50 Families Fed for Thanksgiving

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2 Volume 3, Issue 2 Winter Families Fed for Thanksgiving By Kedrick Eily and Damon Peebles Chapter Meetings: Southern Polytechnic State University 1100 S. Marietta Pkwy, SE Marietta, GA Monthly, 3 rd Friday at 7pm Alpharetta-Smyrna Alumni Chapter (ASA) continued an annual tradition of sharing with its Thanksgiving Basket Drive; this year feeding 50 families. The drive, led by Civic Action Chairman Ron Burney and his Committee, was held on Saturday, November 22, 2013 at Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church in Smyrna, Georgia. Members consisting of 17 brothers, representing ASA and Pi Iota (Southern Polytechnic State University) participated in the drive. Brother Burney provided breakfast for the event. (Continued on page 3) Guide Right visits Morehouse School of Medicine & Georgia Power Chapter Christmas Party ASA and Pi Iota members prepare Thanksgiving baskets at Shaw Temple AME Zion Church Georgia Kappa Tag WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 1

3 Message from the Polemarch TonyT.Russell Tony T. Russell, MBA Polemarch, Alpharetta-Smyrna Alumni Chapter Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Greetings Brothers of Alpharetta-Smyrna Alumni Chapter, One of the most wonderful times of the year, the holiday season, has finally arrived. December is a time for holiday spirit and sharing with family and friends. It is also a time to reflect on the year remembering the fun, friendships and family. During this time we also reflect on the times that we have had to socialize and give back to our community, which our organization is all about. This is also a time of celebrations and giving and receiving gifts. Alpharetta-Smyrna Alumni has continually been very generous to the community during this time. There is no greater gift than knowing that we have made, and continue to make, an enormous difference in the lives of multiple families during our Thanksgiving Basket Drive, and Christmas Toy Drive. Thank you for supporting these events. On behalf of the current leadership team, I want to say a BIG thank you to our Social Committee for a great Christmas Party held earlier this month. It was a wonderful evening of fun, laughter, and great food and drink. The Secret Santa portion of the event continues to be a highlight of the celebration, along with our Annual Chapter Awards. Congratulations to all recipients of the various awards. I would also like to especially congratulate Brother Roland Maye on being a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for 50 years. Thank you for all your contributions to the Alpharetta- Smyrna Alumni Chapter. As this year comes to a close, and before we enter the New Year, I want to take the opportunity to thank you and share how much I appreciate all of your support this past year. It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your Polemarch. Together, we have accomplished, and will continue to accomplish a great deal in this chapter. I wish you and your loved ones a very, Happy Holiday Season. I look forward to many more fun times ahead as we continue to work together to support this great clan of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc and our community. May the blessings of the season be upon you. WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 2

4 Continued from page 1 The baskets consisted of Thanksgiving dinner (turkey, stuffing, non-perishables) and food for other meals. The chapter purchased some of the items, and also received cash donations and canned goods from brothers and Guide Right parents. The prepared baskets were donated to families selected by the ministries of Shaw and EBC. Veronica Smallwood, a Medical Social Worker who has assisted ASA with EBC families for many years, said ASA s assistance in these uncertain financial times can mean the difference between families having a meal and going hungry, and at any given moment, anyone can be homeless, jobless, or unemployed. As an example of one of the families being helped, she recalled, There is a single mom, who is unemployed, and her youngest is 5 months old, and I know that without this basket, that family would not have food. EBC presented a certificate of appreciation from the EBC ministry, recognizing ASA for its Thanksgiving Basket donations for the past two years. As always, the brothers enjoyed the fellowship that is a part of this service event. WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 3

5 Tough Choices for Kappa Leaguers By Derrek Brown During the November 2 nd Guide Right Meeting, Brother Jeff Bell (Jr. Kappa League Co-Director) conducted a workshop discussion on Bad Choices. The discussion touched on the many different situations that the young men find themselves in on a day-to-day basis. Brother Bell and the Brothers in attendance provided pointers and tips on how to maneuver out of certain situations, and the possible outcomes attributed to making the wrong decisions. The young men formed groups to discuss alternate decisions that the subjects could have made. They were surprised to hear how one wrong decision could result in incarceration. WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 4

6 Kappa Leaguers Plan for Successful Careers By Derrek Brown Alpharetta-Smyrna Alumni Chapter s Guide Right members were instructed on career development, resume writing and interview skills at the October 5 th Kappa League session at Fair Oaks Recreation Center in Marietta, GA. Once again, the annual workshop was led by Guide Right Committee members Doug Lucas and Reginal Oce. The young men were encouraged to identify the career choices, which will eventually allow the committee to pair them with members ASA members who work in those career fields. The goal is to eventually have the young men shadow those brothers and gain handson insight, which the committee hopes will ultimately lead to their success. During the interview session, Brother Oce led mock interviews to gauge their ability to express themselves clearly in professional setting, while other members of the committee offered constructive criticism on areas for improvement, such as making eye contact, offering a firm handshake, among other tips. WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 5

7 KL Morehouse School of Medicine Visit By Derrek Brown On Saturday, November 16 th, Alpharetta- Smyrna Alumni Chapter s Guide Right Committee and its Kappa Leaguers attended a workshop at the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), where the young men were exposed to the world of Medicine and the many different career choices within the field. All of the MSM speakers were graduates of the school. The young men attended break-out sessions, allowing them to have in-depth conversations with the physicians. The question and answer period was very informative, giving them insight on potential paths to becoming doctors. There was also a seminar on successful parenting for the Guide Right Parents, led by Dr. Martha Okafor. It was interactive and engaging for them, allowing them to have open and direct dialogue with the MSM staff. The trip was spearheaded and coordinated by Guide Right Committee member, Lawrence King. WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 6

8 By Lawrence King Guide Right Tours Georgia Power Continuing the Science, Engineering, Technology, Mathematics (STEM) initiative coordinated by Guide right Committee member Lawrence King, 22 of Alpharetta- Smyrna Alumni s (ASA) Kappa League members visited the Georgia Power McDonough Combined Cycle Plant, on South Cobb Drive, Saturday, December 7. After an introduction and safety briefing, the young men toured the site and operations. Presentations provided additional insight into the overall operation of Southern Company Services and the various forms of energy generation including solar, biomass, hydropower, coal and nuclear. Georgia Power's 840 megawatt (MW) natural gas combined-cycle units in Smyrna, Ga., consist of three units representing one of the largest generation sources on Georgia Continued on page 8 WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 7

9 Power's system. Natural gas-fueled combined cycle power plants offer one of the cleanest and most efficient methods of producing electricity. Combined cycle plants can produce large amounts of electricity at high efficiencies and with low emissions. One of the highlights of the visit was learning that one of the plant s engineers who participated as a guide, Seneca Allen, was a member of the Douglasville Alumni Chapter. After the tour, the plant staff provided a full box lunch for all participants, and wrapped up the visit by assembling in the conference room of the Administration building for a series of presentations conducted by plant operators and technicians. Earlier STEM seminars were conducted at southern Polytechnic State University and Morehouse School of Medicine. Members of the Guide Right committee who served as chaperones included Jeff Bell, Wayne Curtis, Eugene Anderson, Derrick Roberts, and Brian Cheek. WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 8

10 ASA Beautifies Marietta Middle School Grounds By Kedrick Eily The Alpharetta- Smyrna Alumni (ASA) Chapter and the Omicron Iota Chapter at Kennesaw State University participated in the Fall Campus Clean-Up at Marietta Middle School (MMS) on October 12, Brothers cleared weeds, planted new foliage, and removed trash and debris from the grounds. MMS Principal Mrs. Forrestella Taylor thanked the brothers for their assistance and took pictures at the end of the event. ASA is proud to be a partner to MMS through the Cobb Chamber of Commerce Partners in Education program. The Campus Clean-Up is one of many MMS initiatives that ASA supports. The Civic Action committee participants included Reginald Baldwin, Ryan Butler, Corey Rouse, and Herman Owens. WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 9

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12 Members of Kappa Alpha Psi Anticipate Tag in 2014 By Damon Peebles After a two year effort, in 2014, a license plate bearing the great Coat of Arms of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated will be available for members statewide. It is a great accomplishment for the many chapters within the state s Southeastern Province, and it was achieved through the leadership of the State of Georgia License Tag Committee Chairman, Martin Raxton, and his leadership team comprised of several Alpharetta- Smyrna Alumni Chapter members, as well as those throughout the Metro-Atlanta Coalition of Kappa (MACK). Raxton said, after two previous unsuccessful attempts at it, we thought coming into our centennial year, this would be an outstanding achievement for the state of Georgia and that we were behind several other states in having our state license plate tag, and so heeding the clarion call, I approached Brother (Jwyanza) Nuriddin and mentioned to him that I definitely had an interest, coming back from the conclave, that I deifnitely wanted to see it through fruition this time. With that mission, Raxton began to organize his committee, and led the effort in signing up 1,000 members with applications, and raising $25,000 to secure the tag. The committee came up with five different potential designs of the plate, and took them to the members throughout the members in Georgia. Ultimately they chose the current plate. After that, the committee began a public relations blitz, hitting the ground attending various events, including Province Council meetings, C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conferences, Intake Orientations, Greek picnics, step shows, chapter parties, etc. to meet a December 1st deadline to collect the money and signed applications. Raxton credits his committee of brothers from the various MACK chapters, but gives special recognition to ASA members. Brother Reginald Baldwin, Brother Jwyanza Nuriddin, Brother Andre Rucker were some of the first brothers to really get in on the ground floor, as well as Brother Brian Scott, said Raxton. Brother Scott took over, for WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 11

13 Kappa Tag continued all intents and purposes the exchequer and the financial responsibilities, and all the tracking of the applications, so certainly there was a lot of administrative work that was required from Brother Scott, who went and opened the checking account for us; got the PayPal account; he established the Square account we could could process credit card right ther on the spot We also had Brother Robert Nibbs, Jr., as well as Brother Kevin Bean to get very involved and to help go out and get the word, and to market the applications the license plate, he said. Raxton also credits other members of ASA who paid above and beyond the initial $25 to get us to the finish line. We probably as chapter had significantly higher numbers from an overall, pure number of applications submitted, than most chapters here in the state of Georgia, Raxton recalled. From a MACK standpoint, he added, there was strong representation from Atlanta Alumni, Decatur Alumni, Lawrenceville-Duluth Alumni, and CarrolltonDouglasville, who were regular participants in all of the planning conference calls. Raxton also noted that there was strong support from Southeastern Province Polemarch, Lawrence Davis, who was always there to give a listening ear and was very encouraging from the onset to move the process forward. Raxton also mentioned, from an executive standpoint, our Senior Province Vice Polemarch, Brother Jwyanza Nuriddin of Alpharetta-Smyrna, saw the vision, and was that lightning rod to ensure that in the times we started dipping in applications and funds, he would come up with some new and innovative ways of going out to get the word out, and working with our province webmaster. It was definitely a team effort he insisted. Raxton said it was a big relief to finally achieve the goal of monies collected and applications turned in, and the reaction has been surprising. He has received congratulatory voic s, s, and even a standing ovation at the ASA chapter meeting. I guess we didn t recognize the magnitude and depth of what we ve achieved here, he reflected. Despite all of the acollades, Raxton remained humble, stating, The only thing I wanted to get out of this was to be able to put a (Kappa) tag on my car, and to be able to display that tag proudly. In 2014, Raxton, along with 999 members of Kappa Alpha Psi will finally have that opportunity. WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 12

14 By Damon Peebles ASA Hosts Annual Christmas Party Members of Alpharetta-Smyrna Alumni Chapter were joined by their wives, significant others, and members from Pi Iota and Omicron Iota, to celebrate the Christmas holiday during the chapter's annual Christmas party. The event was hosted by Brother Joe Daniels and his wife, at their clubhouse in Alpharetta, GA, on Saturday, December 14 and included the following annual traditions: A feast catered by Mrs. Lee of "Catering by Lee's," music by Brian "DJ Cheek" of BF Sounds, chapter award presentation, and the Secret Santa gift exchange. Everyone enjoyed the festive evening. Chapter awards were presented to Carl Edward, Neophyte of the Year; Eugene Anderson, Committee Chairman of the Year (Guide Right); Carl Edwards, New Brother of the Year; Brothers of the Year (Derrek Brown, Andre Rucker, and Cory Wheaton). Polemarch Awards went Reginald Baldwin, Derrek Brown, A. Christopher Turner, and Martin Raxton. Also, Roland Maye was recognized for achieving his 50 year status in Kappa Alpha Psi, and Neophyte, Carl Edwards, for obtaining his Life Membership status. WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 13

15 Roland Maye Celebrates 50 Years in Kappa On November 27, 2013, Roland May became the latest member of Alpharetta-Smyrna Alumni Chapter (ASA) to become a 50 year member of the fraternity. To celebrate the occasion, he and 17 of his Beta Zeta brothers recently assembled at Alabama State University to mark their 50 years of service, achievement and excellence in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. The distinguished group includes Maye, a retired member of U.S. Law Enforcement, dentists, a noted artist from SoHo, several college and high school instructors, and one Laurel Wreath recipient, among other professions and achievements. During his tenure with Alpharetta-Smyrna Alumni, Brother Maye has served in numerous capacities, including Board of Directors, Krimson Community Foundation, and in a leadership role with the chapter s award winning Guide Right program. Brother Maye has a passion to see young men grow and develop, and is well respected by everyone. The chapter used the annual Christmas party to recognize Brother Maye for this milestone; presenting him with an award to commemorate the achievement. Brother Norvell Moore, Senior Kappa Affairs Chairman, along with the chapter s other 50 year member, Alvin Harrison, read his biography, and then pinned him. It was a great occasion to celebrate. WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 14

16 Kenny Pugh named Man of the Year Nebo Media Group recently named Alpharetta- Smyrna Alumni Chapter s Kenny Pugh as its 2013 choice of Man of the Year. The following is the press announcement it issued: "This year's choice was a clear one," says Charles Clark, President of Nebo Media Group. "Kenny is the epitome of the title 'Man of the Year'. His commitment to the financial/relational health of our community is unparalleled. I have never seen an individual work so tireless to help 'us' be a better 'us'." Known as a powerful speaker, advocate of successful marriages and families, bestselling author, minister and radio personality, Kenny Pugh is known as a Life & Relationship Strategist. The Founder of Kenny Pugh, L.L.C., he uses the platform to manage a versatile professional life delivering messages that not only inspires, but transforms and empowers. Using his many platforms that include BlackEnterprise.com and appearances on HLN, Kenny offers relationship advice, writes about love and money, host panel discussions, keynote conferences and is an Associate Minister at Elizabeth Baptist Church, one of largest churches. Can You Do It Standing Up promotes the value of maintaining sexual purity while courting, allowing the natural process of dating to develop and mature into a relationship that will lead to a healthy marriage. Nebo Media Group listed all of its requirements for the endorsement of Brother Pugh, including throughout his career and personal work, demonstrated Christian and leadership characteristics, and contributions of cooperative efforts of other individuals, departments and/or agencies. He has successfully demonstrated his abilities as an individual, as a team member, and as a leader, and has demonstrated a willingness to serve and assist other individuals in their personal and professional development. WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 15

17 Antioch Baptist Church Hosts ASA for Service By Lamont Bates Alpharetta-Smyrna Alumni Chapter members and their families attended Antioch Baptist Church North in Atlanta on October 20, 2013, for their first church outing of the fraternal year. The worship service, which included a saxophone solo rendition of Pray for me, as well as a selection by the hand bell choir, assisted in creating a spiritual setting. Rev. C.M. Alexander brought the service home with an encouraging message rooted in John 14:1, reminding us that we should not be troubled. Rev. C.M. Alexander informed the congregation There is no need for us to worry because God is in control. No matter what, we must stand firm trusting Him and that His purpose for our lives will be fulfilled. The chapter enjoyed the service, and following it, several of them continued the fellowship at Pascal s Restaurant for some savory southern food. WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 16

18 SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION It s Christmas time and many have complained That the season came around too quickly once again Crowds of people in the shopping centers, scrambling for bargains Pushing and shoving to the sound of the retailer s advertisement jargons REASON FOR THE SEASON by Bella Rose Spending more than what we can afford on presents, food and wine Stressed out because we have to do so much in so little time We rush here and there, trying to find those perfect gifts Making huge efforts to find every toy the children wrote on their wish lists Families bicker over when, what and how they will spend Christmas day Everywhere you turn, all you see is Christmas trees and Santa riding on his sleigh Expensive gifts are bought and the credit cards all reach their limit Then it takes you another whole year just to pay for all of it Every year it seems, the reason for the season has diminished Most of the time people are glad when the Christmas season has finished What is Christmas all about anyway? Why all the fuss? Do we ever stop to recognize what the season should mean to all of us? Most people have Christmas and do not even make a mention of Jesus name Most people do not even acknowledge that He is the reason we celebrate Christmas day Jesus is the reason for the season it is not about reindeer, elves and Santa Claus it s about the day the Savior of the world was born This Christmas can we stop all the hype and fuss? Can we make it about Jesus instead of it being all about us? Can we acknowledge Him and invite Him to our celebrations on Christmas day? Can we allow Jesus to be the guest of honor and let Him enjoy His own birthday? When did Christmas become about Santa, decorating trees, reindeer and elves? Christmas should be a time to think about Jesus, not indulging in ourselves The reason for the season should never of come to what it is today It is, and has always been about the Savior, Jesus Christ The Lamb of God, who came to take the sin of the world away The angels announced His birth a star shone brightly in the sky that Holy night To proclaim the unconditional love God has for you and I God loved the world so much that He gave us Jesus, His only son Let s get back to the real meaning of Christmas JESUS is the ONLY Reason for the Season! WINTER 2013 ASAKAPPAS.ORG VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 Page 17

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