These vouchers will allow each family to purchase groceries at the grocery store on post. Our goal is to bring a little extra holiday cheer to each household. The vouchers were presented to Mr. Tim Flockoi, manager of Army Community Services (ACS). ACS is a non-profit organization located at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, which provides support and readiness for military families. Some of the many services offered by ACS include, low interest loans, financial counseling, and parenting classes. The connection between Kappa and ACS was made through our Chapter Vice Polemarch, Brother Lawrence Abrams.

Brother Lawrence Abrams makes presentation to Mr. Tim Flockoi.

By Berry H. Pitts, III - Province Historian

     Did you know that a brother from the Middle Western Province finished 13th in the High Jump at the 2000 Olympic Games held in Sydney, Australia? Well, it is true. Brother Kenny Wayne Evans is a 1999 initiate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Chapter, the Iota Tau of Kappa Alpha Psi, a six time All-American, a two-time indoor national champion (NCAA Div 1-A), and two-time indoor champion in the high jump.

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Muskogee Alumni Hosts Founder's Day

     The Sixth Annual Oklahoma Statewide Founders' Day Banquet was hosted by the Muskogee Alumni Chapter on January 19th at Jasper's Restaurant in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Undergraduate and alumni brothers from across the state enjoyed an evening of bonding and fraternalism, and felt truly welcome by Chapter Polemarch Cedric Johnson and the officers and members of Muskogee Alumni.      Brother Theodore R. "Ted" Ragsdale (Muskogee Alumni Chapter Historian) was keynote speaker, and each visiting Chapter Polemarch offered remarks during the program. Brother Kenneth W. Arinwine (Oklahoma City Alumni) led a rousing series of Kappa Songs. Special Awards were presented to the following members:

• Brother Robert T. "Bob" Adams received the Oklahoma City Alumni Chapter's Annual Founders' Award, presented by Oklahoma City Alumni Chapter Polemarch Wilbur P. Walker.

• Tulsa Alumni Chapter Polemarch Darrell Dwayne Jefflo presented awards for outstanding achievement to Brothers Ray Hatton, Jr., David Leon DeVille, Robert Issac Mayes, Sr., Eugene Hooks, and Millard L. House. The chapter's First Annual Irvin L. Brown Achievement Award was presented to Brother Robert L. Gray.

• The Muskogee Alumni Chapter paid special recognition to Brothers Harold C. Aldridge, Sr. and Willard G. Parker, surviving Charter Members, who have been with the chapter since its inception on March 15, 1946.

Eight Oklahoma chapters were represented at the banquet, with visitors from the Wichita Alumni Chapter. The Muskogee Alumni Chapter is commended for hosting such an outstanding event.

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C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference and Undergraduate Summit

The C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference (CRWLC) and Undergraduate Summit will be hosted by the Beta Nu Chapter on February 2, 2002 in St. Louis, Missouri. The registration fee is $25 per member, and should be mailed to:

Middle Western Province Headquarters
636 N.E. 36th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Payments must be submitted not later than January 29th to assure that all participants will receive printed materials and meals at the conference and summit. Payments may be made by MasterCard or Visa by contacting the Province Keeper of Records & Exchequer. We must confirm a "head count" by that date, brothers!

Chapter officers who are required to attend at least one CRWLC during the program year are the Polemarch, Vice Polemarch, Keeper of Records, Keeper of Exchequer, and Membership Intake Chairman of ALL chapters. If any of these officers did not attend the prior CRWLC held in Pittsburg, Kansas in the fall, they "must" attend the CRWLC on February 2nd in order for your chapter to be certified. Uncertified chapters are not allowed to operate in the name of the fraternity, vote at the Province Council Meeting, or participate in Membership Intake until they have fulfilled all requirements for certification.

The Undergraduate Summit segment of the day will be both informative and enjoyable for all of our undergraduate members in attendance. In addition to sharing valuable information, ideas and concerns, there will be a basketball tournament held on the evening of February 2nd. The competition is expected to be exhilarating, and the winning chapter will receive a "traveling plaque" that will remain in their possession until next year's tournament.

The host hotel is the Red Roof Inn at 5823 Wilson Avenue. For reservations, call 314-645-0101 and mention the block code "B135000748" to receive our special room rate. CALL TODAY!

Should you have any questions, you may contact the Province Polemarch or the Junior Province Vice Polemarch via e-mail. Visit the "Kalendar of Events" for additional information that will be forthcoming about the conference location on campus.

My mother and grandmother used to always say that a "stitch in time saves nine" (more stitches you will have to use if you don't use preventive measures to keep a problem small). I have a somewhat less eloquent cliché but more apropos to fraternity life in Kappa Alpha Psi: "Take a pass or you'll lose your _ _ _."

Of course, I am talking about hazing and addressing all brothers in the bond who feel they have to "make brothers the right way" or "teach young men the meaning of Phi Nu Pi" or even "make someone's life within the fraternity more meaningful." These are all laudable goals but the debate rages as to how you get there. Allow me to make the case as to why some of the so called "traditional methods" are totally ineffective and could cause you to lose your shirt, as well as your home and a good chunk of your future earning capacity.

I conducted a little exercise for my good Middle Western Province brothers while at the conclave in Cleveland using a case in Missouri that went to trial about ten years ago. The case is not related to any Greek-letter organization but the injury sustained by the plaintiff in the case is one that any membership candidate could sustain through one unfortunate incident during the intake process.

A group of young men decided they would teach the plaintiff a lesson for some undisclosed transgression and attacked him in the hallway of a school. The attack resulted in several bodily bruises but those were not the subject of the subsequent lawsuit. After the brunt of the attack was over, one of the aggressors decided to inflict what he thought was one last, parting slap on the side of the victim's head. It was this seemingly harmless strike that caused the critical injuries, including a punctured ear drum, a resulting infection that destroyed the young man's hearing in his left ear, and internal bleeding that required several surgeries in the course of a month to correct a dormant, pre-existing brain condition that was triggered by the blow and became life threatening.

Plaintiff sued the individuals and the school alleging the school failed to protect him and the perpetrators assaulted and intentionally harmed him. After at four-day trial, the jury awarded damages against the perps, only, stating the school could have done no more than it did and such intentional acts were not reasonably foreseeable by administration officials. The jury award compensatory damages based on medical bills incurred, those the victim will have to pay in the future, and punitive damages to punish the offenders.

Compensatory damages included $110,000 for medical bills paid, $50,000 for anticipated medical treatment to make sure the internal bleeding does not re-occur, and $1 million for pain and suffering. Compensatory damages totaled $1,160,000. The jury also thought punitive damages that totaled four times compensatory damages were reasonable. So the entire award was $4,640,000 the individual defendants have to satisfy and cannot discharge in bankruptcy, EVER. And, in most states, as in Missouri, the award is joint and several for all defendants, meaning, plaintiff can elect to collect from all defendants or from just one, depending on who has the money.

Think about it. You could participate in a "session" where some nonsense is going on and some nut in the group decides to take a swing at a candidate. You could end up just like this group and if you are the only one in the gang to go on and become financially successful, a plaintiff can garnish your wages until the judgment is satisfied, even though you never lifted a finger. Your participation and/or acquiescence could be enough to implicate you.

So here is my advice, or 10 rules to live by:

1. Take a pass. If you see this type of activity going on, don't condone it, protest against it, and if it continues, report it and work to eliminate it, TOTALLY, within your chapters.

2. Never touch a candidate unless you are socially shaking his hand.

3. Never, ever ask a candidate to ingest ANYTHING.

4. Avoid all forms of verbal abuse. Respect all candidates as you would a co-worker, family member, or business associate.

5. The Golden Rule is the key. Treat others as you want others to treat you.

6. Rule of Thumb: If you have been with a candidate for longer than a couple of hours (during those times when contact is allowed under the MIOP), you have been with him way too long and there is opportunity for bad things to happen. Limit your time with all candidates.

7. Don't ask candidates to run errands or do chores for you.

8. Don't require activities that make physical demands on the candidates' bodies.

9. Treat a candidate as if he is truly your little brother.

10. Love yourself, for if you do, you will not put yourself in a situation that could haunt you and your future family the rest of your life.

Until next time, I am

The 80th Middle Western Province Council Meeting will be held April 18-21, 2002, in Kansas City, Missouri. Pre-registration for alumni members is $150 through April 1, 2002, and $175 thereafter. The pre-registration fee is $100 for undergraduate members and Silhouettes, with no penalty for late registration. Delegates must be currently financial with Grand Chapter and the Middle Western Province, and must have paid the International Housing Assessment. Mail your payment to:

The host hotel is the Kansas City Marriot Downtown at 200 West 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105. The Kappa rate is $89 per night. For reservations, call 800-228-9290.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Province Keeper of Records & Exchequer or call 405-CD-KAPPA (235-2772).

     Pictured above, the pin is circular in design, slightly smaller than a quarter, and cast in a silver color. It is wrapped in a laurel wreath, emblazoned with the number "25" in the center with a small nugget below the number, and the words "Middle Western Province" around the bottom with "Kappa Alpha Psi" around the top on a crimson band.

     There is a dwindling supply at a cost of $25 each. Contact our Province Keeper of Records & Exchequer to purchase your pin today. Don't miss this one! Order now - While Supplies Last!