Adopt-A-Classroom: February 2012

Bro. Charles Favors speaks to students
during the February Adopt-A-Classroom
program at Crenshaw High School.

On February 22, 2012 Bros. Charles Favors, Theo Fowles, Kevin Orantes, and Ray Reed participated in the second installment of the Kappa Delta Sigma Adopt-A-Classroom initiative at Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles.

Brothers participating in the initiative speak as monthly guests in Soror Cheylinel Gaston's freshman math class.  During the February session, students discussed the following questions: 1) Who are your role models 2)Who are you a role model to? 3)How are you currently making history?

Students listening to brothers of
Kappa Delta Sigma chapter.

 Students used Flip Cams to share their opinions and experiences.  Many students did not know who they were a role model to.  Bro. Ray Reed shared that, "the funny thing about role models is that there is always someone looking up to you whether you know it or not."  Bro. Theo Fowles added, "a role model-- whether positive or negative-- can still result in your own positive action.  It just depends on your perspective.  

Bro. Orantes graduated from Crenshaw
High School in 2005. 

Bro.  Kevin Orantes, an alum of Crenshaw High School, encouraged the students to thank individuals that they thought of as mentors.  The Adopt-A-Classroom initiative will continue in March when students will work with Brothers to research colleges and professional careers in which the students themselves have expressed interest.

 

The 2012 VITA Program

Frater Performs on Jimmy Kimmel Live

KDS Bros. Featured on Online TV Show

Video streaming by Ustream


Bros. Lee McGill & Woodrow Bailey speak to Herschal Grimes, host of the online television show The Life Group. about the VITA Program.  The VITA program, in partnership with the IRS provides free tax services to the local community. [Show begins at 1:55].

Video streaming by Ustream

Bro. Richard Lee speaks to Herschal Grimes, host of the online television show The Life Group. about the role of the Public Works Department in Los Angeles and how to better interact with the departments that keep the city running at its best.

SoCal Blue & White @ 27th Annual MLK Parade

Phi Beta Sigma Takes A Stance On Hazing

The General Board of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., unanimously voted to authorize the Fraternity, in concert with the International President, to expel any member found guilty of hazing. The decision was made on January 7, 2012 at the winter of the General Board in Memphis, Tennessee.

International President Jimmy Hammock has expressed deep concern over the effects of hazing on the Fraternity: “There are members of Phi Beta Sigma, and other fraternities who have pretty much ignored the anti-hazing, no pledge policy for new membership intake, as state by the member organizations of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Underground pledging has overshadowed a system designed to eliminate hazing and reduce the liability pledging and/or hazing has on Black Greek Letter Organizations. No one wants to be a called a “paper” brother, or to allow someone to “skate” into the fraternity, or be accused of being “soft”; so the madness continues. We must work to change this culture, by taking the lead on the enforcement of the anti-hazing policies set by all Black Greeks”

The General Board also unanimously adopted the following procedure measure to the expulsion process: After investigation by Regional Director, and upon the recommendation to the International President, members found guilty must receive notice via US mail to their known address. Members will be given 30 days to respond to that letter; if there is no response within this timeframe, then the General Board will expel the member(s) pending verification at the next Conclave.

These decisions are the beginning of a series of anti-hazing actions and initiatives implemented by the General Board. Members of Phi Beta Sigma will receive more information on risk management matters in the near future.

“Sigma will become the global brand reference for fraternities and community service organizations,” shares President Hammock. “A major threat to our brand today is the threat of hazing. We are determined to seriously address and eradicate this culture of hazing.”

Happy Birthday Hon. Founder Leonard F. Morse

Founder Leonard F. Morse
January 12, 1891 – May 22, 1961

Leonard F. Morse was the proud son of a distinguished New England family, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Morse of Boston, Massachusetts. Trained in the elementary and secondary schools of New Bedford, Massachusetts, he became the valedictorian of his integrated high school and entered Howard University. In 1915, he graduated from Howard University and was the first person to graduate in 3 years with an A.B and a B.Ed degree.

Later, the degree of Bachelor of Divinity was conferred upon him by the Payne School of Divinity, Wilberforce University. He received his Master’s degree from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois and the degrees of Doctor of Metaphysics and the Doctor of Psychology from the College of Metaphysics, Indianapolis, Indiana. The Honorary Degree of D.D. was conferred at Allen University, Columbia, South Carolina, and the LLD at Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Florida.

An outstanding educator and prophet, he lived a busy and resourceful life, having served in many institutions and areas of educational and religious life. He was Dean of Theology at Edward Waters College, Head of the Department of Religious Studies, President of Edward Waters and a Mason. Founder Morse founded and chartered numerous Sigma Chapters especially in Florida.

Founder Morse was a student of the Greek language, and he named our beloved fraternity. In addition, he wrote Sigma’s first constitution and was the first president of Alpha Chapter. In the 1915 Howard University yearbook entitled “The Mirror”, Founder Morse had listed by his name the following: Director of Social Service, YMCA, 1913-1914; Organizer and President of Phi Beta Sigma, 1914-15; President, Young Men’s Progressive Club, 1914-15; tutor of languages and history.

Founder Morse was married and had five children, two of which are Brothers in this fraternity. Most recently his grandson became a Sigma. Leonard F. Morse was the last living Founder of Phi Beta Sigma. In the 1915 Howard University yearbook, Founder Morse left us with “Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep.”

--From National Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Website

Founders Day: January 9, 2012

To my brothers...

Happy Founders' Day!!!

You've been my hero for 98 years...

You're the one I've looked up to...

Your love for me...brought life to me (Z-Phi-B)

Then you held my hand....and helped me stand

I've loved you from the moment I knew you

We share so much in common....just us two

Thank you for being a TRUE

Thank you for being YOU

Thank you for the bond of BLUE

Happy Founders' Day to my beloved brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

Always Sisterly

Soror Royetta S. Perry

Sigma Eta Zeta Chapter (Long Beach, CA)

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

CENTENNIAL TWO-YEAR COUNTDOWN CELEBRATION

The 2012 National Founders Day honoring the life
and legacy of esteemed Founder, The Honorable
Abram Langston Taylor in Memphis, TN.
 [January 5-8, 2012]

A. Langston Taylor, the founder of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He graduated from the Howe Institute in 1909 which is now Lemoyne-Owen College in Memphis. He received his college and professional training at Howard and Frelinghuysen University in Washington, D.C.

Founder Taylor chose business for his life's career and from 1917 to 1926 he conducted a real estate and insurance business. He was the Secretary-Treasurer of the Potomac Investment Company, Director of the Federal Life Insurance Company and President of the Taylor Tobacco Company.

Founder Taylor coined "Culture for Service, Service for Humanity". He began serving humanity by founding Sigma, to which he gave twelve consecutive years of service as a National Officer, serving as National President, National Treasurer, National Secretary and Field Secretary. He also served as President of the Distinguished Service Chapter.

Brothers have described our Founder as distinguished, poised and truly a hard worker. The members of the Alpha Sigma chapter called Founder Taylor "Prof", short for professor, because he was always carrying a book, files or reading. He held offices and was instrumental in the following organizations: The Washington Art Society, The Derby Club, The Banneker Research Society, The Mu-So-Lit Club and the Tennessee State Club.

A tireless worker, he worked hard to see that Sigma maintained its illustrious history, by serving on the history committee and providing numerous forms of notes, minutes and oral history to those who served with him. Founder Taylor retired from federal service from the Smithsonian Institute.

Founder Taylor is buried at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland (right outside of Washington, D.C.). His gravesite sits at the highest peak.

Founder A. Langston Taylor
January 29, 1890-August 8, 1953

Bro. Huey P. Newton once said, "I think what motivates people is not great hate, but great love for other people."  In the spirit of love for others and of giving, Bro. Kevin Orantes organized a Sunday service outing to the Union Rescue Mission located in Downtown Los Angeles' Skid Row.

On November 27, 2011 from 4:30pm to 7:30pm brothers served close to 200 men, women, children and seniors who call the Union Rescue Mission home.

While many people serve shelters during the holidays, Bro. Orantes hopes to make the Union Rescue Mission a place that Sigmas in the Los Angeles area come to serve year round.  "They really need volunteers here at the shelter, especially after the holidays when nobody thinks to come."

With Kevin's vision, Sigmas will be a common sight at many more Union Rescue Mission Sunday dinners to come.

If you are interested in volunteering along with Kappa Delta Sigma and other Los Angeles Area Sigmas at the Union Rescue Mission, please submit the form below:

In Memoriam: Bro. Doeba Bropleh

Bro. Doeba Bropleh
1968-2011

The Brothers of Kappa Delta Sigma are saddened by the unexpected passing of Bro. Doeba Bropleh.  A established photographer, and writer of both fiction and non-fiction works, Bro. Doeba Bropleh will truly be missed among Sigma and by friends, family and the community as a whole.  

"Let the power of the purpose propel you." --Bro.  Doeba Bropleh

BLUE & WHITE TAKEOVER HOWARD HOMECOMING 2011

The men of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Kappa Delta Sigma Chapter would like to congratulate the Alpha chapters of both Phi Beta Sigma Franternity, Inc.  & Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. who swept the 2011 Howard Homecoming Stepshow.

BACK TO BLUE: November Is International Reactivation Month

In 2014, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. will celebrate 100 years of Brotherhood, Scholarship, & Service.  As we march on toward this milestone, our goal as an organization is to boast 14,000 FINANCIAL  members.

In order to reach this goal, November has been designated as International Reactivation Month.  In 2010,    Sigma welcomed back over 1,900 members.  From November 1, 2011 to December 15, 2011 Alumni, Collegiate Transfer Members and Military Members can come back to blue for a discounted rate.

The Kappa Delta Sigma Chapter encourages inactive brothers in the Los Angeles area to come back to the bond of Sigma-- and consider Kappa Delta Sigma as your new home.  The Kappa Delta Sigma chapter would like to grow in both quantity and quality, striving to reach 100 financial members by 2014.

Interested in contacting the Kappa Delta Sigma Chapter? It's simple:

Email:  kappadeltasimga@gmail.com
Twitter:  @KDS1914
Facebook:  Kappa Delta Sigma

LA Sigmas Dominate The Hardwood

Bros. Will Staten, Michael David, Joshua Fredenburg, Wesley Williams, Tarik Hawkins, Jason Lombard, and Tremaine Walker celebrate victory.

The Kappa Delta Sigma Chapter would like to congratulate the True Blue Basketball Squad for dominating the  National Frat Games Invitational for the 4th time.  G.O.M.A.B. Brothas!