"100 Ques in Annapolis:" Gamma Pi Leads Second District Meeting with State Legislators

You can best believe that when Omega men get together, something good is about the happen. When Omega men get together at the Maryland State Capitol, something important is about to happen. That was the case on Tuesday, March 10, when Brothers from the Super Chapter, from nearby Epsilon Sigma (Bowie State University) and other chapters in Corridor I assembled at the Capitol in Annapolis to bring Uplift to the community through civic participation.

Called “100 Ques in Annapolis,” the event was held in Annapolis at the State Legislature, where both the House of Delegates and the State Senate for Maryland meet each Spring to discuss and pass legislation impacting Marylanders.  In short, Annapolis is “The Capitol Hill’ of the State of Maryland – the center of power and influence in how the state is run, from the rugged mountains along the state’s western border to the in the crystal clear waters of the beaches and the Atlantic Ocean in the east.

This was no tourist adventure. This was about business. In a series of planned events based on a carefully crafted agenda, the men of Omega – more than 100 strong – arrived in Annapolis armed with information about pending bills, ready to ask questions and discuss various legislative proposals, all in the context of what was good for their communities.  For the Brothers of Gamma Pi, that meant especially looking out for the residents of Prince George’s County. Gamma Pi was charged with organizing this year’s event from a Corridor level. Corridor I is comprised of all of the chapters in Maryland.

The schedule for the day was packed from 9 a.m. until lunch that began at 12 noon, with some optional educational events available afterwards for those Brothers who wanted to stay into early afternoon after the business was complete. This included a visit to the Historic Ashbury United Methodist Church to see Bro. Bishop Edgar Amos Love’s Library and personal artifacts.

 “Looking back, I was fortunate and honored to have been supported by our 1^st Vice District Representative, Bro. Roni Kent; Corridor I Representative, Bro. Amir Shareef; representatives from Chapters across the Corridor; and the Brothers who made time on that historic day to ensure that our event was a success.”

Omega Leaders pose with legislator

In addition to Brothers Kent and Shareef, other notable Second District Omega men in attendance were Delegates Bro. Nick Charles (Prince George’s County),  and  Bro. Nick Mosby (Baltimore City), Bro. James Hicks, Past District Representative;  Bro. Michael Lyles, Annapolis City Attorney; Bro. Brian K. Long, District Chief of Staff; and Bro. Kelvin Ampofo, District Keeper of Records and Seal, Second District Director of Public Relations Bro. Zanes Cypress and Gamma Pi’s own Basileus, Bro. Steven Walls.

Brothers identified four (4) legislative bills for which they prioritized support in Annapolis. These bills are being sponsored or supported by Delegates Bro. Charles and Bro. Mosby.  In true Omega fashion, each bill is aligned with each one of the Four Cardinal Principles of the Fraternity.  In short, they deal with the following:

Manhood - HB1114 - Child Custody and Visitation - Best Interest of the Child - Factors . This bill seeks to eliminate historical preferences/bias towards mothers when analyzing child custody/visitation issues.

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1114

Scholarship - SB0001 - Built to Learn Act of 2020 . This bill deals with budgeting money that will be used for public school construction.

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0001

Perseverance - HB1343 - Criminal Procedure Expungement Expansion. This bill seeks to expand expungement opportunities for certain offenses.

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1343

Uplift - HB0416- Medical Cannabis Business Development Fund. This bill seeks to obtain funding and opportunities for small minority and women businesses in the cannabis industry.

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0416

To muscle support for the bills, Brother employed the “fan-out” strategy, that is, they broke up into smaller groups that went out and visited their own local legislator’s offices to discuss the priority bills. Brothers were armed with leave-behind letters of support as part of that effort. The idea was to leave Annapolis with an impression and a message about the most important community-based priorities are from The World’s Greatest Fraternity.

“If we are to have an impact on decisions that are being made that can affect us or the ones we love, we must sacrifice time to inform our legislators regarding how we feel about various issues,” said Bro. Allison, in explaining the significance of the event. “Over the years, the Brothers in Maryland have done exceedingly well at ensuring that legislators know that we are here and that we vote; however, an area where we wanted to improve was in expressing our interest in support of or against actual legislation.  Through this kind of expression, we can achieve impact.” 

"Ques in Annapolis" Legislative Event Draws Large Audience

By Brother Earl Adams, Jr.

Brother Adams

On Thursday, March 11, the Brothers of Gamma Pi, Tau Pi, Pi Omega and Psi Nu traveled to Maryland’s capital to host members of the General Assembly at the annual “Ques in Annapolis” legislative reception. Over 50 Brothers participated in the event, which is a record for the annual “Ques in Annapolis”program. Brothers asked questions of and heard from more than 10 members of the Assembly, including Brother Delegate Frank Turner (Howard County) and Gamma Pi's own Brother Senator Ulysses Currie (Prince George’s County). Brothers representing the chapters of Mu Rho, Theta Mu Mu, Chi Delta,  Mu Nu, Tau Lambda Lambda, Kappa Psi and Alpha were at the reception.

As part of the reception, the members of the General Assembly were presented a list of the legislative priorities from each of the participating chapters. The various priorities focused on legislative bills which have been filed during the current legislative session. Each bill focused on building strong families, improving schools and expanding opportunities for businesses, all which are the building blocks of a strong community. In between the formal presentations by the legislators, Brothers enjoyed a light meal and fellowshipped with each other in true Omega fashion.

As fate would have it, in the room located next to our reception, the sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. were also having their night in Annapolis event. A highlight of the evening for both programs occurred when the partition separating the events was removed allowing for both receptions to be merged into one. Given the success of that development, perhaps next year a joint reception would be in order.

(In the group photo above from L to R: Bro. Luther Clark, Basileus-Tau Lambda Lambda; Bro. Chester Williams, Basileus-Tau Pi; Bro. Delegate Frank Turner; Bro. John Berkley, Basileus-Pi Omega; Bro. Maurice Calhoun, Basileus-Gamma Pi)

Brother State Sen. Currie

Brothers Mingle at Reception

Historic Time to Boost Our Legislative Involvement

by Bro. William Blakey, Esq., Legislative Chair

For many of us in the ‘baby boomer’ generation, the Year 2008 brought unexpected joy in the political area and some real pain when we looked at the impact of the economic decline on our investments and prospects for immediate retirement. These major events had similar, but differential impact on generation X-ers and generation Y-ers/millenials. Notwithstanding the downturn in the economy, almost every African American I know, including some hard core Republicans are simply euphoric about the election of Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States! We have lived to see something some of us thought would never come to pass in the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” Even those of us who think we know something about America’s racial history and the political landscape, must honestly acknowledge that a “perfect storm” of political circumstances and historical events came together to elect the Nation’s first African American President. Truly, there is a God.

Once the inauguration celebrations are completed on January 20th, African Americans and many of the organizations we hold membership in, must immediately return to the unfinished work of establishing social justice, ensuring educational opportunity, and enabling economic equality for Black Americans everywhere. It is my hope and prayer that Gamma Pi Chapter and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. will continue to provide leadership in the public arena, and hold up our Four Cardinal Principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift in 2009. As an organization of black men, we are in a unique position to lead by both personal example and by professional model, at home, in the community and in the world. The election of a Black Man as President of the most powerful nation in the world provides a platform and a call for all of us to stand up and to perform. Is Omega prepared to respond to the challenge? I believe the answer is YES!

First, on a very personal level, each brother in Gamma Pi Chapter should examine his personal lifestyle and priorities. Ask yourself: are you a good father, husband, uncle, brother, or mentor? What can I do - just a little better - to make my home and spiritual life stronger, and to create an environment that will allow me to `live in the Light? In 2009, each of us should find one area for potential improvement, and excel at it throughout the year.

Second, what are you doing in Gamma Pi Chapter to facilitate the achievement of the Fraternity’s cardinal principals and what more can you do to help Gamma Pi, the Second District, or the Fraternity better exhibit those principles. The political arena offers us a chance to lead and to serve. We will be especially challenged this year to hold our public officials feet to the fire on key budget and appropriations issues in the State of Maryland and in the Congress of the United States. The international economic decline and national depression will become a convenient excuse for elected officials to level fund or reduce expenditures for critical education, health care prevention and social service programs that benefit low-income and minority communities, especially those in which African Americans constitute a majority.

“QUES Night in Annapolis” will provide an important forum for Gamma Pi Chapter and Omegas across Maryland to exhibit civic responsibility and political leadership on key issues that affect the education of African American youth. Plan now to join us in a couple of months (more details to come) and also plan to call your State Senator and Delegate and ask them to come to the event. If you know some Ques that are active in a graduate Chapter in Maryland, invite them to join us in Annapolis.

Third, we must create a climate for and culture that supports the development of institutional leadership in the Fraternity, and that encourages that leadership to work effectively and cooperatively in support of the Fraternity’s goals and objectives. We are proud of our record of achievement and success as the `Super Chapter.’ With almost 180 financial brothers, how much more successful would we be if we were 280 or 380 strong? Reclamation is not just Brother Thad Turner’s job, it’s a collective responsibility. We all know that there are at least 100-200 non-financial brothers in Prince George’s County who could and should be financial members of Gamma Pi! Part of our uncalculated success equation is directly related to our unused potential among brothers who wear paraphernalia at the CIAA, like to ‘step,’ and show up at homecoming to drink and eat, but can’t be found to help with Project Enrich, serve senior citizens at Shepherd’s Cove, or work with the Achievement Week or the Talent Hunt Committee! We can all do just a little bit more, and how much easier it would be if there were more hands on the plow – pushing and/or pulling in the same direction.

The success of the Obama Presidential Campaign was directly tied to an expanded base of participants in the electoral process as both voters and financial contributors. Think for a moment about our full potential as a Chapter and as a Fraternity being measured by the inclusion of a few more brothers and their added intellect and energy as part of the Omega fraternal equation.

Calling all QUES to the floor, got a few here, but we need some more!