Archive for January, 2007

from HQ staff

Happy Founders Day to All Members of Our Great Fraternity from Your International Executive Director and the Headquarters’ Staff. Our Founders established a fraternity based upon “Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service”
Let us all do them proud by living in the model that they have left to us.

Donald J. Jemison – International Executive Director

Founders’ Day 2007

I recently read an article in the December issue of EBONY Magazine concerning the increase of all male Black schools in the US. If you did not read it I suggest you get a copy of the issue(the cast of the movie “Dream Girls” is on the cover). The article made me ponder where the Founders and Charter members would have liked to see Sigma at the 100 year point in our history.

While I truly believe they could not have imagined the growth Sigma has experienced over this time. I also strongly believe they would be deeply disappointed in what Sigma has become. They would be frustrated at our inability to take advantage of the resources at our disposal. These men opened a library and art museum to the public in the early 1900′s. How would you explain to these men that you had a brother in education’s highest position in the country and failed to take advantage of it? They would be disgusted at our utter silence on issues concerning our communities. These men proposed anti-lynching legislation at a time when voting, access to public facilities and other rights and privileges; we take for granted today, where not available to them. How would you explain to these men of our silence on every issue concerning our communities today? They would abhor our elected officers, their dirty politics and total lack of integrity while serving in those positions. How would you explain to these men the re-election of a national president after a large sum was taken from our treasury? These actions, due in part, to his neglect of duty? Then you would need to explain how this member was inducted into the DSC before the matter was fully investigated. They would be ashamed of the loss of the vision Sigma was founded upon and the total absence of brotherhood. They would be perplexed at the blatant destruction of our Constitution & By-Laws for the purpose of pushing the agenda of the “chosen few”. How would you explain to these men that the membership sat back and allowed this document to be manipulated in such a way? How would you explain to these men how the membership has been totally removed from the decision making process of this Fraternity? The Conclave model was chosen for a reason. They would be embarrassed at the way in which members carry themselves in public while representing Sigma. Take a look at the individual, chapter, conclave and conference photos from Sigma years ago and look at what we see today. How would you explain to these men the images we now see on flyers, chapter websites, personal pages, e-mail groups and the like?
Read more…

Step Teams still needed in Los Angeles, January 12th

This email came across my inbox last week.

What began as a simply planned get-together among fellow historical African-American fraternity and sorority members, auxiliaries and supporters in Southern California, to view Stomp The Yard, has evolved into a spectacular extravaganza, that should not be missed.

Thanks to THE BRIDGE: Cinema de Lux, Passco Companies and the world’s leading real estate services and money management firm, Jones Lang LaSalle, The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center (6081 Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045) is being contributed to the Brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Delta Sigma Alumnus Chapter, to host a concert style step show exhibition on the evening of this film’s release, Friday, January 12th, 2007.

This star-studded outdoor affair (which is FREE for all to attend) will showcase the talented choreography of various members and youth auxiliaries affiliated with several of the historical African-American fraternities and sororities in the National Pan Hellenic Council, Inc. (NPHC).

STEP TEAMS from each NPHC affiliated organization are invited to register to perform in the exhibition. Each team that would like to perform should send its request to westcoastsigmas@yahoo.com.

Each NPHC affiliated organization, in attendance, may be provided with a table/booth to showcase paraphernalia, membership information and additional information pertinent to the organization. Each NPHC affiliated organization that plans to be in attendance and would like to be provided with a table/booth should send its request to westcoastsigmas@yahoo.com.

Those who would like to view the step show exhibition are encouraged to arrive by 6:30 p.m. PST, as the exhibition will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. PST.

Comedian (Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. member) Joey *J-Dub* Wells will be co-hosting the exhibition. Member to the Fraternity, J. Anthony “Bitterman” Brown will also be in attendance. Some of the locally-based cast members of the film will also be in attendance.

Following the outdoor exhibition, all are welcomed to join us in viewing Stomp The Yard inside THE BRIDGE: Cinema de Lux, which is conveniently located in The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center.

Advance tickets to the viewing may be purchased from and additional information may be provided by Victoria C. Hull, Group Sales & Special Events Manager. She will be able to provide you with the actual time of the show we will be viewing, as a group, as soon as that information is provided to her by management. Admission is as follows: Adults: $12.75, Students w/ ID: $8.75, Senior Citizens & Children: $8.50. Victoria may be contacted by e-mail at vhull@thebridgecinema.com or by calling (310) 642-0721.

Following the viewing of this film, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Kappa Delta Sigma Alumnus Chapter will be hosting an after-party in 12 lounge at THE BRIDGE: Cinema de Lux. This after-party will be reserved for people 18 and over with legitimate identification.

Media and press will be on-site covering all of these affairs, so be sure to look your absolute best. If you are affiliated with a fraternity/sorority proudly wear your organization’s paraphernalia.

Happy Founders Day

here’s the email Paul sent out via the Sigma Network:

This is the day we celebrate the founding of our great Fraternity.  Our noble Founders The Honorable A. Langston Taylor, The Honorable Leonard F. Morse and the Honorable Charles I. Brown, had a vision to create a Fraternity that would serve the people through our motto, “Culture for Service and Service for Humanity.”  For 93 years, we have proudly embraced Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service as the guiding principles we use to direct our thoughts and actions as we serve our communities.

My Brothers, Happy Founders Day! May our Creator bless us and keep us in his everlasting mercy.

Fraternally,
Paul L. Griffin, Jr.
International President
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

from Bro. Dr. Ernest Miller

Brothers of Sigma,

Again HAPPY FOUNDERS DAY 2007.

Bro. Dr. Ernest Miller
29th Western Region Director
2004 – 2008