APO has partnered with Harris Connect. 

With more than 375,000 initiates from over 720 chapters, one could imagine the difficulties Alpha Phi Omega faces in keeping up with alumni. At any given time, the Fraternity has updated records for approximately 50,000 living alumni. Until recently, the Fraternity has sent mail only to Life Members, since theirs are the addresses that have been maintained over the years. The majority of members, who are not Life Members, have not been sent mail because their addresses are not recorded accurately in the Fraternity’s database. 

APO recently partnered with Harris Connect, a company that works with hundreds of organizations to gather and maintain data to build, reinforce and maintain bonds among organization members. In fact, Harris Connect just completed a project for the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) to update the records of every living Eagle Scout. “We would like to be able to provide a chapter or an alumni association with an accurate and complete list of alumni. By having Harris Connect do this work for us and use tools that are cost prohibitive to the Fraternity, we can update the Fraternity’s database and improve the accuracy of our records,” says Robert London, CAE, Executive Director for APO. 

The update will take place over the next eight to 12 months. Harris Connect staff will work to obtain accurate records for all living alumni through direct mail campaigns, phone requests and access to public resources, such as postal APO Alumni Directory Update: Reconnecting fraternal connections records. Though this process will take a small amount of time from our members, it will do a great deal of service to the Fraternity in our attempt to maintain the most accurate member database possible.

After verifying directory information, Harris Connect will give alumni the opportunity to reconnect with the Fraternity, update their information and share their personal accounts of Leadership, Friendship and Service with brothers nationwide who may not otherwise hear these amazing stories of community service. 

“Harris Connect will ask our members about the community service they are involved with today. This will give the Fraternity the opportunity to actually see how effective we are at preparing campus and community leaders, as our mission calls for. The answers to these questions will be published in a book called How We Serve,” says London. 

The book will include a full-color, glossy front section designed by the Fraternity, as well as a gallery of photos with narratives submitted by members. How We Serve will not be just another membership directory. Rather, it will give an in-depth look at our members’ involvement in their communities. Proceeds from the sale of How We Serve will allow Harris Connect to conduct the directory research at no expense to the Fraternity. The purchase of the directory will be marketed to APO members only and not for sale to the general public. 

Both the Fraternity and Harris Connect are aware of the confidentiality of a project such as this.   Harris Connect, on behalf of the Fraternity, will secure and hold the copyright of the directory to restrict the use of the directory solely for communication of a personal nature between members.  This copyright also will make it illegal for nonmembers to use the directory for any purpose. 

Any request from a member to omit any or all biographical information from the directory will be honored by Harris Connect. The directory will also be reviewed against all federal and state “Do Not Call” lists to honor members’ privacy requests. The information submitted to Harris Connect will not, under any circumstances, be sold or rented to anyone. 

Alumni should expect to be contacted by Harris Connect in the coming months. Feel free to give as little or as much information as you want. We look  forward to reconnecting and hearing the community service stories of alumni who have shaped our image and mission.  Rather, it will give an in-depth look at our members’ involvement in their communities.

If you have any other questions, feel free to download a copy of the .pdf document which contains many Q&A regarding this.