Alpha Phi Omega#toc

File:University of Texas at Arlington, Alpha Phi Omega Beauty and the Beast contest (10007473).jpg in Arlington, Texas, {{Circa|1960s}}]]

Alpha Phi Omega was founded on the 2nd floor of Brainerd Hall, now Hogg Hall, at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania on December 16, 1925,{{cite web|url=https://sites.lafayette.edu/buildings/lafayette-college-architecture-essay/hogg-hall/|title=Hogg Hall – Historical Survey of the Buildings of Lafayette College|website=sites.lafayette.edu}} by Frank Reed Horton and thirteen other students who were former Boy Scouts or scouters. The fraternity's initial objective was to continue participating in the ideals of scouting at the college level.

In addition to Horton, other founding brothers were Everett William Probst, Ephraim Moyer Detwiler Jr., Thane Sanford Cooley, William Taylor Wood, Lewis Burnett Blair, Gordon Minnier Looney, Donald LeRoy Terwilliger, William Weber Highberger, Robert Jefferson Green, Donald H. Fritts, Ellsworth Stewart Dobson, George Axel Olsen, and Herbert Heinrich. Six advisors were also inducted: Lafayette President John H. MacCracken, Dean Donald B. Prentice, Professors D. Arthur Hatch, and Harry T. Spengler; one local scouting official, Herbert G. Horton, and one national Scouting official, the national director of relationships for the Boy Scouts of America, Ray O. Wyland."[http://sites.lafayette.edu/aporecords/historical-background/ Alpha Phi Omega. Alpha Chapter Records, 1925–]." Lafayette College Special Collections & College Archives. Last updated on July 17, 2000. Retrieved on October 6, 2007.{{cite web|url=http://sites.lafayette.edu/aporecords/files/2010/04/APOGROUP.jpg|title=Alpha Phi Omega page from 1925 Lafayette College Yearbook|access-date=October 6, 2017}} The founders insisted that all those gaining memberships must pledge to uphold the fraternity's three cardinal principles of leadership, friendship, and service. Of these founding members, several made significant contributions to APO that are still recognized today. Everett Probst designed the pin and coat of arms, Thane S. Cooley suggested the hand clasp during the toast song, and Elsworth Dobson and Gordon M. Looney helped write the constitution and bylaws.

Alpha Phi Omega became a national fraternity on January 11, 1927, with the founding of the Beta chapter at University of Pittsburgh. Horton served as supreme grand master from the founding of the fraternity until the 1931 convention. Eighteen chapters were founded during this period. At the 1931 convention, H. Roe Bartle was elected as supreme grand master (title changed to national president in 1934){{cite web|last=Adkins|first=S.M.|title=Following Arrows|url=http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/following_arrows.htm|publisher=Self-Published|access-date=December 15, 2011}}{{cite magazine|magazine=Banta's Greek Exchange|title=Scouting|volume=22|issue=3|year=1934|publisher=George Banta Company, Inc.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dfXmAAAAMAAJ|page=340}} and served through World War II, stepping down at the 1946 convention. During his time as president, the number of chapters grew to 109. Early in his term (October 1931), Alpha Phi Omega was formally recognized by the Boy Scouts of America.{{cite magazine |last1= Forbes|first1= Pete|last2= Robinson|first2= Stacy|date= Spring 2012|title= Alpha Phi Omega: A History of Scouting|url= http://www.apoarchive.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2012_spring.pdf|magazine=Torch & Trefoil|volume=88|number=2|page=9|access-date=April 30, 2015}}{{cite letter|first=James E.|last=West|recipient=Scout Executives|date=January 18, 1932|subject=Alpha Phi Omega Honorary Scout Society, Memorandum 1932 Series, No. 2 |format=PDF |url=https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B0kIE4ZNTe_nZjhiYjVmYjItYWUwZS00N2Y5LTllOWQtM2FhZDUyZTUxMDcz}}

{{Main|History of Alpha Phi Omega in the Philippines}}

The most rapid growth of the fraternity was in the post-war years. By 1950, Alpha Phi Omega had 227 chapters in the United States. The first chapter outside the US was organized in the Philippines that year. Many Filipinos were active in the Boy Scouts. Sol Levy, an APO member from University of Washington and Professional Scouter, introduced the organization to Filipino Scouts. Librado I. Ureta, a graduate student at Far Eastern University in Manila, was among the audience. Inspired by Levy's words, he read the publications and shared them with fellow Eagle Scouts and students on the FEU campus. He asked their opinion about Levy's desire, and the response was good. On March 2, 1950, the Alpha Phi Omega International Service Fraternity was chartered on campus."[http://www.apo.org.ph/?mode=default&cmd=get&id=83 About Us APO History Alpha Phi Omega International College Service Fraternity & Sorority (Philippines)]." Alpha Phi Omega (Philippines). Retrieved on March 28, 2007.

Alpha Phi Omega grew rapidly in the Philippines. By its third year, seven chapters had been chartered at Manila and Visayan schools, and it was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a nonstock, nonprofit, and non-dividend corporation. Alpha Phi Omega (Phil.) Inc. was the first branch of the fraternity to be chartered outside the United States.

File:Apo 2006 convention maggie-katz.jpg in Louisville, Kentucky, following her election]]

The fraternity was opened fully to women in 1976.{{cite news|title=Alpha Phi Omega: A Rich Heritage of Scouting Principles|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Of0DAAAAMBAJ|access-date=July 4, 2010|newspaper=Scouting|date=September 1997}} All members are called "Brothers," regardless of gender. The Fraternity views "Brothers" as a gender-neutral term. Before women were allowed to join, several smaller sororities, parallel in ideals but independent in structure, were formed for women who had been Camp Fire Girls or Girl Scouts, including Gamma Sigma Sigma and Omega Phi Alpha. Several Alpha Phi Omega chapters started "little sister" groups, some of which formed separate organizations (e.g., Jewels of Tau, Phyettes, etc.).{{cite web |url=http://www.apo.org/site/site_files/clearinghouse/misc_2004_zukowski_womeninAPO.pdf|title=Speaker's notes for the history of women in Alpha Phi Omega|last=Smith|first=Cheryl Lyn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207045430/http://www.apo.org/site/site_files/clearinghouse/misc_2004_zukowski_womeninAPO.pdf|archive-date=February 7, 2012}}

The first step in paving the way for women to join Alpha Phi Omega was the Constitutional Convention in 1967, which removed the requirement that members have affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America.{{cite magazine|last=Peterson|first=Robert W.|title=Scouting Goes to College|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nvgDAAAAMBAJ| access-date=July 4, 2010|magazine=Boys' Life|date=September 1991}}

Starting at the 1970 national convention, co-ed membership was sponsored by the Zeta chapter and co-sponsored by several other chapters but failed to reach the two-thirds majority at the national conventions, which was required to alter the organization's bylaws. Zeta went coed that year with B. Hesselmyer being the first official woman in the national fraternity with the knowledge and help of a past national president and a current board member. {{citation needed|date=December 2016}} Some chapters (like Delta Rho at Rutgers University and Alpha Tau at Butler University) went co-ed before 1976, although the national by-laws did not allow it. They did so by registering women by using only the first letter of their first name. Many chapters that attempted to register women with the national office would receive the paperwork and fees back for women initiates. The Alpha Chi chapter at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ran their own printing press and thus was able to generate certificates and membership cards for their female initiates before 1976.

At the 1974 national convention, the fraternity allowed chapters to have women as affiliate members of the fraternity,{{cite news|title= People in the News|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19741230&id=YVoqAAAAIBAJ&pg=5660,4281328|newspaper= The Pittsburgh Press|location= Pittsburgh |date= December 30, 1974|access-date= April 18, 2015}} and during the 1976 national convention in Atlanta, Georgia, the decision was made to formally welcome females as full members of the fraternity. As with many major changes, this one caused a great deal of dismay, especially among several long-established chapters. Many of these chapters threatened to disassociate with the national fraternity if they were forced to become co-ed. To preserve the unity of the fraternity as a whole, the amendment was crafted such that it did not require existing chapters to admit women as members, although all new chapters were to be coed. It was felt that over time, all would go coed. This "gentleman's agreement" was formalized in a resolution at the 1998 national convention and includes the following points: "The fraternity continues to encourage all chapters and petitioning groups to open their membership to all students. All chapters and petitioning groups have the right to choose their members using objective and open policies that are consistent with the fraternity's governing documents, the rules of the host institutions that they serve, and the traditions of that chapter, if any. Single-gender chapters chartered before the 1976 national convention may remain single-gender unless they become inactive or coeducational. All petitioning groups seeking to charter or re-charter will be and remain co-educational.{{cite magazine|date= Winter–Spring 1999|title=Convention Actions|magazine=Torch & Trefoil|publisher=Alpha Phi Omega|volume=75|issue=3|page=14|url=http://www.apoarchive.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/WINTER-SPRING_1999.pdf}} Allowing women members in 1976 reversed the continuing steep decline in membership of the Fraternity and started a growth cycle in the fraternity.{{cite magazine |date=Fall 2000|title=75th Anniversary Countdown|magazine=Torch & Trefoil|publisher=Alpha Phi Omega|volume=77|issue=1|page=10|url=http://www.apoarchive.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/FALL_2000.pdf|author=William M. Krenek}}

At the July 2005 national Board of Directors meeting, a resolution was passed: "The actions of the 1976 and 1998 national conventions have attempted to clarify the Fraternity's open membership policy...The National Board is charged with...enforcing the membership policies of the Fraternity as well as ensuring compliance with applicable laws, and upon advice of legal counsel, all chapters must practice open membership without regard of gender".{{cite magazine|date=Fall 2005|title=Summer Board Meeting|magazine=Torch & Trefoil|publisher=Alpha Phi Omega |volume=82 |issue=1 |page=14|url=http://www.apoarchive.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2005_fall.pdf}} A decision by the 2006 national convention on December 30, 2006, has essentially upheld the Board's previous resolution, adding additional clarifications to the transitional process for the all-male chapters, including a timeline for completion of their transition to co-educational status by the 2008 national convention, and the establishment of a committee consisting of active members and alumni to assist with the process.{{cite magazine|date=Spring 2007|title=NATIONAL CONVENTION ACTIONS LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALPHA PHI OMEGA DECEMBER 29–30, 2006 THE GALT HOUSE HOTEL & SUITES – LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY|magazine=Torch & Trefoil|publisher=Alpha Phi Omega|volume=83|issue=3|page=14|url=http://www.apoarchive.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2007_Spring.pdf}} In the spring of 2008, the Sigma Xi chapter at the University of Maine formally disassociated from the national fraternity, forming a new fraternity: Alpha Delta. They cited that their action was due to an "ideological split", claiming that the national fraternity allowed female members to join and took away the student focus.Southwick, Emily. "[http://mainecampus.com/2008/04/14/hes-not-your-average-bear/ He's not your average bear: Service fraternity responsible for bringing out UM mascot shares behind-the-scene look at being Bananas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714021307/http://mainecampus.com/2008/04/14/hes-not-your-average-bear/ |date=July 14, 2011 }}." The Maine Campus. April 14, 2008. Retrieved on April 15, 2008. In addition, Brothers from the Zeta Theta chapter at Drexel University, the Pi Chi chapter at Duquesne University, and the Psi Delta chapter at the University of Maine at Machias have joined this new fraternity.{{cite web|url=https://duq.collegiatelink.net/organization/alphadelta/about|title=Life at Duquesne – Alpha Delta|work=collegiatelink.net|access-date=January 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112085713/https://duq.collegiatelink.net/organization/alphadelta/about|archive-date=January 12, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

On December 30, 2006, the 2006 national convention in Louisville, Kentucky, elected the first female National President of the organization, Maggie Katz.{{cite magazine |date=Spring 2007|title=Introducing the Newly Elected National Board of Directors |magazine=Torch & Trefoil|publisher=Alpha Phi Omega|volume=83|issue=3|pages=3–6 |url=http://www.apoarchive.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2007_Spring.pdf}} Brother Katz was re-elected, without contest, on December 30, 2008, in Boston, Massachusetts.{{cite web|url=http://apos50.org/index.php?catid=1:latest-news&id=46:nationals08recap&page=&print=1&tmpl=component&view=article|title=Brief National 2008 Convention Recap|author=Candice Solomon-Strutz|work=apos50.org|access-date=March 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811145205/http://apos50.org/index.php?catid=1:latest-news&id=46:nationals08recap&page=&print=1&tmpl=component&view=article|archive-date=August 11, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}File:Alphaphiomega icapo charter signing 1994.jpg, Texas]]

The International Council of Alpha Phi Omega (ICAPO) was created at the 1994 Dallas-Fort Worth Alpha Phi Omega (USA) national convention with the signing of the charter document. Meetings followed at the 1995 Alpha Phi Omega (Philippines) and the 1996 Phoenix Alpha Phi Omega – USA national convention. At the 1996 convention, a formal set of operating policies for the council was signed, and the first officers were elected. ICAPO meetings now occur in conjunction with Alpha Phi Omega national conventions in the US and the Philippines.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219220931/http://www.apo.org/show/National_Programs/International_Relations/APO_Around_the_World/ICAPO|url=http://www.apo.org/show/National_Programs/International_Relations/APO_Around_the_World/ICAPO|title=International Council of Alpha Phi Omega|archive-date=February 19, 2012}}

Alpha Phi Omega's motto is "Be a Leader, Be a Friend, Be of Service". Its Cardinal principles or pillars are Leadership, Friendship, and Service. The fraternity's colors are royal blue and old gold. Its symbol is the golden eagle. Its flower is the forget-me-not, and its tree is the sturdy oak. The fraternity's jewel is the diamond.

The fraternity's official publication is the Torch & Trefoil.{{cite book |last=Swartout |first=Kristy A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wf6PPHSMD4IC |title=Encyclopedia of Associations, 44th Edition. |publisher=Thomson Gale |year=2006 |isbn=0787683027 |location=Farmington Hills, Michigan |pages=2764}} First published as the Lightbearer in February 1927, the name was changed to the Torch & Trefoil by the decision of the Fifth Alpha Phi Omega national convention in December 1934. The new name was from the Torch as the emblem of Education and the Trefoil as the emblem of Scouting.{{cite magazine |date=May 1935 |title=Debut of the "Torch and Trefoil" |url=http://www.apoarchive.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/MAY_1935.pdf |magazine=Torch & Trefoil |publisher=Alpha Phi Omega |page=3 |volume=10 |issue=1}} A version is published quarterly by the national organization of the United States, as well as a separate version by the national organization of the Republic of the Philippines.

The Lightbearer has been published since 1966 as a separate daily publication during Alpha Phi Omega national conventions and distributed to convention attendees.Alpha Phi Omega 75 Years of History CD{{cite news |last=Shea |first=Jenn |date=February 8, 2001 |title=Alpha Phi Omega attends the 2000 National Convention. |url=http://www.quchronicle.com/2001/02/alpha-phi-omega-attends-the-2000-national-convention/ |access-date=September 24, 2012 |newspaper=The Quinnipiac Chronicle}}

The monthly mailing from the fraternity to its chapters was the national convention Bulletin from 2004 to 2008.

The programs of the fraternity are centered around developing its three cardinal principles: Leadership, Friendship, and Service. Many chapters plan several local service projects throughout the year, including blood drives,{{cite news|title=Tigers, Gamecocks gear up for 25th annual blood drive |url=http://www.independentmail.com/news/local-news/tigers-gamecocks-gear-25th-annual-blood-drive_20140530232139626 |access-date=January 12, 2015 |newspaper=Independent Mail |date=November 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218211102/http://www.independentmail.com/news/local-news/tigers-gamecocks-gear-25th-annual-blood-drive_20140530232139626 |archive-date=December 18, 2014 }} tutoring,{{cite news|last=Gliniewicz|first=Leah|title=The Greek Alternative: Co-Ed Fraternities|url=http://finance.youngmoney.com/lifestyles/campus_life/050420_159/|access-date=April 23, 2014|newspaper=Young Money|date=April 19, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424050340/http://finance.youngmoney.com/lifestyles/campus_life/050420_159/|archive-date=April 24, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} charity fundraising events,{{cite news|last=Porter|first=Sabrina|title=Carnegie Mellon's Unite for Sight chapter raises money for India|url=http://thetartan.org/2009/3/30/news/eco|access-date=July 4, 2010|newspaper=The Tartan|date=March 30, 2009}} Scouting events,{{cite news|last=Rineer|first=Laura|title=Merit Badge Day gives Scouts many learning opportunities |url=http://www.pantagraph.com/news/article_8c32606a-7f1d-5309-9ea6-636cc6b35728.html |access-date=July 4, 2010|newspaper=Pantagraph|date=March 26, 2006}} used book exchanges,{{cite news|title=Service Honorary Outlines Events For Coming Months |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nNczAAAAIBAJ&pg=715,913196|access-date=July 4, 2010|newspaper=Fsview and The Florida Flambeau|date=December 4, 1953}} Boy Scout Merit Badge days, campus escort initiatives,{{cite news |last=Gartska |first=Joshua|title=Library Hours Extended|url=http://www.dogstreetjournal.com/story/3479|access-date=July 4, 2010|newspaper=The DoG Street Journal|date=October 26, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304115152/http://www.dogstreetjournal.com/story/3479|archive-date=March 4, 2012}} and housing construction/rehabilitation. Signature projects include the annual National Service Week in the first full week of November and the Global Spring Youth Service Day in April.{{cite news|last=Wells|first=Valerie|title=Random Kindness: Coed fraternity reaches out during National Service Week |url=http://www.herald-review.com/news/local/article_8c88a39a-76c0-599f-ba90-bb38adb00f0a.html|access-date=July 4, 2010|newspaper=Herald-Review|date=November 10, 2006}}{{cite news|last=Gushard|first=Keith|title=Area volunteers spruce up public property|url=http://www.meadvilletribune.com/archives/area-volunteers-spruce-up-public-property/article_4c27034b-d48c-5c37-94d8-25cfebf25b59.html|access-date=June 9, 2016|newspaper=Meadville Tribune|date=April 27, 2008}} Many of the operations of individual chapters are left to their discretion, though most chapters have membership requirements which require a certain number of hours of service each semester. In the United States, on April 14, 2003, the fraternity received Daily Point of Light Award #2397 in recognition of its members, who give unselfishly of their time and energy daily and who cumulative donate an average of over 300,000 hours of community service each semester.{{cite web|url=http://www.pointsoflight.org/sites/default/files/dpol-honorees-booklet.pdf|title=Daily Point of Light Honorees|access-date=October 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420131252/http://www.pointsoflight.org/sites/default/files/dpol-honorees-booklet.pdf|archive-date=April 20, 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.apo.org/site/site_files/service/daily_points_of_light.pdf|title=Daily Point of Light No. 2397 – April 14, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525221431/http://www.apo.org/site/site_files/service/daily_points_of_light.pdf|archive-date=May 25, 2012}}

APO Leads (stylized as APO LEADS) is a leadership development program organized by the national organization of Alpha Phi Omega in the United States. The APO Leads program consists of five individual modular components of leadership development. Each of these modular components focuses on skills that will help the participant be a successful leader and team member in Alpha Phi Omega and life. The five components of APO Leads are Launch, Explore, Achieve, Discover, and Serve. Launch is a pre-requisite for participation in any of the other four courses.{{cite web|url=http://www.apo.org/leadershipdevelopment/apoLeads/courselisting|title=Leadership Development – Course Description|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424064336/http://www.apo.org/leadershipdevelopment/apoleads/courselisting|archive-date=April 24, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} After the series of courses, the participant will have a set of transferable skills that apply to Alpha Phi Omega, to the working world, as well as to leadership in other organizations. APO Leads has its roots in an earlier program, the Leadership Development Workshop (LDW). The LDW was an all-day, eight-hour leadership development course that was offered to members during the 1980s and 1990s. It was reorganized into the current APO Leads program, which was rolled out in 2002.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427143335/http://www.apo.org/show/National_Programs/Leadership/APO_Leads|url=http://www.apo.org/show/National_Programs/Leadership/APO_Leads|title=APO Leads: A Personal Odyssey of Learning, Leading, and Serving|archive-date=April 27, 2012}}

In the United States, Alpha Phi Omega organizes National Service Week (NSW), a project collaboration encompassing all chapters across the nation. The original concept of a "national service project" dates back to the 1948 national convention, in which delegates approved the rebuilding of the Scout Hut at Hallows Church in London after World War II."{{cite web |url=http://www.apo.org/site/site_files/NSW_History.pdf|title=History of National Service Week |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224123516/http://www.apo.org/site/site_files/NSW_History.pdf| archive-date=December 24, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.apo.org/Support/DownloadFile/1031|title=National Service Week Handbook|access-date=April 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317003042/http://www.apo.org/Support/DownloadFile/1031|archive-date=March 17, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} There were several other national service efforts outside of NSW, including a recent international book drive in 2001, in which chapters collected approximately 100,000 books for schools in the Philippines."[http://www.bu.edu/bridge/archive/2001/11-30/bulletin-board.html BU's Zeta Upsilon chapter helps national book drive]." [http://www.bu.edu/bridge/ B.U. Bridge]. Vol. V, No. 15. Week of November 30, 2001. Retrieved on November 13, 2007.

NSW began in 1987 as National Service Day and later expanded to National Service Week in 1997 to allow for greater flexibility and increased participation while retaining the sense of unity of the original concept. NSW is always held during the first full week of November.

A theme for NSW is selected by the delegates of each national convention. The first service week, in 1987, was themed around "Diabetes & Other Chronic Illnesses". The 2014 national convention determined that the National Service Week program of emphasis for 2015–2016 shall be "Literacy and Learning for all", with a specific focus on "Improving Literacy for Adults" in 2015 and "Improving Literacy in Youth" in 2016.

Spring Youth Service Day is Alpha Phi Omega's effort to participate in the Global Youth Service Day project with its partner organization, Youth Service America. During one weekend in April, millions of youth participated in this project, which bills itself as the largest service event in the world. Projects include tutoring young children, disaster relief, voter registration, nutritional awareness, distributing HIV/AIDS prevention materials, and more. Global Youth Service Day supports youth on a lifelong path of service and civic engagement and educates the public, the media, and elected officials about the role of youth as community leaders.{{cite web|url=http://www.apo.org/Support/DownloadFile/56|title=Spring Youth Service Day Handbook|access-date=April 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317002912/http://www.apo.org/Support/DownloadFile/56|archive-date=March 17, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/514238.html?nav=5005|title=News, Sports, Jobs - The Advertiser-Tribune|website=www.advertiser-tribune.com|access-date=October 6, 2017}}

The International Council of Alpha Phi Omega (ICAPO) is the coordinating council of the Alpha Phi Omega National Organizations. During the 1980s, contact between Alpha Phi Omega (USA) and Alpha Phi Omega (Philippines) increased. National presidents Earle Herbert (USA) and Carlos "Caloy" Caliwara (Philippines), as well as other leaders in the two organizations concluded there was a need for an international coordinating body to promote the ideals of the fraternity around the world.

As stated in the charter of ICAPO: "The purpose of the ICAPO is to promote the principles and ideals of Alpha Phi Omega, as originally exemplified by Frank Reed Horton, around the world. To this end, the Council aids in introducing and establishing collegiate-based Alpha Phi Omega organizations in countries where it is not yet located and assists in institutionalizing Alpha Phi Omega organizations in countries where it is currently introduced or established. It serves as an official link among the variously established independent national Alpha Phi Omega organizations and works to promote a deeper understanding and an increased working relationship among the independent national organizations."

While the ICAPO binds both Alpha Phi Omega (USA) and Alpha Phi Omega (Philippines) into one larger international organization, the respective national organizations operate as individual organizations with a high degree of autonomy. Alpha Phi Omega (USA) has committed to the establishment of Alpha Phi Omega in Canada, and Alpha Phi Omega (Philippines) has committed to the establishment of Alpha Phi Omega in Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.apo.org/pages/show/National_Programs/International_Relations/APO_Around_the_World|title=APO Around the World |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007001435/http://www.apo.org/pages/show/National_Programs/International_Relations/APO_Around_the_World|archive-date=October 7, 2008}}

In the United States, Alpha Phi Omega is organized into five levels.{{cite web |url=http://www.apo.org/Support/DownloadFile/210 |title=National Bylaws and Standard Chapter Articles of Association (Spring 2013) |work=Alpha Phi Omega |access-date=January 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112235444/http://www.apo.org/Support/DownloadFile/210 |archive-date=January 12, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

• There are over 350 chapters and a number of Alumni Associations. Each chapter has student brothers who perform service and elect their officers, as well as faculty, scouting, and service advisors drawn from the college and local communities. Each chapter usually has a sectional representative appointed by the local sectional chair.
• There are around sixty sections consisting of geographically close chapters. Each is headed by a sectional chair, who is elected to a one-year term at each section's annual conference. Many sectional chairs have a group of volunteer sectional staff, usually consisting of alumni of various chapters.
• There are eighteen regions consisting of geographically close sections and chapters. Each is headed by an elected regional chair who is a member of the national operations council and heads a group of volunteer regional staff, usually consisting of alumni of various chapters. Each chair is elected by the chapters in that region.
• There is the national board of directors, comprising the elected national officers and others. These officers are elected at the biennial national convention to two-year terms by student and alumni delegates. The board includes the national president, national vice-president, national treasurer, six members-at-large, and four appointed members. Appointed officials include an additional at large director, legal counsel, immediate past national president, any past national president, and the National Executive Director.
• There is the national operations council, comprising the elected regional chairs and the appointed program chairs that include: Alumni Development, DEIAB+, Extension, International Relations Chair, Leadership Development, Membership, Risk Management, Service, and Volunteer Recruitment.
• The supreme authority is the national convention, which meets every two years. It consists of one or two voting delegates from each chapter, one alumni voting delegate from each region, and all the members of the national board of directors and operations council. These voting delegates consider changes to the fraternity's policies, bylaws, and articles of incorporation for the national board of directors to handle between conventions. All members of the fraternity are invited to attend to participate in leadership development seminars, service projects, and fellowship events.

{{Main|List of Alpha Phi Omega chapters}}

Alpha Phi Omega of the United States has 738 chartered chapters. It currently has 367 active chapters, fourteen petitioning groups, nineteen interest groups, and 343 that are inactive. (Petitioning and interest groups include both those at schools that have previously had active chapters and those that have not.) In addition, Alpha Phi Omega has sixteen charters at schools that have closed or merged with another school with an older charter.{{cite web|url=http://www.apo.org/member/chapterlocator|title=Alpha Phi Omega – Chapter Locator|access-date=January 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107041251/http://apo.org/Member/ChapterLocator|archive-date=January 7, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

File:Alpha phi omega national office.jpg. The national office has since moved back to Kansas City, Missouri]]

In the United States, the fraternity is headquartered out of a national office located at 14901 East 42nd Street, Independence, Missouri 64055–7347. The building was dedicated on November 17, 1990, following a four-year fundraising campaign during the 1980s.{{cite magazine|date=Fall 1990|title=The New National Office|magazine=Torch & Trefoil|publisher=Alpha Phi Omega|volume=66|issue=1|page=5|url=http://www.apoarchive.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Fall_1990.pdf}} Fundraising for the building continued during the early 1990s, through matching gifts and a national fundraising event entitled, "Burn the Mortgage", raising over $28,000. Thanks to these donations, the fraternity paid the ten-year mortgage in only four years, and national president Jerry Schroeder ceremonially burned the mortgage at the 1994 national convention in Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas.{{cite magazine|date=Winter–Spring 1995|title=Burn the Mortgage|magazine=Torch & Trefoil|publisher=Alpha Phi Omega|volume=70|issue=3|page=18|url=http://www.apoarchive.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/SPRING_1995.pdf}}

The move to the Kansas City area was decided by the 1931 national convention.{{cite news|title=Honorary Frat to Shift Headquarters|newspaper=Jefferson City Post-Tribune |date = March 5, 1931|page=1|quote=Plans to install the national headquarters of Alpha Phi Omega an honorary fraternity, in Kansas City was completed at a conference yesterday attended by H. Roe Bartle supreme grand master; Frank R. Horton, Winchester, Va., retiring grand master, and Ralph E. Graves Lawrence, Kas., scribe.}}{{cite news|title=Attended a Conference|newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World|date=Mar 5, 1931|page=2|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fDNXAAAAIBAJ&pg=1127%2C3722137}} Past locations of the national office in the United States include:

The national organization of Alpha Phi Omega in the Philippines maintains a four-layer administrative structure:"[http://www.apo.org.ph/?mode=default&cmd=get&id=82 Organization]." [http://www.apo.org.ph/ Alpha Phi Omega – Philippines]. Retrieved on November 13, 2007.

• Collegiate chapters
• Regional Development Directorates
• National Executive Board
• General Assembly

{{Main|Alpha Phi Omega (Philippines) Chapters and Alumni Associations}}

Alpha Phi Omega of the Philippines has charters (either fraternity, sorority or both) at 243 colleges and universities.{{cite web|url=http://www.apo.org.ph/?mode=default&cmd=get&id=120|title=Torch and Trefoil 25th NBC Boracay|author=Alpha Phi Omega International Philippines, Inc.|work=apo.org.ph}}

The National Office for Alpha Phi Omega of the Philippines is at 301-A Two Seventy Midtower Condominium, 270 Ermin Garcia Street, Barangay Silangan, Cubao, Quezon City.{{Cite web|url=http://www.apo.org.ph/?mode=default&cmd=get&id=70|title=National Leadership}} Past locations of the Alpha Phi Omega of the Philippines national office follow.{{Cite web|url=http://www.apo.org.ph/?mode=default&cmd=get&id=83#office|title=About Us · APO History}}{{cite web|url=http://www.freewebs.com/mutheta/history.htm |title=History of Mu Theta |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305041925/http://www.freewebs.com/mutheta/history.htm |archive-date=March 5, 2011 }}

Alpha Phi Omega currently has a chapter at James Cook University.{{cite web|url=http://www.jcusa.edu.au/campus_life/clubs_&_socieities/list_of_clubs_&_societies.php|title=List of Clubs & Societies|website=James Cook University|access-date=February 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301163728/http://www.jcusa.edu.au/campus_life/clubs_%26_socieities/list_of_clubs_%26_societies.php|archive-date=March 1, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

Alpha Phi Omega has a chapter at University of British Columbia.{{cite web|url=http://www.ams.ubc.ca/clubs/joining-a-club/big-list-of-clubs/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20161003131524/http://www.ams.ubc.ca/clubs/joining-a-club/big-list-of-clubs/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 3, 2016 |title=Big list of Clubs |website=University of British Columbia }} The group at UBC became a Petitioning Group on July 18, 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.apoonline.org/regionxi/calendar.php?month=7&year=2015&action= |title=Region XI Calendar for July 2015|website=APO Online}} They chartered on December 13, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.apo.org/news/alphaphiomegachartersfirstchapterincanada|title=Alpha Phi Omega charters first chapter in Canada|access-date=February 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304145642/http://www.apo.org/news/alphaphiomegachartersfirstchapterincanada|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} National conventions in Canada will remain an extension of Alpha Phi Omega USA until there is a presence on five campuses.

{{Main|List of Alpha Phi Omega members}}

Alpha Phi Omega of the United States offers active membership (brotherhood) to be granted to all students enrolled at colleges and universities with active chapters of Alpha Phi Omega. Individual chapters are granted flexibility in determining the level of activity of Graduate Students at their institution. Honorary membership may be granted by either active chapters or by the National Board of Directors.

Until the 1967 Constitutional Convention, current or former membership in Scouting was a requirement to become an active brother. For example, in the Alpha Phi Omega National Constitution in 1957:{{blockquote|Article III, Section 2: Active membership shall be granted to college students who are or have been previously affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America or any Boy Scout Movement recognized by the International Association, and no restrictions as to Scout rank attained shall be imposed as a membership qualification.Alpha Phi Omega Manual of Administration, 1957 edition}}

Members were never required to have been Boy Scouts. For example, Bill Clinton was a Cub Scout,{{cite web|url=http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/presidents.aspx|title=Presidents of the United States and the Boy Scouts of America|publisher=Boy Scouts of America|access-date=August 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902032830/http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/presidents.aspx|archive-date=September 2, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} but not a Scout while growing up and was able to join Alpha Phi Omega as a student. The bylaws also allowed for men to qualify by registering with their local council as a merit badge counselor in the College Scouter Reserve or other similar positions.

In 1976 the delegates at the national convention amended the bylaws allowing women to join the fraternity. At the time the changes allowed individual chapters to convert to allow men and women but the choice was not forced on chapters, any chapter that was chartered or rechartered at the time was required to be coeducational. In July 2005, a Board of Directors Resolution was adopted clarifying the National Fraternity's membership policies by mandating coeducational membership. The resolution was upheld at the 2006 Alpha Phi Omega National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Per this resolution, the all-male chapters would be required to comply with the mandate or lose national organizational recognition. This lead to all active chapters becoming coeducational and a few leaving and forming Alpha Delta a fraternity still restricted to men.

In addition to being coeducational, one thing that further differentiates Alpha Phi Omega from social fraternities is that its national bylaws restrict its chapters from maintaining fraternity houses to serve as residences for their members. This also encourages members of social fraternities and sororities that have houses to join APO as well.

{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}

• Frank Reed Horton, 1925-1931
• H. Roe Bartle, 1931-1946
• Arno Nowotny, 1946-1950
• Daniel Den Uyl, 1950-1954
• M. R. Disborough, 1954-1958
• William S. Roth, 1958-1962
• Lester R. Steig, 1962-1964
• Tom T. Galt 1964-1966
• E. Ross Forman, 1966-1968
• Glen T. Nygreen, 1968-1970
• Audrey B. Hamilton, 1970-1972
• Lucius E. Young, 1972-1974
• Lawrence L. Hirsch, 1974-1978
• Lorin A. Jurvis, 1978-1980
• C. P. Zlatkovich, 1980-1982
• Earle M. Herbert, 1982-1986
• Stan Carpenter, 1986-1990
• Gerald A. Schroeder, 1990-1994
• Wilfred M. Krenek, 1994-1998
• Jack A. McKenzie, 1998-2002
• Bobby Hainline, 2002-2004
• Fred C. Heismeyer, III, 2004-2006
• Maggie Katz, 2006-2010
• Mark Allen Stratton, 2010-2014{{cite web|url=https://apo.org/about-us/our-story/past-presidents/|title=Past Presidents - Alpha Phi Omega|website=apo.org}}
• John K. Ottenad, 2014–2018{{cite web|url=https://apo.org/about-us/our-organization/our-leaders/|title=OUR LEADERS - Alpha Phi Omega|website=apo.org}}
• Robert Coop, 2018–2021{{Cite web|url=https://apo.org/about-us/our-organization/our-leaders/|title=OUR LEADERS - Alpha Phi Omega}}
• Melody Martin, 2021–present

{{colend}}

Image:Convention eternal flame drfredheismeyer.jpg.]]

{{Main|Alpha Phi Omega national conventions}}

National conventions in Alpha Phi Omega are biennial gatherings of the respective national organization of the fraternity, in which official business is conducted, and brothers from the various chapters in the organization meet to share ideas, expanding leadership, friendship, and service. In the very early years, decisions of the National Fraternity were conducted by mail. The first actual assembly of delegates in a convention was held in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 1–2, 1931. Seven of the fraternity's eighteen chapters were represented at this convention by a total of 23 students and advisors.

Alpha Phi Omega of the United States hosts biennial national conventions during even-numbered years. Conventions were not held in 1942 and 1944 due to World War II, and a special Constitutional Convention was held in 1967. Alpha Phi Omega of the Philippines conducts biennial national conventions in odd-numbered years.

In the US, national conventions are officially called to order by an opening ceremony in which the Eternal Flame of Service is brought forth by members of the Delta Omega chapter at the University of Houston. This tradition was started after the twenty-first national convention in Dallas, Texas. In the early hours of December 30, 1970, the delegates of the Delta Omega chapter met in a ceremony in the suite of H. Roe Bartle, with the newly elected members of the National Board of Directors and National President Aubrey B. Hamilton. Bartle lit a small blue candle that he, in turn, used to light a hurricane lamp, which was then passed from the blue candle to each of the board members' candles. He then joined the board members to light two four-foot candles. The flame was then taken to Houston and allowed to burn while awaiting the completion of the Eternal Flame site."[http://www.uh.edu/apo/aboutdo.html The Eternal Flame]." [http://www.uh.edu/apo/ Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega]. Last Revised on January 11, 2005. Retrieved on October 6, 2007.

Convention attendance has grown considerably through the years. The largest convention attendance in the US to date has been 2,316 in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2002, and the largest number of chapters represented was 235 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2000.

{{Portal|Scouting|United States|Philippines}}

• Alpha Delta social fraternity
• Epsilon Tau Pi (Eagle Scouts)
• Gamma Sigma Sigma service sorority
• Omega Phi Alpha service sorority

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{{reflist}}

• "The APO History" in "Alpha Phi Omega Torch and Trefoil" diamond jubilee program for the 13th National Biennial Convention, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Mt. Makiling, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines, December 1985.
• {{cite book | last=Barkhurst |first=Robert C. | title=Alpha Phi Omega, National Service Fraternity 1923–1993 | edition=1st |orig-year=1993| year=1993|url=http://www.apoarchive.org/history-book/}}
• Lightbearers and Torch and Trefoil archive at www.apoarchive.org

{{Commons category}}

• {{official website|http://www.apo.org}}
• [http://www.apo.org.ph/ Alpha Phi Omega – Philippines website]
• [http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/findingaids/view?doc.view=entire_text&docId=InU-Ar-VAB1747 Alpha Phi Omega Mu national convention records, 1927–2008, bulk 1988–2000] at the Indiana University Archives
• [https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/2/resources/790 Alpha Phi Omega records] at the University of Maryland Libraries

{{Professional Fraternities}}

{{Fraternities and sororities}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1925 establishments in Pennsylvania

Category:Student societies in the United States

Category:Service organizations based in the United States

Category:Professional fraternities and sororities in the United States

Category:Student societies in Australia

Category:Associations related to the Boy Scouts of America

Category:Lafayette College

Category:Organizations based in Kansas City, Missouri

Category:Fraternities and sororities in Canada

Category:Student organizations established in 1925

Category:Professional Fraternity Association