Chaplain's Corner By Bro. Jerome C. Carroll

"Follow peace with all men…….” Hebrews 12:14

 

Brothers, we are living in a time where peace is at a premium in our world. This is not earth-shattering news or a new development. However, consider on a global scale the devastating consequences of the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine, On the domestic front,  the bitter attacks and divisive remarks by politicians to prevent the confirmation of the first Black female judge (Ketanji Brown Jackson) to the United States Supreme Court, locally the killing of an innocent landlord just blocks away from the Alpha house, or within our fraternity family, the murder of the sibling of one of our own fraternity brothers. We all directly and indirectly feel the fleeting presence of peace.

 

What is peace? Biblically, peace is defined as Shalom (nothing missing, and nothing broken), Merriam-Webster dictionary provides a comprehensive definition of peace such as 1. Freedom from disturbance, tranquility, 2. The absence of war, 3. A ceremonial handshake or kiss during some church services. I would like to define peace in one word, Restoration. When we grip each other are we not saying, “peace, and may all be well with you”?

 

Brothers, as Alpha men we must follow (pursue, make every effort, work at) living in peace with all men so that peace can emanate in our world and in our society. Our individual state of peace is not dependent upon another, but can help bring restoration to the lives of others. Remember:

 

“Character and temperament change under my dominant power.

Lives, once touched by me become tuned,

and are thereafter, amiable, kindly, fraternal.”

 

What steps do you need to take today to abide in peace in order to be the change?

College Tour and Diversity Dialogue

 

The  Alpha Mentoring Program/The Village went to Maryville University to do a college tour and learn about the various facilities and programs that the university has to offer. Afterward, three members of Maryville’s Black Male Initiative program spoke to the young men about why they chose to attend this university and their experiences on campus as Black men. They also advised our boys on how they should prepare for life after high school and going into the postsecondary world. 

After the program, we took our young men to McCluer High School where they were able to engage in various athletic opportunities in the school gym.

The Life and Legacy of Bro. Reginald Foster

From Left to right, Bro. Chris Sanders, Bro. David Noble, Bro. Glenn Miller, Bro. Reginald Foster and Bro. Chris McNeil.

Left to right: Bro. Don Bordes, Bro. Brian Gant, Bro. Reginald Foster, Bro. Lathon Ferguson and Bro. Jacque Land at the 2019 Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated Centennial Gala.

Bro. Reginald Foster was born June 17th, 1931 in St. Louis, Missouri. He enjoyed spending time with his family. He was a graduate of Sumner High School, the oldest black high school west of the Mississippi River.

On November 1st, 1949 Reginald (Life member 1269) crossed the burning sands and became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Gamma Gamma Chapter. This is the third line of the Gamma Gamma chapter. In 1956, Brother Foster earned his bachelor’s degree in Organic Chemistry from Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina.

Bro. Foster served his country in the United States Army from November 12th, 1952, and was honorably discharged on October 12th, 1954. During his tenure, he received a Bronze Service Star, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.

Brother Foster was the Chief Chemist at City Hospital until he retired. In the Epsilon Lambda Chapter, Foster served as the president of the housing boards of Alpha Gardens and Alpha Terrace. He also served as chapter vice president and as the dean of membership intake, Bro. Foster also earned several awards for his longtime service to the Epsilon Lambda Chapter such as Alpha Man of the Year, William Alexander Award, and the Daniel W. Bowles award. When he was asked about his most proud moment as an Alpha man, Foster expressed that receiving his 70-year pin at the 2019 Centennial Gala was his most proud moment.  

Brother Foster transitioned into the Omega Chapter on November 18th, 2021. He is remembered by many in the brotherhood as stern but compassionate, yet with a sense of humor, He was very brotherly, a great leader who would speak his peace, and was always willing to mentor others. Brother Foster is survived by his daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other family and friends. The main meeting room at the Alpha House in St. Louis is named after him. He will be sorely missed by all those who knew him and by the Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Decisions in Life and Rock Climbing

 On March 12, 2022, the Alpha Mentoring Program had a special guest speaker Brother Leon Hite who spoke about the importance of life and proper decision making, and how to properly interact when facing challenging situations. We then went to rock climbing at   Upper Limits where the purpose was for the boys to challenge their fears and learn the importance of overcoming obstacles such as when taking on an endeavor.

Virtual Voter Registration

 

On Tuesday, March 8th, 2022  the Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated hosted the first virtual voter registration. This was to help residents in the St. Louis City and St. Louis County areas register or change their address. We were able to help people register online through the Missouri Secretary of State website. Thank you to Northwoods Mayor Sharon L. Pace for coming through to show your support.  Thank you to the ladies of the Eta Mu Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated for volunteering and helping with this event.

Second Annual Virtual HBCU College Tour

On March 5th, 2022, The Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated hosted our second Annual Virtual HBCU College Fair. Harris Stowe State University, Morehouse, Langston University, Virginia State University, Mississippi Valley, and Tennessee State University were the participants. Gifts were given to our participants and financial aid information was presented to the parents who attended the call.
 

A Day of Science

St. Louis Community College Danforth Center for Plant Life and Sciences

 St. Louis Science Center STEM Fair

On Saturday, February 26th,the Alpha Mentoring Program went to the St. Louis Community College Danforth Center for Plant and Life Sciences. The scientists there taught our young men about DNA, specifically what it is, how it is used in forensics, and how important it is in the field of science overall. This was followed by lunch at this center. After that, we went to the Science Center and it was a STEM-related event where engineers were hosting a lot of their projects. Various colleges and high schools were present. Our young men were exposed to various activities such as robotics, brain activity, and what is now considered old-school video games such as Atari, the first Nintendo, Sega Genesis, etc. We were joined by the  Alpha Eta college brothers and we do thank them for their participation.