Personal Leveraging

With the school year starting for everyone, it is the perfect time to refamiliarize oneself with improving their use of resources. Everyone knows about the concept of time management, but there are many other resources (technology, education, other people) that are utilized to the benefit of an individual's personal management and organizational leadership abilities. The most recent newsletter from Mind Tools provides an article on how we should leverage our resources to provide the maximum benefit. The website provides additional tools for learning more about this important series of life skills.

To everyone, have a great start to classes and best of luck with recruitment, service, and leadership development efforts!

Fall Pledge Class Namesake

An alumna in Illinois with exceptional experience in community service has been chosen as the 2006 Fall Pledge Class Namesake.

Tips on Writing Press Releases

Publicity Hound provides a free, email-distributed, in-depth program on writing and distributing press releases. The ongoing workshop focuses on the fact that with the advent of the internet, your audience for press releases is much wider, including potential service partners and prospective members. If you are involved in publicity for your Chapter (or any other group, or your profession), this appears to be an excellent resource.

Fraternity Established Contribution Program for Actives

Alumni, especially Life Members, are long aware of the Fraternity's efforts to raise contributions to the Annual Fund. This is an important campaign, as the funds generated here help defer operating expenses, putting less pressure on the need to continually increase active membership dues. Now, a separate program has been established to encourage giving by Actives. The 1925 Club recognizes Actives who contribute at least $19.25 per year to the National Fraternity. Hopefully, this program will become popular, not only raising needed funds but helping grow a culture of giving back to the Fraternity among its growing membership.

More information on the 1925 Club is available here on the National Website.

National Convention News Online

We are nine months away from our next National Convention in Louisville, KY, and the convention committee has put together an impressive online information package featuring three avenues of communication:

First, there is the Convention website, which is probably the best Alpha Phi Omega site I have ever seen in terms of design and appearance.

Second, they have set up a National Convention Listserve (through Yahoo!Groups) to send out updates and alerts. I recommend you sign up for this service.

Finally, the Convention has its own blog for providing up-to-date information. I hope it continues to be a good read.

A hearty thanks to the Convention committee for all their work on keeping the membership informed online.

Online Registration Payment for Section, Region Events

The National Office recently announced the establishment of a group rate through the Fraternity that provides Brothers an opportunity to accept online payments for events such as Section and Region Conferences. This is an avenue open for consideration by Chapters and Alumni Associations, but it appears at first light to still be higher cost than other services like PayPal.

2006 National Volunteer Conference

The 2006 National Volunteer Conference will be July 27th-30th at The Galt House Hotel in Louisville, KY. Information on the conference is available through the National Website, where you can also go ahead and register.