My Brothers,

    Let me first say thank you, our C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference was a success due to your participation. I should probably say, active participation due to the call meeting of the Province Council to consider an increase in the Province Initiation Fee charged to new applicants. That proposal is not dead, I will anticipate passage of a revised Fee Schedule at our Province Council Meeting slated for April 2001 in Lawton, Oklahoma.

    While I'm on the subject of the Province Council meeting, Lawton is willing, able, and ready for our visit. I will expect to see you all. Special invitations have been extended to the 29th International Grand Polemarch, our Senior Grand Vice Polemarch, and of course our Grand Board Member, Brother Eric S. Morris. As we prepare for our visit to Cleveland, Ohio (our Conclave), let us get reacquainted with members of our team.

    Most recently we trained and certified Chapter Advisors, I reminded them that they are unsung heroes - Marines to be exact. I chastised myself for only giving them recognition during our Province Council Closed Banquet. We seldom pay proper tribute to those who stand in harm's way on the front lines. I also reminded them that if they don't properly conduct their business they become our weakest link - the portal to our most serious problem, illegal activity conducted by undergraduate chapters.

    As you all should know, our next CWRLC is scheduled for February 2001 at the Alpha Pi Chapter in Langston, Oklahoma. Our spring CWRLC serves as our Undergraduate Summit, hosted by our Junior Vice Province Polemarch. I hope my undergraduates are prepared to conduct summit business. We heard from you at our CWRLC at Alpha Mu. In Langston, it's our turn, your Alumni members have something to say to you. I will expect to wrap-up this tongue-in-cheek at our Province Council meeting in Lawton. We will leave this meeting in one accord.

    Brother Sherman L. Cravens - Oklahoma City Alumni Chapter Polemarch - is chairing our Strategic Planning effort, your responses to his survey will receive serious consideration within our Strategic Planning Process.

    Finally, I have really enjoyed my visit to our Alumni Chapters, to date. As I promised, I will visit each and every one of you this fiscal year. Each visit has afforded me the opportunity to secure a firm grasp with respect to our ability as a Province to operate in a standardized format - everybody conducting Kappa business the same way.

    By the way, we are working hard on planning a Ski Retreat, let's give our wives and the sweethearts of our single brothers a treat, the King Holiday Weekend is on the table for 2001 give me some feedback, we need to know if there is enough interest.

    In 1978, the Denver Alumni Chapter met to discuss the possibility of building a fraternity house. The ideas that came from that meeting have transpired into one of the community cornerstones in District 8 of Denver, Colorado; the Kappa Tower.

    Denver Alumni celebrated the 15th Anniversary of the Kappa Tower on September 8, 2000. Grand Polemarch Howard L. Tutman stated, "I had to be here. I have served 30 years as an official of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and this is one of the projects that has made the biggest impact in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and in the community."

    The Kappa Tower is a six (6) story apartment facility, with 45 one-bedroom units for low-income senior citizens. Kappa Tower had its first resident on November 5, 1984. And, by November 27, 1984, all apartments were rented and have been so ever since.

    "The Kappa Tower has made a major impact in this district and is leaving a legacy for others to follow," stated Elbra Wedgeworth, City Councilperson District 8 for Denver, Colorado who was on hand for the anniversary celebration.

    Kappa Tower is owned by Kappa Housing Incorporated and managed by Kappa Management Incorporated, both of which are made up of active members of the Denver Alumni Chapter. Brother Joseph E. Clay (Denver Alumni Chapter Polemarch) remarked, "The Kappa Tower has enhanced the stature of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity in the community. It has acted as a springboard for the Denver Alumni Chapter to raise money for other charitable activities. The Kappa Tower has been the cornerstone to our charitable causes."

    The Anniversary Celebration of the Kappa Tower retraced its historic journey from inception to being turned down twice for the HUD 202 construction loan, to the Denver Alumni Chapter raising over $300,000 for the Kappa Tower, to the first residents moving in, to March 22, 1992 when Brother Wellington Webb (Mayor of Denver) issued a proclamation for the Chadwick/Coker Conference Center.

    "This demonstrates that the Middle Western Province is the sleeper in Kappa Alpha Psi. There are great things that have happened and are happing in the Middle Western Province and it is time that everyone in our fraternity knows of our achievements," stated Brother Adolphus M. Pruitt, Middle Western Province Polemarch, also on hand for the anniversary program.

    Grand Polemarch Howard L. Tutman delivered the keynote address for the anniversary. "This building is all about Vision; all about Achievement," he remarked. "Denver Alumni has created ripples throughout our fraternity, and it is time we capitalize on the example they have set." Grand Polemarch Tutman discussed the Fraternity's partnership with GMAC and the ability for chapters to now have help in financing undertakings such at this in the future. A committee on Housing and Economic Development has been established to also help other chapters in laying the groundwork for fraternity houses and other endeavors. "It is time we do our own networking and utilize our experience to take Kappa back to the basics," stated Grand Polemarch Tutuman.

    In closing out the Anniversary Program, Grand Polemarch Tutman reminded brothers that, "This is Kappa stuff. Denver Alumni has shown us that it can be done, they have shown us Achievement."

    The Kappa Tower is located at 2100 Downing Street, Denver Colorado, 80205.

The Middlewesterner is a publication of the Middle Western Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. All submissions welcome. Opinions expressed are the authors' and do not necessarily reflect the views of the officers and members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. at any administrative level. This publication is produced and funded by the Middle Western Province. It is independent and in no way connected with or funded by any other administrative level of the Fraternity. Adolphus M. Pruitt, II ~ Province Polemarch Freddie D. Frazier, III ~ Province Reporter Submissions to Kappa Alpha Psi, 636 N.E. 36th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73105 or Send E-Mail