LEADERSHIP FRIENDSHIP SERVICE PLEDgE MAnuAL 2009-2010 NATIONAL SERVICE FRATERNITY PLEDGE MANUAL 2009-2010 DEDicAtioN This manual is dedicated to you — the pledge of Alpha Phi Omega. You represent our hope for the future. Our principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service are yours for safekeeping. They provide a strong base on which to build a successful standard of conduct. It is our hope that you will embrace them, live by them and share them with others. We wish you great success as you embark upon a lifetime of service in Alpha Phi Omega. ProPErty of: Full Name Chapter Name Pledge Class Date of Pledge Ceremony Date of Initiation ©2009 Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity tABLE of coNtENtS Behind the alpha phi omega Fraternity ...............................3 identity ................................33 • Our Purpose .......................................................4 • Alpha Phi Omega Symbols ...............................34 • Why a National Fraternity? ................................4 • Alpha Phi Omega Publications .........................35 • Leadership ..........................................................4 • Alpha Phi Omega Toast Song ...........................36 • Friendship ..........................................................6 • Graphic Standards Guide .................................37 • Service ................................................................6 • Alpha Phi Omega Certificates ...........................40 • Scouting and Alpha Phi Omega ..........................8 Beyond your Chapter .......41 the history oF • National Conventions ......................................42 alpha phi omega ....................9 • Duties of the National Convention ..................43 • The Story Behind the Founding .......................10 • The National Office .........................................44 • Our Founders ...................................................12 • Services of the National Office .........................44 • Advisors ............................................................13 • Sectional and Regional Staffs ............................45 • Our History .....................................................14 • Sectional and Regional Conferences .................45 • Women in APO ...............................................14 • Notes Worksheet ..............................................46 • APO Around the World ...................................16 • Chapter History Worksheet ..............................18 the people oF alpha phi omega ................47 the Core oF • Board of Directors ............................................48 alpha phi omega ................19 • President and Vice President .............................48 • Pledge Program Objectives ...............................20 • Program Directors ............................................49 • The Ritual ........................................................20 • Regional Directors ............................................51 • Hazing .............................................................20 • Life Members of the Board of Directors............53 • National Pledging Standards .............................20 • Ex-Officio Members of the Board of Directors .54 • Pledge Class Worksheet ....................................24 • Past Presidents of Alpha Phi Omega .................55 • Executive Directors ...........................................57 your role in • Our Distinguished Alumni ...............................58 alpha phi omega ............ 25 • National Distinguished Service Alumni ............59 • Your Role as a Brother ......................................26 • Getting to Know Members • National Service Week ......................................26 and Advisors Worksheet ...................................60 • Spring Youth Service Day .................................26 • A Lifetime Commitment ..................................26 alpha phi omega • Lifetime Membership .......................................27 reFerenCes ............................61 • APO Membership Policies ................................28 • Ways To Be Of Service......................................62 • Statement of Purpose for the • Characteristics of a Good Chapter ....................63 Policy of Risk Management ..............................29 • Active Chapters by Region and Section ............64 • The Standard Policy of Risk Management.............................................30 appendix ..............................69 • Affirmation of Compliance • Parlimentary Procedures ...................................70 with Risk Management Policies ........................31 • Classifications of Motions .................................71 • Service Record Worksheet.................................32 • Greek Alphabet .................................................72 Pledge Manual 2009-2010 n 1 Welcome to Alpha Phi omega National Service fraternity! By pledging, you have become part of an amazing family. Alpha Phi Omega is made up of hundreds of collegiate chapters, with thousands of student members, supported by hundreds of thousands of alumni. The pledge period is about introducing you to APO and vice-versa. So, in the interest of getting to know each other, let me tell you a bit about myself. I pledged in 1980 – before you were born, no doubt. I was a 17- year-old freshman, away from home for the first time. My family was in California and I was in Michigan. APO gave me a place to belong so I did not feel so alone. I spent four years as an active member in the chapter and was never elected to an office. But, I still had a number of leadership opportunities and I learned quite a lot. Over a quarter century later, APO is still relevant in my life. The leadership skills I learned help in my career every day. The friendships I made are among the strongest in my life. The service I do makes me feel good about myself. I am grateful every day that I found my way to APO. I hope you have the same wonderful experience that I have had and continue to have. You are embarking on an amazing experience that can change your life forever, if you let it. Enjoy your pledge period and your time as an active. Like most things, you will get out of it what you put into it. My challenge to you is to truly invest in APO. Take advantage of leadership opportunities, foster friendships with everyone you can, and participate in a wide variety of service projects. Meet people beyond your campus by attending conferences and events at other chapters. And never forget that your membership lasts a lifetime. Like your family, the Fraternity is always with you to help pick you up when times are tough and help you celebrate when times are good. Welcome to Alpha Phi Omega! I look forward to welcoming you as a brother. Fraternally, Maggie Katz National President 2 n Alpha Phi Omega Behind the FRATERNITY Fraternity Behind the ends, forgetful that we come this way but once and that oUr PUrPoSE our challenge is to serve others. This is why the national the conventions have to deal repeatedly with memberships The purpose of Alpha Phi Omega shall be to assemble in Interfraternity Councils (IFC), questions of housing, college students in a national service fraternity in the violations of the dignity of individuals through hazing ehind RATERNITY B F fellowship of principles derived from the Scout Oath practices, and the lure of social status and personal and Law of the Boy Scouts of America; to develop indulgence through primary emphasis upon social leadership, to promote friendship and to provide service programs. Without some structure to keep us focused on to humanity; and to further the freedom that is our our purposes we would quickly lose our way in an envious national, educational and intellectual heritage. and competitive world. There are many other reasons for a truly national organization. We reaffirm our openness to all when we come to know members from different sections of the WHy A NAtioNAL country, different religious, racial and ethnic groups, and different personal circumstances. We share in the stimulus frAtErNity? of association with students from various kinds of colleges when we discuss common problems. We find friends ALPHA PHI OMEGA is the single most represented wherever we travel, when we transfer schools, when we intercollegiate service organization in the United States. begin our careers, when we move from one city or part We take pride in this and hope to be even larger. We of the country to another in the pursuit of our interests. dedicate ourselves to become larger only because, if what We share in the costs of maintaining and advancing a we are and what we represent are important and useful common endeavor. We make a mighty witness through to students, then we should share what we have in order our combined testimony to the power of the ideal of to further our common goals more effectively. We want service in our common and corporate life. to share with colleges and universities all across this Each of us needs to feel pride in the things we are great land the benefits that APO gives to students, their associated with. We are proud of the record of APO and campuses and their communities. of the kind of individuals it attracts. The conventions The strength of APO lies in its active chapters. The increase our confidence in what’s right with our country importance of APO consists of what happens to the – hundreds of individuals of differing views can make individuals who are pledged and initiated in these local hard