The Omegan Conference Edition 2016

The Omegan
Voice of the Second District
What’s On the Minds of
Omega Men
Opinion/Editorial Section
In my sharing of The Omega State of Mind-Part 1, I reflected on several
early experiences that started me on this road with a peculiar Brotherhood.
In particular, witnessing the comradery of men who had been my mentors
and indeed role models; caused me to seek additional information on
Omega. I must admit, that seeing the strong draw that the Men of Omega
had on the ladies, gave me additional reasons to pursue enlightenment on
Omega.
Several days of research in the university library opened a treasure of
historical contributions by Omega Men. Many contributions were ground
breaking at the specific times and are still the foundations for today’s advancements
in multiple fields of study. The Newton Model in Chemistry,
H. Poindexter’s cure for “swamp foot” that ravaged our soldiers on the
battlefield, Charles Drew’s research on blood plasma and many more.
While researching Omega, I learned of its Founders and the multiple challenges
that they met. I was impressed by their respective standings in the
Howard University Community and their commitment to each other. In
my reading of their crafting of the Cardinal Principles of the Fraternity
(MANHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP, PERSEVERANCE AND UPLIFT), I
had a mental vision of a square i.e. a square can form a solid foundation
on which to build.
The aforementioned experiences created in me, a will which wanted and
a mindset that knew; Omega was where I wanted and knew that I should
be. Thus my Omega journey began. I attended the then “smoker” and
proceeded to fill out the necessary paperwork. Having a GPA of 3.6 in
Economics drew the attention of other fraternities. In particular, I was
heavily recruited by Alpha Phi Alpha and Phi Beta Sigma. One of the
latter offered to pay all of my fees if I would pledge their organization. I
stayed focused on Omega.
During my early tenure at the university, I saw a continuation of some of
the intra vestiges of organizations who sought members via family name,
social economic status, skin tone, texture of the hair et.al. Having been
At the end of fiscal year 2013 (10/31/13) there were 2683 financial members
in the 2nd District. Two year later, at the end of fiscal year 2015
(10/31/15) there were 2692 financial members in the 2nd District. Total
delegate votes were unchanged at 180. However, the voting strength per
Corridor is moving in a direction not commensurate with the financial
support of the District and if left status quo could lead to anarchy. This
sounds strange but let’s look at the numbers. see chart on pg.63.
Summary: Currently the district voting structure is not equitable to the
district corridor financial membership. Example- Corridor I has 42% of
the financial members of the district and only has 22% of the delegate vote
& Corridor IV has 16% of the financial members of the district yet has
25% of the delegate vote. Is this equitable, based on the tax placed on each
corridor chapter and the corridors financial contribution to the district?
The total financial Brothers in the 2nd District is + 9 from FY13 – Fy15.
However the Corridor that lost the most members (54 members, - 2.06%),
gained the most votes(3.33%) 6 delegate votes. A Corridor can lose 2%
of district membership and gain 3.3% of the district delegate votes. An
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An Omega State of Mind Part 2
impacted by such shallow elements in determining a person’s worth; I had
no desire to have those items being a measuring stick for me. I later heard
Founder Edgar A. Love reject these surface measures as well. It has been
so rewarding to know that we were and are of the Omega Kindred Spirit.
I submitted my paperwork and was chosen to be an initiate in the Lampodos”
Club. From the very beginning, the road to Omega was challenging.
The mental rigor was substantial, the daily routines in pledging and preparing
for step practices, truly created a “can do and never quit attitude”.
The Lampodo activities engendered awareness that one must always have
a plan A, B and C. It brought reality and meaning to the phrase “I am my
Brother’s Keeper.” The activities taught lessons of the need to carry another
and sometimes having to be carried. Most of all the members of the
Club learned to work together as a unit.
The Club members were constantly charged with being full time students,
maintaining the necessary GPA and fulfilling obligations to the Omega
Men on campus. We also had mandatory ROTC service as per land grant
college/university requirements. The forward moving process on the road
to Omega exacted a toll on some members of the Club. The thirteen Club
members who had been selected from a pool of forty interested men, was
soon reduced to four. I was in that number when the Saints went marching
in.
At our initiation, after the Light of Omega was revealed to us; we hugged,
laughed and cried, as we “looked back and wondered how we got over.”
Four Omega Men emerged from an interest group of forty and a select
Club of thirteen striving, to begin a lifelong journey in becoming thoroughly
immersed in the true Omega Spirit. My Journey Continues.
The 2nd District Voting Structure is Grossly Flawed,
Unfair and Must Be Changed
Dr. Andrew A. Ray
39th Grand Basileus
equitable voting structure would not allow this gross flaw to occur. A loss
of 54 financial members equals a loss of revenue to the district of $2,160.
Each chapter is awarded 2 delegate votes and receives an additional vote
if membership is over 49 members. There are only 14 chapters in the
2nd District with over 49 members - 7 in Corridor I, 2 in Corridor II, 2 in
Corridor III, 3 in Corridor IV. None in Corridors V, VI or VII.
Financial Support of the District: District Dues Tax is $40 per Brother.
FY15 Contribution to District: Corridor I - $46,000 ($40 x 1150), Corridor
II -$6200 ($40 X 155) , Corridor III - $15,320 ($40 x 383) , Corridor
IV - $18,000 ($40 x 450), Corridor V - $15,760 ($40 x 394), Corridor
VI – $4,200 ($40 x 105), Corridor VII - $2,200 ($40 x 55). Corridor I
Brothers financial tax is $28,000 more than Corridor IV but its delegate
voting strength is 5 votes less and increasing when Corridor IV financial
contribution to the district is decreasing. This is the gross flaw in the
2nd District voting system. Corridor I is funding the 2nd District but has
virtually no say in the governance of its financial contribution.
5 years ago, I submitted a recommendation to the Recommendations
www.opp2d.org