Purpose
This Chapter shall be conducted as a service fraternity under the provisions set in the Constitution and Bylaws of the National Alpha Phi Omega fraternity. The purpose of this Chapter is to develop friendship, leadership, and association among students, and to promote service to the student body and faculty, to the youth and the community, to the members of the fraternity, and to the nation as participating citizens.
Leadership
Alpha Phi Omega teaches us through our principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service that we are the architects of our own ambitions and that each of us has the opportunity to develop ourselves to be whatever we seek to be. In the area of leadership, from within our own Fraternity, people are transformed from followers to leaders sometimes without really being aware of the development. It can happen gradually, or it might happen overnight - today a follower, tomorrow a leader.
Friendship
Since 1925 more than 200,000 students have chosen Alpha Phi Omega. Other organizations do service, and there are social fraternties, but no one and no organization does these things the way APO does. That is why APO is now and continues to be the nation's largest greek letter fraternity.
The relationships which are founded and developed in the activities of APO are indescribably lasting and indeed something to treasure. They endure long after college, long after friends move apart, long after your career develops. The fellowship of APO is, plainly and simply, the quality which has made us the biggest and we believe, the best collegeiate organization in the world, whoever you are, and whereever you are.
Alpha Phi Omega seeks to develop friendship. What do we mean by this? It is not possible to establish a meaningful relationship with the thousands of Brothers across the nation or even with every Brother in a single Chapter. We believe it is possible, however, for all of our Members to develop a sense of Brotherhood. Shared experiences and an understanding of our Fraternal history and goals provide a basis for our national Brotherhood.
Service
To be of service is a solid foundation for contentment in this world. -- Charles William Eliot
As a National Service Fraternity, APO is the only national fraternity with service as its primary mission. While there is a great diversity in the types of service programs conducted from chapter to chapter, they all serve to make up a great national ministry to human need, conducted exclusively by college students.
In an effort to make a nationwide impact, APO has developed two significant campaigns: 1) each APO National Convention adopts a Program of Emphasis for the two years following. All chapters are encouraged to develop service projects which will benefit the designated groups; and 2) we have designated the first Saturday in November as National Service Day. All chapters are encouraged to coordinate and conduct service projects involving other service groups and the campus and in the community. APO's program here is directed to four areas: campus, community, nation, and members
Tradition
In the early days of our Fraternity our Founders chose recognizable objects that would be representative symbols of the spirit of our guiding principles of Leadership, Friendship & Service. They selected items of historical and traditional value and notability. The meaning and definitions of these symbols have not changed in our lifetimes, and likely will not.
Jewel
Diamond - The most precious of all gem stones representing brilliance, luster, always increasing in value, and an expression of the greatest gift of love when given.
Flower
Forget-Me-Not - A perennial flower with royal blue blossoms. It is everlasting, always remembered.
Tree
Oak Tree - We have all heard from a parent or mentor at least once in our lives the story of the sturdy oak tree that grew from a small acorn. The oak is stately, sturdy, and sheltering.
Colors
Blue - Our color of blue is a royal blue color. It is elegant, a sign of pure deed and through. A color in our nations flag.
Gold - Our color of gold is called old glory gold. The color is also found in the nation's flag (fringe & tassels). It represents high value, repect, royalty, and a sign of love.
Bird
Golden Eagle - At the 1976 National Convention the delegates chose another symbol to further this richness of our history and tradition. They declared the golden eagle as a new Fraternity symbol. An eagle is often found as a standard aor as a part of the seal of a nation. The golden eagle symbolizes strength, gracefulness, keenness of vision, and endurance.
Cardinal Principles
Leadership, Friendship, and Service.