Lambda Beta Beta honors history with community outreach

WAHIAWA—Lambda Beta Beta, a graduate chapter of a fraternity with roots grounded in community uplift, has been reaching out to the island community since 1982. The Men of Omega are college educated, socially, and economically conscientious, and dedicated to community service.

Based out of Schofield Barracks, the members currently out here just happen to be in the military. “The fraternity is not military affiliated, we have civilian members too,” said Walter Daniel, a Hampton University graduate and member of the Schofield chapter.

The Schofield chapter, currently 45 members strong, has been active in the community with various outreach programs and by providing college scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Honolulu County for 28 years. In 2008 and 2009, Lambda Beta Beta was able to provide over $8,000 dollars in scholarships for students attending various colleges, including Oahu’s Hawaii Pacific University.

“We have also participated in blood drives, talent hunts, reading programs, and mentoring for youth in our elementary, middle, and high schools,” Daniel said, with 95 percent of their funds raised going to scholarships. The Hawaii chapter also participated in Last week’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade.

“We believe that operating in our four cardinal principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift, sets the foundation for a successful life,” Daniel said. Although Lambda Beta Beta is chapter of a fraternity, it is not limited to those who join while still in college. “If you are initiated as an undergraduate, once you leave school you can become a member of a graduate chapter. There are also members who are initiated after they graduate college,” Daniel explained.

Lambda Beta Beta is a chapter of Omega Psi Phi, an international fraternity and the first African-America national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Founded in 1911 by three undergraduate students and one faculty advisor at Howard University in Washington D.C., all of the founders went on to graduate and have distinguished careers in their fields.

Like each chapter, Lambda Beta Beta has a list of internationally mandated programs that they must administer each year:

1. Achievement Week—A week in November that seeks to recognize individuals who have made notable contributions to society. During achievement week, a high school essay contest is held and the winner usually receives a scholarship award.

2. Scholarship—The scholarship program is to encourage academic progress among the organizations undergraduate members. A portion of the fraternity’s budget is designated for the Charles R. Drew Scholarship Commission, which awards scholarships to members and non-members.

3. Social Action Programs—All chapters are required to participate in programs that uplift their society. Many participate in activities including: voter registration, illiteracy programs, mentoring programs, fundraisers, and charitable organizations such as American Diabetes Association, United Way, and the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation.

4. Talent Hunt Program—Each chapter is required to hold a yearly talent contest, to encourage young people to expose themselves to the performing arts. Individuals who win these talent contests receive an award, such as a scholarship.

5. Memorial Service—March 12 is Omega Psi Phi Memorial Day, every chapter of the fraternity performs a ritualistic memorial service to remember members who have died.

6. Reclamation and Retention—This program is an effort to encourage inactive members to become fully active and participate in the fraternity’s programs.

7. College Endowment Funds—The fraternity donates thousands of dollars to historically black colleges and universities each year.

8. Health Initiatives—Chapters are required to coordinate programs that will encourage good health practices. Programs that members involve themselves in include: HIV/AIDS awareness, blood drives, prostate cancer awareness, and sickle cell anemia awareness programs.

9. Voter Registration, Education and Motivation—Coordination activities that promote voter registration and mobilization.

10. NAACP—A life membership at Large in the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is required by all chapters and districts.

According to Daniel, each chapter has a basileus, which is Greek for president; a vice-basileus; keeper of record and seals; a keeper of finance; and a chaplain who all work together to organize community efforts and scholarship awards.

“We are dedicated to our community and our youth,” Daniel said. “Our chapter includes men from all walks of life working together to make our community a better place.” He describes one of their goals as maintaining a high standard of community service. Today, in addition to working for the U.S. Army, many men of the Hawaii chapter are doctors, law school graduates, deacons at churches, logisticians, and financial managers.
When asked why he decided to join the fraternity, Daniel said: “Omega men are known as leaders throughout the world. I was attracted to the fraternity when I was in college at Hampton University. Omega Men were known as leaders in the community. I wanted to associate with men who made community service an important part of their life.”

For information on scholarship opportunities, students can contact Walter Daniel at (808) 392-6405 or wd1399@aol.com.