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Post by adisa on Nov 24, 2010 19:49:41 GMT -5
Parts of an email I received earlier... NEWS from www.apa1906.netALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. 2313 Saint Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218 410.554.0040 Fax 410.554.0054 TUESDAY, NOV. 23, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Civil rights veterans join Martin Luther King Jr.’s fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha holds initiation ceremony in Atlanta BALTIMORE—Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the world’s first African-American and integrated Greek-lettered organization of college men, and one of the world’s most influential, has initiated its newest members. Among the class are world leaders in civil rights, business, education and religion. In a secret ceremony, Sunday, in Atlanta, Ga., the fraternity inducted nine men, including: the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, who along with fellow Alpha member Martin Luther King Jr., founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC); the Rev. C.T. Vivian, a fellow lieutenant of King’s in the American Civil Rights Movement; King’s son, Martin Luther King III, who now heads the SCLC; John W. Franklin, son of the late historian and Alpha member John Hope Franklin, who is program manager at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.; Robert M. Franklin, president of Morehouse College in Atlanta; the Very Rev. Robert C. Wright, the 10th rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, one of the oldest black Episcopal congregations in the U.S.; Reuben McDaniel III, president and CEO of Jackson Securities and a member of the Atlanta Board of Education; Timothy J. King, founder, president and CEO of Urban Prep Academies, a network of public college-prep boys’ schools in Chicago; and Leonard James III, ExxonMobil’s corporate policy advisor on diversity and community outreach. The group’s “line name” or class was dubbed the “Divine Nine.”After the ceremony, the fraternity held a special dinner at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in downtown Atlanta. At the dinner all but one of the fraternity’s past general (national) presidents were in attendance and gave remarks. They charged the new Alpha members to live up to the aims and ideals of the fraternity of leading and serving. “In Alpha we do not initiate honorary members,” said Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr., general president of the fraternity. “These brothers, are full-fledged Alpha men who have gone through the very same process that a freshman or sophomore on a college campus travels in order to become a member of Alpha.” During the ceremony, Alpha member Andrew Young, another key lieutenant of King and a former ambassador to the United Nations, spoke of the new brothers coming full circle. “Most of you have been walking in the light of Alpha all these years, and now you have finally have made it official.” Young said. Young, like Martin Luther King Jr., joined Alpha Phi Alpha as a college student 60 years ago and worked alongside Lowery and Vivian during the heated years of the Civil Rights Movement. Lowery, 89, the eldest of the new group, delivered remarks on behalf of the initiates. His “unbrief” remarks, as he jokingly called them, came with the same spirit and fervor he’s been known for over the past 60 years, up to his stirring benediction at the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2009. In an initiation ceremony the week before, in Atlanta, longtime actor/producer Tim Reid joined the fraternity.  Too cold! |
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Post by Fraternal Design on Nov 24, 2010 21:04:53 GMT -5
“These brothers, are full-fledged Alpha men who have gone through the very same process that a freshman or sophomore on a college campus travels in order to become a member of Alpha.”
^^^^ That's a gotdamn lie.
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Post by All Pledging Is Legal on Nov 24, 2010 21:17:32 GMT -5
“These brothers, are full-fledged Alpha men who have gone through the very same process that a freshman or sophomore on a college campus travels in order to become a member of Alpha.” ^^^^ That's a gotdamn lie. There is no lie. Those men signed just as much paperwork as any other Alpha out there. |
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Post by adisa on Nov 24, 2010 22:57:14 GMT -5
“These brothers, are full-fledged Alpha men who have gone through the very same process that a freshman or sophomore on a college campus travels in order to become a member of Alpha.” ^^^^ That's a gotdamn lie. It wouldn't be the first gotdamn lie told by a GP, but that's another story. |
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Post by Robelite on Nov 25, 2010 2:32:45 GMT -5
“These brothers, are full-fledged Alpha men who have gone through the very same process that a freshman or sophomore on a college campus travels in order to become a member of Alpha.” ^^^^ That's a gotdamn lie. There is no lie. Those men signed just as much paperwork as any other Alpha out there. What paperwork did you sign? Better yet, who is the jackass that signed paperwork on your behalf? |
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Post by Fraternal Design on Nov 25, 2010 9:17:52 GMT -5
“These brothers, are full-fledged Alpha men who have gone through the very same process that a freshman or sophomore on a college campus travels in order to become a member of Alpha.” ^^^^ That's a gotdamn lie. It wouldn't be the first gotdamn lie told by a GP, but that's another story. Same story, new chapter.  |
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Post by ORACLE on Nov 25, 2010 10:14:53 GMT -5
“These brothers, are full-fledged Alpha men who have gone through the very same process that a freshman or sophomore on a college campus travels in order to become a member of Alpha.” ^^^^ That's a gotdamn lie. Exactly! |
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Post by ORACLE on Nov 25, 2010 10:15:38 GMT -5
There is no lie. Those men signed just as much paperwork as any other Alpha out there. What paperwork did you sign? Better yet, who is the jackass that signed paperwork on your behalf? LMAO! |
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Post by Bunny Hop on Nov 25, 2010 10:22:24 GMT -5
I thought this was a joke until I got to the end, LOL. This seems like a way of getting the famous/important/historical folks without the "honorary member" title...same isht, different name.
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Post by peppermint on Nov 25, 2010 10:49:43 GMT -5
Technically if they went through MIP, then they wouldn't be honorary, right? Maybe he went too far in saying they had the exact same process as any "freshman or sophomore." He should have said they went through the same "sanctioned process" as any freshman or sophomore.
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Post by Coldfront06 on Nov 25, 2010 12:30:17 GMT -5
I could have sworn Tim Reid was already an Alpha...I've definitely seen him listed various places before. I wonder if he was an eternal or something...
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Post by Iceman on Nov 25, 2010 12:53:37 GMT -5
Technically if they went through MIP, then they wouldn't be honorary, right? Maybe he went too far in saying they had the exact same process as any "freshman or sophomore." He should have said they went through the same "sanctioned process" as any freshman or sophomore. Basically. Bro. Mason's use of words could easily be misleading to the unknowing. However, it's clearly obvious to us that the "very same" process of an undergrad Alpha aspirant didn't take place here. But in the end, all of these men are college graduates. So in essence, they did nothing less than anyone else who went through MIP at the Grad level but didn't have a pledge process. Nevertheless, I hope these good men help Alpha continue to shine as bright as we always have. 06 |
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Post by adisa on Nov 25, 2010 13:12:39 GMT -5
First off, why are we assuming these dudes weren't "pledged" by the Past GP's and the other prominent peers that brought them in? Rather than assume it's all a lie, maybe some extra stuff took place by prominent members that these prominent aspirants (at the time) trusted. And of course it wasn't the same as a college kid, because that's college, but you know what I mean.
The local grad chapter here has brought in college provosts, businessmen and CEO's, doctors, etc. And well...anything's possible, LOL.
*sidenote* I am not affiliated with the local chapter I'm referencing. ;D *
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Post by Blu on Nov 25, 2010 15:47:11 GMT -5
lol@ the idea of an "All Star" Pledge Team... Congrats on the new initiates of Alpha Phi Alpha!
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Post by All Pledging Is Legal on Nov 26, 2010 0:16:22 GMT -5
There is no lie. Those men signed just as much paperwork as any other Alpha out there. What paperwork did you sign? Better yet, who is the jackass that signed paperwork on your behalf? I pledged. Case closed. |
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Post by Comedy on Nov 26, 2010 1:40:48 GMT -5
So, you're an Alpha? What paperwork did you sign? Better yet, who is the jackass that signed paperwork on your behalf? I pledged. Case closed. |
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Post by Robelite on Nov 26, 2010 3:23:31 GMT -5
What paperwork did you sign? Better yet, who is the jackass that signed paperwork on your behalf? I pledged. Case closed. Sez who? You can say anything on an internet message board. Then again, no one really gives a dayumed! |
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Post by Bathroom Model on Nov 26, 2010 9:30:38 GMT -5
I could have sworn Tim Reid was already an Alpha...I've definitely seen him listed various places before. I wonder if he was an eternal or something... Not an alpha but I think he is. Sister,Sister daddy, right? If not you need to get him for perping back in the early 90s. on the dst and aka episode.lol |
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Post by AKAShannon on Nov 26, 2010 17:48:07 GMT -5
^ I was just thinking the same thing! LOL
Nevertheless, an outstanding group of men who should serve Alpha Phi Alpha Faternity, Inc. well!
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Post by All Pledging Is Legal on Nov 26, 2010 20:36:35 GMT -5
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Post by Robelite on Nov 26, 2010 20:42:18 GMT -5
...and all high praises to His Greatness for that!! What org are you affilliated with exactly? What did you "pledge?" |
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Post by peppermint on Nov 27, 2010 0:10:08 GMT -5
<----still believes APIL may be female
<---IF APIL is male, I vote for Omega
*Going back to the thread*
Congratulations gentlemen
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Post by Bunny Hop on Nov 27, 2010 9:14:42 GMT -5
Of course I don't think they went through the exact same process as a college kid...any one with a bit of common sense knows that. I do think Skip has to say that because yall don't initiate honorary members and the whole MIP/hazing/pledging issue. I just refuse to believe that 89 year old Joseph Lowery and 86 year old CT Vivian went through a process. Unless I see video I'm just not falling for the fact that these historical men just shy of 100 were sitting around learning history, taking quizzes or tests, and whatever else yall do on the grad level, LOL. I'm pretty sure they did a little something something (maybe lit a candle) because you have to be able to hold tight to "we don't have honorary members...everyone has a process" but I'm not buying what Skip is selling. And before someone says it no y'all don't have to care, I'm not a member, I'm not D9 greek, blah blah blah but it's news so tough stuff.  |
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Post by peppermint on Nov 27, 2010 10:05:33 GMT -5
I could see someone "just shy of 100" doing those things. My granddad is around their ages and he enjoys using his mind. He says it keeps him young. These men are not the ones hold up in a nursing home drooling on themselves and unable to function. Surely they still read, talk, quiz each other (most men have a competitive streak at any age), etc.
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Post by huey on Nov 27, 2010 12:40:28 GMT -5
I lol'ed at this
"They charged the new Alpha members to live up to the aims and ideals of the fraternity of leading and serving."
Really tho?
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Post by T-Rex91 on Nov 27, 2010 13:22:37 GMT -5
Of course I don't think they went through the exact same process as a college kid...any one with a bit of common sense knows that. I do think Skip has to say that because yall don't initiate honorary members and the whole MIP/hazing/pledging issue. I just refuse to believe that 89 year old Joseph Lowery and 86 year old CT Vivian went through a process. Unless I see video I'm just not falling for the fact that these historical men just shy of 100 were sitting around learning history, taking quizzes or tests, and whatever else yall do on the grad level, LOL. I'm pretty sure they did a little something something (maybe lit a candle) because you have to be able to hold tight to "we don't have honorary members...everyone has a process" but I'm not buying what Skip is selling. And before someone says it no y'all don't have to care, I'm not a member, I'm not D9 greek, blah blah blah but it's news so tough stuff. What Bun said.....well except that lil rant at the end....LOL LMBO @ "maybe lit a candle" |
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Post by All Pledging Is Legal on Nov 28, 2010 19:18:34 GMT -5
<----still believes APIL may be female <---IF APIL is male, I vote for Omega *Going back to the thread* Congratulations gentlemen Smart kid. |
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Post by Troopa1911 on Nov 29, 2010 9:53:59 GMT -5
This is Strategic Recruitment at its best...and I'm not mad at Alpha for that. lol
This is more greater than how they were made!.
Kongrats and Welkome to Greekdom.
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Post by Bunny Hop on Nov 29, 2010 10:01:51 GMT -5
I could see someone "just shy of 100" doing those things. My granddad is around their ages and he enjoys using his mind. He says it keeps him young. These men are not the ones hold up in a nursing home drooling on themselves and unable to function. Surely they still read, talk, quiz each other (most men have a competitive streak at any age), etc. Yeah I don't recall saying at of the stuff you're saying and I definitely didn't imply any of that so.... |
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Post by Bunny Hop on Nov 29, 2010 10:07:40 GMT -5
This is Strategic Recruitment at its best...and I'm not made at Alpha for that. lol
This is more greater than how they were made!.
Kongrats and Welkome to Greekdom.
ITA. It was a very smart move. Being able to say you have these men in your org is pretty dayum great. I actually see nothing wrong with taking in famous and important people. This whole thing about processes and honorary members just made me  LOL |
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Too cold!
LOL