Southern Province Persevering through the Pandemic THE GALLERY THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE YEAR IN REVIEW GALLERY
By Julius L. Collins
Despite the effect of COVID-19 on the country, inspiring service in the public interest has remained at the forefront of chapters within the Southern Province. Chapters have continued to conduct com- munity service initiatives safely to aptly provide the needs for their communities. M embers of the Pompano (FL) Beach Alumni Chapter gave away more than 800 turkeys for their Thanksgiving Turkey Drive to residents of South Florida on November 22 nd , at the Golden Acres Community Center in partnership with Brother Senator Perry E. Thurston, Jr. (District 33) and other dignitaries along with members of the Florida Atlantic Univer- sity Chapter, the Omicron Gamma. The chapter also hosted Christmas in the City Toy distribution to children of Collier City on December 19 th to brighten their holiday season.
for the November 3rd general election. Brother Gustavo Guzman, Junior Prov- ince Vice Polemarch/FL, played a sig- nificant role in starting the Fraternity’s, “Get-Out-To-Vote Shirt Initiative.” Brother James Perkins, Jr., (Gamma Phi 1973) current Selma (AL) Alumni Chapter member was elected to office as Mayor of Selma, Alabama for his third time in office. He was elected as the first African American mayor of Selma back in 2000. Brother Alcee Hastings, (Alpha Delta 1954, Chapter Invis- ible 2021) was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives Florida's 20 th Congressional District and subsequently entered the Chapter Invisible. Brother
The brothers of Birmingham (AL) Alumni Chapter and Silhouettes sup- ported “Christmas Angel Tree” families in the Birmingham area. This program provides an opportunity to spread joy and cheer to those less fortunate during the holidays. Each Angel on the tree represents the wishes and desires of a local child in the Birmingham area. Angel tags are printed for each indi- vidual and placed on Salvation Army Angel Trees at area malls and in local companies and organizations. Generous donors select Angels, purchase gifts, and return them to the Angel Tree by the given deadline on each tag. Upon their return, the gifts are taken to a Salvation Army Christmas Distribution Center for pickup by the Angel fami- lies. Through the Angel Tree program, families and children have their specific needs and wants met providing hope to these families. In 2020, thanks to spon- sors and the community, 3,100 children were provided with gifts to open on Christmas morning. The Southern Province continued to be vigilant and actively engaged this election season both with candidates seeking office and chapters empowering citizens to exercise their voting rights
At right: Pompano (FL) Beach Alumni with wrapped gifts for Christmas in the City toy distribution. Pompano (FL) Beach Alumni and Omicron Gamma chapter members prepare to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys at Golden Acres Community Center. The images in the far right column represent the t-shirt designs front and back of the t-shirt designs for the education and awarencess campaign.
THE JOURNAL ♦ SUMMER 2021 | 95
VIRTUAL 85 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING
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