30th Anniversary Celebration

Transcription

1 GAMMA EPSILON BOULÉ 30th Anniversary Celebration Sunday, August 31, 2014 Sacramento, California

2 Sacramento, California July 17, 1984 G rand Sire Archon Robert V. Franklin was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the formation of Gamma Epsilon Boulé in Sacramento, California, making contact with a number of men of high achievement, among them Dr. John Wesley Hudson who, in 1965, began a multiethnic pediatrics practice there. Archon Hudson became Gamma Epsilon s first Sire Archon. Since its inception the boulé has increased its membership to include forty-two Archons practicing in the fields of medicine, dentistry, law, architecture, engineering, real estate development, education and business. It is actively involved in the community and is committed to the youth of Sacramento. In 2003 the boulé made its first $10,000 donation to St. Hope Academy, a charter school serving inner-city students that was founded by NBA great Kevin Johnson. In addition to its annual Christmas and spring events, Gamma Epsilon has hosted a family day each summer since Over the years, a number of lifelong friendships and marriages have developed as a result of this festive event. Gamma Epsilon was the host of the 5th Pacific Regional Boulé in 1989 and the 17th Pacific Regional Boulé in 2013.

3 Gamma Epsilon Boulé Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration Program Greetings Immediate Past Sire Archon Kevin J. Mitchell The Occasion and Introductions Michael G. Keeley Invocation William Jahmal Miller Dinner 30th Anniversary Celebration Chairman Ronald T. Blanchette History of Gamma Epsilon Boulé Melvin R. Ramey Presentation of our Founding Members Ronald T. Blanchette Closing Remarks Michael G. Keeley 1

4 Welcome from Gamma Epsilon Boulé I take this opportunity to welcome you to Gamma Epsilon s 30th Anniversary Founders Celebration. Looking back on the 30 years of accomplishment and getting to know the best of one another I take great pride in the rich legacy and tradition of our fraternal organization. The humble initial meetings, encouraged by then Grand Sire Archon Robert V. Franklin, led to the formal granting of a charter to Gamma Epsilon by the Grand Boulé in 1984 under the sponsorship of Alpha Gamma Boulé in Oakland, California. John Wesley Howard, M.D., was elected the first Sire Archon and ten original Founders made commitments to the principles and rich legacy embodied by Sigma Pi Phi to this day. Today, Gamma Epsilon Boulé totals 38 active Archons engaged in various businesses, civic and social commitments within our community, state and nation. Indeed Gamma Epsilon Archons possess leadership roles in guiding the course and direction of social and economic policies which shape our community and have been recognized by their peers for those contributions. Archons are poised to continue creating significant pathways for opportunities and social engagement which bode well for the future of our august fraternal organization and the communities impacted by our actions. We recognize and honor the contributions of our Founders for whom without, there would not exist the opportunities we now hold sacred. On their shoulders we stand and assume this leg on the relay team to run with the passion and commitment of the ancient Greeks of Olympic glory. This is our time and we will not forget. We will make you as proud as you have made us. Fraternally, Michael G. Keeley Sire Archon 2

5 Archons and Archousai, It is with pleasure that I write to congratulate Gamma Epsilon Boulé on it 30th Founder's Anniversary. We stand on the shoulders of our Founders in 1904 and seek to fulfill the vision set forth in the Preamble to our First Constitution in 1908; "Be it Resolved that a Society be organized for the purpose of binding men of like qualities into a close, sacred, fraternal union, that they may know the best of one another, and that each in this life may to his full ability aid the other, and by concerted action bring about those things that seem best for all that cannot be accomplished by individual effort." I look forward to attending your celebration and wish you every success in the years ahead! Fraternally, James O. Cole Grand Sire Archon 3

6 Dear Archons and Archousai of Gamma Epsilon Boulé: It is with deep pleasure as Pacific Region Sire Archon to congratulate you on the occasion of the Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration of Gamma Epsilon Boulé. Thirty years as an active, vibrant member boulé is quite a milestone to achieve. As the eighth boulé established in the Pacific Region, you play a vital role in our history. The Region thanks you for all of your many contributions over the years. My Archousa, Barbara, and I are pleased to come back to Sacramento again as we have pleasant memories of the wonderful time we had at the 17th Pacific Region Boulé which you hosted last October. This evening will ensure we have fun and a great time while getting to know the best of one another. Best regards, Wesley A. Coleman Pacific Region Sire Archon 4

7 Membership of Gamma Epsilon Boulé Ralph C. Aldredge III Nathan H. Allen Willie A. Bell Otis C. Benning Ronald T. Blanchette Daniel Bryant Julius J. Cherry Randolph Cooke 5

8 Nathan J. Cox Shelton J. Duruisseau Tyrone Glover Carl M. Griffith Mark T. Harris Dale R. Hunter Darryl C. Hunter Harold G. Jackson 6

9 William M. Jackson Archie K. James Kevin Johnson Ira T. Joyner Michael G. Keeley Clifton Lamb Raymond LaSure James D. Lites II 7

10 Carl C. Mack Glenn A. Middleton William Jahmal Miller Kevin J. Mitchell Larry L. Nazry Douglas A. Norton Edward A. Phillips Melvin R. Ramey 8

11 Gary E. Ransom Tommy Ross Wornel L. Simpson Eugene Spencer Gary Strong Allen W. Warren Not Pictured: Larry J. Mosley William E. Wade Pierce C. Welch E. Dotson Wilson 9

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13 History of Gamma Epsilon Boulé The Beginning Gamma Epsilon Boulé in Sacramento, California, was founded on July 17, The initial local work of forming the boulé in Sacramento was begun by Gary Ransom who, along with Eugene Spencer, Jr., drew up the original list of potential members. The formation meeting for Gamma Epsilon was held at Archon Eugene Spencer's home. Grand Sire Archon Robert V. Franklin was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the formation of Gamma Epsilon Boulé. Gamma Epsilon s first Sire Archon was John Wesley Hudson, M.D., who had years earlier, started a pediatrics practice in 1965, serving multi-ethnic and needy patients, in South Sacramento. Sire Archon Hudson wrote a letter on July 27, 1984, to the Grand Sire Archon stating that Gamma Epsilon had completed its chartering ceremony. The list of charter members included the following Archons: Grammateus Randolph Cooke, Thesauristes James Dillard Martin, Jr., Grapter Alfred Travis, Leading Archon Eugene Spencer, Jr., Lecturing Archon John Leroy Spencer, Willie Bell, John Carson, Fester Collins, Louis Johnson, Raymond LaSure, Gary Ransom, Eugene Stevenson, Sr., and James Thomas, a total of fourteen charter members. MEMBERSHIP Gamma Epsilon continues to attract men of distinction and its current membership totals forty-two. The membership of Gamma Epsilon represents a variety of professions including: medicine, dentistry, law, architecture, engineering, real estate development, education and business. 11

14 ACTIVITIES Gamma Epsilon is active locally, regionally and on the Grand Boulé level. Gamma Epsilon hosted the 5th Pacific Regional Boulé in 1989 and the 17th Pacific Regional Boulé in The highlight of the 17th Pacific Regional Boulé, by all accounts, was a panel discussion entitled S.O.S., Save Our Sons, the Legacies of Oscar Grant and Trayvon Martin: What Next Steps Should Be Taken to Protect and Defend Young Black Males? chaired and facilitated by Archon Mark T. Harris. The event was held in a large hearing room in the California State Capitol Building in front of a standing-room-only crowd. Panel members included Sacramento mayor and newly inducted Archon Kevin Johnson, California Assemblyman Steven Bradford, former Oakland mayor Archon Elihu Harris, Sacramento Superior Court Judge, Archon Gary Ransom, Past Grand Sire Archon Robert L. Harris, Grand Sire Archon Elect James O. Cole, civil rights attorney Archon John L. Burris, and Rory Kaufman, consultant to the California Assembly Speaker s Office. Young men on the panel included Asa Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, son of Archon Harold Jackson; Eric M. Harris and Mark T. Harris, sons of Archon Mark Harris; and Adrian Speed, office manager with Kevin Hart s Codeblack Entertainment in Los Angeles. Recently inducted Gamma Epsilon Archons Chester McGensy and Jamal Miller also joined the animated discussion, which revolved around the issues of survival faced by black youths in America. Grand Sire Archon Cornell Moore and Archousa Wenda Moore attended the 2006 Gamma Epsilon summer event that was held on September 9, Gamma Epsilon sponsored the chartering of the Epsilon Eta Boulé in Central Valley-Stockton, California, and conducted the induction ceremony, which was attended by Grand Sire Archon Robert L. Harris and Grand Sire Archon Elect Rodney Reed in Stockton on May 3, Like many member boulés, Gamma Epsilon is developing strategies for increasing support for social, educational and economic assistance for African American youth. Archons have participated in reading programs at local schools much to the delight of the kids. In 2003, Gamma Epsilon gave its first $10,000 donation to St. Hope Academy, which was founded by Sacramento native and mayor, and NBA great, Archon Kevin Johnson. St. Hope, which was founded in 1989, consists of a charter school and an after-school program. It is located in Oak Park, an inner city neighborhood of South Sacramento. Gamma Epsilon is one of the sponsors of a successful student, academic and athletic program that was founded by Archon Wornel Simpson in the summer of Archon Simpson coaches Team Sage, an extra-curricular basketball team of African American young men who are required to maintain a B average or better in the classroom. These student athletes have competed on a national level. Their success was recently recognized on an international level by an article published in the Malaysian Times. In the summer of 2010, not only did the team score well in the classroom, with an average GPA of 3.8, they also won the western regional basketball tournament. Gamma Epsilon is also active in community-health issues. Archon Michael Keeley started The Prostate Cancer Symposiums, which began in 2007 at the St. Paul Baptist Church, then in 2008, moved to the Antioch Baptist Church and in 2009, moved to the Sacramento Urban League center. The event continues under new leadership. Archon Shelton Duruisseau is chairman of the Prostate Cancer Symposium 2010, and is planning an even larger event. He continues the partnership with Gamma Epsilon, Capital Medical Society (a chapter of the National Medical Association), the University of California Davis Medical Center, and the local Cancer Society. The social activities of Gamma Epsilon consist of our annual Christmas gala, an early-spring mixer, and other spring and summer events. Gamma Epsilon has also hosted Family Day. The first Family Day was held in 12

15 1988 at the home of Archon Eugene Spencer, Jr., and was titled A Family Affair. Over the years this family mixer has resulted in a number of lifelong friendships and has even resulted in marriages. Archon Ralph Aldredge hosted the 2003 Family Day and a few college students who attended discovered that they would be attending the same universities in the fall. Prior to 2001, the general business monthly meetings were sponsored by individual Archons but now such meetings are sponsored by the boulé and held at commercial venues. A round of golf preceded some meetings in the past, followed by time to change clothing as business attire has always remained the order of the day for all business meetings. APPOINTMENTS AND RECOGNITION On August 15, 2012, Grand Sire Archon James Payne appointed Archon Nathan J. Cox of Gamma Epsilon Boulé to the YACS2014 committee (Young Adult Career Symposium). Also, in November 2012, Archon Allen W. Warren was elected to represent District 2 on the Sacramento City Council. On July 15, 2010, Grand Sire Archon Rodney Reed appointed four Archons of Gamma Epsilon Boulé to four Grand Boulé committees for the biennium: Archon Edward A. Phillips was appointed to the Elections Committee. Archon Melvin R. Ramey was appointed to the Math and Science Council. Archon Eugene Spencer Jr. was appointed to the Audit Committee. Archon E. Dotson Wilson was appointed to the Public Policy Committee. Also, in July 2010 at the Grand Boulé in Las Vegas, Archon Dotson Wilson received the Distinguished Service Award. Archon Wilson was one of only three Grammatei among the one hundred and twenty five considered to receive this honor. One of our Archons, Julius Cherry, was inducted at the Centennial Grand Boulé in Philadelphia in OFFICERS The current officers of Gamma Epsilon are Sire Archon Michael G. Keeley Sire Archon Elect Shelton J. Duruisseau Immediate Past Sire Archon Kevin J. Mitchell Grammateus E. Dotson Wilson Grapter Archie K. James Thesauristes Douglas A. Norton Agogos Pierce C. Welch Rhetoricos Edward A. Phillips Nathan J. Cox, Chair, Membership Council SUMMARY As evidenced by this brief history, Gamma Epsilon Boulé is a proud of its beginning. This boulé, under the guidance of its officers both locally, regionally and at the Grand level, will continue to make the effort to be relevant and active members of our community. The original history was provided by Archon A. Tyrone Glover and subsequently updated by Archon Archie K. James. 13

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19 Special Thanks to the Gamma Epsilon Boulé 2014 Anniversary Committee Archon Ronald T. Blanchette, Chair Archon Nathan H. Allen Archon Nathan J. Cox Archon Harold G. Jackson Archon Gary E. Ransom Archon Allen W. Warren

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