Home > Publications And Forms > Presidential Messages > Column 05-04

Daylight savings time hit us early this month. Longer sunlight and warmer weather is upon us. Most chapters are ending their spring pledging period with anticipation of activating great new Brothers. Final exams are only weeks away and the summer months will be quickly upon us. Some Brothers will be graduating (CONGRATULATIONS!), some may stay on campus for summer courses, and many will be leaving campus for home and jobs. However, the work of Alpha Phi Omega does not stop with the end of the academic year. We continue to have people in our communities that are in need of help, so a summer service program is suggested. Summer is an excellent time to reach out to new students on your campus through your orientation program, so a summer recruitment effort is suggested. And we have the summer APO LEADS courses to help your chapter's leadership be more effective, so a summer leadership program is suggested. Leadership, Friendship and Service knows no calendar. Those Brothers on campus over the summer can continue the chapter's programs and those Brothers heading home can bring the spirit of APO to their communities.

Another aspect of preparing for the end of the traditional academic year is to ensure that all of the chapter's necessary reporting is completed before leaving campus:

• Service Vice Presidents - be sure to report Spring Youth Service Day projects.
• Treasurers and Pledge Educators - be sure to report your spring membership and send the appropriate applications & fees to the National Office.
• Presidents - be sure to have at least one of your new officers register and attend one of the SERVE courses that are held across the country this summer.
• Membership Vice Presidents - be sure to send a list of your graduating seniors to the National Office so those members can be recognized for their academic and fraternal achievements.
• Executive Boards - be sure to have your chapter complete a Chapter Program Planning Conference prior to the end of the semester, helping you to reflect on the successes of the past year and prepare for the challenges of the upcoming year.

As you prepare for the summer, each member should do some individual planning for the fall by thinking about putting some of your summer earnings aside for your chapter and national dues, for regional conference fees and travel costs, or for participating in one of the other major fall events that are hosted by our Fraternity. APO offers many experiences and one goal of these experiences is to develop Brothers into effective Servant-Leaders. The skills you gain from being in the Fraternity, being an officer, attending a conference, or participating in the leadership program of APO give you transferable skills that an employer desires, needs, and looks for. Your skill development, your positive experience, and your future success is dependent upon your active participation - so plan to get the most out of your membership by planning to reach beyond the bounds of the college campus in the fall.

In closing Congratulations once again to our Brothers who are graduating. We hope you will continue serving others by being an active Alumni volunteer in the Fraternity or by volunteering in one of the many other community organizations that need motivated volunteers. We hope you will always advance our cardinal principles in all of your future endeavors. For those returning next year, we want you to know that the Fraternity's leadership will be working hard to plan an exciting fall semester full of opportunities. We hope to see you in the fall and look forward to your continued active participation.

In Service/In Brotherhood,
Fred

NEWS & FEATURES

More News