ALPHA ATHLETES - The Sphinx Magazine

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From this lofty place we have been those who reach down and raise up. We have been those who make a difference—a difference that is not a flash in the pan but a difference that is lasting and eternal. On that note, we are in an election season and we need to be reminded that we have to be a part of the process through voter registration conducted throughout the country. We also need to be mindful of those candidates—some of whom are Alpha men—who are running for offices, ranging from local school boards to the Congress of the United States. These Brothers need your words of encouragement and they need your financial support. Let them know that you too are an Alpha man who is concerned about leadership. In every period throughout the history of this great Fraternity, we have been labeled as an organization that produces leaders. That is why companies come to us and ask for our advice, our counsel and our help when it comes to fostering their programs in our neighborhoods and our communities. That is why companies come to us when they need assistance in reaching particular segments of the community. That is why non-profit organizations turn to us in their quest to help those in need, to help those who need a male mentor, to help those who desire to be Scouts and to help those innocent little babies who are born prematurely. That is why companies come to us—because they are familiar with our resources and our pool of African American men who can get things done. Why does American turn to Alpha? It is because we are like other great leaders. We choose to do that which is hard; we achieve that which is great; and we do so not for greatness’ sake but rather because it is our calling. Somewhere in the Mind of an Alpha Man Somewhere in the mind of an Alpha man, there could be the cure for cancer. Somewhere in the mind of an Alpha man, there is the greatest literary work. Somewhere in the mind of an Alpha man, there is a sermon that will turn lives around. Somewhere in the mind of an Alpha man, there is the key to unlocking minds assembled in a classroom, so that the neurons in the heads of students will rapidly fire and explore and discover and create and they will find themselves in the process. Somewhere in the mind of an Alpha man, there is an answer to the energy crisis. Somewhere in the mind of an Alpha man, there is a peaceful solution so that there will be war no more. But yet, these wonderful minds find the time to be brotherly and to pledge themselves to the mandates of their Fraternity. Sometimes, we get caught up in the minutia of our day-to-day operations. We may be focused on our daily work, and focused on 94 Fall • Winter 2008 The Sphinx: www.APA1906.net our elections, and intake and finances. And somehow, we forget these wonderful things that truly define us. It has been said that good leadership is determined not by what you do in the beginning or even the middle of a term, but rather, how you leave the organization. Is the organization better off when you leave than when you took control? I will have to be honest and say that when I leave office, in many respects Alpha will be better than when I took control—and not just because of me—but because of you. You made it better. You solved problems. You steadied the ship and you keep her on course. Because of you, the public appearance of Alpha Phi Alpha has been increased. You have allowed me to be a voice on some of the pressing issues of our time and you have allowed me to take the lead for our people when there have been injustices in our land. Alpha’s voice was heard concerning the use of the “N” word and it took my entire staff of advisors to keep me quiet three days ago when Jesse (Jackson’s) revelation was made. Sometimes it is better just to keep quiet. Alpha’s voice was heard in Jena, Louisiana and I saw many of you there wearing your black and your old gold. Alpha’s voice was heard at the passing of John H. Johnson, our beloved Brother in Chicago. Alpha’s voice was heard when Mrs. Rosa Parks died and Alpha’s voice was heard when we turned the soil to raise a memorial to our Brother Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. You have kept me busy but it has been a joyful time for me. Yes, there have been frustrations but that can be found in any organization that is doing things. These are the things we must remember as we embark upon new leadership in Alpha. Embrace the Chaos I have often wondered what advice and how much advice I would give the next General President of Alpha. I am sure that over the next five months I will have a series of conversations with the 33rd General President, Brother Herman “Skip” Mason. What I likely will tell him is to embrace the chaos. Now, I do not mean this in a negative sense—because if you talk with some of our Brothers who have studied and are involved with the sciences, they will tell you that there is such a thing as positive chaos where you have a flurry of activity with little or no traceable pattern. In our case, the chaos is that if you were to step back and look at Alpha, you will see men running in a number of different directions—all seeming to reach the same goal. Each has a different responsibility and each has a different project. But if you pause long enough—even amid the chaos, patterns emerge, things begin to take shape and you come to realize that this “good chaos” is simply the nature of things.
What scientists will also tell you is the phenomenon that is common to various kinds of chaos is due to a “sensitive dependence on conditions,” which is better known simply as “the way things are.” And science has shown us that sometimes all it takes is a minor adjustment in those conditions and things begin to change. My advice is to embrace the chaos because it is the way things are. Make adjustments, make changes; but always remember that sometimes all it takes is a small change that can result in big differences. And to be totally honest, sometimes you have to come in with a big old Alpha hammer and bust things up. Do so not in a vacuum but with the counsel of those closest to you. Know that you have my support and there are those who will be there for you even in the lonely hours, in the dawning of the day and the setting of the sun. This is the great ship of Alpha and you will be a great leader and you will embrace and understand chaos. My Brothers, I have led you where you wanted to go. I have taken you to places where you may not have wanted to go but where we needed to be. We went there together and we blazed new trails and we made new friends and our voice has been heard. We do that which is hard. We seek that which is great. We stand on the mountain tops of life but see clearly in the valleys. We rise up like eagles and we also walk with the common man. We speak with the eloquence of kings but we forget not to make it plain. This is the Alpha Phi Alpha I know. This is the Alpha Phi Alpha I lead. I do so not for the sake of greatness but rather because it is my calling. I stand on the shoulders of other great Alpha men. They tilt my face to the stars and lift me up and point the way to go. I love you, my Brothers, and I thank you for giving me the wheel of this great vessel and for affording me this moment to look at you in your humble greatness. The Sphinx: www.APA1906.net Fall • Winter 2008 95
Page 1 and 2: OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST BROTHER JESSE
Page 3 and 4: ALPHA ATHLETE: ALL AMERICAN PENN ST
Page 5 and 6: Above: Brother John Woodruff. Photo
Page 7 and 8: onships while attending Seton Hall
Page 9 and 10: citizens home, known as Brookline,
Page 11 and 12: gave remarks and presented certific
Page 13 and 14: Louis community. The mission of CTO
Page 15 and 16: NU MU LAMBDA Decatur, GA Mentoring
Page 17 and 18: the Dallas Morning News and feature
Page 19 and 20: FRATERNITY’S FIRST CAUCASIAN BROT
Page 21 and 22: Editor’s Note: Thirty-second Gene
Page 23 and 24: “ I am told that this group of me
Page 25 and 26: “ America knows we are here. Amer
Page 27 and 28: CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS 3 4 8 9 8 Bro
Page 29 and 30: 102ND ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION NBC’
Page 31 and 32: 102ND ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION G.P. D
Page 33 and 34: 102ND ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION Brothe
Page 35 and 36: 102ND ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION Army C
Page 37: GOING WHERE WE SHOULD BE Editor’s
Page 41 and 42: Board, was applauded by the March o
Page 43 and 44: need for cash. The first test of fi
Page 45 and 46: Success by Instinct: What Animals A
Page 47: members to be supportive of other t
Page 50 and 51: OMEGA CHAPTER Brother Kermit H. Bos
Page 52 and 53: OMEGA CHAPTER tice in Portsmouth in
Page 54 and 55: CORPORATE DIRECTORY 110 The Seven J
Page 56 and 57: LEADERSHIP DIRECTORY ALPHA PHI ALPH
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