The Light of Southern Maryland Vol. 2 Issue 1 by The Light of Southern Maryland

The Light of Southern Maryland©

Vol. 2 Issue 1, September 2021

Inside This Issue Presidential Address .........................................................................................................3 Message from the Editor ..................................................................................................4 Charter Members ...............................................................................................................5 Past Presidents ..................................................................................................................6 SAL 2021-2022 Fraternal Year Executive Board ..........................................................8 Membership and Reclamation .......................................................................................11 National Programs...........................................................................................................12 A Voteless People Is A Hopeless People ..........................................................12 Go-to-High School, Go-to-College Alpha Scholars Program .........................13 Project Alpha.........................................................................................................14 A. Charles Haston Brother's Keeper Program .................................................15 Alpha Foundation of Southern Maryland (AFOSMD) Awards Scholarships ...........16 Annual Chapter Retreat ..................................................................................................17 Brotherhood Spotlight ....................................................................................................19 Brother Ramon Taylor .........................................................................................19 Transition of Our Beloved Brother ................................................................................20

The Light of Southern Maryland©

Vol. 2 Issue 1, September 2021

Presidential Address Brothers, In the blink of an eye, the commencement of a new fraternal year is upon us once again. I hope that everyone had a fun-filled summer with their family, friends, and loved ones. Personally speaking, I am re-energized and ready to hit the ground running to do the work of Alpha and I know you Brothers share that same sentiment as well! Despite the limitations placed upon us by COVID-19, last fraternal year was a successful one. As we look to the future, we must remain steadfast in achieving our goal of propelling SAL to become one of the premier Chapters within the Mid-Atlantic Association of Alpha Chapters (MAAC). I am proud of the work undertaken by the Chapter committees to create impactful programs and services that will be implemented over the course of the 2021 – 2022 fraternal year. If necessary, we will adjust accordingly to any unforeseen challenges that may arise in order to ensure that the work of Alpha still gets done. As always, I invite Alpha Brothers living in Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties to join the Sigma Alpha Lambda Chapter as we continue to hold high the light of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. As you read these pages and become inspired to reconnect with Alpha, you are welcome to visit our website at www.SAL1906.org or email us at info@SAL1906.org for more information.

Fraternally Submitted, Brother Rodney L. White President Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Sigma Alpha Lambda Chapter

The Light of Southern Maryland©

Vol. 2 Issue 1, September 2021

Message from the Editor Greetings Brothers, Welcome to The Light of Southern Maryland, the official quarterly newsletter of the Sigma Alpha Lambda Chapter (SAL), Key No. 677, of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. This newsletter is distributed to Alpha Brothers of the MAAC and residents of Southern Maryland to increase the awareness of SAL’s implementation of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.’s national programs, local community service initiatives, and philanthropic efforts facilitated by the Alpha Foundation of Southern Maryland. I’m excited to see what God has in store for SAL during the 2021 – 2022 fraternal year. Hopefully, life begins to return to some semblance of normality so that we can safely begin to engage with Southern Marylanders in-person on a more frequent basis. Cheers in advance to another successful and productive fraternal year! 06’ Brother Devon A. Taliaferro, Sr. Associate Editor-to-the-Sphinx Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Sigma Alpha Lambda Chapter

The Light of Southern Maryland©

Vol. 2 Issue 1, September 2021

Charter Members ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Brother Walter Stafon Bowman, Sr – Οmicron Eta Lambda | Spring 2009 Brother Kenneth L. Briscoe – Kappa Epsilon Lambda | Spring 1985 Brother Edsel M. Brown, Jr – Xi Xi Lambda | Spring 1996 Brother Frederick Alan Edwards – Iota Omicron Lambda | Spring 2000 Brother Kenneth Oscar Ford – Omicron Omicron | Fall 1999 Brother Kenyatta Dorey Graves – Οmicron Eta Lambda | Spring 2006 Brother Alan Lamarc Hudson – Xi Alpha Lambda | Fall 2007 Brother Elijah Johnson, Jr – Nu Beta | Spring 2006 Brother Reginald Kearney – Theta Lambda | Spring 1985 Brother Sean Damien Meredith – Delta Nu | Fall 1989 Brother Derrick DeWayne Nunn – Iota Nu | Fall 1988 Brother Tyrone Wilson Ross – Delta Nu | Spring 1969 Brother Theodore J. Short – Xi Alpha Lambda | Fall 1997 Brother Ramon Taylor – Omicron Omicron | Spring 1994 Brother Marc Williams – Iota Upsilon Lambda | Fall 2007

The Light of Southern Maryland©

Vol. 2 Issue 1, September 2021

Past Presidents Brother Dr. Lamont T. Bunyon 2018 – 2020

Brother James Reynolds 2017 – 2018

Brother Billy J. Hill 2015 – 2017

Brother Derrick Terry 2013 – 2015

The Light of Southern Maryland©

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Brother Derrick DeWayne Nunn 2011 – 2013

Brother Kenyatta Dorey Graves 2010 – 2011

The Light of Southern Maryland©

Vol. 2 Issue 1, September 2021

SAL 2021-2022 Fraternal Year Executive Board President Brother Rodney L. White

Vice President Brother Reverend Dr. Marquez Ball

Recording/Corresponding Secretary Brother Reverend James Izzard, Jr.

Treasurer Brother Charles Casey

The Light of Southern Maryland©

Vol. 2 Issue 1, September 2021

Director of Educational Activities Brother Edward McNeil

Associate Editor to The Sphinx Brother Devon A. Taliaferro, Sr.

Chaplain Brother Lord T. Walthour

Historian Brother John Jones, Jr.

The Light of Southern Maryland©

Vol. 2 Issue 1, September 2021

Director of Membership Intake Brother Jonathan Lee

Sergeant-at-Arms Brother Antonio Brown

Chapter Parliamentarian Brother David Jackson

Director of Community Outreach Brother Thomas Nobles

Director of Social and Fraternal Events Brother Lamar Goodwine 10

The Light of Southern Maryland©

Vol. 2 Issue 1, September 2021

Membership and Reclamation Do you want to become active again? We understand that there might be many reasons why you went inactive; however, your participation is still desired and needed. If you are an Alpha brother residing in Southern Maryland and are looking for a chapter home, look no further! SAL is here and ready to welcome you back into the fold with open arms. We need brothers like you to join us in providing service and advocacy to Charles, St. Mary’s, and Calvert Counties.

global pandemic, we are conducting our Chapter meetings virtually via Zoom. Prior to the first Chapter meeting of 2022, SAL will re-evaluate the feasibility of conducting in-person Chapter meetings after assessing the current COVID-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state, and local officials. If you are interested in visiting with the Brothers of SAL, please contact us at info@sal1906.org. Although SAL seeks to reclaim our local Brothers who are not financially active within the Fraternity, we also open our doors to those seeking the Light of Alpha through the Fraternity’s Initial Membership Development Process (IMDP). Please visit www.apa1906.net for more information.

SAL traditionally meets on the second Thursday of every month at the Waldorf Center for Higher Education at 3261 Old Washington Road, Suite 1020, Waldorf, MD 20602. However, due to the COVID-19

The Light of Southern Maryland©

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National Programs A Voteless People is a Hopeless People “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People” (VPHP) was initiated as a National Program of Alpha during the 1930s when many African-Americans had the right to vote but were prevented from voting because of poll taxes, threats of reprisal, and lack of education about the voting process. Voter education and registration have remained a dominant focus of this outreach activity for over 65 years. In the 1990s, the focus shifted to include political awareness and empowerment, delivered most frequently through town hall meetings and candidate forums.

The Light of Southern Maryland©

Vol. 2 Issue 1, September 2021

Go-to-High School, Go-to-College Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. established the “Go-to-High School, Go-to-College” program in 1922. This program focuses on preparing 9th-12th grade young men to excel in college, develop leadership skills to use in the future, and establish prospective leaders for southern Maryland. The program targets male students, currently enrolled in high school with a desire to GO TO

COLLEGE! Students enrolled in this program are provided with potential scholarship opportunities, attend field trips, and more. For more information, please contact Brother Edward McNeil, Director of Educational Activities, via email at info@SAL1906.org.

The Light of Southern Maryland©

Vol. 2 Issue 1, September 2021

Project Alpha Project Alpha was established in 1980 when Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the March of Dimes began collaboratively on this national program. This initiative is designed to provide education, motivation and skill-building on issues of responsibility, relationships, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases for young males aged 12-15 years. Designed to provide young men with current and accurate information about teen pregnancy prevention, Project Alpha consists of a series of workshops and informational sessions conducted by the Brothers of SAL. For more information, please contact Brother Edward McNeil, Director of Educational Activities, via email at info@SAL1906.org.

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A. Charles Haston Brother’s Keeper Program The A. Charles Haston Brother’s Keeper Program, established in 2010, is a service program developed with the mission of advocating and improving the quality of life for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. brothers, their spouses, and widows who are retired, are elders, have disabilities and are ailing, and vulnerable community members. The goal of the Brother’s Keeper Program is to promote dignity and independence among Alpha family and community members who need help in keeping their lives and homes functional. For more information, please contact Brother Thomas Nobles, Director of Community Outreach, via email at info@SAL1906.org

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Alpha Foundation of Southern Maryland (AFOSMD) Awards Scholarships The Alpha Foundation of Southern Maryland (AFOSMD) awarded five scholarships to graduating seniors from high schools in Southern Maryland. Listed below are the names of the scholarship recipients, the colleges they are attending this fall, and the overall scholarship amounts. The scholarships will be divided into two equal payments that will be dispersed prior to the fall 2021 and spring 2022 semesters respectively. • • • • •

Roderick Brown – Morehouse College ($1,250) Mustafa Calhoun – George Mason University ($2,000) Dezmond Rosier – Howard University ($1,250) Hassan Turray – College of Southern MD ($1,250) Caleb Wiggins – Morgan State University ($1,250)

(Caleb Wiggins not pictured)

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Annual Chapter Retreat vision for their committee during the upcoming fraternal year to the Chapter. Due to COVID-19, this year’s retreat was held in a hybrid format (in-person and virtual) to accommodate Brothers who were not vaccinated or did not feel comfortable congregating within an in-person setting.

On Saturday, August 14, 2021, the Brothers of SAL hosted its annual Chapter Retreat business session at the American Legion in Pomonkey, Maryland. This retreat provided the Chapter committees with a platform to present their proposed budgets, schedule of events, and overall

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The Brother of SAL enjoying a few rounds of golf at the White Plains Golf Course.

Vol. 2 Issue 1, September 2021

Brotherhood Spotlight Bro. Ramon Taylor

Congratulations are in order to Brother Ramon Taylor, Omicron Omicron Spring 1994 initiate, and beloved SAL Charter Member. Brother Taylor retired from the United States Army Reserve on September 20, 2021 at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4, most recently serving in the capacity of Senior Supply Systems Technician in the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Aviation’s Joint Reserve Force assigned to the Army Customer Facing Division in the Customer Operations Directorate. Brother Taylor was also awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal by the Secretary of Defense during his retirement ceremony. Lastly, did

you know that Brother Taylor was highlighted in Farrell J. Chiles’ book titled “African American Warrant Officers, Their Remarkable History” (2018), which can best be described as a compilation of articles, biographies, and stores of African Americans who served or are serving in the United States Army Warrant Officers Corps? If not, well now you do! The Brothers of SAL would like to thank you for your service to our country and wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors! 06’

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Transition of Our Beloved Brother On August 18, 2021, Brother Howard “Kingfish” Franklin, Jr. transitioned to our sweet resting place, the Omega Chapter at the age of 51. Brother Franklin was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. by way of the Omicron Omicron Chapter – affectionately known as “Double O” –

seated on the campus of the University of the District of Columbia during the Spring 2004 semester. The Brothers of SAL extend our sincere condolences to Brother Franklin’s family and the Brothers of the Omicron Omicron Chapter during this unfortunate time.