Saturday, May 31, 2014

Bowie State University Athletic Hall of Fame Names Two Gamma Pi Brothers to Rolls

It's been some years since their exploits on the baseball diamond and the football gridiron. But now it is assured that the accomplishments of Gamma Pi Brothers Anthony Stewart and John Morgan, Jr.. will never be forgotten. They are immortalized as newly minted members of the Bowie State University Athletic Hall of Fame.

These Brothers were among  16 stellar athletes, athletic leaders and one team who were honored at a special program on May 4 at the school's Fine and Performing Arts Center. Other inductees included former football coach Henry Frazier III (1986-89) and 1960's track and field star Clarence Mollock, who received the 2014 Barney Lifetime Achievement Award. 
Brother Anthony Stewart
Brother Stewart (Gamma Pi '88) was honored for his years as a power hitting third baseman for the Bulldogs with a career batting average of .340. He batted in the third spot three out of four years and was an integral part of the 1982 Bowie State CIAA championship team. He was Rookie of the Year in 1980. 

The Hall of Fame is a family affair for Brother Stewart as his father and oldest brother are in the Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame. Another brother, Thomas, was just inducted into the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore Basketball Hall of Fame in February." It's been a great journey for the Stewart family," Brother Stewart said. His Brother Alan (Gamma Kappa '80) accepted the award in his behalf along with his daughter.

Brother Stewart is from Princess Anne on the Eastern Shore and is the 9th of 10 children, all of whom have finished college and most who have advanced degrees.  He runs Stewart Financial Services in Lanham, Md. Brother Stewart has also co-authored a book on financial matters, "Saving Middle America: Securing Financial Dreams." You can purchase the book at www.savingmiddleamericabook.com and watch a video interview about the book that Brother Stewart gave to Gamma Pi TV in 2011.Brother Stewart and his wife are the parents of a son and two daughters. The oldest daughter is a freshman at Bowie State. 
Brother Coach Morgan (left) with Brother Powell

Brother Morgan (Gamma Pi '99) was inducted for his stardom in football. Brother Morgan, who is now the new Assistant Head Coach at Morgan State University, played linebacker from 1989-92 and had the most tackles (89) in one season which happened to be a championship season for Bowie State when it won the CIAA title. He also holds the record for most tackles in a season (133) in 1992.

Brother Morgan is the new Assistant Head Coach at Morgan State University in Baltimore where he serves as Defensive Coordinator. He is a former  Head Football Coach at Fort Valley (Ga.) State University, where he also served as the President of the SIAC Coaches Association and a member of the Division II Southeast Regional Advisory Committee for Football.  His memberships and honors also include the American Football Coaches Association and the Black Coaches Association, and in 2011, he was selected to participate in the NCAA Expert Forum. He also took part in the NCAA Advanced Coaches Academy in 2006.

While Brother Morgan worked as the Defensive Coordinator at Bowie State, the Bulldogs ranked first in the nation in pass efficiency defense, sixth in total defense and 10th in scoring defense in 2001. The next year the Bulldog defense  was second in the nation in total defense and fifth in scoring defense.

Brother Morgan earned a B.S. in Sociology/Criminal Justice in 1993 and a Masters in Education Guidance and Counseling, all from Bowie State, in 1995. His community service includes serving as youth advocate and mentoring at-risk youth. He and wife Tisa are the parents of three children.

"The BSU family is extremely proud of these Brother for their athletic performance while attending our university and we are equally as proud of their accomplishments in his career, community activities, and service to society at large," said Gamma Pi's Brother Alfonzo Powell, an influential alumni who was on the school's Charter Omega Psi Phi Line (Epsilon Sigma) in 1969. A total of 8 Omega men were among the Hall of Fame inductees, including former football coach Frazier. 

To read more about the historic occasion,  see the BSYou e-newsletter:

Brother Morgan (rear, center) with his extended family


Sunday, May 4, 2014

Chapter Holds Annual Health Fair and Blood Drive During Local Cultural Festival

Brothers pose for photo during early morning setup
Throughout the day at the Kentland Community Center in Landover, local bands belted out jazz, hip-hop and R&B music from three outdoor sound stages. A few thousand people milled about buying food from the vendors, fellowshipping with friends and enjoying a good weather weekend from the comforts of lawn chairs, tents and picnic tables. No mistake, the annual Harlem Renaissance Festival was in full swing again in Prince George's County.

Inside the community center,  the topic was health and wellness.  For the Brothers of Gamma Pi, it was more than just the Harlem Renaissance Festival. Saturday's event was a tremendous opportunity to reach out to African Americans about taking care of their own health and looking out for the health of others as Gamma Pi chapter held its Annual Health Fair and Charles Drew Blood Drive as part of the Renaissance Festival. The Health Fair and Blood Drive is a mandated program of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Whether they donated blood or just perused the information tables and discussed preventive health with any of a number of representatives who took part in the health fair, patrons from the local community were able to learn about cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, strokes and other diseases that afflict African Americans, often disproportionately. 
County Executive Brother Rushern Baker (c) with Gamma Pi

According to Bro. Dr.Kevin Ford,M.D., who heads the chapter's Health Fair and Blood Drive, 
cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in men and women.  The screenings being offered at the health fair focused on 4 of the 5 risk factors for heart disease which include hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and tobacco usage. Approximately 100 participants were able to take home  handouts  for the various diseases  or  have their  blood drawn. Participants were also able to have blood drawn to assess kidney function and PSA levels for men to assess their  prostate.

Bro. Dr. Michael Turnbull and his staff were  present giving out information on psychological services and Bro Dr. Edward Chapelle, DDS, was able to supply free tooth brushes and tooth paste to those who wanted them.  Bro. Dr. Lester Miles was also on-site during the event.

The blood drive had 36 people sign up to give blood and Gamma Pi was able to collect 18 pints."This is what we expect, that about 50% of people who sign up  to give will be eligible to give The 18 pints of blood will help 54 people who will need a blood transfusions and potentially save their life," said Dr. Ford.

People who came out for the event represented every age group and they included men, women and children. There was also some cultural information available including a display saluting Nannie Helen Burroughs manned by Brother James Wyatt, a 63-year- member of the Fraternity.

At least 30 Gamma Pi Brothers including Basileus Brian K. Long rotated through the event all day helping to man the volunteer's table, overseeing the health fair and working at the American Red Cross bloodmobile.

"The men of Friendship Charities Foundation and Omega Psi Phi recognize the importance of promoting community harmony and cultural awareness. That’s why we are honored to serve and support events such as the Harlem Renaissance Festival," said Brother William N. Smith, who arranged the chapter's participation in conjunction with the Harlem Renaissance Festival. Below and in the story are some photos from the event from Brothers Thaddeus Turner and Brett Blake.


With the High Sheriff -- Sheriff High

With State Attorney General Candidate Aisha Braveboy

With The Hon. Brother Rushern Baker
Bro. Dr. Ford checking out the setup

Brothers taking a break from the grind







Sunday, April 27, 2014

Gamma Pi Connects with Followers Through New FREE App

In these digital times, it's about "followers," and Gamma Pi has plenty of them. The Super Chapter recently opened up a new pipeline to the public and to other Fraternity members throughout the country to keep up with The Super Chapter events and activities by creating an app for iphones, ipads and Android devices. The new App, called Gamma Pi Mobile, was released in late March for Android and the official version for iphones and ipads (Apple) was rolled out this week.

To access the app, users simply visit either the Google Play Store (Android) or the Apple/ITunes store and enter the search terms, "Gamma Pi Mobile." The download and free installation takes approximately 2 minutes. More than 400 installations were recorded the first month.

Gamma Pi Mobile users have an array of chapter information sites at their fingertips, including the main website (gammapi.org), Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr photos, Events and even YouTube videos as well as a link to the chapter's Ustream live streaming channel called "Gamma Pi On Location."

How do you get the app other than doing an in-store search? It's simple. You can click here while using your mobile device or go to the gammapi.org website and click on the Gamma Pi Mobile link located on the home page. The new app is a project of the chapter's Public Relations Committee.

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Monday, March 17, 2014

Gamma Pi Brother Helps Bring UPLIFT to Ghanian Students and Villagers Half A World Away

Bro. Dr. Satterfield talks with officials at the University of Ghana
Brother Dr. Terry L. Satterfield (Epsilon Sigma, 1971) has been in the Fraternity long enough to see the Four Cardinal Principles come to life in just about every way imaginable. But these days, the Gamma Pi member is seeing UPLIFT in a different light. Bro. Dr. Satterfield is among those currently leading a U.S. academic delegation to the University of Ghana in Accra. The trip is underway now and Bro. Dr. Satterfield has been sending back some exciting notes from the early portions of his journey.

Bro. Dr. Satterfield (in photo at left) is traveling with the Department of Psychology and Counseling at the University of the District of Columbia, where is on the Advisory Board of that department, having helped the Counseling department receive accreditation through the professional counseling board. He announced the trip to the Brothers at the February chapter meeting.

While Brother and their families in the metro Washington area were experiencing yet another "snowdown" on today that closed federal government offices and schools, Brother Dr. Satterfield was "baking" in 89 degree heat in Accra. He was amazed to compare the weather at his location there to smartphone pictures of the snow sent to him this morning by a  fellow chapter Brother. In one of his dispatches, Brother Satterfield said, "Please send greetings to the brothers for me!"

With a villager
The purpose of the trip is to collaborate with the psychology students at The University of Ghana in efforts to enhance social services to the people in Accra and surrounding villages and to assess the graduate programs in psychology and counseling at the University of Ghana. Three other UDC professors are traveling with Bro. Dr. Satterfield.

"We will be here for 10 days.  Today we donated psychology books to the University of Ghana and visited schools in the area," Bro. Satterfield said in a March 18 dispatch from Accra. "Social services here are poor."

Omega Psi Phi is worldwide and Bro.Dr. Satterfield proved that by already getting in touch with Fraternity members in-country. He has been sporting a Frat shirt on the trip. "I spoke with Fraternity brothers here. On Friday (March 21) we all are going to hook up."

You can send Bro. Dr. Satterfield Omega-style good travel wishes as he continues his journey by sending an e-mail to him by clicking right here: Dr. Satterfield.  Or e-mail to: drtlsatterfield@verizon.net. Below are some additional photos he sent via the Internet and he will be sharing more photos as the trip progresses.

Guess which one is Bro Dr. Satterfield?

Throwing up "the hooks" is understood in any language
Showing off the Omega Garb

Listening and Learning


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