This Week in ΞΛ

This Week in ΞΛOnsite Chapter Retreat Registration, January 2022 IMDP Certification Training Registration, ICE COLD Winter Prayer Breakfast “Save The Date”, Xi Lambda History Factoid, 4400 Honorary Block Naming Effort, 2022 Chapter Membership Online Renewal Links, Planet Fitness Offer, and CDC Guidelines for the Fully Vaccinated,

Xi Lambda Chapter Retreat
Sunday, December 19, 2021

“Let’s Talk About It”

1:00pm – 5:00pmBrothers, please reserve time to attend the chapter retreat. Your voice is important and we want to hear from you!
The Chapter Retreat will be held at the eXceL Center.
8236 S. Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60620Click Here to RegisterGet IMDP Certified!
The next IMDP Certification Training Session is scheduled for Saturday, January 8, 2022 from 11am to 1:30pm  If you did not attend the October 16th training session, this is you last opportunity to become IMDP certified prior to the start of the Spring 2022 IMDP application window.
Click here to RegisterSave The Date!!

4400 King Drive Block Honorary Street Naming

An effort has begun to have an honorary street naming of the 4400 block of King Drive in honor of Alpha Phi Alpha. If you live in, own property or own a business in the 3rd Ward/Bronzeville, we need your support!

Please contact Bro. Charles Smoot at [email protected] with your name, email address, and address of where you home/property/business is located so you can be added to the list and be sent information on how you can help with this endeavor!Xi Lambda Centennial Celebration Survey

Xi Lambda is approaching 100 years of service to Chicago. 100 years of tireless service, 100 years of dedication to underprivileged communities, and 100 years of brotherly love amongst its members. As much as you’ve given to Xi Lambda Chapter, the Centennial celebration is being designed to give to you by honoring our past, our present and our future. To accomplish this, we’d like to hear from you, Brother. We have one simple question. What does your Centennial celebration look like to you?
Complete the Centennial Survey2022 Xi Lambda Chapter Dues Online Payments

Xi Lambda Chapter operates on a Fiscal Year of January 1 – December 31Any person joining Xi Lambda for the first time (since the year 2008) will have to pay the Chapter Housing Assessment. This assessment is a one-time charge.  Currently, the Housing Assessment is $250.00  The entire assessment is tax-deductible.

A Brother will only be considered financial with Xi Lambda Chapter if they have either paid the balance of their dues in full or are on an authorized and active Chapter Payment Plan.  Chapter dues are independent of any fees or assessments charged by the General Office, Midwestern Region, District of Illinois or other Fraternity entity. Currently, Xi Lambda Chapter dues are $350.00 per year ($215.00 of the $350.00 is tax-deductible)

2022 Chapter DuesTo pay your 2022 chapter dues ($350) online via the following link.
The total amount charged will be $363.16.Pay 2022 Xi Lambda Chapter Dues One-time Housing Assessment
To pay the one-time housing assessment ($250), please use the following link
The total amount charged will be $259.55Pay One-time Housing AssessmentChapter Dues and One-time Housing Assessment
To pay 2022 chapter dues and the one-time housing assessment, please use the following link
The total amount charged will be $622.20Pay Chapter Dues and Housing AssessmentChapter Payment Plan
Please contact the Financial Secretary (Craig Turner – [email protected]) to receive a copy of the Payment Plan form.
Please note: The Payment Plan must be completed by October 2022Xi Lambda History Factoid

Charles JohnsonWhile this incident takes place prior to the chartering of Xi Lambda Chapter, it is nevertheless an interesting piece of Alpha History in Chicago.In December 1919, the 12th Annual Convention was held in Chicago, hosted by Theta Chapter at the Vincennes Hotel. By all accounts it was a successful convention, as the fraternity was still experiencing exponential growth. There were, however, problems.In the February 1920 edition of The Sphinx, Bro. Charles S. Johnson (Gamma initiate, member of Theta) submitted an article titled, in part, “…It is Difficult to Have a Secret Meeting Nowadays With-Out There is a Suspicion of a Plot to Overthrow The Government.”Bro. Johnson wrote of how there was an assumption that the 12th Annual Convention of Alpha Phi Alpha was actually a “secret planning among the Negroes presumably to establish a Soviet Government.”Let us remember that the 1919 Convention was just a few months after the worst months (at that time) of racial unrest in the country. Known as the “Red Summer,” racially motivated riots broke out around the country, including Chicago. During the Convention, an attempt was made by local police officials (for the newly formed to attend the closed session meetings of the fraternity. They were rebuffed, but the purpose of the officials stated they were concerned about any plotting or planning by blacks. It was a common concern that blacks would be recruited by or were drawn to the Communist party, as a number of high-profile black figures, including some Alpha men, became members. Generally, African American participation in the Communist party was short lived, when it was discovered that the overtures made by Communists to the black community lack the depth of support that blacks were actually seeking.When we look at the reaction of some outside of the black community to the Black Lives Matter movement, we see strange parallels and attitudes from local, state and others who assume there is some nefarious strategy behind blacks organizing and demanding equal or better treatment than what has been offered. Brother Johnson ended his tome with the following:The mantle of responsibility is devolving on the shoulders of new Negroes. We could dedicate ourselves to no more sacred mission than this: the initiation and support of a movement which will vouchsafe for us a caliber of men in whose hands the destiny of twelve million peoples will lie safe.While we number more than 12 million today, we as Alpha men, but still support any movements which seek to positively uplift and support our communities.The complete writing can be found here: https://issuu.com/apa1906network/docs/192000601, Page 12. Brothers, don’t forget about the Black Card Membership offer from Planet Fitness!  Please contact Health and Wellness Chair Brother Kevin Baskins if you have any questions.

The 2022 Xi Lambda Wellness Challenge is approaching!

If you supported our chapter as an active member in 2020 and have not received your mask, please contact Bro President Sims or Brother Vice President Ali.

Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People