An Introduction to Alpha Phi Omega
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AN INTRODUCTION TO ALPHA PHI OMEGA Address: 816.373.8667 Alpha Phi Omega 1441 East 104th Street, Ste. 105 [email protected] Kansas City, MO 64131 www.apo.org 1 WELCOME On behalf of our active and alumni members, welcome to Alpha Phi Omega! By choosing to join our great Fraternity, you have taken the first step in your new, lifelong journey of Leadership, Friendship and Service. You have committed yourself to learning the traditions of Alpha Phi Omega, the Principles for which we stand and sharing the connections for building brotherhood and our Fraternity. Your pledge or new member education period is only the first part of your journey, and is an important step in preparing you for active membership. As you proceed through your time as a pledge or new member, be sure to take advantage of what the Fraternity has to offer. Do not limit yourself only to the experiences of Alpha Phi Omega on your campus - visit other chapters, attend conferences and the Convention, and find ways to truly experience the bigger picture of Alpha Phi Omega. Congratulations on choosing Alpha Phi Omega as part of your life’s journey. I look forward to welcoming you personally as a member in Alpha Phi Omega, and together, we can create a larger, louder voice within our communities for positive change. Fraternally, Robert M. Coop, P.E. National President 2 CONTENTS MODULE 6: PREPARING FOR 1. MODULE 1: YOUR JOURNEY WITH APO................4 6. MEMBERSHIP..........................................................34 Pledge or New Member Education Preparation Checklist...............................................35 Requirements..............................................................4 Schedule of Fees......................................................35 Understanding the New Member Experience.........5 Ceremony.................................................................36 A National Organization..........................................5 Toast Song......................................................36 APO By the Numbers................................................6 What the New Member Experience is Not.............7 7. MODULE 7: HISTORY OF APO...............................38 2. MODULE 2: PROVIDING SERVICE...........................8 Story Behind the Founding.....................................39 Our Founders...........................................................41 Four Fields of Service.................................................9 Past Presidents of APO............................................42 Connecting Nationally Through Service...............10 APO’s Historical Timeline.......................................44 National Service Week...........................................10 Symbols & Insignia..................................................49 Spring Youth Service Day.......................................10 Planning Your First APO Service Project................11 RESOURCES............................................................50 Service Event Planning Tips & Tricks......................12 R. Event Information Worksheet..................................14 Syllabus....................................................................51 National Membership Policies...............................55 3. MODULE 3: BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS...................16 National Pledge or New Member Standards.......56 Standard Policy of Risk Management....................59 Friendship & Fellowship..........................................17 National Leaders.....................................................61 Interchapter Relations..............................................17 Elevating Your Experience Through Conferences.....18 Regional & Sectional Conferences.........................18 APPENDIX (AVAILABLE ON APO.ORG) Building Connections at National Convention......19 A. Purpose of National Convention.............................19 Parliamentary Procedures......................................A2 Traditions...................................................................20 Classifications of Motions......................................A3 Chapter Traditions Examples...................................21 Greek Alphabet......................................................A4 4. MODULE 4: DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP...............22 Improving Community Through Service................23 Leadership Opportunities Within APO.................24 National Leadership Programs..............................25 Leadership Reflection Worksheet...........................26 MODULE 5: UNDERSTANDING YOUR 5. SUPPORT SYSTEM...................................................27 Growing Healthy Chapters.....................................28 Chapter Support......................................................29 Current Elected Chapter Officers Worksheet.................................................................30 Sectional & Regional Support..................................31 APO Regions.............................................................32 National Support.......................................................33 Services Provided by The National Office..............33 3 MODULE 1: YOUR JOURNEY WITH APO We are so glad you are here! You’re probably wondering what you should expect from the pledge or new member process. This section will introduce you to Alpha Phi Omega as a national organization and will outline the path to becoming a member of Alpha Phi Omega. PLEDGING OR NEW MEMBER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS Each chapter of APO (and there are almost 375 of them) will have its own set of requirements based upon the National Pledge or New Member Standards. These may vary from chapter to chapter yet will contain several of the same core components intended to help you learn what it means to be a member of Alpha Phi Omega. For more information about the Pledge or New Member Standards, visit page 56. Your pledge or new member trainer will provide you with the specific list of requirements for your chapter and is available as a resource to answer any questions you may have about the pledging or new member education requirements. My pledge or new member trainer is: ____________________________________________________________ At the beginning of your pledge or new member period, you went through the Pledge or New Member Ritual to commence your pledge or new member process. Over the next few weeks, you will spend time learning more about the Fraternity, the Cardinal Principles that guide our organization, and what is expected and needed from you as a member, as well as what you will gain through involvement. Throughout this experience, you are encouraged to step outside your comfort zone, to share your ideas and to ask questions. Pledging or going through the new member education process is a fun and rewarding experience, and your pledge or new member trainer, the members of your chapter, and this manual are here to help guide you through the process. You will get out of your experience what you put in! 4 UNDERSTANDING THE NEW MEMBER EXPERIENCE The pledge or new member process fulfills several objectives: • To provide an introduction to the Fraternity and your chapter Through resources like this manual and through practical experience in your chapter, you will be introduced to the Fraternity and its history, values, organization and traditions. • To instill the spirit of Alpha Phi Omega You will learn about the three Cardinal Principles: Leadership, Friendship and Service. You will also see firsthand how these Cardinal Principles are internalized and practiced by members of the Fraternity. • To practice brotherhood As you engage with the pledge or new member process, you will have the opportunity to build relationships within your pledge or new member class, your chapter and the Fraternity as a whole. Over time you will come to understand the meaning of brotherhood. • To provide a trial period before committing Alpha Phi Omega welcomes anyone who completes the pledge or new member process and embraces the MODULE 1: Fraternity’s Principles. Pledging or going through the new member education process is an opportunity to experience the Fraternity and your chapter and to decide whether you want to commit to the organization. YOUR JOURNEY WITH APO A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION In order to truly understand the purpose and impact of APO, we will take a look at the organization with a national lens. Alpha Phi Omega is the single most represented co-educational intercollegiate service organization in the United States. Since 1925, more than 495,000 members on 375 campuses continue to provide more service than any other collegiate service organization. Furthering its mission of preparing campus and community leaders through Service, Alpha Phi Omega is committed to: • bringing together college students in a national service fraternity in the fellowship of principles derived from the Scout Oath and Law of the Boy Scouts of America: • developing Leadership, • promoting Friendship, • providing Service to humanity, • fostering the freedom that is our national, educational and intellectual heritage. Founded on the Cardinal Principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service, the Fraternity provides its members the opportunity to develop leadership skills as they volunteer on their campuses, in their communities, in the nation and in the organization. Wow! That’s a lot to digest. Let’s break it down by the numbers so you can really see how large the reach of this awesome organization is. 5 APO BY THE NUMBERS MISSION PREPARING CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS THROUGH SERVICE VISION