PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO ENSURE

THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF

ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC.

March 14, 2020

My Brothers of Alpha,

Your health and the health of your families, as well as the communities we serve, is the top priority of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The Fraternity, like the rest of the nation and the world, is faced with the threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Fraternity’s Board of Directors met Friday and Saturday, March 13-14, 2020 and enacted several precautionary measures to protect the health and safety of the brotherhood, your families, and candidates.

Each Alpha region was represented by their Regional Vice President and Assistant Regional Vice President, along with elected general officers, appointed officials, and candidates for General President. Our actions also were informed by our Fraternity’s Medical Task Force, with whom we are in regular contact, and are consistent with those of government and public health agencies.

Below is a summary of the measures approved by the Board of Directors:

All remaining regional conventions will be postponed or cancelled until further notice. While the Southern Region has already rescheduled their convention for July 17-19, 2020, possible dates or locales for other conventions have not yet been determined. This information will be communicated as soon as it is available.

All pending IMDP activities are being adjusted or modified fraternity wide. The Midwestern Region has postponed all IMDP activities until April 3, 2020. Adjustments for other districts and regions will be communicated by your Regional Vice President.

Chapters should cancel or postpone all in-person meetings, public events, and social gatherings, per the directive of universities and governmental agencies, until further notice. Guidelines will be provided for virtual chapter meetings to ensure that the business of the fraternity can be conducted during this period.

Candidates for General President have been asked to cancel travel during this time. The Committee on Elections will provide the Brotherhood with the approved methods of candidate interactions.

Chapters and Brothers are encouraged to be our Brothers’ Keepers now more than ever. Please check on the well-being and health status of our elderly Brothers as well as our Alpha widows. Those individuals 60 years old or older affected by pre-existing health conditions face the greatest threat from the coronavirus.

In addition, below are links to various websites where you can find additional information.

CDC Recommendations for People at Risk for Serious Illness from COVID-19 (older adults and people with serious chronic medical conditions)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html

CDC Recommendations for People Who Sick, Suspected to Be Sick, or Caring for Sick or Suspected Sick from COVID-19
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/index.html

World Health Organization Detailed Questions and Answers Concerning COVID-19
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

Thank you for your leadership during these challenging and unprecedented times. If you have any further questions, please contact your Regional Vice President.

Onward and Upward Always,

Everett B. Ward, Ph.D.
General President