Shake-Up Inside The Alpha House
BY DAVID STOKES
The general president of Alpha Phi Alpha—the nation's prominent fraternity consisting of men of color of various professions—has been "suspended" after allegations of financial mismanagement and impropriety recently surfaced by members of the fraternity's board of directors. Some Alpha members speaking anonymously to The Inquirer last week indicated that the fraternity is "so flat broke..." that this year's annual convention may have to be cancelled from being held in Miami.
The Inquirer learned recently that a "vote of no confidence" was taken against the fraternity's president, Herman "Skip" Mason of Atlanta, upon questioning expenditures of the fraternity, including its annual installment to assist completion of the newly dedicated King Memorial in Washington, D.C., named for an esteemed fraternity member, civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. According to several members and correspondence provided exclusively to The Inquirer, Mason has been suspended for 90 days as Alpha's president, as well as with general membership. Although Mason has been accused of "stealing" money from the fraternity founded in 1906 at Cornell University in upstate New York to pay personal bills and other non-fraternity expenses, including his children's school tuition, attached to the general president's budget, sources are remaining tight-lipped with details of what led to final actions toward the "no confidence" vote and the ultimate suspension. Brother Mason did not return repeated calls by a reporter, and was not present last week at Morehouse College where he serves as archivist. Additionally, Alpha's spokesman, Bryan J. Kelly, headquartered at the fraternity's main office in Baltimore, did not return calls for comment by presstime.
Nevertheless, fraternity members are chagrined with the situation, and have authored individual letters of the Mason situation and the future of Alpha Phi Alpha. In a letter to the membership by Gregory Parks, the accusation of Mason "pimping the fraternity" is commonplace throughout the diatribe written in mid-April. Brother Parks stated, "As an Alpha man, one imbued with the faculties of intelligence and reason, I ask that you bear with me and read the following before you come to any conclusions," prior to delving into allegations of financial impropriety by a former Alpha corporate office employee. "I urged her to turn to a body of men imbued with bravery, integrity, vision and selflessness, and not air accusations on a public space for her concerns and outrage. Since that time, however, I have come to know many within the group of men to be cowards, concerned with their own advancement, status, and place in the spotlight. They have not been concerned with what's best for Alpha. Instead, they have sat as a body ...and let one man pimp Alpha." While Parks states in the correspondence that "Brother Mason admitted illegal activities at the Southwestern Regional Convention, somebody has to call for his resignation from office and for his discipline." Parks also takes to task Mason selling his book, in 1997, "The Talented Tenth: Biographical Sketches of the 'Jewels' of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.," and receiving special privilege of materials as the fraternity's archivist. "(Mason) used his position to profit off of Alpha. In essence, he pimped the fraternity," Parks stated, and repeated the accusation with Mason's new book, "The Talented Tenth: The Founders and Presidents of Alpha." Nevertheless, Parks continues with other incidences of what he describes as Mason "pimping the fraternity," and progresses into issues with Mason's leadership, "or lack thereof." "Mason has lost our brotherhood somewhere between $2.5 to $3 million, all the while, he has dined on the most sumptuous of meals, stayed in suites, ran up a five-figure limousine and car service bill, and flown around the globe in first-class style and seating, far exceeding the travel budget of any of his predecessors. In an era in which many brothers have lost their jobs and homes, Brother Mason sought to rule in luxury. Again, he pimped the fraternity."
Furthermore, according to Parks, recent draft audits and details of expenses delve into Mason's spending fraternity money for personal purchases and interests, including Mason and his wife "setting up a publishing company ... using the fraternity's archival materials. (Mason) turned a nice profit in requiring the fraternity to purchase materials to include in publications for conventions, et al. Again, he pimped the fraternity." Parks also relays that during the fraternity's Southwestern Region meeting, "that despite fraternity regulations against use of the fraternity credit card for personal purchases, (Mason) said he paid his children's private school tuition, explaining that he took the money because his wife was out of work, and that his pay had been docked because he had missed almost 400 days of work (as Morehouse's archivist)." Parks countered, "His solution should have been to ask for help or put his children in public school. He didn't choose those options. Some of his supporters suggest that the money was merely borrowed, but there is no report of the board of directors authorizing said charges, and there is no report of a promissory note having been drafted. In fact, when asked about repaying it, Brother Mason indicated that he would, but he didn't know when. Brother Mason did not borrow that money; he stole from his brothers and came up with an ad hoc explanation once caught. Again, he pimped our fraternity." Parks continued of "holding his tongue and opinion long enough. Brother Mason's total lack of regard for the economic times in which we live, his disregard for his brothers and his disregard for his fraternity has not been enough to make me speak out. But he stole from you, from me, from us. Brother Mason has stated he will not step down from office. In fact, there is no force within the body that has proven itself courageous or concerned enough to sanction our brother for his transgressions."
Indeed, Parks concludes by providing a link for members to sign for Mason's recall as president. "I ask you, my brothers, to act the same once you have sastisfied yourselves of the facts, many of which are being obscured and hidden by our board of directors. Even more, I ask that any record of (Mason's) name and adminstration be stricken from our history book, as it would be unfair and inaccurate to tell his story and not the whole story." Parks concludes further, "My brothers, if we do not remedy this matter in-house, there are external forces that will do it for us. Every secret comes to light, and when this secret does, everything we claim to stand for will be for naught. If it is revealed to the world that we are incapable of managing our finances and holding our own corrupt leaders accountable, we will lose everything -- our corporate sponsorships, partnerships, and even worse, our credibility. It will take years for our fraternity to rebuild what was lost. Even more, the very financial activities chapters rely on (to) sustain themselves will be compromised. The truth is, however, that is Brother Mason who has sullied his name and brought ill-repute upon the office of General President. Too many of us like the image of leadership more than the realities of leading. Too many of us like to remember the Jewels rather than live the values they gave us. I realize now that in order to make Alpha what it was intended and destined to be, my efforts can no longer be from behind the safe confines of a desk and computer."
Again, The Inquirer contacted several fraternity brothers for comment and updated status on Mason's presidency. They chose to not speak on the record—"this is a matter that should stay inside the brotherhood to resolve ourselves," one said—and "look forward to carrying out duties and tasks for upcoming events."
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AU Center Schools Featured In Community Mural
Wells Fargo West End 02: (L-R): Ed Davis with Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta City Council Member Michael Julian Bond, Morehouse College President Dr. Robert Franklin, Morris Brown College President Dr. Stanley Pritchett, Paul Crater with the Atlanta History Center, Andrea Jackson with the Atlanta University Center, Woodruff Library, Shelese Lane with Spelman College and Wells Fargo Atlanta Regional President Mike Donnelly stand in front of the newly unveiled mural at the Wells Fargo West End University bank store in Atlanta. To mark the occasion, Wells Fargo made a $145,000 gift to the Opportunity Funding Corporation to help create jobs and businesses in the African-American community. PHOTO COURTESY OF WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Historic images of scenes and students at Clark Atlanta University, as well as Morehouse, Spelman and Morris Brown colleges, are featured in the Wells Fargo indoor and outdoor mural that was unveiled on April 27 at the bank's West End University branch.
To commemmorate the occasion, Wells Fargo presented the Opportunity Funding Corporation with a $145,000 grant to start a business incubator fund. The fund will help create jobs and new businesses in the African-American community through support for promising enterprises of MBA graduates of historically black colleges and universities across the Southeast. "We are so pleased to recognize the enormous contributions to the world of these great Atlanta institutions," said Atlanta Regional President Mike Donnelly. "We're also proud to help business graduates of historically black institutions through this new fund for emerging businesses."
The mural is the newest in Atlanta and among 50 already installed, or shortly to be installed, across the metro Atlanta area. It is among 1,800 in Wells Fargo bank stores across the nation. Each is unique to the area in which the bank store is located, and was developed with the aid of local archives and historians. Helping to dedicate the mural last month were Dr. Robert Franklin, the Morehouse College president; Dr. Stanley Pritchett, president of Morris Brown, and Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond, son of Morehouse alumnus Julian Bond. The elder Bond was one of the first African-Americans elected to Georgia's House of Representatives, and after a 20-year legislative career, became the national board chairman of NAACP. "For 150 years, we have helped to transform America through leaders such as Julian Bond," Dr. Franklin said. "We are thrilled that Wells Fargo has embraced our educational community in this way." Indicated Dr. Pritchett, "We are honored and proud that Wells Fargo has connected with the rich history of higher education in Atlanta."
Representing the non-profit Opportunity Funding Corporation, whose mission is to promote African-American entrepreneurs and enterprises, was Bill Clement, chairman of the board. "Through this, we will inspire and create a more viable entrepreneur class and generate jobs in the African-American community. This will greatly expand what we are able to do." The intent of OFC's Venture Challenge will be to help enterprises arising from highly ranked business plans. Clement said he hopes the fund will grow with additinal support. Helping to accept the check on behalf of Clark Atlanta University were a former dean of its business school, Professor Ed Davis, and two students. "This is an opportunity to actually turn these plans into businesses," said Clark Atlanta graduate student Tversa Ricks, who took part in the recent competition. "Investors always ask what funds can you add, so this will really help." Added Jeffrey Muiru, another Clark Atlanta participant, "Business plans that otherwise wouldn't be funded can now become reality."
Murals create local connections, and among those providing images for the mural were the Spelman College Photograph Collection, Morehouse College's Archives, the Atlanta History Center and the Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center. Wells Fargo's murals are a snapshot of turn-of-the-century America, conveying a sense of history, tradition, longevity, optimism and progress. Each mural creates a connection to the history of the surrounding area. The West End University mural is 13 feet wide and seven feet tall, and dounble-sided so it can be viewed inside and outside the bank store. It has 18 images overall. Its unveiling followed was followed by a day of the unveiling of amural at the Atlantic Station store in the company's headquarters building for its Southeast region. The mural features images from across Atlanta, including a photo of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and former Ambassador Andrew Young. Other murals will be installed in the Edgewood and West End Lee locations, bringing the total across Georgia to 73. "Our customers really enjoy our murals," Donnelly said. "They reinforce how local we really are."
Wells Fargo & Company has almost 200 bank locations in Atlanta and 5,000 team members and serves every other household. Wells Fargo is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.3 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet, and other distribution channels across North America and internationally. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked no. 23 on Fortune's 2011 rankings of America's largest corporations. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially.