[22855] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] Thoughts about the future of APO
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Tim Becker)
Thu Aug 8 16:25:08 2002
Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 14:25:08 -0600
Reply-To: Tim Becker <timothy.becker@COLORADO.EDU>
From: Tim Becker <timothy.becker@COLORADO.EDU>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
In-Reply-To: <000c01c23f10$9e458ce0$ee041e0a@D1XCKK11>
I just want to express my two thoughts. The first is that while this may
look threatening I think of it more as an opportunity. Second, even if it is
a threat I don't see it causing too many long term problems. Now I'll
explain my reasoning.
1.) On the University of Colorado campus we have a paid group that organizes
volunteer opportunities. As a student I have no idea what they do or why
they are there. For the campuses without paid volunteers I think it's time
for those chapters to address their campus' administration and perhaps keep
them from enacting these offices. I believe there's a lot of
administrations out there that don't realize what APO can do for the campus.
I think APO can gain both in service and leadership by working with the
administration in providing volunteer services for not only members but all
of the campus. For example, chapters that help freshman move in. This is a
large event that requires the leadership to put together, its obviously
service, and what better way to attract members. There's a ton of similar
opportunities, i.e student tutoring, helping with conferences on the campus,
campus wide clean-ups,e tc.
2.) Again on our campus we have many organizations that provide service.
However, I have seen many groups that do service purely to make their
organization look better or to put on a resume. APO members do service for
the community. As long as APO members continue to do service for the right
reasons we will come out above. I'll give two examples: the campus blood
drive is staffed by APO members along with member of other organizations.
Every semester APO provides the majority of the staff, where as the other
organizations provide few workers, and even those workers often don't show.
For this reason Bonfils always comes to our chapter first for staffing and
although we've never tried I'm sure our chapter could take over the
organization of the blood drive (currently held by University Staff).
Second, after the events of September 11th our chapter took donations for
the American Red Cross, as did the student government. The student govt.
was placed throughout campus where we had only one table. The student govt.
collected under $1000 while we collected over $9,500. I believe this
difference was purely based on the work we put into our table and the
attitudes we had toward service. I would also like to mention that since we
had a connection with the Vice-Chancellor we were able to get the University
to refund the normal chunk they take out so that 100% of the donations went
to the Red Cross, where as the student government didn't even bother.
I think this is a good warning for chapters to step up and make themselves
known on each of their campus' by the administration. Our chapter has
gained so much just from someone making a single appointment with the
vice-chancellor. In regards to the situation on a National level I think it
would be nice if something was put together to aid chapters in becoming a
larger part on campus. Perhaps an addition to the CPPC to the effect of
having a campus administrator attend, or a brainstorming section on campus
involvement.
Tim Becker
Gamma Theta Chapter
University of Colorado - Boulder
