[23865] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] APO House rule
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Brown Michael-EMB021)
Fri Aug 29 10:44:07 2003
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2003 10:43:26 -0400
Reply-To: Brown Michael-EMB021 <Michael.R.Brown@motorola.com>
From: Brown Michael-EMB021 <Michael.R.Brown@motorola.com>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
All-
Perhaps it would help to quote what the National Bylaws (and Standard Chapter Articles of Association) say about Chapters owning homes:
National Bylaws, Article XI Chapters
Section 14. Housing Policy. As a Service Fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega does not operate nor maintain a fraternity house as lodging quarters for Members nor for any other persons. A Chapter may maintain rooms for meetings at the discretion of its Members.
(Article XV of the Standard Chapter Articles of Association says the exact same thing).
For me it's pretty clear. We are a Service Fraternity, not a social fraternity. Thus we don't maintain chapter houses. There is no problem with having meeting rooms.
APO's "Question and Answers" booklet is the source for this quote:
"Alpha Phi Omega is unique: it is a SERVICE fraternity. We use the concepts of fraternalism as a means of providing service, to ourselves as well as others. The fact that our meetings are held in campus meeting rooms or in a brother's dorm room or apartment does not decrease our sense of brotherhood. In addition, since we are unique, we have no conflict with social fraternities, independents, commuters, dorm dwellers and social fraternity members: all are welcome as members of Alpha Phi Omega."
As I see it, there are two reasons not to have chapter houses:
1. We are a Service Fraternity. Having a house would put us in conflict with socials. (see above quote) Our Founders didn't want this. 13 of the 14 Founders were members of socials and were only willing to join APO so long as it didn't cause a conflict with their existing membership in their socials. They weren't looking to form another social. They wanted APO to be open to any student, greek or not.
2. Financial burden (and liability). Others have spoken well on this. I've read posts on www.greekchat.com on this topic. Owning/maintaining houses is a great burden for the socials. And what do you do when a chapter is shutdown/goes under and they own a house?
Michael Brown
APO LM & TB
