JOURNAL NOTES
From Paying Homage to the Founders to the Glory Found in “Madness”— The Journal Reflects on a Season of Achievement
Students of the Year—along with their parents—begin the sojourn to be named among the best during the 83 rd Grand Chapter Meeting, which will be held in the Southern Province just a short time from now. Guide Right programs and advisors vie for the Bert V. Wadkins, Jay Crosby and Leon W. Steward awards. For the last five issues, the Journal has highlighted province CRWLCs and other leadership meetings in the West- ern, Northern, Eastern, Northeastern and Middle Eastern provinces (see also page 25 in this issue). In this issue, we focus on the 67 th Southern Province Council hosted by the Jacksonville (FL) Alumni Chapter (JAC), the Delta Psi Chapter, Omicron Delta Chapter and the Xi Lambda Chapter. Attended by no fewer than four Grand Polemarchs, several Laurel Wreath Laureates, Elder Watson Diggs Awardees, two past Grand Historians, several Province Polemarchs and multiple National Committee Chairmen, they, along with more than 400 others, supported the JAC’s Ninth Annual Public Meeting (see page 30). This issue also features the South- ern Province Council closed banquet speaker, a brother who was born in the North Central Province, a man from Nevada whose mission is to improve the linguistic skills of those afflicted with speech challenges (see page 40). We take stock in the accomplishments of the current administration in the con- text of our times, for the activities of the Council reflect the outcomes outlined in Kappa's Six-Point Plan. Kappa Alpha Psi ® was also afflicted with a certain sickness: March Madness. Not seen this bad for more than a de- cade, one of our own achieves greatness
on the court: Kennedy R. Meeks. His story is our story (see page 62). For the second year, Kappa Alpha Psi ® has returned to Washington, DC for Kappas on Capitol Hill: James “Biff” Carter Legislative Policy Conference. The participation was excellent (see page 46). The advocacy and education on issues of concern to us continues. Kappas are representing well in the endeavor of the fine arts, from acting to touring exhibits to writing, producing and directing the stories of our time. We feature three such brothers in this issue (see page 73). I have had the personal honor to include my father-in-law in a salute to Kappas in the Military just two issues ago. In this issue, I drafted Lt. Colonel (R) Clarence "CJ" Jackson's, obituary. He, along with other great Kappa men, have enriched our lives and the communities in which they served. With the assistance of Brother Aaron Williams, the Journal will work to honor every Kappa that we become aware has transitioned into the Chapter Invisible to ensure they are recognized according- ly (see page 90). We ask that you alert IHQ and the Journal at the soonest, so that we may discharge this solemn duty efficiently. Finally, under the Healthy Kappas/ Healthy Communities initiative, Kappa has been deeply involved and well rep- resented from the shores of the Erie in Ohio to el Rio de la Plata in Uruguay, on the issue of Sudden Infant Death Syn- drome and our Safe Sleep initiative (see page 82). Here’s to another great year in Kappa Alpha Psi ® !
Cleveland Ferguson III, Esq.
T he vitality of rebirth and at a time when so many mark this time resolving to hit the reset button in their lives, National Founders’ Day gives us a collective opportunity from Korea to South Africa from Germany to the Ca- ribbean and all across America to recall the purpose of Kappa Alpha Psi ® (see page 8). We pay our respects to the past, improve the moments of life in the present through service, and work to endow our foundations nationally and locally for the future. Also, this was the season of Province Councils. In a Conclave year, Province Councils take on the added respon- sibility of thoughtfully considering resolutions for proposed changes to the Constitution and Statutes. Chapters of the Year—small, medium and large prepare to represent their provinces; renewal marks the season. As we remember our vows and commitment to the fraternity,
2 | SPRING 2017 THE JOURNAL
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