Unfreakinbelievable, on the level of the astronomical aligning of planets, a solar and lunar eclipse combined, and an earthshaking force beyond the grasp of a Richter scale, and one clearly to go down in the annals of Kappa history as being as pivotal in our history as the very first expulsion of a member.
The event that I am describing is none other than the Grand Polemarch's Listening Tour that I attended earlier today here in Atlanta, GA.
The tour was planned by various members and chapters of the Metro Atlanta Coalition of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. chapters located throughout the metro Atlanta area. Eight alumni chapters were represented and put on a showcase designed to reclaim inactive Brothers back into the Bond.
The attendance was not as high as expected as one Brother stated to me that I had not seen at least a decade since we were both members of the same alumni chapter and the low attendance more than likely should be attributed to the belief that Brothers had heard enough of rhetoric, brow beating, and pointing of fingers to make staying at home and away more desirable than getting as confrontational as one would have done during our undergraduate days.
Brothers Jwyanza Nuriddin and Michael Dubose gave an introduction and purpose for the event respectively and neither one carried any of the bureaucratic posturing and residue often witnessed during the days of CYA, press conferences, and other negative reporting due to lawsuits due to hazing and missteps occurring on any level. This was very refreshing within itself actually.
Southeastern Province Polemarch Solomon Bradley welcomed brothers to an untraditional event being held with the province of his jurisdiction and everyone still felt welcomed.
The 8 alumni chapters then had their polemarch or representatives introduce themselves and their respective chapters. We heard an old school-before-the new school Kappa song "Kappa Man", an almost stand up comedic routine, and the anticipated chest-beating arrogance if not confidence expected of such representatives as each chapter's brief history and recent achievements were mentioned. Each chapter also listed their dues and only one chapter (Atlanta) had included the provincial and national dues within their amount thereby making the oldest chapter in the city the most affordable one while having the largest membership as well. The represented chapters had displays featured throughout the room at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel across from Cumberland Mall which is extremely close to me.
Executive Director Richard Snow introduced Grand Polemarch Dwayne E. Murray Esquire and either Brothers Snow or Bradley mentioned that the 31st Grand Polemarch Murray is the first Grand Polemarch to be initiated in the 1970s which as a fact was not misunderstood and actually welcomed by myself even though I was initiated in the mid 80s.
Grand Polemarch Murray took the floor and sounded not so much as a politician running for office, but as a Brother (who is an attorney) representing the closest Kappa incarnation of US Senator Barack Obama making the case for change within Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. as one could never imagine. Brother Murray was not in the role of a salesman, but a reminder of the spirit in which all men have sought Kappa Alpha Psi membership as well as what we experienced and benefited as a result of the undergraduate membership during those days and beyond.
We were reminded of the pride generated through individual and collective achievement and the leadership paradigm that all of us bring to the table when encountering any lifestyle or situation requiring the presence of a leader.
On a national level, I will go on the record to say that today was the proudest Kappa moment of mine outside of attending a Grand Conclave for finally I personally felt that we have a Grand Polemarch not baptized in suffocating corporate America mindset who "gets it" on an entrepreneurial level as well.
Brother Murray essentially confirmed my belief when he mentioned his pricing strategy for his law firm servicing clients who need a bankruptcy attorney. Never before have I seen a Grand Polemarch not hide behind his employer, home province, or undergraduate chapter while stating a case for not only reclamation but where Kappa is going in our near term future.
The entire room heard that there was room for each inactive Brother while "the Kappa Train was going to get the job done with or without anyone getting back on board". The statement was made without veiled threats and overt or covert manipulation. Even his statements that would have made the room uneasy if expressed by past provincial and grand polemarchs did not talk down to anyone or cut off anyone's family jewels as a Chicago civil rights leader recently and frankly stated.
When he concluded his comments, Grand Polemarch Murray received a standing ovation and the floor was opened for a question and answers session.
I was fortunate to ask the lead off question and I asked what did he feel would be his legacy to the Bond through the usage of technology to leave No Nupe Left Behind:) He responded that it was a good question and answered with an innovation that (I will not elaborate here but it) would make our Founders proud. I did tip my hat to him for the transparency of his administration and effort that is being made now.
Other questions focused on consolidating chapters into a single city-wide chapter (the answer was no) and what could undergraduate chapters do to help ease the transition into alumni chapters (I don't remember the answer here). But the Brother who asked the very last question brought out a response and piece of news not widely shared throughout the Bond from our Grand Polemarch. Grand Polemarch Murray mentioned a reinstatement process (for expelled Brothers) whose official name is not fully remembered at this moment, but this process includes a review board of both independent Brothers recognized for their judgment and integrity and a few Grand Board members.
The process is worthy of further promotion since it does look at how has the expelled member lived their life since the expulsion to include if their name is found on any birth certificates (since many men are not allowing their names to be placed on birth certificates further denying their fatherhood and involvement in their children's lives). The review process can only receive a big thumbs up from myself since it covers the base of responsibility for both the Bond and individual Brother (although expelled at the moment).
One insightful thought expressed that I imagine will be heard through the Murray administration going forward is "One Kappa". One Kappa is a concept that produced a highly valued, fundraising campaign for and has received recognition from the St. Jude's Children's Hospital located in Tennessee. The Grand Board held its meetings upstairs before and after the reclamation event and I was able to be in the right place at the right time to hear the CEO of St. Jude's "lay it on heavy" to express his and the hospital's thanks for our generosity to the hospital. When I first entered the room, I actually thought that he was making a demonstration to entice the Bond into buying something. But I quickly understood from his own comments that he was sincerely and deeply thanking Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for its work and the "Sunday of Hope" project held earlier this year.
I anticipate that One Kappa will be expanded to establish and maintain a minimum, high standard of achievement and excellence to accomplish a specific task "from the window to the wall".
After the final benediction was given, it was great to continue meeting new Brothers for the first time and seeing faces unseen since my grad school days and early days of moving to Atlanta. If the local chapters take Grand Polemarch Murray's words and a potential new financial incentive from the Grand Board, local chapters worldwide should anticipate a strong membership increase within the next few years. I hope that I'm able to get a copy of the presentation and points mentioned to share on this blog. The concepts were as progressive and aggressive as never seen before within my 24 years of fraternal membership. I just hope and believe that everyone should get ready for any bureaucratic counterattack to undermine the effort by those who felt that the previous belief systems were untouchable, sacred cows.
Right now, I am still awestruck at the gentle ferociousness of our Grand Polemarch and his belief that we can get to our next levels individually and collectively with his simple but powerful words "the best thing that we can do for each other is to be brotherly to one another". This statement alone is one of healing for the Bond since we have experienced more than enough of our share of "friendly fire".
I also finally heard multiple opportunities for fraternity activity beyond the alumni chapter where I was once a member. After graduate school and within the early days of my ministry, my local participation decreased due to basic lifestyle differences that I now believe were generational gaps of age as well as a "corporate versus entrepreneurial" mindset.
I was a former vice-polemarch of a chapter that still holds its meeting on the same day of the month as they did when I was younger and active. But Friday nights are currently not feasible within my household due to the ages of my daughters and being one of the main working nights of my wife. In the short term, things will not change until the girls are much older. As a result, I never looked seriously toward joining any of the other chapters due to distance (although gas was cheaper then) and the perception that things were basically the same in the remaining chapters. Today I did hear otherwise and one immediate benefit of membership within a chapter that meets during a weeknight is that Brothers will not be as available and open to staying up to midnight and hours beyond which is a home run blessing for me:)
Fortunately I have more endeavors to participate within to have an impact worldwide than focusing on becoming a chapter officer which is not a goal of mine (as I would have done in my younger days). But I am equipped and capable of quickly and easily providing the necessary fraternal and technical assistance being sought for future technological roll outs valued within the Bond worldwide. Hopefully there will be an opportunity to help both each chapter and Brother within the Bond make a quantum leap to be a bigger blessing to others based upon experiences gained over my lifetime and within the past 5 years especially. If I am able to do this, then any time, money, and energy spent will be resources not donated in vain.
I hope to share and pass on more of the seeds and fruits produced today and I know that there will others who will hopefully share their thoughts.
As we draw closer to our 100th anniversary in 2011, it is going to become very interesting to see what can be achieved within the next 3 years. It is going to be a solid ride for sure!
Brother Grand Polemarch Murray, thank you for your respect of all Kappa men and for not wasting our time!
Yours in the Bond!
