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ATLANTA BASED ONE HUNDRED BLACK MEN OF AMERICA RE-IGNITES ITS FORT LAUDERDALE CHAPTER

 
Photo by Leona Minto

BY ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
For the first time in South Florida, there has been a sincere effort by Black professionals to work for a larger goal rather than allow their ethnocentric biases to keep them apart. The relaunching of the once controversial laden 100 Black Men of Fort Lauderdale Chapter saw the abundance of Black expertise which exceeded the expectations of the planners of this awesome event in the promenade of the Hyatt Hotel/Pier 66, a few weeks ago. 

     
Keynote Speaker Diane Hankerson                          Albert Tucker and Al Dotson

Unlike its previous still birth due to the offspring wanting to be in charge of the parent, this time around there is this recognition that there must be and will always be deference to the rules and regulations emanating from the National headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. This umbilical awareness was re-affirmed by the leaders of this Fort Lauderdale branch, who set the Agenda for the event in such a deferential order which allowed the Miami, Florida based Vice Chairman of Operations of the National Organization, Albert E. Dotson, Jr. to be the last speaker for their inauguralÆs festivities. Furthermore, the National Secretariat signaled to this Local branch that this is the dawn of a new era of teamwork, toil and tolerance. To demonstrate its act of good faith and that the healing phase is now completed, the National Secretariat gave its approval of this branch by allowing its title sponsor, Aetna to ôbe in the houseö for it re-launching festivities. This corporate giantÆs Vice President for the Southeast Region, John J. Webb, flew in from New York to re-assert its commitments to both the National Secretariat and this local Chapter.

        
                             Larry Spear, Albert Tucker and Christopher Roland

It was an enviable experience to be at Pier 66, on that Thursday night, February 19, 2004 where there were so many power-elites which stretched across political, gender, racial and national boundaries. It was not an unique affair to have in one room super elites such as Dr. john Till, Superintendent of Broward School District, the newly appointed Broward County Supervisor of Elections, Dr. Brenda C. Snipes, Broward County Commissioner, Josephus Egglelleton, City of Lauderdale Commissioners, Hazelle Rogers and Levoyd Williams, Chester Bishop, Su Realty Title Inc, Archibald Grant, Infinity Realty, William McCormick, President, Fort Lauderdale branch of the NAACP, Charles S. Morris, Vice President, Senior Group Manager, Bank United, City of MiramarÆs Vice Mayor Fitzroy Salesman, MiramarÆs Commissioner and Radio Waves 1170am personality, Winston Barnes, Sun SentinelÆs Minority Beat reporter Gregory Lewis, J.M. FamilyÆs Enterprises bright star; Attorney Wayne Hamilton, Hot 105 FM Account Manager, Ian Hamilton, immediate Past President, Caribbean Chamber of Commerce, Glenn Josephs, City of PlantationÆs entrepreneur, politician and co-founder of the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce and Jamaican-American Foundation, Eric Hammond; Vice President of NAREB/Realists, Marie Kong; IPP Kiwanis Club of Lauderdale Lakes and West Sunrise, Claudette Hayles, Realtor and candidate City of Lauderhill, Dale Holness, President, Kiwanis Club, Lauderdale Lakes and West Sunrise and Candidate, Lauderdale Lakes, Barrington Russell, Prime Minister of JamaicaÆs Independence Medal Winner and social doyenne, Elgeta Martin-Thompson, International Financier and City of Coral Springs rainmaker, John Ruffin, Jr., Caribbean entrepreneur, Radio personality and Fashion Trend Setter, Winsome ôLady Cö Charlton, Chiropractioner, Dr. Robert Hockstein, Monica K. Almas, Aetna and John Hardwick, President/Consultant-Salons, Inc.

       
                            Chester Bishop, Sharron Melton and Eric Hammond

Certainly, the Chief Architects responsible for the launching of the Fort Lauderdale branch of the 100 Black Men of America have to be fully aware that they are into this global Voluntary Organization with more than 101 chapters by inviting such a distinguished group to hear their Keynote Speaker, P. Diane Hankerson, Vice President, Organization Development, Office of the Chairman, J.M. Family Enterprises Inc, who in a disarming but forceful manner, reminded them that the path they have set out on is one with obstacles but it is a rewarding mission because they will impact the lives of young children who a generation later will take over their professional and civic responsibilities as they move on to their upscale residences in the various gated communities in South Florida. She is very supportive of this bold attempt by these Black professionals who have put aside their petty nationalistic and egocentric differences in order to build another sustainable organization, similarly to the Urban league and NAACP Fort Lauderdale to provide mentoring services especially to young Black males in order that they will excel not only on the playing fields and basketball courts but in academia, at the high school and college levels. 

     
               100 Member Todd Jones, wife and County Comm. Joseph Egglestion

The Vice President for this Local Chapter, Larry Spear was emotional as he pointed out his involvement with the founding members. He remarked that he felt he was not doing enough for his Community by providing the nurturing skills only to his two children. This recognition triggered an inward hunger to do for Black children in the ôhoodö who were not as fortunate as his two children.

  
         Comm. LeVoyd Williams, Glen Joseph, Marie Kong and Barrington Russell

Perhaps it is a bit unfair to single out Albert Tucker, the Vice President for Multi-Cultural Affairs at the Broward County Visitors Convention Center. However, it is quite evident that his professional and social networking activities over the past five years contributed significantly to the re-emergence of this critical voluntary organization and the huge impressive turnout on that particular night. He is a bit uncomfortable anytime his umbilical linkages to Trinidad and Tobago are mentioned in Newspapers or in social conversation. However, it cannot be denied that it gives him a better awareness over his African-American colleagues who take a very long time to understand and develop meaningful professional and personal alliances with what they regarded as aggressive brothers and sisters across the waters. 

    
Sponsors from County Line Chiropractic                 John Webb, Vice President,AETNA
Centers Maria Pazos and Dr. Robert Hochstein       Al Dobson, Vice Chairman 100 Black                                                                                             Man of America.

It is this genetic bond with the Islands which made it so easy for him to develop an impressive professional and personal relationship with Lauderdale Lakes Commissioner Hayelle Rogers which led to Broward County as the host for the 2005 World Junior Netball Championship. 

             
     Oriole School Principal congratulated by James Peryman and Comm. LeVoyed Williams

It would be unfair to close this exciting chapter in strengthening diasporas, civic, professional and personal bonds between African-Americans and Caribbean-Americans in South Florida without mentioning the role the entertainment organizer guru Roy Campbell. Anything he gets involved with is a success. We saw it with world renowned model Tyro Banks coming to South Florida as a guest for the 2002 Annual Ball of the Kiwanis Club of Lauderdale Lakes and West Sunrise; we experienced his ôMidas touchö in the 2003 monster Christmas party he hosted for Chester BishopÆs Su Realty and we are still savoring what he did to make the relaunvching of the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of the One Hundred Black Men of America and unforgettable experience.

         
         Monica Almas, AETNA Albert Tucker, Treasurer of 100 Black Men of Florida

He was primarily responsible in getting the white entrepreneur, Dr. Robert Hochstein and the Jamaican power elite Chester Bishop to become anchor sponsors for this local chapter of The One Hundred Black Men of American. This is an extraordinary accomplishment on his part.

          
           Dale Holness, Winston Barnes, Gregory Lewis and Glenn Joseph

        
                   Launch Party Guest and Sponsor Chester Bishop

        

      
Entertainment Group Producer Roy H. Campbell with staff Niflame Barrett and Cherie Legg

      
          Archie Grant, Comm. Hazelle Rogers and Eric Hammond and Singer

   
      Dianne Hankerson, Christopher Roland, Latoya Brady and Wayne Hamilton

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