Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity, Incorporated 401 Branard Street ∆ Houston, TX 77006 ∆ (713) 800-0802 ∆ www.dphiu.org Larrel A. Green SUPREME BASILEUS
January 9, 2011
Greetings Brothers, I ask that we each take a moment to remember the life of Brother Nakita Lafayette, who journeyed to the Silent Chapter earlier this week. The month of January signals the beginning of a new year and delivers the promise of new opportunities to enrich our lives and the lives of those we serve. It is a month of new beginnings. January is also a wonderful time to reflect on Delta Phi Upsilon’s history. I am not much of a historian, but I do love to flip through the pages of my copy of our Passing the Torch Manual. I am always in awe of the humble beginnings of our dear brotherhood, while at the same time, inspired by its 26-year journey. With that said, allow me now to officially proclaim January 10-14 as Founders Week and to wish each and every one of you a very Happy 26th Founders Day! What a beginning we’ve had! From the day the idea took form in the mind of Founder Trevor Charles, to the day the seed was planted in the hearts of the men who had gathered in a tiny dormitory room of Smith Hall; to the day a decisive action set us on the path to greatness; to the day when the north heard and answered the call of the south; to today, with a brotherhood that is hundreds strong; a name that commands respect in our communities; and a shield proudly emblazoned on our chests. Our position in the Greek world is now secure, and more so than ever before. Our good name is respected and honored; our chapters everywhere are working with a confidence that is inspired by membership in a first-class organization. Founders’ Day is a time to fondly and respectfully honor the courage, intelligence and compassion of our Founder, and the early members who gave roots to Delta Phi Upsilon. It is also a time to reflect on the many brothers throughout our history that have given their energy, enthusiasm, ideas and gifts to our Fraternity to help our organization grow into what we are today. Founders’ Day is also about reflecting on our future. As a month of new beginnings, this January 2011 has special significance for me and the members of the Executive Council as it heralds the end of our term in office. In July we will all journey to Miami, where a new team of dedicated leaders will take our place in shaping the course of Delta Phi Upsilon’s destiny. Delta is a family and we are so happy to have been a part of this family’s history.
Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity, Incorporated 401 Branard Street ∆ Houston, TX 77006 ∆ (713) 800-0802 ∆ www.dphiu.org
This year’s national Founders Day theme “Celebrating the Beginning of Excellence,” focuses on the journey that we have taken as members, as chapters and as a fraternity. Our Founder gave us something beautiful to share with our brothers of tomorrow. He gave us a beginning; a foundation of procedures, policies and standards. He also gave us the platform to become a great service-oriented organization, with our Five Program Targets, but for the past 25 years, Delta Phi Upsilon has existed with the unfulfilled potential for excellence. This year it all comes to fruition. This year, the excellence begins. Some of you may have heard the rumors. Most of you have participated in the chapter and regional discussions. I can now confirm for you that this is indeed the year that Delta Phi Upsilon begins to EXCEL. Let me tell you how we will do this. Some months ago, I met with the National Program Committee and issued a challenge to them to review our current program structure and to create a program that will take Delta Phi Upsilon into the next decade. They did not disappoint. The National Program Committee has responded with a program that can only serve to place the name of Delta Phi Upsilon in the annals of history, alongside those long-serving fraternities and sororities of color. Attached to this message, you will find the new National Program for Delta Phi Upsilon, along with the 2011 Program Calendar, which should already have been distributed to chapters. This new program allows our fraternity so many new opportunities. We will still seek serve our communities through the five program targets, but going forward, with dedicated, concentrated and disciplined structure, that will allow us to track the number community service hours spent, the number of participating brothers, and the number people impacted by our efforts.
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The five target areas have now been expanded to include a variety of service opportunities to be implemented by our chapters and colonies. Brothers, make no mistake – this new program is not a request; it is a mandate. If Delta Phi Upsilon is to move from our current “clubbish” atmosphere to one of a real fraternity, we must take this seriously. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NEW NATIONAL PROGRAM TARGET I: HEALTH AWARENESS Later this week, the Corporate Office will be releasing a press release to this effect, but I am excited to announce here Delta Phi Upsilon’s affiliation with the Black AIDS Institute as an official partner in their Test 1 Million/Greater Than AIDS Campaign, a movement of awareness, personal responsibility, and collective action. This affiliation assures that as a registered member, Delta Phi Upsilon is able to request the Institute’s support for our events including requests for Test 1 Million co-branded materials, and speakers for local events. It also obligates our fraternity to engage in HIV testing and to host HIV/AIDS Awareness workshops.
Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity, Incorporated 401 Branard Street ∆ Houston, TX 77006 ∆ (713) 800-0802 ∆ www.dphiu.org
Brothers, this is big!!! This is Delta’s first partnership with a national organization. Along with the Black AIDS Institute, we are currently pursuing other partnerships with reputable, professional, national groups such as the American Public Health Association, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the National Coalition for LGBT Health, and The Trevor Project, all of whom can aid our beloved fraternity in its quest for service to our kind. We will keep you updated on our progress. Throughout 2011, we will also be observing many of the official national health-related days, including National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, National HIV Testing Day and World AIDS Day. Let’s not forget our own “Wear it Pink” Day in October. TARGET II: EDUCATION Our obligation to encourage gay men of color to achieve an educational level higher than high school has not changed, and has in fact now been expanded to include a wider target audience. To help you achieve those lofty goals, we have created Project: O.W.L. (Outstanding Willingness to Learn), through which our chapters and colonies will devise and implement effective workshops, seminars and presentations, designed to empower gay men of color and promote learning. Other aspects of this program target will be to participate in national events such as National Day of Silence®, No-Name Calling Week and the ThinkB4YouSpeak Campaign, all sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), to bring attention to the problem of bullying and harassment in our nation’s schools. The goal is to prevent the horrible tragedies of teen suicide recently witnessed across the country. We will also be proposing legislation at this Boule for the creation of the Delta Phi Upsilon Educational Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization whose purpose would be to administer our scholarship program and the Leadership Conference. With a plethora of companies willing to donate money to worthy causes, this foundation opens us to the world of grants and large sum donations, which will enable us to offer scholarships to deserving gay men of color, as well as support our own college enrolled members through the Pearls of Distinction™ Program. TARGET III: POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT As of this writing, a small victory has been reached in our fight for equality, with the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. But the war is not yet over, with legislation affecting our ability to live, work, marry and remain safe in schools, still pending in our federal halls of justice. Through Project WATCHCARE, we shall not only continue to monitor the progress of each of these, but shall actively work for their passage, through local, state and federal avenues. One of the ways we will achieve this mission is partnering with organizations like the National Black Justice Coalition, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and the Human Rights Campaign.
Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity, Incorporated 401 Branard Street ∆ Houston, TX 77006 ∆ (713) 800-0802 ∆ www.dphiu.org
This August will present us with the unique opportunity to meet, greet and network with many such organizations when Delta Phi Upsilon will be present at the WHITE HOUSE for the commemoration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., monument. Yes, Brothers, THE White House. This is the power of networking in action. This is what other organizations can only aspire to. This is what Delta Phi Upsilon already is. TARGET IV: HISTORY & HERITAGE For so long, gay people of color have traversed this country in pursuit of the next great party. Houston Splash, Miami Sizzle, Dallas, DC & Atlanta Pride. We’ve all been there and probably got the tattoo’s to prove it. But the months of February and June, as Black History month and LGBT Pride month, respectively, present the opportunity for us to become educated on our history as gay people of color, and to educate our dual communities on the rich heritage in which it shares and belongs. The time has come for us to change how we view these yearly pride events. We can still party, but with a purpose. Through Project: Image, our History & Heritage target will help us to do just that, with support of Black & LGBT History Months via public events that showcase the contributions of our local people to society. Let us look for the everyday person, that unsung hero, and publicly applaud his or her efforts. Nationally, the Program Committee will be developing a series of brochures, which document the contributions of our icons in the fields of literature, the sciences, social action and arts and entertainment. TARGET V: GLOBAL AWARENESS I know, you’re thinking “global awareness?” This national target was previously called “National Expansion.” In its review, the National Program Committee found that this did not really serve the future view of the fraternity, since it does not allow for community service efforts that include a diverse and ever-changing world. Delta Phi Upsilon must keep its finger on the pulse of global events and be able to respond to these events in a timely and beneficial manner. Records show that when the Founder originally developed the program, Target V was called “Global Awareness.” A return to this is in our best interest. National expansion is the natural course of progression for Delta Phi Upsilon and no longer needs to be included in its national program. It is inevitable that chapters will be established not only in cities, but also on college campuses. Rest assured that we will not lose our drive to expand nationally as this is part of our mandate as a fraternity; we will continually be seeking expansion opportunities on all levels. This change allows us create two new projects to address the concerns of citizens who do not fall under the umbrella of “our kind”. With Project: Lend A Hand, we can provide assistance to homeless shelters, soup kitchens and organizations that operate those facilities, as well as have a vehicle for the collection and distribution of food and clothing items for the homeless. Project: Groomed was designed specifically to help reach those displaced members of society who may need that extra push in getting back on their feet, and will involve dress for success seminars, personal care workshops, resume writing assistance, among others.
Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity, Incorporated 401 Branard Street ∆ Houston, TX 77006 ∆ (713) 800-0802 ∆ www.dphiu.org Over the next few months we will be phasing out usage of “national expansion” and replacing it with “global awareness” on all websites and publications. The National Program Committee has suggested and I have approved the 2011 National Program Theme of “The H.E.A.R.T of Delta Phi Upsilon.” If we break it down, we find a most fitting ideal for us to strive to achieve in this New Year: Helping to Encourage Awareness and Responsibility Today. This speaks to the core purpose of our organization as we have pledged to be of service to those who look to us for guidance, both internally and externally. Brothers, I know that you will share my excitement about this new program, which will move Delta Phi Upsilon away from individual member service efforts to chapter/colony efforts, as it should always have been. This new journey – this beginning of excellence - requires us to renew the dedication to the ideals espoused by our Founder that we all proudly displayed upon initiation. It requires us to each renew our commitment to service, scholarship, and brotherhood. It requires us to all renew our PASSION for Delta Phi Upsilon. Brothers, I hope that none of you fail to realize that no other Black Gay Greek-lettered Organization can boast of our achievements, previous and yet to come. But I remind you that we must ensure that those achievements are not just on paper, but are the results of tangible efforts that carry a dual purpose of serving our community and lauding the name of Delta Phi Upsilon. This Founders Day let us all remember what a valuable force our Delta Phi Upsilon membership is in our own lives and the lives of others. As we focus on the meaning of our Brotherhood during Founders Day celebrations, let us keep in mind that Delta Phi Upsilon is a lifetime fraternity experience for us – a continuous journey. Whether or not this phrase from our traditions resonates currently, I ask you to please commit to making Delta Phi Upsilon a bigger part of your life. I have a few suggestions about how to make that happen:
Pay your chapter/colony dues and Per Capita Tax so that Delta Phi Upsilon can continue to provide member such as The Torch magazine, an interactive website, developmental leadership programs, and staff support for our chapters and regions. Make a non-tax deductible donation to the fraternity to support leadership programs, scholarships or general upkeep of the Corporate Office.
Serve on a local, regional or national committee.
Apply for National Officer service.
Support a local chapter’s service and social events.
Brothers, our fraternity’s finest hour is before us. We must seize it. Join me in celebrating the beginning of excellence. Fraternally,
Larrel A. Green Supreme Basileus
TARGET I: health awareness Focus: increasing and heightening the awareness and level of concern regarding the prevention of HIV/AIDS, STDs, Alcohol & Substance Abuse, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Stroke and other health issues that affect people of color, with particular focus on gay men of color. Signature Program – Project Prevention Implementation Goals: • Workshops/Seminars on above issues • Sponsorship/participation in Health Fairs • Participation in National Health Events • National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - Feb. 7th • National HIV Testing Day - June 27th • National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - Sept. 27th • National Breast Cancer Awareness Month - October • Real Delta Men Wear Pink Campaign - “Wear It Pink” Day - October 25 • World AIDS Day – December 1st • Partnerships with governmental and non-governmental National Organizations • Black AIDS Institute • Test 1 Million Campaign • Test 1 Million, a movement of awareness, personal responsibility, and collective action, is the Black AIDS Institute’s signature mobilization campaign, in partnership with leading Black organizations and institutions. It builds upon the National Black AIDS Mobilization: a call to action to engage all of Black America, from individuals to institutions, in a community-wide effort to end the AIDS epidemic. As a registered member of this campaign and an official Test 1 Million affiliate, Delta Phi Upsilon is able to request the Institute’s support for our events including requests for Test 1 Million co-branded materials and speakers for local events. • American Public Health Association • Gay Men’s Health Crisis • National Coalition for LGBT Health • The Trevor Project • The Trevor Project is a nonprofit endeavor established to promote acceptance of gay and questioning youth, and to aid in suicide prevention among that group. Promotes mental health and positive self-esteem through a nationwide 24/7 call center and empowering social activities.
TARGET II: education Focus: the encouragement of young black gay men to return to, or enroll in a degree seeking program at a college, university, or school. Signature Program – Project O.W.L (Outstanding Willingness to Learn) Implementation Goals: • Creation of the Delta Phi Upsilon Educational Foundation as a 501(c)3 charitable organization whose purpose would be to: • Provide scholarships/grants to deserving college-bound/enrolled gay men of color • Administer the Pearls of Distinction™ Program • Administer the biennial Leadership Conference • Financial Planning/Empowerment Seminars for fraternity members and general public • Book Drives with proceeds donated to local libraries • Build partnership with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) which seeks to develop K-12 school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes in creating a more vibrant and diverse community. • Participate in GLSEN-sponsored National Day of Silence® (April 15, 2011) to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. • Adopt and promote the GLSEN-sponsored No Name-Calling Week, an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities. • Adopt and promote the ThinkB4YouSpeak Campaign, a web site launched in conjunction with the Ad Council campaign to fight anti-LGBT language by raising awareness among straight teens about the prevalence and consequences of anti-LGBT bias and behavior in America’s schools.
TARGET III: political empowerment Focus: activities designed to develop our political acumen, monitor the legislative process, support gay positive legislation, and inform the gay community of upcoming events which politically impact them. Signature Program: Project WATCHCARE Implementation Goals: • Monitoring of local, regional and national legislative activity which affect gay people: • Employment – Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a proposed bill in the United States Congress that would prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity for civilian nonreligious employers with over 15 employees. • Education – Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) which would amend the Safe and DrugFree Schools and Communities Act (part of the No Child Left Behind Act) to require schools and districts receiving federal funds to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. • Judiciary – Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a federal law which does not require states to accept as marriage a same-sex relationship considered a marriage in another state and defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. • Create partnerships with gay political organizations: • Human Rights Campaign (HRC) - The largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC works to ensure progress toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. • National Gay & Lesbian Task Force - Trains activists, equips state and local organizations with the skills needed to organize broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation. • The Houston GLBT Political Caucus (HGLBTPC), the non-partisan political arm of the Houston GLBT community, screens local, state and national candidates to ensure they meet the criteria set forth by the membership including full support of GLBT civil rights. • National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) - civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. NBJC’s mission is to eradicate racism and homophobia. As America’s leading national Black LGBT civil rights organization focused on federal public policy, the National Black Justice Coalition has accepted the charge to lead Black families in strengthening the bonds and bridging the gaps between straight and LGBT people and communities. • Voter registration initiatives • Get out the vote drives • Chapter and regional collaborations with local organizations to strengthen the power of the GLBT vote
TARGET IV: history & heritage Focus: events which express our appreciation of African-American and/or gay icons of color and their contributions, and which serve to broaden public awareness of our rich black and gay legacy. Signature Program: Project: Image Implementation Goals: • Support of Black History Month through public events which showcase contributions of black people to society - February • Support of GLBT Pride Month through public events which showcase contributions of gay people to society - June • Talent Shows • Movie Nights which feature gay positive movies • Spoken Word events • Sponsorship of book readings/signings featuring prominent black gay authors • Step/Stroll Shows/competitions • Participation in local Gay Pride Parades • Development of a Heritage Series – group of brochures which highlight and document the contributions of African-Americans and gay men of color to society in various fields: • Arts & Entertainment • Literature • Sciences • Social Action
TARGET V: global awareness Focus: Activities which serve to respond to the needs and concerns of the global community. Signature Program(s): Project: Lend A Hand; Project: Groomed Implementation Goals: • Project: Lend A Hand • Identification, adoption and support of organizations whose purpose it is to positively impact on the quality of life for global residents • Volunteer time at homeless shelters or soup kitchens • Distribution of food/clothing items to homeless/displaced people • Project: Groomed • Dress for success seminars • Personal Care workshops • Other International Events: • World Water Day - March 22 • World Food Day - October 16 • International Day of Tolerance - November 16 • World AIDS Day - December 1
OFFICIAL DELTA PHI UPSILON NATIONAL PROGRAM CALENDAR Effective January 1, 2011 (Subject to revision) January 10-14 15 17 17 24-28
Founders Week* (T4) Founders Day* (T4) Martin Luther King Day of Service* (T4) Delta Phi Upsilon Red & Gold Day* (T4) GLSEN No Name-Calling Week (T2)
February 1-28 1-28 4 7 7-11 14
Black History Month* (T4) American Heart Month* (T1) National Wear Red Day* (T1) National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Days* (T1) Black History & Heritage Week* (T4) National Condom Day* (T1)
March 19
August 1-31 1 22-26
Reactivation Month* (T4) National Minority Donor Awareness Day (T1) (T5) Delta Phi Upsilon National Service Week*
September 1-30 National Sickle Cell Month (T1) 1-30 National Cholesterol Education Month* (T1) 1-30 National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month (T1) 1-30 Project: WATCHCARE* (T3) 4-10 Suicide Prevention Week* (T1) 10 Suicide Prevention Day* (T1) 10 Delta Phi Upsilon National Day of Service: The Trevor Project* (T2) 27 National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day* (T1)
22
Delta Phi Upsilon National Day of Service: Project Groomed* (T5) World Water Day (T5)
April 1-30 7 15
National Minority Health Awareness Month (T1) World Health Day* (T1) (T5) GLSEN National Day of Silence® (T2)
1-31 1-31 11 16 25
Delta Phi Upsilon Brotherhood Month* (T4) National High Blood Pressure Education Month* (T1) Bayard Rustin Day* (T4) Delta Phi Upsilon National Day of Service: Project O.W.L* (T2)
November 1-30 American Diabetes Month* (T1) 8 Project: WATCHCARE: Get Out the Vote Drive* (T3) 14 World Diabetes Day* (T1) 16 International Day of Tolerance (T5)
LGBT Pride Month* (T4) LGBT History & Heritage Week* (T4) Delta Phi Upsilon National Day of Service: Project Image* (T4) National HIV Testing Day* (T1)
December 1 World AIDS Day* (T1) 1 Delta Phi Upsilon’s “Paint the Town Red” Initiative* (T1) 17 Delta Phi Upsilon National Day of Service: Chapter/Colony choice of activity*
May 1-31 1-31 14 21 June 1-30 13-17 18 27 July 14-17 14
Boule Miami Delta Phi Upsilon National Day of Service: Project Lend A Hand* (T5)
October 1-31
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month* (T1) (T5) Healthy Lung Month Project: WATCHCARE* (T3) National Coming Out Day* (T4) World Food Day (T5) Delta Phi Upsilon’s “Wear it Pink” Day* (T1) (T5)
*CHAPTER/COLONY IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM/PARTICIPATE/ COMPLETE