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OCCASION
The Occasion 45th Metro Founders Day
Good evening my Brothers. Every January for the past 45 years, we have gathered here the Washington, DC metropolitan area to celebrate and commemorate the founding of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. That consistent and unbroken track record is a remarkable achievement in and of itself. However, this year’s celebration is certain to stand out on its own given the extraordinary circumstances present in the world today.
To state the obvious, tonight’s assembly is made possible by the diligent planning of the Host Committee and the deployment of advanced technology that allows us to be here ‘together’ virtually while enabling us to safely distance ourselves accordingly. This endeavor is of course nothing short of amazing, but I respectfully submit that what is REALLY connecting us this evening is NOT limited to technological innovation. I am convinced that what unites us in this moment is an even more intense yearning for the Bond of Fraternity. It is therefore my contention that this OCCASION is a singularly unique occurrence that will assume its rightful place in the heralded chronicles of Kappa history!
I must also convey what an honor it is for me to deliver these remarks as a Charter Member of the College Park/Sandy Spring (MD) (E) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. In January 2007, barely a year into our collective existence, CPSS hosted our first Metro Founders Day held at the University of Maryland, College Park – my alma mater. That celebration was regarded as the most impressive Metro Founders Day of that era. The keynote address by the newly elected Mayor of Washington, DC Brother Adrian Fenty was well received by the over 650 Brothers in attendance. At that time, many Brothers marveled at how such a young chapter could deliver & execute at that level given our chapter’s relative inexperience. As a matter of profound personal privilege, history informs us that the very first Metro Founders Day was held in January 1976, the very same year in which yours truly began and achieved my ascendence into Kappa land 45 years ago.
Now here we are today 110 years removed from the profound genesis of our beloved noble clan. I implore you to let that sink in for just a moment...we have traversed 11 Decades; 40,000+ Days; 2 World Wars; 20 U.S. Presidents and 34 Grand Polemarchs. By any metric, this is an astonishing lineage given the internal and external challenges we have confronted head on. Indeed, the ethos of Kappa Alpha Psi is not merely to SURVIVE. Rather than settle for mediocracy, our legacy inspires us to Achieve and Thrive! We are assembled here because 10 seemingly ordinary young men struggling to matriculate at the University of Indiana decided to forge a BOND with the intention of future expansion. We know this is so because they organized and incorporated Kappa Alpha Nu in such a manner that would safeguard its future. Therein lies yet another validation of tonight’s occasion. They also demonstrated wisdom and foresight beyond their years by strategically changing the fraternity’s name in response to the oppressive ‘Jim Crow’ environment that is unfortunately still with us today.
Brothers all, these anecdotes combined with the countless other examples of honorable achievement provide a compelling rationale for celebrating January 5, 1911. We should all rededicate ourselves to fulfill our role in this ongoing journey of fellowship and fully utilize THIS OCCASION to Revitalize the Dream & Reenergize our Bond.
Craig L Dean
Theta Theta Chapter Spring 1976
Past Grand Board of Directors
2nd Polemarch College Park Sandy Spring (MD) Alumni