= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity +---+ +---+ | | | | S E C T I O N +---+ +---+ N E W S | | | +---+ + A Newsletter from the Section Chair (electronic edition) Volume 3, Number 2 September 30, 1993 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- In this Issue: Report from the C.O.W. Upcoming 88/89 Conference Xi Zeta's Advisor Success Story Section Representatives Future Events and much more... ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [Ed's Note: This is the longest Section 89 News ever! I don't plan for them to be this big; there's just a lot of newsworthy stuff going on...] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- New News Is Good News Some changes in the works... Hopefully you'll notice some changes beginning with this issue of the Section 89 News. Aside from a slightly modified look caused by a new page layout system (for you techies: PageMaker. Previous News were done in MS Word, both on a Macintosh), you should also notice a few new features. I'm finally going to succeed (with your help, of course) in having articles submitted from members throughout the section, on a variety of topics. So, if you want to share something with the world, or at least Section 89, please send it in, and I'll be happy to print it. New feature sections include Personal Ads, a really cheap (OK Free!) way to say something to that someone special, or even a special chapter. Send me your ad, and I'll print it. Other new features which will appear in various issues as demand allows, include: Nuts & Bolts, a how-to column featuring detailed accounts of what has and hasn't worked for programming at other chapters. We also witness the return of I'm Glad You Asked That!, the question and answer column that made a few brief appearances last year. So, ask a question, and I'll have something to put in that column... Since at least a few people said they liked the quotes, I'll keep digging to find interesting tidbits of wisdom to share with you. And who knows what other inventive little columns we can come up with (or find in somebody else's newsletters...) So, make sure the Section 89 News makes its way around your chapter, and be sure and let me know what you think. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I get the feeling that as soon as something appears in the paper it ceases to be true. [T. Bone Burnett] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- A COW Update Pithy Prose from Powell [Frank Powell, Section 89 Staff] Participants in the session on Section Conference Planning - The 7 P's are: Proper Prior Planning Prevents Pitifully Poor Performance Words we can all live by, I'm sure. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- A Successful COW "Well Worth the Time..." On Saturday, September 18th, over 30 officers, advisors, and staff from all over the section gathered on the campus of the University of Rochester for a Chapter Officer's Workshop. This one-day leadership development event included workshops, less formal discussion groups, and a chance for officers and advisors to meet their colleagues from other chapters and discuss common issues. Workshop topics included a "Leadership Profile", "History and Structure of APO--Beyond What They Tell You In The Pledge Manual", "Conference Planning", and "Risk Management". In reviewing the participant's evaluations of the day, I'm happy to declare the COW a big success. Most participants indicated we should plan another similar workshop in the Spring semester. I'm particularly pleased to report that 6 advisors representing 4 chapters were present, and both advisors and students considered their presence a big plus for everyone. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. [George Orwell] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Nuts & Bolts: A Chapter How-To Feature Xi Zeta's Advisor Success Story [Dave Gucker, President, Xi Zeta Chapter] Last Fall, it fell upon me to find some advisors for my chapter. Not having any experience with anything like this, I asked each active to bring me a list of a couple of people they thought would make good advisors for APO. I then called the people whose names I had to see who had the time AND interest. I ended up with a list of 4 names. My next step was to get them to attend our business meetings, as well as coordinating a schedule for advisory board meetings (which brothers were invited to attend). After having met with these people and our current advisors for about half a year, the chapter voted on accepting the advisory candidates, and we now have a six member advisory board. Who makes a good advisor? When we looked for names at the start, we concentrated on professors and staff members who we knew have been involved in volunteer or charity work, and who had shown one or some of us that they care enough to help students whenever they can. We also spoke with a couple of community volunteers who were on campus from time to time for various events. As a result, our advisors include: Assoc. VP financial affairs for the Institute, Financial Aide counselor, Priest in the Campus Ministry, Professor of English at RIT, Businessman (APO Alum and father of a brother at UB), and Employee of the American Red Cross in Rochester We have learned a couple of things in the lines of keeping advisors interested in our program, and I will summarize them in 3 statements: 1. Talk to them! (It's very important for them to have contact with more than your chapter's liaison. Show them you care.) 2. Keep them informed and involved (minutes from meetings, fliers, invites to events, newsletters, etc.) 3. An advisor who witnesses poor behavior (arguing, brother bashing, etc.) IS GOING TO HAVE DOUBTS about your chapter! Show a good, clean image! If you have any questions or would to talk further about my advisory board, please feel free to ask. dgg9148@ritvax.rit.isc.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 88/89 Conference Coming Soon ! On to Oneonta... Coming up before you know it is the Fall Section 88/89 Conference, to be hosted by Xi Rho chapter at SUNY-Oneonta, November 5-7. Each chapter should have received information by now. If not, or for further information, contact conference chair Michele Nunes at 607-436-5554. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Krusty wore big, floppy shoes, but he's got little feet like all good-hearted people. [Bart Simpson] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanksgiving Section Service Project Not just turkeys anymore... A Thanksgiving Section Service Project is being planned by Chi Pi chapter at Fredonia for the weekend of November 20th. This will be held at their College Lodge, and will include a Thanksgiving dinner, several service projects (including a food drive), and a party. What if it snows? There's awesome sledding and some skiing facilities, plus a lot of indoor stuff for those who want to stay warm. Joy needs to start getting together an idea of who will be attending, so let Chi Pi know if you're interested in this project. And watch for more details soon. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EN Charity Carnival Fun for a good cause... [Kate Sojka, EN Chapter] On behalf of my chapter, I would like to invite you to participate in our second annual carnival on Saturday, October 16. The purpose behind this project is to donate money your booth raises to any philanthropy of your chapter's choice. Ideas for a booth include: face painting, pie throwing, or a dunking booth. The carnival will be held at SUNY Oswego in the student union over Family Weekend; since space is limited, activities like "elephant rides" will unfortunately not be allowed. If your chapter would like to at least consider having a booth you must contact me or Caryn Decovsky, VPS (via our post office address) by October 3. Most likely, a fellowship will conclude the project -- more details to follow. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Has Your Chapter Go a Section Representative Yet? A New Approach to Section Communication.... The topic of communication was raised at the Chapter Officer's Workshop, and we decided to try something a little new. In an effort to improve two-way communication between the section and chapters, I am asking each chapter to name a "Section Representative". This duty may be assigned to an existing office, or could be a new elected or appointed position, it really doesn't matter. The point is to provide a single point of contact between the chapter and the section. o The Section Rep should keep track of section events, receive Section Newsletters and announcements, and make sure that the chapter members are informed of upcoming events. o The Section Rep should coordinate chapter participation in Section events, and communicate with the event planners, so we know how many to expect to attend events from your chapter. o The Section Rep can poll chapter opinion on future section events and ideas, and relay information back to the section. o The Section Rep will allow me to have someone else to call and ask questions of besides just the chapter president, thereby reducing some hassle on already overworked presidents. o The Section Rep can be a contact point for other chapters wishing to contact your chapter, to plan joint events. o The Section Rep can submit items to the Section 89 News on behalf of your chapter (although anyone is always welcome to send in items) o The Section Rep can represent your chapter at Section meetings, such as "Sectional Advisory Committee" meetings usually held at conferences, and can represent chapter opinion on newly forming committees such as a "Section Awards Committee" or the "Section Leadership Development Grants Committee" In short the rep is someone to serve as a chapter contact to facilitate two-way communication between the chapter and the section. I don't anticipate it will take a great deal of time -just a few minutes a week reading incoming section mail, relaying the information to the chapter at meetings, gathering lists of who will attend section projects, and relaying information and opinions back the section staff. So, I ask each chapter to decide who your rep will be, and let me know their name, telephone #, address, and e-mail address (if applicable) as soon as possible, since we have some business already in progress just waiting for Section Reps! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- If you can spend a perfectly useless afternoon in a perfectly useless manner, you have learned how to live. [Lin Yutang] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Letchworth Project/Picnic "Weeds-be-gone..." 89 kicked the year off right away with a Service Project and Picnic at Letchworth State Park on September 11th. Yes, scary as it might sound, on a perfect Fall Saturday, over 30 APOers were set free on the trails wielding saws, clippers, weed-whackers and other implements of destruction. No vegetation was safe. Then, with appetites suitably whetted by the massive defoliation project, we retreated to a much more subdued picnic overlooking the gorge. Thanks to ABXi chapter for the project, and EG chapter for the picnic! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm Glad You Asked That... Questions and Answers to Common APO Queries I don't like my chapter anymore. Can I transfer to another chapter I like better? No. Well, at least, not very easily. You can't transfer to any chapter unless you actually register for classes at that school. Sorry, but unless you're willing to completely change schools for APO, you'll have to stick it out where you are. Of course, you can always try to improve your own chapter. You might find it isn't so bad afterall. Remember, "There's no place like home..." I have a friend at Transylvania State and sheĠd like to start an APO chapter there. What should she do? The first step in starting an APO chapter is to contact anyone from the National Organization. If you know the right person, contact that area's Section Chair or Region Director. Otherwise, just call the National Office (816 373-8667, Central time) and speak with Judy. She'll get the process started. Fred Pollack, National Membership & Extension Chair, and his committees have set up a well-oiled procedure for starting new chapters, and have a full network of "Extension Coordinators" to help new chapters get started. You say you want to start a new chapter right here in Western New York? Give me a call -- I happen to be the Western New York Extension Coordinator... I keep hearing about National Service Day. What's that all about? 1993 will mark the 14th anniversary of National Service Day for APO. The original idea is to have a theme around which everyone in the country does a project at the same time -- the first Saturday in November. One big idea behind National Service Day is to involve others outside of APO in our service - just like the founders intended... The 1992 National Convention selected "AIDS Awareness" as a theme for this year. Each chapter should have received packet of information all about National Service Day, including suggestions for project ideas. Yes, I know, the first Saturday in November is Sectionals this year. Fine. Feel free to do your project some other time - the weekend before or after, or during the week. The important thing is to do a project and do it well, not when you do it. Finally, when your chapter does a project for National Service Day, be sure to fill out the one-page "Project Sharing Form" included in the National Service Day packet. This type of information not only gives your chapter a chance to share your project with others, but gives important feedback to the National Service Committee about how to plan for future National Service Days. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Something New ! Wanna say "Hi" or "Thanks" to someone across the section? Just wanna send some confusing note to your favorite chapter? Now the Section 89 News will include a "Personal Ads" column. To submit an ad, just send it to Rick Bojko, either by e-mail or US Mail (see the contact information in the box at the end of this newsletter) and I'll print your ad in the next edition of the Section 89 News. - - - - - - - - - - - Hey ENu: Let's keep our heads up and our minds on Service ! Ray "Gadget" - - - - - - - - - - - To: Epsilon Nu: Kudos for an awesome Car Wash (In the Rain)!!! Laff, Xi Zeta chapter PS: Lets Do It Again!!! - - - - - - - - - - - Hey Scortch! Your mother called. You know what she said.... - - - - - - - - - - - To: Mu Lambda Great Party, Eh? Laff, Xi Zeta chapter PS: Lets Do It Again! (NOT!!!) - - - - - - - - - - Hey Y'all From Trail # 15: Remember, it's not the size of the whacker, but how you swing it that counts! - - - - - - - - - - - E-Funky-E: Write me sometime. My e-mail box is looking mighty empty! Rick. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Conferences 1993 Fall Sectionals: Nov. 5-7, Oneonta, NY (Xi Rho) 1993 Region I & II Conference: Dec. 27-30, Albany, NY 1994 Spring Sectionals: Apr. 15-17, Rochester, NY (Mu Lambda) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | Section 89 News | | | | The Section 89 News is published for Section 89 to provide | | communication from the Section Chair about upcoming events, | | important announcements, and amusement. Please send articles, | | news of events, or other comments to: | | | | Rick Bojko | | Section 89 Chair | | 700 Warren Rd, # 15-3D | | Ithaca, NY 14850 | | | | 607 257-9875 (H) 607 255-2329 (W) | | bojko@nnf.cornell.edu | +----------------------------------------------------------------+