KOR 69th Southern Province Council Report

KOR 69th Southern Province Council Report

69 th Southern Province Keeper of Records Report

T he Tampa (FL) Alumni Chapter, the University of South Florida chapter, the University of South Florida Chapter, the Zeta Chi of Kappa Alpha Psi, the Zeta Chi Colony at Saint Leo University, and the Tampa Silhou- ettes welcomed more than 600 registered brothers and guests to the 69 th Southern Province Council held at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida from April 11-13, 2019. The Council began on Thursday, April 11 th with the Province Board of Directors Meeting and Public Meeting. Former Florida State House of Representatives member, the Honorable Edwin Narain, Esq. served as the keynote speaker, noting that Kappa Men must lead the charge of Af- rican Americans to be Reborn, Reclaimed, and Recommit to fighting for the rights of other people in this country. Southern Province Polemarch Bertram K. Orum then presented a $1,000 contribution to the Hillsborough County NAACP. Tampa (FL) Alumni then recognized Rudina Poole with the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award. The Honorable Lesley “Les” Miller, Chairman, Hillsborough County Commission presented keys to the county to Grand Polemarch Thom- as L. Battles, Jr. and Province Polemarch Orum. A public reception followed. First Business Session On Friday, April 12 th the First Business Session was called to order by Province Polemarch Bertram K. Orum. Special guests included Grand Polemarch Thomas L. Battles, Jr., 32 nd Grand Polemarch William “Randy” Bates, Jr., Esq., Past Middle Western Province Polemarch Clifford Franklin, Past Junior Grand Vice Polemarch & Past Jr. Province Vice Polemarch (FL) Jwyanza B. Watt, and Chief of Staff to 33 rd Grand Polemarch and Elder Watson Diggs Awardee Myron L. Hardiman. Delegate Roll Call, the Adoption of Rules and Code of Ethics for the 69 th Southern Province Council were moved, seconded and approved followed by the Certification of Delegates. Province Polemarch Orum recognized the Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 initiates. Elder Watson Diggs Awardee Dr. Edward R. Scott II presented an up- date on Health & Wellness activities that would be conducted during the Coun- cil. 9 th Southern Province Polemarch and Grand Board Member Linnes Finney, Jr, Esq. presented on a workshop Risk Management issues, highlighting the in- crease of Chapter Insurance Premium to $1,700 per chapter. The day of activities continued with the official photograph, health screenings, committee meetings, the Kappa Kookout, Student of the Year Competition and the All White Dance. On the morning of Saturday, April 13 th , the Sunday of Hope Fellowship Breakfast began the day with an inspirational message by Rev. Dr. Shafter E. Scott touting “Let Brotherly Love Continue” pointing out that brotherly love forgives and refus- es to let harm come in. Southern Province Guide Right Chairman LaShante Keys announced the 2019 Southern Province Guide Right Awards after a moment of silence was observed for a Fort Lauderdale Alumni Kappa Leaguer that commit- ted suicide. Awards were as follows: Turnaround Student of the Year – Michael Ingram [Prattville (AL) Alumni Assoc.]; Leon W. Steward Award - 1 st Place - Brad- ley Lockett [Winter Park (AL) Alumni], 2 nd Place - Nazir Serambus [St. Petersburg (FL) Alumni], 3 rd Place - Derrick Bennett [Orlando (FL) Alumni]; Bert V. Wadkins Award - Small - 1 st - Abdoul K. Sanogo [Daphne (AL) Alumni], 2 nd - Keenan Woo- ten [Sarasota (FL) Alumni], 3 rd – Nickles Rankins [Prattville (AL) Alumni Assoc.], Medium - John St. Clair [Miramar-Pembroke Pines (FL) Alumni], Large - 1 st - Brandon Mack [Jacksonville (FL) Alumni], 2 nd - JaCorey Calloway [Montgomery (FL) Alumni]; Jay Crosby Award - Small - 1 st - Daphne (AL) Alumni, 2 nd – Sarasota (FL) Alumni, 3 rd - West Palm Beach (FL) Alumni, 4 th - Prattville (FL) Alumni As- soc., Medium - 1 st - Miramar-Pembroke Pines (FL) Alumni, Large - 1 st – Jackson- ville (FL) Alumni, 2 nd - Montgomery (FL) Alumni, 3 rd -Birmingham (AL) Alumni; Student of the Year (High School) - People’s Choice - JeDarius Thomas, 1 st - Ros- coe Barnett, 2 nd - Graham Harris, 3 rd - JeDarius Thomas, 4 th - Bryan Wilson, (Un- dergraduate) 1 st - Diaunte Jenkins [Zeta Phi], 2 nd - Rogerick Bryant [Alpha Xi].

Grand Polemarch Thomas L. Battles, Jr. and Southern Province Polemarch Bertram K. Orum present the Honorable Edwin Narain, Esq. with appreciation award; with Tampa (FL) AL Polemarch Robert Irvin and Rudina Poole; HCC Chairmain Miller presents keys to the county.

Second Business Session TheSecondBusinessSessionwascalledtoorder and ledbySeniorProvinceVice Polemarch Chauncy E. Haynes. Special guests included 30 th Grand Polemarch Samuel C. Hamilton, Southeastern Province Polemarch E. Delane Rosemond, Esq., Elder Watson Diggs Awardee Earl T. Tildon, and Executive Director John F. Burrell. National Silhouette President Janice Hall Dean presented the Kappa Alpha Psi ® Foundation report and announced the Celebration of Achievement Luncheon and Job Fair on July 31 st in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She then pre- sented a contribution to Province Polemarch Orum for the Province H.H. Hollo- way Scholarship Fund. Elder Watson Diggs Awardee Dr. Frank S. Emanuel pro- vided information on the Achievement Commission and submission of packets. Grand Polemarch Battles presented the Grand Chapter Report addressing the IHQ finance situation assuring that additional securities and procedures for in- ternal controls have been implemented along with the formation of a taskforce. He also provided updates on revised Protocol & Etiquette Manuel; Undergradu- ate Summit (which contained more than 200 attendees) at National Founders’ Day; LEADKappa[July27-August4, 2019];KappaKamp[June2-14, 2019]; Learn 2 Live; Military & Veteran Affairs Commission; Senior Kappa Affairs; 84 th Grand Chapter Meeting [July 31-August 4, 2019 Philadelphia, PA]; 85 th Grand Chapter Meeting [Phoenix, AZ 2021] and 86 th Grand Chapter Meeting [Tampa, FL 2023]. Province Polemarch Orum delivered the State of the Southern Province ad- dress stating the Province continues to be the “benchmark of Opportunity and Achievement throughout all of Kappa Alpha Psi” and since March 22, 1951, the Southern Province has “been the leading catalyst for transform- ing the brand of Kappa Alpha Psi.” The Province has had “a time-honored legacy of seizing opportunity and being motivated to transcend beyond circumstances to realize the reward of Achievement” much like the Found- ers did in 1911 at Indiana University. “The future of Kappa Alpha Psi ® is up to us and we must work to minimize the risks that threaten the survival of the Fraternity, primarily in the way of social event hosting and hazing. He urged chapters to submit the proper insurance checklist forms to IHQ for all events and emphasized that a paradigm shift must occur in new mem- bership declaring that hazing is a cancer and “if you see something, if you know something, then say something.” He proposed a post-MTA debriefing session be included in the planning document and take place within two weeks of initiation. This will focus on the Fraternity’s stance on hazing and reinforce the Code of Conduct. Province Polemarch Orum expressed that un- dergraduates are the best, brightest, and future of the Fraternity. He asked all brothers to continue supporting the initiatives of the 33 rd Administra- tion as we prepare for the 84 th Grand Chapter Meeting in Philadelphia, PA. The session continued with Keeper of Records Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq. providing the 68 th Southern Province Council Report and Keeper of Exchequer Ralph Altice presenting the Financial Report for the year 2018. Senior Prov- ince Vice Polemarch Haynes presented candidates for 2019-2020 officers as provided by the Nominations & Elections committee with voting immediately following. A LEAD Kappa presentation was then given by Jwyanza B. Watt. The day continued with the Undergraduate Luncheon program highlighting Junior Province Vice Polemarch (AL) Larry Lumbard as the keynote speaker pointing out topic of Accountability affirming that it starts with self, that we are accountable for the success and failures of the whole, and that it should be fair and not favorable. He presented a thought-provoking proposition suggesting that “anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing, moderation is for cow- ards.” Senior Province Vice Polemarch Chauncy E. Haynes presented IHQ Kap- pa Scholar Awards: Clinton Hickson [Gamma Phi], Courtland Ross [Eta Mu], StanleyMartin, Jr. [Kappa Kappa], Larry Lumbard [Kappa Kappa], Kurron Ram- sey [Beta Zeta], Quintrell Williams [Beta Zeta], Charles Murray [Gamma Phi],

Justin Bryant [Beta Zeta], Christopher Stewart [Delta Tau], Roshawn Tread- well [Gamma Phi], Juwan Hayes [Omicron Gamma]. Undergraduate Advisors Chairman Tyrone Smiley announced the following awards: Highest Undergrad- uate Chapter GPA [Fall 2018]: 1 st Place – Iota Chi [3.472]; 2 nd Place – Omicron Chi [3.23]; 3 rd Place – Omicron Delta [3.0]; Dr. Keflyn X. Reed Undergraduate Academic Scholar [Fall 2018] - 1 st Place – Steven Lawson [Iota Chi] | 4.0]; 2 nd Place – Jay Williams [Zeta Phi | 4.0]; 3 rd Place – Keith McIntosh [Zeta Phi | 4.0]. Third Business Session Presiding officer Junior Province Vice Polemarch (FL) Benjamin Clark called the Third Business Session to order. A Memorial Service was observed in re- membrance of all brothers of the Southern Province that passed on to Chap- ter Invisible. The following committee reports were then given: Senior Kap- pa Affairs [44 Southern Province endowment fund contributors], Time & Place [Province Council locations: 2020-Birmingham, AL, 2021-Orlando, FL, 2022-Hunstville, AL, 2023-Fort Myers, FL, 2024-Montgomery, AL], Informa- tion Technology, Elections, and Audit. The Bylaws presented the following for consideration by the Constitution & Statutes committee to be brought forth at the 84 th Grand Chapter Meeting: Proposed language change to Ar- ticle XXV, Section 7 to add “an accredited” college and Statute 22, Section 9 to identify acceptable accrediting agencies by the Fraternity. The MTA pol- icy will also need to be updated if this change occurs. It was moved, prop- erly seconded and accepted to submit for consideration as stated above. The Closed Banquet completed the 69 th Southern Province Council with Florida State Senator, the Honorable Oscar Braynon II, as keynote speak- er posing the question “What’s Your Spark?”. The Achievement Committee announced the following awards: Reclamation - West Palm Beach (FL) AL [Small], Miramar-Pembroke Pines (FL) AL [Medium], Mobile (AL) AL [Large]; Alumni Community Service Chapter of the Year – Sarasota (FL) AL [Small], Miramar-Pembroke Pines (FL) AL [Medium], Jacksonville (FL) AL [Large]; Undergraduate Chapter of the Year - Kappa Kappa [Small]; Alumni Chapter of the Year - Sarasota (FL) AL [Small], Miami (FL) AL [Medium], Jackson- ville (FL) [Large]. Province Polemarch Orum presented Recognition Awards to Robert Irvin, Dr. Edward R. Scott II, Ronald E. Range. Jason Jones, Ced- ric McCray and a special award to Grand Polemarch Thomas L. Battles, Jr. Grand Polemarch Battles took personal privilege and reappointed Bertram K. Orum as Southern Province Polemarch. 26 th Grand Polemarch and 4 th South- ern Province Polemarch Dr. Ullysses McBride led the installation ceremony for the following 2019-2020 Province Officers: Senior Province Vice Polemarch, Chauncy E. Haynes; Junior Province Vice Polemarch (AL) Micah Grey; Junior Province Vice Polemarch (FL) Gustavo Guzman; Keeper of Records, Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq.; Keeper of Exchequer, Ralph A. Altice; Historian, Dr. Ralph J. Bryson; Board Members (Alumni) Jason Jones, Alfonza Mobley, Louis Kelker III, (Undergraduate) Chandler Thomas; and Strategus, Miles Wiley. A salute to the Founders and Oath of Rededication ceremony was observed with tran- sition to an All Black party to cap off the 69 th Southern Province Council.

Yours in the Bond, s/Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq. Southern Province Keeper of Records

Achievement! Opposite page: Dr. Ed Scott II looks on as Brian Ruggs takes part in health screening at 69 th Southern Province Council; Southern Province Council Sunday of Hope Fellowship Break- fast Speaker Rev. Dr. Shafter E. Scott; Southern Province Polemarch Bertram K. Orum presents the Bert V. Wadkins Award (Small) 1 st Place Abdoul K. Sanogo (Daphne Alumni); Bert V. Wadkins Award (Medium) John St. Clair (Miramar-Pembroke Pines Alumni). This page, from the top: Brother Orum presents theBert V. Wadkins Award (Large) 1 st Place Brandon Mack (Jacksonville Alumni); the Jay Crosby Award (Small) 1 st Place Daphne Alumni; the Student of the Year (High School) 1 st Place Ros- coe Barnett; and the Jay Crosby Award (Large) 1 st Place Jacksonville Alumni.

Photos by Gregory L. Williams and Julius L. Collins