Starting a chapter in 1957
 

Typed this in for a question on an APO History list, thought that others might like it....


How to Organize a New Chapter

Chapters of Alpha Phi Omega may be established in accredited, four-year colleges and universities in the United States (subject to the college regulations governing student organizations). The preparatory work for the organization of a new Chapter is done by a group of students who take the initiative to form a local service club composed of former Scouts.

The following steps are recommended for the use of students, faculty men and Scouters who are interested in forming a new chapter:

Read thoroughly the Question and Answer pamphlet and this Manual of Administration. These publications set forth the facts about the activities and the policies of the organization.

Determine the eligibility of your school to secure an Alpha Phi Omega charter. Only accredited colleges and universities may affiliate.

Seek the approval and cooperation of the Dean of Men of the college and the local Scout Executive. Show the copies of the Question and Answer pamphlet and Manual of Administration as the basis of their consideration of Alpha Phi Omega.

Conduct a census of the men on the campus to locate those who are eligible and interested. This is done by means of Campus Scout Census cards furnished in quantities by the national office. (See sample on page 15 and study methods of distribution suggested on page 15.) Whatever quantity of cards you desire will be sent upon your request.

Call a meeting of those who have expressed interest and eligibility to discuss how Alpha Phi Omega would fit into the campus life of your college. Discuss the information provided in the Question and Answer pamphlet, and review the service projects listed on pages 7 to 10 of the pamphlet. (When you desire to arrange this meeting, a quantity of the information pamphlet will be sent for general distribution to those who attend.)

Elect temporary officers and appoint temporary committees in accordance with the information on pages two to seven of this manual. Effort should be made to include in the group men from all social fraternities and a similar number of non-fraternity men, and men from all departments of the college.

Select one or two projects which the group wishes to launch immediately and assign all interested men to various responsibilities in connection with those projects.

Select Faculty and Scouting Advisors to cooperate in campus and community activities.

Request the necessary application forms from the national office.

Secure a suitable meeting room as chapter headquarters. (See item about Chapter Quarters on page 14.)

Regular meetings should be help weekly.

The Requirements

The following are requirements for securing an Alpha Phi Omega charter:

Twenty-five or more undergraduate students established in an active local organization.

Five or more Faculty Advisors and two or more Scouting Advisors, including the Scout Executive and one volunteer Scouter.

A suitable program of activities during the preparatory period and an outline of the objectives of the new organization for its first year.

Charter fee of $25.00.

Individual initiation fees of $12.00 each for the undergraduate members.

Letter of approval from the College.

Letter of approval from the local Scout Council.

The Petition

The forms of petitioning include an Application for Charter and individual membership applications in duplicate. Each man in the preparatory group should sign two copies of the Application for Charter, one for the national office and the other for local historical records. Likewise, each man should fill out two copies of the individual application, the blue copy for chapter use and the white copy for the national office.

When the petition is received in the national office, the information concerning it is transmitted to all chapters and executive board members for approval. This process of voting requires about four weeks.

Installation

After the approval of the petition, a date is set at the convenience of the petitioning group for the initiation ceremony. The ceremony is conducted by a member of the National Executive Board with the assistance of a visiting degree team from a nearby chapter.