Chipping Up to the Green with Gamma Pi's New Golf League

Most of the time, Gamma Pi chapter is out and about while thoroughly immersed in a local community service project.  Whether it is feeding the homeless at a local shelter, helping young students aim for college with Project ENRICH or spending quality time with senior citizens, the Super Chapter is always bringing Uplift to the Prince George's County community as Brothers exhaust themselves traveling to every corner of the county . People rarely see the friendship and fraternity that takes place behind the scenes. It is how Gamma Pi -- and Omega men everywhere -- bond with one another, by sharing time together socially and just being friends.

Bro. Alvarez

This week, the fast-growing chapter (now more than 200 members strong, the largest in the Second District) took a step towards molding new Omega friendships and solidifying more Omega friendships in its ranks with the kickoff of a new summer golf league. The league has been an instant success. Brother Ian Alvarez has signed up nearly 50 Brothers from the chapter to play a local course every other Sunday with the intent to name an overall winner by the time the league ends play in October.

Brothers began play in the new league on Sunday, April 17, at Renditions Golf Course in Davidsonville,Md. Other courses on the schedule are the University of Maryland and Enterprise. Are they keeping score? You better believe it! Brother Alvarez is preparing to post week-by-week scores for access by chapter members very soon and according to "insiders," without giving away all the news, the inaugural Sunday for the league was a "Bleu" Sunday.  More details to come, including a look at the early leaderboard. The league is using the United States Golfing Association rules and the Callaway Scoring System to determine player handicaps, a system which tries to equalize individual scoring across different skill levels.  If you are interested in joining in, reach out to Bro.Alvarez via email.

Below are some photos Bro. Charles Casteel,of the Public Relations Committee, captured in the "opening round" last Sunday. Brother Casteel is also the author of an iphone golf app that helps you with shot selection. Ask him about it!

After Delivering Essays, Students Talk about the Benefits of Gamma Pi's Project ENRICH

As the school year winds down, Gamma Pi chapter is preparing to bring to a close another successful year of Project ENRICH. On yesterday, April 9, the presentations of the student essays signalled the coming close of this year's program which transitioned to new leadership in 2010-11 under Brother Pete Ford with the retirement last year of Brother Roland Byrd.


Last year's seniors at closing

 The essays are always anticipated each year and more than 40 students presented their work orally before judges at the Thurgood Marshall Library Building at Bowie State University during yesterday's Project ENRICH session. Project ENRICH is a college prep program run by Gamma Pi chapter that requires students to participate continuouslyy from 9th through 12th grades. It meets once a month at Bowie State on Saturdays for approximately 4 hours.

The selected topic for this year's student essays was "self image," an appropriate subject given the challenges young people face when heading out into the real world. What do you want people to think about you and what kind of impression do you want to leave with potential college admissions administrators, professors and employers? That was on everyone's minds at Bowie State yesterday and the prevailing opinion was that the students did an excellent job, making their families and Gamma Pi chapter proud. Many families were in attendance to support their young people.

The PR Committee did not capture any video of students making their presentations since they were being graded competitively. Without the ability to videotape each and every one, it could have represented an advantage/disadvantage for any of them.  But following the presentations, Gamma Pi talked to a handful of seniors (on video) who will be leaving the program upon graduation in a few weeks.  They had some interesting comments about how Project ENRICH has prepared them well for college and the world beyond. The unedited video is below.

As you will hear Project ENRICH is definitely having the intended effect on students' lives and preparation for the future. (see links at end of post to share on Facebook or Twitter)