ALPHA ATHLETES - The Sphinx Magazine
ALPHA ATHLETES - The Sphinx Magazine
ALPHA ATHLETES - The Sphinx Magazine
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“<br />
America knows we are here.<br />
America knows we are needed.<br />
”<br />
America is now waiting to see what we will do next.<br />
We must not disappoint ourselves and in-turn disappoint America.<br />
We must continue to grow. We must continue to operate in a sound manner,<br />
exercising good practices in our chapters and at our national headquarters.<br />
GENERAL PRESIDENT DARRYL R. MATTHEWS, SR.<br />
INTAKE<br />
My Brothers, this is the last time that I will deliver the State of<br />
the Fraternity Address. I will continue to serve you through the end<br />
I have heard concerns from some of you about the intake of the year.<br />
process. I have appointed a task force on intake. It is chaired by Please know that during my term, we have had some incred-<br />
Brother Arthur McDade, Southwestern Region Vice President, ible moments, including the ceremonial groundbreaking at the<br />
whose charge is to examine our current process and identify site of the MLK National Memorial; the recognition of the<br />
opportunities for improvement, material deficiencies and, if nec- Fraternity in media outlets across the country on a variety of<br />
essary, develop a process that incorporates those elements that issues; the celebration of the Fraternity’s centennial in<br />
you feel are essential—provided they are reasonable and Washington, D.C., and more.<br />
acceptable.<br />
America knows we are here. America knows we are needed.<br />
<strong>The</strong> charge I gave to the task force is three fold:<br />
America is now waiting to see what we will do next.<br />
• Understand that pledging, as we know it, is gone and never We must not disappoint ourselves and in-turn disappoint<br />
coming back again;<br />
• <strong>The</strong> modifications to the process have to be acceptable to<br />
the colleges and universities where our College Chapters<br />
reside; and<br />
• <strong>The</strong> process has to be one that would not increase our liability<br />
with regard to risky behaviors.<br />
Frankly, there are underground and unacceptable activities<br />
taking place under the aegis of “making them right”.<br />
We have talked about it before. We will not belabor the discussion.<br />
If you break the rules, you put everyone at risk, including<br />
yourselves, your families, your colleges and universities, and your<br />
Fraternity. We have been here for 102 years. We will not allow anyone<br />
to cast us away because of some foolish notion that is illegal in<br />
every court of law in the nation.<br />
America. We must continue to grow. We must continue to operate<br />
in a sound manner, exercising good practices in our chapters and<br />
at our national headquarters.<br />
Leadership is about more than the ceremonial events and<br />
picture taking. It is hard work. It is endless work. It is necessary<br />
work.<br />
I have enjoyed the journey. I have sought to build on the legacy<br />
of those who preceded me and I think I have steered this great<br />
ship of Alpha through some rough currents and through some<br />
memorable adventures. <strong>The</strong> numbers reflect our success. My work<br />
is not yet done.<br />
And I will say as I did when I took the Oath of Office: “Each<br />
day when I wake, I will be thinking of you and our great<br />
Fraternity—Alpha Phi Alpha.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Sphinx</strong>: www.APA1906.net Fall • Winter 2008<br />
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