Martial Arts Expert from Gamma Pi Chapter Helps Youth Win National Competition

You don’t mess with Omega men. Especially when they have a Fourth Degree Black Belt. Brother Marlin Godfrey, possessor of such skill in martial arts, is also one of the best teachers of the Korean-style Kuk Sool Won™ martial arts fighting method and his expertise showed on April 13 when his school, Kuk Sool Won™ of Maryland, took home the Top School Winner in a 5-state competition featuring more than 250 participants that was held in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan last week.

Brother Godfrey, who entered the Fraternity as a member of Genesis X in 2011, is the Chief Instructor for the school located in Dunkirk, Md. The school also won the competition last year. About 50 students from the school made the trip along with a contingent of family and friends from the Washington, D.C. area, who traveled by bus, car and air. In the photo at left, Brother Godfrey waves the championship flag. It was nearly a clean sweep as Brother Giodfrey's school took 6 out of 8 Black belt Grand Championships at the competition. Learn more on the Web. Below are a couple photos from the event. Congratulations to Brother Godfrey and his team for a job well done! And you better bow down or just "duck" when you see him coning.

Gamma Pi Plans Big Summer Kickoff Events

Whether you like to swing on the dance floor or swing on the golf course, Gamma Pi has your ticket into summer with two big fundraising events planned for the month of June. Here is the "411":

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Black and White Party with the AKA's
On June 1, the Super Chapter joins forces with the Psi Epsilon Omega chapter of AKA for a Black and White Affair at the Woodmore Country Club in Mitchellville, Md., from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

In recent years, the Woodmore Country Club has been home to some serious "grown and sexy" summertime bashes combining the memberships and clientele of Gamma Pi and local sorority chapters. All of the events at Woodmore have sold out!. Tickets for the party are$25 in advance and, if there are any left, they will be sold for $30 at the door. Get yours now before the admission price rises and supplies dwindle! Nobody lights the torch for summer like Gamma Pi ... Miss this social opportunity and you might as well go right back into winter hibernation - because you'll definitely be out in the cold!

9th Annual Phil Ferguson Memorial-Charles Drew Scholarship Fund, Inc. Golf Tournament
Every year more than 100 local golfers converge on Andrews Air Force Base courses to join the Brothers of Gamma Pi for this popular golfing event. Each shot -- whether for birdie, bogie or par -- helps fund the scholarship coffers of Gamma Pi and the partnering Friendship Charities Foundation to help send local students to college.

This year, tee time shotgun start is at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 14. Registration opens at 7 a.m. Cost of the tournament is $125 per golfer ($115 for DOD and military).

Even if you can't hang with Tiger Woods, you can enjoy the fun and fellowship and compete for the big trophy or the cash prizes that Brothers will be giving away in droves. Cash prizes will be awarded for such feats as closest to the pin, longest drives and more. Door prizes and "goodie" bags will also be given away. it will be hard to go home empty-handed!

Note: Due to security regulations, all golfers must have a valid driver's license to present for entry.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON BOTH EVENTS

Top County Officials Honor Gamma Pi for 40 Years of Dedicated Service to the Local Community

Gamma Pi with Brother Councilman Derrick L. Davis

The 40th birthday is usually a special one. It is one of those milestones that calls for special gifts and special recognition. For some individuals, reaching 40 can be somewhat traumatic -- you are moving into a new age bracket and a new phase of life. For the Brothers of Gamma Pi chapter in Prince George's County, Maryland, turning 40 was anything but traumatic, but was, instead, "sweet" as members of the chapter were honored yesterday by the Prince George's County Council, led by Brother Councilman Derrick L. Davis, for four decades of exemplary service to the local community. Both Brother Councilman Davis and Brother County Executive Rushern Baker co-sponsored the Proclamation. Both are members of the chapter.

Close to 40 Brothers turned out for the recognition ceremony at 10 a.m. on March 26 at County Council Chambers in Upper Marlboro. The event included a Proclamation presented by Bother Councilman Davis and his fellow council members in honor of Gamma Pi's stellar and steady community service. It was an event to experience and will go down as one of the proudest days in Gamma Pi history. The chapter, which surged to more than 200 dues-paying members in 2011,  was chartered on March 5, 1973. This past March 5, Gamma Pi  held a ''reunion" program to commemorate the occasion and kickoff a yearlong slate of activities honoring the 40th anniversary. More than 100 Brothers past and present attended that program at the Super Chapter Fraternity Center in Capital Heights, Maryland.

At County Council chambers on Tuesday, the venue was turned into a "sea of purple" as Omega men from Gamma Pi donned their trademark purple sport jackets to show unity. In many ways, it was a day of "Purple Reign," which is a theme the chapter has chosen for the 40th anniversary year activities. The Council also sponsored a continental breakfast reception for the Gamma Pi Brothers prior to the ceremony.

Brothers Ikey Staton, McIntosh and Everett

"Having the county government recognize our 40 years of service to the citizens is outstanding," said Gamma Pi Basileus, Brother Gordon Everett, Sr. "To have some of our charter members still active with the chapter is a blessing. They have taught us well the meaning of Omega Man."  

Brother Tim McIntosh, one of the chapter's founders, served as the first Basileus. He addressed the County Council during the recognition ceremony, saying:"Forty years seems like a short period of time... The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is over 100 years old, and we hold four Cardinal Principles very dear. They are Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift. They guide us and enable us to make an impact wherever we are: Manhood….standing up and being the man that we are called to be; Scholarship….excelling in whatever we undertake; Perseverance….hanging in there to see things through, regardless of the cause; and Uplift….reaching down to lift someone up. It is because of our adherence to these Principles that we are here today."

"We are grateful that County Councilman Derrick Davis and County Executive Rushern Baker are among our Brotherhood," Brother McIntosh added. "Thank you Brother Davis for this Proclamation ….and Long Live the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity." Brother McIntosh is one of several charter members who are also 50-year members of the Fraternity.

Click here for a link to the Council agenda. Gamma Pi was front and center at the March 26 meeting: 

Above and below are some photos from the event provided by Brother David Sierra. Additional photos from Brother Sierra's collection are also located on the Gamma Pi web site. Some video clips from the Tuesday event  will also be made available soon.

Brothers listen in Council Chambers

Brother Councilman Davis (right) briefs chapter

Brothers Hines, Wyatt and Branch discuss the event 

Gamma Pi Brings Holiday Cheer to Kentland Community Children, Families

Once a month, the Brothers of Gamma Pi chapter arrive at the Kentland Community Center to the delight and anticipation of many of the children in the area who look forward to the chapter's Que Kidz Dayz program as a time to learn, grow and experience activities and opportunities that they normally would not get. Many of these children come from disadvantaged backgrounds. But today was different, marked by the presence of Santa "in the house," and there were many gifts, treats and holiday music and decorations.

Could it be Christmas? Absolutely. Christmas came early for the Kentland kids and the greater Kentland Community thanks to the chapter's Community Holiday Celebration held at the center today.



Members of Sister4Sisters

 More than 100 people -- many of them young children, some with their parents - joined in a range of festivities that the children will never forget. There were games; a live magic show courtesy of Brother Otis Fowler, the official chapter "magician;" an interactive science presentation that featured real-life science projects; food; and a little bit of line dancing at the end.

Gamma Pi collaborated with the Kentland Community Center, 4H, the local Boys and Girls Club and an organization called Sister4Sisters on the event, which began at 10 a.m. and ended at 1 p.m. Brother Orlando McDowell coordinates Que Kidz Dayz for Gamma Pi chapter. To learn mroe about Que Kidz Dayz, click here.

Among those attending was Maryland State Senator Joanne C. Benson, who addressed the audience and praised the efforts of Gamma Pi and the other partner in making the event happen. Below are some comments Senator Benson offered on video about the event. Some other video highlights are also posted: