my first experience with bro. newton was at conclave LA last year. it was my first conclave in my (then) 11 years in Sigma. during one of the business sessions, after a series of motions concluded with a monotonous recommendation to the general board for review, bro. newton took the mic. while he grabbed my attention as he introduced himself as the 24th intl president, it was his comment about us needing to stop making recommendations to the general board and be more about action. the point that came across to me was that the GB is crippling and slowing things down. we’ll at least that’s how i remembered it.
it was four months later that i finally had the pleasure of meeting the bro. newton. it was in atlanta in november of 2005 during the general board meeting. there was a reception at a nearby hotel for the GB and i shared a few minutes one-on-one with bro. newton. by this point of the meetings, many had already made it clear they thought i had no place in the meeting, much less being a Sigma. but i’ll never forget the brotherly welcome bro. newton extended me.
the national site finally got the page up for a salute to service: honorable demitrius c. newton – the man. it’s being held on saturday, october 14th in birmingham, AL. i’m bummed i can’t make the trip out to honor him in person, but if you can, please do.
The date is Saturday, October 14th
whoops. thanks, mallet.
When Demetrius Newton took the helm of Phi Beta Sigma, we were three-quarters of a million dollars in debt due to the previous president’s wild overspending and the fact the authority had been removed from the National Headquarters which is in place to protect us all.
Four years later, because of the force of Demetrius’ personality and his complete devotion to the principles of Sigma; we were back in the black.
“D” is the true model of what a Sigma man should be. I love him dearly and I will be present to sing his praises.
God Bless you Demetrius !!!