Summary
The Un-Erase-Able Project is your opportunity to preserve and share your professional journey for future generations. We invite you to reflect on 8–10 meaningful chapters that shaped your career—your education, milestones, mentors, and path to the Boule. Write a short paragraph for each and gather photos or documents to accompany them. Once your story is ready, we’ll guide you through a relaxed, conversational video session and transform your narrative into a beautifully edited legacy film—ensuring your story remains Un-Erase-Able.
The 7 Step Process – with Example
This is not just a video shoot. It’s a curated preservation of your life’s work, told in your voice with the dignity and artistry it deserves.
Step 1 – Craft Your Narrative Legacy
Write 8–12 short, powerful paragraphs (5–10 sentences each) covering the key chapters of your life—your upbringing, education, early career, major achievements, challenges, and your journey to The Boule. Include a chapter about how you were introduced to the Boule and what it means to you. Send these paragraphs to the Un-Erase-Able team before filming to help us understand your story’s flow.
The following template provides an example of how to craft your legacy. Please copy and paste if you so choose.
Example Chapter Template
1. Childhood & Neighborhood Context
- Born in 1935 in the South Bronx, NY.
- The neighborhood was predominantly Black; stable at first, later plagued by drugs, gangs, and family dysfunction.
- Father: policeman; Mother: seamstress at NBC television.
- I grew up with two younger brothers and had a relatively stable home life.
2. High School Achievements & College Aspirations
- Did not qualify for NYC’s special academic high schools (e.g., Bronx Science, Stuyvesant).
- Excelled in neighborhood high school:
- Captain of basketball team – won city championship (equivalent to state title).
- President of the student body.
- Encouraged to pursue college despite a few peers having aspirations.
3. Early Mentorship & Harvard Opportunity
- Teacher encouraged students to aim beyond probable limits.
- Unexpected invitation to interview at the Harvard Club in New York City.
- I attended the interview despite initial hesitation, and it proved life-changing.
4. Harvard Years & Personal Growth
- Admitted to Harvard in 1952 — one of only 10 African Americans in a class of 1,200.
- Exposure to a broader world beyond the Bronx: a transformative experience.
- Lifelong friendships — including a roommate of 3 years.
- Met wife freshman year; married at graduation.
5. Medical School & Nashville Experience
- I attended Meharry Medical College and built lifelong professional relationships.
- First direct experience with Jim Crow segregation in 1956 in Nashville.
- Lost contact with college friend after his father discouraged interracial socializing.
6. Military Service & Medical Career
- Served 2 years as an Air Force physician.
- Stanford orthopedic surgery residency (1964–1968).
- Established orthopedic practice in Cupertino, CA, with a strong referral network among fellow Stanford residents.
7. Life Lessons & Career Challenges
- Residency competition incident: reminder that “the most important thing to you is you.”
- Faced racial scrutiny: the hospital created a special committee to review all charts from me as an African-American physician.
- I learned to be extra careful, knowing he was under closer observation.
8. Professional Philosophy & Personal Legacy
- Greatest accomplishment: successfully treating each patient.
- Personal pride in 64-year marriage, 3 sons, 6 grandchildren — all with advanced degrees.
- Humor in long-term patient relationships (e.g., promise to never retire).
9. Brotherhood, Values & Sigma Pi Phi
- Recitation of ideals: fidelity, honor, discretion, fortitude, faith.
- Founding Sire Archon of Gamma Chi boule in 1987.
- Introduced by Archon Benjamin Major; initially unfamiliar with Sigma Pi Phi.
- Wife’s familiarity with her father’s membership in the Cleveland Boule.
- I hosted early meetings at my home; I value camaraderie and fraternity’s supportive environment.
Step 2 – Gather Your Visual Legacy
Collect personal photos, portraits, and videos that correspond to each chapter. These visuals will enrich your film with authenticity and emotional depth. If some moments lack images, we’ll supplement with archival or historical footage.
Step 3 – Your Filming Day
We’ll schedule a professional four-hour filming session at our local studio or a studio near you. Two cameras, expert lighting, and professional audio capture your voice and presence with cinematic quality.
Step 4 – The Shoot
You’ll engage in a natural, guided on-camera conversation that follows the flow of your chapters—authentic, comfortable, and true to your voice.
Step 5 – Masterful Editing
Over four weeks, your story is carefully edited into a 30-minute cinematic memoir that seamlessly blends your voice, visuals, and music.
Step 6 – Review and Refine
Within six weeks, you’ll receive your first edit and have one comprehensive opportunity to make revisions.
Step 7 – The Final Legacy
Your completed film is delivered in two formats: a 4K master for archival preservation and an HD version for secure sharing with family and future generations—ensuring your story remains Un-Erase-Able.