Gamma Pi Immediate Past Basileus Now Confirmed by U.S. Senate for South Pacific Ambassadorial Posts

Gamma Pi continues to celebrate the nomination and now the official confirmation of its Immediate Past Basileus, Brother Teddy B. Taylor, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and a career diplomat, as the U.S. Ambassador to the three Melanesian nations of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the Republic of Vanuatu. In case word has not fully traveled the corridors, Brother Taylor was officially confirmed just a few days ago. Brother Taylor and his wife, Antoinette, also serving with the U.S. State Department, are preparing to leave for their new home located a half world away from Washington, D.C. in a few weeks. Brother Taylor served three terms as Basileus and ended his service as the Super Chapter's leader last year. He was the chapter's "Omega Man of the Year" last year.

You can read the White House announcement about the nomination. New, updated information about the U.S. Senate confirmation is available here. Also, you can watch the archived Senate proceedings where Brother Taylor appears at about the 1:40 mark.

Numerous publications have carried news stories about Brother Taylor's ambassadorial posts including Rattler Nation, a blog of Florida A and M University, Brother Taylor's alma mater. Below, you can skip the 26-hour plane ride and visit Papua New Guinea virtually:

Chapter's First Basileus Receives 50-Year Pin at National Conference

It is some 2,000 miles and two weeks later, but they are still clapping for Gamma Pi's esteemed Brother Tim McIntosh. A highlight for Gamma Pi chapter during the recent Omega Leadership Conference in Las Vegas was Brother McIntosh receiving his 50-year pin. Brother McIntosh served as the first Basileus of Gamma Pi and remains very active in chapter business and is known as a quiet counselor. He crossed The Burning Sands at Tau Psi chapter at North Carolina Central University.

In an e-mail to fellow chapter Brothers, Brother McIntosh said upon return, "I am truly touched. You have brought tears to my eyes ... Needless to say, I will love Omega Psi Phi till the day I die!"

The conference was held July 23-25 at the Las Vegas Hilton and was co-hosted by Beta Mu Mu and Kappa Xi chapters. Omega Psi Phi used the leadership conference to announce a nationwide campaign to conduct an education and awareness campaign in minority communities jointly with the U.S. Census Bureau.

Here are some photos of Brother McIntosh from the Las Vegas conference. These photos were taken by KRS Brother Joe Felder. In addition, below is a short video segment he recorded earlier this year for the Gamma Pi promotional DVD in which he talks eloquently and with inspiration about 50 years in the Fraternity. This is priceless video from a truly great Omega man who was instrumental in Gamma Pi's birth. The success of the beginning years under his leadership are the reason why Gamma Pi is known today as "The Super Chapter," as it reaches far and wide to serve and Uplift the Prince George's Community through the unique and solid bonds of Friendship and Fraternity that Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. has patented.

Investing in Our Community's Health: Gamma Pi's Blood Drive and Health Fair

It was an interesting week leading up to Gamma Pi chapter's annual Blood Drive and Health Fair. The loss of two entertainment icons within hours of each other on the same day -- the incomparable music legend Michael Jackson and actress Farrah Fawcett -- underscored the importance of achieving and maintaining good health. Both were relatively young at 50 and 62. Those startling news headlines along with a growing sense of concern about personal health and well-being may have helped attract a large number of people from the surrounding community to Gamma Pi's Blood Drive and Health Fair today, held at the Kentland Community Center. A steady flow of people in and out the door kept staff hopping, from the teams who were manning various health screening stations to the American Red Cross crew receiving blood donations inside the mobile unit.

Imagine walking into a big department store (like Wal-Mart) and being able to go up and down the aisles and find everything you wanted. For example, up and down one long corridor, you could get screened for diabetes, bone density, glucose levels, cholesterol level and blood pressure. In another area, you could pick up useful information about health insurance, organ donation and nutrition.

Gamma Pi members and physicians Brothers Dr. Lester Miles and Dr. Kevin Ford organized today's event as one of the chapter's ongoing Social Action projects. Bro. Dr. Ford ran the successful event on-site.

While Gamma Pi works throughout the year with youth, families and seniors in the Prince George's community, the chapter is looking to increase its work in the area of health awareness and education, given the impact of health disparities on African Americans and other minority populations. You can learn more about health prevention and health disparities by visiting the National Institutes of Health.

Gamma Pi Brings Cheer to Local Seniors

Every year, the seniors in Gethsemane United Methodist Church and in the local community look forward to Gamma Pi's Seniors Banquet. This year did not disappoint. More than 50 seniors from the church in Capital Heights and the surrounding community enjoyed today's 36th Annual Seniors Banquet at the church fellowship hall. The theme for this year was, "Walking in a New Day." For two hours, Gamma Pi chapter Brothers provided the seniors with a meal and entertained with singing (Gamma Pi Chorale) and exciting door prizes. So often, seniors in our lives are overlooked. But they paved the way and set the table for today's generation to succeed. During difficult economic times, the banquet was a Godsend for seniors who may be struggling on fixed incomes. There were at least 30 Brothers in attendance working in the kitchen, waiting the tables and participating on the program. Seniors love the Super Chapter!