Helping Young People Grow While Showing Them How to Grow Food

Normally, kids don't like to eat their vegetables. It's just not as much fun as hot dogs, hamburgers, fries and potato chips and ice cream. But let those kids "get dirty" and dig big holes in the ground and then plant seeds in the soil and watch those seeds sprout into carrots, tomatoes and peppers,  and their eyes light up. That was how youth in the Kentland Community reacted today when the Brothers of Gamma Pi kicked off spring with a "groundbreaking" event to demonstrate the concepts of gardening by helping youth plant their own garden. Over the next few weeks, the youth will check on and water their gardens and watch dirt turn to nutritious vegetables.

The youth are part of Que Kidz, a special ongoing monthly outreach and enrichment program for disadvantaged children sponsored by  Gamma Pi chapter. Sister4 Sister, a local social service organization also operating in the county, and Patuxent Nursery, jointly sponsored the April 20 groundbreaking with Gamma Pi. Coincidentally, it was timed with Earth Day which is April 22.

During today's program, the youth were able to out into practice what they have learned in recent months about gardening and healthy eating. Those lessons came to life and they were excited. They ripped open plastic bags of soil and poured the contents into planting sacks. They held tiny seeds in their hands. They dug holes and lowered the planting sacks into the ground and even dded a little water. It became "hands on." The weather was just right for gardening. It was a clear, sunny day with just a little breeze.

The focus of QueKidz this year has been the importance of adding healthy foods and natural foods to the diet to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Along with that lesson, the children, ranging in age from 8 to 13, have been exposed to soil cultivation and where fruits and vegetables come from. Their parents may bring them home from Safeway and Gian and other markets, but they start out as seeds in the ground. A few weeks ago the youth were treated to an exciting field trip to the nearby  Patuxent Nursery.

“Many of the youths in this community have never seen or heard of a garden, and what we hope to accomplish with this project is not only to expose them to gardening, but to heighten their curiosity about things they don’t know about which keeps them yearning to learn,” said Brother Orlando McDowell, organizer of QueKidz and a member of Gamma Pi chapter. “Kentland kids generally do not have the same opportunities to get out and enjoy wholesome learning and enrichment activities on a Saturday morning as do kids in more prosperous communities.” The video segment above is one of several posted on Gamma Pi's YouTube channel.

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