Brothers in the Midwestern Region
The Midwestern Region Leadership Wrap-up  

By Mark Tillman, Midwestern Region Vice President

 

Brothers of the mighty Midwest Region came to the birthplace of aviation and the hometown  of Paul Lawrence Dunbar to hold their annual Leadership Summit Oct. 2-3, 2009. The summit was held at the Dayton Marriott, which will be the host hotel for the (2010) 78th Midwestern Regional Convention.
 
The two-day meeting was attended by regional staff members and field staff leaders including district directors, area directors, Alpha advisors, key chapter officers, such as presidents and intake coordinators. Over all, more than 200 brothers were on hand for the summit.
 
The workshop sessions focused on the duties and responsibilities of officer sand chapter leaders Particularly, brothers focused on the fundamentals of chapter and officer development for presidents and intake coordinators. There was also a  comprehensive review of the membership intake process, the consequences of disciplinary matters and items related to protecting the fraternity. The brothers also highlighted the tools for academic readiness, and the necessary leadership traits to produce outstanding results. 
 
The weekend also included an unexpected visit from the members of the Tuskegee Airmen, including three who are Alphas, who were honored at a separate reception. The summit met all expected goals with members excited and rejuvenated to continue the work of Alpha.

The Southern Region Leadership

The Southern Region Leadership Wrap-up
By James Crumel, Southern Region Vice President
The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Southern Region Board of Directors held its Fall Board Meeting in Jackson, Miss. September 18-20 at the Downtown Jackson Marriott which will be the host hotel for the upcoming Southern Region Convention in the spring of 2010.
 
Southern hospitality was evident from the moment brothers arrived, including a special welcome and greeting by Jackson Mayor Brother Harvey Johnson.
 
Highlights of the Board meeting included discussions on the financial health of the Southern region, establishment of leadership expectations and accountability and Board development activities aimed at developing cohesiveness of the Board as an entity along with the establishment of target metrics to measure success for this fraternal year.
 
The Board also had the opportunity to hear from the General Office. Brother Cory Anderson, the fraternity’s director of membership shared his thoughts on the roles and responsibilities of the Membership Department, Brightkey and the District field staff to ensure a successful intake process. 
 
The brothers also were pleased that members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation joined the weekend meeting to discuss in greater detail the fraternity’s new partnership with the FBI so brothers will be better able to engage in and take advantage of this unique partnership.
 
The Board gathering ended with an opportunity to fellowship with the local brothers and sorors of the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, including attending the Jackson State University vs. Grambling State University football game on Saturday, Sept. 19. The Grambling Tigers beat the home team by 10 points, 27-17, was the final. 

The Southwestern Region

The Southwestern Region Leadership Wrap-up  
By Brother Roderick L. Smothers, Southwestern Region Vice President 

On October 23-24, 2009, brothers of the Southwestern Region participated in the regional Board Meeting and Leadership Summit, held in conjunction with its College Brothers’ Retreat. A highlight of the gathering was the unveiling of the new regional vice president’s vision for the region. Roderick L. Smothers assumed his position upon taking the oath of office at the General Convention in New Orleans last summer.
 
With nearly 150 brothers present, 21st Southwestern regional vice president told the group he planned on exceeding their expectations the next four years. Aside from that assurance,  Brother Smothers presented a wealth of information on regional and national changes and expectations. 
 
To help with this task, he brought in presenters from the General Office including fraternity Executive Director Brother William Lyle and Brother Corey Anderson, director of membership services. Both staff members informed the participants about a range of updates including the new membership fees and an overview of the new brand-management strategies. Brother Zollie Stevenson, chairman of the fraternity’s Special Committee on Organizational Effectiveness, also conducted the official regional board orientation. 
 
Training and development of the area directors and chapter advisors were an integral part of the weekend’s success. With the notion that a “strong” advisor makes a “strong” chapter, each chapter advisor was required to attend and participate in sessions dedicated to chapter management, fiscal responsibility, handling disciplinary concerns and much more.
 

Additionally, the annual College Brother’s Retreat, led by the Southwestern Regional Assistant Vice President Charles Phipps, was full of inspiring lectures and interactive workshops that reinvigorated the young men of the Southwestern Region.  Each brother present rededicated himself to the core principles of the fraternity and left the venue completely inspired by what transpired.  Several complimented the leadership’s organization and implementation of the weekend. The hope is that the fire of enthusiasm kindled here will enhance the fervor of the Southwestern Region and the coming regional convention in spring, 2010. 

The Western Region Leadership Wrap-up  
By Brother Aaron Crutison, Western Region Vice President

On October 9-11th, 2009 the ranks of leadership within the Western Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. gathered for a weekend of empowerment, enrichment and excitement at the Hilton Hotel in Long Beach, Calf., the host site for the 62nd Western Region Convention in 2010.

More than 100 brothers from across the Western region convened during the Western Region Leadership Academy, during which brothers examined and redefined their commitment to excellence. 
 
In turn, empowerment sessions within the Academy challenged all levels of leadership to make a shift in paradigm from “good to great,” to lead from the front and consistently exhibit the attributes of a servant leader.  Moreover, these stellar leadership principles were made practical by guest facilitators that equipped all attendees with the tools, tips and techniques to better serve the brotherhood and the greater community at large.
 
The Western Region was excited to have General President Herman “Skip” Mason Jr. as the keynote speaker. The brothers enjoyed a rare “fireside chat” with the 33rd chief executive of the fraternity.

“Every time I get a chance to be with the brothers in settings like this, it rekindles my enthusiasm for our dear A PHI A, “ said Mason. “Whether here on the West or in the other four regions, brothers are hospitable and through their good will and actions, let me know that they still ‘believe in the seven.’”

Brother Zollie Stevenson, chairman of the Special Committee on Organizational Effectiveness and Brother Cory Anderson, director of membership services,  provided outstanding facilitation on organizational effectiveness and membership development.  Brothers also commended the regional facilitators for as one brother put it “simply providing exceptional presentations.” 

A special presentation included the unveiling of the new Western Region Web site at www.alpha-west.org.
 
The weekend was truly a transformational shift. With Alpha in the brothers’ hearts, the men of Alpha rededicated the true spirit of fraternity and the cause of  brotherhood development in the Western Region.   


*The Eastern Region Roundup was not received at the time of release.
  
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About Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has continued to supply voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world. The fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community's fight for civil rights, through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, Edward Brooke and Cornel West. The fraternity through its college and alumni chapters serves the community through nearly a thousand chapters in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. For more information, please visit www.apa1906.net .

 

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