Greenville, SC, September
19, 2004. - Gamma Gamma Lambda Chapter along with Shady
Oak Baptist Church, and the Urban League of the Upstate sponsored
a Voter Education and Registration Day after morning services.
As a part of the day's event, worshippers had an opportunity
to register to vote, view and see a demonstration of the new
voting machines and view other pertinent information regarding
voting.
The new touch screen machines received large attention which
was the intent of the project. Many Upstate counties are switching
to the new machines in the coming November election. "New
machines have great advantages but like anything new, many people
will be intimidated by them," say Bobby Clark, President
of Gamma Gamma Lambda Chapter. "We need to get as many people
as possible familiar these machines before November". A
map of the local voting district was also displayed which showed
the many changes in the district including four complete new
polling sites.
"You need to remember that many heroes died to get [our
community] the right to vote", says Rev. Ronald Barton Pastor
of Shady Oak, "God empowers us to take action, and we should
respond." The Event was planned conjunction with the National
Voter Education Week which was from on September 12 from September
19. It is a part of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity's National
"A
Voteless People are a Hopeless People” project. Many thanks
go to Pi Alpha (Clemson University) for contributing to the project.
In addition to the Voter Education initiative, the Brothers
had a display designed to educate students and parents about
the Project Alpha initiative. As a result of this effort, over
20 young men signed up to participate in this year's
activity. As Rev. Barton challenged the congregation during service,
we need to be committed to filling up the church that day with
young men 12 to 17 years old. As a commitment to helping to do
that, footage from Sunday's awareness effort will run on the
church's broadcast, "Building Your Life Through the Word" on
next Sunday at 7:30 am on Channel UPN-62.
###
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Bro.
Weston, Clark, & Barton (GGL) and McCullough & Jason Friday
(Pi Alpha).
Brothers
from GGL & Pi Alpha at both tables. Project Alpha was promoted
during the day.
New
touch screen ballot machine
being setup for
demonstration.
County
Official explains the new
ballot
machine to a crowd of onlookers.
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