The Super Chapter Brings Cheer to Local Seniors

Contributed by Brother Thomas Boone

Gamma Pi chapter has a following among the seniors in Prince George's County. Every summer, the Ques from the Super Chapter host a Seniors Banquet at a local church in Capitol Heights, Md. that has become very popular and was even covered once by a local newspaper. Throughout the year, there are several other gathering for our seniors including a summer picnic/cookout and a series of Seniors Birthday Bash events held at the Windsor Crossing complex in Suitland.

Several Gamma Pi Brothers led the way with a program of mind-stimulating games, cake and ice cream, music and chit chat. Thanks to Brothers Bleu Colquitt, Don Norwood, Rod Lawrence, Don DeMarco Myles (who played the guitar) and Thomas Boone for organizing and carrying out the program.

The seniors have already requested that Gamma Pi come back in December. They have already engaged the Ques in gold-natured ribbing about who has the best skills in Wii bowling. The next Birthday Bash is  scheduled for December 19. Below are some photos from the event provided by Brother Boone:

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Gamma Pi's Project ENRICH Kicks Into Gear with Opening Program

To hear the young students tell it, they really did not want to be there in the first place. Many of the upperclassmen who took the podium during Saturday morning's Opening Program for the 2012-2013 version of Project ENRICH at Bowie State University recalled how their parents "forced" them to participate in the program, taking away their precious freedom to sleep in and live carefree for one Saturday morning every month. But they also added this in retrospect: it turned out to be a great, fun experience and has helped them grow into more confident, prepared students as they sail towards college. That is the dominant story line for Project ENRICH as the program begins a new year.

About 60 parents and students gathered at Bowie State's Center for Learning & Technology for the formal opening of Project ENRICH for the current academic year. Instead of the customary keynote speaker, this year Program Director Brother Willie Hines decided to focus on the "voices" of students in the program. Students highlighted the program with their own testimonials, partly as an affirmation for parents who have supported them throughout Project ENRICH and also as encouragement to incoming freshmen.

Gamma Pi Brings "Scholarship"to Life: Donates Supplies to Local Elementary School Headed by Chapter Brother

By Brother Rodney Beverly

Brother Principal Damien Goins (center) with
Gamma Pi members outside the Super Chapter Fraternity Center

On Thursday, August 16, 2012, the Brothers of the Gamma Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. did what they do best – they responded to the call for assistance in the community.  This time, the call to action involved Scholarship and was in response to chapter Brother Damien Goins who begins his first year as the newly appointed Principal at Gaywood Elementary School in Seabrook, Maryland. Brother Goins requested help in getting supplies for his students who largely come from economically challenged backgrounds.

Gamma Pi responded in Super Chapter fashion as Brothers came together and collected a truckload of school supplies for Gaywood Elementary students. Brother Goins was overwhelmed by the response and Brothers helped him get his career as a school principal off to a good start while also helping young students get the school year off to a promising start. It was a salute to Scholarship all the way around – the Omega way.

Brother Goins (right) with Brother Troy Scott (left)
and Brother William "Bo" Ellis

Thanks to a caravan of Brothers who stopped by the Super Chapter Fraternity Center in Forestville to donate supplies on that date, Gamma Pi was able to amass more than 30 backpacks, thousands of pencils and pens, rulers, erasers, notebook paper, folders, notebooks, even physical fitness equipment and other needed items for Gaywood’s students. Approximately 90% of the students are on free or reduced lunch plans.

“First of all, we are very proud of Damien in his new role as principal, but I am also very proud of how Gamma Pi responded to this effort. This was truly Scholarship in action,” said Basileus Brother Gordon Everett, Sr. “This is exactly what the Founders intended when it comes to both Uplift and Scholarship.”

Gamma Pi Uses Que Kidz Daze to Demonstrate Motorcycle and Bike Safety

Bro. Norwood and Anointed Horsemen Motorcycle Ministry

On Saturday morning, July 21, the raindrops were falling hard in the metro area as a week of off-and-on storms were cooling down recent extreme heat. In the spirit of true Omega men, the Brothers of Gamma Pi chapter effortlessly turned to "Plan B" when a steady downpour put a damper on a live demonstration of motorcycle and bicycle safety rules using real motorcycles. The bikes would have been driven to the Kentland Community Center where the Que Kidz Daze meets.

"Plan B" was an indoor interactive safety lecture that turned out to be just as much fun to the more than 30 young boys and girls gathered for the July session of Que Kidz Daze. Only one motorcycle (instead of several) was brought to the premises due to the weather, but the kids still had big fun as they always do on Que Kidz Saturdays. Brother Orlando McDowell leads Que Kidz Daz which provides monthly enrichment activities for underprivileged youth in the Kentland area on Saturday mornings.

Youth tries on a motorcycle helmet

Brother Don Norwood, a motorcycle enthusiast and president of the Ebenezer AME Church's Anointed Horsemen Motorcycle Ministry (Fort Washington, MD.), led the presentation. "Show me a left hand turned, everybody...Now how do you signal a right-hand turn,?" Brother Norwood said during his talk, as the kids extended their arms all the way out to signal the left hand turn, but some of them missed the ":trick"of the right hand signal by extending their arms all the way to the right rather than the "L"-shaped signal with the left hand to indicate right turns.

Brother Green's souped-up Harley

The Brothers used motorcycle safety laws as a context to discuss bike safety laws with the youth. For example, other topics included what side of thee road to ride on, what age to be on the sidewalk instead of in traffic, how to properly wear protective gear like a helmet and padding, the ABC's of safety checklist and traffic laws.

Brother Clint Green, who is not a member of the Anointed Horsemen,  was the only one to brave the elements and maneuver his bike to the event (see photo). And just as soon as it appeared the rain had stopped, as the kids prepared to head outside to examine Brother Green's bike as part of the safety lecture, the downpour returned and the Que Kidz Daze contingent remained inside. Read more about Que Kidz Daze on Gamma Pi's web site. Below are some video clips from Saturday: