Virginia Commonwealth Univ
 

Alpha Omicron Pi Invited to Re-Colonize at Virginia Commonwealth University

Brentwood, Tenn.-Alpha Omicron Pi is pleased to announce that the Fraternity has been invited to recolonize our Rho Beta chapter at Virginia Commonwealth University. AOII’s Vice President of Development Allison Allgier and Rebecca Myers, AOII Extension and Colonization Administrator, visited the university in mid-November to meet with women of the local interest group, representatives from Panhellenic, the Greek Adviser, and local AOII alumnae.

Established in 1968, Virginia Commonwealth University enrolls over 30,000 students with 15 schools and one liberal arts college for almost 200 certificate, undergraduate, graduate, professional, and doctoral programs. For more information regarding the university and its programs, please visit the University’s website at www.vcu.edu.

The campus currently has twenty-four Greek organizations, including six Interfraternity Council organizations; eight National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations; five multi-cultural organizations; and five members of the National Panhellenic Council – Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Phi Mu, Phi Sigma Sigma, and Sigma Sigma Sigma. The Rho Beta Chapter was the 149th installed chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity and was closed in May 1995. Recolonization of the chapter is slated for fall 2007. More information regarding the colonization process is forthcoming.

GO AOII & VCU!

Hurrah! Congratulations to everyone helping to bring Rho Beta home!

Hurray!

Does anyone know what their submotto is? (just completely curious)

Rare Bonds of Friendship.

Thanks, K.

Beautiful!!!!

Congrats to VCU and AOII!

Thanks, Jill!

I thought that one was pretty nice too.

VCU Rho Beta Recolonization Week Details
 

AOII Coffee House

• Date: Tuesday, September 18
• Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM
• Location: Virginia Rooms

Strike Out Arthritis! Bear Building

• Date: Wednesday, September 19
• Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM
• Location: Virginia Rooms
• Personal Appointments begin today.

All that Jazz!

• Date: Thursday, September 20
• Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM
• Location: Virginia Rooms
• Personal Appointments continue today through September 21.

AOII Bid Day

• Date: Saturday, September 22
• Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Location: Virginia Rooms

AOII Colonization Ceremony

• Date: Saturday, September 22
• Time: 1:00 – 2:30 PM.
• Location: Commons Theater

http://www.alphaomicronpi.org/AM/Tem...ContentID=7772

ALPHA OMICRON PI RECOLONIZES 149TH CHAPTER AT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
 

Brentwood, Tenn.--Alpha Omicron Pi is pleased to announce the recolonization of its 149th chartered chapter. The Rho Beta Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi at Virginia Commonwealth University was recolonized on September 22, 2007. This ceremony concluded four days of colonization parties and personal appointments administrated by international volunteers and staff.

The Rho Beta Chapter was the 149th installed chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity and was closed in May 1995. Our effort to recolonize the chapter began several months ago when the university opened for extension. At the closing of the selection procedures, Alpha Omicron Pi accepted the university’s invitation to begin the process of recolonizing our Rho Beta Chapter.

The Colonization Ceremony was hosted by Allison Allgier, Vice President of Development. The ceremony was attended by representatives from area alumnae chapters, including many alumnae of the Rho Beta Chapter. Forty-five wonderful women accepted bids from AOII. The colony’s members are an academically advanced group of talented and well-rounded women.

Continuous Recruitment will be implemented throughout the semester and into fall 2007 with installation targeted for Spring 2008. The next few months will be full of fun, learning, and sisterhood as the colony prepares to be installed into the Fraternity. Members will participate in weekly education sessions and sisterhood events, as well as socials, philanthropic events, and a colony retreat. There are also bylaws to write, officers to elect, and procedures to establish. Additionally, a Resident Consultant, Tracy Elleard, will stay with the chapter through installation.

aopirose...what do the colony pins look like? Are they the same as our new member pins? I've read about these colony pins but have never seen one and never heard of them refered to as new member pins, so I always wondered if they were the same. Do you know?

Our colony member pins are roses and look similar to this http://www.aoiiemporium.com/emporium...?idproduct=401 . They will use these pins until the chapter is installed. After that, NMs will use the sheaf.

Interesting...have they always done this? I remember that my chapter withheld roses from us as NMs since we didn't have a crest like other orgs. I have to get over that since it's obviously not an international rule!

DEFINITELY not an International rule!

Not always. This colony pin wasn't designed until 1959. I don't know the full story but it was designed for the colonization of Upsilon Alpha and has been in use ever since. It was a special circumstance so not even your chapter founders got to wear it. The only difference between the colony pin and the picture I linked is that there are no letters on the colony pin.

I'm so glad to finally know what the colony pin is! I've been wondering for about a year. It's nice to have access to sisters in the know! Thanks, y'all!:)

That's why we're here! :) Besides, so few of us are lucky enough to wear a colony pin or even see one up close and personal!

Do the colony founders get to keep their colony pins after being installed?

Sorry, I just saw this. I think that they do because it is a unique situation but I am not sure. I'll have to ask.

At Arkansas they didn't get to keep their colony pins.

AOII Welcomes Rho Beta!
 

Brentwood, Tenn.--Alpha Omicron Pi is pleased to announce the re-installation of its 149th chartered chapter. Rho Beta Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi at Virginia Commonwealth University was installed on March 1, 2008. Susan Danko, AOII International President, served as the installing officer.

Fifty-six were initiated into AOII membership, including fifty-two collegiate members and four alumnae initiates. The chapter will continue to be represented by the phrase, “Rare Bonds of Friendship,” as their sub-motto, a name that typifies the chapter’s unique character indefinitely. Saturday’s initiation and installation activities concluded with the formal Rose Reception for the new initiates and their families at The Place at Innsbrook in Glen Allen, Virginia.

Several university administrators attended the banquet, including: Carolyn Whittier, Associate Director of Programs and Educational Services and Cara Jenkins, Fraternity and Sorority Life Coordinator at Virginia Commonwealth University. Representatives of other Greek organizations and various family and friends of the new members also attended the celebratory event. Other special guests included Susan Danko, AOII International President; Brandi Nunnery, Colony Development Network Director; Tammy Glenn, Colony Development Network Specialist; Julie Anne Walter, Extension and Colonization Manager; members of the Rho Beta Alumnae Advisory Committee and Corporation Board; and Tracy Elleard, Resident Consultant. In addition, numerous AOII area alumnae participated in the event. The Alpha Omicron Pi Area Alumnae of Virginia and North Carolina were present, and members of the Gamma Alpha Chapter served as sponsors for the new initiates.

The charter members of the Rho Beta Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi are: Caitlin Marie Alewine, Ashley Kathleen Allen, Bethany Lauren Artis, Laura Eileen Bennett, Veronica Alexis Black, Madelyn Jean Brady, Amanda Kristine Bristow, Stefanie Ashley Brogan, Mackenzie Renay Byrne, Rachel Rebecca Carver, Makeda Shenika Chatawa, Britiana Luz Clark, Jennifer Neese Dunn, Elanna Carol Edwards, Marie Alyse Elliott, Megan Elizabeth Foege, Laura Alexis Francis, Taylor Lee Gauldin, Elise Danielle Giannotti, Sharon Paige Gibson, Kelly Elizabeth Grau, Shannon Nicole Griffin, Alexandra Teresa Gucuia, Jennifer Ellen Guerrini, Chesney Ann Jorn, Sarah Louise Kerestes, Maria Elena Maltagliati, Brittany Estelle-Clara Moore, Stacy Lynn Moore, Maryssa Annette Morabito, Kathryn Elizabeth Nichols, Laura Randall Ortiz, Deborah Nicolle Peksa, Tashauna Lea Phillips, Penny Elizabeth Phounsarath, Jami Marie Pollnow, Emily Anne Reijmers, Rachel Elizabeth Rodney, Allie Jane Ronayne, Jocelyn Suzanna Simpson, Katelyn Leigh Smith, Kristen Elise Smith, Maria Esther Tamayo, Millicent Haley Thomas, Amber Michelle Turman, Virginia Marie Walters, Julie Marie Watson, Lilly Catherine Webster, Joanna Lee Whitney, Katie Elizabeth Williams, Maggie Mae Wimmer-Magnant, Carmen Wu Wong, and Adwoa Yeboaa Yeboah. Alumnae initiates of the Rho Beta Chapter are: Corbin Lynn Ailer, Krista Nicole Carson, Susan Lousie Martin, and Elizabeth Paige Stangl.

Alpha Omicron Pi was founded in 1897 at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City. AOII has over 131,000 initiated members in 184 collegiate chapters and over 130 alumnae chapters across the United States and Canada. Alpha Omicron Pi is an international women’s fraternity promoting friendship for a lifetime, inspiring academic excellence and lifelong learning, and developing leadership skills through service to the Fraternity and community.

Congratulations to Rho Beta!!

On a side note, why don't we ever hear much of anything about the colonies or installations? Nothing was said on inCircle and I don't recall seeing anything in To Dragma about the installation (upcoming or otherwise). Or am I just completely out of the loop on things. . . .

I am guessing that it wasn't in To Dragma because they are saving info about all three installations for the next issue. Also, as for inCircle, each colony has their own group and usually information is in there. We can post something on the main forum though but the main AOII site is usually current.

Columbus State is the last to be chartered and that is sometime in April. I don't know the date.

They do announce the colonization and installation information on the international website. I go check there every few months to see if anything new is going on in the colonies. I'm wondering when Columbus State is going to be installed.

I have a charter question- maybe it was answered somewhere else, but I didn't see it anywhere...

When a chapter is re-chartered, do the new members sign a new charter, or is the old charter pulled out of storage? I remember our charter hanging proudly in our sitting room but I wasn't sure what happens when a chapter is re-chartered. (or do they have two charters hanging up?)

Good Question!

The women get to sign a new charter and if there are alumna initiates, they usually get to sign too. The original charter can be returned and both are displayed in a place of honor. Mr. aopirose is a recharter president. The original charter hangs on the wall opposite the new one and next to those are composites of each set of founding members.

Thanks for the answer. It seems like that would be the best solution- honoring both the original chartering members and the re-chartering members.

Delta has their original charter from 1908 and their re-charter from the late 80s hanging up in their living room. However, we couldn't locate any composites from before their charter went into trust. Does HQ hold onto those, and do they tend to return them once a chapter gets re-chartered? For example, Xi Chapter (Oklahoma) got re-chartered a few years ago...do they have their composites and other historical items from before the charter went into trust?

Due to lack of storage space, closed chapter composites are usually not stored at IHQ. That is something the chapter corporation board would have to figure out what to do with (school archives, etc). If they all went to IHQ it would be possible to fill half the basement (which if you have seen the basement it is HUGE) with just composites and other historical items. Some are accepted - or scrapbooks - but basically each chapter has a file box for items (see the page in the recent To Dragma as to what they look like). I spent an entire week at IHQ about 5 years ago working on setting up an organizational system - and barely made a dent in the organization of the stuff (I wrote the numbers on the boxes among other things!).

Hey guys,

I am a member of the Columbus State colony and we are getting installed next weekend April 19. We are so excited and so thrilled that we are finally going to become apart of the Alpha family! This process has been long and stressful at times but in the end it was very much worth it.