Important Dates

Jul. 20 - Crab Feast Severna Park Elks Lounge 5-9pm

Jul. 24-28 - General Convention Las Vegas, NV

Aug. 3 - Chapter Meeting at Bates Legacy Center 7-10pm

Aug. 24 - PUL Chapter Cookout Watkins Park 2pm

Aug. 24 - IUL Chapter Cookout Smithville School 2pm

Aug. 28 - Executive Board Meeting

Sep. 7 - MAAC 5K Run/Walk Annapolis, MD

Sep. 7 - Chapter Meeting at Bates Legacy Center 7-10pm

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Brothers, just a few comments as we endeavor to recover from the Eastern Region Vice President’s Cease and Desist order. I am immensely impressed with the chapter’s desire to address the imposed sanctions and move forward to emerge stronger and more dedicated to the aims of our great fraternity. The event leading to the sanctions was unfortunate and could have been totally devastating to a lesser group of brothers. Your dedication to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the work that we are doing in the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County communities would not allow us to buckle. Paraphrasing the words of William Earnest Hensley in his great poem, “Invictus”, in the fell clutch of circumstance, we have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance, our head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears, looms but the horror of the shade, and yet the menace of the years, finds, and shall find me, unafraid. Brothers, we are indeed the “masters of our fate”, and the “captains of our soul”.

Brothers, it is at times like this that I lean on my faith. I recognize that there is a higher authority that is ordering my steps. That led me to Alpha in 1982 and that has made me realize that no one and nothing can keep me from my dedication to the fraternity and my desire to serve. I joined and exist in Alpha despite some people and issues and because of many. I have taken time since the Cease and Desist order and the imposition of sanctions to renew my strength in myself, my brothers and my fraternity. I ask you to do the same. Brothers, please remember, “If you can dream – and not make dreams your master; If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken, twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, and stoop and build ‘em up with wornout tools…If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run –yours is the earth and everything that’s in it, and – which is more – you’ll be a man my son!”

Bro Steve Richards, Bro (Dr.) Jeffery Gray, and Bro Chatry Perry, sign the initial document that will be sent to the state of Maryland seeking the incorporation of the Eta Eta Lambda Foundation. Much more work to be done but these brothers will serve as the initial stakeholders in the foundation and, with the support of the committee that had been working on the development of the foundation for months, will develop the management documents and processes that will develop the foundation. Thanks to these brothers as they move the chapter forward in providing more support to the community in the name of our great fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

SUMMER 2019 ETA ETA LAMBDA CHAPTER

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE CON’T Finally, we have faced the “Test of A Man”, and I am convinced that we will come out righteously on the other side. I’d like to paraphrase the words of a high school football coach I coached with in the 1990s, I don’t know what the future holds for our great, elite, Eta Eta Lambda chapter, but I know who holds our future. - Brother Simmons

First Steps to the Eta Eta Lambda Foundation

Executive Board 2019 Introducing the 2019 Eta Eta Lambda Executive Board: President - Bro. Stanley Simmons; Vice President - Bro. Eugene Sweet; Recording Secretary - Bro. Stevie Cox; Corresponding Secretary - Bro. Jonathon Gambrell; Financial Secretary - Bro. Steve Richards; Treasurer - Bro. Darnell Branch; Chaplain - Bro. Dr. Jeffery Gray; Historian - Bro. Dewayne Parker; Director of Educational Activities - Bro. Dexter Moore; Associate Editor of the Sphinx - Bro. Brandon Hairston; Sergeant-At-Arms - Bro. Russell Walker (not pictured); Member-At-Large - Bro. Miguel Smith

SUMMER 2019 ETA ETA LAMBDA CHAPTER

Eta Eta Lambda Celebrates 60 Years!

The brothers of Eta Eta Lambda chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., celebrated their 60th Charter Day with relatives of founding and early members: Ms. Anetta Spruill, widow of Brother Solomon Spruill; Mr. Aris T. Allen, Jr., son of Brother Aris T. Allen. Sr.; and Ms. Mary Hunt, wife of Brother Thomas Hunt. The chapter thanks the participating brothers and, especially, our extended family.

Special thanks to Brothers Gambrell and Boles for planning the Alpha Week events in coordination with Charter Day!

SUMMER 2019 ETA ETA LAMBDA CHAPTER

Community Outreach

On May 18th, Bros. Dillard, Holmes, Parker, Richards and Sweet participated in Daily Bread 2019. Our chapter donated $1000 to the effort which brings food and comfort to many Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA) communities. We delivered boxes of food to the Bloomsbury Square and Newtowne 20 neighborhoods.

Each box had enough goods to feed an average sized family for a week. Thanks to the brothers for representing the Frat and showing Annapolis that the Alphas are here and that WE CARE! 

SUMMER 2019 ETA ETA LAMBDA CHAPTER

On May 25th, the Brothers of Eta Eta Lambda, along with the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., took on the task of enhancing and maintaining the community garden located at Georgetown East Elementary. The purpose of the garden is to inspire a sense of community pride, while also helping the community become self-sufficient and knowledgeable about living off the land. This event had an extraordinary turn out. While there we were able reconstruct a new fence, till the soil, rid the garden of weeds, and fellowship. Thank you to all the Brothers who participated and for your service and commitment to the community. We hope to count on your participation in the future! If any Brother is interested in serving on the committee, please contact any of the board members: Brother Andre Dillard, Brother Mike Ligons, Brother ReCharde Johnson and Brother Khalil Johnson.

SUMMER 2019 ETA ETA LAMBDA CHAPTER

Brothers on the Move

SUMMER 2019 ETA ETA LAMBDA CHAPTER

Congratulations to Bro. Omosun (SP ’12) for completing his Masters in School Counseling and for his new position at Annapolis High School.

Congratulations to Bro. Parker (SP ’19) for completing his Masters in Cybersecurity.

Bro. Sweet (SP ’18) and his wife Jessica celebrate 10 years of marriage on July 18, 2019.

Don’t see your birthday/Alphaversary? Be sure to provide your dates to the Corresponding Secretary, Bro. Gambrell, to be included in the newsletter.

Birthdays and Alphaversaries

Alphaversary BrothersBirthdate Brother

July 11 Bro. Kelly

July 23 Bro. Perry

August 11 Bro. Sims

August 15 Bro. Douglas

August 30 Bro. Dr. Bryant

August 31 Bro. McCrary

September 4 Bro. Holliday

September 5 Bro. Richards

September 10 Bro. Oxendine

September 12 Bro. Campbell

September 17 Bro. Blackstone

September 26 Bro. Holmes

September 30 Bro. Harden

SUMMER 2019 ETA ETA LAMBDA CHAPTER