Notable Chapter Events

Co-hosted (with Kappa Xi) the 2009 Leadership Conference and the 80th Grand Conclave (2016). Annual Dr. Charles Drew blood drives. Partnerships with Real Talk and Kit Carson International Academy in support of school-age students. Recognition of teacher achievement and student achievement/good citizenship. Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas gifts to underprivileged families. Annual flu vaccinations at a local church.

Beta Mu Mu Chapter Overview

In November 2006 eight thoroughly immersed members of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity discussed their vision to establish a new chapter in Clark County, Nevada. Founding Brothers Eric Adams, Elton R. Bacon, Michael Littlejohn, Nicholas Nicholson, David Lee Phillips, Paul Pradia, Dale Scott, and Wayne Williams officially petitioned the Fraternity to charter a new chapter. The Fraternity concurred and chartered Beta Mu Mu Chapter on January 26, 2007, to fulfill the requirements of service and dedication in the greater Las Vegas community. The Chapter’s first initiation ceremony for two members was in May 2007 at the now demolished Moulin Rouge Hotel-Casino, a Las Vegas landmark that was the first racially integrated hotel-casino in Las Vegas. At the time of the ceremony Brothers Dale Scott (Beta Mu Mu charter member) and Roderick Bickerstaff (Tau Tau Chapter) were co-partners in an effort to revitalize the Moulin Rouge Hotel-Casino. Beta Mu Mu also initiated three new members for Iota Iota Iota Chapter, Salt Lake City, Utah, in March 2009 after their completion of the membership selection program in Beta Mu Mu.

In the years since its 2007 charter, Beta Mu Mu awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships and provided thousands of hours of counseling, tutoring, and mentoring to students in Clark County secondary schools. The Chapter’s annual participation in the Fraternity’s International High School Essay Contest produced a third-place winner ($1,000), Angela Z. Hall, Cimarron-Memorial High School, at the International level for the 2010-2011 school year.

As host Chapter, working with Kappa Xi, the other Las Vegas Chapter of Omega Psi Phi, Beta Mu Mu spearheaded the successful 2009 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Leadership Conference in Las Vegas. In 2010 in recognition of their contributions in organizing the Leadership Conference, Brother Michael Littlejohn, Chapter Basileus (2007-2010), was the 12th District Omega Man of the Year, and Brother Elton R. Bacon, Chapter Keeper of Records and Seal (2007-2010), received the 12th District Superior Service Award. During July 2016 the Chapter again joined with Kappa Xi to co-host the Fraternity’s financially successful 80th Grand Conclave, including spearheading several associated events (for example, “Feed the Hungry” coordinated by Brother Charles C. Walden and “Building Bridges Back to Society” coordinated by Brother Dr. Leary B. Adams, Jr.).

Beta Mu Mu participated in the Catholic Charity’s local Feed the Hungry program and annually donated hundreds of free flu shots (and offered non-free pneumonia and shingles vaccinations) provided by Walgreen’s through coordination by Brother Elton R. Bacon to congregants at Desert Spring United Methodist Church. The Chapter routinely addressed health issues, especially as they pertained to African American males, during monthly Chapter meetings. Through Beta Mu Mu’s Omega’s Pathway, the Chapter’s social action program, Brothers volunteered as youth golf coaches, senior citizen providers, school tutors/mentors, in choir concerts, and in a local hospital. The Chapter also was a valued participant in Real Talk, a program coordinated by Brother Larry I. Clarke (including a $1,000 Chapter donation) that used former prisoners, local law enforcement, other local professionals, and Chapter members to encourage school aged students to pursue positive outcomes. Individual member and Chapter monetary and material contributions supported local and national charitable efforts, including the NAACP, UNCF, Disabled American Veterans, the Salvation Army, Vietnam Veterans of America, Safe Nest, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the American Diabetes Association, and alumni associations. Beta Mu Mu also actively supported voter registration, especially through the efforts of the Chapter Basileus (2010-2019), Brother Elton R. Bacon, a voter registrar.

2017 saw the Chapter expand its Omega Pathway initiatives as it annually provided Christmas toys for Angel Tree, a program that gives toys to children of incarcerated inmates in the names of the inmates. Additionally, in 2018 the Chapter adopted an underserved elementary school, Kit Carson International Academy, to give deserving families turkey dinners and Christmas gifts in conjunction with T.J. Max. On behalf of the Chapter Brother Monty McCoy also obtained grants from the Las Vegas City Council through its Youth Neighborhood Association Partnership Program (YNAPP) to give Kit Carson’s students increased educational opportunities, including financial literacy and robotics. The grant included the purchase of robots for the school’s STEM program and awards for outstanding teachers identified by Kit Carson’s students. In 2018 Brother Dr. Leary B. Adams, Jr., helped revive the local James B. Knighten Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., which joined forces with Beta Mu Mu in the STEM/robotics initiative at Kit Carson.

Also, in 2018 Brother Dr. Leary B. Adams, Jr., reestablished previous blood drive efforts for the Chapter through its first annual Dr. Charles Drew Community Blood Drive in conjunction with the American Red Cross and the local PanHellenic Council. The Dr. Charles Drew Blood Drive included a Health Fair to provide community participants on-site health information, including mental health, and a voter registration table. Blood donors received a t-shirt with Brother Dr. Drew’s picture on the front and participating organizations on the back. The second annual Dr. Charles Drew Community Blood Drive in conjunction with the American Red Cross expanded in 2019 to include the participation of ten organizations in a health symposium as well as support from the National Panhellenic Council, the NAACP, the James B. Knighten Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., and musical and dance presentations by Kit Carson International Academy. Again, blood donors received a t-shirt with Brother Dr. Drew’s picture on the front and participating organizations on the back. Donors also received cloth bags designed by Kit Carson’s students. In July 2019 Chapter members participated in Hoops for Hope, serving as volunteers at the three-day youth camp hosted by the family of a former NBA player, C. J. Watson.

Even though the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 limited or eliminated multiple social action and community activities, the Chapter provided refreshments for students attending training at a community center, continued its flu vaccinations, donated 1,300 masks to health care facilities, provided Thanksgiving meals to underprivileged families, presented Christmas gifts to underprivileged families at two schools, and provided $1,000 scholarships in conjunction with the James B. Knighten Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. to three students enrolled in aviation at Rancho High School. The reduction of pandemic mandates in 2021 allowed the Chapter to conduct some face-to-face social action activities: a total of 400 face shields donated to Freedom Classical Academy and Oran K. Gragson Elementary School coordinated by Brother Mark Charles; the 3rd annual Dr. Charles Drew Blood Drive coordinated by Dr. Leary B. Adams, Jr.; and free flu shots (and pneumonia and shingles vaccinations for a fee) provided by CVS to congregants at Desert Spring United Methodist Church through Brother Elton R. Bacon’s coordination. The Chapter’s Christmas gifts to underprivileged families flourished again through its presentations at two schools and the YMCA coordinated by Brother Vidal Hill. Desert Spring United Methodist Church supported the Omega Charities Ghana Water Borehole Project by donating a borehole on the suggestion of Brother Elton R. Bacon, a church member. The borehole will provide water to a village of 2500 people for more than 50 years.

Beta Mu Mu’s successful fundraising to provide scholarships for secondary school students occurred through its coordination with its 501c(3) partner, the Community Uplift Foundation. That coordination generated thousands of dollars during a 2013 ‘70’s party, a 2015 Scholarship Luncheon, and MasQUErade Balls in 2014-2016 and 2019- 2020 (that highlighted teachers’ appreciation awards in both of those years). In 2021 Beta Mu Mu raised funds for its programs through a popcorn fundraiser coordinated by Brother Robert Taylor and by volunteering to work at concession locations during Las Vegas Raiders’ home football games, an effort coordinated by Brother Monty McCoy.

Annually, Beta Mu Mu celebrated the Fraternity’s November Achievement Week during a Founders Day breakfast or brunch. Since 2011 the celebration included guest speakers and since 2014 included recognition of local students for their academic achievements and/or good citizenship. The Coronavirus pandemic forced cancellation of the annual Founders’ Day
celebration in 2020; however, individual Chapter members participated in the Fraternity’s virtual celebration on November 17, 2020. The brunch resumed in 2021 during reduced pandemic restrictions. Twelfth District’s First Vice District Representative, Brother Andrew Davis, participated in the brunch to install the Chapter’s newly elected officers and to welcome its two newest members whom he had initiated earlier on that day.

Guest speakers

2011 & 2012 - Brother Dr. Charles Moody, a University of Michigan professor-emeritus
2013 – Brother Dr. Leary Adams, Jr., a local retired school principal
2014 – Brother Leon Pearson, Grand Marshal for the 80th Grand Conclave in Las Vegas
2015 – Brother W. Kelly Shannon, Grand Keeper of Finance
2016 – Brother Dr. Kyle Bacon, son of the Chapter Basileus
2017 – Brother James Walker, 33rd 12th District Representative
2018 – Soror Tya Mathis-Coleman, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
2019 – Brother Mark Jackson, Grand Keeper of Records and Seal

Brothers Leon Pearson and James Walker, 33rd 12th District Representative, were guests at the 2015 Founders Day Breakfast that was a joint venture with Kappa Xi. At the 2015 Founders Day Breakfast the Chapter named Melissa L. Jock, a local high school teacher, its 2015 Citizen of the Year. Subsequently, 12th District named her its Citizen of the Year during its Founders Day Banquet at the 71st 12th District Meeting in Phoenix, AZ, in May 2016. The District’s Keeper of Records and Seal, Brother Ronan Hill, and Keeper of Finance, Brother Timothy Waters, were guests at the Chapter’s 2016 Founders Day Breakfast. Bro. Ronan Hill was also a guest at the 2018 and 2019 Founders Day Brunch. Other guests at the 2019 Founders Day Brunch included Brother James Walker, 33rd 12th District Representative; Brother Timothy Waters, former 12th District Keeper of Finance; Brother Myron Reid, Omega Life Membership Foundation Region XII Director; and several east coast Brothers who accompanied Brother Mark Jackson, Grand Keeper of Records and Seal.

Beta Mu Mu lost a Brother, Harold F. Winstead, Jr., to Omega Chapter on January 13, 2016, a sad first for the Chapter. The Chapter lost another shining star as Bro. Donald O. Harris transitioned to Omega Chapter on August 16, 2017.

 

Chapter Officers

2007 – 2010
Basileus: Bro. Michael A. Littlejohn
Vice Basileus: Bro. Paul Pradia
Keeper of Records and Seal: Bro. Elton R. Bacon
Keeper of Finance: Bro. Wayne Williams

2010 – 2011
Basileus: Bro. Elton R. Bacon
Vice Basileus: Bro. C. John Bullard
Keeper of Records and Seal: Bro. Charles C. Walden
Keeper of Finance: Bro. Wayne Williams

2011 – 2012
Basileus: Bro. Elton R. Bacon
Vice Basileus: Bro. Paul Pradia
Keeper of Records and Seal: Bro. Charles C. Walden
Keeper of Finance: Bro. Wayne Williams

2012 – 2015
Basileus: Bro. Elton R. Bacon
Vice Basileus: Bro. Larry I. Clarke
Keeper of Records and Seal: Bro. Charles C. Walden
Keeper of Finance: Bro. Wayne Williams

2015 – 2016
Basileus: Bro. Elton R. Bacon
Vice Basileus: Bro. Larry I. Clarke
Keeper of Records and Seal: Bro. Charles C. Walden
Keeper of Finance: Bro. Wayne Williams (9/1/2015 – 12/12/2015)
Acting Keeper of Finance: Bro. Corey D. Moody (12/12/2015 – 8/31/2016)

2016 – 2017
Basileus: Bro. Elton R. Bacon
Vice Basileus: Bro. Larry I. Clarke
Keeper of Records and Seal: Bro. Charles C. Walden
Keeper of Finance: Bro. Corey D. Moody (9/1/2016 – 11/12/2016),
Bro. Anthony C. Curinton (11/12/2016 – 10/31/2017)

2017 – 2019
Basileus: Bro. Elton R. Bacon
Vice Basileus: Bro. Larry I. Clarke
Keeper of Records and Seal: Bro. Robert A. Taylor
Keeper of Finance: Bro. Anthony C. Curinton

2019 – 2021
Basileus: Bro. Larry I. Clarke
Vice Basileus: Bro. Monty P. McCoy
Keeper of Records and Seal: Bro. Thomas Nicholson
Keeper of Finance: Bro. Anthony C. Curinton

2021 – 2023
Basileus: Bro. Monty P. McCoy
Vice Basileus: Bro. Thomas Nicholson
Keeper of Records and Seal: Vidal D. Hill
Keeper of Finance: Bro. Horace T. Taylor Jordan-Henderson

  

Initiated Brothers

May 2007
Bro. C. John Bullard
Bro. Dionni Henderson

March 2009 – (For: Iota Iota Iota)
Bro. Ancel Davis III
Bro. Louis Finner, Jr.
Bro. Ashantai Yungai

May 2016
Bro. Anthony C. Curinton
Bro. Robert A. Taylor
Bro. Edgar G. Tunson
Bro. Sean A. Williams

March 2017
Bro. Monty P. McCoy

December 2018
Bro. Bobbye O. Gentry
Bro. Vidal D. Hill

November 2020
Bro. Mark Charles
Bro. David Dent
Bro. Rayfield Evans
Bro. Tyrone Henderson

November 2021
Bro. Dana U. Everage
Bro. TreVontae Jackson


Achievement Week Awardees

2008
Essay Contest Winner – Mario Pucci (2007-2008)

2009
Essay Contest Winner – Victoria Miller, Boulder High School (2008-2009)

2010
Essay Contest Winner – Breshunna Collins, Rancho High School (2009-2010)

2011
Essay Contest Winner – Angela Z, Hall, Cimarron-Memorial High School (2010-2011)

2012
Essay Contest Winner – Chandni Patel, Durango High School (2011-2012)

2013
Essay Contest Winner – Jasmine Spurlock-Smith, Cheyenne High School (2012-2013)
Monetary Donation – Jeremiah Williams, K. O. Knudson Middle School

2014
Essay Contest Winners –
1st place: Luis Montanez, Durango High School;
2nd place: Chauncey Sweet, Cheyenne High School;
3rd place: Miguel Gonzalez, Cheyenne High School (2013 – 2014)

Student Achievement Recognition:
Vanessa Hernandez
Lexi Zurfluh
Alexis Lyken
Gina Gonzalez
Sydney Robinson
Zeivaun Ned
Kobe Williams

Citizen of the Year – William T. Council (2013 – 2014)
Omega Man of the Year – Brother Elton R. Bacon (2013 – 2014)

2015
Essay Contest Winner – Sydney Robinson, Andre Agassi Preparatory Academy (2014 – 2015)


Student Achievement Recognition: