Any tips for starting a new APO chapter?

Cait1121 · #1 11-08-2007, 04:29 PM

Hello! I am a student at Western CT State University and am in the process of getting a new chapter started here. I have about a dozen people signed up and who are committed to APO. I have sent my interest group paperwork to nationals already, so I have the process underway.

Anyway...I was wondering if anyone had any tips of how to get things going on campus, writing by-laws, rushing and whatever else.

Anything would be appreciated. Thanks so much!!!

Cait

Senusret I · #2 11-08-2007, 09:16 PM

Hi Cait!

I think it's best to talk to your Sponsor and Section Chair about this. :-)

Quala67 · #3 11-08-2007, 11:28 PM

PM me if you need...

Cait1121 · #4 11-09-2007, 01:47 AM

Yeah, I have been in touch with Nationals, I was just looking for some advice from those who may have gone through the process as students.

naraht · #5 11-10-2007, 04:57 PM

My advice here is that copying other groups bylaws is *not* plagarization.

Your student activities office probably has a set of sample bylaws they'll suggest and I don't remember if there is a sample set of bylaws in the extension packet, but the Standard Chapter Articles of Association give a good feeling for what you have to fit in.

As for other sources, just good Alpha Phi Omega and bylaws. My guess is that dozens of chapters have their chapter bylaws online. Most of them have things added that work specifically for their chapter, so if chapter 1 has A & B in their bylaws and chapter 2 has A&C in their bylaws, you are much better off with just A than trying to make A, B & C work.

Officers: Slots that will naturally exist and that will be expected by the time you get to 15 or so people are President, service vice president, membership vice president, treasurer and secretary. Someone who knows Roberts would make a good Sgt @ Arms or Parlimentarian (My advice is pick one title or the other, you probably don't need both until you get *much* larger (60?)). Also, make whoever actually owns a camera the Historian. Pictures are great to include in charter applications and looking at what you've done helps with fellowship.

naraht · #6 11-10-2007, 05:23 PM

Whoops, hit send prematurely.

Another place to go for advice (and I'm not sure why we're being as reticent as we are right now) is a recently rechartered local chapter. I *think* Quinnipiac rechartered within the last 3-4 years, they'll probably have good advice.

Rushing. While you can have a formal time to rush, at this point, I'd let people get involved whenever they start to show interest rather than telling them to come back in January or whatever. At this point new people can come up to speed pretty quickly, I think....

Also, one thing that I try to keep in mind in how chapters are similar and different is the type of schools that they are. If we were to help an extension effort at Notre Dame, I'd use another Catholic school as a model like Georgetown. For Western Ct. State, I'd particularly keep an eye out for experiences at other regional state schools. Most like WCSU started out as Normal Schools, are Division III and are similar in size. Doesn't mean that there aren't great things to pull from more dissimilar chapters, but the chapter at WCSU probably won't have to worry about the administration having kittens if they do a service project on AIDS prevention that mentions safe sex. (And yes, I have worked with extension efforts at schools where that would have been a worry)

Also, there are lots of extension related threads in this APO area on greekchat, some of those may help as well.

YiLFS
Randolph Finder

Cait1121 · #7 11-10-2007, 09:57 PM

Randolph,
THANKS so much for all the great tips! Yeah, I think for now rush is a loose term and whoever comes along who wants to join in will be allowed. I have a good number of people involved so far, and I am hoping it grows next semester. Thanks again!

naraht · #8 11-10-2007, 10:34 PM

When i said Roberts, I meant Robert's rules of order.

naraht · #9 11-14-2007, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cait1121

Randolph,
THANKS so much for all the great tips! Yeah, I think for now rush is a loose term and whoever comes along who wants to join in will be allowed. I have a good number of people involved so far, and I am hoping it grows next semester. Thanks again!

No problem. Keep us up to date here!

Randy