mentoring Spring/Summer 2014 The Oracle potential education goals skills instruction leadership motivation inspire advice coach The Oracle - Spring/Summer 2014 1 The Oracle Editorial Board OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC. Brother Michael A. Boykin, MAJ International Headquarters Editor of The Oracle 3951 Snapfinger Parkway Email: [email protected] Decatur, GA 30035 404-284-5533 Brother Milbert O. Brown, Jr., MA, BSJ Assistant Editor of the Oracle District Directors of Public Relations The Oracle 1st Brother Al-Rahim Williams 2nd Brother Zanes Cypress, Jr. 3rd Brother Dr. Jimmie E. Jacobs, Jr. 4th Brother Dr. Fred Aikens Volume 84 * No. 28 * Spring/Summer 2014 5th Brother Quincy Snider 6th Brother Byron Putman 7th Brother Barrington Dames 8th Brother Greg Labrie The official publication of 9th Brother Avery Matthews 10th Brother Sean Long Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 12th Brother Nicholas D. Thompson 13th Brother Kenneth Evans The Oracle is published quarterly Contributing Photographers (spring, summer, fall and winter) by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Brother Terrence Humphrey at its publications office: Brother Jamal Parker 3951 Snapfinger Parkway, Decatur, GA 30035. International Photographer Emeritus Brother John H. Williams * The Oracle deadlines are: Spring issue - February 15 International Executive Director Summer issue - May 15 Brother Kenneth Barnes Fall issue - August 15 Winter issue - November 15 39th Grand Basileus *Deadlines are subject to change. Brother Dr. Andrew A. Ray Send address changes to: In Memory of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Founders: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Dr. Ernest E. Just (1883-1941) Attn: Grand KRS Dr. Oscar J. Cooper (1888-1972) 3951 Snapfinger Parkway Professor Frank Coleman (1890-1967) Decatur, GA 30035 Bishop Edgar A. Love (1891-1974) 2 The Oracle - Spring/Summer 2014 The Oracle Table of Contents Beta Upsilon Chapter has been in partnership with Central Park Elementary for over 15 years. THE GRAND 6 BASILEUS MESSAGE 30 DISTRICT NEWS 8 OMEGA 78 OMEGA CHAPTER: Remembering Brothers REFLECTIONS who served the Fraternity 14 FATHERHOOD AND MENTORING THROUGHOUT OMEGA The Oracle - Spring/Summer 2014 3 Living Former Grand Basilei of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Warren G. Lee, Jr. Dr. Edward J. Braynon Burnel E. Coulon Dr. Moses C. Norman Immediate Past 30th Grand Basileus 31th Grand Basileus 33rd Grand Basileus 38th Grand Basileus Dr. C. Tyrone Gilmore Dr. Dorsey C. Miller Lloyd J. Jordan, Esq. Dr. George H. Grace 34th Grand Basileus 35th Grand Basileus 36th Grand Basileus 37th Grand Basileus Former Grand Basilei pictured from left to right: Brothers Braynon, Coulon, Norman, Gilmore, Miller, Grace, and Lee. (Not pictured is 36th Grand Basileus Lloyd J. Jordan). This photo was taken March 12, 2011 in Washington, DC during the Centennial Memorial Service Weekend. 4 The Oracle - Spring/Summer 2014 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Supreme Council Roster July 1, 2014 Grand Officers Alan W. Junius Brian O. Beverly, Esq. Former Grand Basilei Grand Marshal 6th District Representative Ex-Officio Supreme Dr. Andrew A. Ray [email protected] [email protected] 39th Grand Basileus 215-519-8105 919-815-0225 Council Members [email protected] 585-208-3772 Warren G. Lee, Jr. Leslie A. Gamble Dr. Edward J. Braynon, Jr. Immediate Past Grand Basileus 7th District Representative 30th Grand Basileus Antonio F. Knox, Sr. [email protected] [email protected] 305-932-7433 1st Vice Grand Basileus 214-415-5140 786-586-5778 [email protected] Burnel E. Colon 919-606-8569 District Representatives 31st Grand Basileus Dr. William R. Brown 317-293-9919 [email protected] Tony Q. Cobb, Jr. Michael A. Jefferson, Esq. 8th District Representative 2nd Vice Grand Basileus 1st District Representative [email protected] Dr. Moses C. Norman [email protected] [email protected] 515-991-7749 33rd Grand Basileus 478-284-4865 860-995-6118 Ernest E. Parquet [email protected] 404-312-7355 Curtis A. Baylor Milton Harrison 9th District Representative Grand Keeper Records & Seal 2nd District Representative [email protected] Dr. C. Tyrone Gilmore, Sr. [email protected] [email protected] 504-559-3909 34th Grand Basileus 708-919-9904 301-641-9755 Steven Watkins, Esq. [email protected] 864-809-7707 W. Kelly Shannon Robert C. Warren, Jr., Esq. 10th District Representative Grand Keeper of Finance 3rd District Representative [email protected] Dr. Dorsey C. Miller [email protected] [email protected] 773-680-5787 35th Grand Basileus 602-295-1006 202-674-6368 Freddrick Alexander [email protected] 954-298-4042 Christopher M. Cooper, Esq. Christopher K. Welch 12th District Representative Grand Counselor 4th District Representative [email protected] Lloyd J. Jordan, Esq. [email protected] [email protected] 510-508-2677 36th Grand Basileus 614-327-5632 937-974-2795 [email protected] 202-256-3109 Donnel Jones Earl T. Young Matthew B. Coleman Undergraduate Representative 5th District Representative 13th District Representative Dr. George H. Grace [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 37th Grand Basileus 301-792-8090 901-491-8913 703-582-3549 [email protected] William M. Matthews 305-936-6435 Undergraduate Representative [email protected] 313-520-1219 Leon Spencer Undergraduate Representative [email protected] 713-417-4221 Rev. Dr. Christopher Curry Grand Chaplain [email protected] 215-512-1631 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. International Headquarters 3951 Snapfinger Parkway, Decatur, GA 30035 The Oracle - Spring/Summer 2014 5 Message from the 39th Grand Basileus my BROTHERS, This is my final Oracle Greeting to you as Grand Basileus. First, I thank you for entrusting me with the leadership of this great Brotherhood. It has been a labor of love as my team met the challenges and framed solutions that energized our focus on Omega’s Mission. Leading and serving the Brotherhood in two centuries of Omega is a once in a lifetime honor. To be Grand Basileus at the 100th celebration of our founding (1911-2011) and at the 100th celebration of our chartering (1914-2014) are unique moments in time. My team collectively benchmarked the activities around each and delivered due recognition to you who have stayed the course, kept the Brother Dr. Andrew A. Ray faith and saw it through. 39th Grand Basileus We must continue to live the lesson from the verse “The Bridge Builder.” Our Perseverance must be concretized by the strength of “Invictus.” Every day that God grants us we are obligated to be the difference that we seek; ever “The best remembering that Omega Men are true to the man in the mirror, and we live our Grand creed. I share with you again that life is a relay race. We run our leg of the race to the Basileus best of our respective abilities, knowing that the time will come when we must is one who hand off. Missing the hand off should be not an option for Omega Men. If the hand off is missed, not only does the individual lose, the whole team suffers the never loss. forgets My Friends, having experienced the challenges of picking up the baton, making up the stagger and running the curve, I have given our team a lead and the chance what it is to win. Should Team Omega be the first to finish, the entire Omega family will to be a share in the victory. Let us join hands and remember the gospel verse “God Grand Congratulates the Winner at the Finish line.” May God’s Grace be upon the Omega family as we assemble in celebration Brother.” of the 100th Anniversary of our chartering and be with us as we return to our homes. Fraternally, dr. andrew a. ray 39th grand basileus omega psi phi fraternity, inc. 6 The Oracle - Spring/Summer 2014 Message from the Editor of The Oracle GREETINGS BROTHERS, As I bring you my last edition of The Oracle, I want to thank Grand Basileus Dr. Andrew A. Ray, Brother Kenneth Barnes, and all the members of the International Headquarters that provided support to make these publications possible. Each District Director of Public Relations (DDPR), chapter reporter, photographer, and brothers in general, are vital contributors to the goals of the Fraternity and highlighting those success stories in this format. Our Fraternity Constitution and Bylaws indicate that The Oracle should be published four times a year. While that has not been the case each year, it is important to understand the financial impact of following that mandate. There are over 21,000 financial brothers that requireThe Oracle to be mailed. Each edition of The Oracle Brother Michael A. Boykin costs about $50,000 to produce, print, and mail. If we were to publish and mail four Editor of The Oracle editions per year, that would cost the Fraternity approximately $200,000 per year. On several occasions, I have combined editions of The Oracle to maximize cost effectiveness for the Fraternity. I have highlighted activities that go above Financial Mailing List and beyond the mandated programs that every chapter is required to do for the by District as of 7.1.2014 community and brotherhood. This will continue to maintain the highly regarded 1 211 status of our official publication of the Fraternity. 2 3,200 3 1,898 Additionally, I have charged each DDPR to create a robust district publication to 4 651 showcase activity in your district. With over 800 chapters, it is impossible to publish 5 959 every submitted article in The Oracle. If your district does not have a publication, 6 2,636 it is up to the brothers in your district to demand it and elect a DDPR that has the 7 4,658 skillset to carry out the duties of that office. 8 577 9 2,776 10 1,493 Finally, Brother Milbert O.