History of the Danville (VA) Alumni Chapter

As pertained in the archives of the Grand Chapter, The Danville (VA) Alumni Chapter was approved for a charter on the 16th day of May 1998 by the Grand Board of Directors of Kappa Alpha Psi.  The charter was presented to the chapter on the 13h day of June 1998. The Danville (VA) Alumni Chapter is located in region four, the western region of the Eastern Providence. The Danville, Virginia Alumni Chapter was a result of a split of the Martinsville (VA) Alumni Chapter, which was established on June 2, 1956 in Martinsville, Virginia. Brothers from Danville have been affiliated with the Martinsville chapter since 1963, but always longed to have a chapter to call their own.
On the 13th day of June 1998, 18 men were presented a chartered by Eastern Province Polemarch Anthony B. Hill, who was a strong advocate for the charting of the Danville (VA) Alumni Chapter. Those 18 men were Brothers Cephus Archie, Malvin Carr, David Coleman, and Harold Bruce Craft, Bennie Dix (deceased), William Flippen, Frederick Fowler, Rodrick Galloway, Howard Graves, Zachary Hairston, Sylvesta Jennings, C. Keshon Kelly (Shon), Lewis Marshall, Anthony Pass, James Pickens, P. Edward Thomas, Elisha Arnold Woody, and Kirby Wright.

Chapter Charter Officers were:
Malvin Carr, Polemarch
Fredrick Fowler, 1st Vice Polemarch
James Pickens, 2nd Vice Polemarch
Cephus Archie, Keeper of Records
Sylvesta Jennings, Keeper of Exchequer
David L. Coleman, Strategus
Lewis Marshall, Lt. Strategus
Zachary Hairston, Historian
David L. Coleman, Reporter
Howard Graves, Membership Intake Chairman
Elisha Woody, Director of Guide Right
Kirby Wright, Director of Reclamation
Board of Director Members:  Kirby Wright
                Edward Thomas
                Lewis Marshall

In the Spring of 2000 the Danville (VA) Alumni Chapter received the Eastern Province’s Chapter Growth Award for a small alumni chapter at the Province meeting held in Hampton, VA. On November 10, 2000 the Danville, Virginia Alumni Chapter crossed its first line, “Two Karets of Kontinuance” Christopher Hill and Stacey Frazier. C. Keshon Kelly served as the Dean of Pledges and Dwayne Cherry served as the assistant Dean of Pledges.  This was the beginning of a Growth period for the “DVA” Chapter under Chapter Polemarch P. Edward Thomas.  Also during the fall of 2000 the Chapter reclaimed a number of brothers form the Alpha Nu Chapter, North Carolina A&T State University and formed a great bond with the younger brothers of the Alpha Nu chapter. 

In the spring of 2001 the Chapter was awarded the Eastern Province’s third place William Thomas Carter chapter of the year award.  Also in the Spring of 2001 brother Keshon Kelly won the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award. Brother Kelly went on to receive a National William L. Crump History Award at the Conclave in Cleveland, OH in August of 2001. The Chapter crossed its second line on October 27, 2001 “Five Soldiers of Fortune” Terry Polk, Jameel May, Danny Harris, Keith Best, and Mike Sliver.  This was the first line in the history of the Eastern Province to all cross as Eastern Province Life Members.  Christopher T. Hill served as the Dean of Pledges and Corey K. Alexander served as the assistant Dean of Pledges. The chapter was led in this successful period by Polemarch P. Edward Thomas.

In the spring of 2002 the chapter was named the Eastern Province’s William Thomas Carter Small Alumni Chapter of the Year.  The Chapter also received its second Eastern Province’s Growth Award for a Small Alumni Chapter.  Brother Keshon Kelly received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award for the second consecutive time.  The chapter was led in this successful period by Polemarch P. Edward Thomas

In the spring of 2003 on March 15, 2003 the chapter crossed its third line “2 Kommitments of the Krimson Kause” Clinton D. Stackhouse II, and Jamon T. Williams. Montoya Milton served as the Dean of Pledges and Jameel May served as the assistant Dean of Pledges. Also in April of 2003, The “Do-It-All DVA” Chapter was not only named the Eastern Province William Thomas Carter Small Alumni Chapter of The Year for the second time in two years, and were also named 2003 Paul W. Caine International Small Alumni Chapter of the Year in July at the National Conclave in Charlotte, NC, led by Chapter Polemarch, C. Keshon Kelly.  Also in the spring of 2003 Brother Keshon Kelly won the Eastern Provinces William L. Crump History Award for the third consecutive time, and went on to win his second National William L. Crump History Award at the Conclave in Charlotte, NC in July of 2003. The chapter had these accomplishments under the leadership of Polemarch C. Keshon (Shon) Kelly.

In the spring of 2004 the Chapter hosted the Eastern Province Council; this was the first time ever that the Eastern Province Meeting was held in Danville, VA.  The chapter did an outstanding job hosting the Province, led by Polemarch C. Keshon (Shon) Kelly and chapter planning Chairman Brother Kirby Wright.  At the 2004 Province Meeting the Chapter Received the Eastern Province William Thomas Carter Medium Size Chapter of the Year award, the third consecutive province chapter of the year award for the chapter.  The Chapter also received its third Eastern Province’s growth Award. Also brother Christopher T. Hill received the Eastern Province William L. Crump History Award, the fourth consecutive year a member of the chapter has won that award.  The chapter in the fall of 2004 Co-hosted the C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference along with the Theta Psi Chapter VA-Tech, Polemarch Corey K. Alexander and chapter planning Chairman C. Keshon (Shon) Kelly led the chapter in this event. 

The chapter went on in the Spring of 2005 to win the Eastern Provinces William Thomas Carter Medium Size Chapter of the Year.  This was the fourth consecutive chapter of the year for Danville Alumni.  Also in the Spring of 2005 brother Jerry A. Heath, Jr. won the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award, marking the fifth consecutive year a member of the Chapter has won that award. This was all accomplished under the leadership of Polemarch Corey K. Alexander. In June of 2005 Brother C. Keshon (Shon) Kelly was appointed as a special operating assistant to Eastern Province Polemarch Lt. Col. Rufus F. Clanzy and served until January 2006. Brother Heath went on to receive a National Crump Award at the Conclave in St. Louis in July of 2005.  The chapter had these accomplishments under the leadership of Polemarch Corey K. Alexander.

In the spring of 2006 on March 11, the chapter crossed its fourth line “4 Links to the Legacy” Linwood H. Little, Edward L. Burton, Terry T. David, & Harry J. Johnson. C. Keshon Kelly served as the Dean of Pledges and Trevor Edwards served as the assistant Dean of Pledges. Also in April of 2006, The “Do-It-All DVA” Chapter was named the Eastern Province William Thomas Carter Small Alumni Chapter of The Year for the fifth consecutive year. Brother Jerry A. Heath received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award for the second consecutive time and the 6th consecutive time a member of the chapter has won this award. The Chapter was being lead at this time by Polemarch Kirby Wright.  Also at the Province Council 2006, Brother C. Keshon Kelly (Shon) was elected to serve on the Eastern Province’s Board of Directors.  A seat in Which Brother Kirby Wright held from 1994-2000.  Brother Wright has also held the position of Operating Assistant to the Province Polemarch (2001-2007).  The chapter had these accomplishments under the leadership of Polemarch Kirby Wright.

In the spring of 2007, The “Do-It-All DVA” Chapter was named the Eastern Province William Thomas Carter Small Alumni Chapter of The Year for the sixth consecutive year. Brother Mike T. Silver received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award for the 7th consecutive time a member of the chapter has won this award.  Also at the Province Council, Brother C. Keshon Kelly (Shon) was elected to serve the Eastern Province as the Alumni Voting Delegate to the 78th Grand Chapter Meeting for the (second consecutive time) in Minneapolis, MN July 16-21, 2007. Brother Kelly also received the Eastern Province’s Linwood Hardmon Chapter Advisor of the year award for his advising and serving the Theta Psi Chapter (VA-Tech.) During the 78th Grand Chapter Meeting Brother Mike T. Silver received the National William L. Crump History Award, making this the 4th consecutive Conclave that a member of the Danville (VA) Alumni Chapter has received that award. The chapter had these accomplishments under the leadership of Polemarch Kirby Wright. Brother C. Keshon (Shon) Kelly, who served as the Eastern Province Kwiz Bowl Chairman, was also appointed to serve on the National Kwiz Bowl Committee.  During the 78th Grand Chapter Meeting, the team that Brother Kelly put together to represent the Eastern Province in the National Kwiz Bowl Competition, took first place and made the Eastern Province back to back defending National Kwiz Bowl Champions, lead by Brother C. Keshon (Shon) Kelly.  On August 25th 2007, new Eastern Province Polemarch John T. Lanier (naïve of Danville), named Brother Edward Thomas as one of his new operating assistances, giving Danville (VA) Alumni another member to serve on the Eastern Province Level.  In November 2007, Province Polemarch John T. Lanier Recommended to the Grand Polemarch in turn who appointed Brother Kirby Wright as the Eastern Province Representative to the National Laurel Wreath Commission.  The chapter had these accomplishments under the leadership of Polemarch Kirby Wright.

In the spring of 2008, Brother Edward Thomas received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award, for the 8th consecutive time a member of the chapter has won this award.  Also on May 17, 2008 the chapter held its ten year anniversary at the Mercedes Club in Danville, VA.  The event was chaired by Brothers C. Keshon Kelly and Edward Thomas. Chapter Past Polemarch Corey K. Alexander served as the Master of Ceremonies, Grand Board Member Anthony B. Hill was the key note speaker for the event.  In attendance were Past Grand Polemarch Howard L. Tutman, Jr., Past Grand Keeper of Records Terry Blount, Current Grand Keeper of Records Alford “Al” White, National Sports Cluster Chairman and Chapter member Johnny S. Newman, Eastern Province Polemarch John T. Lanier, Sr., Past Eastern Province Polemarch Clarence F. Nelson, Jr. Past Eastern Province Polemarch Charles Brockett, Past Eastern Province Polemarch Lt.Col. Rufus F. Clanzy, Current Middle Eastern Province Polemarch Sheldon L. McAlpin, Eastern Province Sr. Vice Polemarch Dwight E. Thomas, Eastern Province Board of Director Members William N. Pickney and Cleave Packer.  Also in attendance were National William L. Crump History Awardees Mike T. Silver and Jerry A. Heath, Jr. both members of the chapter. Also National William L. Crump History Awardees Terry Blount and C. Keshon Kelly. The chapter celebrated and commemorated the past ten years of its existence and accomplishment. Brother Johnny S. Newman, Jr. joined the chapter in May of 2008. Brother Newman a native of Danville played 17 season in the NBA (National Basketball Association).  Brother Newman also serves as the National Sports Director for the Grand Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi (2005-Prsent).

In the spring of 2009, DVA “Do-It-All Chapter”  was named the Eastern Province William Thomas Carter Small Alumni Chapter of The Year, for the 7th time in 8 years. Brother C. Keshon Kelly, received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award (for the 4th time), this marked the 9th consecutive time a member of the chapter has won this award.  Also at the Province Council, Brother C. Keshon Kelly (Shon) was elected to serve the Eastern Province as the Alumni Voting Delegate to the 79th Grand Chapter Meeting for the (third consecutive time) in Washington, D.C. Also Brother Kelly received the Eastern Province’s Linwood Hardmon Chapter Advisor of the year award for his advising and serving the Theta Psi Chapter (VA-Tech), this was the second time in three years that Brother Kelly has received this award.  Also Brother Edward Thomas received the Eastern Province Polemarch’s Award.  The chapter was also selected first place winner for the Eastern Province Alumni Chapter Website of the Year award.  Brother Kelly who also served as the Eastern Province Kwiz Bowl Chairman, was also appointed to serve on the National Kwiz Bowl Committee for the third consecutive conclave. Brother Kelly was also appointed to serve on the National Resolutions Committee for the 79th Conclave as the Eastern Province representative.  Also in the spring of 2009 on March 14, 2009 the chapter crossed its fifth line “2 Krystallizations of a Krimson Dream” James Jennings and Mitchell Delva. C. Keshon Kelly served as the Dean of Pledges and Edward Thomas served as the assistant Dean of Pledges.  The chapter had these accomplishments under the leadership of Polemarch C. Keshon (Shon) Kelly.

In the spring of 2010 DVA “The Do-It-All Chapter”  was named the Eastern Province William Thomas Carter Small Alumni Chapter of The Year, for the 8th time in 9 years. Brother James “Jay Jennings, received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award, this marked the 10th consecutive time a member of the chapter has won this award.  Also at the Province Council,  brothers James’s “Jay” Jennings and C. Keshon Kelly were awarded with the Province Polemarch’s Award.  Also in the spring of 2010 on March 26, 2010 the chapter crossed its sixth line “4 Flickers of a Krimson Flame” Tremaine Kidd, D’Javon Alston, Cameron Johnson and Mario Edmonds. James “Jay” Jennings served as the Dean of Pledges and Linwood Little served as the assistant Dean of Pledges.  On May 1, 2010 the Colligate Chapters of the Eastern Province held the first annual I.W.E. Taylor Charity Banquet to honor Brothers that aid and serve the colligate brothers within the Eastern Province and also to raise money for the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.  Brothers from Danville that attended that even were Edward Thomas, C. Keshon Kelly and Cameron Johnson.  Brother Kelly received the Colligate Support Award for his service and support to the Virginia Polytechnic and State University Chapter, the Theta Psi of Kappa Alpha Psi.  The chapter had these accomplishments under the leadership of Polemarch C. Keshon (Shon) Kelly.

Our Chapter History is short but “Accomplished”!!!
    To Be Continued . . .

Polemarchs of the Danville, Virginia Alumni Chapter.

Chartering Polemarch 1998-1999……………………………………...…………………...  (1st)Malvin Carr

1999………………………………………………..……………………………..………(2nd) James Pickens, Sr.

2000………..………………………………………...……………………………………. (3rd)Frederick Fowler

2000-2002………………………………………………………………………………..(4th) P. Edward Thomas

2002-2004……………………...………………..………………………………... (5th) C. Keshon Kelly (Shon)

2004-2005……………………………………..……………………………..…………(6th) Corey K. Alexander

2005-2008………………………………………...…………………………….…....…………(7th) Kirby Wright

2008-2010..…………………………………………………………………………(8th) C. Keshon Kelly (Shon)

2010-Present……………………………………………………..……………………..(9th) P. Edward Thomas

DVA Lineage
1997- Present

Spring 97- 4 of 7 Diamonds in the Rough
#1 Keshon “Shon” Kelly- (Professor) the Honcho                         Dean of Pledges –Anthony Pass
#2 David Calland (Musik Man)                                                         ADP- Roderick Galloway
#3 David Coleman (no name) deceased
#4 Callis West (Robo Kop)

Alpha Nu Fall 2000-3 Kausalities of Kaptivating Khaos
#1 Ondre Humphrey (Psykhosis) the Honcho                               Dean of Pledges – Jerry Heath
#2 Montoya Milton (Mimik)      
#3 Nakia Brewington (Mint Kondition)

Fall 2000 -2 Karat of Kontinuance
#1 Christopher Hill (Konklusion) the Honcho                                   Dean of Pledges – Keshon Kelly
#2 Stacey Frazier (Rev. Dr. Luv Joy)                                             ADP- Dwaine Cherry

Fall 2001- 5 Solders of Fortune
#1 Terry Polk (Kryptonite)                                                               Dean of Pledges- Christopher Hill
#2 Jameel May (Sekond Koming) the Honcho                                 ADP- Corey Alexander
#3 Danny Harris (Dok)
#4 Keith Best (Red Alert)
#5 Mike Silver (Glaze)

Fall 2003 - 2 Kommitments 2 the Krimson Kause
#1 Clinton Stackhouse (Stark Reality)                                                 Dean of Pledges- Montoya Milton
#2 Jamon William (Insomnia) the Honcho                                           ADP- Jameel May

Spring 2006 - 4 Links to the Legacy
#1 Linwood Little (Khain Reaktion) the Honcho                                       Dean of Pledges- Keshon Kelly
#2 Edward Burton (Kamouflage)                                                             ADP- Trevor Edwards
#3 Terry David (Kuestions)
#4 Harry Johnson (The Missing Link)

Spring 2009 - 2 Krystallizations of a Krimson Dream
#1 James “Jay” Jennings (O.D.S) (Operation Desert Storm) the Honcho                 Dean of Pledges- Keshon Kelly  
#2 Mitchell Delva (Hypokhondriak)                                                                             ADP- Edward Thomas
   

 

Spring 2010 - 4 Flickers of a Krimson Flame
#1 Tremaine Kidd (Konan) the Honcho                                                       Dean of Pledges- Jay Jennings
#2 DJavon Alston (Kopasetik)                                                                     ADP- Linwood Little
#3 Cameron Johnson (Klokkwork)    
#4 Mario Edmonds (Kannon Ball)

 

 

Polemarch

P. Edward Thomas
Operating Assistant to the Eastern Province Polemarch

  2010-2011 Officers
Polemarch: ………………………………………….............………....P. Edward Thomas
Vice Polemarch:………………………………………………………....Montoya Milton
Keeper of Records:…………………………………………...……...…. Jay Jennings
Keeper of Exchequer:……………………………………...……….…....Keshon Kelly
Asst. Keeper of Records:…………………………………..……...…….Mario Edmonds
Asst. Keeper of Exchequer…............................................................D’Javon Alston
Strategus:…………………………………...………………………….....Tremaine Kidd
Lt. Strategus:…………………………………..……...……………….....Marvin Martin
Historian:………………………………….……………………………..... Keshon Kelly
Reporter:………………………………………..……………………...…..Mario Edmonds
Nominating Chairman:……………………………..………………...……Keshon Kelly
Chaplin:…….…………………………………………………….........….Cephus Archie
Parliamentarian:…….…………………………………………...............Edward Thomas
Reclamation Chair:…….……………………...………………....….......Jay Jennings
Director of Guide Right:………………………………………………..…Harry Johnson
Membership Intake Co-Chairs:…………….………….…..................Jay Jennings/Marvin Martin
Community Service Chairman:…………………………..…….……….Edward Thomas
Political/Social Action Chairman:……………………….....……..……Edward Thomas
Awards and Special Recognition Chair:…………………..……..…….Montoya Milton
Fundraising Chair:…….……………….….………………………......…Marvin Martin
St. Jude’s Chair:…….…………………………………...…......………Jay Jennings
Tech/Website Chair:………………………..………………...……..….D’Javon Alston
Senior/50 Year Brother Committee Chair:……...……………..…..…Sylvesta Jennings
Board of Directors Members:…………………..……………...……...Sylvesta Jennings
                                                                                                          Cephus Archie
                                                                                                          Harry Johnson

Danville Alumni Chapter: 12 Years of Achievement & Counting

Years 1998-2000

• Brother Kirby Wright elected to the Eastern Province Board of Directors (1994-2000)
• Eastern Province’s Chapter Growth Award for a Small Alumni Chapter
• Brother Kirby Wright Appointed as an Operating Assistant to the Eastern Province Polemarch

Year 2001

• Eastern Province’s Third Place William Thomas Carter Small Alumni chapter of the Year Award
• Brother Keshon Kelly Received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award
• Brother Keshon Kelly Received the National William L. Crump History Award

Year 2002

• Brother Keshon Kelly Received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award
• Eastern Province’s First place William Thomas Carter Small Alumni chapter of the Year Award
• Eastern Province’s Growth Award for a Small Alumni Chapter

Year 2003

• Brother Keshon Kelly Received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award
• Eastern Province’s First Place William Thomas Carter Small Alumni Chapter of the Year Award
• Paul W. Caine International Small Alumni Chapter of the Year Award
• Brother Keshon Kelly Received the National William L. Crump History Award

Year 2004

• Brother Christopher Hill Received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award
• Eastern Province’s First place William Thomas Carter Medium Alumni Chapter of the Year Award
• Danville (VA) Alumni Chapter Hosted the First Ever Eastern Province Council in Danville, VA

Year 2005

• Brother Jerry A. Heath, Jr. Received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award
• Brother Jerry A. Heath, Jr. Received the National William L. Crump History Award
• Eastern Province’s First Place William Thomas Carter Medium Alumni Chapter of the Year Award
• Brother Keshon Kelly Appointed as a Special Operating Assistant to the Eastern Province Polemarch

Year 2006

• Brother Keshon Kelly Elected to the Eastern Province Board of Directors
• Brother Jerry A. Heath, Jr. Received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award
• Eastern Province’s First place William Thomas Carter Small Alumni chapter of the Year Award

Year 2007

• Brother Mike T. Silver Received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award
• Eastern Province’s First place William Thomas Carter Small Alumni chapter of the Year Award
• Brother Keshon Kelly Received the Eastern Province’s Linwood C. Hardmon Advisor of the Year Award
• Brother Mike T. Silver Received the National William L. Crump History Award
• Brother Edward Thomas appointed as Operating Assistant to the Eastern Province Polemarch

Year 2008

• Brother Edward Thomas Received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award
• Brother Keshon Kelly Received the Eastern Province Polemarch’s Certificate of Achievement
• Brother Edward Thomas Received the Eastern Province Polemarch’s Certificate of Achievement

Year 2009

• Brother C. Keshon Kelly Received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award
• Eastern Province’s First place William Thomas Carter Small Alumni chapter of the Year Award
• Eastern Province’s First place Alumni Website of the Year Award
• Brother Keshon Kelly Received the Eastern Province’s Linwood C. Hardmon Advisor of the Year Award
• Brother Edward Thomas Received the Eastern Province Polemarch’s Award
• Brother Keshon Kelly Received the President’s (Barack Obama) National Community Service Award

Year 2010

• Brother James “Jay” Jennings Received the Eastern Province’s William L. Crump History Award
• Eastern Province’s First place William Thomas Carter Small Alumni chapter of the Year Award
• Brother Keshon Kelly Received the Eastern Province Polemarch’s Award
• Brother James “Jay” Jennings Received the Eastern Province Polemarch’s Award
• Brother Keshon Kelly Received the Eastern Province’s I.W.E. Taylor Collegiate Support Award

Guide Right

Introduction

Guide Right and Kappa League has become a very important and essential part of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and our noble theme of “Training for Leadership.”  Being a leader and a role model for our youth have become more important in today’s society than ever before. Guide Right is something that is going to be necessary for the rest of time, and Kappa continuing to publicize and promote it, is going to be needed even more. Guide Right is a program that has shown what Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc. deems important and feels is necessary to contribute to our communities.

Guide Right and Kappa League have grown over the years from it’s beginning, when this program was implemented it was to show the community the importance and dedication that Kappa was willing to put in to helping our youth achieve. The Guide Right Program has touched the lives of many youth in our communities. As a result of Guide Right, giving to our youth, Kappa can say that a lot of its current members are members because of an effective and successful Guide Right Program, which touched them in some way. Many of today’s members of Kappa Alpha Psi, were members of a Guide Right Program of some sort, in their communities or schools, and that positive effect and leadership made these young men, want to be like those that they were learning from. Essentially making them want to be the Kappa that touched the lives of the youth in the communities.

Guide Right is something that each chapter in Kappa has different programs for. Guide Right can be seen in different programs such as Kamp Kappa, Pinney Woods School, Lunch Buddies programs, Kappa Leagues, after school programs, summer programs, scholarship programs, beautillions and just spending time with a kid that needs a male figure in their life. Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc. is proud to say that we take part in all these type of programs and many more. Guide Right is something that Kappa and its brothers whole heartily support and will continue to support. Guide Right is a program for the educational and occupational guidance of youth, primarily inspirational and informational in character. Its reach extends to high schools and colleges alike. In the latter, giving due attention to the needs of undergraduate brothers.

In this writing I want to highlight the history of Guide Right and Kappa League and it’s importance to Kappa and the community. I want to document the beginning, and escalation of Guide Right all the way up until today. I want to highlight those brothers and people that are responsible for making the Guide Right program what it is today. I want to showcase accomplishments that Kappa has had with Guide Right and Kappa League. I want to broaden the minds of those who read this paper, with what Guide Right and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. mean to each other and our communities at large. I want to be able “Guide” someone in the “Right” directions with this writing.

The Beginning

In the infancy of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity when chapters were blossoming and flourishing throughout the United States, both individual and collective efforts were being made to incorporate meaningful programs into the various local chapter activities. The very foundation of Guide Right can be traced to the St. Louis Alumni Chapter and Leon W. Steward, who rightfully is dubbed as the “Father of the Guide Right Movement”. According to THE STORY OF KAPPA ALPHA PSI, soon after the St. Louis Alumni Chapter’s beginning in 1921, Brothers Leon W. Steward and J. Jerome Peters were assigned to study the needs of active chapters for guidance and funds and to devise a “meaningful an d practical approach” to the problem. Ultimately, Brother Steward, a Y.M.C.A. secretary, proposed a program of guidance to be designated as Guide Right, with the purpose of assisting high school seniors to choose and pursue useful careers, consistent with fraternity purpose. In 1922 this program was immediately adopted at the local level and the 12th Grand Chapter adopted Guide Right as the national service program. The focus of Guide Right, from its inception, was to provide scholarships to needy and talented students, and to inform young people in the professions and career options.

Guide Right is administrated by a National Director and a Guide Right Commission. The Guide Right Commission consists of the Director and twelve Province Guide Right Coordinators, one from each Province, appointed by their respective Province Polemarchs. The Director is uniquely qualified to perform the duties of this office and is appointed by the Grand Polemarch. He prepares such directives as are necessary for the successful and efficient observance of this national movement. He also edits and prepares the manual for the universal use of undergraduates and alumni chapters, and gives functional supervision to all other matters and practices relating to Guide Right.

The purposes of the Guide Right Service Program are to place the training experience and friendly interest of successful men at the disposal of youth needing inspiration and counsel regarding their choice of a life’s career, and to arouse the interest of the entire community in the problems of youth as they seek to realize lives of usefulness. The basic objectives of Guide Right may be summarized as follows:

      1. To help youth, especially those of high school graduating classes, in their selection of courses leading to vocations compatible with their aptitudes and personalities.
      2. To assist students, while they are in training, to get started in employment, and to progress successfully in their chosen fields.
      3. To assist parents in the handling of their children by giving them opportunities to talk over problems with those who know and are successful in their chosen vocations.
      4. To afford the less fortunate youths a respite from the drudgery of the streets, through sponsored trips to ball games, zoological gardens, museums, picnics, hikes, etc.
      5. To inform youth of the values of higher education, of assistance available for continued educational pursuits, scholarship, loans, professional counseling, fellowships, etc., of various occupational and professional opportunities, and of current labor demands and the trends on the:
          1. effect of these demands and trends on the labor market, i.e., supply rewards, etc.;
          2. requirements for obtaining employment, i.e., personal, scholastic, economic.

In the early days, Guide Right was usually observed during the period of one week, called Concentration Week, of each year. In 1936, however, it became a year round program, with Concentration Week serving only to highlight the year’s activities.

Guide Right was actually put into action by the St. Louis Alumni Chapter; the chapter gave its second one hundred dollar scholarship in 1923. The recipient was Turner Dickerson, a student at Springfield College. Dickerson, who was an honor student and good athlete, was so impressed with the Fraternity that he became a member several years later when attending a school where a chapter was located. St. Louis Alumni had earlier given a one hundred dollar scholarship to a high school graduate who chose the University of Iowa. When told that the scholarship placed him under no obligation to the Fraternity, as all recipients were told, he joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Nearly twenty years later he admitted to C. Rodger Wilson that his affiliation had been a kid’s foolish gesture to test the sincerity of the “no string” claim that Kappa made when giving him the scholarship.

By 1924 Guide Right had become a year around effort. At the outset, it had received emphasis over a selected period of seven days called “Concentration Week.”  Public school educators, in particular, now appreciated the Fraternity’s sincerity of purpose in trying to provide a practical approach to vocational guidance. Although guidance had begun some years earlier, colleges and universities were just beginning to train experts in the field.

Guide Right on the Campus

Primarily, Guide Right in the Undergraduate Chapter is concerned with methods that serve to improve scholarship and campus participation. Efforts in this interest should be continuous. In the interest of attaining these objectives, an orientation program should be planned to acquaint members with:

      1. University services that are available to students, e.g. loans, scholarships, aptitude-testing procedures, counseling service, etc.
      2. Campus “low down” on courses - their “unwritten” requirements.
      3. Facilities available for typing, manuscript preparation, and other personal services.
      4. Students in various fields of study with those from whom help might be obtained if needed.

    Other methods that might be used to attain these ends are:

      o Preceptor type tutoring for Brothers.
      o Frequent contacts with faculty advisors.
      o Provide “Study review sessions.”
      o Broader participation in constructive campus activities.

Set Backs

In 1929 the Fraternity encountered some discouraging setbacks. In that year one of the Province Councils tried to destroy the Guide Right Movement, censuring it as being useless and unnecessary. The Council declared that the movement was a modification of the “Go To High School, Go To College” program of a rival Fraternity (Alpha Phi Alpha) and so was undesirable. The Editor-in- Chief (Lionel F. Artis) of the Kappa Alpha Psi Journal berated the Council, and charged the members with colossal ignorance of the guidance movement. The development if not the beginning of the vocational guidance in this country is credited to Frank Parsons, who in 1908 or thereabout, initiated the training of counselors and the development of scientific guidance tools. There were other early investigators including Professor Harry D. Kitson of the University of Chicago and Bloomfield and Meyer of Boston. The Guide Right Movement was patterned after the “Find Yourself Campaign” of the YMCA.

From 1929 through 1933 the Great Depression threaten the very being of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and many of its programs and activities, with Guide Right being a major one of those programs. In the view of the “Depression,” there was a greater need for the Guide Right and scholarship programs than at any previous time in the Fraternity’s history. Every effort would be made by the government and industry to prevent another depression. This would mean new legislation, new methods of production and marketing, increased efficiency of operation by government, industry and commerce, new economies, and more meaningful programs, particularly by those organizations that before 1929 sought to justify continuing existence through sentimental appeal of one or another description.

Old approaches to traditional occupation, including the professions, would be displaced by new techniques. This too would have to be passed on to high school and college students. The permanency of change was of itself good and sufficient justification for any worthwhile program of vocational guidance. Guide Right was becoming such a program. As there was an increased need for Guide Right, there was increased need for an effective scholarship and student loan program. Kappa Alpha Psi had already established the beginnings of such a program, including loans to needy and promising students. Even the most optimistic follower of President Roosevelt could not believe that the “Depression,” would end within a year or two. This meant that assistance outside the family would be needed for attendance at college. Here again, Kappa’s scholarship and student loan program promised assistance.

Fifteen Years of Guide Right

1938 marked the Fraternity’s 15 year in the field of youth guidance. On March 14, 1938, John W. Studebaker the Commissioner of the United States Department of the Interior, Office of Education, wrote the Kappa Alpha Psi Journal Editor-in-Chief (Dr. G. James Fleming), the following

My dear Mr. Fleming,

    I am gratified to learn of the interest of your Fraternity in guidance. In view of the growing complexity of our civilization and increasing demands on everyone, your Guide Right Movement has special pertinence.

    The Office of Education… has been interested in this subject for some time. We recently organized a Youth Committee, one of the major purposes of which is to furnish information helpful for the guidance of youth.

    We have completed as survey, which should be of particular interest to your Fraternity. I refer to the National Survey of Vocational Education and Guidance of Negroes…. The information assembled by this survey should be especially valuable in the consideration of some of the problems to which your organization is addressing itself. ……………

    I congratulate you on your wiliness to attack the problem, and wish for you every success.

                            Very truly yours

                            /s/  J. W. Stuedbaker

                            Commissioner

The 1938 issue of the Kappa Alpha Psi Journal was largely devoted to Guide Right. J. Jerome Peters and Leon W. Steward, co-authors of the Movement, and first national chairman and local director, recounted details respectively. The editorial of that issue said:

Stressing the Guide Right Movement in a special way befits the fifteenth anniversary of the founding of our national program. It was one thing to guide young people when there were goals to be achieved if one only knew the way. It is an entirely different thing when all roads appear to be blind alleys. It was one thing to prepare for jobs when there were jobs for all persons willing and able to work. It is another thing when jobs are few.

In 1923 when the movement had it beginning, the nation was drunk with prosperity. It was not properly recognized that job were shrinking, the both youth and the middle-aged were on the threshold of a period when their service would not be needed. We gloried in our gigantic machines, or big cities, our great county. God was in the heaven and all was well.

……………

If the guide Right idea had struck the rulers of America years ago, there would be no need for this editorial. Somehow, it seems that there should be enough intelligence, experience and good sense in the world to harness the forces of nature and machines of man for the good of all. Somehow, it seems we should be able to overcome the “Frankenstein” we have created. To be effective in these times, guidance must reach beyond the individuals to the system and its creators.

Kappa Alpha Psi cannot be unmindful of the thousands of youth who see no future beyond the National Conservation Corps, and of the millions of “unemployables” we have reached the age of forty. Neither can it fail to bestir itself to make the Guide Right idea a consuming gospel to transform “the system” form a snarling “Frankenstein” into a helpful partner, which will help to bring the more abundant life to all humanity.

As the national director of Guide Right in 1938, R. J. Reynolds announced as four-point objective:

  1. to help Negro boys in particular, especially high school seniors, to think through their aspiration in terms of definite careers.
  2. to provide friendly contract between these boys and adults who were successfully employed in the fields of the boys most pronounced aptitudes and interest.
  3. to encourage a proper parent-child relationship concerning career choice.
  4. to inspire within the community at large acceptance of the responsibility for enlarging the career opportunities of Negro youth.

These objectives were the predecessors to the national objectives that we use today for Guide Right.

Guide Right in the 40’s

R. J. Reynolds directed our Fraternity’s national service program, “Guide Right” consecutively during the 1940’s, 1940 and 1941. C. Rodger Wilson, 1942 and 1943, G. Smith Hawkins, 1944 and Elbert W. Strothers, 1945 through 1949. In all, Reynolds was the director for four years, commencing in January 1938. He placed particular emphasis upon program promotion within and outside the fraternity, using radio, the press, the Journal, and publications of the Commission’s design as media. Reverend Glenn T. Settle and his internationally known “Wings Over Jordan” radio program made air coverage possible.

Recognizing that the Fraternity’s own members were as much in need of information about Guide Right as was the general public, Reynolds and his commission engaged in extensive public relations work, including such items, as “Guide Right Inspirational Display for Negro Youth,” which pictured men and women who had overcome apparently insurmountable obstacles to gain success in their various fields.

To facilitate administration, the Fraternity was divided into Guide Right districts and an assistant director named to supervise each district. A statistician was appointed to the national commission to insure appropriate follow-up and report of program effectiveness. The Self-Discovery Bank was innovated for young people in search of careers. Thomas Batson of the Washington Alumni Chapter was the program’s first statistician.

C. Roger Wilson initiated his Guide Right directorship in 1942 with a message to the membership titled, “Brand New Ideas About Guide Right.”  He had presented this same message before the Grand Chapter of 1940. The new director was supervisor of a citywide counseling facility located in downtown Chicago. Wilson made a plea for examination of past efforts in light of the needs currently apparent and predictably a part of the future. He reasoned that since the Fraternity is best known by the national program given the greatest emphasis, and since the program is Guide Right, there is no choice but to make it meaningful and effective.

The objective of Guide Right were set forth in the Guide Right Promotional Bulletin in 1941, we still use and follow these objectives today. C. Rodger Wilson expressed the view that the first objective might be better to assist young people by supplementing the counseling programs of schools and other community agencies. He pointed out the criticism by professional guidance facilities and defined supplementary programs in terms of school dropouts, and youth who did not plan to go to college. Of particular merit in the Wilson critique was the program’s failure to provide guidance to the Fraternity’s own pledges and members despite the high incidence of failure.

When taking the office as Guide Right director, Elbert W. Strothers stressed the need for assisting the rehabilitation of men returning from the armed services. He published a Guide Right Workbook in 1945, with supplements in 1946 and 1947, to facilitate uniform prosecution of the program. The Workbook contained such articles as “Intrinsic Guide Right,” by Robert Umphery, “Making the Guidance Program Instrumental,” by Louis Gibbs, “Directive and Non-Directive Counseling,” by Thomas L. Border, “The Role of Community Organization in Promoting Guidance for Youth,” by Paul L. Crawford, “Preparing the Leaders of Tomorrow,” by Marvin C. Davis, and “Know the Program of Guide Right,” by Arthur C. Willis.

Moving on with Guide Right

In 1952 the Guide Right Director, Elbert W. Strothers, recited the need of young people for the kind of direction proved by the Fraternity’s national service program, and made a plea for more extensive observance on a year around basis, stating the following,

Throughout this country, young people suffer from unemployment, underemployment, inadequate housing, economic exploitation, poor schools, segregation and discrimination. Your town has thousands of boys left ignorant because of these conditions. Your Guide Right Program is vitally needed.

In 1957 the membership of the Fraternity realized that the selection of the theme “Training for Leadership” reflected a studied purpose that recognized the Fraternity needs and required wise planning. Now that the theme as to be implemented. The implementation began in the form of a recommendation from the Grand Polemarch that a national school of leadership training, patterned after similar schools by a large number of college Greek Lettered organizations. While at this point it was not clear but Guide Right was to be incorporated in the teaching of this leadership school. The membership liked the idea and showed a willingness to underwrite the cost of such a school. Plans were underway, and in 1961 the first undergraduate leadership conference in operation.

Kappa League

In 1969 under the chairmanship of Mel Davis, the Los Angeles Alumni Chapter’s Social Action Program took the form of a training activity for young men of the Alain LeRoy Locke High School. It was called the Kappa Instructional Leadership League, it was designed to help young men grow and develop their leadership talents in every phase of human endeavor. It provided both challenging and rewarding experiences, which richly enhanced their lives. Membership was open to male students of the tenth through the twelfth grades. The Fraternity sought to help these young men to achieve worthy goals for themselves and make constructive contributions to their community when leadership roles become their responsibilities.

The areas of study included self-identity, training, competition, social, and health education. So successful was this venture that the Kappa League idea was to become the model for Guide Right and activities in many of the chapters and provinces in the Fraternity.

In 1970 during the Conclave in Charlotte, NC the Los Angeles Alumni Chapter brought three member of its famous Kappa League. The young people demonstrated the Guide Right social action project through exhibits and a special seminar before the Grand Chapter. The Grand Chapter adopted the Kappa League idea as the format for local chapters’ social relevance programs.

Also in 1970 congress got to hear a report from Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. on the Guide Right Program and Kappa League. The Honorable John V. Tunney of California arose on the floor of the House of Representatives and declared: “Mr. Speaker, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has undertaken a most laudable task in its Guide Right service program.”  The Congress congratulated the Los Angeles Alumni Chapter for having started the Kappa League and the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for having adopted the idea as a national program. Tunney described the activities of the Kappa League to the entire House of Representatives and concluded: “Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is to be commended for the efforts to help young men make the most of the opportunities available to them in our society.”  The entire proceedings were printed in the “Congressional Record.”

In 1971 commemoration its sixth decade, the Fraternity initiated twelve annual scholarships for male freshmen to attend the University of Indiana, Bloomington where the Fraternity was founded, January 5, 1911. Competing with teenagers from then Kappa League pilot cities, fifteen-year-old Kevin Chaney from St. Louis won the profile and career choice competition, and Alde Lewis of Flint Michigan, and eighteen year old dancer, won the talent battle. The Kappa League concept had become a successful Guide Right Program of the Fraternity.

At Conclave in 1971 in Houston Texas more than six hundred guest attended the public meeting of the 57th Grand Chapter, saw a demonstration of the activities of the Kappa League and heard a brilliant address by Dr. Samuel D. Proctor. Proctor told those present that as soon as our survival of slavery was accomplished, “we found ourselves with hardly any choice but to become participants in rapidly expanding urbanized, technological society that has a built in reward system, an inhibition to criticism, severe penalties for those whose participation is lukewarm, and highly visible rewards for the faithful.”

Bringing Guide Right to the Present

By 1989, Guide Right as the Fraternity’s national service program had been observed for almost seven decades. The February, 1989 issue of the Kappa Alpha Psi Journal looked at the role Guide Right is playing in various communities and highlighted a few chapters whose programs were considered most successful. For most chapter of Kappa, there are no endeavors more important, no programs as urgent as those that focus on the development of young minds.  Guide Right is so much at the heart of Kappa Alpha Psi that, to some the names are virtually interchangeable. It is the single undertaking by which Kappa Alpha Psi is best known. In short it the Fraternity’s most important contribution within the African American community on a national level.

In 1989 Jay Crosby, National Guide Right Chairman had this to say about Guide Right, “We have done a wonderful job over the years in our Guide Right pursuits, but there is always more that can be done. There are special concerns that accompany the world we live in. And our job in guiding young people, particularly those in the black community, is more formidable than ever. And so it takes a formidable effort.”

A Summary of Guide Right and Kappa League

Guide Right consists of any program undertaken by member of our Fraternity that attempts to broaden the horizon of young people. Fraternity literature states that it is a program “for the educational and occupational guidance of youth, primarily inspirational and informational in character.”  Under that broad definition, Guide Right programs have come to take on a variety of forms from providing scholarships and academic counseling for high school students to programs centered to summer camps for economically disadvantaged young people.

Example of Guide Right may be found in the Miss Black University Pageant and Scholarship drive by the Sigma Chapter, a lunch buddies program set up by the Danville (VA) Alumni chapter, a scholarship foundation in Baltimore, to a Mentoring program in Washington, D.C. Prominently featured under the Guide Right heading is a program introduced in Los Angeles by Mel Davis, then chairman of the chapters Social Action Committee. It is a program of sustained interaction between alumni members and the Fraternity and junior-and senior-high school-age students.

Kappa leagues involve seminars and discussions on such topics as career preparation, health, academics, and sexual responsibility. In some cities, Kappa Leaguers receive scholarships from the chapter once they go to college. This program also includes to museums, businesses and colleges campuses. While many chapters do not have Kappa League programs, the overwhelming majority do have programs that involve systematic interaction with high school youths.

Conclusion

In this writing I highlighted a history of Guide Right and Kappa League from it’s beginning all the way up until modern time. As can be seen in this writing Guide Right has a long history within Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc. Guide Right has had the presents of great leaders pushing it along in Kappa. Men such as J. Jerome Peters and C. Rodger Wilson have help from and mold Guide Right into what it is today. In this paper you hear where some believe that Guide Right is the single most important program that Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc. has ever taken part in. Kappa owes the St. Louis Alumni and Los Angeles Alumni chapters a great deal of credit for their ideas of how we as an organization can help guide and mentor our youth. It was these ideas that came to fruition in the form of Guide Right and Kappa League. I am proud to say that I have participated in my chapters Guide Right program, and that we place the same type of importance on Guide Right as many of our brothers did in years past. Guide Right and Kappa League are programs that will always be needed, and it is up to us as Kappa men to make sure that we make these programs the best that they can be, to help our youth in today’s society. So in conclusion I would like to say that I hope that this writing highlighted Guide Right and it’s importance to our Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

 

Danville, Virginia

Danville is a historic community located in south central Virginia on the Virginia and North Carolina border. The Dan River flows through the heart of Danville on its path from the Blue Ridge mountains to the Kerr Reservoir just 55 miles east of our city. Danville lies 180 miles from the Atlantic coast and just 50 miles east of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains at an altitude of 565 feet above sea level. The city’s piedmont location has been blessed with mild winter climate and moderate summer temperature/humidity. The 1996 average annual temperature was 57 degrees and the annual rainfall was 60 inches. Conveniently located, between the Raleigh/Durham Research Triangle area and Greensboro/ Winston-Salem Tri-City area of North Carolina and the Roanoke & Lynchburg area of Virginia, all about a one-hour drive away.

Our downtown central business district is a typical main street USA, with ample restaurants and shopping from clothing to hardware, plus financial, professional, and government services. Located in the historic tobacco district you will also find the Crossing at the Dan, a multi-use entertainment facility which incoporates the Community (farmers) Market, the Science Center and Amtrak train station , Carrington Pavilion, the Pepsi Building and the Riverwalk nature trail.

Danville is Southern Virginia’s largest industrial city, and is recognized as one of the state’s leading manufacturing centers. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. is one of Danville’s largest employers. Established in 1966, the Danville Goodyear plant is the world’s largest and most modern for manufacturing truck and aircraft tires. In addition to Goodyear and Dan River Mills, Danville has several nationally recognized manufacturers including Corning, Inc., DIMON , Health-tex, Intertape Polymer Corp., Masonite Corp., Menasha Corp., Nestle Refrigerated Food Co., Owens-Brockway, Inc., Star Paper Tubes, Vulcan Materials, and many smaller companies manufacturing a varied product line ranging from mobile/modular homes to lumber and electronics.

Click here to learn more about Danville, Virginia