About Us

Who We Are

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Alpha Phi Omega is a national coeducational service organization founded on the principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service. It provides its members the opportunity to develop leadership skills as they volunteer on their campus, in their community, to the nation, and to the organization. With more than 400,000 members on over 375 campuses, Alpha Phi Omega continues to provide more service on more campuses than any other collegiate service organization.

It is the VISION of Alpha Phi Omega to be recognized as the premier service-based leadership development organization.

It is the MISSION of Alpha Phi Omega to prepare campus and community leaders through service.

The VALUES of Alpha Phi Omega are the develop leadership, promote friendship and provide service.

The OBJECTIVES of Alpha Phi Omega are Share, Grow, Improve and Invest.

International Relations
Alpha Phi Omega extended the hand of service beyond the United States through the separate entity of Alpha Phi Omega - Philippines. APO-Phil is a self governing organization based on the same Scouting principles of APO-USA. The two organizations formally discuss issues of mutual interest through the International Council of Alpha Phi Omega. For more information about Alpha Phi Omega - Philippines, click here.

Our Story

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0700

The Story of Our Founding

By Frank Reed Horton, Founder of Alpha Phi Omega

This is the story behind the creation of Alpha Phi Omega. It is also the story of the beginning of the first chapter — the Alpha chapter — at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. It is also the story of the formation of the first national organization of the Fraternity. Above all, it is the story of the dreams of one man for an organization through which men might better the conditions of other men, as well as of themselves. It is the story of how a college student worked with others to turn those dreams into a reality. This student is Frank Reed Horton.

During the first World War, I served as an ensign in the United States Navy aboard a minesweeper in the North Sea. Our ship and its partner exploded more than 1,000 magnetic mines. My law school background at Boston University led to my appointment to try court martial cases in our division. When we reached ports some of the sailors ran wild. Many court martial cases resulted. I saw young boys in their teens getting into trouble.

Because of these experiences, I made a firm resolution within myself that if I returned alive, I would try to do two things and do them with all my power. First, do my best to help young people get the right start in life by holding up before them a "standard of manhood" that would withstand the test of time! Second and just as important, try to help the nations of the world settle their disputes in a more sensible and legal manner than war.

After the war, I became a student at Lafayette College. One evening, while attending an American Legion banquet during my sophomore year, I sat next to an inspiring man named Herbert G. Horton. We were not related but we became fast friends. He, too, had been a naval officer but was now serving as the local scout executive. He helped me to become a deputy scout commissioner. One of the troops needed a leader, so I became a scoutmaster as well.

Through these experiences, I found that the Scout Oath and Scout Law were what I had been seeking — a standard of manhood that would withstand the test of time and a code of ideals created and accepted by some of the greatest leaders the world has ever known.

The summer of my junior year was spent as an associate camp director at the Easton Scout Reservation. Here, I was impressed with the religious tolerance in the hearts of boys. This I have not found so easily among older people. Scouts of the Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant faiths worked together in everything at camp, and everyone had an opportunity to worship on his Sabbath in his own way.

My brothers in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house, where I lived, who were outstanding for high ideals and clean living, were all former Scouts. I felt a college organization should be formed that would strengthen men in these ideals, and give them an opportunity for leadership experience and for service to others.

As a senior at Lafayette College, I talked to some of the men with a scouting background and the response was good. These men would join an organization based on the ideals of scouting. I created the name Alpha Phi Omega, the motto and the Greek words and their meaning and wrote the Ritual. Everett W. Probst designed the pin and drew the coat of arms. Thane S. Cooley suggested the handclasp. Ellsworth S. Dobson and Gordon M. Looney helped write the Fraternity's Constitution and Bylaws.

Fourteen undergraduates signed as charter members. Scouting advisors were Dr. Ray O. Wyland and Herbert G. Horton.

The Lafayette College faculty approved the petition for recognition. On December 16, 1925, I conducted the Ritual Initiation at Brainerd Hall, second floor, and Alpha Phi Omega was born. My purpose was to make Alpha Phi Omega an organization for college men who cooperated with all youth movements, especially scouting. I also anticipated that our service program would expand to help people in need everywhere and to do service on the campus of each chapter.

As scouting is worldwide, so should Alpha Phi Omega be worldwide, gradually in the colleges and universities of all the nations. Alpha Phi Omega can help bring about, through the future statesmen of the world, that standard of manhood and international understanding and friendship that will lead to a better, more peaceful world in which to live and in which to make a living and a life.

At the Fellowship Banquet of the 2004 National Convention in Denver, Past National President Lawrence L. "Pinky" Hirsch, M.D., presented additional insight into the Fraternity's founding. Pinky shared with the delegates information that had been provided to him by "The Chief," the Honorable H. Roe Bartle, shortly before Brother Bartle's death in 1974. The Chief had asked Pinky to hold the information in confidence for 30 years and then share it with a new generation of brothers to provide a larger perspective on the Fraternity's inception.

Pinky described key roles that The Chief and Scout Executive Herbert G. Horton played in encouraging, guiding and facilitating Frank Reed Horton's efforts to establish Alpha Phi Omega. The story demonstrated that, from its very beginning, Alpha Phi Omega has been a partnership between students interested in Leadership, Friendship and Service and advisors interested in helping students succeed in the development of those noble principles. Pinky explained the founding of the Fraternity as a tripartite endeavor accomplished together by Frank Reed Horton, Herbert G. Horton and H. Roe Bartle.

Privacy Policy

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Information Practices
Security and privacy are important priorities for Alpha Phi Omega and users of our web sites. Alpha Phi Omega is committed to taking all reasonable steps to keep your information secure and confidential. The content provided is the property of Alpha Phi Omega and should only be used in the context provided.

Guidelines for Use of the Members' Area
Our web site includes a members' area. Access to this area is exclusive to Alpha Phi Omega members in good standing. Once members register, they use their username and password to access sensitive information regarding recruitment, programming, officer responsibilities, etc. The resources, software and services provided on this site are provided without warranty, either express or implied. Under no circumstances will Alpha Phi Omega be liable for damages resulting from the use or inability to use this site.

Social Networking Guidelines
Be helpful! Look for opportunities to share ideas, useful resources and favorite stories.

Be nice! Messages containing inappropriate material will be removed. Inappropriate materials may include photos, language, links to sites or other images.

Be careful! Incorrect facts and rumors can be hurtful. Double check your facts. Erroneous information posted will be removed

Be relevant! Stay on topic. If you want to talk about something else, start a new message.

Be respectful! Mass e-mailing any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, sales, promotional materials, junk mail, spam, chain letters, pyramid schemes or any other form of solicitation is not appropriate.

What Information Do We Collect?

You may be asked to provide your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, member number or other information to allow you to make use of portions of the site. You may always refuse to provide your personal information and this may lead to your inability to use some of the site. We may also collect your domain type, browser version, service provider, operating system, IP address and areas of the site visited for the purpose of improving the site.

How Is Your Information Used?
Alpha Phi Omega uses personal information only for the limited purposes of: administering the site; allowing you to make a posting on the site; distributing newsletters, publishing announcements or promoting events or opportunities that may be of interest to you; providing Internet security; and meeting legal requirements. We may work with business partners who may perform functions on our behalf, such as providing promotional materials, sending e-mail, managing data or providing customer service. They have access to your personal information only when supplied by the Fraternity and only to the extent necessary to perform the work for which they have been contracted and shall not be authorized by Alpha Phi Omega to use it for any other purposes. Alpha Phi Omega will not sale your personal information.

Privacy of Children
Alpha Phi Omega encourages parents and guardians to be aware of and participate in their children's online activities. We strictly adhere to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and will not knowingly register or otherwise collect personally identifiable information from any child under the age of 13 without the prior verifiable consent of that person's parent or guardian.

Security
We have policies and procedures in place to protect the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information that we collect and maintain. All personal information is stored on our secured servers, behind a firewall at a data center with access to data strictly controlled. Any unauthorized use of the site may result in criminal and/or civil prosecution.

Terms of Use
Use of this Site constitutes agreement with all the terms, conditions and privacy policy of Alpha Phi Omega. Copyrighted, trademarked and other proprietary information available through this Site may be accessed and used only in accordance with all applicable local and international laws. Use content by members or non-members other than for the intended purpose is strictly prohibited. Alpha Phi Omega does not accept responsibility for misuse of information obtained from this Site.

Links
The site may contain links to other sites on the Internet that are owned and operated by third parties. Alpha Phi Omega is not responsible for the collection or use of your information at any third-party site.

For any questions or comments about this Web site e-mail webmaster@apo.org