NATIONAL SIGMA BETA CLUB FOUNDATION Induction Ceremony

Transcription

1 NATIONAL SIGMA BETA CLUB FOUNDATION Induction Ceremony The Honorable Jimmy Hammock 33 rd International President Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. The Honorable Arthur Thomas President National Sigma Beta Club Foundation Patrick Hardy, D.Min. National Sigma Beta Club Coordinator

2 National Sigma Beta Club Foundation Induction Ceremony This is the official membership ceremony for local Sigma Beta Clubs. Each club is to perform this ceremony after their official membership drive/week. The attire for this event is to be decided upon by the local club s advisory committee but shall be business casual at minimum or other uniform attire agreed upon by the committee (i.e., custom shirt with khakis, cultural/ethnic attire, etc.) A program is to be printed with opening prayer, official club song (National Negro Anthem) purpose, etc. Materials: 6 foot table, five (5) candles {one of each red, black, green, blue, and white}, one (1) single white candle, 1 blue candle for each inductee and Sigma Beta Club member, white or blue table cloth, blue and/or white carnations. Directions: A table is set at stage center with the five simple candles representing the virtues of honesty, self-esteem, courage, integrity, and concern. The colors of the candles should be green, black, red, white and blue. Blue and white colored carnations are appropriate for dressing the table. 2

3 A. Arrangement Sigma Beta Club members Inductees and their Fathers Table with 5 candles and readers Sigma Men Officials at the ceremony will be at least two Sigma Beta Club advisors and the fraternity s local chapter president. Seats should be provided for each young man to be inducted and their fathers (or other significant male figure) next to them. Other club members should sit behind the inductees. Sigma readers are to stand behind the table other Sigma men stand flanking the readers. During the singing of the fraternity hymn only the first and last verses should be performed. The ceremony must be conducted as many times as the club holds new membership recruitment. The public is invited to the ceremony, along with family members, school mates, local alderpersons, mayor, principals, and teachers. Particular attention should be paid to inviting pastors, principals, favorite teachers, etc. of young men to be inducted. Fathers or other significant male figures should to sit with each prospective member. Mothers and significant figures in the lives of each inductee must be invited to attend. The ceremony calls for each participant to be familiar with the portions they are assigned to read during the ceremony. The ceremony should be read and performed with solemnity and grace. DO NOT INVOLVE SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A FLUENT READER OR IS A POOR PRESENTER. 3

4 Important: Procedure: This ceremony is a sacred and humbling ceremony of the National Sigma Beta Club Foundation and it endorsed by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Please take care to treat it as such. This ceremony shall be carried out in a public setting. The Induction Ceremony is the first harmonious experience with both the Fraternity and the Sigma Beta Club and the ceremony should be carried out accordingly. THERE WILL BE NO BRUTALITY, HAZING OR HARASSMENT OF ANY KIND. THE USE OF BLINDFOLDS IS BE PROHIBITED. 4

5 Ceremony President: Who has requested this gathering of men and why? Advisor 1: Noble leader, we the members of Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and the Sigma Beta Club requested this gathering. Among us are young fellows who deserve to be recognized as young men. Their acts over the past several weeks set them apart from boys. Their maturity has grown beyond their physical development. They demonstrate responsibility for their acts and knowledge of the meaning of brotherhood. Advisor 2: I speak on their behalf too noble sir. These young fellows of whom my brother speaks demonstrate the five virtues of manhood as well. Because they are honest, know their own worth, have integrity, are courageous, and truly care about one another. They assemble as examples of true manhood. Advisor 1 and Advisor 2 (alternate): I call (name of each new Sigma Beta) forward. Advisor 1: I call Advisor 2: I call President: (When all the new Sigma Betas are called forward the president continues): Young men and brothers, this is truly a happy occasion for all the men assembled here. Each of us, over the course of our lives, has come to realize where true manhood lies. Not all of us as we grow older remain physically powerful. But all of us are strong men. We know the power that good character has. We realize the power that bonding in brotherhood brings. The commitment we made to Sigma and the joy of the fellowship we gain from that commitment is one of the deepest satisfactions of our lives. Nothing gives us greater joy than seeing the true virtues of manhood and brotherhood living and growing in you. You are the future of our people, the future of male maturity, and the future of our brotherhood. We have seen the display of your talents and achievements. Now it is time to recognize your visible manifestation of the invisible virtues of your character. Advisor 1: I light the green candle of honesty. A true man will not lie but tells the truth as sincerely as he knows it. The strength to tell the truth exceeds the demands of physical powers. I light the green candle. 5

6 Advisor 2: I light the red candle of courage. To do what is right in our heart and conscience; no matter what others may do or how many of our peers may do it is strength only the mightiest spirit has. I light the red candle. Advisor 1: I light the black candle of self-esteem. Knowing the lineage of our descent and knowing why we are who we are, we should never feel lost, without a purpose, or unimportant. I light the black candle. Advisor 2: I light the white candle of integrity. To be what we appear to be, to be the same publicly and privately, to live the values we preach. This makes us be one person and make us worthy of respect. I light the white candle. Advisor 1: I light the blue candle of concern. True brotherhood consists of knowing that by ourselves we are less strong than when we are united and that our lives are tied together. The man who finds brotherhood in friendship finds one of life s greatest riches and joys. I light the blue candle. President: As I charge you with each challenge, you will respond I am ready! Are you prepared to discover what makes you special and why you are irreplaceable in the course of your life? Are you prepared to do what is unpopular and even to face ridicule for what is right? Are you prepared to tell the truth, no matter how hard the consequences may be to you, but always out of concern for others? Are you prepared to embrace consistency between your thoughts and your actions, between your public behavior and your private life? Are you prepared to care for your true friends as true brothers and to inconvenience yourself to help others? My young brothers, few of us live up to all these virtues all the time. You will find that the ceaseless pursuit to perfect them will keep you growing towards manhood everyday of every year of your life. Every young man to be inducted now kneel down. In the presence of this great assembly of witnesses, please repeat after me 6

7 In the universe, only God is greater than I. Yet, I am not more important than any other person. I owe other people truth. I shall give it. I owe myself the best of myself. I shall be it. I owe my brothers the healing and acceptance that are unique to my spirit. I will pour out my spirit. May these same blessings be given to me! (The President places his hand upon each candidate s head saying) I welcome you to the fellowship of Sigma men. (He passes before each young man in the same way) I call on each Father, Grandfather, Uncle, Brother, Mentor and Friend to raise their young man to his feet and give him an embrace of fellowship, respect and peace. Now face him and repeat after me. When I was a child I spoke as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Now I charge you to do the same. I love you and I will hold you to the promises you make here today. I now call on every man in this assembly to rise and face these young men and repeat after me. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, thought as a child, and did as a child. But when I became a man I put away childish things. Now you MUST do the same. We will watch you and we will hold you to the promises you make here today. (Be Seated) All Sigma Betas please rise. The Men of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity will now present every one of you with a candle so that you will remember this time when you were joined together as Sigma Betas and joined to us as young men. (The Sigmas give each Sigma Beta member a blue candle) President: Now I will light the first candle from each of the five virtues. (The president lights a single candle touching each of the five candles while saying the green candle of honesty, red candle of courage, black candle of self esteem, white candle of integrity, and the blue candle of concern. The president then lights the candle of the first inductee on his left. Now light the candle of your brother to your left repeating these words Now I light your fire. (This continues until call inductees candles are lit) (Fathers still standing behind/next to their sons.) Fathers and brothers are welcome to express your wishes for theses, our sons, and bothers. I now invite all the brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity 7

8 to form our circle and join hands and welcome our new Sigma Beta brothers with the fraternal song. Fraternity Hymn is sung (only the 1 st and 3 rd verse) President: (After the hymn ) Young Brothers, please blow out your candles and repeat the following words Now You Burn Invisibly in Me. (All candles are extinguished). I now call all Sigma Beta Club officers to please come forward. SBC Officers Rededication to their office: (All elected officers will stand facing the presiding officer and will raise their right hand) Advisor 1: Repeat after me "I,, do solemnly pledge to uphold the ideals and principles of the Sigma Beta Club of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and to carry out my duties and responsibilities as an elected officer of (Chapter ) ; Sigma Beta Club." President: This gathering of men is concluded, but our celebrations of the lives of these young men are just beginning. Reception Follows: 8