[23618] in APO-L
[APO-L] End of the year checklist
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Ed Richter)
Wed Mar 26 12:08:04 2003
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 12:36:58 -0500
Reply-To: Ed Richter <aphio57@cinci.rr.com>
From: Ed Richter <aphio57@cinci.rr.com>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
Dear Brothers,
As the current school year is beginning to draw to a close at many of our
campuses, now is the time to double-check to ensure that various paperwork
and fees has been submitted to the National Office.
Among the items to review with the National Office staff are:
* Ensuring that your Chapter has submitted the Pledge Applications and fees
for its current Pledge Class as well as double-checking on the last
semester's pledge class.
* Ensuring that your Chapter has submitted the Active Applications and fees
(which went up to $35 on March 1) for the previous semester's pledge class.
The reason I am bringing this to your attention is because there are times
when things (like sending fees and paperwork to the National Office) get set
aside and sometimes they are forgotten, even though the Pledges went through
the ceremony to become an Active member. Unfortunately, in the eyes of the
National Fraternity, they were never activated or ever a member of Alpha Phi
Omega. They thought they were a member, but because of some oversight, the
fees and forms never reached the National Office.
Just the other day, an alumnus (from a Chapter that went inactive in 1977)
wrote to me to inquire about how he could receive a duplicate membership
card and certificate as he had been inducted as a member in 1975. When we
looked into the Chapter's file at the National Office, we found no record of
his ever being a member of our Fraternity.
It was a shame that for all of these years, this person thought he was a
Brother in our Fraternity, but there was no way to document or prove that he
was ever a member. I hope that I (or any other M&E program director or
National Office staff member) never have to write another person a note like
that again.
Again, I just want to stress the importance of making very sure that all
Chapters keep up with its paperwork and submitting their fees to the
National Office, particularly in the pledge and active membership areas. If
you have never received membership card and certificate after you became an
active member, you may want to ask your Chapter officers about this
situation immediately.
As Actives and Chapter officers, we have a duty to make sure this is
completed immediately before or after the ceremonies take place. These new
members are counting on us to make sure we take care of getting the
paperwork in and we need to make sure we are taking care of our new Brothers
and Pledges.
AS WE BEGIN thinking about the end of the year, the National Spring Service
Day is coming up in just a few weeks (April 11-12-13). This is a great
opportunity for the Chapter Membership Committee to work with the Chapter's
Service and Alumni committees to develop a service project on your campus
that would benefit youth.
This project is an excellent way to invite students from other student
organizations or maybe some students in your classes who missed the chance
this semester to join Alpha Phi Omega. This is a great opportunity do some
pre-rush service before the Fall semester and possibly begin building that
prospect list for the next pledge class.
In addition, this could be a great opportunity to invite nearby alumni of
your Chapter to come back for a service project (or for the end of the year
banquet and/or when your Chapter activates its current Pledge class) with
the current class of actives and pledges. Alumni are great resources that
many Chapters under-utilize.
Information about the National Spring Service Day has been forwarded to all
Chapters late last fall and earlier this spring. This information can still
be accessed at our national Web site, www.apo.org in the Service documents
area. Don't forget to submit a project report at the conclusion of your
service project as this is now required for your Chapter to be in good
standing.
Many Chapters will be conducting officer elections in the next few weeks. I
would also like to remind everyone to make sure your Sectional Chair,
Regional Director and the National Office, gets the roster of newly-elected
officers for the fall as well as an email address for the summer and fall
where we can reach your Chapter president. This is vital as there is always
a lot of information which needs to get to your Chapter leadership before
the start of the fall semester or quarter. You can e-mail that information
to the National Office in care of Judy Mitchell,
chapter.services.dir@apo.org or to your Section Chair and Regional Director.
Summer is an excellent time for all Chapter officers to attend one of the
Leadership Workshops offered at several locations around the nation
throughout the summer.
These workshops have been developed to sharpen your Chapter leadership
skills so that you will have an effective term of office in the fall. Anyone
who is elected or is interested in becoming a Chapter officer really should
attend these weekend workshops. It is also a great way to share and pick up
some new ideas from Brothers from other Chapters that you will meet at these
workshops. And you may just make a brand new friend.
For more information, visit our National Web site at www.apo.org.
There is quite a bit to do before you leave campus, but this work will go
along way to ensure your Chapter has a great fall semester. The National
Membership/Extension Committee is working on a number of programs to help
your Chapter increase its membership next year as well as bringing Alpha Phi
Omega to more campuses. Your Regional Membership Chair is always ready to
assist your Chapter in improving its membership program.
But before I end, I also want to remind you to study hard and to wish all of
you the best of luck on your final exams.
Yours in Leadership, Friendship and Service,
Ed Richter
National Membership/Extension Program Director
Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity
