I attended the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Achievement Week Banquet at Florida Memorial University on Sunday afternoon. It was a celebration of the 70th Anniversary of graduate chapter, Sigma Alpha and the accomplishments of the undergraduate chapter, Kappa Gamma.
The afternoon did not start out well with a rude reception by the security guard at the University and the demand for my photo ID which he kept. That was not cool but I was already late so I didn't push back too much. He was not happy that I noted his name before I proceeded to the event. It was one thing to see my identification, which was my driver license, but to hold onto to it smacked of potential identity theft. Let me not linger on that unpleasantness because the event hosts had nothing to do with that.
Anyhoo, guests were treated to a warm welcome by fraternity members who guided us to our tables. I saw friends I hadn't seen in years such as Henry Mingo, Johnny Davis and Elbert Waters. I had to know at least half of the people in the banquet hall either through work, school or other organizations. I have to give a special shout out to Dr. Richard Strachan, Dr. Lorraine Strachan, Harold "Duke" Braynon, Harcourt Clark, Theron Clark, Erslyn Anders, Bonita North, Gloria Davis, Jai Ingraham, Bennie L. White, Jake Simms, Ruth Simms, Tessie White, Gina White, Mary Jessie, Miranda Albury, Dr. Nelson Adams and Effie Adams.
It was a pleasure to be the guest of Baljean Smith and share his table with his other guests including his wife Naomi and my Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sisters Verna Edington and Romania Wilson.
The joint activity with the graduate and undergraduate chapters and the inclusion of their youth group, the Lamplighters was a nice mixture of the generations of Omega, a means of strengthening their bond and demonstrating leadership. My nephew-godsons, Sterling Youmas and Darius Albury-Williams are a part of that group; they looked so nice in their black shirts and purple and gold ties. I know that may not sound on point fashionwise but they were sharp.
Awards were presented to several individuals including Dr. Edward Braynon, Dr. Nelson Adams, Attorney Larry Handfield, Garth Reeves, Senator Frederica Wilson and Enid Pinckney.
A big shout out to the undergraduate brothers at Florida Memorial (Kappa Gamma) for having the highest chapter GPA in the fraternity's 7th District which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi.
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