Yuku free message boards

Fraternity means business, parties

Omegas mix business, fun

By John Minter
THE CHARLOTTE POST
www.thecharlottepost.com

Some of the most powerful black men in America and the world will be in Charlotte this weekend for Omega Psi Phi fraternity's Conclave 2000.

As many as 20,000 Omegas will attend the bi-annual gathering of the Greek-letter organization's leaders. For example, there's Maj. James Mullen, of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, who flew in from Korea. Among those scheduled or expected to attend are the Rev. Jesse Jackson; U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Ronald Langston, national director of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency.


Athletes Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers and Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat could drop in. Then there's always the possibility of a visit by actor/comedian Bill Cosby.

Former Mecklenburg County commissioner and N.C. senator Jim Richardson and Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Pat Cannon are also among the Omega fold.

The gathering will feature Omega Tom Joyner, who will do his nationally syndicated radio show (airing on WBAV FM) from the Charlotte Convention Center Friday. The first come, first seated show is expected to be one of the largest ever. N.C. A&T State University is this month's beneficiary of the Tom Joyner Foundation, which raises scholarship money for students at historically black colleges and universities.

While the city's preparing for parties and other activities, the Omegas say they will handle business, too. The conclave's theme is "Empowering Minorities Economically and Socially."

Basilus Lloyd Jordan said the Omegas plan to spend time and money with minority businesses, restaurant and clubs while here.

"The new frontier for sit-ins and bus strikes is economic development," he said.

"The way for us to achieve equality in this country is for people to recognize our economic strength. We understand we have to do business with each other. We understand that all of Charlotte is not downtown. Many events and activities will be outside of downtown. People at the convention will be buying goods and services throughout the community."

The fraternity is also bringing services, including the health and economic development fairs, which are open to the public, Jordan said. The Omegas, he added, are pleased with the welcome and cooperation they have received from city and county officials.

"We are very pleased to be here in Charlotte," Jordan said. "The city and the hotel convention people have been very good to us. We look forward to having a great meeting, It means a lot as African Americans when the city and the hotel people come together to work with us."

Earl Wilson, executive director of Omega Psi Phi, says he and others have been meeting with local city officials, including police, to avoid the kind of parking and traffic flow problems which occurred with the National Baptist Convention held here last summer.

Two other black fraternities Kappa Alpha Psi in 2003 and Alpha Phi Alpha in 2004 will also hold national meetings in Charlotte.

Wilson and other Omega officers, including Grand Keeper of Records and the Seal George Graves of Miami, say the local reception and planning has been tremendous.

Graves said this week's conclave will be a powerful one for the organization and the African American community. He noted that Omega members are beginning to talk about financing the education and training of young men who will conduct studies of problems and issues affecting the black community. Methods are being set up to transfer information quickly between cities and among organizations, Graves said.

He noted, for example, that an Omega member discovered a possible connection between bacteria in the drinking water of Tuskegee, Ala., and prostate cancers found in several Omegas.

"To whom much is given, much is expected," Graves said, repeating the oft cited quotation. "I could have been in one of those state prisons," he said, referring to the high number of black males in America's penal system.

Graves said an Omega helped keep him on the straight and narrow and "that's why I'm an Omega."

Another issue of concern to the fraternity is the treatment of black women by black men

"We have to change our attitude," Graves said. "We are going to have a good time, but in our business sessions we are going to take care of business.".

In addition to the organization's election of officers and other business, a Youth Leadership Conference for high school seniors sponsored by various chapters will be held at Johnson C. Smith University. The public will be able to participate in a golf tournament, street festival tonight outside the Convention Center on Brevard Street and festival with vendors, entertainment and step show in Marshall Park Friday.

"The partying and socializing part is on the tail end," Jordan said. "The brothers will spend 10 to 12 hours a day in meeting on how to improve education, health care and what we can do to move the economic and political status of the community forward.[/b]