“Brothers do not make the mistake of stressing the need of their returning merely to help out in some financial program…Far be such an idea. Let the Brother be persuaded by personal visits and talks to come out and see for himself what a wonderful thing it is to be a part of Alpha Phi Alpha whose efforts live forever. It is going to take much work, much wise thought and planning, many sacrifices, both of time and money, to accomplish this. But after all, if Alpha Phi Alpha means anything, it means putting Service above Self” – Jewel Nathaniel A. Murray – Founders Address, The Sphinx, February 1947

I greet you with the words and in the spirit of one of our revered founders, asking that Chapters and Brothers take on fully the challenge of Reclaiming and Retaining the Brothers of our most noble house. Sixty-six years ago one of the patriarchs of this house offered wise counsel on what needed to be done to reignite or fan the flames of that ol’ Alpha Spirit in those Brothers who may appear to have let their fire dim or burnout.

It is with those very same words and in that very same spirit I implore Brothers and Chapters in the Eastern Region to aggressively seek out and connect with Brothers within their reach in attempts to bring them back into the fold. The task which is set before us cannot be accomplished through half-hearted efforts or in laissez-faire manner, but only through “wise thought and planning”.

With this in mind Brothers it is important that we “Think Alpha Phi Alpha, Talk Alpha Phi Alpha, Promote Alpha Phi Alpha and labor for the broad principles for which Alpha Phi Alpha was created so that humanity shall look on us a body worthwhile.”

Though hard to say; it must be said, that we must now do these things not only for humanity, but also for those who are members of this house who have lost their enthusiasm for being active members. For not only are we loosing our Brothers we are failing our communities, due to the lack of hands and minds available to address the ills that we still need to face in order to improve the society and world in which we live.

Therefore, I challenge each Brother and Chapter to do its part as we seek to make being inactive the exception and no longer the norm by putting “Service above Self.” So that we can truly embody being “first of all, servants of all, we shall transcend all”.