Parade
from page XT
Gras Extravaganza each
year.
"It's festive, it's a way to
get the community
involved," said the father of
three adult children. "The
party is for ages 21 and over,
but this way, everybody in
the city can take part in the
celebration."
Bethea was hopeful the
parade would draw attention
to the work the Omegas do
in the community-which
includes an ongoing tutoring
program at Easton
Elementary and the first
ever Black History Quiz
Bowl, staged at Atkins High
School late last
year-and the
Extravaganza, which
is slated for Feb. 19.
It was the organiza
tion's commitment to
community service
that first attracted
Bethea.
"I pledged Omega
because of some of
the great stuff they
were doing around
campus," related Bethea, a
WSSU alumnus. "They
were pretty much the leaders
at that time."
Juan Eckard, the band
director at Carver for the last
seven years, was the
parade's visionary. Eckard,
a Charlotte native, pledged
i
McPherson
Omegas (from left): Billy Friende, Basileus Charlie Bethea,
Galvin Crisp and Kenneth F rancis pose with Ms. Manhood
Beverly Robinson.
Omega Psi Phi in the fall of
1988 while a business and
music education major at
WSSU. The former drum
! ! J I
major saia ne
felt a Mardi
Gras celebra
tion could only
be enhanced by
a parade.
"The idea
was to bring
fun and New
Orleans flavor
to Winston
Salem," said
the father of
two.
His Marching Yellow
Jackets jumped at the chance
to be a part of the showcase,
Eckard said.
"This group of students,
they just love to perform,"
he related. "They just have
fun regardless."
Photo* by Lay la Fanner
Marcus and Patrice Stacey with their son, Marcus II.
Marcus and Patrice
Stacey brought their three
year-old son Marcus II out
to take part in the festivities.
"I saw it on the
news this morning so
I thought it would be
a nice family outing,"
related Patrice, who is
studying to gain
acceptance into the
January 2012
Doctorate in Physical
Therapy class at
Winston-Salem State
University. "It's
something quick and
short to do on the
weekdays."
Foothills Bartender Chd
McPherson was also among
the dozens who populated
the sidewalks as the Red Sea
of Sound thundered past. He
cheered the young people
on, dancing along to the
F.ckard
rhythmic drumbeat.
"I heard the band, I heard
the drums, and I just had to
come check it out," he said,
a wide smile breaking across
his face. "I m
all about some
college
bands."
The chap
ter's annual
Mardi Gras
Extravaganza
serves as a
fundraiser for
its scholarship
fund and helps
to offset the
cost ot sending young boys
to camp, which is also a tra
dition for the brothers.
Four local women,
Latandra Vance, Heather
Davis, Beverly Boykin
Robinson and Latrina Leak,
are hoping to capture the
Omega Psi Phi Mardi Gras
crown by raising money for
the scholarship fund under
the organization's cardinal
principles of Perseverance,
Uplift, Manhood and
Scholarship. The Fraternity
brothers, who are divided
into four groups, also help
raise funds for their respec
tive division. The woman
whose division raises the
most money will be crowned
Mardi Gras Queen Saturday
evening.
Beverly Robinson, a
client services consultant
with Wachovia- Wells Fargo,
staged a holiday concert
with her husband, Ted, and
their two adult children to
help raise money for her
division. Representing the
Fraternity as Ms. Manhood
2011 has been a rewarding
experience, Robinson said.
"I didn't realize how
they have woven themselves
so tightly into the communi
ty and I am so impressed
with that," she said of the
Omega brothers. "They
have me hooked. From here
on, I will continue to support
them." .
The Omega Psi Phi
Mardi Gras Extravaganza
will be held Saturday, Feb.
19 from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at the
UVM Education Building.
Tickets are $35 each. For
more information, contact
Eckard at 988-9217.
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