The History of Fayetteville Arkansas Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated

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The Fayetteville Arkansas alumni chapter was chartered on December 14, 1996.

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The first official but informal, meeting, of the Brothers was held at the home of Brother Curtis Smith on July 13th at 3:00pm. Those in attendance included:

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Brothers Eplurivus West, Gary Peterson, Errol Conner, Curtiss Smith, Greg Young, Gary Johnson, Andre Valley, Casy Parham (Polemarch-Iota Tau) and Donald Bland.

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The agenda included a challenge to identify Kappas living in the northwest Arkansas area that should be informed that we were preparing to charter an Alumni chapter.

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Each Brother was asked to share his vision of the proposed Chapters objectives and how we should begin the process of chartering the organization.

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Suggestions included cultivating the social culture, involvement with youth and their development, influencing the political make up of the area, and participating in the development, guidance and leadership of the Iota Tau chapter.

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We also discussed finances and the commitment required in both time and monetary support to launch a successful chapter.

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The next meeting was scheduled for Saturday, July 27th at the home of Brother Don Bland. We planned to invite the current province Polemarch, Brother William Burnett and the Province Keeper of Records and Exchequer, Brother Charles W (Ceedy) Morgan III to provide guidance on counsel in establishing the chapter.

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The second meeting was held as scheduled with our distinguished province leadership.

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Additional Brothers who attended Coleman Peterson, Vincent Henderson, Excel Lafayette and Charles Lewis. Gary Johnson, Gerald Jordan and Andre Valley were unable to attend. A great deal of discussion centered on the state of undergraduate chapters throughout the country especially with regard to the death of a Missouri University student due to hazing.

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This discussion resulted in the Brothers establishing as our main focus and objective to build rapport with the Iota Tau chapter.

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Other business included an election of interim officers:

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Donald Bland
Gary Peterson
Errol Connor
Curtiss Smith Acting Polemarch
Acting Vice Polemarch
Keeper of Records
Keeper of Exchequer

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It was agreed that the meetings would continue as the Province Officers gave their approval for us to proceed with preparations to form a chapter. Our regular meetings were established on Saturdays at 3:00pm every two weeks. At subsequent meetings in the Brothers homes we discussed a formal budget, fund raisers, by laws and appointed committees.

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Nominating
Guide Right
By Laws
Undergrad Advisor

Social / Civic. Scholarship
Reclamation Coleman Peterson, Errol Connor
Greg Young, Gary Johnson
Don Bland, Errol Coner
Eplurivus West, Gerald Jordan
Gary Peterson, Excell Lafayette, 
Curtis Smith.
Plans for the Chartering ceremony continued pending final approval from Brother Reuben Shelton who had just been appointed as Province Polemarch. Two dates were selected; November 30 or December 14, 1996. Plans were made to invite members of neighboring chapters to participate in the ceremony.

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A skeleton budget was approved at the November 16th meeting at the home of Brother Ossie Campbell. The budget was based on a membership of 15 Brothers paying $26.00 per month for 10 months resulting in revenue of $3900 annually and expenditures of $3535.00.

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Brother Bland called a meeting at his home on December 2, 1996 to finalize the Chartering Ceremony which had been finally approved by the Province.

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The ceremony would be held at the home of Brother Coleman Peterson commencing at 3:00 pm on Saturday, December 14th, 1996 at 3:00pm CST.

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Fourteen Brothers were declared as charter members of the newly formed Fayetteville, AR Alumni Chapter.

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Antonio Dennis - Iota Tau - Spr 89

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Coleman Peterson - Alpha Rho - FA 67

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Curtiss Smith - Gamma Psi - FA 87

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Donald C. Bland - Beta Nu - Spr 61

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Eplurivus West - Iota Tau - FA 87

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Errol Coner - Gamma Psi - FA 84 

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Excell Lafayette Jr - Alpha Pi - Spr 81
 

Gary Johnson  - Iota Tau - FA 89

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Gerald Jordan - Evanston (IL) Alumni - Spr 72

 
Ossie Campbell III - Iota Tau FA 76

Vincent Henderson - Iota Tau - FA 90

 

In early December, Brother Bland was asked by his company (Wal-Mart) to become Chief Operating Officer for its Canadian operations. Although no longer living in the country Brother Bland vowed to continue his financial support of the Chapter and would attend meetings and functions when ever possible.

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The nominating committee met and selected the following slate of officers (attached) for its new Chapter effective December 14th.

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The Fayetteville, AR alumni chapter continues to grow and achieve. During the 2009 fraternal year, the Chapter had 45 financial/active Brothers registered. Also during that year, the chapter received Middle Western Medium Size Chapter of the Year Award.

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During the 79th conclave in Washington, DC, Brother Donald Bland received the Elder Watson Diggs award. This award is the 2nd highest award to be given to anyone in the fraternity.

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