Chapter enjoyed dinner and fellowship together at Texas de Brazil restaurant in Norfolk on Thursday, October 28, 2021. Good food and Kappa bonding was had by all who attended. Bro. Primus, Bro. Epps, Bro. Ewell, Bro. Ferebee in addition to the CVB, Vice-Polemarch, Bro. Blanks was in attendance. The Brothers discussed their Kappa Document of events as we head into the Holiday Season.

The Senior Brothers of Chesapeake-VA Beach helped support and fed a couple of families during this Thanksgiving season with a full dinner donated by our group. See link below of the food donation that was given by the senior Brothers of Chesapeake-Va. Beach (VA) Alumni Chapter. https://youtu.be/2s2oIcEY8ZA

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Brothers Attend Historic Event

Franklin-Southampton (VA) Alumni Chapter By: Charlie Harris

On December 11, 2021, sponsors dedicated a state historical marker issued by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VA-DHR) that highlights one legacy of enslaved preacher Nat Turner’s revolt in Southampton County, after the uprising the severed head of a Black man was displayed on a post and left to decay, giving rise to the name of Blackhead Signpost Road, which was recently renamed.

The marker was dedicated during a public ceremony at Shiloh Baptist Church, located at 30188 Shiloh Road, Boykins, VA. After the formal ceremony, attendees visited the marker, located at the intersection of Route 35 and Meherrin Road in Courtland, to unveil the sign.

Event speakers were Carl Faison, of the Southampton Co. Board of Supervisors; Chief Walt “Red Hawk” Brown of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe of Southampton Co.; Renna Ebron, of Lambda Psi Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa 40

Alpha Sorority; Timothy Mays, of FranklinSouthampton (VA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; and former chair of the VA Board of Historic Resources Dr. Colita Nichols Fairfax. Additionally, Sylvia Copeland, from the Office of Congressman Donald McEachin, will read a message from Rep. McEachin.

Following Nat Turner’s revolt in August 1831, “white residents and militias retaliated by murdering an indeterminable number of African Americans, ” according to the marker (see picture). At the intersection where the marker is located, the severed head of a Black man, who may have been an enslaved blacksmith named Alfred—who was not implicated in any revolt killings was placed on a post “to terrorize others and deter future uprisings against slavery, ” the marker states.

In 2021, the name was changed to Signpost Road, and the Virginia Board of Historic Resources, which is authorized to designate new state historical markers, approved the marker for manufacture and installation earlier this year. Its sponsor, Citizens Create Change, covered the marker’s manufacturing costs.

DHR markers are erected not to “honor” their subjects but rather to educate and inform the public about a person, place, or event of regional, state, or national importance.

FITDC 5K

Washington (DC) Alumni Chapter By: John Cotten Under the leadership of DC Alumni Health and Wellness Committee Chairman, Presley Nelson Jr., brothers of the Flagship participated in the FitDC Fresh Start 5K initiative.

Kappa Men Running For Office

Washington (DC) Alumni Chapter By: John Cotten The Washington (DC) Alumni Chapter Political and Social Action Committee continued its Power Hour Series with a Kappa Men Running for Office in DC roundtable discussion with Mayoral Candidate Brother Rodney “Red” Grant and Ward 5 Council Candidate Gordon A. Fletcher. The brothers were able to introduce themselves to the residents of DC and give insight into why they are seeking political office in DC.

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Past Eastern Province Board Member and Charter Member of Danville (VA) Alumni enters the Chapter Invisible

Danville (VA) Alumni Chapter By: DeAndre Howard

Brother P. Edward Thomas, a spring 1971 initiate of the Virginia State University Chapter, the Alpha Phi of Kappa Alpha Psi (E) entered the Chapter Invisible on January 3, 2022. Brother Thomas had just celebrated 50 years in our noble clan on April 23, 2021, and he worked tirelessly for the fraternity and the chapter for much of his life. During his time, he served the Danville (VA) Alumni Chapter faithfully as a charter member, the 4th Chapter Polemarch, the 9th Chapter Polemarch, and the 12th Chapter Polemarch. Brother Thomas was serving the chapter in the role of Keeper of Exchequer at the time of his death. In addition to serving on the local chapter, Brother Thomas has served the fraternity nationally as a member of the Grand Chapter Social Action Committee and the Grand Chapter Constitution and Statutes Committee. In the Eastern Province, Brother Thomas was the recipient of the 2017 Pillar of the Province Award. Additionally, he served the province as a past alumni board member (Region IV), past province social action committee chairman, past province director of logistics, and past operating assistant to both the 23rd and 24th Eastern Province Polemarchs.

Brother Thomas was laid to his eternal resting place on Monday, January 10, 2022. The funeral was held at Fisher & Watkins Funeral Home in Danville, Virginia. Twenty brothers from the Danville (VA) Alumni Chapter and the Radford University Chapter, the Rho Theta were present to perform the private Kappa memorial service and commemorate Brother Thomas' life. Brother Thomas was a true Kappa giant across all levels of the fraternity and he will certainly be missed.