Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Alpha Phi Omega?
- Alpha Phi Omega is a national service fraternity of college
students gathered in an organization based on fraternalism and founded
on the principles of leadership, friendship, and service.
- Why should you join and what can it do for you?
- College should be more than the acquisition of facts and
figures; it should also broaden your experiences, expand and test your
inherent abilities, and sharpen your social skills. Alpha Phi Omega,
through its unique program of leadership, friendship, and service can
add this necessary but often lacking aspect of college life--and at the
same time enable you to help others while helping yourself.
- What kinds of service projects does Alpha Phi Omega do?
- We volunteer with many populations including children, the
elderly, the homeless, the environment, and other groups. Our annual
events include Relay for Life, adopt a highway, Newark Community Day,
Newark Christmas parade, Newark community clean-up, and the Leukemia
and Lymphoma society of Delaware gala. On-going projects include Newark
Manor Nursing Home, Sunday Breakfast Mission, and Delaware Mentoring
Council. We have worked with the Ronald McDonald House, Delaware Nature
Society, Delaware Food Bank, the Girl Scouts (Chesapeake Bay Council),
and the Boy Scouts.
- What is the leadership program of Alpha Phi Omega?
- Brothers are encouraged to run for office, serve on committees
which direct the course of change in the fraternity, attend especially
designed courses, and serve as delegates to sectional, regional, and
national conventions.
- Who can join?
- Membership is open to any student enrolled full-time at the
University of Delaware who is approved for membership by the chapter.
- How can I join?
- Come to rush events scheduled at the beginning of every
semester.
- What is pledging like?
- Pledging is fun and easy. Pledges meet biweekly to plan a
service project, a social event, a fund raiser and learn about the
fraternity. They
must also complete 15 hours of service and meet the active brotherhood.
Pledges are given a big-brother to help them transition into the
brotherhood.
- Is Alpha Phi Omega like a social fraternity?
- 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 to others. The fact that our meetings are held in
campus meeting rooms and not in a house does not decrease our sense of
brotherhood. In addition, since we are unique, we have no conflict with
social fraternities or sororities members, independents, commuters, and
dorm dwellers. All are welcome to become members of Alpha Phi Omega.
- What is the role of alumni within Alpha Phi Omega?
- "Once a member--always a member!" Alumni are often invited to
service projects and social events and we encourage our alumni to stay
active within the national fraternity by becoming life members and
joining alumni associations.
- How is the fraternity governed nationally?
- Alpha Phi Omega is a student based organization. The supreme
authority of the fraternity is the national convention, which meets
every two years. It is composed of two voting delegates from each
active chapter throughout the nation. Between the conventions the
National Board of Directors--elected by the convention delegates--runs
the fraternity within the framework of the National Bylaws established
the chapter delegates. Only the National Convention may amend the
National Bylaws.
- What is the official relationship between Alpha Phi Omega
and
scouting?
- Alpha Phi Omega was founded on the principles of scouting. The
Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is represented on our National Board of
Directors. However, the BSA does not govern, control, or finance Alpha
Phi Omega in any way, and previous membership in a scouting group is
NOT REQUIRED to join our fraternity! Our chapter often volunteers with
scouting associations, including the Boys Scouts and the Girl Scouts.