Leadership Newark Class Of 2010 Graduation!!!

Mood: Incredible
Music: Parliament "Flashlight!!!"

2day's Message: "If I Commit 2 Something..., I Go All In!!! Otherwise..., I Would Never Ever Get Involved If I Cannot Give U 777%!!!" A.L. Jones Sr.

After 2 long years of being involved with Leadership Newark, Wednesday night I finally graduated as a Full Fledged Fellow!!! It has been an incredible, rewarding, powerful, eye-opening journey filled with life long memories I will take with me 4ever... Ask me about my entry into the organization because I almost Did Not make the cut???

I am part of a powerful network of roughly 400 individually strong leaders; who are part of an ever evolving collective, lead by an equally strong leader, & vibrant organization that has its finger on the pulse on the City Of Newark...

We'd have 2 sit down over coffee, lunch, or dinner B4 I could even scratch the surface of my journey through Leadership Newark... Let's just suffice it 2 say that I'm not the same person 2day who walked through those doors 2 years ago... I've been transformed as I've been able 2 rub shoulders with other equally motivated, inspiring, & dynamic leaders on Da Planet!!!

I've attended the last 2 graduations & my take on them is they were good..., but they were rather mundane... Each class gets a nickname & ours is "The Beacons Of Hope!!!" We are basically the 10th Anniversary Class through the organization so that gave us even more incentive 2 be special... You KNOW we had 2 go out in a Blaze O' Glory, With A Big Bang!!! We DEFINITELY had 2 Up The Ante!!!

As part of the Graduation Committee I was immediately tapped 2 provide music 4 the event because they've never had music 4 a graduation... Not only did I provide DJ services..., but I brought My Band Flip Da Skrip with me... All I can say is when you hear comments from long time Board Members xclaiming, "This Is The Best Graduation We Ever Had!!!" It does your heart something special...

The graduation was held @ Rio Rodizio in Newark so I made sure we took pictures & shot video so I could document the event... Of course I have no videos or pictures of the band because we were too bizzy performing... But we got everybody else... LOL!!! I also gave each of my Fellow Graduates a "Personal Gift" from AJ because I've truly been affected by each & every 1 of them...

It's taken me 2 days 2 recover from the event but I'm Good 2 Go Now!!! As a matter of fact I saw my Dr. Thursday & he's given me strong words of encouragement 2 keep doing what it is I'm doing because he asked "Why R U Here??? U R Like A Thoroughbred Horse!!!" Now That's What I'm Talking About!!! PHEW!!!

P.S. Here's Yo Boy Pasteling It Out With Our Executive Director After Being Handed My Graduation Certificate & Gift!!!

P.P.S. Ask Me About Drinking From My Flask During My Speech??? Shhh!!! LOL!!!

aljonessr

Simply September 17th, 2010........

I’m Goin’ In Deep, Feel Me…,

All I can say is that 2day is my Mom’s B-Day… She passed away in 1992… Hard to believe in 2 more years…, she will have been gone 20 years… I guess the reason it doesn’t seem that long is that she is 4ever present as I carry her around with me in my heart… It was made much clearer 2 me when I took my trip down 2 North Carolina & saw all of those folks who would’ve been her peers… The folks she knew & grew up with…

LQQKIN’ in the faces of my family & seeing the trademarks, the signature items, the area, & the people, that made up the Jones Clan brings all those memories rushing right back up to the surface… That’s why you have to check in with family from time-to-time just so you can connect the D.O.T.S. & Keep Life Moving!!!

I was always told that since she passed away; the weeks leading up to, during, & sometimes after my Mom’s B-Day I would go into a semi-depression if you will… Funny thing??? I was never conscious or cozignant of it… (Maybe that’s why I tend 2 travel 2 Vegas in September huh???) Shhhhh!!! The folks around me would notice my melancholy demeanor & silently nod 2 themselves as they knew why…

WOW!!! That’s amazing to me…, because “I” Mr. Don’t Miss Ish…, DEFINITELY MISSED THAT!!!

I am Xtremely proud 2 tell you that this year…, this day literally rolled up on me & I didn’t even miss a beat… It was just another Spectacular Day in the Spectacular Life Of Al MFing Jones Sr.!!!

So maybe I’m finally turning the corner & closing the door on a Tuff Chapter on my life… Of course I will NEVER 4get my Mom…, she is a HUGE part of why I am who I am… But now this day can come allowing me 2 say a prayer, pour a lil’ bit out, & KEEP IT MOVING!!!

2day’s Message: I Think A Hero Is An Ordinary Individual Who Finds Strength To Persevere & Endure In Spite Of Overwhelming Obstacles. Christopher Reeve

P.S. Thannnxxx 4 Listening 2 Me When I Sit Down 2 Write… This Is How I Vent!!! LOL!!!

aljonessr