It is an honor to once again provide you with an update from the office of the International First Vice President of our Wondrous Band.  Truly, the Fall has been a busy season for all of your Sigma Servants.  Fall is state meeting season and it has truly been my pleasure to meet, greet and discuss Sigma’s bright future with Brothers from all parts of the country.

Since my last update, we have attended the following state meetings:

• Virginia – September 19th – Brother Devon Henry, State Director
• New Jersey – September 26th – Brother Julio Morgan, State Director
• Indiana – October 10th – Brother Eric Williams, State Director
• New York – October 17th – Brother Craig Collins, State Director
• South Carolina – November 7th – Brother Demond Nichols, State Director

I offer my heartfelt thanks to the aforementioned state leaders and Brothers from the immediate area that offered me the best in Sigma hospitality.  I trust that we were able to provide good information and encouragement as we all work to achieve the vision of our revered Founders.

In addition to my state meeting travels, I was also privileged to conduct the Honorary Membership Initiations of Ramsey Lewis and Malik Yoba.  The Ramsey Lewis initiation took place in Chicago on October 24th.  The Brothers of Iota Nu Sigma and Upsilon Sigma, led by Steve Ballard and Carl Walker, hosted a first class event.  I must also point out that the location, the Metropolitan Club, was secured by our Immediate Past President, the Honorable Paul L. Griffin, Jr.  It served as a perfect backdrop for the days events!  I also had the opportunity to visit the historic Upsilon Sigma House.  If you are in Chicago and you are a Sigma, a trip to the Upsilon Sigma House is a MUST!

Honorary Brother Yoba’s initiation took place at Ben Benson’s Steakhouse in midtown Manhattan on Sunday, November 8th.  Brothers from New York, Virginia, New Jersey and Los Angeles showed up to welcome a new member in to the Blue and White Family.

Both Ramsey Lewis and Malik Yoba appreciated the honor that had been bestowed upon them as honorary members of Phi Beta Sigma.  While they have both been active in their own charitable efforts, they committed to partner with their new family to ‘Change lives through Service’!

Founder’s Day is around the corner and I am looking forward to visiting many events across the country.  Currently, I am booked to speak at events in the following cities:

• Greensboro, NC – January 10, 2010
• Columbia, SC – January 16, 2010
• Louisville, KY – January 23, 2010
• Jackson, MS – January 31, 2010

We will also be in attendance at the International celebration taking place in Jacksonville, Florida on January 9, 2010.  Let’s come out and celebrate the founding of our beloved Fraternity!

One of the things that have been evident throughout my travels this Fall is the fact that Brothers are excited about Phi Beta Sigma!  I truly witnessed a renewed energy and enthusiasm for our mission and our programs.

Brothers, NOW is the time to exhibit that Sigma Pride that resides in each of us.  Now is the time to execute programs in the area of Social Action, Bigger and Better Business and Education.  Now is the time to start or grow your Sigma Beta Club.  Now is the time to make a POSITIVE IMPACT in our communities!  My charge to each of you is to take Sigma higher.  Take Sigma higher because we love our Fraternity and all that it represents.  Take Sigma higher because OUR FOUNDERS WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY!!!!

Enjoy the rest of the Newsletter!  Special thanks go out to Brother Carlos Williams, our Editor-in-Chief and Brother Quinton Wash, our Director of Design.  I would also like to thank Brother Andre Arnold and Craig Arthur for their submissions!  GOMAB!

If you are a State Director, Area Director, Chapter President or Collegiate Advisor, PLEASE respond to this email with your name, chapter name, title, mailing address, phone number and email address.

Brothers, this information is critical. Please follow rule number one of the 12 Inch Rule and send this information back ASAP.

]]> http://jamason.org/appeal-to-state-chapter-leaders/feed/ 0 http://jamason.org/282/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=282 http://jamason.org/282/#comments Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:04:12 +0000 admin http://jamason.org/?p=282

A Message From Bro Jonathan A. Mason, Sr.

Greetings Brothers In Sigma! In my first message to you after being elected, I told you that it was time for us to move from ‘Promises to Performance’. It is important for me to let you know that we have honored that commitment. What follows is an update on our performance against the promises made during the campaign season. NOW, please do not give this update a cursory glance. There are certain things we need FROM you in order to bring all of our goals to fruition. Please review and respond promptly.

First Impressions

I campaigned on a promise that new initiates would have their membership materials on the day of their initiation. This is a non-negotiable commitment. On Friday, August 7th, we met with Executive Director, Marco McMillian and Director of Membership Services and Constituency Relations, Dennis Lanham. During the full day of meetings, timely delivery of membership materials was a primary topic of discussion. Here are a few of the challenges that have kept us from providing this critical service to our new Brothers:

• Incorrect/Missing paperwork
• Incorrect fees
• Delays in mailing paperwork
• Delays in processing paperwork due to antiquated system

Brothers, I am happy to report that during the last administration, the General Board approved the purchase of a new, fully integrated database system. This new system will allow new members to pay their fees ONLINE! In addition, the entire approval process will also be done ONLINE. The new system, coupled with a new training curriculum, will allow us to create the right first impressions with our new Brothers.

Let me state for the record, that Brother Marco McMillian has put together a talented and dedicated Team at our International Headquarters. Brother Dennis Lanham, Brother Marquis Miles, Brother Wayne Green and the entire staff are working to give each Brother of Sigma superior customer service and an excellent membership experience. Sometimes real change takes time. I am confident that this Team will provide us with the level of service we deserve and expect as they are given the necessary tools to perform their tasks.

Membership Recognition

Starting with this update, we will acknowledge graduations, anniversaries, job promotions, marriages, childbirth and much, much more! If we are a true Brotherhood (and we are!) than we must be aware of and celebrate the successes of our Brothers! We need your help with this process. Please send all news ‘for the good of the order’ to Brother Carlos Williams at wickedblue@aol.com.

Communication

We will over communicate with you in an effort to guarantee that our goals will be achieved. Along with the E-Newsletters that you will receive on a consistent basis, you can also join our Facebook group, ‘The Rebirth of Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service. We also invite you to follow us on Twitter. Just click on the link at the bottom of this newsletter. In addition, stay tuned for announcements regarding internet radio broadcasts and conference calls. In order for us to reach and exceed 10,000+ financial members, we need you to be engaged!

Sigma Talent Search

We have opened up the Sigma table to an emerging group of servant leaders from each of the seven regions. They are working in concert with tenured Brothers to help us in the following areas:

• Development of a NEW MEMBERSHIP INTAKE PROCESS
• Development of a Standardized Certification Process
• Development of a State Director’s Training Guide
• Development of Web 2.0 strategies
• Execution of our Membership growth strategies

Since July, these committed Brothers have participated in more than a dozen conferences calls. They have broken up into sub-committees that are moving our workload forward in an expeditious manner. I have every confidence that you will be pleased with the results of our labor. Moreover, you are invited to join us! There is room at the table for any Brother that wants to help Sigma WIN!

In future E- Newsletters, we will provide you with updates on other initiatives we have undertaken. Please know that I am humbled by the trust you have placed in me and thrilled about the progress we have made thus far. Stay tuned!

GOMAB!

Jonathan A. Mason, Sr.

]]> http://jamason.org/282/feed/ 0 http://jamason.org/mip-a-time-for-change/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mip-a-time-for-change http://jamason.org/mip-a-time-for-change/#comments Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:00:58 +0000 admin http://jamason.org/?p=281 MEMBERSHIP INTAKE….IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE?

By: Brother Daniel J. Tann, Esquire

Change seems to be the “IN” word in America right now, but in Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity it is more a reality than a slogan. During the recent Sigma Campaign our current Vice-President, Brother Jonathan Mason travelled the country and met with alumni and collegiate brothers from every region. The constant cry that he heard in the area of membership was that the Membership Intake Process was not working for the average brother.

Even those brothers who were part of the “establishment” said that it was flawed and that they did not like it. If we look at it’s genesis we will find that our current MIP Process was a reaction to a series of lawsuits experienced by the National Pan-Hellenic Organizations in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. There was a vote taken by the nine organizations to eliminate pledging as we knew it then and the MIP Process was implemented without the brothers given any input or opportunity to discuss how it should be done. The process gave Sigma a legal blanket, but left many brothers unhappy with the results.

The MIP Process we now have is approximately twenty years old and it is time for a change. Under the direction of our current Vice-President, a work group was established to review and recommend a new process. This group has representation from all seven regions, includes collegiate & alumni members, brothers who work for universities, members of the legal profession and brothers who have served as State Directors, Vice Directors, a Past Regional Director and a Past National Collegiate Officer.

The committee has reviewed the current process and is discussing whether we need to have a different intake process for Collegiate Members and Alumni Members, with sub-committees looking at that issue. They are also looking at the pros and cons of a service project component with an extended time period to allow for additional educational, fraternal and professional training during the intake process. Also, they will be conducting an electronic survey to see how the brotherhood feels about the current MIP Process and what additional suggestions they might have.

Once the initial restructured MIP Process is prepared the goal is to share it with the brothers at every Regional Conference in the form of a “Town Hall Meeting” to allow for feedback from the membership. That feedback will then be reviewed by the work group and then submitted to the International Membership Committee. The final product will be presented to the General Board for ratification in the summer of 2010. Once approved, we will have a process that the Brotherhood can buy into, believe in and work with because it will be coming from the members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity!

By: Brother Todd Le Bon

Please help us help Sigma grow! The International Membership Committee has an aggressive membership growth plan that we will execute over the next two years. Each of us has a role in bringing this plan to fruition. The first step is for the Fraternity to have accurate contact information for all of our State and Chapter leaders.

If you are a State Director, Area Director, Chapter President or Collegiate Advisor, PLEASE respond to this email with your name, chapter name, title, mailing address, phone number and email address.

Brothers, this information is critical. Please follow rule number one of the 12 Inch Rule and send this information back ASAP.

I’m Looking Forward to Visiting Your Area!!

During the campaign, I told you that I would be a visible 1st Vice President. We are taking a ‘hands on’ approach to growing our membership and motivating our Brothers to serve. Since the Conclave we have been to Sigma events in Atlanta, Washington, Baltimore, New Jersey, New York, Little Rock and Virginia. This Fall, we are already scheduled to be in Indiana, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta and South Carolina. During the Founder’s Day season, we are currently booked for Jacksonville, Jackson and Columbia. If you are having a Membership Reactivation or Retention event that you would like me to attend or if you would like us to keynote your Founder’s Day, chapter or state event; please contact me early. I am working to accommodate as many requests as humanly possible. This is not just my fraternal job responsibility, it’s my passion! I am here to serve YOU!

]]> http://jamason.org/member-reclamation/feed/ 0 http://jamason.org/membership-update-from-the-international-first-vice-president/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=membership-update-from-the-international-first-vice-president http://jamason.org/membership-update-from-the-international-first-vice-president/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:31:36 +0000 admin http://jamason.org/?p=210

A Message From Bro Jonathan A. Mason, Sr.

Greetings Brothers In Sigma! In my first message to you after being elected, I told you that it was time for us to move from ‘Promises to Performance’. It is important for me to let you know that we have honored that commitment. What follows is an update on our performance against the promises made during the campaign season. NOW, please do not give this update a cursory glance. There are certain things we need FROM you in order to bring all of our goals to fruition. Please review and respond promptly.

First Impressions

I campaigned on a promise that new initiates would have their membership materials on the day of their initiation. This is a non-negotiable commitment. On Friday, August 7th, we met with Executive Director, Marco McMillian and Director of Membership Services and Constituency Relations, Dennis Lanham. During the full day of meetings, timely delivery of membership materials was a primary topic of discussion. Here are a few of the challenges that have kept us from providing this critical service to our new Brothers:

• Incorrect/Missing paperwork
• Incorrect fees
• Delays in mailing paperwork
• Delays in processing paperwork due to antiquated system

Brothers, I am happy to report that during the last administration, the General Board approved the purchase of a new, fully integrated database system. This new system will allow new members to pay their fees ONLINE! In addition, the entire approval process will also be done ONLINE. The new system, coupled with a new training curriculum, will allow us to create the right first impressions with our new Brothers.

Let me state for the record, that Brother Marco McMillian has put together a talented and dedicated Team at our International Headquarters. Brother Dennis Lanham, Brother Marquis Miles, Brother Wayne Green and the entire staff are working to give each Brother of Sigma superior customer service and an excellent membership experience. Sometimes real change takes time. I am confident that this Team will provide us with the level of service we deserve and expect as they are given the necessary tools to perform their tasks.

Membership Recognition

Starting with this update, we will acknowledge graduations, anniversaries, job promotions, marriages, childbirth and much, much more! If we are a true Brotherhood (and we are!) than we must be aware of and celebrate the successes of our Brothers! We need your help with this process. Please send all news ‘for the good of the order’ to Brother Carlos Williams at wickedblue@aol.com.

Communication

We will over communicate with you in an effort to guarantee that our goals will be achieved. Along with the E-Newsletters that you will receive on a consistent basis, you can also join our Facebook group, ‘The Rebirth of Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service. We also invite you to follow us on Twitter. Just click on the link at the bottom of this newsletter. In addition, stay tuned for announcements regarding internet radio broadcasts and conference calls. In order for us to reach and exceed 10,000+ financial members, we need you to be engaged!

Sigma Talent Search

We have opened up the Sigma table to an emerging group of servant leaders from each of the seven regions. They are working in concert with tenured Brothers to help us in the following areas:

• Development of a NEW MEMBERSHIP INTAKE PROCESS
• Development of a Standardized Certification Process
• Development of a State Director’s Training Guide
• Development of Web 2.0 strategies
• Execution of our Membership growth strategies

Since July, these committed Brothers have participated in more than a dozen conferences calls. They have broken up into sub-committees that are moving our workload forward in an expeditious manner. I have every confidence that you will be pleased with the results of our labor. Moreover, you are invited to join us! There is room at the table for any Brother that wants to help Sigma WIN!

In future E- Newsletters, we will provide you with updates on other initiatives we have undertaken. Please know that I am humbled by the trust you have placed in me and thrilled about the progress we have made thus far. Stay tuned!

GOMAB!

Jonathan A. Mason, Sr.

AN APPEAL TO ALL STATE AND CHAPTER LEADERS

Please help us help Sigma grow! The International Membership Committee has an aggressive membership growth plan that we will execute over the next two years. Each of us has a role in bringing this plan to fruition. The first step is for the Fraternity to have accurate contact information for all of our State and Chapter leaders.

If you are a State Director, Area Director, Chapter President or Collegiate Advisor, PLEASE respond to this email with your name, chapter name, title, mailing address, phone number and email address.

Brothers, this information is critical. Please follow rule number one of the 12 Inch Rule and send this information back ASAP.

I’m Looking Forward to Visiting Your Area!!

During the campaign, I told you that I would be a visible 1st Vice President. We are taking a ‘hands on’ approach to growing our membership and motivating our Brothers to serve. Since the Conclave we have been to Sigma events in Atlanta, Washington, Baltimore, New Jersey, New York, Little Rock and Virginia. This Fall, we are already scheduled to be in Indiana, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta and South Carolina. During the Founder’s Day season, we are currently booked for Jacksonville, Jackson and Columbia. If you are having a Membership Reactivation or Retention event that you would like me to attend or if you would like us to keynote your Founder’s Day, chapter or state event; please contact me early. I am working to accommodate as many requests as humanly possible. This is not just my fraternal job responsibility, it’s my passion! I am here to serve YOU!

MEMBERSHIP INTAKE….IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE?

By: Brother Daniel J. Tann, Esquire

Change seems to be the “IN” word in America right now, but in Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity it is more a reality than a slogan. During the recent Sigma Campaign our current Vice-President, Brother Jonathan Mason travelled the country and met with alumni and collegiate brothers from every region. The constant cry that he heard in the area of membership was that the Membership Intake Process was not working for the average brother.

Even those brothers who were part of the “establishment” said that it was flawed and that they did not like it. If we look at it’s genesis we will find that our current MIP Process was a reaction to a series of lawsuits experienced by the National Pan-Hellenic Organizations in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. There was a vote taken by the nine organizations to eliminate pledging as we knew it then and the MIP Process was implemented without the brothers given any input or opportunity to discuss how it should be done. The process gave Sigma a legal blanket, but left many brothers unhappy with the results.

The MIP Process we now have is approximately twenty years old and it is time for a change. Under the direction of our current Vice-President, a work group was established to review and recommend a new process. This group has representation from all seven regions, includes collegiate & alumni members, brothers who work for universities, members of the legal profession and brothers who have served as State Directors, Vice Directors, a Past Regional Director and a Past National Collegiate Officer.

The committee has reviewed the current process and is discussing whether we need to have a different intake process for Collegiate Members and Alumni Members, with sub-committees looking at that issue. They are also looking at the pros and cons of a service project component with an extended time period to allow for additional educational, fraternal and professional training during the intake process. Also, they will be conducting an electronic survey to see how the brotherhood feels about the current MIP Process and what additional suggestions they might have.

Once the initial restructured MIP Process is prepared the goal is to share it with the brothers at every Regional Conference in the form of a “Town Hall Meeting” to allow for feedback from the membership. That feedback will then be reviewed by the work group and then submitted to the International Membership Committee. The final product will be presented to the General Board for ratification in the summer of 2010. Once approved, we will have a process that the Brotherhood can buy into, believe in and work with because it will be coming from the members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity!

Congratulations to the Graduating Brothers of the Eastern Region!!

By: Brother Todd Le Bon

Member Reclamation:
Reclaiming our Lost Brothers

By: Brother Dennis Lanham

Did you know that the Fraternity now has a way to reclaim Brothers who have been initiated but have never been recognized by Corporate Headquarters?

For many years our fraternity has dealt with issues related to the membership intake process which prevented Brothers who have undergone the initiation ritual from ever being formally recognized as members. There have been a variety of reasons that this has occurred, ranging from miseducation about the official membership intake process to mishandling of MIP paperwork, and has left many of our brothers in predicaments where they never had the chance to be called official members. The fraternity recognized that this problem has drastically affecting our Fraternity and in November of 2009, decided to do something about it.

We are now in the process of searching out and reclaiming Brothers who have never been formally recognized by Corporate Headquarters as members. In November of 2008, the General Board approved the Member Reclamation Program which was designed to reclaim 1) Brothers who have never been recognized by the Corporate Headquarters as members of the Fraternity and 2) Brothers who would like to reinstate their membership but whose record cannot be located the Corporate Headquarters. It is a simple, three-step program and since its inception, has afforded many Brothers the opportunity they deserve to become officially recognized.

We are excited about this program and hope that it will allow us to bring back our lost Brothers into our Wondrous Band. If you know anybody who would be interested in this new program or if you would like further information contact the Department of Membership Services and Constituency Relations at Corporate Headquarters.

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