Brother to Brother

The January Core Focus Meeting was primarily about goal setting and taking a good look at how our decisions affect the lives we have. Eric Brown sat down with the ROPP Candidates and spent the morning listening to the candidates and sharing valuable information he has gained through his personal, educational, military and professional experience.

January Core Focus Challenge:

• Identify one personal goal you have for yourself.
• Write an essay, at least one full page length about this goal. Be sure to include the following:
• Why this goal is important to achieve (1 full paragraph minimum)
• What obstacles you may face in achieving this goal, and how you can plan to overcome them (1 full paragraph minimum)
• What other individuals may be able to help you reach this goal?
• How will you celebrate achieving this goal?
• Be sure to create a cover page with your name, date, and a title for your essay
• Essay is to be created in MS Word, with no larger than 12 pt font, and no greater than 1.5 line space
• Due date: January 31, 2013, 11:59 PM

2012 Quiz Bowl a Huge Success!

Here are the 2012-2013 ROPP Candidates! They stood and competed in the 2012 IRON SHARPENS IRON Scholastic Bowl on Sunday, November 18th. Although the young men of Drum Majors, Inc left with the championship, the ROPP-ites held their own! The first round was tied, with both teams answering questions on a wide range of questions, from Geography, Religion, Science, Music and more!
The Drum Majors pulled away by the end of the bowl, but everyone agrees that the quiz bowl was enjoyable, informative and exciting!
Spoken word artists, La Love Robinson and Element 615 offered refreshing breaks between the rounds. Sharing skillfully crafted words of wisdom. power and motivation, they both inspired and awed the assembled crowd.

Let's ROPP and Bowl!

On November 18th, ROPP-ites will compete with The Drum Majors of Round Rock in IRON SHARPENS IRON, the 2012 Scholastic Quiz Bowl.
The two teams met each other and participated in a practice session. Team Captain Devoreaux greeted the Drum Majors and Candidate Gabriel led a tour of our church facility.

ROPP Candidate Gabriel serves as tour guide.

Candidate Devoreaux and Drum Major Mitchell work together.

Pastor Mkwanazi greets Drum Major Leaders, Ron and Nicki Sullivan.

Drum Majors Program Director, Nicki Sullivan and
ROPP Director, Lisa Grant Davis

Academic Core Focus Continues

Three of the four ROPP Candidates are juniors in high school this year.
Metropolitan member, Michael Pratt, extended an invitation to a recruitment event by one of his alma maters, Southwestern University. The event was called a "Road Show", and it was held at Maggiano's, an Italian restaurant in The Domain.

Candidates Devoreaux, Davonte and DaJour attend the Southwestern University Road Show at Maggiano's.

Each high school student was asked to introduce themselves to the room, sharing their grade, school, future aspiration and reason for attending the Road Show. Our candidates were clear and engaging!

We Park Hard for the Money!

Sunday, October 7th, ROPP candidates took advantage of a fundraising opportunity. They assisted attendees of the Jamaica! festival/ carnival being held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church down the street with parking safely in our lot for a donation. In the middle of a warm season, the temperature dropped dramatically, but our loyalty and commitment held firm. We put on our jackets, drank our hot chocolate and warmed each other with smiles and fellowship! Rev. Baker surprised us with a special spiced tea and chicken salad sandwiches. The monies raised will help fund the reception for the quiz bowl, out major Fall fundraiser!
Not pictured: Candidate Davonte, who was a great help before he had to leave. Candidate Gabriel and Candidate DaJour's mothers hung in there with us, offering food and running to get change for us when we needed it. That's how we ROPP and Roll: together!

October 2012 Core Focus

Whoo!!! Today was chock full of activity!

We started at the Blackshear Garden, where Bro. Anthony provided an overview and the candidates received their ROPP Garden Projects. Candidates will have a choice of: a) planting a vegetable bed at the community garden, b) planting a flower and/or vegetable bed at home or c) creating an inside herb garden at home.

Afterwards, we headed over to the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity House, where Bro. Dr. Eric shared some Alpha history and shared an academic preparedness presentation.

At the Alpha House, ROPP candidates received General Information packets about the 2012 Quiz Bowl and learned that the Drum Majors of Round Rock accepted the challenge to compete. Candidate Devoreaux was selected to be the 2012 ROPP Quiz Bowl Team Captain.

Once, we finished at the Alpha House, we headed over to H-T U for a tour and lunch! The A Phi A Delta Chapter President took time from his busy schedule and showed the guys around and joined us for lunch.  He's a double major (Comp Sci and Mathematics) and in the middle of studying for his GRE.
It was a great day!

Iron Sharpens Iron- It's Going DOWN!!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!!