September 1, 2009
Dear Brothers:
Let me take this opportunity to thank all of you who journeyed to New Orleans for the 103rd Anniversary Convention (and those of you who were with us in spirit). As you know this was my first convention as general president and more than 3,000 brothers and their family members attended. It was truly a celebration of the vibrancy and vitality of our fraternity and our mission to develop leaders, while building strong communities and promote advocacy.
Let me thank the incredible local convention co-chairmen, host chapters, convention committees and our hard-working convention team and corporate office staff for their gallant effort. With only five months to plan and implement some of the new changes and ideas, I am very pleased with our results.
Your e-mails have reaffirmed our efforts to be energetic, creative, and meaningful— while conducting the business of the fraternity in this challenging economic period. We tried some new things and I am pleased that you were pleased with them. Change is good for the heart and soul. We are aware of those areas that still need improvement and are already taking measures to provide for those improvements.
A highlight of the convention of course was the installation ceremony of our new officers. I want congratulate and welcome our new regional vice presidents, assistant vice presidents and general treasurer. We look forward to their work and contribution to the Board of Directors and the fraternity as a whole.
RESOURCES, MANAGEMENT, MEMBER SERVICES
It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than 200 days since my inauguration in Atlanta in January. Since that time, I have been pounding the pavement to raise awareness of what we do and why, and to garner corporate partnership agreements to support our mission. I am pleased to announce that since January, we have raised over $400,000 to support our events and programs. I’ll have more details in the next issue of THE SPHINX, which is scheduled to be published this fall.
Brothers, I am always mindful of the bottom line and the financial impact that decisions we make have on the fraternity’s resources. To that end you have my commitment and pledge to continue to work with our fiscal officers to prudently manage the fraternity’s resources, so that we are able to continue to do good work for the communities we serve and for the brothers whom depend on us for leadership and direction.
I along with the Corporate Office Oversight Committee am working very hard and diligently with the staff to continue to meet and excel in expectations and deliverables from our corporate headquarters. We have a small bond of dedicated employees who are committed to providing you with timely, prompt and courteous service that we intend to be the trademark and hallmark of our fraternity. Anything less is unacceptable.
2010 SUMMIT PREPARATION
Plans are underway for the 2010 Leadership and Summit of the African-American Male. While this is not a “general” convention, I am requesting that all chapter, district and regional leaders be present to receive necessary and beneficial training to further develop our chapter’s effectiveness and efficiency. We will further develop our work with the young boys and sharpen our focus of the “From the High Chair to Higher Education” program.
The brothers of Phoenix have already begun their work assisting the convention-planning team and corporate office staff to make the Alpha visit to Arizona one of our best gatherings ever. We must have no less that 1,200 brothers present. This conference is for brothers only!
KING MEMORIAL PROJECT UPDATE
We are very pleased with the dynamic work of Brother Harry Johnson Sr. and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Project Foundation, on whose board of directors I am honored to serve. To date we have raised $106 million, of which the fraternity has donated more than one million dollars.
Last week we kicked off the latest effort of this project, called the “Kids for King Initiative.” This special program is our vehicle to involve America’s young people in the King memorial project. Students from across the country are being invited to write an essay, create a work of art, or produce a short video expressing what they have learned about King’s ideals of democracy, justice, love and hope as well as how they plan to carry the legacy forward. Students whose work is selected will be recognized on a trip to Washington, D.C. next fall. I urge all chapters to get involved in this initiative with young people in your area.
At the same time, (pertaining to construction of the monument) we have run into some challenges and it is time for Alpha to do what is does best--mobilize and let our representatives in Congress and the secretary of the interior know that we expect a building permit to be issued so that construction can start on schedule. We will send additional details in a separate memo. From this vantage point, Americans have waited long enough for a memorial for Brother King, and the foundation has provided everything that has been asked of it.
UPCOMING EVENTS, PROGRAMS
We are excited about the upcoming Congressional Black Caucus Reception sponsored by the National Education Association, one of our newest and most supportive partners. We are grateful for the NEA’s commitment to our vision to create opportunities for our young African-American boys. We must work every day to level the playing field for educational support and initiatives for these young men and the NEA shares our vision.
There are many other great initiatives on the horizon including our Health and Wellness program (which began with a magnificent health fair at Xavier University during the convention); the Alpha Goes Green and Energy Initiative supported with a generous contribution from Exxon Mobile.
BEING RESPONSIBLE ALPHA MEN
As we move into the intake season, I issue a challenge to the brotherhood that we have an allegation-free, zero-violation intake period. That means that this fraternity receives not one phone call from a parent; an aspirants or lawyer on alleged violations. I believe in my heart that we can do it. I believe that brothers know that the real “making of brother” begins after he is initiated and begins with his commitment to his fraternity and his chapter. I have asked the regional vice presidents and assistant vice presidents to be assertive in the management of our upcoming intake season. We have no room in our fraternity for violators of the laws that we make—and we will not tolerate them.
Also, brothers, I ask you be mindful and cognizant of the words that you put out in the public domain-- whether on the Internet via social networks like Face Book or Twitter, or through e-mail messages. As we redefine and build our brand, we must be aware of the public perception of Alpha Phi Alpha and all for which it stands and represents. Misguided statements or inappropriate messages can hurt the fraternity’s effort to attract and retain partners and sponsors in the government, civic and corporate communities.
Lastly, I am grateful to each of you for your passion and commitment to this fraternity. I appreciate the honest notes, e-mails messages, calls of care, concern, advice and support that you have given me. Those who know me and have known me (for the last 27 years), know that the fraternity is at the center of my heart; and my mind is centrally focused on what we do and how we do it. Altogether, over the next three years and four months, we must work hard to elevate our message and our brand. From “no house” to the White House, from East Coast to West Coast and every where in between, people will know that we are more than just a fraternity—we are a movement.
Fraternally,
