GRAND POLEMARCH’S MESSAGE
Achievement in Every Field, A Networking Gold Mine
Life, generally, and membership in Kappa Alpha Ps i® , specifically. In an environment that has many organiza- tions competing for our time, talents and resources, it is important to make the case that Kappa is an organization that offers a tremendous return on one’s investment. I, normally, have only a short time to make my elevator pitch when others ap- proach me about this topic but a short time is truly all I need. In my brief colloquy about the value and virtues of fraternal life I usually begin with an experience I had in New York just weeks after my initiation. It only takes a minute to share my line brother’s and my interaction with then Brother Mayor Tom Bradley while at- tending the Broadway play, “Fences.” Based only on our fraternity regalia, Brother Bradley, whom we had never met before, invited us into his VIP box and influenced my trajectory in the fraternity in ways I am sure he did not intend and I never imagined. I am certain my simple anecdote is merely exemplary of experiences broth- ers have had all over the world and throughout their Kappa lives. The main value Kappa has to its members is the membership itself. The networking op- portunities are enormous as we navigate our respective professions looking for that proverbial edge that gets our feet in doors smashes glass ceilings. So, it is important to know about each other and how we have achieved in every field of human endeavor. More importantly, we need to know how to contact each other and make those important “Nupe” connections. Social media and communication platforms like the Kappa Journal play a critical role in that regard.
This issue is an important network- ing tool as we discuss the magnificent careers of Brothers Leonard Hamilton, famed Florida State basketball coach and Traelon Rodgers, Assistant Secre- tary of the NAACP. With this issue, we continue the tradition of highlighting our achievements and enhancing the Kappa network. That is why it is important to respond to the pleas of Journal Editor, Brother Cleveland Ferguson, when he asks for stories about our brothers and their career progression. We are doing so many great things across the nation but it is impossible for Brother Ferguson to know about them all. Province and lo- cal chapter Reporters are key to compil- ing the information we need to keep the membership informed. The Achieve- ment Academy, chaired by Brother Dr. Christopher Johnson, is another vehicle we use to expand our networking op- portunities but he, similarly, needs our help to identify achieving brothers in positions to help jump start the careers of aspiring members. So, we need your help to fortify my pitch. My elevator speech is simple. For more than 110 years we have estab- lished and nurtured an organization that, irrespective of many of the dif- ferences that divide our society as a whole, serves as a network of amazingly accomplished individuals who are will- ing to help each other in every possible way and promote the betterment of the Bond which in turn works to the benefit of our communities. Now, who could turn down membership in an organiza- tion like that?
Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq. Grand Polemarch I am always amazed by the many achievements for well over a century and I continuously marvel at the contribu- tions they make to the world and the communities they serve. Together we have shared each other’s stories in all platforms of social media. I especially delight in posting our stories in Facebook on the 34th Administra- tion’s group page because it is important and varied accomplishments of our members. We have celebrated our brothers’ for us to know about the impressive things our brothers are doing in all aspects of their lives. I raise this subject because people often ask me to explain the value of Greek
Yours in the Bond, Reuben A. Shelton, III, Esq. Grand Polemarch
8 | SPRING 2021 ♦ THE JOURNAL
Publishing achievement since 1914
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