Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc Eastern Region

Sigma Suit Exchange

Eastern Site — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:21:51 +0000

Dear Brothers:

Do you have professional men’s attire you are willing to donate to collegiate brothers?

Sigma Suit Exchange Fall 2010 is a coordinated effort within the Eastern Region to collect from our Alumni new or gently-used business-appropriate attire for our collegiates.

In the spirit of I Am My Brother’s Keeper, this initiative relies on individual contributions of men’s suits to assist our undergraduate brothers in looking and feeling their best, as they prepare to join the professional world.

We are accepting donations of new or gently-used suits to benefit our young brothers who are transitioning into the workforce and life after college. Many factors impact the success of a collegiate. They need to wear professional attire to job interviews (as well as Phi Beta Sigma professional events), but may not be able to afford to purchase it because they are not yet working.

In order for this to be a success, we need cooperation from many brothers. If you can help, please bring your donations (with the database form below) to your Eastern Region State Conference slated for Fall 2010. At that time, suits will be collected and immediately distributed.

Join Phi Beta Sigma in playing a part in helping our young members begin networking, and ultimately land that job and start a new career.

Thank you for your support in this initiative.

Sincerely,

Bro. Jean Lamothe

Director of Education

2010-12 Eastern Region

Date Submitted: ____/____/____

State

State Director

Your Name

Current chapter affiliation

Telephone

Item(s)

500 Backpacks Readied

Eastern Site — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:32:24 +0000

By Michelle Turner

Michelle Turner Photo

When students show up to the King/Robinson magnet school on Wednesday, they’ll find 500 backpacks waiting for them, stocked with goodies inside.

The backpacks, donated by the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, were assembled over the weekend at the Community Center at 230 Ashmun St.

Of course, it’s not just backpacks that the students are getting. It’s what’s in them which makes them special: glue sticks, pencils, pens, notebooks, rulers, crayons, erasers, scissors and folders.

Lined up on either side of the table like a true assembly line, volunteers handed down the bags, and called out what they were putting in them, and how many of the items, as each bag was going down the table.

In the past four years, Phi Beta Sigma’s New Haven Alumni Chapter has given over 1,500 backpacks in various K-8 public schools in the city. John Watts, the chapter’s director for social action, said the fraternity’s goal is to give out 500 backpacks this year, bringing their total to 2,000 bags.

Watts, chair of the School Supply Drive, said the fraternity plans year round to bring the materials together for the drive, but they pull the materials together during the two to three weeks before school starts.

“We try to bring in other organizations, Sigma Gamma Rho [Sorority], Zeta Phi Beta [Sorority], the New Haven Police Department, there’s a lot of community supporters, so….we try to get them to invest in our programs,” Watts said. “And we try to put ‘em on the bag, too, so that way, … the kids can see who supported the school supply drive.” He went on to explain why: “We need to invest in kids. And with the bad economic times, this program … the worse the economy gets, this program can be a big blessing on families with low-incomes.”

Watts said the fraternity works with the Board of Education each year to identify which schools need supplies. This year, King/Robinson was the lucky winner.

“We did Lincoln-Bassett one year, so we try to move around each year, so,” said Watts. “We want the public’s continued support. This is our fourth year, and we’re looking to do it each year and continue the blessing for New Haven students going back on the first day of school.”

Natalie Roach (pictured with her ‘brother,’ Anthony Johnson of Phi Beta Sigma), president of Zeta Phi Beta’s Phi Lambda Zeta Chapter, and the sister sorority of Phi Beta Sigma, agreed with Watts. At a time when parents have to deal with purchasing food and clothing, “this will make it easier and alleviate the trouble of going to buy school supplies for them, and just to show [the community] that were all here, working together and making sure they are taken care of.”

“We’re looking forward to seeing the looks on the kids’ faces when they get the bags,” she said.

Collegiate Advisor Manual Now Available Online

Eastern Site — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:37:48 +0000

Chapters and collegiate advisors can now download the official Collegiate Advisor Manual here at the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc Eastern Regional website.

Brother Jonathan A. Mason, Sr., International First Vice President encourages members to access the manual: “Chapters, current collegiate advisors, as well as those members who aspire to be advisors, can get a head-start on learning all the critical information that will be that will be covered during the upcoming Collegiate Advisors University.”

The first Collegiate Advisors University will take place during a Pre-Conclave Leadership Development program on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, 165 Courtland Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia. All alumni members currently serving, appointed to serve, or that have an interest in serving as a collegiate advisor MUST register, attend and successfully complete the certification process.

The first Collegiate Advisors Graduation Ceremony will also take place the evening of July 19, 2011.

To register, please log onto www.pbs1914.org click on Conclave 2011 and download the Collegiate Advisors University Registration Form and mail to: Collegiate Advisors University, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Attention: Brother Jonathan A. Mason, Sr., 145 Kennedy Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011.

MOBILIZING FOR OUR YOUTH

Eastern Site — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:28:39 +0000

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity members from across the nation will converge upon Washington, D.C. to lay the foundation for a better future for today’s youth. Sigma Day on Capitol Hill, September 14 – 16, 2010, will serve as a catalyst for positive change, as Phi Beta Sigma mobilizes support for legislation geared towards helping youth in a constantly changing world to identify and take advantage of positive opportunities.

Representatives of Phi Beta Sigma will advocate for the support of two bills, sponsored by Representative Brother John Lewis (D-GA): H.R. 789, The Teen Dating Violence Prevention Act of 2009 and H.R. 2616, The Securing American Families by Educating and Training Youth (SAFETY) Through Nonviolence Act of 2009.

The three-day gathering will begin with a reception on Tuesday, September 14^th, where Sigma members will meet and network with their respective members of Congress. On Wednesday, during a breakfast briefing, a motivational session will provide Sigma members information on proper protocol for interacting with members of Congress and advocating for legislation. Brothers will spend the afternoon in communication with congressional leaders. Thursday, September 16^th is Sigma Service Day, during which brothers of Sigma representing a diversity of careers will participate in a Career Day at the Sasha Bruce Youthwork, one of the largest youth organizations in Washington, D.C. The organization strives to meet the urgent needs of at-risk youth and families.

Joining Phi Beta Sigma in this cause are the Family Violence Prevent Fund, End Abuse Organization, Break the Cycle Organization and Men Can Stop Rape Organization. For more detailed information contact:sigmadayonthehill@gmail.com.

For hotel reservation information for the event, please CLICK HERE

Wesley Carter: 103 Years of Life 83 Years of Sigma and Counting

Eastern Site — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:47:37 +0000

Bro. Carter was born on August 22, 1907 in Richmond, VA. He is widely regarded as the oldest living Sigma Brother – and he still has been known to attend chapter and state meetings! On February 18, 1927, Bro. Wesley T. Carter was initiated into the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. via the Mighty Lambda Chapter (Virginia Union University). Today, over 83 years after the then 19-year-old sophomore was initiated in Richmond, Bro. Carter still is completely self-sufficient and even drives himself to his appointments.

As a collegiate, Bro. Carter played basketball with the Richmond Phi Beta Sigma team alongside greats such as Bros. “Puff” Taylor and “Stretch” Gardner. They beat all the other fraternities in the area and often played their games on the second floor of Johnson’s Funeral Home. Years later he served as a delegate to the 1941 Conclave (Philadelphia), was responsible for the 1967 Conclave’s (Richmond) souvenir kit, and has received numerous awards (’67 Conclave, ’75, Harry S. Crawford Award ’80, Iota Sigma Chapter “Sigma Man of the Year” ’08, etc.) for his longevity of service to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Iota Sigma Chapter in particular.

After serving his community for many years as a career educator, his Alma Mater honored Bro. Carter with a Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2008. He is Virginia Union University’s oldest living alum (Class of ‘29). Bro. Carter was also recognized that year by the United Negro College Fund as the “Outstanding Alumnus of Year” for 2007. Earlier this month, Bro. Carter was bestowed his most recent honor – the title of Honorary Richmond Sheriff courtesy of our own Bro. Sheriff C.T. Woody (also of Iota Sigma Chapter).

Please take a few minutes to mail a card or note congratulating Bro. Wesley T. Carter as he celebrates 103 years of life and over 83 years of membership in Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

Bro. Carter’s mailing address is:
1405 Wentbridge Rd.
Richmond, VA 23227

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully Submitted,
Iota Sigma Chapter History Committee

Top Chapters Recognized

Eastern Site — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:42:41 +0000

Outstanding Regional Model Alumni Chapter: Lambda Lambda Sigma, Trenton, New Jersey

Outstanding Regional Model Collegiate Chapter: Mu Zeta, Rutgers University ( New Brunswick)

National HIV Testing Day

Eastern Site — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:32:55 +0000

Chapter Operating Standards

Eastern Site — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:50:53 +0000

This presentation provides guidelines for proper Chapter Operating Standards.

State Conference Season

Eastern Site — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:29:12 +0000

The state conference season is almost upon us. Below is the scheduled dates for state conferences.

Virginia September 17-18 Norfolk, VA www.betasigma1914.com
DC/MD/DE September 25
New England October 2
Pennsylvania October 9
New York October 15-16 Ithaca, NY
New Jersey October 23

Strong Sigma Fathers

Eastern Site — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:45:12 +0000

Join Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity as we celebrate “Strong Sigma Fathers” on Fathers’ Day, June 20, 2010.

Our International President, Brother Jimmy Hammock believes, “Fathers play key roles in the health and well being of children, even chidren yet to be born. We want to celebrate Sigma fathers on Fathers’ Day.”

In partnership with March of Dimes, Phi Beta Sigma is working together to prevent premature births and to develop strong fathers and male role models in the African American community through the Building Strong Fathers initiative.

Brohter Dr. Joseph West, International Director of Social Action suggests strong, positive fathers can help eliminate premature births by being more involved in the lives of their future children in the following ways:

Building healthy homes by eliminating tobacco, alcohol and substance abuse
Building safe homes by eliminating domestic violence and child abuse
Building ties that bind by encouraging positive, healthy communication, learning more about early childhood developemnent and being involved during and after pregnancy
Balancing work and family responsibilities
Being engaged and involved with child’s development and community activities related to children

Submit Sigma Father Photo

Phi Beta Sigma is inviting Sigma Men to submit your Sigma Father Photo. Upload or send your Sigma Father Photo of you and your child(ren) by June 18, 2010. Limit three photos per member, one photo is desired. Log onto http://www.pbs1914.org/members/reporting/ftp_upload/ for FTP Connection Instructions. Place your pictures in the Building Strong Fathers directory. The slide show will be posted June 20, 2010 and run through November 2010, Prematurity Awareness Month.

Building Strong Fathers Blog

Share your fatherhood stories and offer words of wisdom and advice to expecting fathers by joing the Building Strong Fathers Blog at http://www.pbs1914.org/sigma_wellness_blog/