We Are Our Brothers’ Keeper

On August 29th, 2005, one of the worst natural disasters hit our great nation, taking lives, cherished belongings, and our peace of mind. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall. At least 1,836 people died in the actual hurricane and in the subsequent floods, making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane since 1928; total property damage was estimated at $81 billion. Our response as a fraternity was nothing short of miraculous. Many of our brothers along the gulf coast suffered great losses, and while no amount of money can replace human loss, our open arms and words of support made the grieving moments a bit more bearable.  We were our brothers’ keeper then.

In January 2010, one of the worst earthquakes to plague mankind hit the small, culturally rich island nation of Haiti. An estimated three million people were affected by the quake. The Haitian government reported that an estimated316,000 people died, 300,000 had been injured and more than 1,000,000 made homeless. Many brothers and their families suffered here in the states at the distress of friends and loved ones affected by the earthquake’s cataclysmic stronghold on the small country. Brothers organized response teams, sent donations, and showed an outpouring of support unseen by many other fraternal service organizations. We were our brothers’ keeper then.

This past weekend another storm, Hurricane Irene, took center stage and disrupted the activities, but not the spirits, of those attending the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Dedication. While we were unsure of its potential damage and outcome, Alpha Phi Alpha was already moving to ensure brothers and their families have the resources when needed. Through our Brother’s Keeper program we are able to mobilize and organize the fraternity to respond to these types of the disasters, whether hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes or tornadoes.

Our A. Charles Haston Brother’s Keeper Program is a national program of the fraternity developed with the mission of advocating for and improving the quality of life for Alpha Phi Alpha brothers, their spouses, and widows, those who are retired, are elders, or have disabilities and are ailing. Upon identification of need, the Brother’s Keeper Program also provides assistance to mature and ailing members of its communities. The goal of the Brother’s Keeper Program is to promote dignity and independence among Alpha family and community members who need help in keeping their lives and homes functional. There are seven objectives to the program:

Objective 1: Assist in maintaining living environments that are compatible with participants’ levels of functioning;

Objective 2: Assist in maintaining the upkeep of participants’ properties;

Objective 3: Assist with health care decision making;

Objective 4: Provide companionship;

Objective 5: Provide legal services;

Objective 6: Provide transportation; and,

Objective 7: Ensure adequate supplies of food, water, and clothing, with special emphasis on disaster management and recovery.”  Detailed information regarding the program can be found at the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity website.

I can attest personally to having been affected by Hurricane Katrina six years ago with my own family.  My family lived less than two miles away from one of the levee breaks in the lower 9th ward area of the city and my childhood home, where my family still lived, was in shambles.  All but one of my family members survived but the outpouring
of support from friends, and brothers was overwhelming. Chapters like Epsilon Lambda (St. Louis, Missouri), Theta Zeta Lambda (Ann Arbor, Michigan), and my home chapter, Gamma Lambda (Detroit, Michigan) provided money, food, and clothing for the nine family members I supported in my home for a few months in Michigan.

I am forever grateful of the support that I received and my brothers were there for me.  There is no limit to our strength when we invest in each other. We control the reins of this fraternal design. We develop our fraternal destiny with our investments today. No matter the disaster, the need, or the request, as a group of men dedicated to each other, we can move mountains for stars to shine. We can collectively respond to nature’s fury with an “on the ground” fury of support. Similar to a movement organized by young activists, many of them brothers, called Katrina On The Ground – where a few thousand black students were organized and worked in the gulf coast during their Spring Breaks in 2006 – we can make a collective force propelled by people, and their genuine love and dedication for the welfare of others and overcome any obstacle that faces us.

Brothers, together we can lift as we climb. I will continue the investment in this program where we are still, and forever will be, our brothers’ keeper. Join me and let’s continue to bring the light of Alpha to many dark and dampened hearts.

Fraternally,

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

Begin with the End in Mind

“Today’s Preparation Determine Tomorrow’s Achievement”  … Unknown

We are now well into summer of 2011, but that does not mean Alpha Phi Alpha is taking a break. Many chapters around the country and internationally are participating in chapter retreats, planning meetings, and some continue to hold regularly scheduled chapter meetings. College brothers are working their respective internships and recent graduates are taking in the excitement and anxiety of a new job and career.

Summertime is traditionally considered a “slow down” time where baseball and picnics are mainstays, but we must always remain vigilante that Alpha’s work is never done. We must take this time to reflect on the past successes and to focus on opportunities for improvement.

Recently, I had the chance to stay in my home state of Michigan and attend the Epsilon Chapter’s Summer Planning Conference, seated at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, MI. Members and alumni of the chapter gathered together to focus on areas such as team building, planning for next year’s calendar, and fundraising. At the request of the chapter president and asst. district director, Brother Eric Poole, I had the opportunity to speak to the brothers regarding the future of Alpha and my plans for the organization.

I also had the pleasure of being a guest presenter at the New Mexico Area Alpha Institute in Albuquerque, NM, hosted by Iota Psi Lambda and Tau Sigma (University of New Mexico) chapters. The meeting included attendees from both chapters, regional and national leadership, as well as brothers who have been inactive and are looking to reconnect with the fraternity. I provided an overview of our fraternity’s corporate structure and explained the basic duties of the Board of Directors and field staff, and had the opportunity to present my platform.

These are two examples of how we must always plan our future, plan for our execution, and excite brothers to invest their talents and fuel the engine of Alpha Phi Alpha. Currently, I am preparing for the many visits to your districts, chapters, and events to share my plans with you personally. Brothers are constantly emphasizing that they want a brother who will do what is right, a visionary, and bring the House of Alpha back to brotherhood and a greater focus on our communities. With your help and your vote in April 2012, we can invest in Alpha Phi Alpha and each other – together!

Brothers of Epsilon Chapter are participating in a team building exercise

Brother Tillman and Brother Eric Poole, Chapter President and Assistant District Director of Michigan

Current members and alumni of Epsilon Chapter

Brother Tillman with the Spring 2011 Initiates of Epsilon Chapter

Brother Tillman lectures at the New Mexico Area Alpha Institute on the Corporate Structure of the Fraternity. Brother Tillman‘s presentation was interactive, descriptive and engaging.

(LtoR) Brother Dondrell Swanson, [Tri-State District Director], Brother Sean Harris, [New Mexico Area Director], Brother Aaron Crutison, Sr. [Western Region Vice-President], Brother Tillman, Brother Harold Pope [Iota Psi Lambda Chapter President]

Brother Tillman with Brother Jason Fuller, Brother Dr. Jonathan D. Madison, and Brother Allen A. Ahmadi, all have roots from the great state of Michigan currently residing in New Mexico.

Thank you in advance for your continued support and your investment in Alpha Phi Alpha.

Fraternally Yours,

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

Remembering the Legacy of a King

“Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Forty-three years ago today, our Brother, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. The assassin succeeded in taking Dr. King’s life, but failed at killing his legacy.  Please join me today as we remember the life and legacy of our brother.

During a recent visit to Atlanta, GA for our Board of Directors retreat, I was reminded of how Dr. King responded to the most dutiful call of Alpha leaders – that we serve our brothers and community well. Under the superior leadership of the Alpha Upsilon Lambda and Beta Upsilon Chapters, I traced the steps of Dr. King from Atlanta to Montgomery, AL and was reminded of the importance of the servant leadership model that he famously employed.  When I made a decision to seek the 34th General Presidency, I did so with the belief that there is a direct correlation between Alpha’s prominence and our effectiveness as servant leaders.

Atlanta to Montgomery – retracting the steps of Dr. King memento.

Upon this 43rd anniversary of Dr. King’s death, I ask brothers to join me in renewing our vigor to build a stronger Alpha union through service and our commitment to principled leadership. The Alpha Investment, just like our dedication to Alpha’s aims, and the investments made by the giant steps that brothers have taken before us, promises a beyond ideal return. We all must invest in the management of our dear fraternity, by enhancing our local structures – our chapters, areas and districts – by strengthening existing lines of communication; promoting cross district, area, and chapter accountability; and re-engaging brothers who have lost their connection to us. They too have a share in the return. We can guarantee the stability of our fraternity by practicing the philosophy of Dr. King and executing our vision that all brothers can be great, because all brothers can serve.

Brothers, I am firm in my convictions that our brotherhood, with the right tools, can invigorate our goals and allow us to reach the zenith of our existence. The Alpha Investment will ensure that you all have a valued part in reaching our goals. The pursuit of our goals will take some reorganization and revitalization of our image and our approach challenges. Our beloved Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray stated in December 1947:

“Your founders sowed the seed, fed it, and as the plant which has come from this seed (sown in fertile soil) is expanding, you who are before me should see to it that the expansion is upward and onward rather than downward. Prune here and there like the good gardener does when he finds his plant getting unwieldy for only by doing so can the good old Alpha Phi Alpha spirit return.”

Picture of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial to be unveiled August 2011. 

Let us work together to increase our investment in Alpha Phi Alpha to ensure even greater returns.  I make the clarion call to all brothers to lend me your support to help forever bring heavy returns to our beloved fraternity. May the spirit of our brotherhood and love for all mankind continue to fall upon each one of our brothers—our investors. And may we always remember that he who is greatest among you shall first be your servant.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

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