Members of the Young Men of Honor thumb through I am Barack Obama, a limited inaugural edition book presented to all the students by the men of Alpha Lambda Boule . Each book was autographed by the author, Charisse Carney-Nunes. The gymnasium at T. W. Spencer Elementary School was crowded on Thursday evening, June 4, 2009, as parents, other family members, teachers, school administrators, volunteers and community leaders came to pay tribute and offer encouragement to the young men who participated in the Young Men of Honor program during the school year.

The students were the center of attention during this, the Fifth Annual Banquet for the program.

Attorney Jamal Toure served as Master of Ceremony. Throughout the affair, he inspired, entertained, and educated the students and the others in attendance.

Eric Beba delivered the welcome with the assistance of the Young Men of Honor, who showcased the French speaking skills taught to them by Mr Beba.

Aljalik Miller, one of the students recited a poem, and Marisa Arnold thrilled the crowd with a vocal solo.

Founded by Mrs. Diane Jackson, a para-educator at Spencer Elementary School, the “Young Men of Honor” program seeks to change negative behavior in young boys between the ages of 9 and 14 by providing activities that encourage and teach positive behavior.

During the banquet, Rev. Matthew Southhall Brown, Jr. described the purpose of the Young Men of Honor program as an attempt to broaden the cultural and social experiences of the students, reduce atrisk behavior, improve academic performance, and build positive self-identities for the young men. He said that these goals would be achieved by creating a nurturing environment where the students will observe and participate in positive character building activities.

Superior Court Judge James Bass, Chairman of the Social Action Committee of Alpha Lambda Boule of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc., introduced the speaker for the event, Judge Robert “Beau” Patterson.

A member of Alpha Lambda Boule, Patterson is President of Please Rise, a motivational speaking and training company.

After spending 30 years in Public Law, the last 20 years as a judge in the Denver, Colorado County Court, Judge Patterson retired and launched his motivational speaking company.

Judge Beau, as he is affectionately known, was appointed as a judge for the Denver County Court in 1985. In 1998, Patterson made history when he was appointed as the first African-American presiding judge in the court's history.

Patterson used the program theme “You Can Count on Me” to enthusiastically challenge the students to dream and start taking actions to make their dreams come true. He said that the students should be clear and focused in their efforts to make their dreams come true. “Identify the people and resources that can help you achieve your dreams and don't be afraid to ask for help,” he said.

Patterson had the students and their supporters rocking as he ended his remarks by leading the group in a poetic rap that he composed to motivate the young men.

Judge Bass administered the “Rites of Passage” for those program participants graduating from the 5th grade at Spencer. The other members of Alpha Lambda Boule who attended the affair assisted him.

Judge Bass told the students that as they continue their growth and pursue their goals, he will assist any of them who decide to go to college.

During the banquet, the students were praised, and encouraged by leaders like Pastor Gwendolyn Greene of Gospel Truth Clinic of Ellabell, GA, Spencer Elementary School Principal Andrea Williams and Assistant Principal Jim Roszkowiak.

Additionally, several achievement awards were presented, and the Boule men provided each student with a copy of Charisse Carney- Nunes' Limited Inaugural Edition of the book I am Barack Obama, illustrated by Ann Marie Williams. Carney-Nunes, who autographed each copy of the book, attended Harvard Law School with President Obama.

Arrangements for the books were coordinated by Attorney Robert E. James, II, who is also a Harvard Law School graduate and a member of Alpha Lambda Boule.

This year, Mrs. Jackson hopes to raise enough money to take 30 young men and their chaperons to Alabama to visit historic landmarks, including the 16th Street Baptist Church and the Civil Rights Museum in Birmingham.

To assist with this effort, Robert E. James, Grammateus (Executive Secretary) of Alpha Lambda Boule, presented a check for $2,500. According to James, Judge Bass informed the Boule men of a letter from Mrs. Jackson requesting support for the trip, and several of the members immediately made individual contributions resulting in a total of $2,500.

The Boule men also arranged, and paid for, the delicious banquet meal catered by MaRandy's Restaurant, and at the end of the banquet, Mayor Johnson announced that the Boule would pay for a weekend of relaxation at the Westin Resort and Spa on Hutchinson Island for Mrs. Jackson and her husband.

Throughout the school year, the men of Alpha Lambda provided speakers and professional role models for the students.

On November 19, 2008, the Boule men took the students to the Jepson Center for the Arts in four, chauffeur-driven limousines with a police escort. After the tour of the Jepson, the group headed to the main office of Carver State Bank for a pizza party and a tour of the banking facility. They also engaged in conversation with several Boule members, including Mayor Otis Johnson, Dr. Joseph Silver, William E. Stiles and Robert E. James.

Established in 1904, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity is a prestigious organization of African American men. The national fraternity is known as the Grand Boule, and individual members are called “Archons.”

A few of the wellknown Archons included W. E. B. Dubois, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Benjamin E. Mayes.

In addition to sponsoring high quality social activities for the Archons and their families and friends, the Fraternity provides college scholarships through the Boule Foundation, and is involved in numerous social action projects.

The Grand Boule theme for the 2008 - 2010 Biennium is “Boule Men Doing Great Things!”

Chartered in 1963, Alpha Lambda Boule of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity includes members from the Savannah and the Hilton Head areas.

Mayor Johnson is Sire Archon (President) of Alpha Lambda Boule.