Dear Southernites and Friends:
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler! Fat Tuesday is tomorrow and the nation is celebrating! Saturday morning, I attended the Chicago Chapter's Mardi Gras Scholarship Luncheon in the Windy City. Later that night, I attended the D.C. Chapter's Mardi Gras Gala in Bethesda, Maryland, which is located in Montgomery County. The County Executive (akin to a mayor-president) of Montgomery County is Isiah "Ike" Leggett and a Southern alumnus. Mr. Leggett did what no other elected official has done since I've been National President. After he and I spoke at the Gala, he came back to our table, pulled out his checkbook, wrote a $2,500 check to the Alumni Federation, and handed it to me. That's my kind of public servant! I had just shared with the crowd how impressed I was with the incredible network of alumni we have all over the country. I also shared my gratitude for the chapter supporting the Federation's major recruitment initiative in 2014-15 that helped increase Freshman enrollment by 31% that year. Of course, I could not wait to share with the D.C. alums my favorite Federation project, the expansion of Southern University into downtown Baton Rouge this semester.
