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The idea of undertaking such a monumental task of forming a new fraternity at the University of Dayton began in the minds of Mr. Cort A. O”Neil and Mr. Jason Fritz early in the first semester of 1990 at UD. Both students have had prior scouting experience and have become Eagle Scouts. Mr. O'Neil and Mr. Fritz are members of the national subcommittee of the Order of the Arrow. They wanted to extend the scouting tradition to others on the UD campus.
When Zeta Delta chapter at Miami (Ohio) University learned of this group forming, they pledged their support by sending numerous officers and representatives to UD. They provided a friendly introduction to Alpha Phi Omega and answered questions the core group had. The Zeta Delta chapter also invited the core group to a joint service project at Miami U. to get acquainted with Alpha Phi Omega's commitment to serve the campus and community.
Interest at UD increased and the core group began to have their own meetings and started to get ideas on the production of the chapter by-laws. The first campus service project began on the morning of Marsh 23, 1991 with participation in the University Activities Organization's project Clean Sweep . This cooperative service project among the fraternities and service organizations at UD was aimed at cleaning up the campus. Clean Sweep was a success and the UD group was on their way to becoming another great Alpha Phi Omega chapter.
Information was posted on campus to gain prospective members. The number of meetings grew as well as membership. At that point there were already appox. 14 members including the original group. Plans were laid out to create the first draft of the chapter by-laws. After revisions were completed to the by-laws, temporary officers were elected from the original core group. Mr. Cort O'Neil was elected temporary president with Mr. Hoag as the Service Vice-President, Mr. Jeff Jacobson as the Membership Vice-President, Mr. Alex Deschapellas as the Fellowship Vice-President, Miss Michelle Alberti as the Recording Secretary, Mr. Jeff Geiser as the Treasurer, Miss Lori Buzek as the Sgt. At Arms, Mr. Mike Klosterman and Mr. Aaron Fleming as the chapter Historians, and Mr. Todd Pucko as the Public Relations Chairman.
The University of Dayton Alpha Phi Omega group became known to many other sectional chapters April 12 th to April 14 th 1991 at the Sectional Conference at Rho Theta chapter at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. Several members from UD attended the conference and learned a great deal more about Alpha Phi Omega by attending workshops centered on service and scouting.
When the 1990-91 school year came to a close, the UD Alpha Phi Omega group continued on through the summer. Several members participated in community service projects in which the proceeds when to various charities. By the end of the summer, the required number of service projects to become chartered (10) was not only met, but exceeded. Eleven service projects were completed with different members participating.
When the new 1991-92 school year approached, things got a little bit confusing and the chapter seemed disorganized. By the time of the first meeting, in early September, so many things had to get done in a hurry, especially completing the equivalent of 40 man-hours of paper work that had to be sent to the national office. This work, in which everyone participated, was necessary to obtain the charter. The work was completed on time thanks to the help of all of the members.
The second meeting of the first semester was a great success. Two new advisors were a welcomed addition to the chapter. Mrs. Barb Deschapelles and Mr. Nick Cardilino, who both are the chapter's new staff/faculty advisors. This meeting also saw some new members.
IN November officer elections took place to make these positions official. Cort O'Neil was elected chapter President, Matt Hoag became Service V.P., Aaron Fleming the Fellowship V.P., Mindi Dorfman-Wynne as Secretary, Jeff Geiser the Treasurer, Sharla Rohrbacher the Public Relations chair, Mike Klosterman the chapter Historian, and Stever Albright the Sgt. At Arms. A few months later Aaron Fleming was unable to complete his term so Todd Pucko was elected the new Fellowship V.P.
On December 18,1991 the Alpha Gamma Xi chapter of Alpha Phi Omega received its charter. By January they started the first rush and pledge program, inducting six new members in April. From that point on, The Alpha Gamma Xi chapter has continued growth and commitment to service to the campus and community through their work with Womanline and Daybreak and many other local organizations. IN the spring of 1996, the Alpha Gamma Xi chapter of Alpha Phi Omega was named the University's Best Service Organization by the Organization Advisory Council for their wide variety of service opportunities and work with other campus and community organizations. On April 3 rd , 1997, the Alpha Gamma Xi chapter was rewarded for a year of fast growth and its commitment to promoting Leadership, Friendship and Service on the UD campus and in the greater Dayton community by being named the University's Top Organization in the Overall category. The entire campus of the University of Dayton now looked to Alpha Phi Omega as the organization to model their service and leadership programs after.