News & Updates

Campaign to Support John Lewis on a U.S. Postal StampThursday, March 3, 2022

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
March 4, 2022

Contact: Ian Heisser
info@sigmabetaclub.org

Campaign to Support John Lewis on a U.S. Postal Stamp

The National Sigma Beta Club Foundation (NSBCF) is extremely honored to introduce a campaign to have the likeness of Honorable John Robert Lewis honorably placed on a U.S. postage stamp. 

Let us not forget the struggles and the sacrifices of so many brave foot soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement. It was the courageous act of John Lewis on March 7, 1965, in leading about 600 marchers across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. The attack on them with billy clubs and tear gas drove them back into Selma. This incident left John Lewis beaten, bloodied, and with a cracked skull. It was just one such incident, over a decade-long battle for racial parity, that began in an intense Jim Crow-era South,  in which John Lewis endangered his life advocating for freedom.

Congressman John Lewis was very active during the Civil Rights Movement. He dedicated his life to giving a voice to the marginalized and mistreated. “When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something. To do something.” – words he spoke in December 2019 from the U.S. House Floor. Congressman Lewis also believed, “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” 

Recognized for his achievement and commitment to Civil Rights, President Barack Obama awarded U.S. Congressman Lewis the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2011. Through his tireless efforts fighting for the rights and freedom of others, he has exemplified the type of leader we dream our Sigma Betas will become.

The NSBCF is recommending that the United States Postal Service issue a stamp in 2023 commemorating U.S. Congressman John Robert Lewis, his life, his work, and his legacy. With 2023 marking the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, this would be a great honor to recognize and acknowledge the Congressman whose message that day had a profound impact on the fight for racial justice and equality. We have reviewed the criteria for commemoration on a U.S. stamp and passionately believe no one is more deserving of this recognition.  We ask all to join us in writing to the Postmaster General of the United States to honor U.S. Congressman John Robert Lewis in this prestigious way.


DOWNLOAD, PRINT, SIGN, & SEND

We need your support! The more letters we send to the Postmaster General of the United States, the better chance we have of making our dream a reality. Please consider downloading the document that best reflects who you are in relation to the National Sigma Beta Club Foundation. We ask that you print, sign, and send the letter to the U.S. Postmaster General at:

USPS Board of Governors
Stamp Development
ATTN: Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300
Washington, DC 20260-3501

We thank you ahead of time for donating your envelope and US postage stamp to help us with our campaign.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Click on the link that corresponds to who you are.
Download the file
Open in Adobe Reader
Fill out the form entries
Print the letter and sign.


HELP US SPREAD THE WORD

Help us spread the word by downloading and sharing one of our digital campaigns ads and share on your favorite social media site.

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Linderal Arrington Designs Showcase Official SBC ApparelMonday, December 7, 2020

The National Sigma Beta Club Foundation, in partnership with Linderal Arrington Designs, proud to announce the launch of the official SBC Apparel. We are showcasing our SBC Winter Wear along with SBC Tie.

To shop for these items, please go to https://www.linderaldesign.com.
Go to Shop by Organization, then select Auxiliaries to find “Sigma Beta Club”.

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Zeta Iota Sigma Chapter Sigma Beta Club Entrepreneurship, Minority Owned Businesses & Job Development TrainingSunday, December 16, 2018

Manny
Zeta Iota Sigma Chapter Sigma Beta Club host Entrepreneurship, Minority Owned Businesses & Job Development Training

Article Submitted by Dr. Philip Harris – NSBCF Board Member
SBC Recap Article Submitted by Manny Alboher – Sigma Beta Club Member

 

My name is Manny Alboher. I am a member of the Zeta Iota Sigma Chapter Sigma Beta Club in Delray Beach, FL. Our last meeting was December 2nd, and I would like to share my view on our last SBC meeting.

Our meeting was inspirational and had a very intelligent guest speaker on how to make a good small business, and how to make your small business a success. The meeting was hosted at the Florida Atlantic University campus in Boca Raton, FL. That was my first time there, and it showed me how important this club is, and how much they care.

guestspeaker

Back to our speaker. Ms. Tonya Johnson had us thinking about what connections to make, how to make them, and all the steps in-between. From having a basic idea to making your small company worldwide. She went through this little “activity” or little run-through that she had obviously done before, and albeit was simple, just saying your name, how old you are, what school you go to and what grade, stating what you desire to be when you grow up and a simple handshake.

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She wanted to see how firm and loud you answered her questions, and how much pride you had in your handshake. She watched to see if you looked into her eyes, and she looked right back. After that small walk-through, we were told that we would be split into two teams, to discuss a plan of making our very own small business. Long story short, the other team came back and presented their idea first. It was something like a sports clinic to help athletes get better at the game and get back in the game. Now our team was different. We had thought of a mall with two-three stories, 20+ stores, and an Ikea and storage unit, a gym, etc. And to make it, oh boy the connections we had thought of! Mayors, contractors, top officials, you name it! Once that was over, we said our goodbyes to her and we took a group photo with a plaque of all of our names written down as part of the Sigma Beta Club. I was proud. Being a part of Sigma Beta is being part of a family. A place you can turn to for help and shelter. A place where one can be happy, healthy, and loved.

When that was over, we all bid farewell and parted off.

The Sigma Beta Club is a wonderful asset to our community. I love my brothers with all of my heart.

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Overview: An entrepreneur is defined as one who organizes and manages a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.  Many Sigma Beta Club members may feel that the world is a big place, but in reality, the planet is shrinking as globalization and instantaneous communication are becoming the keys to business. Developing entrepreneurial talent is important to sustaining a competitive advantage in a global economy catalyzed by innovation. The importance of quality entrepreneurship education and training has gained national attention, with the introduction by the 106th Congress of the Future Entrepreneurs of America Act (H.R., 1331).  One of the principle doorways to this emergent global multi-national opportunity is the identification of a specific need and a design to address that need.

Objective: The goal of the activity was to help develop entrepreneurial skills.  The Sigma Beta Club members thought of a service/product they like to provide/create.  After they had a thought of a service or product that they would like to provide or create, the Sigma Beta Club members developed the idea along with a marketing and/or business strategy for that particular product or service.  This was an opportunity for the Sigma Beta Club members to be creative in the thinking and the decision-making about their business ideas.

Activity: The advisors encouraged the Sigma Beta Club members to employ creative thinking in developing their entrepreneurial business ideas. The advisors had invited Palm Beach County Government, Office of Small Business Assistance (OSBA) to discuss how small businesses develop their businesses or services.  The advisors may also shared the biography of well-known entrepreneurs with the Sigma Beta Club members to encourage them as they develop and expand their ideas.

When: December 2, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Florida Atlantic University College of Business (Room BU112), 777 Glades Road Boca Raton, FL 33431

Speaker: Tonya Davis Johnson, Director
Office of Small Business Assistance (OSBA)
Palm Beach County Government

 

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National Sigma Beta Club President Meets with U.S. Secretary of Interior, Mr. Ryan ZinkeTuesday, November 27, 2018

Published: November 26, 2018 - National Sigma Beta Club Foundation

For 104 years, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. has been an influential organization in the African American community whose members have distinguished themselves in the areas of civil rights, the sciences, the arts, culture, and mentorship of young men/boys. Phi Beta Sigma is a social and cultural organization comprised of over 150,000 college-educated men. In addition to its founding principles of Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Service, Phi Beta Sigma established Sigma Beta Clubs (its youth affiliate arm) in early 1950 through its Alumni chapter levels focused on issues that impact African American youth and communities. Through its national youth mentoring program for males ages 8-18, and its Theme, “A Brotherhood of Conscious Men Embracing, Educating and Empowering Young Men Through Mentoring”, Sigma provides opportunities for the development of young men as they prepare for college and the workforce.

In 2016, Phi Beta Sigma, under the leadership of Hon. Jonathan Mason, 34th International President, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with U. S. Fish and Wildlife centered around mentoring goals and objectives as it relates to our Sigma Beta Clubs, to include opportunities to Sigma to work in partnership with the Service on campaigns to raise awareness about the benefits and opportunities associated with wildlife conservation and natural resource management and to provide information on wildlife conservation, outdoor recreation, and natural resource management issues and related career opportunities to the African American communities; assisting in the development of Sigma as a leader in wildlife conservation; assisting in the development of the character and education of African American youth from diverse backgrounds who will be the workforce of the future; and committing to pursuing an enriching and mutually beneficial relationship with U. S. Fish & Wildlife that will enable Sigma Beta Club Members and Advisors to increase their knowledge, awareness and appreciation of wildlife conservation and natural resource management within the African American community.

The NSBC Foundation President & the 31st International President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Mr. Arthur R. Thomas, Esq., met with U.S. Secretary of Interior, Mr. Ryan Zinke, at the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Wednesday, October 31, 2018. President Thomas discussed the MOU with Secretary Zinke, to include the successes achieved in the implementation of the MOU through its Sigma Beta Clubs and his commitment, as Foundation President and the commitment of Hon. Michael Cristal, 35th International President of Phi Beta Sigma, to ensure the implementation of the goals and objectives contained in the MOU, and to seek the continued support of Secretary Zinke.

As Foundation President Thomas toured Bayou Sauvage to include an Airboat ride with Secretary Zinke and other staff members, he discussed the upcoming activities of Sigma Beta Clubs during the months of May and June to take place by our Sigma Beta Clubs at various U.S. Wildlife Refuges throughout the United States in those cities our Sigma Beta Clubs are located in further implementation of the MOU. Secretary Zink appeared very eager and very receptive to the continuation and support of the MOU between U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and indicated he looks forward to furthering review and dialogue with the respective leadership of the Fraternity and Foundation.

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