It's been a long summer and we are excited to hear that our chapters are starting the fall semester off on the right foot, and are doing a great job extending the Cardinal Principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service to campuses across the country.
For those of you who are new to Torch Topics and/or Alpha Phi Omega, this e-newsletter provides you with the lastest APO news, announcements, leadership development opportunities, and much more. Be sure to check out Consultant Corner for great tips and advice on being the best brother you can be!
Good luck this semester! Remember to keep your chapter in tip top shape! The 2012 National Convention is just around the corner and having your chapter requirements met helps make registering voting delegates, etc., a much smoother process.
Introducing the 2012 Fall Pledge Class Namesake Honoree: Brother Maura Harty, Mu Alpha '78
“It is with this background of achievement, leadership and most importantly service, not only in the Fraternity, but in our country and in the world, that we wholeheartedly believe this brother is an example to future generations of brothers of the importance of living out our principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service,” said National Vice President The Hon. John K. Ottenad, J.D., Alpha Phi ’89.
The Fraternity is proud to announce Brother Maura Harty, Mu Alpha ’78 at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., as the 2012 Fall Pledge Class Namesake Honoree.
Brother Harty was born and raised in Staten Island, New York. She graduated from New Dorp High School in 1977 where she was elected “Most Likely to Succeed” and “Class Citizen.” In the fall of 1977, Maura left for Georgetown University to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service. She initiated into Mu Alpha Chapter in the spring of 1978. She remained an active chapter member until graduation and was her chapter’s service chairman.
Epsilon Psi Chapter at Kent State University in Ohio worked with a local first grade class to create “Kid Packs” for children at a local hospital. The chapter encouraged the children to continue to do service and donated 92 packages to Robinson Memorial Hospital.
Not only do the Kid Packs benefit current patients, it benefits future children and visitors of the hospital as well. Brothers enjoyed the time spent with each other as they shopped for the items to put in their packs. Brothers and the students made a lasting impression writing letters to and from each one of their pen pals. Communicating their excitement and partnership in the project together got the students motivated to help the brothers leave a lasting impact on the children in the hospitals.
Upon meeting their counterparts they presented them with little thank you gifts for their involvement. Encouraging the first graders to continue to do service and establishing friendships, it shows you are never too young to provide service to mankind and together they can be leaders in their communities.
Where's Alpha Phi Omega? Spreading the word on the University of Southern California campus!! Alpha Kappa Chapter at USC in Los Angeles, California created this great fall recruitment video to help students on the USC campus see what APO has to offer and all the places our members can go if they dive into APO. Great job Alpha Kappa!
Is your chapter working hard to create fun, informational and educational videos for recruitment, etc.? Share your efforts with brothers across the nation by nominating your video for the August Video of the Month. Simply post your video to YouTube, then send a link to the Torch Topics Editorial Staff at publications@apo.org.
Brother Amanda Below (left), Theta '09 at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and her project partner, Andi Maddox, received a $10,000 Davis Projects for Peace Grant for their El Agua es Vida (Water is Life) proposal. This grant will help Brother Below and her partner create a health education and water filtration program in San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala, a rural lakeside community. The young women are already familiar with the area, having spent time in the community last summer during a study-abroad trip offered through the UVAGuatemala Initiative.
Brother Below said, "We applied for this grant in hopes of continuing our partnership in Guatemala and to return to the community with a tangible response to the concerns and priorities addressed in the community assessment conducted last summer."
The young women will collaborate with local health promoters, based on previous filtration projects in the lake basin. They plan to implement an education program for Guatemalans on water purification and hygiene. The courses will have a minimal fee and will conclude with the installation of a water filter in participants' homes. The UVAGuatemala Initiative has set aside a supply of filters for use in the Lake Atitlán communities.
Do you know a brother who deserves to be the featured brother in Torch Topics? E-mail publications@apo.orgwith your nomination!
OCTOBER
10/1: Chapter Officer Lists Due via OP
10/8: Columbus Day
10/31: Halloween
NOVEMBER
11/4: Daylight Savings Time Ends
11/4-8: National Service Week
11/8: National Convention Early Registration Closes
11/11: Veterans Day
11/15: NSW Report Due
11/15: Annual Charter Reaffirmation Due
11/15: AAMD & Insurance Fees Due
11/22: Thanksgiving
Click here to register for Membership Academy
Click here to register for Membership University
Click here to register for APO LEADS Serve
Motel 6 is pleased to offer the Alpha Phi Omega members a 10 percent discount to any Motel 6 nationwide. Since Motel 6 is the lowest priced hotel of any national chain, this just adds onto the savings for you! To book your discounted reservation please click on the Motel 6 logo or call 1-800-4-Motel6 and give them your APO discount code - CP558653
Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity
14901 E. 42nd St. S., Independence, MO
Phone: (816)373-8667
