This year’s reflections included the Alpha/Links MLK Memorial Services at the Church of the Incarnation on January 15th 2012, followed by the Black & Gold Gala to commemorating the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial. The chapter received Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Frederica Wilson. On April 4th 2012, members of the chapter served as marshals for the Reclaim the Dream Candlelight Memorial Service in Liberty City, in remembrance of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In 2011, the chapter celebrated one of its greatest achievements in attending the unveiling and dedication ceremony of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, located between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials on the national mall in Washington, DC. The cost to build and maintain the memorial was estimated $120 million. The memorial to the civil rights leader is a monumental expression that will educate young people and future generations about Dr. King and his accomplishments. Beta Beta Lambda’s Alpha Education Foundation contributed $2.1 million toward the construction of the monument, of which $100,000.00 was raised locally, and chapter members arranged for two additional $1 million donations from the Knight Foundation and ExxonMobil Foundation, respectively.

Beta Beta Lambda chapter was chartered in November 1937 by Dr. Felix E. Butler, Dr. Nathaniel Colston, Dr. Ira P. Davis, Dr. Aaron Goodman, Frederick J. Johnson, Dr. Samuel H. Johnson, Leo A. Lucas, and Dr. William H. Murrell. The chapter is a 5-time National Chapter of the Year, 3-time Host Chapter for the National Convention, home of the 1994 National Brother of the Year, and has progressed and positioned itself to being a part of Greater Miami’s leadership. Alphas are about “Manly Deeds, Scholarship, and Love for All Mankind.”

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About Beta Beta Lambda

Founded in November 1937, Beta Beta Lambda is the second alumni chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. chartered in the State of Florida, Miami’s premiere Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and five -time National Alumni Chapter of Year 1954*1975*1985*1986*2006. Chapter was Incorporation in 1978, and created two 501c3 not-for profit entities-Beta Beta Lambda/Alpha Education Foundation established in 1995 and AlphaLand Community Development Corporation established in 2006. Beta Beta Lambda Chapter and its subsidiaries are providing leadership through its many service activities such as Alpha Outreach, Project Alpha, Alpha-Dade Youth Sports Program, Alpha/Big Brothers & Big Sisters Partnership, Sankofa Project, Knights of Gold, Boy Scouts Troop 1906, Alpha/Head Start Partnership, Voter Education Project, and Scholarship Award Program.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Scholarship Program and /or Economic & Community Development , contact Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s Beta Beta Lambda/Alpha Foundation or AlphaLand CDC at (305) 358-1040, email us at betabetalambda@bellsouth.net, or mail donations to the Beta Beta Lambda/Alpha Foundation, PO Box 12447, Miami, Fl 33101.

Seventy-five years later, the Alphas will mark their Diamond Anniversary with events going on from Monday, Nov. 5th through Sunday, Nov. 11th. Their premier event, the 75th Anniversary Gala will be on Saturday, Nov. 10th at the Trump Doral Golf Resort and Spa, featuring Grammy-nominated R&B singer Eric Roberson. Beta Beta Lambda Chapter is a five-time National Chapter of the Year; three-time host chapter for the National Convention; home of the 1994 Brother of the Year and has positioned itself as one of Greater Miami’s leading non-profit organizations. The Chapter’s new president is Anderson Eldridge III.

Source

“I wasn’t going to be turned away from the polls or have my ballot held back and risk losing my voice in this election because I failed to do something simple,” Johnson said afterwards.

Liberty City resident Annette Kerney also needed to update her information. “This election is too important to have trouble when you are trying to vote,” she said. “If your driver’s license does not match your voting card, well, that’s the kind of luck I don’t need.”

Johnson and Kerney took advantage of the “Phirst Phamily” Voter Registration Blitz on Saturday organized by Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Beta Beta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. The campaign started at Walgreen’s Pharmacy, 6200 N.W. Seventh Avenue in Liberty City.
Throughout the day, members of both Greek organizations visited barbershops and beauty salons in parts of Miami-Dade County to reach residents eligible to vote or in need of updating their voter information.

“We have a history of being involved in voter registration but this is the first year we have done it in this way, focusing on beauty salons and barbershops,” said Andrea Robinson, co-chairwoman of AKA’s civic engagement committee.

The group is nonpartisan, she said. “We don’t tell people how to vote or who to vote for. We just get them registered or updated.”
The number of unregistered voters and the number of registered voters who don’t vote do not add up, Robinson said.
“It makes no sense to complain about the politicians when you pass on the opportunity to select them,” she said. “We don’t want to wake up on Nov. 7 and be surprised.”

Peter Barnes, 49, of Opa-locka said that he had not voted in years because “my voice was nothing anyone wanted to hear.”
“I felt that blacks were left out of the process,” Barnes said. “I mean, we go to the polls and there is always a hold-up. Your ID isn’t good enough if you have moved. If you’ve been arrested, they turn you away. And they don’t make it easy for the seniors to get there either.”
According to Anderson Elridge, president of Beta Beta Lamda, Miami Chapter, a felon’s rights may be restored prior to voting. “You can still vote as long as you hold a state of Florida ID and a voter registration card, but not if you have an open case,” he said.

“The ballot will be accepted but provisional until verified.”
Voting is a constitutional right, Elridge said, adding, “And not all people who have had altercations with the law are disqualified from participating in the process.” Ann White, who volunteered for the registration campaign, said that she is saddened “that people still feel their votes do not make a difference. This is an important election and people just need to be there.”

Barnes, who updated his information, said that he feels “more educated and sure about the system” and plans to vote in November.

Source
Cynthia Roby may be reached at CynthiaRoby@bellsouth.net

This year’s march and memorial also paid tribute to Trayvon Martin, a young high school student from Miami who was killed in Sanford, Florida on February 26th, 2012, by George Zimmerman, a community watchman. Mr. Martin, who was unarmed, was returning to a family friend home when an unfortunate confrontation occurred. To this day, Mr. Zimmerman has not been arrested and remains free while rallies and protests have been held across the country demanding that he be arrested on killing an unarmed teenager under false pretenses. Zimmerman presume that Martin was about to commit a crime and that he was defending himself under the controversial Florida Law called “Stand your Ground.”

After the symbolic march, several local speakers and entertainers, featuring Sensere, the Wardlaw Brothers, Vickie Winans and James Fortune & Fiya, spoke and performed in memory of Martin (Luther King, Jr) & (Trayvon) Martin. The highlight of the evening was during the candlelight memoriam, the appearance of Trayvon’s parents-Sabryna Fulton and Tracey Martin, their attorney-Brother Darryl Parks of Parks and Crump PA, along with Congresswoman Fredericka Wilson, and several local officials. The brothers of Beta Beta Lambda Chapter were also recognized for the significant accomplishments that the organization, Alpha Phi Alpha, has achieved over its 105 years existence and salute Alphas most recent accomplishment, the completion of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr National Memorial in Washington, DC. Beta Beta Lambda was one of the top chapters in the country in fundraising for the national memorial project.

Brother Trever Wade, President of Beta Beta Lambda Chapter, and his administration with the Council of Past Chapter Presidents, continues to be servant to all mankind through local fundraising campaign, challenging corporations and foundations to make contributions to the chapter’s foundation and community development corporation for the betterment of young black boys in becoming black men. Beta Beta Lambda Chapter will close the year on November 2012 with the 75th Diamond Anniversary Celebration.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5th, 2012

Press Contact:
Gregory D. Gay
GDGAY@aol.com