AlphaForward: Shaping the Future
One of the stories I shared on the campaign trail was a parable of a farmer who owned a mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule yelping or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened …and solicited their help to put the mule out of his misery and bury him in the well.
Initially, the old mule was extremely hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, the mule had a thought. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, he should shake it off and step up! He did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!” He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows or how distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought panic and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up!
It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him, actually elevated him…all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.
Many Brothers agree it’s time for our Fraternity to move forward and one of the common suggestions is to do so by directing energy towards assisting our foundation – college chapters. In fact, our Bro. Charles H. Wesley noted in Chapter 5 of “The History of Alpha Phi Alpha: A Development In College Life,” how before the establishment of “alumni” chapters, these Brothers “were encouraged at first to join the undergraduate chapters and assist in the development of these units of the fraternity.
Imagine if every district within the region received so many submissions for the Charles H. Wesley award it took the panel two days to judge? Imagine every college Brother received an alumni mentor to assist him in his Alpha and professional development. If we all moved forward working together in this manner ensures we return to “shaping the future on the basis of the past.”
The AlphaForward platform strives to Develop Leaders, Promote Brotherhood, Promote Academic Excellence, and Provide Service & Advocacy to our Communities (AlphaForward.org/platform). Essentially recommitting to the core beliefs of the Fraternity is not only essential to a strong organization and thriving Brotherhood, it’s also the right thing to do.
The time to move forward is now.
To that end, your help is needed and requested to encourage Brothers (specifically, the delegates) of the Eastern Region Convention to vote Brother R. Anthony Mills as the 27th Eastern Region Vice President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Add your name in support of Bro. Mills’ plan to move AlphaForward today – AlphaForward.org/endorsements/endorse.
Fraternal Regards,
Bro. R. Anthony Mills
Candidate for 27th Eastern Region Vice President
Website- AlphaForward.org
Twitter – twitter.com/Mills4ERVP
Facebook – facebook.com/groups/Mills4ERVP