Closing Ceremony for Project ENRICH Ends Another School Year and an Era of Leadership for Gamma Pi

Earlier today, Gamma Pi bid goodbye to 17 graduating seniors and wished a productive summer to tens of other underclassmen who will come back next year to rejoin the flagship Project ENRICH college preparatory education program. The chapter also extended a heartfelt thanks to longtime member Bro. Roland Byrd, who after several years, is stepping down as the director of Project ENRICH. Bro. Byrd revived the program after it had been dormant for a while and took it to new heights. He is a retired college educator. Bro. Dwayne "Pete"Ford will assume leadership of Project ENRICH next fall.

The chapter also used the occasion of the Charles Drew Memorial Scholarship Fund 5th Annual Awards Recognition Celebration, held on the campus of Bowie State University, to recognize 10 scholarship recipients for 2010. Like closing ceremonies in recent years, today's program drew a large contingent of parents and other family members to show support for the students and for Project ENRICH as well as Bro. Byrd's tireless commitment to the program. Project ENRICH runs monthly from October-May and is held every first Saturday on Bowie State's campus.

One of the most memorable portions of the ceremony was the humorous skit performed by the seniors. The highlight was a funny impersonation of Bro. Byrd which served as a tribute to his doggedness in staying on students to do their best and give their all.

Among others who congratulated the students and hailed Bro. Byrd's championing of Project ENRICH over the years were Basileus Bro. Maurice Calhoun and newly elected Second District Representative Bro. Kenny Rodgers, a past Gamma Pi Basileus.Otherparticipants were Bro.Antonio Santos (Scholarship chair), Bro. Dr.gerald Folsom (Chaplain), Bro. Stacey Eason and Master of Ceremonies Bro. Alphonzo Powell.

Today's program also marked a first for Gamma Pi. A small portion of the program (about 2 minutes) was streamed live over the Internet for real-time viewing on computers and smartphones in anticipation of offering live feeds from upcoming chapter events and programs. To see a video replay from that brief live stream, go to www.qik.com/gammapi.

These photos are from Bro. Dr. Harrison Foy. Additional photos and video clips are coming.

Chapter Helps Elderly Homeowner Celebrate "Christmas In April"

When the small contingent of Brothers walked into the house at 6501 Woodland Road in Suitland early Saturday morning, it was Christmas for the owner -- as in, "Christmas In April." Gamma Pi lent some much-needed manpower to efforts to improve the home that was in vital need of repair as part of the annual commitment that the chapter makes with sweat equity to the countywide Christmas in April project.

The home was identified for the project by Christmas in April officials and is occupied by a female senior citizen and some other relatives, including a son. The small frame house sits way back off the road and needed work inside and out including in the spacious front and side yard. Brothers experienced in Christmas in April work remarked that it was one of the toughest challenges they had seen compared to previous homes served by the project.

In addition to about a half dozen Gamma Pi participants, a team of professional carpenters along with women from the Bowie-Mitchellville chapter of the National Council of Negro Women joined forces on the home.Work began around 7 a.m. and ended in early afternoon.One of the biggest tasks involved pitching several loads of trash and debris (large car parts, old aluminum siding, thick underbrush, old appliances, assorted junk) aboard a county dump truck for trips back and forth to the landfill.

"The (house) Captain was very impressed with the usual hard work we put in to gentrify one of Suitland's urban homes," said Brother Tony Kelly,who coordinated the project for Gamma Pi's Social Action committee. One of the sons was so overwhelmed by the work that he went around and personally thanked each project participant with tearful eyes and a hug. In an unusual twist, he even spent much of the day working alongside the Brothers and the other Christmas in April participants. He did not just sit and watch. Enjoy the photos and videos provided by Brother Kelly and bythe PR Committee from yesterday's very successful event:

Chapter Supports March of Dimes on Historic Day

Today, April 17, 2010, will go down in history as a day to forever remember in Gamma Pi chapter as former three-term Basileus Brother Kenneth Rodgers becomes the 32nd Second District Representative during the Second District Conference near Syracuse, New York. It is fitting that Gamma Pi chapter would start such a special day doing what it does best -- providing Uplift to the local community as "The Super Chapter." This morning, about a dozen Brothers braved the chill at 6 a.m. and gathered at Watkins Park to start preparing food for the annual March of Dimes Walk-A-Thon. By the time the event ended, Brothers had helped serve food to hundreds of walkers from across the county who were participating to help raise money to support families with premature babies.

"Gamma Pi has been in charge of logistics since the beginning of the March of Dimes Walk which was in the early 1990s. So that means we do the food and help with setup and any other logistical assistance they need ,"said Brother Bo Ellis, who led the project. While a contingent of Gamma Pi Brothers traveled to New York for the District Conference, Bro. Ellis helped hold down the fort at home with the March of Dimes project.

The numbers may have been smaller this year because of the trip to the District Conference, but the contribution was as big as ever. In fact, during the Walk-A-Thon, Gamma Pi's professionalism and efficiency was so noticeable that a representative from the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome organization approached the chapter during the Walk-A-Thon to inquire about getting Gamma Pi to work logistics for the upcoming Annual Charity Walk for SIDS scheduled for September.

Here are some videos from today's successful event, which had nice, sunny weather as a backdrop:

Former Basileus Bro.Rodgers Addresses Regional Alpha Kappa Alpha Meeting; Anticipated Election to Fraternity's Top District Post on the Horizon

In just a few weeks, Brothers of Gamma Pi are anticipating a crowing achievement for the 37-year-old chapter when former three-term Basileus Bro. Kenneth Rodgers is expected to win election as the District Representative for Omega Psi Phi. If things continue on course, he would become the highest-ranking member of the Fraternity in the five-state Second District comprised of Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. To the uninitiated, that is the equivalent of serving as Governor of five separate states.

Already, Bro. Rodgers (at right in photo at left), currently number two in the Second District as the First Vice District Representative, is getting a taste of what higher leadership would be like. He was personally selected by Grand Basileus Bro. Warren Lee to represent Omega Psi Phi during the 79th North Atlantic Regional Conference of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority that was held in Prince George's County.

On Thursday evening, March 25, Bro. Rodgers addressed a full house of AKA's at the fabulous new Gaylord Hotel that anchors the new National Harbor development. He brought greetings on behalf of Brother Lee and the Supreme Council, complimenting the Ladies of Pink and Green on their history and contributions. His remarks drew rounds of applause and praise. Brother Rodgers did Omega proud. It was clearly a prelude to what is to come for Bro. Rodgers, the Fraternity and Gamma Pi chapter in the years ahead, beginning with the mid-April Second District Conference near Syracuse, New York where his election is expected to occur.

In true Gamma Pi fashion, Bro.Rodgers was supported in person by a huge contingent of chapter Brothers who joined him at the Gaylord. Brother Marcus Whitfield captured a short video clip of Bro. Rodgers' address. Take a look and listen below and send Bro. Rodgers a congratulatory e-mail: