SUMMER 2010 , OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC. The Oracle State Of The Fraternity Remembering Brother Benjamin L. Hooks 1925-2010 2010 Undergraduate Summit Relief Eff orts For Haiti Omega’s Organizational Assessment Interview with Brother Congressman Meek BROTHER WARREN G. LEE, JR. 38th Grand Basileus The Oracle Grand Officers and Supreme Council Members Contents Contents Pages Former Grand Basilei 2 The Oracle District Representatives 3 Vol. 80 * No. 22 * Summer 2010 4 An official publication of Editorial Board Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Message From The Grand Basileus 5 Editor’s Commentary 7 The Oracle is published quarterly (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter) by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. at 9 its publications office: 3951 Snapfinger Parkway; Brother Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks Decatur, GA 30035. Congressman Meek Interview 11 The Oracle is mailed non-profit, standard mail with postage paid at Decatur, GA 30035 and additional Director Of Communications Commentary 14 mailing offices. Postmaster: State Of The Fraternity / Core Values 15 Send address changes to: The 2010 Undergraduate Summit 19 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 31 3951 Snapfinger Parkway State Of The Fraternity/ Infrastructure Decatur, GA 30035 Social Action Section 33 47 Mandated Programs The Oracle deadlines State Of The Fraternity / Fraternity Morality 55 Spring Issue - February 15 57 Summer Issue – May 15 Human Interest Section Fall Issue- August 15 Relief Efforts In Haiti 68 Winter Issue – November 15 State Of The Fraternity / The Importance Of Strategic Planning 73 DEADLINES ARE Omega’s Organizational Assessment 76 SUBJECT TO CHANGE OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC. Omega Chapter Section 79 Chapters And Basilei 86 The Oracle Grand Officers and Supreme Council Members Warren G. Lee Jr. Carl A. Blunt Jamin A. Powell Lewis Anderson Grand Basileus 1st Vice Grand Basileus 2nd Vice Grand Basileus Grand Keeper Of Records And Seal [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]; [email protected] [email protected] Antonio F. Knox Michael R. Adams. Rev. Farrell Duncombe George H. Grace Grand Keeper Of Finance Grand Counselor Grand Chaplain Immediate Past Grand Basileus [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] OMEGA’S GRAND OFFICERS OMEGA’S Alexander Gibson James E. Swinson - Philip Merchant III Michael R. Morgan Undergraduate/Intermediate Rep. Undergraduate/Intermediate Rep. Undergraduate/Intermediate Rep. Grand Marshal [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 1 Grand Officers and Supreme Council Members The Oracle FORMER GRAND BASILEI AND EX - OFFICIO SUPREME COUNCIL MEMBERS George H. Grace - (37th) James S. Avery (28th) Dr. Edward J. Braynon, Jr. (30th) Burnel E. Coulon (31st) Immediate Past Grand Basileus Olmf Board Member Olmf Board Member Olmf Board Member [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Dr. Moses C. Norman, Sr. (33rd) C. Tyrone Gilmore, Sr. (34th) Dr. Dorsey Miller (35th) Lloyd Jordan Esq. (36th) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ( OMEGA’S FORMER GRAND BASILEI OMEGA’S 2 Grand Officers and Supreme Council Members The Oracle Edward T. Arrington Rev. Dr. Robert C. Scott 1st District Representative 8th District Representative FORMER GRAND BASILEI AND [email protected]; [email protected] [email protected]; [email protected] EX - OFFICIO SUPREME COUNCIL MEMBERS Kenneth E. Rodgers Shawn L. Brewer 2nd District Representative 9th District Representative [email protected]; [email protected] [email protected]; [email protected] George H. Grace - (37th) James S. Avery (28th) Dr. Edward J. Braynon, Jr. (30th) Burnel E. Coulon (31st) Immediate Past Grand Basileus Olmf Board Member Olmf Board Member Olmf Board Member [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Anthony R. Knight Johnny A. Lynch 3rd District Representative 10th District Representative [email protected]; [email protected] [email protected]; [email protected] Rufus D. Heard 4th District Representative [email protected]; [email protected] Dr. Moses C. Norman, Sr. (33rd) C. Tyrone Gilmore, Sr. (34th) Dr. Dorsey Miller (35th) Lloyd Jordan Esq. (36th) Edward T. Morant Sedrick M. Spencer [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 5th District Representative 12th District Representative [email protected] [email protected]; [email protected] [email protected]; [email protected] Victor L. Bruinton Torrance D. Chism 6th District Representative 13th District Representative [email protected]; [email protected] [email protected]; [email protected] ( Keith R. Jackson 7th District Representative [email protected]; [email protected] OMEGA’S DISTRIC REPRESENTATVES OMEGA’S 3 The Oracle Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. SUMMER 2010 , OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC. The Oracle Publication Editorial Board The Oracle Volume 80 * No. 22 * Summer 2010 * oppf.org Managing Editor Brother Troy Moore 3951 Snapfinger Parkway Decatur, GA 30035 Email: [email protected] Editorial Board Brother Robert Browne Brother Ghangis Carter Brother Kendall Franklin Brother Derrick Franklin State Of The Fraternity Brother Charles Johnson, Jr. Remembering Brother Benjamin L. Hooks Brother Lemarr Ketchens 1925-2010 Brother Warren G. Lee, Jr. Brother Glenn Mathews 2010 Undergraduate Summit Brother Bradley Minniefield Relief E orts For Haiti Brother Troy Moore Brother Art Norman Omega’s Organizational Assessment Interview with Brother Congressman Meek Brother Glenn Rice BROTHER WARREN G. LEE, JR. Brother Dr. Roland Thorpe, Jr., MD 38th Grand Basileus Brother Vroman Wright, Phd. Contributing Writers Brother Dr. Joseph Amos, MD Brother Vroman Wright, Phd. About The Cover District Directors Of Public Relations 1st Brother Keith Matthews 2nd Brother Zanes Cypress, Jr. The cover features, Brother Warren G. Lee, Jr., 38th 3rd Brother Terrence Gilliam Grand Basileus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. In 4th Brother Jerry Kennebrew this, his final formal address to the Brotherhood, 5th Brother L. Rodney Bennett Grand Basileus, Brother Lee, Jr. addresses the “State 6th Brother Bryon Putman of the Fraternity” in four indept articles that address: 7th Brother Darron Toston Core Values Of The Fraternity, Fraternity Infrastructure, 8th Brother William Williams Fraternity Morality and The Importance of Strategic 9th Brother Van Newborn Planning-Where Do We Go From Here. 10th Brother Robert Browne 12th Brother Robert L. Woodson By mandate of the Birmingham, AL Conclave, 13th Brother Federico Waldrond (Korea) Brother Lee, Jr. has provided a completed Fraternal International Photographer Emeritus Organizational Assessment. This Assessment of the Brother John H. Williams Fraternity was researched and completed by the International Photographer Center for Nonprofit Management based in Dallas, Brother Reginald Braddock TX. Process and Methodology included: Assembly Assistant International Photographers and review of Organizational documents, Extensive interviews with Board Members and key staff, Brother Troy Moore Confidential on line surveys with Board Members Brother Timothy Tyler and key staff, Development of a written report of Brother James Whitherspoon findings and recommendations with discussion of Videographer Best Practices and Presentation of the final report. Brother Curtis Lawrence 4 Message From The Grand Basileus July 2010 38th Grand Basileus, Brother Warren G. Lee, Jr. Greetings Brothers! All around us are examples of what people are against or what they dislike. I have taken a different approach and asked our Guest Editor and former editor of Omega’s Clarion Call, Brother Troy Moore, to focus on what Omega is FOR. Since the inception of my tenure, I have steadfastly promoted the Omega our Founders envisioned. The pages of this Oracle highlight the projects and initiatives we have undertaken to strengthen and focus our beloved Fraternity. As the ensuing pages proclaim, we are becoming a Service Organization. Throughout these pages, we have strived to share what real Omega Men are doing. Now, more than ever, we are showing our love for our communities and passion for our mandated programs. I am particularly pleased and grateful for the way Omega responded to the Earthquake in Haiti. We have given of our time, talent and treasure for one of the worst catastrophes in the history of humankind. Now, we need visionary leadership grounded in Brotherly affection. Over the next few months, you will have an opportunity truly to reflect on who we are as Omega men and where YOU want us to go as an organization. We must decide whether we are willing to settle for small accomplishments or ready to stretch for a large impact nationally and internationally. Thank you for the opportunity to serve Omega as your Grand Basileus! Long Live Omega Psi Phi Fraternity! Fraternally, Warren G. Lee, Jr. 38th Grand Basileus Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 5 The Oracle From The Desk Of The Managing Editor: Omega Partners Brother Troy Moore The Oracle Editorial Board Policies The Friendship Foundation: The Friendship Foundation Inc. (FFI) professionally manages The Oracle is one of three official publications of Omega Omega World Center. The staff of property management Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Like its predecessor, this