The Mu Lambda Torch DECEMBER 2018
SEASONS GREETINGS
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE As stated previously and will be repeated throughout the fraternal year, our 95th year is off to a great start. During Thanksgiving, people are always asked “why are you thankful.” I am thankful every day for the brothers of Mu Lambda. We disagree, but that’s what family does. At the end of the day, there is always a brother that I have a positive conversation. I want the brothers to realize that we (Mu Lambda) have much to be thankful as far as fraternity. We have done more as a chapter in three months than some do in a fraternal year. We have identified and are addressing our problem areas. While some chapters remain dependent upon intake as its lifeline, Mu Lambda continues to explore reclamation and alternative income streams. Mu Lambda has reclaimed 25 brothers and identified a means to generate substantial scholarships for District of Columbia High School Seniors. While other chapters are continuously searching for meeting space, Mu Lambda has grown the value of its house to $2,000,000, and is preparing to retire its mortgage. I attended a well-attended panel discussion at the house, hosted by our Health and Wellness Committee. In addition to the thought-provoking information that was disseminated, the Alpha Wives were in attendance and fully supportive. Brothers, I ask you to show me another chapter where the Alpha Wives are out in full force, supporting the chapter on a cold blistering Thursday night. I won’t go into detail about the event, because the chair will share detailed information in his article. We have many wonderful events taking place in December, inclusive of our December 6th chapter meeting. I understand Brother Bell has an extra treat in store, where we might sing the hymn and other Alpha songs accompanied by a piano player – don’t forget we have a piano in the house. Brothers, while Alpha is committed to service – my primary objective this fraternal year is for us to get to know each other. We can’t service the community if we don’t service us. I have asked Brother Fitzgerald, Membership Chair, to get the new brothers involved with some of the committees. We want to interact with you and give you a reason to stay. All of the committees now have a Committee Chairperson and will be doing some phenomenal things in 2019. Brother Ford, has the Brothers’ Keeper program operating on rocket fuel. He has promised no senior brother will ever fall through the cracks. In the spirit of addressing our problems and looking to our continued success, I need you to save the date of Saturday, January 5, 2019. We will have a special Mu Lambda brother only training. It will be a day time meeting. I am looking to find the funds to have a nice breakfast and lunch. More information will be forthcoming. As we enter the holiday season, I want to wish you and your family a very happy holiday.
Brother Eddie Neal
President - Mu Lambda Chapter 2018-2019
Mu Lambda Chapter 2018 -2019
HAPPY 112th FOUNDERS DAY
Founders’ Day 2018 was memorable The celebration started Saturday, December 1st. It was a remarkable day, where 56 Mu Lambda brothers, Alpha Wives and friends joined 244 brothers of the MAAC for a magnificent breakfast at the Metro Points Hotel in New Carrollton. A few of the Mu Lambda brothers had an opportunity to take a chapter photograph. A few of the Alpha Wives also posed for a photograph. The second leg of the day was a trip to Baltimore to retrieve books for the Alpha Wives book drive. The books will be provided to the Alpha Wives on December 8th to be given to the youth at New Beginnings. The third leg of the day was joining the brothers of Eta Eta Lambda in Annapolis at their December chapter meeting and engaging in an in-depth review of the ritual. As an annual tradition, the December meeting is held at Brother Ed Johnson’s house, where he hosts the meeting while providing an extravagant repast as brothers fellowship while overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. I left the chapter meeting and took a nap to prepare for the fourth leg of the Founders’ Day celebration. The night continued at Mu Lambda’s 1906 and Park Founders’ Day event. Mu Lambda hosted a fight party showing Deontay Wilder versus Tyson Fury. The event was well attended as we packed three floors of the club. We raised a substantial sum for Mu Lambda Foundation to further its charitable activities benefitting the citizens of the District of Columbia. Those in attendance included John Wall of the Washington Wizards; District Director, Rasheen Smith; Area Director, Thomas Davis; and Associate Area Director, Michael Taylor; Mu Lambda brothers and guests. Some danced, brothers fellowshipped, and others cheered to the split decision draw with a guaranteed rematch. The night concluded with me representing Mu Lambda at the Founders’ Day event co-hosted by Omicron Lambda Alpha and Omicron Eta Lambda at Howard Theater. On Tuesday, December 4th Mu Lambda brothers secured a table to the Founders’ Day event to support Eta Eta Lambda. The brothers of Eta Eta Lambda rolled out the red carpet inclusive of honoring its newest line and award ceremony. Many brothers may recall Thomas Hunt, Eastern Regional Vice President, was a member of Eta Eta Lambda before transitioning to Omega Chapter. On Thursday, December 6th Mu Lambda will gather for its December chapter meeting where we will meet, fellowship, handle Alpha business, review the ritual, and learn a few more Alpha songs. On Saturday, December 8th Mu Lambda will be celebrating with the Alpha Wives at their book drive and Brunch. The event will be held at the Mu Lambda House for a nominal fee of $30, inclusive of a jazz band and unlimited mimosas. Brothers please join me. Registration information is included in the Torch. The week will conclude Saturday Night, on December 8th at dinner with The Links Incorporated in Annapolis. Brother Neal
On Saturday, December 1, 2018, the Mid-Atlantic Association of Alpha Phi Alpha Chapters hosted its 20th Annual Founders’ Day Breakfast. The breakfast was a celebration of the 112th Founding of our beloved Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc. The Jewel Award was presented in honor of Jewel Robert Harold Ogle. The event took place at the Metro Points Hotel (8500 Annapolis Road, New Carrollton, MD) at 9:00am. 56 Brothers, their wives and guest were in attendance. An amazing show of support to the M.A.A.C.
BROTHER FEATURE OF THE MONTH
Brother Fred L. Valentine
Born January 9th 1935 in Clarksdale Mississippi. At a young age Brother Valentine’s parents moved to Memphis Tennessee. Brother Valentine attended La Rose Elementary School and Booker T. Washington High School. While at La Rose he participated in his 1st competitive sport by joining the school’s boxing team. He boxed as a 100 pound Paper Weight. While at Booker T. he continued to enjoy athletics and competed and participated in baseball, basketball, football and track and field. Brother Valentine soon discovered that his speed and agility were best suited for baseball and football. He played football and shortstop. He also was an outfielder in high school. During the summer months growing up, Brother Valentine played on a local semi-pro baseball teams in the community. After graduation from High School Brother Valentine was invited to a try-out camp put on by the St. Louis Cardinals. After the try-out, Brother Valentine was invited to St. Louis to work out with the major league team! A great work out lead to a call into the main office, and Fred was offered a $500. minor league B. contract. He humbly asked them to keep the money and requested four years college fees in its place. They indicated that they had never heard of that type of offer and immediately refused it. But little did they know, Brother Valentine had a four year scholarship for football and he was set to decline their $500 offer. Brother Valentine attended Tennessee State University un 1953, on a four year football scholarship and became the President of his Junior Class, Vice President of his Senior Class, and joined the Beta Omicron chapter of our beloved fraternity! He was also a member of “Whos Who in American Colleges and Universities” and is an inductee of TSU’s hall of fame.
Brother Valentine then went on to George Washington University where he completed his masters in Human Resources and Antioch School of Law. From 1971 to 2006 Brother Valentine was the Vice President of Community Relations for the Clark Construction Group., Inc. He is a member of the Shepard Park Kiwanis Club, American Contract Commpliance Association, D.C. Building Industry Association, The Knights of Columbus - Keane Council no. 353, President of the Men’s Club at Nativity Catholic Church and serves on the Board of Directors for Washington Regional Alcohol Program and the Major League Baseball Alumni Association. TAKE US OUT THE BALL GAME!!!!!!! Brother Valentine’s baseball career is what we all are intrigued by! He credits his parents with keeping him focused on education and sports. Fred realized how important education was and his parents were determined to ensure he got a college degree. The Orioles was not the only team interested in signing brother Valentine after graduating college. Pittsburgh Pirate and the St. Louis Cardinals scouted him. Brother Valentine also had offers from the NFL! They wanted him to be a defensive back but He wanted to be a quaterback in a time and day where that was unheard. His baseball coach, Raymond Whitman advised him to concentrate on baseball despite being recruited by the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburg Steers (Steelers). HE CHOSE BASEBALL! Jim Ruso, a top scout signed Bro. Valentine at a downtown hotel in 1956. The rest is now history. 1956 Baltimore Signed Fred and in 1963 brother Valentine was traded from them to the Washington Senators. in 1968 he was traded back to Baltimore and in 1970 took his talents international playing in Osaka Japan until his retirement from professional baseball in 1971. He was awarded 1958 MVP by the Carolina Baseball League, 1965 MVP by Hawaii Islanders and was the 1966 Sports Illustrated Player of the Week for the Washington Senators. There were 9 dogs on his line in 1956. His fondest memory is attending his first Alpha convention and meeting brothers from all over the world and country. He is married to his wife, Helena since October 2nd 1959. and has 3 beautiful children, Valca, Valena, and Fred Jr. He lives in North West Washington DC! #06 Brother Valentine... Your story is an illuminary glow in the LIGHT OF ALPHA!!!!
The Night of Saturday the 1st Mu Lambda hosted 1906&Park, rekindling our tradition of hosting a chapter event for founders day in Washington DC. The event was nothing short of a success! Partnering with the owner of the event space and hosting a viewing party for the Heavy-Wieght boxing championship between “Wilder & Fury”, we managed to fill 3 floors of the Park. The chapter was at no risk for the event and raised a great amount of money for the foundation and it’s educational and community efforts. Special thanks go out to every brother who attended and supported the event, your donations, attendence and participation does not go unnoticed!
36th General Presidency of Alpha Phi Alpha As the fraternity celebrated 112 years on December 4, 2018, and Mu Lambda celebrated 95 years on October 1, 2018, we have seen some interesting activity. The November 6, 2018, elections brought about a shift in power to the U.S. House of Representatives. Voters went to the polls and said enough of the foolishness. Alpha Phi Alpha will soon be interviewing candidates for the office of 36th General President. I have been told there are seven qualified candidates: Aaron Crutison, Jr.; Willis Lonzer,
III; Sean McCaskill; R. Anthony Mills; Ronald Natson; Gregory Parks; and Roderick Smothers. Each is distinguished in his own right and have served the fraternity in one capacity or another.
We as a people are becoming immune to things that used to shock the conscious. We are at a point in history where it’s okay to grab a woman by the P####. We are at an all-time high where brothers refuse to accept responsibility for their actions. We pat brothers on the back for standing before us and admitting they are acting petty and trying to bankrupt a former chapter because the chapter suspended their friend. We applaud brothers for saying F### those old A## brothers. We applaud the brother who state if they can’t step, they can’t join the fraternity. We applaud brothers who say I don’t give a D### about those old A## MFs. We wonder why people leave the fraternity when we look for ways to suspend brothers who oppose hazing, while simultaneously looking for ways to escalate the hazers to higher positions in the fraternity. We ostracize brothers who stand up against the indiscretions and call them unbrotherly. I am not immune to things that still shock my conscious. Maybe we should spend time helping the aforementioned brothers see the light rather than patronizing their misguided verbiage and actions. I want a General President who wants a kinder, gentler and inclusive brotherhood. I joined the fraternity because I thought I could better serve our people with the help of like-minded men. I grew up during a time where I was taught to respect my elders. Brothers like Kenneth Holbert, Horace Dawson, Garnett Wood, Lee Tyler, W. Jerome McGee, James Donaldson, Jack Cole, LeRoy Lowery, Ryle Bell, Sylvester Booker, Richard English, Talmadge Roberts, Rudolph Scipio, Fred Valentine, Louis Ford, Arthur King, James Haynes, and Clyde Blassengale paved the way for brothers like me to succeed not only in Alpha but in my career. Some if not all lived through Jim Crow. I will never stand or sit quietly and allow any brother to disrespect my brothers who have labored for the freedoms some take for granted. Men of color are being killed and jailed at alarming numbers, while we fight over parties, step shows, and other inconsequential matters. I am seeing more partying than service to the community. I see more brothers in their cliques trying to undermine one another than uplifting one another. I see leadership threatening membership more than leading. How can an organization serve its members or the public if the majority of its time is trying to recruit the next batch of candidates? Maybe its time to rethink the paradigm and spend some of that time focusing on those brothers who left because they were not being serviced. We have brothers seeking office to be rain makers rather than making positive change in the organization.
36th General Presidency continued...
As a financial member and president of the 111th House of Alpha, I take my vote and the vote of the chapter seriously. Too often brothers hear a good speech or decide to support the friend of a brother. I plan to look at the candidates with an objective eye, apply objective criteria to determine the candidate I will support, and then fully support that candidate. It is time to stop the foolishness in Alpha Phi Alpha
First, I have several questions I think are critical: 1. What are the three most important issues facing the fraternity in 2020 and why? 2. What is your plan to keep the fraternity solvent? 3. If you have the ability to keep the fraternity solvent, why haven’t you done it without holding the office of General President? 4. Cite five positive things about each of your opponents? 5. What do you plan to do about hazing? 6. Do you plan to keep intake as the fraternity’s primary source of revenue? A. Why or why not? 7. Why does approximately 75% of brothers leave the fraternity within five years of their initiation? 8. Name your five greatest accomplishments as a leader? 9. Name your five greatest failures as a leader? 10. What is your underlying reason for pursuing the office of General President
Second, I will look at their positive attributes:
1. Character 2. Integrity 3. Strong vision for Alpha 4. Effective communicating skills 5. The courage to make unpopular decisions 6. Crisis management skills 7. Ability to make wise appointments 8. Ability to work with brothers 9. A positive attitude 10. Passion 11. Commitment 12. Innovation 13. Collaboration with those with whom you disagree 14. Humility 15. Ability to leverage team members 16. Genuine individual 17. Empowering 18. Compassion 19. Respect for others 20. Honesty 21. Ability to listen 22. Ability to represent Alpha in public 23. Ability to raise funds from external sources
36th General Presidency continued...
Third, I will look at their negative attributes: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
Lack of adaptability Little vision for the future Lack of accountability Poor integrity Poor communication skills Vindictive Self-absorbed Inability to deliver results Know it all personality Can’t afford to financially be the General President Lack of empathy One size fits all leadership Comfortable with the status quo Not paying attention to the brothers Negative campaigning Negative team Dictator versus a leader Lightning rod personality
Fourth, they all have a record. I will compare their record to their words. “We must ever strive to perfect our union; to insist upon personal progress of our brothers and to help them when in need and do so voluntarily when that need is apparent. We should regard each other in a fraternal manner with love and consideration; we should praise our brother’s virtues and seek to correct his faults. A brother should do at least as much as a friend.” Raymond W. Cannon, 12th General President Brother Neal
PROJECT GIVEBACK: Special thanks go to all the brothers who got up on the 17th of November to support Project Giveback. The Annual Pre Thanksgiving community Sevice event at the Stadium Armory at 8am, serves as a crucial community event for low income families in Washington D.C. The event draws a HUGE crowd and ALPHA men were there to lend their hand in SERVICE!
Brothers, I had the opportunity to support two movies with African-American actors and actresses. I enjoyed both movies. Nobody’s Fool was funny from beginning to end. It could have done without the use of the N word scattered throughout. I wouldn’t recommend taking the children or they might get more than an ear full. At the other end of the spectrum was Green Book, which kept me entertained. It reminds me of the movies I typically watch during Black History Month. Both were well worth the money even though I think the price of a movie is excessive. Next on my list is Creed 2 and Widows – stay tuned for next month’s review. The below reviews are interesting but were not written by me.
Nobody’s Fool Cast: Tiffany Haddish as Tanya; Tika Sumpter as Danica; Whoopi Goldberg as Lola; Brother Omari Hardwick as Frank; Courtney Henggeler as Hillary Director: Tyler Perry A better title for “Nobody’s Fool” would be “Tyler Perry’s Filth-Flarn-Filth.” The writer-director really leans into the R-rating on this one: it’s a raunchy affair whose best lines are unprintable and whose middle act features a sex scene that got the packed audience at my theater hooting with lusty approval. You might not want to take your church-loving grandmother, though considering how much church Grandma needs to attends every week, she’s probably not unfamiliar with debauchery. I suppose she’ll be fine with all the nookie and the creative words Perry’s cast uses to describe said nookie. In her third film of 2018, Tiffany Haddish finally gets top billing and the chance to cut loose like she did in her magnificent turn in “Girls Trip.” But the movie’s marketing is misleading, because “Nobody’s Fool” is not about her character. In fact, the film could exist, in far less amusing a fashion, without her entirely and still make sense. In my review of “The Oath” on this site, I wrote that there oughta be a law against wasting Tiffany Haddish in a movie. There should be an even bigger law against making her extraneous. Granted, she’s the film’s biggest comedic element and Haddish serves that role very well here, plus Perry gives her a surface level back history that has the potential for dramatic exploration. But her character’s usefulness to the plot wears out barely an hour into the 110-minute runtime, and the film struggles with what to do with her. Two things stood out at the beginning of this film. First, the Lionsgate logo that normally introduces Perry’s work had been replaced by the “Paramount Players” logo. Second, I could have sworn the credit didn’t include the now-standard words of ownership “Tyler Perry’s” before the title. I can be forgiven if I missed them, because at the same time the title appears, Perry is haphazardly filling the screen with back and forth text bubbles. The electronic conversation is between advertising executive Danica (Perry staple Tika Sumpter) and Charlie (actor name purposely withheld for spoiler protection). Charlie is Danica’s online paramour, a man she has never met yet has fallen for head over heels. Charlie has a sexy voice—I believe one actor refers to it as “the Idris Elba”—and he lives on an offshore oil rig whose wi-fi reception is too poor for him to ever give Danica a live look at him via Skype or FaceTime. Charlie sounds too good to be true, but he fills all the checkboxes on the list of qualities Danica wants in a man. And I don’t mean a figurative list, either. Danica has written all these items down in a warped homage to a list her mother, Lola (Whoopi Goldberg) once made when she was single. Lola’s list led her to her husband, a union Danica idolizes like a lovesick fan of improbable romances. Coincidentally,
Danica’s company is creating an ad campaign for a perfume called “The List,” which comes with an ink pen so the consumer can scribble down her own catalog of romantic demands. Since Danica and her BFF Callie (Amber Riley) are the office’s only single ladies, they’re given the assignment. Danica’s work is interrupted by Lola’s request that she pick up her daughter Tanya (Tiffany Haddish). Tanya is being released from prison after doing a 5-year bid. She’s a former addict whose own mother won’t put her up, presumably because she’ll smoke all the marijuana plants Lola is growing. Tanya’s first scene is her having wild sex in the back of a truck with a man she met in the prison parking lot. For reasons unexplained, she chokes the man unconscious before getting into her sister’s car. Tanya’s street-smarts allow her to immediately see through her sister’s mysterious new man. She thinks Danica is being catfished, a notion seconded by Callie. For viewers who don’t know what catfishing is, Perry does them a solid by including an extended appearance by Nev Schulman and Max Joseph, who host the MTV show, “Catfish.” This made me as suspicious as Tanya, because MTV is owned by Viacom, the same company that owns Paramount. So in effect, Perry is now shilling studio content in his movies. I don’t recall Lionsgate requiring him to include their “Saw” franchise character, Jigsaw, though his appearance would have spiced up “Boo: A Madea Halloween” for sure. But I digress. In addition to Charlie, another man is vying for Danica’s heart. He’s Frank (Omari Hardwick), owner of the coffee shop in Danica’s office building. Every morning, he gives her free coffee and a rose, neither of which she is happy taking. When Frank offers Tanya a job despite her felon status, Danica warms up a bit toward him. Most of “Nobody’s Fool” is Frank trying to win Danica, first from Charlie and then from her own snobby preconceived notions of Frank. Tanya shows up every so often as Frank’s ally, and the film delves so deeply in the mustiest of romantic comedy tropes and twists that I yelled out “Oh, come on Tyler!” in disbelief at one point. Perry is also up to his usual questionable antics regarding the skin shade and class distinctions of his villains. The film’s focus on women worrying about getting a man may also irk some viewers. And his stories still veer violently between tones, though this is admittedly the funniest thing he’s written. For all his faults, he can still catch you off-guard with a one-liner or quip. Truth be told, I would have loved a movie where Haddish, Riley, Sumpter and Goldberg just riffed on a variety of topics, as they all get some hilarious lines that feel completely off-the-cuff. Goldberg’s comment about a particular strain of her weed made me laugh so loudly I scared myself. In fact, there were several times in “Nobody’s Fool” where I laughed when I probably shouldn’t have. Perhaps in the next life I’ll have some shame about that. The bigger sin here is that “Nobody’s Fool” wastes its comic goodwill and performances by wallowing in the same tired story elements Tyler Perry has been milking on TV and in his movies for decades. He’s done this before, and you’ve seen it before.
Green Book Cast: Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini, Viggo Mortensen Set in the early 1960s, Green Book is a warm and insightful road-film exposing race dynamics and identity tensions in the US through its buddy-drama. The movie gets its title from The Negro Motorist Green Book, which was written by Victor Hugo Green. The book was published annually from 1936 to 1966 as a guide for black travelers as to where they could stay, eat and receive services during the Jim Crow era, when discrimination against non-whites was widespread. The film is based on the real-life friendship between Doctor Don Shirley, a preen and pristine black, classical pianist and his driver/ bodyguard, a rough and ready Italian-American bouncer and enforcer by the name of Tony “Tony Lip” Vallelonga, when they go on a tour in the segregated American South in 1962. While it might be easy to dismiss this as an inverted Driving Miss Daisy, with bits of My Fair Lady and Cyrano de Bergerac thrown in for good measure, this has a more politically aware and acceptable racial role reversal going for it. Through the eyes of Tony, we encounter a gradually escalating set of injustices and prejudices Shirley had to endure because of his skin color as they head deeper south. Via this enlightening experience, Tony goes through a redemptive arc that begins with him having similar prejudices due to his ignorance and finishes with him rejecting and turning around his erroneous ways just in time for Christmas.
Pegged as a mainstream feel-good film, it is also packed with life lessons like, “The world is full of lonely people waiting to make the first move” and “Being genius is not enough, it takes courage to change people’s hearts”, that are subtly told. But equally surprising and astonishing are the transformative central performances by Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen. They dig into their characters with resounding success by shedding previous roles they are known for and inhibit almost polar opposite ones here. Both actors show a range unseen before in an impressive pair of portrayals that are believable and simply inspirational. With brilliant production values, the era is well captured. Overall, despite its by-the-numbers structure and some convenient conflict resolutions, Green Book delivers on a laid-back crowd pleasing experience that is effective and affecting. Brother Neal - “Movie Critic”
BROTHERS SHOW SUPPORT TO THE WIFE OF OUR LATE BRO. DICK GREGORY Brother Rasheen Smith gave a big shout out and thanks to all the brothers that assisted on Monday, November 26th at the Lilian Gregory event. Brother Smith stated that he heard nothing but praise, thanks and admiration for how the men of Alpha stepped up to support Bro. Gregory’s family as the honored Mrs. Lilian Gregory.
Soc-It-To-Me-Cake 14 servings 381 cals
By Brother Miller
• • • • • • •
1 (18.25 ounce) package butter cake mix 1 cup sour cream 1/2 cup vegetable oil OR Real Butter (Land Of Lake) 1/4 cup white sugar 1/4 cup water 4 eggs (brown) room temp. 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• • • • •
1 cup chopped pecans 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 2 tablespoons milk
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour one 10-inch tube pan. 2. In large bowl, blend together cake mix, sour cream, oil, 1/4 cup white sugar, water, and eggs. Beat at high speed for 2 minutes. Pour 2/3 of the batter into prepared tube pan. 3. Combine pecans, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and sprinkle over batter in pan. Spread remaining batter evenly over filling mixture. 4. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 45-55 minutes until the cake springs back when touched lightly. Cool right-side-up in pan about 25 minutes. 5. Mix together confectioners’ sugar and milk. 6. Remove cake from pan and drizzle with glaze.
Hi BrothersFamily, great food, football and fond memories make for a great Thanksgiving. After you’ve toasted the meal with a bubbly dry cider and enjoyed a nice Carignan, Pinot noir or Nouveau Beaujolais with the roast turkey and cornbread dressing — What better digestif to end the feast than the bourbon Old Fashioned whiskey cocktail with citrus peel to compliment that last slice of sweet potato, pecan or pumpkin pie.
The Old Fashioned INGREDIENTS 1-1/2 parts (pony + jigger) Maker’s Mark Bourbon Splash of water 3 dashes Angostura Bitters 1 teaspoon simple syrup Curaçao Peel of Orange Garnish with Luxardo Maraschino Cherry Preparation: Assemble an Old Fashioned glass and rinse with curaçao (May substitute Cointreau) Into a mixing glass filled with a bit of ice add the simple syrup, splash of water and bourbon. Stir briefly. Add 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters and stir briefly until chilled. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the zest of an orange in one stripe (i.e., peau d’orange). Set aside for garnish. Decant the chilled, sweetened, bittered bourbon into the curaçao-rinsed Old-Fashioned glass. Serve neat garnished with orange zest and Luxardo Maraschino cherry. Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving Brothers! Bro. Drew Love
UPCOMING EVENTS
On Sunday, December 9th from 3-4 PM we will be meeting at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial monument in Washington DC for our 3rd annual Wreath Laying Ceremony. This activity has given our brotherhood an opportunity to come together and commemorate the life and legacy of our dear fraternity brother, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. This years event will also serve as a reclamation activity. We are not just inviting you and your chapter, but also inviting inactive brothers to come out and to reconnect with the brotherhood. Following the event we will have a brotherhood social at the Smithville School and Museum (811 East Randolph Road, Silver Spring) and all brothers are welcome to attend.
Gala SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, May 4th 2019 Mu Lambda will host its Black and Gold gala. Tickets will be reasonably priced, with all proceeds going to the Mu Lambda Foundation. It is an excellent opportunity to celebrate Mothers’ Day a week in advance. The planning committee is working to make this one of the best galas in honor of our 95 years of existence. It is estimated we will have 600 people in attendance. Each brother is being asked to sell or purchase a modest four tickets each. The Mu Lambda Foundation board members are being asked to sell a modest 10 tickets each.
HEALTH
WELLNESS
Mu Lambda Brothers, Welcome to December 2018 – the month we celebrate our Founders Day and Christmas Holidays! December is World Aids Day – Dec. 1st, National Hand Washing Awareness Week – Dec. 2nd – 8th, and National Influenza Vaccination Week. Below are articles of interest addressing these topics. Please click on the links or cut and paste into your browser to read the entire articles.
HIV Amongst African Americans Blacks/African Americans account for a higher proportion of new HIV diagnoses, those living with HIV, and those who have ever received an AIDS diagnosis, compared to other races/ethnicities. In 2016, African Americans accounted for 44% of HIV diagnoses, though they comprise 12% of the U.S. population. For more information on HIV amongst African Americans – please click the link below. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/racialethnic/africanamericans/index.html
National Influenza Vaccination Week
Flu vaccination coverage estimates from past seasons have shown that few people get vaccinated against influenza after the end of November. • CDC and its partners choose December for NIVW to remind people that even though the holiday season has begun, it is not too late to get a flu vaccine. • As long as flu viruses are spreading and causing illness, vaccination should continue throughout flu season in order to protect as many people as possible against flu. • Vaccination efforts should continue through the holiday season and beyond. It’s not too late to vaccinate. • Getting vaccinated later can still be beneficial and should be done as soon as possible before flu begins spreading in your community. • Even if you haven’t yet been vaccinated and have already gotten sick with flu, you can still benefit from vaccination since the flu vaccine protects against three or four different flu viruses (depending on which flu vaccine you get). For more information on National Influenza Week – please click the link below. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/resource-center/nivw/about.htm
PAST HEALTH AND WELLNESS EVENTS On Tuesday, Nov. 6th, Mu Lambda and Beta Chapter held a self-defense workshop at Howard’s Burr Gym with about 28 attendees.
Heart Healthy Recipes
Roasted Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Salad Serves 4 to 6 Ingredients For the squash: 3 Tbsp. olive oil 4 cups 1/2-inch cubes peeled butternut squash (1 1/2 pounds; from a 2 1/4-pound whole squash, if that’s where you’re starting from) 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper, to taste For the dressing: 2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp. honey 1 clove garlic, grated or smashed into a paste 1/4 tsp. kosher salt 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 3 Tbsp. olive oil For the salad: 5 cups baby arugula 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (or finely diced green apple if you can’t find pom seeds) 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds, lightly toasted 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese (4 ounces) Freshly ground black pepper
Directions Roast the squash: Preheat the oven to 400°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and pour 2 Tbsp. of the oil on the lined sheet. Place the oiled sheet in the oven (yep, nothing on it) and heat until very hot but not smoking, about 8 minutes. In a large bowl, toss the squash with the remaining 1 Tbsp. oil, the salt, pepper and cayenne until coated. Using an oven mitt, remove the hot baking sheet from the oven and quickly pour the squash onto the sheet (you should hear some sizzling); take a few extra seconds to make sure the flat sides of the squash are hitting that hot oiled pan. Roast until the undersides are golden, about 15 minutes. Remove the squash from the oven, shake the pan (or flip the squash with tongs if you’re down with OCD, yeah you know me), return to the oven and roast until the new underside is golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool to room temp or just warm (so it doesn’t murder the greens when you drop them on).
CDC’s HEALTHY HOLIDAY TIPS: https://www.cdc.gov/features/healthytips/index.html HEALTHY HOLIDAY EATING TIPS: https://www.eatright.org/health/lifestyle/holidays/how-to-enjoy-the-holidaywithout-the-weight-gain
UPCOMING MLHWC EVENTS None planned for Decemeber 2019 Events Coming soon!!!
NEXT MLHWC MEETING – DECEMBER 13TH, 2018 Meeting Dates: Locations: Time: Bring: Initial Topics:
2nd Tuesday of December * due to holidays Virtual Conf. Call - 641.715.3630, 129354# 6:45 pm – 7:45pm Ideas for healthy activities and service projects. Addressing Brothers questions on Health topics – 1st 10 mins
For more information on MLHWC activities, please contact Bro. Derrick Butts dabutts@mac.com. Thank you for your participation and support of the MLHWC!
MU LAMBDA HEALTH & WELLNESS COMMITTEE Merry Christmas and Happy New year brothers!
Brother Butts and The Health and Wellness committee put together a CONVERSATION! “Lets Talk Health at the Mu Lambda Community house and it was extremely successful. Brothers, Wives and members of the community came out and discussed matters of Physical, Mental and personal health. We need to continue to encourage more of these positive conversations within our community and chapter. Praises must be extended to Bro. Butts. His efforts do not go by idly. Thanks to all who supported and spoke out. OUR HEALTH IS IMPORTANT - LETS TALK ABOUT IT!!!!!
FIRST GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY 2405 First Street NW, Washington DC
THE HOUSE A LONG AWAITED PROJECT : LAMBDA MEWS It is with great pleasure that we share with the brotherhood the FIRST PHASE of the long anticipated renovation project for the Mu Lambda Foundation House. Take a look, as we share the proposals for construction. This First PHASE, will immediately affect the Basement, Sunroom and Outdoor Stair Well of the house. We look forward to seeing this project come to life!
The Alpha Wives of Washington D.C. Inc Alpha Wives Meet every 2nd Saturday - Noon @ 2405 1st St. NW
NEXT MEETING: SATURDAY, 10th NOVEMBER, 2018 If your wife is intested in participating, Contact: Mrs Ligaya Jackson - Vice President of AWDC : LigayaJackson@gmail.com
Eta Eta Lambda: (Annapolis) Brothers Lowery, Neal, Fitzgerald, Housey, Jefferson and Miller went out to Annapolis Maryland and attended Eta Eta Lambda’s Founders Day celebration on Tuesday December 4th, 2018! We applaud these brothers for continuing to advance the relationships and brotherhood bond within the M.A.A.C. Their presence was appreciated and met with warm welcome as they represented Mu Lambda outside of Washington DC.
DC NPHC Next DC NPHC Meeting NPHC meeting will be held in JANUARY 2019 - Tuesday, January 22, 2018 –
Hosted by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. at the Zeta Phi Beta Headquarters
2018-2019 Executive Board of Mu Lambda President:
Eddie Neal
Interim Vice President:
Mikael LaRoche
Recording Secretary:
Jason Jefferson
Corresponding Secretary:
Timothy Fitzgerald
Financial Secretary:
Chatman Young
Treasurer:
Michael Young
Chaplain:
William “Tony” Hawkins
Historian:
Silas J Woods
Intake Coordinator:
Andre Lucas
Assoc. Editor/Sphinx:
Garrett Miller
Dir. Educational Activities:
Charvis Campbell
Sergeant-at-Arms:
Frank King
Parliamentarian:
Byron L. Williams
Web Master:
Mark Jones
Editor of the Torch:
Mikael LaRoche
Member at Large
LeRoy Lowery III
General Counsel
Brent Radcliffe
www.mulambda.org
2018-2019 Executive Board of Mu Lambda
2018-2019 FOUNDATION Board of Mu Lambda
2018-2019 COMMITTEES & CHAIRS Community Service
Timothy Fitzgerald
Brothers Keeper
Louis Ford
Public Policy
Kelvin Brown
Grievance and Discipline
LeRoy Lowery, III
Membership Timothy Fitzgerald Constitution
Byron Williams
Technology
Mark Jones
Social
Mikael LaRoche
Budget and Finance
Chatman Young
Nominating
Frank King
Health & Wellness
Derrick Butts
NPHC
Derrick Butts
Program
Joesph Gibbs
Fundraising Matthew Aaron Auditing
*open
Brothers, as Interim Vice President it is my duty to ensure that all of these committees are chaired and successfully staffed by brothers of Mu Lambda! I will continue to reach out to all brothers personally to ensure we work toward our goal of Chapter of the year. These committees are the WORK and WORTH of our chapter and I applaud every brother who has already stepped up to give their time and service to the chapter... Thank you Fraternally, Brother LaRoche
It is important to note that as the Editor to the Torch, I have not forgotten the Celebration of Brother’s Birthdays and Anniversaries- I am currently in the process of compiling all data to accurately reflect the chapter brothers! Thank you for your support and patience
TENTATIVE CHAPTER MEETING DATES 2018 - 2019 (Every 1st Thursday of the Month)*
Mu Lambda Foundation House 2405 1st St. NW, Washington DC 20059
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th 2018 - 7:06pm THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4th 2018 - 7:06pm THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1st 2018 - 7:06pm THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6th 2018 - 7:06pm THURSDAY, JANUARY 10th 2019 - 7:06pm * THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7th 2019 - 7:06pm THURSDAY, MARCH 7th 2019 - 7:06pm THURSDAY, APRIL 4th 2019 - 7:06pm THURSDAY, MAY 2nd 2019 - 7:06pm THURSDAY, JUNE 6th 2019 - 7:06pm
ALPHA ATTIRE * NOTE 2nd Thursday of January
/mulambda1906 @mulambda1923