Unofficial Alpha Phi Omega InfoWire

Personal Leveraging

2006-08-22T11:36:00.000-04:00

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

2006-08-08T08:59:00.000-04:00

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

2006-07-25T19:30:00.000-04:00

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

2006-05-03T16:40:00.000-04:00

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

2006-03-20T10:45:00.000-05:00

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

2006-03-17T14:22:00.000-05:00

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

2006-03-13T11:58:00.000-05:00

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.

New National Website Up and Running

2006-03-09T12:33:00.000-05:00

Alpha Phi Omega's national website has been redesigned and is now ready for enhanced use. I have been a little involved with this project, so I personally hope you find it useful. Let me know if you have any comments.

Brother and Former President Clinton Hospitalized, Will Undergo Surgery

2004-09-03T12:30:00.000-04:00

William Clinton, an alum of Mu Alpha Chapter (Georgetown University)
and 42nd President of the United States, was admitted to Columbia
Prebyterian Hospital in New York for heart blockage and will undergo
quadruple bypass surgery.

A full article is available online at
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=1&u=/nm/20040903/pl_nm/people_clinton_dc.

--
Kenneth Hunter, Jr.
Manassas, Virginia, USA
kwhunter@gmail.com

Intial Analysis of Charity Response to Hurricane Charley

2004-08-30T06:24:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Charley represented the first major, nationwide disaster since 9/11. The Chronicle of Philanthropy provides an excellent initial assessment of national charity response to the crisis. Specicially, it provides insight on how loss of faith in contributions to groups such as the Red Cross (mainly the fault of overzealous politicians and the media following 9/11) have ongoing effects.

The Chronicle, 9/2/2004: Working in Charley's Wake

Reminder on Raffle Regulations in Tennessee

2004-08-29T11:14:00.000-04:00

ATTENTION TENNESSEE CHAPTERS!

Before holding a raffle on your own, or choosing to assist with a raffle organized by another charity, check out this article and remember that the raffle must be approved by the State (meaning the General Assembly).

State puts charity raffles on notice (from the Nashville Tennessean)

DOD Accepting Applications for National Jamboree Coordinator

2004-08-28T18:42:00.000-04:00

I received this posting through an alert service I subscribe to that posts updates to Federal Job Listings. This position was posted today and is open for applications until Friday, September 10th.

Even if you have no interest in applying for the position, you ought to take a look at it, as it gives us an idea of the role the military serves in helping plan, coordinate, and host the National Scout Jamboree. I am proud of this commitment, in light of the onslaught that Scouting, America's largest and most successful youth movement, sufers at the hands of the ultra-left.

National Capital Area Alumni Association Organizing Meeting

2004-08-28T18:11:00.000-04:00

An organizational meeting will be held for the new National Capital Area Alumni Association of Alpha Phi Omega (APONCA) on Sunday, September 12th, at 2 p.m. in the meeting room of the Bethesda Regional Library in Bethesda, MD. This meeting is for all members, particularly Alumni in Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Southern Maryland.

For more information, email Kenneth Hunter.

The Bethesda Regional Library is located 2 blocks from the Bethesda Metrorail Station on the Red Line. Additional information on the meeting location is available online.

A listserv for APONCA has been set-up through Yahoo!Groups and is open to all members for subscription.

Utilize Volunteer Centers to Develop Service Initiatives

2004-08-27T11:40:00.000-04:00

The Volunteer Center National Network, part of the Points of Light Foundation, provides information on more than 350 volunteer centers across America. These local centers provide resources and information to residents and community organizations, helping facilitate service engagements that help charities and other nonprofit causes in need.

Volunteer Center National Network

Volunteer Centers Provide Links to Charities for Virginia Chapters

2004-08-27T11:32:00.000-04:00

Virginia Chapters seeking community service opportunities have an added resource through the more than 70 volunteer centers operating on the local level within the Commonwealth. For a directory of available centers and their locations, visit this site:

Virginia Volunteer - Local Volunteer Centers

Virginia's CNCS Developing Statewide Volunteer Plan

2004-08-27T11:27:00.000-04:00

Chapter and Brothers ought to consider taking part in this project, helping Alpha Phi Omega gain a specific position with the Commonwealth's overall community service network:

About VCNCS - Unified State Plan

Introductory information from Virginia's CNCS is as follows:

Virginia's Commission for National and Community Service (Virginia Commission), in partnership with the federal Corporation for National and Community Service Virginia State Office, the Virginia Department of Education and other appropriate organizations in the state, develops a three-year plan for service in Virginia.

The Unified State Plan (USP) describes the broad vision for promoting national service and volunteering and for building a solid infrastructure of high quality programs and support services in the Commonwealth. You may download the latest version of the 2003-2006 USP. In order to assist us further, please take a few minutes to complete the online survey. The survey of the purpose will be to assess the status of the needs and assets of service organizations within the Commonwealth. Results will be made available October 11, 2004 on this website.

Virginia Community Service Conference Next Week

2004-08-27T11:20:00.000-04:00

2004 Virginia State Conference on Community Service & Civic Engagement

I found information on this event earlier in the week and wanted to pass it along to any of you who might be able to attend. This may be of specific interest to Brothers in the Richmond, VA, area.

--Note--

http://www.vaservice.org/conference/conference/index.html

Please Join Us!

It is with great excitement that we invite you to participate in Strength Through Connections: The 2004 Virginia State Conference on Community Service and Civic Engagement. The conference will be Tuesday, August 31 through Thursday, September 2, 2004, in Richmond. The Virginia Commission for National and Community Service, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and Virginia Corps hope you will join your volunteerism and community service colleagues from across Virginia as we:

-Begin a conversation about service and volunteering in Virginia
-Exchange information and reveal common ground
-Learn together and share best practices
-Discover the course to cooperation and collaboration
-Identify our needs and our assets
-Celebrate volunteer service
-Strengthen national and community service, volunteerism and civic engagement in the Commonwealth
-The Conference Planning Group has worked hard to bring you informative and engaging plenary sessions, a wide variety of relevant skill-building workshops, a welcoming conference site, and service projects that everyone can contribute to. In addition, your conference registration is your ticket to this year’s annual Governor’s Community Service and Volunteerism Awards dinner and ceremony.

Conference registration fees vary depending on type of registration. National Service members' and directors' fees range from $15-$30. The fee for other participants is $100. All conference meals, activities, and materials on September 1-2 are included in conference registration. Pre-conference sessions on August 31 are priced separately.

So please browse through the conference offerings, select workshops that will advance your professional development, select service projects that mean something to you, and register today. All of us look forward to seeing you in Richmond very soon.

2004 Virginia State Conference on Community Service & Civic Engagement

Delta Alpha Alum Wins Award from SAE

2004-08-27T09:04:00.000-04:00

Recent University of Cincinnati graduate Chris Speelman (Delta Alpha) received the "True Gentleman of the Year" award from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (our founding partner) earlier this month. The award is SAE's highest national undergraduate honor.

True Gentleman (from Cincinnati Enquirer Online)

Gamma Lambda Alum Elected Youngest Mayor in South Carolina

2004-08-27T08:56:00.000-04:00

Josh Roberts (Gamma Lambda), a 2003 Graduate of Clemson University, was elected Mayor of West Point, South Carolina, a small town of 300, earlier this year, becomming the state's youngest at 23. The article provides a brief summary of his collegiate career, even mentioning his involvement in Alpha Phi Omega. In addition, the article profiles his successes in office, providing an excellent example of the "servant leadership" mentality found among our Bretherend.

(From The Tiger, Clemson University) West Union elects graduate mayor

Welcome Back - Message from National Membership & Extension Director

2004-08-26T22:24:00.000-04:00

This is a good opening letter, providing kind words and important points Chapters need to take to heart as they start the school year:

Welcome Back Students of Alpha Phi Omega (from Ed Richter)

Resources for Chapters Online - Leadership Clearinghouse

2004-08-26T22:19:00.000-04:00

Don't have a copy of the Chapter Resource CD-ROM? Need more than what you can find online at the National Website? The Leadership Resource Clearinghouse, administered by the National Leadership Development Committee, provides many of the items included in the Resource CD-ROM, along with dozens of additional items, covering every possible topic relating to Chapters (Advisors, Service Projects, Officer Turnover, even Rush and Fundraising).

Alpha Phi Omega Leadership Resources Clearinghouse

Each Chapter should receive a copy of the Chapter Resource CD-ROM in one of their first bulletin packets of the year. Additional copies are available from the National Office for a nominal fee.

Rush Tips (Courtesy Region IV Director)

2004-08-26T21:56:00.000-04:00

Kim Francis, Region 4 Director, posted this message today to her Chapters, and I wanted to pass it along to a broader audience:

Rush is right around the corner, or already here for some Chapters.

One of the key things to keep in mind when planning your events and talking to perspectives is "what makes Alpha Phi Omega different?" What is that special thing that separates us from the other service organizations?

It's our three fold purpose-Leadership, Friendship and Service. Sure, anyone can do service projects with their school's student volunteer department, but what we have to offer is what also happens after projects. The camaraderie and Brotherhood that comes with bring in a Fraternity.

Put some thought into what makes YOUR Chapter stand out. Be sure not to put down other groups, but rather highlight what makes y'all unique.

Here is some other helpful resources to get you started or help you along:

First check out our own Rush and PR folder in the Files Section here in the (Region 4) Yahoo Group. There is a great primer-The Do's and Don'ts of Rush. As well, there are Rush posters, fliers, handout and Q&A's from Alpha Delta Tau. And the Rush poster ideas that Ken Hunter added yesterday.

http://www.leadership.apo.org/resources_topics.php
Click on "Rush." Tons of other helpful topics as well

http://www.apor3.org/membership_chapters_graphics.html
Tons of APO graphics and clip art.

http://www.apo.org/publications/documents/alphabetical.shtml
FREE fliers including: "Leave College With More Than A Degree" "An Opportunity for You" and a Rush Poster.

Good Luck!!!
Kim
Region 4 Director

Tips for Effective Communication with Media (print, radio, tv)

2004-08-26T20:43:00.000-04:00

Action Summary - Working with the Media

Public relations is the "management function that establishes and maintains mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and the publics on whom its successes or failure depends," according to Effective Public Relations by Scott Cutlip, Allen Center, and Glen Broom (this book is available used online from both amazon.com and ebay.com (ISBN #0135412110).

When nonprofit organizations list the publics they serve, the media are not the first to come to mind, yet they remain an important public. The media have the ability to inform other publics about your organization, its activities, and the nonprofit world in general.

In order to maintain a positive, mutually beneficial relationship with the media, here are a few tips on contacting the media and handling media calls from Mimi Bliss, Adjunct Consultant for Nashville-based Center for Nonprofit Management:

Media Contact Tips

Avoid calling at deadline time - mornings are usually best
Assignment editor is the contact for TV, unless you know a reporter or a reporter covers your "beat".
A "beat" reporter is usually the best contact at daily newspapers, while the editor is the best person to contact at weeklies.
Many reporters and editors prefer e-mail. Try to determine their preferences.
Most media organizations have websites which include contact information for reporters.
A good question to ask reporters is "what kind of stories are you looking for?"
Read, watch or listen to the news to learn more about the types of stories that local media outlets are covering. You'll have a better idea of which stories to "pitch" to the media if you're familiar with what they do.
Build relationships with reporters, especially reporters who cover your "beat" (i.e. healthcare or a local neighborhood)

Public relations can be the most cost-effective marketing tool a nonprofit organization can use, so don't miss out!

Republished from NPNews, August 26, 2004, Center for Nonprofit Management, Nashville, TN

Togo D. West Jr., Former Secretary of the Army and Veterans Affairs, named 2004 National Pledge Class Namesake

2004-08-26T19:45:00.000-04:00

On July 18, 2004, the National Board of Directors of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity selected Togo D. West, Jr., an alum of Zeta Phi Chapter at Howard University and former Secretary of the Army and Secretary of Veterans Affairs, as the 2004 National Pledge Class Namesake.

(Text of Official Release posted by Alpha Phi Omega, August 24, 2004)

Togo Dennis West, Jr., returned to Covington & Burling, of counsel, in July 2000 after completing his most recent tenure as a senior official in three presidential administrations. His practice includes issues of corporate responsibility, government contracts, government relations, national and homeland security, counseling and assistance to defense-related industries, and general litigation matters.

Mr. West served in President Clinton's Cabinet as Secretary of Veterans Affairs and as Secretary of the Army. While Secretary of the Army, he also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Commission, a Presidentially appointed body with a binational board confirmed by the Senate, which was responsible for the policies and operation of the Panama Canal. In the Administration of President Jimmy Carter, he was General Counsel of the Department of Defense; the Special Assistant to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense; and General Counsel of the Navy. He served as Associate Deputy Attorney General in the U. S. Department of Justice in the Administration of President Gerald R. Ford.

Secretary West practiced law with Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., from 1973 to 1975 and again from 1976 to 1977. In 1981, after a period of government service, he joined the New York law firm of Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler as managing partner of its Washington office. In 1990, he became Senior Vice President for Government Relations of the Northrop Corporation, and served until his appointment as Secretary of the Army.

He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Washington Hospital Center, and President of the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council; The Atlantic Council; and the Council of Trustees of the Association of the United States Army. Prior to his most recent government service, he served on the Board of Trustees of The Aerospace Corporation; the Institute for Defense Analysis; and, the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He has served as a member of the Defense Policy Board, which advises the Secretary of Defense on issues affecting national security.

Secretary West served as Commissioner, Vice Chairman, and Chairman of the District of Columbia Law Revision Commission. He has served as Chairman of the District of Columbia's Committee on Public Education (COPE) and was a member of the Commission on Budget and Financial Priorities of the District of Columbia (The Rivlin Commission). He has served as a member of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals Committee on Admissions; the Legal Ethics Committee of the District of Columbia Bar, twice as its Vice Chair; and the Bar's Special Committee on Model Rules of Professional Conduct. He has been a member of the Board of Visitors of the Wake Forest School of Law, and the adjunct faculty of the Duke University School of Law.

Secretary West was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Field Artillery Corps upon graduation from college. He served on active military duty in the Army's Judge Advocate General Corps. For his military service, he was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal. For his public service, he has received decorations for distinguished service from the Departments of Defense, Army, Air Force, Navy, and Veterans Affairs. He was awarded the Medal of Merit by the Federal Republic of Brazil. He holds honorary doctorates from two American universities. An Eagle Scout with Bronze Palm, he has been honored as Distinguished Eagle Scout by the Boy Scouts of America and he has received their Silver Buffalo Award for his national contributions to America's youth.

Secretary West with his wife and Howard classmate, GailSecretary West received the bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Howard University in 1965, and in 1968, the Juris Doctor from the same university, where he was Managing Editor of the Howard Law Journal, graduating cum laude and first in his class. He served as law clerk to Judge Harold R. Tyler, Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Secretary West is admitted to the bars of the District of Columbia and New York, and of various Federal District and Appellate Courts, as well as the United States Supreme Court. He is a frequent commentator on National and Homeland Security issues on cable and network news programs and in other national media.

Secretary West with his wife, Gail

By tradition, the Fall Pledge Class Namesake Honoree challenges the Fall Pledge Class.

“I urge this year’s Pledges to complete literacy and mentoring focused service projects to help public school students. Specifically, service projects with pre-high school students who are reading below grade level. After-school and classroom volunteer programs need your help. The young men and women of Alpha Phi Omega are wonderful people who can set positive examples for youngsters struggling in school. As college students, you have made it in their eyes and you are important role models for them. Your service sends a powerful message about the importance of literacy and the value of an education. There is no surer way to be of service to your community and your nation than helping a young person realize his or her potential.”

Community Service from Mid TN Colleges Ignores APO

2004-08-24T09:23:00.000-04:00

Two articles in today's Nashville Tennessean profile local community service efforts featuring college students, but they fail to mention Alpha Phi Omega. With two active chapters in Nashville, and a third to be rechartered next weekend (Fisk, Labor Day), this was an unfortunate oversight. While it is early in the semester, and Chapters may not have been "within the loop" of campus communication to know about this feature opportunity for mainstream publicity, I think this shows a deficiency we have in terms of our exposure and the knowledge campus public relations' departments have about APO and its chapters.

Belmont students reach out to city (from The Tennessean)

Other students at other colleges also volunteering their time (from The Tennessean)

Information on Alpha Phi Omega National Listservs

2004-08-20T22:50:00.000-04:00

Alpha Phi Omega does not maintain an "official" email listserv for communications to the general membership. However, several listservs have been established over time to enable communication between Brothers and foster appreciation of our Cardinal Principles. This is
not meant as an end-all primer on national listservs, but I hope it provides some background.

APO-L

This is a nationwide general discussion list, probably the "grandaddy" of them all. An old-fashioned listserv maintained through IUPUI, it is moderated and focuses specifically on Fraternity matters.

Listserv Website -
LISTSERV@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
Enter the following in the body: SUBSCRIBE APO-L

APOSOC-L

Another elder nationwide discussion list. This list is also moderated, but its coverage area expands to enable discussion not only on Fraternity matters, but also topics of general interest (current events, pop culture, etc.). The listserv is maintained at Penn State.

Listserv Website -
http://www.lsoft.com/scripts/wl.exe?SL1=APOSOC-L&H=LISTS.PSU.EDU
Listserv Archive Web Interface - None

To Subscribe to APOSOC-L:
Send an email to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.PSU.EDU
Enter the following in the body: SUBSCRIBE APOSOC-L

Yahoo!Groups

All of these are Yahoo!Groups, email listservs managaed via Yahoo! that are web-enabled. These lists feature group sites that provide message archives, member lists, and additional resources (including files, polls, and profile management).

AlphaPhiOmega

Nationwide group; also featuring membership from APO-Philippines

AlphaPhiOmega2

Another nationwide group, mostly comprised of membership from APO-USA

APO2004Legislation

Group focused on discussing and evaluating legislation for the 2004
National Convention

Group Websites:
http://groups.yahoo.com/AlphaPhiOmega
http://groups.yahoo.com/alphaphiomega2
http://groups.yahoo.com/APO2004Legislation

To subscribe to any of the groups listed above, send the following
email (empty body):
AlphaPhiOmega-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
alphaphiomega2-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
APO2004Legislation@yahoogroups.com

Google News Alerts

2004-08-20T14:51:00.000-04:00

Want to give examples of Alpha Phi Omega in action? How about finding out information on fellow Brothers and their accomplishments in the community?

Google's News Alert system provides an excellent "clipping" service for finding out news involving just about any topic, including our great Fraternity. Recently, I've received links to articles featuring actives for activities outside of school. The most recent article features an active in New Jersey who supervises an essential community senior citizen program. These are the type of articles that can lead us to develop profiles on memberships, showing how Alpha Phi Omega's Brethern represent the very best in America's collegiate community.

If you would like to set up a Google News Alert for updates on Alpha Phi Omega-related news (or anything else), visit the following site:

http://www.google.com/newsalerts?hl=en

This is not an endorsement of Google or its services. If you have other similar services to suggest, please pass them along.

Internet Resource - Network For Good

2004-08-20T11:05:00.000-04:00

If your chapter has been looking for an established online source to
use in collecting online donations, the best I have found for groups
such as ours is the Network for Good. Their website features a
service for collecting and processing online donations for any
charity. Unlike other services, they charge a flat 3% fee to cover
their costs (other services use sliding scales which penalize smaller
contributions, which are more than likely to be received over the
web). They also provide donors with the appropriate documentation
they need for tax purposes (saving additional time on your end). More
information is available at the following site:

http://www.networkforgood.org/npo/

This is by no means a direct endorsement. If you have information on
another service that is better or charges less, pass it along. I am
only providing this information, as the academic year is about to
begin and I know that every chapter could use a little extra money
(especially with Nationals coming up).

There is a Need... Donate Blood

2004-08-17T15:13:00.000-04:00

An important message from our National President...

I just returned from giving blood. There is a need out there.

With the events of this past weekend along the eastern coast of the
United States there is a desperate need for blood.. Alpha Phi Omega
has always stood proud when it came to our Blood Drives and the
response for this need. I want to encourage every Brother this note
reaches (that means you can forward it to chapters, Alumni
Associations and staff that I missed by this distribution) to make an
appointment today with your local Red Cross Donation Centers and give
a pint of life-saving blood.

Even those in our Central and Western states should make this
appointment. Blood shipments are straining the banks of every center
across the United States.

If the Blood route is not your thing, think about other services that
you can extend to those who were left homeless by the recent
hurricanes. Food, clothing, even donations of money. Food banks are
being stretched, bedding at relief centers and clothes are all needs
at this time. And with other weather forming it may be a long season
for our Brothers and families on the East Coast.

What a way to kick off a new school yearâ¦.a Service Project with impact.

Our Brothers across the United States rallied with 9-11 and I am sure
that we will do the same at this time. And I am not one that wants to
capitalize on another's misfortune, but I would love to see reports
flowing into the National Office on how you, or your chapter, your
Brothers, responded to the need for Service to others during this
time.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

In Leadership, Friendship and Service;

Bobby Hainline
National President

Remember to Ask Them

2004-08-16T13:24:00.000-04:00

Welcome Back!

The new semester is approaching, as is Rush. Recruitment is key to a Chapter's future, especially at this time of the academic year. A strong stable of potential Brothers provides an added enthusiasim and energy that leads your membership, new and old, to additional success, better service projects, enhanced leadership development, and a greater spectrum of bonds to explore in Brotherhood.

Rush involves a litany of strategies, marketing, activities, and efforts. Before you go too far, I wanted to pass along something I picked up from a recent Rotary meeting. Our District Governor was visiting, and he reminded us about the importance of recruiting new members (a year-long process, just like rush should be in APhiO). He stressed the importance of simply "asking" those we thought would make good Rotarians to join, indicating that approximately 25% of those who are asked wind up joining.

If this is true for Rotary, perhaps it is true for Alpha Phi Omega. Even if our numbers are not as strong in this area, perhaps only 20%, this is still the strongest recruitment tool available. Better than fliers, interest meetings, or any other weapon in our Rush arsenal.

Of course, not everyone is comfortable "asking" people to join. In some ways, this is where the Rush Chair or Membership Vice-President really comes in. All members should be encouraged to identify potential members among their classmates, lab partners, friends, and those they meet in other extracirricular activities. If they do not feel comfortable talking
to them about Alpha Phi Omega, then encourage them to provide contact information to the appropriate Chapter members. In any future contact, a reference should be made to the Brother who passed the information along, just so they are aware that their name was not picked at random.

Establishing these personal connections with potential members exemplifies the strong bonds we need to establish to achieve success in rush and recruitment.

National Volunteer Conference Recap

2004-08-16T12:17:00.000-04:00

This is a recap on this past weekend's National Volunteer Conference,
courtesy of Jim Hahn (repost from APO-L):

Brothers:

Please allow me to be the first of what I am sure will be many comments you are likely to hear in the coming months about the terrific success of the first National Volunteer Conference.

From the very beginning, it was clear that this was NOT "your grandma's SRW." The wonderful keynote speaker from the Greenleaf Center set the tone for the weekend -- offering a reflective and thoughtful series of comments on the need for A-Phi-O, and its mission of Servant Leadership.

The multi-track structure of the workshops/training allowed every volunteer in attendance to specialize his/her personal development. From helping chapters as Advisors, to helping extension efforts, to serving on the National Board of Directors -- there was truly something for everyone.

Mealtime was used as an opportunity to discuss important issues confronting the Fraternity and to update our folks in "the field" on the progress of our many National Program Areas. Additionally, scheduled "Focus Groups" allowed for even further critical looks at the direction the Fraternity is taking.

With well over 150 in attendance, the conference proved to be one of the largest and most diverse gatherings of our alumni/volunteers outside of a National Convention -- and with a goal of over 300 for next year -- it promises only to get bigger and better.

There are many thanks due to Brother Julie Moore, AIVD PD, and her incredible team (including Kari Logan, Rob Coop, Laura Fowler, and Bob London). Thanks to the great national office staff for their assistance and participation, to the many presenters from within and outside our ranks, and, of course, to every participant who came committed to growth and left prepared for action.

Consider this an early commercial for the NVC 2005 -- and plan to attend. Our Fraternity stands to benefit from your dedication to learning and sharing. And if you have not yet attended a LAUNCH course for the APO LEADS program, do it soon and learn about how to be a true
Servant Leader.

Remember: A-Phi-O: Where Service Starts! [and service starts with us!]

Fraternally,

- Jim Hahn, CFRE
National LD and Marketing Committees