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Western Region,

Hopefully, you and yours are doing well. As we complete this holiday season, I just want to say thank you and reflect on a couple of significant accomplishments this year.

As you know, we have achieved record-setting growth within the Western Region. We have made new brothers as well as welcomed brothers back into the fold via reactivation and reclamation efforts. While we still may have some brothers that we really need to reach still, some brothers and chapters have been transformed. I appreciate how everyone has stayed focused on our principles and how well we are continuing to speed our cause on its way.

We successfully hosted the biggest and best Conclave that our fraternity has ever experienced. Regardless of what chapter or city, brothers within the Western Region were the ultimate hosts as we set a new bar as to how Conclaves should be. Thank you to each one of you in whatever way you supported - whether it was physically, financially or spiritually.

We have a lot to celebrate, as we look back on the year. We have accomplished a lot and we continue to deliver on our goals and targets. The vision as set by our International President of being a "Brotherhood of Conscious Men Actively Serving Our Communities" is resonating with our members and within our communities...the marketing of the vision is breaking through the naysayers as we are seeing members, chapters and brothers within our Western Region reaching out and help to take our Fraternity to new levels and to become bigger and better!

Now we are looking at the end of the year 2019 and the end of a decade. We are blessed to see yet another year - millions didn't make it and we all should take a minute to give acknowledgment to all who paved a way for us to be where we are. We have indeed come so far over the last 10 years, and I am excited as we turn the page to the next decade and the many opportunities we have to make our Western Region and our Fraternity even better. I am grateful for the tenacity, creativity and sheer talent each of you demonstrates every day, which makes these accomplishments possible. You make me proud to lead the Western Region.

As we turn the page to 2020, let us prepare to celebrate yet another year in Sigma. However, I do ask each one of you to help support our Sorors of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. as they celebrate their Centennial. The year marks 100 years of us being Constitutionally Bound which in itself is monumental. Let us celebrate as well by showing up and showing out to support each of their respective celebrations all across the Region as well as in Washington D.C. in January and June of 2020. We all should be so proud of their accomplishments too as they are indeed an extension and large part of our Blue & White Family. Time to turn up for Zeta in 2020!

I hope that each and every one of you has a very Happy New Year and celebrate with purpose, care, and love. Take the time to get ready for the new year and a new decade of possibilities. While you focus on yourselves and your families, take stock of what you’ve achieved this year, give yourself credit for all you accomplished and prepare to make 2020 a bigger and better year!

Fraternally,

Bro. Mark Armstrong
Sapphire Life Member #6SLM
33rd Regional Director | Western Region
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated