Maurice “Snookey” Reed Enters Omega Chapter

It is with great sadness that we report to you the passing of Brother Maurice "Snookey" Reed of Springfield, Ohio on Wednesday evening May 6th, 2009. Brother Reed, "Snookey" as he was known to many of his peers was made a "son of Alpha" in 1948, while he was a student at Central State University. He was initiated at Xi Chapter, Wilberforce University and remained active for more than sixty years. Xi Chapter has always remained dear to the hearts of Sig I brothers as their mentorship was key to the return of Alpha to Toronto.

He diligently served as the fraternity’s parliamentarian under the leadership of 23rd General President Ernest “Dutch” Morial of New Orleans, and then provided guidance and counsel in parliamentary law and rules of procedure to the fraternity, scores of regional vice presidents, state and district directors, college and alumni chapters, and its members, for more than four decades.

Brother Reed entered Omega Chapter after a long battle with cancer at the age of 85 and we and all men of Alpha extend our deepest condolence to his lovely wife Betty and his daughters Verna and Pam, and his extended family of friends and brothers in Alpha.

Brother Herman "Skip" Mason, Jr Sets focus on America's black boys as Alpha Phi Alpha's 33rd General President
www.alphaphialpha.net

In the city known as the "cradle of the civil rights movement" a noted historian and author Herman "Skip" Mazon, Jr was inaugurated as the new national president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the world's oldest and most influencial black fraternal organization.

Mason, who will lead the fraternity for four years, officially took office January 1. The ceremonial inaugural festival was held in Mason’s hometown of Atlanta, Ga. over a three day period January 23-25. Alpha Phi Alpha’s top post is known as “general president.”

Mason took the fraternal oath of office as the 33rd General President on Saturday, Jan. 24 in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on the campus of Morehouse College, where Mason is vice president of student services.

In addition to the inauguration ceremony, more than 3,000 guests attended the weekend inaugural festival included an educational symposium titled, “Alpha Phi Alpha on the Road Less Traveled: Guiding our boys from the High Chair to High School and on to College;” a luncheon hosted by the fraternity’s new First Lady Harmel Mason; a Saturday inaugural prayer breakfast, a formal Inaugural Ball featuring the famed musical duo Ashford and Simpson; and a Sunday church service at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Mason, an ordained minister, delivered the sermon.

Mason and the fraternity will put a focus on saving America’s black boys as its major public policy initiative the next four years. The inaugural educational symposium was the formal kick off. The initiative has already received support from the National Educational Foundation, Schott Foundation for Public Education and FedEx.

The “First Lady’s Luncheon” was added to the program to highlight and recognized the women who support the fraternity as an Alpha wife, daughter, or other association. “I think that one cannot celebrate righteous black women enough,” said Johnetta Cole, an Alpha daughter and former president of Spelman College. Among other notable guests who headlined the inaugural festival included fraternity members Andrew Young, former ambassador to the UN; National Urban League President Marc Morial; Actor Hill Harper, CNN Analyst Roland Martin; TVs Apprentice Winner Randal Pinkett, among others. Young served as honorary co-chair of the Inaugural Celebration. Others supporters who shared in the celebration included TV Judge Glenda Hatchett, Actress Jasmine Guy, both daughters of Alpha members. In addition to Ashford and Simpson, Tony-Award-Winner and Grammy Artist Jennifer Holiday and the legendary Melba Moore performed.

“This inauguration puts us on a road to greater service,” said Ozell Sutton, 26th General President of Alpha who administered the oath to Mason. “Service is the rent one pays for the space occupied. We want to pay our rent.”

Before Mason took the oath at the Inauguration Ceremony, several guest brought greetings including a host of college presidents and others.

During his Inaugural Address, General President Mason charged the members to remake Alpha Phi Alpha as President Obama asked Americans to remake America.
“Organizations like Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, as with all African-American Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities, have unique opportunities to continue to be vessels of stewardship, to help change our situations, predicaments, and ultimately our country, and our world,” Mason said. “Just because we have Obama in the White House doesn’t mean we should sit back, relax, and say everything is now finally gonna be alright.”

We the Brothers of Sigma Iota welcome Brother Mason to the helm of our beloved organization and look forward to answering the challenge which his example sets to us all to be our brothers' keepers.