This message is a request for assistance from every Brother who may read or receive this message. Those involved in Reclamation & Retention efforts understand more why Brothers become inactive when they attempt to reclaim and retain each.

It would seem the work of Alpha is a thankless job, with unnecessary obstacles involving brothers who refuse to execute the most minute task which would help to ensure everything falls into place. In short, it would be a most accurate assessment to say the Brotherhood has acculturated itself to pushing away members, despite insisting the desire to have a more active and involved membership. While these statements are frowned upon by some, it is healthy for us to be honest with ourselves and not attempt to justify or hide the struggles of being an active Alpha with anecdotes, colloquialisms or politically conscious statements.

With the aforementioned in mind, this message is a request for the Brotherhood on every level to join together in re-culturing our Brotherhood to invest more internally, with an understanding we reap more externally by doing so.

For over 107 years Alpha Phi Alpha has focused its efforts on impacting society for the greater good, while only haphazardly making an effort to fortify itself and strengthen our members. A number of us are of the belief and opinion this mode of operation has eroded the foundation on which Alpha was built. We have become an organization dependent upon the resilience of a few members, while ignoring the needs of the many Brothers who have chosen to utilize their gifts elsewhere, thereby becoming inactive in this house.

Yes, this message is a request for Alpha Brothers to become our Brothers’ Keeper and focus on taking care of “Alpha Brothers,” with an understanding that those fortified by the house will be better stewards of the house and, therefore, of greater impact in their communities.

It is essential for each member to locate a Chapter and help build that Chapter in order that its members may conduct the work of Alpha. There is far too much to be done and too few hands; so our communities are losing. Alumni must build healthier relationships with College Members, far too many fables and fairy tales are running rampant causing younger brothers to be more acquainted with myths and legends, rather than the truth of what it means to be an Alpha Man. Advising Alumni Chapters must take a greater interest in the College Chapters, not just regarding the work of Alpha, but the development of the young men themselves. Would one not doing so cause one to be more apt in aligning with that which aided his development? Certainly this will help to decrease the number of Brothers lost in transition from college to Alumni life. Alumni Chapters must do better at ensuring chapter programming is holistic in nature and not steeped in the mundane which excludes the families of its own members; for how can we demand a man aid another household and neglect to care for his own.

Leadership must affirm Alpha University, the Alpha Education Foundation, as well as our Conferences & Conventions (on every level) are fully operational and effective – to ensure we are developing leaders, promoting brotherhood and academic excellence not just externally but also internally.

Some will ask, “where is our organizational interest created by self-invested capital?” If our organization is no greater than the men in it, and the men do not invest in the organization, what then is our actual worth?

This is the plea on the Shield (or the Phi) that we now all become involved in ALPHA and take an honest effort in moving ALPHA forward.