SPRING 2011 RUSH WEEK SCHEDULE

Information Tables will be hosted in the PSU from 11am until 2pm on the 24th, 25th, 27th, and 28th.

What is Alpha Phi Omega?
Alpha Phi Omega is a National Service Fraternity-college students gathered together in an organization based on fraternalism and founded on the fellowship of principles derived from the Scout Oath and Law of the Boy Scouts of America. Its purpose is to develop leadership, promote friendship and provide service to humanity.

Who can join?
Membership in the Beta Mu Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega is open to all current Missouri State students in good academic standing with the university who is willing to commit to providing service to those in need, making lifelong friendships, and being a leader to others.

Why should I join?
College should be more than the acquisition of facts and figures; it should also broaden your experiences, expand and test you 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.

Can I join APO and still be involved in other activities?
Yes! Many of our members are involved with several organizations on campus. As long as APO members complete requirements to remain in good standing each semester, they have flexibility in determining how much they do with APO and their other organizations.

What kinds of things would I do in APO?
The possibilities are endless. There are always many different service projects going on in APO, whether it is mentoring athletes with the Special Olympics, running carnival Games at Bearfest Village, writing letters to pen pals at elementary schools, sorting food for Ozarks Food Harvest, cleaning up the Missouri River, and so many more. In addition to service events, brotherhood activities give APO members the chance to form friendships and have a great time. Events range from grabbing something to eat after a service event to heading to the bowling alley on campus.

What kinds of leadership opportunities are there in APO?
Leadership is one of the cardinal principles of APO, and we strive to give our members numerous opportunities to hone and develop their leadership potential. During the pledging process, pledges can assume various roles within the pledge class to plan service projects or other events. The executive board for the chapter typically has seven elected positions and eight appointed positions, allowing for a typical board of 15 people each year. In addition to these positions, members can be leaders by serving on a committee acting as a project leader or family head.

How large is the organization?
APO is currently the largest collegiate service organization in the world.  APO currently has over 360 chapters and 20,000 active brothers (over 350,000 brothers have pledged since 1925) nationwide along with chapters in the Philippines, Canada, and Australia.

The Beta Mu chapter currently has 12 active members.  We are currently rebuilding from dropping to a single member in Spring 2010 due to the previous chapter members graduating. 

Is it hard to gain admission into APO?
No. APO is not exclusive in its recruitment process, so anyone with the desire to serve is encouraged to join. As long as you are committed to completing the pledging process, you will be invited to join the organization.

What does the pledging process entail?

Our pledges are required to complete certain requirements in order to be activated as a brother in our chapter: 

First, pledges must meet the standard requirements that all members need to meet. This includes attending 80% of the chapter’s weekly meetings, attending one fellowship event, one fundraising event, and completing a minimum of 20 hours of service each semester.  This may sound like a lot of hours, but our chapter plans a minimum of one service project per month in order to make it easy for members to get their hours.  In fact, our members averaged over 50 hours per member in Fall 2010.  In addition, members need to attend only one group sponsored service event giving everyone the flexibility to plan their service around their schedule. 

Second, the pledge class plans and implements a service project, a fellowship event, and a fundraiser where the funds can be used for anything the pledge class chooses.  Many of these events can overlap as well.  For example, if the pledge class implements a project that raises money for a community non-profit agency, then the service project and fundraising project requirements have been met.  To help organize these events, the pledge class elects officers that mimic the chapter’s executive board in order to define leadership roles and responsibilities within the pledge class.

Third, all pledges are assigned a mentor, or a “big brother”, to help them through the pledging process.  The big brother’s responsibility is to be available to answer any questions and help the pledge feel like a member of the APO family.

Lastly, all pledges go through a pledge education program that teaches them about the structure, history and traditions of APO and the Beta Mu Chapter.  This education program will be held during separate pledge meetings that will be lead by the Vice President of Membership.

How much are the membership dues?

In the interest to keep membership in APO affordable to all, our chapter membership dues are only $50 per semester.  Every Fall semester, $30 of those dues are sent to the National Office to cover national membership dues and liability insurance.  The remaining money is kept in the chapter treasury in order to implement our leadership, fellowship, service, and pledge programs.

During the pledge semester, there is an additional $35 one-time activation fee due at the activation ceremony.

I’m ready to join.  What do I do now?

Attend one of our Rush Week events!  Our Rush Weeks are designed to introduce you to our members and show you what APO is all about.  They are fun fellowship events, informational meetings, and service projects that show you what LFS is all about.  You don’t need to attend every event, but it is encouraged.  All events are free, but may require that you bring your BearPass card.