Kappa Delta Sigma Chapter Tax Services Begin February 1, 2012

With so many tax benefits available today, taxes can serve as the starting point leading to greater prosperity for many people. In 2000, the IRS changed its approach to meeting individual taxpayers’ needs for tax education, awareness and assistance by establishing an office called SPEC (Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication). In 2008 IRS-SPEC cultivated a partnership with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated and shared mutual goals in three key areas:

•  Promoting tax understanding and awareness
•  Preparing tax returns for free for low-to-moderate income people
•  Encouraging personal asset building and self-sufficiency through tax incentives

Download The Press Release Here.
Download The Press Release in Spanish Here.




UPDATE:  
TIMES OF OPERATION
MONDAY-THURSDAY 6-9PM
PRESIDENT'S DAY [2.20.2012] CLOSED 

SoCal Blue & White @ 27th Annual MLK Parade

Adopt-A- Classroom: Sigmas Ask W.H.Y.

The purpose of the Adopt-A-Classroom program is to expose minority youth to professionals in a variety of fields by presenting workshops, activities and conversation with those professionals within the classroom.  

The pilot program features the students of Ms. Cheylinel Gaston, a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and a math and science teacher at Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles.  

In January 2012,  Bro. Charles, Favors, Bro. Floyd Johnson, Bro. Kevin Orantes, Bro. Willis Colbert, and Bro. Theo Fowles spoke to students about goal setting and visualization.  Ultimately, the students were asked "W.H.Y."-- or "What Has You?"  in order to begin the journey of discovery passion, talent and drive.  

In the course of an hour and a half class, Bro. Orantes, who is an alum of Crenshaw High School, spoke to both his successes and his failures, but encouraging students to go after the things that they really want in life.  

Echoing that sentiment, Bro. Floyd Johnson told students that they must "be willing to risk failure" in order to succeed.  

The Adopt-A-Classroom is being developed as a program focusing on a single classroom as a a whole for one full academic year.  In addition, the program will soon expand to include the sponsorship of classroom supplies and possible scholarship recognition of students.  

To get involved with the Adopt-A- Classroom Program or to find out more information, please visit:  www.kappadeltasigma.tumblr.com 

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