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

The Light of Southern Maryland©

Vol. 2 Issue 2, December 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 Go-to-High School, Go-to-College Alpha Scholars Program .........................12 Chapter Initiatives ...........................................................................................................13 Pop-Up Community Health Fair .........................................................................13 Hybrid 5K ...............................................................................................................14 SAL’s Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive ...........................................................15 Brotherhood Spotlight ....................................................................................................16 Brother James W. Harrington, Jr. .....................................................................16 Brother Ryan Eugene ..........................................................................................17

The Light of Southern Maryland©

Vol. 2 Issue 2, December 2021

Presidential Address Brothers, As another holiday season approaches us, let us take this moment to reflect on the blessings bestowed upon us in our lives and be thankful for being among the land of the living. Life is all about perspective, and I myself prefer to look at things from a glass half full point of view, rather than half empty. The holiday season also provides an opportunity for us as Alpha men to spend our time aiding the downtrodden in our communities to improve their holiday seasons. As you can see through the pages in this newsletter, we have undertaken several community service projects to ensure that the underprivileged residents of Southern Maryland have a good holiday season. I hope the Brothers of SAL and Alpha at large had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and have an even better Christmas and New Year’s celebration with your families, friends, and loved ones. Brothers, this Founders’ Day marks 115 years of existence for our beloved Fraternity. I charge each and every one of you to do some soul searching and ask yourselves whether or not you are fulfilling your obligations to Alpha through the giving of your time, talents, and treasure. In order for us to sustain the consistent level of success that has been exhibited until this point, we all must continue playing our part in doing so. 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 2, December 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. Can you believe that 2021 is almost over? It seems as if the year just begun yesterday and its already time to turn the pages of the calendar to 2022. Brothers, I employ you to make the most of your time whether it be in your careers, personal lives, with your families, and especially – when it comes to doing the work of Alpha. Let us celebrate 115 years of the existence of the greatest black Greek letter fraternity known to mankind! "The chief significance of Alpha Phi Alpha lies in its purpose to stimulate, develop, and cement an intelligent, trained leadership in the unending fight for freedom, equality and fraternity. Our task is endless." – Jewel Henry Arthur Callis, May 1946 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 2, December 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 2, December 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©

Vol. 2 Issue 2, December 2021

Brother Derrick DeWayne Nunn 2011 – 2013

Brother Kenyatta Dorey Graves 2010 – 2011

The Light of Southern Maryland©

Vol. 2 Issue 2, December 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 2, December 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 2, December 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 2, December 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©

Vol. 2 Issue 2, December 2021

National Programs Go-to-High School, Go-to-College The SAL Alpha Scholars Program hosted their first virtual session of the fraternal year on October 16, 2021. This session commenced with a welcome and introductions, followed by an overview of program expectations, battle rhythm, and a review of the proposed schedule of events. The latter portion of the session consisted of Brother Dr. James Huntley facilitating a discussion of the college preparation process to include the application process, pros and cons of the SAT and ACT, and standard

GPA requirements. Dr. Huntley also emphasized the do’s and don’ts of social media usage as it relates to the college application process. The overall purpose of this session was to provide the 22 students in attendance with a baseline understanding of how to navigate through the college application process in order to maximize their chances of gaining acceptance to the colleges or universities of their choice and obtaining as many scholarship opportunities as possible.

On November 20, 2021, the SAL Alpha Scholars Program held its second virtual session of the 2021 – 2022 fraternal year. Brother Dr. James Huntley provided critical information pertaining to the various financial resources available to help the students pay for college such as scholarships, grants, and student loans. As a special treat, several of our 2020 – 2021 Alpha Foundation Scholarship recipients attended this session to share their college experiences thus far. They also provided words of wisdom for the current students on how to navigate through the rest of their

high school tenure and the college application process. This session concluded with a facilitated discussion on the role time management plays in achieving one’s goal, which was presented by Brother David Jackson. The students received tips on how to manage their time more effectively and were presented with scenarios that focused on building SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based) objectives.

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Chapter Initiatives Pop-Up Community Health Fair The Ivy and Pearls of Southern Maryland Community Charities Inc. – the charitable arm of the Nu Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. – partnered with the Brothers of SAL, Lifestyles, Inc., and the Charles County Department of Health to host a Pop-Up Community Health Fair. The health fair took place on October 9, 2021 at the Lifestyles Center located at 10435 Theodore Green Boulevard in White Plains, Maryland. There were more than 70 volunteers present to lend their support and

approximately 112 individuals who took advantage of the free health services being offered such as 3D mammograms, COVID19 testing and vaccinations, diabetes/prediabetes screening, and blood pressure testing. Participants and volunteers alike donated canned goods, non-perishable food items and supported the onsite eyeglass drive to provide critical resources necessary to support those less fortunate in the community.

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Hybrid 5K Runners and walkers alike were all welcomed, as one of the main goals of the event was to simply finish. The Brothers of SAL would like to encourage everyone to maintain their physical health beyond this year’s event. Regular exercise is proven to improve one’s mental and physical health, while helping decrease the risk of a variety of medical conditions. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the overall success of this event and look forward to hosting our first annual HBCU tour with our Alpha Scholars in 2022.

The Brothers of SAL facilitated a hybrid virtual/in-person 5K at the Indian Head Rail Trail in Indian Head, Maryland on November 6, 2021. The purpose of the hybrid 5K was to raise funds to provide opportunities for students enrolled in SAL’s Alpha Scholars Program to attend a Chapter sponsored Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) tour. While this event was a traditional 5K in nature, individuals within various fitness levels were encouraged to participate.

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SAL’s Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive of Southern Maryland, a community-based organization that serves families in need and homeless individuals in the La Plata community with limited methods of transportation. Mr. Lemar T. White of the DC Black MBA Association was present to lend his support and gratitude on behalf of their organization.

The Brothers of SAL partnered with the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the National MBA Association to host a food drive at the Giant located at 3297 Crain Highway in Waldorf, Maryland on November 13, 2021. Over 1400 pounds of non-perishable food was donated by the local community and subsequently provided to the Lifestyles

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Brotherhood Spotlight Congratulations Brother James W. Harrington, Jr.

Congratulations are in order once again for Brother James W. Harrington, Jr. who was awarded the 40 Under 40 award from his alma mater, North Carolina Central University (NCCU) – where he was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. by way of the Gamma Beta Chapter during the Spring 2002 semester. In 2003, Brother Harrington graduated from NCCU with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Public Administration. The 40 Under 40 award was given to Brother Harrington thanks in large part to his career achievements and astute community involvement.

project management, acquisition support and coalition building in the federal government. Moreover, some of Brother Harrington’s community endeavors, include his membership in the NCCU Metro DC Alumni Chapter, an Executive Board Member of the National Black MBA Association DC Chapter, the African American Federal Executive Association, and the Social Justice Ministry of the New Hope Church of God located in Waldorf, MD. Brother Harrington also obtained his Project Management Professional Certification in September 2021.

Brother Harrington currently serves as a Senior Client Project Manager for the General Services Administration (GSA) and has an excess of 10 years of experience with business development management, client

06’ to Brother Harrington and keep up the great work!

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Congratulations Brother Ryan Eugene Congratulations to Brother Ryan Eugene (SAL Spring 20’ initiate) for successfully passing the District of Columbia Bar Exam on his first attempt in July of 2021! Brother Eugene will be officially sworn in as a lawyer in the near future and is currently employed as a Clerk at the Virginia Court of Appeals. Job well done Brother Eugene!