Fall 2014 Issue - Phi Delta Psi Fraternity Inc.

FALL 2014
THE LIONS DEN
Welcome to the Fall 2014 Edition of the Lion’s
Den! The Lion’s Den is meant to serve as a
platform to share all news PHI. Our goal is to
use this medium to highlight our collegiate
chapters, professional brothers, community
service efforts, and other fraternity updates.
We hope that you share this newsletter with
other brothers and be sure to contact a
member of the National Board, to add any
brothers who did not receive this to our
BigTent group, where all up-to-date Phi
documentation
is
kept.
Go
to
https://www.bigtent.com/groups/pdpsi to sign
up now and stay involved.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Greetings Brothers,
As members of this great Fraternity we all
know that since our inception in 1977 our
Fraternity has experienced its shares of
triumphs and turmoil. However, throughout
our history our shared purpose of service to
others as well as our love and dedication for
the red and gold has fused us together as a
brotherhood. As imperfect as this connection
may be at times, it cannot outweigh the
burning devotion, honor and leadership that
brands the souls of Phi men throughout this
Fraternity.
With the conclusion of the 18th Conclave
behind us and a new National Board installed,
..Continued on Page 2
18TH NATIONAL CONCLAVE
The 18th National Conclave was held this
past July in New York, NY. This conclave set
a positive tone for the future, as those in
attendance spoke with great passion about
the desires for the future, and growth
necessary to achieve this. Brothers
discussed taking personal ownership in the
success of Phi Delta Psi, and continuing the
work of the previous administration to build
pillars of success in the future. The outcome
included plans to continue to build our
internal documentation to set standards for
fraternal protocol nationally, to foster
continued growth nationwide. The Board will
also focus on membership expansion, as
well maintaining our continued transparency
by highlighting and increasing outlets for
communication amongst chapters as well as
with the Board. Go to our BigTent page for
information.
PhiDeltaPsiFraternity.org | BigTent.com/groups/PDPSI| [email protected]
FALL 2014
and unshakeable.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE, CONTINUED
the administration is eager to confront and conquer any
hurdles that may arise to impede our progress as an
organization. As PhiMen and Deuces we all grasp the
concept of an empowered and successful Phi Delta Psi.
As men who have always met challenges head on we
embrace the tenet espoused by Frederick Douglass
during his West India Emancipation Speech of August
1857 “. If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” We
know that a man who will not fight for himself, when he
has the means of doing so, is not worth being fought for
by others.
As empowered men we know that a failure to value the
fundamental purpose and the core rules and regulations
of the Fraternity that we have pledged breeds inevitable
chaos and disunity. Unless and until as men we value
our individual enfranchisement, we will never be able to
protect it for others and ourselves. This will lead to a
situation where as men we cannot stand on our own two
legs and we find our heads always being brought
against a curbstone. Brothers, I want you to know that
even though my head may be bloodied at times, it
remains forever unbowed. It is in this same vein that my
commitment to this Fraternity remains ironclad
To this end I am inviting you all to share the sacrifices
and reward of this great Fraternity. Over the next four
years, we will be surging to increase our membership
number and burnish our profile on the national stage
with men who are worthy to take the journey of
becoming members of our sacred brotherhood; a
journey that will celebrate the resilience of the black
men and where manhood, honor, perseverance,
leadership, achievement, and true brotherhood are
celebrated. We must put all differences and past
disagreements aside and retrain our focus on the
greater goal of becoming an elite Fraternity as God has
intended us to be. It is by His will and guidance that we
shall overcome our adversities, many of which are selfinflicted, and remember what binds us together as
brothers. My journey to this board has been a call from
God, who himself has placed his trust in me to embrace
the tenets of our code of conduct as men and elevate
the status of my Fraternity.
One of the major initiatives from the last administration
that we plan to continue is the invitation extended to
servicemen to join our Fraternal Network. As a former
serviceman with the United States Marines, I can
personally attest to the strength of character and will
that characterized my progression from recruit to
becoming a full-fledged serviceman. Distinguished by
strength of character, dedication and service to our
nation, there is a rigorous psychological and physical
process, and a rigid disciplinary structure each
serviceman must contend with, overcome, and abide by,
in order to earn the distinction of being America’s Finest.
Their initiation into our great Fraternity goes a long way
to provide a direct conduit between black service men
and the outside world that includes outlets for higher
learning and another family outside their military band of
brothers.
This administration is also seeking to expand our legacy
initiative. We are asking all Brothers and Sapphires/Phi
Rho Epsilon associated with Phi Delta Psi to become
part of this initiative to inject new
..Continued on Page 4
PhiDeltaPsiFraternity.org | BigTent.com/groups/PDPSI | [email protected]
FALL 2014
“A PHI-man always endeavors to take active interest in his environment,
using his influence toward the protection of the unfortunate and the
weak.”
On Saturday, August 16th members of Phi
Delta Psi Fraternity Inc. with the partnership of
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now), enjoyed an
afternoon of fun, non-competitive sports
activities with teens with disabilities and help
them discover just how much they can do!
Here are some pics for this community service
event! Due to confidentiality agreement we
could not post pictures of the wonderful
athletes in attendance.
“All That We Put Into The Lives Of Others
Comes Back Into Our Own!”
Play an active role in your community and get
involved!
Through proactive, innovative approaches,
Phi Delta Psi Fraternity Inc. will host a series
of monthly National Community Service
programs geared to inform the community of
issues involving health, safety and general
need-to-know knowledge essential for survival
in the 21st Century as minorities with the
Code R.E.D. (Reduce, Educate, Diversify)
Initiative.
Please visit www.phideltapsifraternity.org and
get involved with your community!
If you would like to purchase a T-Shirt please
inbox [email protected]! (See picture)
PhiDeltaPsiFraternity.org | BigTent.com/groups/PDPSI | [email protected]
FALL 2014
“The strongest democracies flourish
from frequent and lively debate, but
they endure when people of every
background and belief find a way
to set aside smaller differences in
service of a greater purpose.”
- Barack Obama
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE, CONTINUED
members and renewed vigor into our organization by
encouraging young black men you believe would be a
good fit for our organization to take a closer look at Phi
Delta Psi. Please send them to our National Board
Website (www.PhiDeltaPsiFraternity.org) where we
have compiled compelling information about Phi Delta
Psi that provides an insight into our philosophy as an
organization and the value we place on leadership,
integrity, manhood and achievement within black men.
In addition, please let us know of anyone within your
immediate family and circle of friends who you believe
may benefit from being a part of our organization and
we will reach out to them directly. We are seeking sons,
cousins, friends, sons of friends, co-workers; brothers
who are currently attending college, plan on starting
college in the fall, or have graduated from a 4-year
college.
As a Fraternity of men who appreciate the importance
of rules, this administration is also asking that our
members make a concerted effort to motivate potential
pledges to follow lives marked by honor, achievement,
leadership and nobility.
Manhood is not a skill that can be taught or a task that
can be assigned. Thus our efforts to instill this concept
will be a very difficult undertaking but it must be pursued
throughout every phase of our pledging process. There
was a significant effort undertaken to improve and
streamline the pledging process so that it is consistent
on a national scale. We therefore ask that all efforts to
expand our membership abide by these rules so that we
can focus on improve the quality of candidates and our
organization as a whole, instead of exposing the
Fraternity to any liability.
As Phi men we must steer our pledges past all
obstacles and encourage them to fully embrace our
principles of true brotherhood. If they are to be leaders
of men, they must internalize the importance of service
to others and taking personal responsibility for
improving their surrounding community. The virtues of
compassion and strength of purpose toward the
community in the long run provides stability and breeds
a strong man who understands that not only does he
have an obligation to take care of himself, his woman
and his immediate family, he is also obliged to look after
his community.
This administration remains steadfast in its mission to
move this Fraternity forward and to create powerful
leaders of the future. We are asking you all to put your
trust into the work of this administration as well as into a
belief in the greatness of this organization. Your
personal triumphs as members of Phi Delta Psi serve as
direct testament to the positive benefits that await
potential members who will be folded into our
brotherhood that is marked by camaraderie and life
guidance.
We look forward to working with old school and new
school Brothers and Sapphires to get this process
going. This administration encourages all members to
check out our website and our Bigtent forum which
hosts a repository of documents and materials for each
member’s review. Please feel free to reach out to any
member of the Board with questions that you may have.
We look forward to a productive and successful term
ahead!
Fraternally Yours,
Q Richards Johnson
President
PhiDeltaPsiFraternity.org | BigTent.com/groups/PDPSI| [email protected]
FALL 2014
unique purpose.
I spent most of my career in Higher Education
because I have always felt it my responsibility
to mold young minds and lives. I recently
transitioned into the food service industry
because of the long term benefits it can offer
to my family. I would have to say that I have
not encountered many obstacles in my career,
largely because I don’t really see obstacles. I
view challenges as opportunities for me to
grow as I conquer them.
BROTHER SPOTLIGHT:
DYLON SMITH
ALPHA ZETA PHI CHAPTER
I am originally from Belize, Central America. I
completed
my
Masters
in
Public
Administration
(Human
Resource
Management) from Kentucky State University
in 1997 and have completed the course work
for the Doctorate of Leadership Education
from Spalding University. I joined Phi Delta
Psi in because I wanted to continue to change
the world. I fell in love with the vision, mission
and dedication to service that the fraternity
promised, so I knew right away that Phi was
the land for me.
Phi Delta Psi has impacted my life because it
has given me a brotherhood that has a similar
vision as my life focus. I believe fully in
planting seeds into peoples’ lives.
The
greatest moment I have had in Phi Delta Psi
has been to be the Charter member of the
Alpha Zeta Phi chapter in Kentucky. With all
the challenges we were having trying to get on
the yard, I felt blessed that the National Board
entrusted me with the chapter. I believe Phi
Delta Psi can continue to grow with the correct
leadership from National Board and energy
from the brothers.
We need to reinstitute the business models
that guide the fraternity. Communication and
Inclusion of the brotherhood will be crucial if
we will survive the threats of mediocrity that
the world offers. Phi Delta Psi is an amazing
organization because it offers opportunity and
direction to men who can change the world in
a way that matters.
I enjoyed pledging and developing a bond of
brotherhood with people who I would have
never known. I also enjoy going out to serve
the community, because it gives my life a
PhiDeltaPsiFraternity.org | BigTent.com/groups/PDPSI | [email protected]
FALL 2014
NEW ENHANCED MEMBERSHIP
QUALIFICATIONS
During
the
last
administration,
additional
qualifications were added to allow Phi Delta Psi the
opportunity to recruit from a wider audience, without
sacrificing the potential quality of those we recruit to
wear our letters. These qualifications were discussed
and refined that recent Conclave:
Second Semester Freshman
•
Once a freshman is in his second semester,
he is eligible for membership with Phi Delta
Psi, even if the student plans on switching
schools.
Community College Students
IN PHI NEWS
•
• Congratulations to the news brothers into the
Land of Phi. Phi Delta Psi has expanded
recently to the following Campuses
o
Marist College – Alpha Alpha
o
Mt. St. Marie College – Alpha Beta
o
Stony Brook University – Alpha Gamma
o
Full Sail University – Alpha Delta
• Good Luck to the eight men currently working
towards their goal of brotherhood from Stony
Brook University.
THIS IS YOUR FRATERNITY
Membership Dues are not only a direct reflection
of your commitment, and love for your beloved
Fraternity, but it is also an extension of fulfilling
your oath to your brotherhood. Membership dues
go a long way in supporting our Scholarship
Students who attend a community college
within reasonable proximity to a University,
as well the demonstrated intention of
pursuing a four year degree are eligible to
pledge under an existing chapter.
Military Service Men
•
Phi Delta psi now officially recognizes the
Military as a learning institution. Brothers
who have served, or are currently serving,
are eligible for membership.
See BigTent for additional details, and stay tuned for
an upcoming Town Hall meeting where these items,
amongst other fraternity business, will be discussed.
WAYS 2 GET INVOLVED!!
• Become Financially Active!
• Use BigTent to connect with other members
• Support/Mentor younger brothers
Fund, community service efforts, administrative
• Participate in our Nationally
Community Serve Programs
fees, and various expenses that better equip our
• Revitalize your home chapter!
National Board to be as effective as possible in
leading our fraternity into the future.
Sponsored
• Email [email protected] to submit content
for future Lion’s Den release.
PhiDeltaPsiFraternity.org | BigTent.com/groups/PDPSI | [email protected]