Ask Brother Tillman!

Dear Brother,

In October 2011, a request was made to each General President candidate from the editorial board of THE SPHINX Magazine to participate in a Standard Q & A Session.  The responses are to be published in a future edition of the magazine.  Each candidate was presented with seven questions and instructed to answer each question in 100 words or less. The following message contains those questions and my responses which were submitted on October 28, 2011.  Please take a moment to read through my thoughts.  In addition, you can review questions I received during the campaign from members and my responses.  Please Click Here to view.

QUESTION 1: What is the singular most important issue facing the fraternity in 2012 and why?
As a Fraternity, we are first and foremost a “Brotherhood”.  So we must never lose sight of that aspect. We must concentrate on the business of Brotherhood.  The most important issue I see is fraternal apathy. Have we truly asked ourselves why 75% of our brothers lose interest in Alpha Phi Alpha within 5 years of their initiation – and they no longer remain engaged with the fraternity?  My platform and my vision, the Alpha Investment, is about re-enforcing the value proposition of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  The details are located at my website, www.thealphainvestment.org.

QUESTION 2: Explain how your personal and professional life experience will benefit you as General President and the fraternity as a whole?
I have over 20 years of leadership experience in the Information Technology industry with managerial experience in leading teams and managing systems design costs. That experience provided me with effective organizational skills with attention to cost efficient systems. I also have excellent interpersonal, communications, and team building skills with sensitivity to cultural differences of individuals.  In my personal life, I believe in “balance” as I enjoy other activities and with a supportive wife who allows me to maintain balance, my life reflects that I support Alpha Phi Alpha. I am respectful of our precepts and our mission.  

QUESTION 3: What is your plan to keep the fraternity solvent?
My vision statement states “…committing to a sound fiscal infrastructure that strengthens the fraternity’s financial position…”  I will provide fiscal leadership into all facets of the organization including the planning of any national event with a strong focus on execution under budget, being fiscally transparent, accountable, and meticulously negotiating with service providers to provide high value at a reasonable cost. My experience and leadership as Midwestern Regional Vice President resulted in each regional convention being profitable and that success was shared with the host chapters in those cities. I will hire a fulltime director of development and involve the Brotherhood in all aspects. 

QUESTION 4: What role should the fraternity play on college campuses to enhance fraternity life in general and Alpha Phi Alpha in particular?
The meaning behind the Alpha Investment platform is the continuing evolution and development of the next generation into solid contributors to society and to our organization. Our role on college campuses is to provide guidance and mentorship with a focus on scholastic achievement for all students and our college chapters are a major part of that. Alpha Phi Alpha is enhanced by demonstrating the organization’s belief and support of education, personal achievement, and chapters of college age men who are worthy ambassadors to our mission. I will ensure we work with campus leadership to enhance our position on their campuses. 

QUESTION 5: How would you bridge the longstanding gap between college brothers, just-graduated-brothers, and alumni brothers?
My platform outlines the following for brothers to remain connected to the fraternity; communicate to every member and connect him to the fraternity regardless of membership status, develop a “welcome packet” that invites any member to join an alumni chapter anywhere on the globe, provide and promote affordable activities that allow for brothers and families to connect with others, to strengthen our fraternal bond. We will develop a major marketing effort to encourage brothers to reinvest their time and talents in the fraternity. Together we will remove the perception of a “gap” – every Brother brings value to the whole. 

QUESTION 6: What role should Alpha play in other areas of human existence, i.e. military, education, social, political, business activities?
“…provide service and advocacy for our communities” is our mission. Our role as an organization is to demonstrate our relevance to our communities.  We will continue to exercise the collective and stabilized strength of our membership to provide awareness to health concerns, the mentorship and education of our youth, and enlighten voters so none are hopeless. We will also partner with business and civic organizations because in today’s world, Alpha Phi Alpha cannot do everything and we cannot do it alone. We must rely on the efforts and other resources to be an organization of service. Uplift the downtrodden masses. 

QUESTION 7: You and your opponent both worked together on the fraternity’s board of directors.  Please cite seven positive things you have to say about the opposing candidate in the race for general president and why?
My relationship with Brother Roderick L. Smothers as a fellow “brother in service” has always been respectful, brotherly, and fraternal. From the moment I congratulated him as a newly elected vice president in 2009 through two years as board members, we maintained a relationship that is supportive and collaborative. As a tenured vice president, I did not hesitate to support the Southwestern Region to further its goals when Brother Smothers asked for assistance. We were able to share ideas with consideration to each other’s diverse opinions. We have distinctive ideas as candidates, but he will always remain my brother. 

Fraternally,

Brother Mark S. Tillman
Candidate for 34th General President
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.