APO Dream Tour

APO Dream Tour
by OJ Lopez, APO Pi Chapter 2005-A, Director for Fraternity '07-'09

When I got my US visa last November, it was just suppose to be me and my family spending the holiday season in the land of the free, away from any involvement in the APO world back in the Philippines... and so I thought.

December 25, 2008
8PM CST
Bedford, TX

Finally my parents agreed that I could spend time with APO members in the area. Being the only APO member in the family sometimes its hard to convince them that what I'm doing is something productive. Anyway, in the Reyes' residence was a gathering of the APO Dallas - Fort Worth AA wherein Pi Brod Bems Domingcil is its president. When we arrived my parents were impressed of the hospitality of the APO members. After dinner they left me there because they know I wouldn't be able to take off that easily. We had great food, drinks, and a lot of fun! After a few hours of food and drinks consumption...

A brod from Pi (my chaptermate) inquired...

Jun Tapay: Punta ka ba Boston Convention?
OJ: Hindi eh
JT: Pupunta ako, sama ka sa akin

... several hours later we were on our way! And I thought I was hallucinating!

APO USA Convention
December 27-30, 2008
Boston, MA

It was a blast! The convention was great, 2000+ brothers in attendance, a lot of workshops to choose from, service projects, legislative sessions and a variety of events that would appeal to everyone. They also have very helpful information service, and...

APO USA brothers know how to party!

Enjoy some pictures:

Jun Tapay, APO USA NP Maggie Katz, OJ, Mel Gonzales

with APO Phils NP Mel Adriano


Fellowship at Room 1258

with the Brothers from Maryland

with Brothers from Rho Gamma (CSU Long Beach) freezing in the snow

APO in the Snow!

December 28, 2008
Bridgeport, CT

Pi is family... we went to the wake of Bro. Leo's father to share his grief.

Pi Brods Rommel Artes, Jun Tapay, Leo Baltazar, and OJ

The City that Never Sleeps
December 31, 2008 - January 1, 2009
New York

I never thought at this point in time that I will be able to spend the New Year in New York!

Time Square

January 2-7, 2009
Philadelphia, PA

Its more than just the Philly cheese stake!

Party at the old city

with Philly party girl... hehehe

The Lafayette Experience

January 8, 2009
Lafayette College, Easton, PA

Need I say more?

My Thank Yous Ain't Enough

but I'll thank you all again anyway...

Bro Bems (kung hindi ka tumawag boring sana pasko ko), Bro Jun Tapay (You rock! from the plane ticket, hotel, food, etc but most of all for the brotherhood), Sis Tess & Bro Ivan Reyes and the rest of APO Dallas-Fort Worth, Bro Mel Gonzales (especially for the convention souvenirs), Bro Mel Adriano, Bro Joey Soriano, Bernie Castillo, Bro Leo Baltazar, Bro Ted Topacio and wife Nadine (sa paghatid sa NY and the pictures sa snow ), Bro Rommel Artes & Bro Jojo Bunao (adopting me while in NY), Edwin Jamora (sa pag drive around Philly), Sis Archy Savant (the best!), to all APO USA brothers who kept on partying even when the hotel marshalls told them to stop and to all APO Phils brods and sisters who I've met along the way, thank you for the warm handclasp.

Being in the fraternity for only 3 years (batch 2005-A), a collegiate member status, I am very much overwhelmed that I am able to travel the different places in the Philippines for being elected as the National Director for Fraternity. But I never imagined that I will be able to join in APO's international events and meet brethren in North America.

As a collegiate member, I say youth is not a hindrance to represent or an excuse to misrepresent our beloved Alpha Phi Omega. Our alumni members are always there to support us wherever they are in the globe, I will stand anywhere to testify to that. Alpha Phi Omega is the best!!!

Up to this point in writing this entry I am still on a "hangover" and kept on pinching myself if this was all a dream.

And I kept saying "ouch".

I guess this is not a dream after all.

Recruitment – a Chapter’s Life Blood

Recruitment – a Chapter’s Life Blood

by OJ Lopez, Pi Chapter GC 2006-2007

I joined APO in February 2005 at the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas - Pi Chapter, when March came there were many brods and sis who graduated. I was dismayed that there are few chapter residents left, so we brain stormed on recruitment strategies. And the best time to implement our plans is on the university's org fair, Recruitment 101. Blessed with the University's Recognition status we were able to setup a booth. We made very simple brochures, photocopied it and hand it out to students. With the support of the Pi Alumni from a handful of residents we made 5 times our number in less than one year without compromising the quality of members. This was evident, when we bagged the “Best Chapter Award” on 2007 convention. Now, Recruitment 101 is an annual tradition of Pi Chapter.

5 Helpful Tips on Effective Recruitment:

1. Quality and quantity. The first batch of Recruitment 101 we had an astounding 24 new members! But there are over 300 students we persuade to sign up in the recruitment booth before coming up with the 24. Recruit as many as you can. Talk to as many students as possible and choose the best men and women.

2. If you want something done, do it yourself. Don't be intimidated by your alumni and fellow residents. They are there to help you. Have the initiative to recruit. Involve brods or sis that are goal oriented and wants improvement in membership. After all who wants a dead chapter? Be the hero! Act Now!

3. You can't recruit who you do not know. During events and service projects we can invite non-APO students to join. Organize events that may entice students to take part of the activity. Usually, we have exclusive events, concerts / billiard tournaments / poker nights / sport fests / DOTA tournaments etc. We can capitalize on some of these events and make it open to the student populace. These way potential recruits can feel what it is like to be an APO. Sometimes, you don't even need to recruit them, they'll just knock on our doors. The important things are that we are able to get NAMES, and CONTACT DETAILS of potential applicants. After each event we can contact all students who attended the event and invite them for an orientation.

4. Be humble. It has been APO's tradition that applicants must humble themselves. We should realize that the potential applicants don't know a thing about APO. Before demanding for them to bow down and call us Lords / Ladies we should inform them the principles, purpose and activities of APO. Proper orientation can decrease chances of applicants quitting so they would have an idea of what to expect.

5. 10th Jewel, be brave! Inform your classmates, and friends in school about APO. You can also meet students outside your circle of friends, outside your college and tell them about APO. During the 2005 recruitment 101, we went from classroom to classroom just to check out pretty college girls and have recruitment as an excuse. Saying to them, "We are Alpha Phi Omega and we are accepting new applicants, so if you’re interested just contact us". Then we leave them brochures. A couple of hours later, students are actually contacting us. We did not only have recruits, some brods got new girlfriends too.

Bonus # 6. Invest in recruitment materials. As I have said all we have before is a mere photocopied brochure that is worth less than a peso each given to students. It worked! Now we have all kinds of stuff from bookmarks, paper fans, calendars, etc. Be creative and experiment on other promotional media. Also remember to put your contact numbers in your chosen media, so it would be easier for students to contact you. But the best recruitment and promotional material is you. What you are and what you do is a mirror of what an APO is. So put yourself in your recruits’ shoes and ask, “Would you want yourself to be your brod / sis?” If yes, be proud you're an APO. And share APO to everyone!

Recruit! Recruit! Recruit!

Mahalin APOng Pinaghirapan!

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