How can an APO Chapter strive in a Social Greek World?

nvr_envy · #1 07-28-2003, 05:42 PM

I'm a member of an APO Chapter at a University with 11 fraternities and 9 sororities and we have the hardest time getting recognition. The school won't recognize us as greek because we're co-ed, so they consider us more like a "club" than a greek fraternity. And the other sororities and fraternities look at us and wonder who we are, where we've come from, and whose letters we've stolen! I actually had 1 brother tell me she was walking down the hall and some sorors confronted her saying, "why are you wearing those letters? That's not a real fraternity?"

Although our chapter was on the brink of non-existence, we have new members and are in full swing. This fall we plan to do a ton of events and advertising to get our name out there but I just wanted some ideas from other chapters on how to cope. Have any of your chapters had similar problems?

In LFS,

Nvr Envy

Senusret I · #2 07-28-2003, 08:39 PM

There was no official greek system on my campus, so I don't have any particular advice for you.

Congratulations on reviving your chapter, though!

emb021 · #3 07-29-2003, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nvr_envy
I'm a member of an APO Chapter at a University with 11 fraternities and 9 sororities and we have the hardest time getting recognition. The school won't recognize us as greek because we're co-ed, so they consider us more like a "club" than a greek fraternity. And the other sororities and fraternities look at us and wonder who we are, where we've come from, and whose letters we've stolen! I actually had 1 brother tell me she was walking down the hall and some sorors confronted her saying, "why are you wearing those letters? That's not a real fraternity?"

Although our chapter was on the brink of non-existence, we have new members and are in full swing. This fall we plan to do a ton of events and advertising to get our name out there but I just wanted some ideas from other chapters on how to cope. Have any of your chapters had similar problems?

On almost all campuses, the term "Greek" is used to refer to the social fraternities/sororities. APO is almost always lumped in with the other clubs and orgs on campus. Does your campus not have any professional or honor greek letter orgs? Do you have any business, law, science GLOs?

You may need to emphasis that we are a National Service Fraternity and that we are co-ed. Seems to you need to educate your 'fellow greeks' that social GLOs are NOT the only Greeks out there.

Not sure if that helps or not.

Dolphingirl14 · #4 07-31-2003, 09:31 AM

To answer your question, I'm actually an associate brother of Alpha Phi Omega but I am also in a social Sorority, Alpha Xi Delta. If APO was considered a social I wouldn't have been allowed to Pledge A Xi D. I pledged APO before I joined my Social sorority and we were told that we were a service fraternity so therefore we were allowded to be in a Social. I think that is why a lot of Social Sororities and Fraternities don't Consider APO a social b/c if we were, people in Socials wouldn't be able to become a part of APO. Being that I am in a social and I am an associate of APO I know what it's like to be on both sides. I do feel that APO is a club/fraternity b/c of that fact that they focus on Service and the other Social frats/soro. are more socially involved.

#18 S.O.T. APO · #5 07-31-2003, 05:51 PM

To the previous post: although you may feel as though APO is a club, it indeed is not. I dont feel as though it should be considered a club just because it is not a social frat. The word "greek" as it is used to refer to those who have pledged frats and sororities refers to that fact that it is indeed a frat or a sorority NOT whether or not it is social, service or the like.

At Zeta Phi, they tried to say that we were not a fraternity as well as not a real greek. The members of our organization would not stand for that. It is the pride that we have for Alpha Phi Omega that will not let anyone cheapen our letters value even if they have never heard of it. It is because we would not stand for that, that we were awarded the fraternity of the year award for 2003 even though we were competing against social frats.

My advice to you, is to be proud of the letters that you wear. Although we stand for service, I believe that is more important than social reasons for pledging. As much as we give back , you have the right to demand respect. If anyone asks why you are wearing those letters you explain to them that you are part of the largest frat in the world, and that you principles are leadership, frienship and service, and that if we were not a real greek frat, how then have we lasted so long from 1925 to 2003.

In our case, standing up for our letters worked, it also helped though, at zeta phi, that two key people in administration belonged to the frat, one being the president of the school. And although he belongs to a social frat as well, he doesnt believe that he pledged into a fake greek frat by pledging APO. Using that to our advantage, we also made honorary brothers other key persons in the administration so that we have respectable persons that are already visible pumping up APO for us because they feel as though they are a part of something real.

My advice, dont let ANYONE, devalue anything you take pride in.
Congrats

IN L, F, S

sweete81 · #6 08-07-2003, 02:11 AM

That was so beautifully put.... I whole heartly agree with you...

As a former petitioner, the first thing that your fellow PG brothers and yourself must have is patience...yes you will encounter some people who never heard of APO a day in their life and they would love to learn more about the organization...then you do have some ignorant folks who will challenge your existence and then you have to deal with that situation accordingly...

Really, as long as you exude confidence in pride in YOUR letters that you earned, who gives a rat's patooie what anyone thinks...

and if they try to compare you to a club just say this( believe me it works) "All fraternites and sororities, whether they are social, honor, special interests, academic or service are school clubs/organizations...but all clubs/organizations are NOT fraternities or sororities!!!

AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE!!!

emb021 · #7 08-11-2003, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dolphingirl14
To answer your question, I'm actually an associate brother of Alpha Phi Omega but I am also in a social Sorority, Alpha Xi Delta. If APO was considered a social I wouldn't have been allowed to Pledge A Xi D. I pledged APO before I joined my Social sorority and we were told that we were a service fraternity so therefore we were allowded to be in a Social. I think that is why a lot of Social Sororities and Fraternities don't Consider APO a social b/c if we were, people in Socials wouldn't be able to become a part of APO. Being that I am in a social and I am an associate of APO I know what it's like to be on both sides. I do feel that APO is a club/fraternity b/c of that fact that they focus on Service and the other Social frats/soro. are more socially involved.

APO is not and never has been a social GLO. No one has ever viewed us as a social GLO.

The issue is that many members of social GLOs can't grasp the idea that there exists GLOs beyond the socials. To them, if you're not a social GLO, you're not a Greek. Many are ignorant of the existance of professional, honor, recognition, and service GLOs.

APO is a Service Fraternity. That is why we focus on service.

SDTSarah · #8 08-14-2003, 11:22 PM

As a member of a social sorority as well, I've found that I've actually gotten more crap from my APO brothers about being in a Greek organization than the other way around. You know, it's funny...Maggie Katz, our National Vice President, is also a member of a social sorority. I met a bunch of members from the FIU petitioning group, and they were ALL in social GLOs.

I'm not trying to dismiss what you're saying, but I just think that sometimes Greeks and APO brothers forget that we don't have to compete. I know it happens, but take pride in your letters. Good luck, and congratulations!

emb021 · #9 08-15-2003, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDTSarah
As a member of a social sorority as well, I've found that I've actually gotten more crap from my APO brothers about being in a Greek organization than the other way around. You know, it's funny...Maggie Katz, our National Vice President, is also a member of a social sorority. I met a bunch of members from the FIU petitioning group, and they were ALL in social GLOs.

I'm not trying to dismiss what you're saying, but I just think that sometimes Greeks and APO brothers forget that we don't have to compete. I know it happens, but take pride in your letters. Good luck, and congratulations!

You might want to remind those Brothers who do so that 13 of our 14 founders, including Frank Reed Horton, were ALL members of social fraternities!

Senusret I · #10 08-15-2003, 12:24 PM

Hey, which sorority is Maggie Katz in? That's neat to learn.

SDTSarah · #11 08-15-2003, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Senusret I
Hey, which sorority is Maggie Katz in? That's neat to learn.

Maggie is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta...I believe she went to Michigan State.

sweete81 · #12 08-16-2003, 06:47 PM

She went to University of Michigan!!!

brandyme · #13 08-22-2003, 12:35 AM

i 'm very pleased to be with the same group which i had been a member for almost seven years now, i think what matters most
greetings1

with the groups appeal is that it is primarily a service oriented group, a lot of fraternities emerging here from the philippines and still the alpha phi omega, tops the rest. because of the cardinal principles it caters, and horton's vision (our beloved founder ) that each of us who embraces the scouts' essence, irregardless of nationality or race are being welcomed. and that is how we made it clear to the eyes of the studentry that alpha phi omega is geared towards the service of mankind.

currently we are composed of 368 chapters in the phils and most of the premier universities and colleges has it own greek chapter. and several petitioning chapters. we consider the group here as non political fraternity and purely service oriented.

brandyme
julius
batch 96b1-1800 sigma chapter
prime chancellor
adamson university
manila, philippines

naraht · #14 08-24-2003, 11:13 PM

Unfortunately, this is one area where APO-USA and APO-Phil have very different situations. There is nowhere that Alpha Phi Omega is on campus in the Philippines where it is not foremost in the minds of the administration. On many campuses in the USA, there may be 50 social fraternities &sororities that the school knows more about than Alpha Phi Omega...

Randy

tbdumpsterdiver · #15 09-13-2003, 08:46 PM

we don't worry ourselves much with "surviving" with the social GLO's. there are more than 20 on our campus, but we stand out for what we do - service. as TAU BETA we remain to have our own distinct flavor - NO ONE can do it like we do it. we treat each other as family and have fun doing what we do best - leadership, friendship and service. we show pride in alpha phi omega wherever we go, whether it be in class, in the caf, at a project or on a road trip. keeping your name out there will attract those that will be beneficial to your chapter, whether they be members of social GLO's or not. we get our name in local publications as often as possible, wear letters everywhere, promote our activities, work with other campus organizations and put things such as the sandwich boards that social GLO's also use up around campus. you can't miss us!