Alpha Phi Omega

Alpha Phi Omega is a National Service Fraternity. It has been co-ed since 1976 at the national level, although some chapters are still all male under a grandfather clause. I have a lot of friends from Alpha Phi Omega. The cardinal principals of Alpha Phi Omega are Friendship, Leadership, and Service. We have four areas of service: Campus, Community, Nation, and Members.

I first heard about Alpha Phi Omega when I was in High School. I was involved in Boy Scouts and Order of the Arrow, and was involved with running an annual Camporee for approximately 1000 scouts and leaders involving upwards of 100 staff members each year. We would often have Alpha Phi Omega Chapters Volunteer to help with the staffing as part of their Community Service.

When I got to Iowa State, there was no active chapter of Alpha Phi Omega on campus, but by the end of my Sophomore year, we had established an official interest group, and by the beginning of my Senior year, we had been rechartered as Xi Chapter.

I have attended the National Conference in 1994 in Dallas, Texas, and in 1996 in Pheonix, Arizona. It is being held in 1998 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and I am looking forward to attending.