As we conclude Alpha Omega’s 41^st academic year, I would like to share with you a blueprint for the future direction of AOGA, Inc., as consensually adopted by the Brothers assembled at this year’s Annual Pig Dinner AOGA Membership Meeting.

If I have learned anything in my three years as President of AOGA, it is that this organization has evolved over the years into a small business. Coordinating and managing the operations of the house and the various programs and activities of the Graduate Association can, sometimes, be quite challenging. I have been fortunate to have had a terrific group of Brothers helping me along the way. However, in order for this organization to remain relevant to the needs of the undergraduate chapter and to self-perpetuate, we must now move forward with certain organizational changes.

Board of Chapter Advisors

First, and foremost, we need to continue the implementation of separating the functions of the House Corporation and the Board of Chapter Advisors. The BCA must be able to focus solely on undergraduate chapter operations and be comprised oflocal (and that is the key word here) graduates, from both our chapter and other Fiji chapters, resident in the central/southeastern Ohio region. The key to a successful BCA is that we have graduate brothers who are willing to take the time to be in regular and direct (face-to-face) contact with the undergrads to both mentor and guide them. The key to perpetuating a successful undergraduate chapter is to ensure continuity from one academic year to the next and from each undergraduate cabinet to the next to avoid unnecessary risk management violations that have claimed so many Fiji Chapters in the state of Ohio this academic year.

So, with this goal in mind, and under the direction of Matt Dixon (Ohio Wesleyan ‘99) our Section Chief, we will be taking the summer months to assemble a group of Fiji grads from any Phi Gam Chapter resident in the central/southeastern Ohio area willing to serve on the BCA. If you live in the greater Columbus, Cincinnati, or Southeastern Ohio area, I hope that you will strongly consider lending your FIJI spirit and pride to this great opportunity by giving back to our chapter some of the benefits that you have derived from being an Alpha Omega FIJI.  Matt may be reached at Matthew_Dixon@ml.com.

House Corporation/Graduate Association

The role and staffing of the Board of The Alpha Omega Graduate Association is of equal importance and significance. As you all know, AOGA, Inc. has evolved over the years and today serves as both a house corporation and a graduate association to our members.  Operating and managing the physical plant at 20 South College Street requires the involvement of individuals who are familiar with the management of rental real estate and the provision of food services. The graduate association function incorporates programming for the annual Norris Pig Dinner, operation of the various golf outings, management of the website, evaluation of scholarship applications, fund raising, editing and publishing of periodic newsletters, and the management of more than 700 graduate addresses.

Because the House Corporation function, especially, is so very vital to the success and perpetuation of our undergraduate chapter, it is clear to me that AOGA’s President and other Officers really need to reside in the Ohio region as well. Trying to manage the house/board operations long distance is just too difficult a task, especially now, when we are faced with so many initiatives to maintain our competitiveness with University Housing. Additionally, I think the other Directors of the Board should also be grads residing in the general Ohio vicinity. As we move forward, the need to regularly meet and discuss issues and put action plans into place is vital for our Association’s success.

Special AOGA Membership Meeting, Scheduled for October 6, 2007

With these thoughts and observations in mind, the Brothers gathered at this year’s Annual Pig Dinner Membership Meeting adopted a plan to transition the composition of AOGA’s Officers and Board Members to some of the over 350 graduate brothers residing in, and around, the state of Ohio. At Pig Dinner, an interim Board was elected which will remain in office until October 6^th, when, at a Special AOGA Membership Meeting (which will be held in Columbus), a new slate of regionally based Officers and Directors will be elected. At that meeting, I will be stepping down as the President of the Graduate Association.

Retired, former AOGA Presidents Dave Slater’67 and Ron Sages’73 have graciously agreed to assist the interim Board and me in this transition. Dave, Ron and I are available to answer any questions anyone may have concerning the house operations and the management of AOGA, Inc.

Get Involved

Brothers, the time to get involved and assure the successful future of our Chapter & Graduate Association is right now! I hope that if you live in Ohio, or close to Athens in KY or WV, you will seriously consider serving AOGA on its Board, or, as a member of the undergraduate Chapter’s Board of Chapter Advisors. Please feel free to contact Dave Slater (slaterd@bellsouth.net), Ron Sages (rsages@chapinasset.com) or me (john.cassese@concentriccomunications.com) to discuss your involvement and to answer any questions you may have. I can tell you, without hesitation, that it has been one of the most rewarding and exciting opportunities that I have ever had. I have been proud to serve my graduate brothers as your President. And I look forward to continuing my involvement with the Fraternity in new capacities.

As we conclude Alpha Omega’s 41^st academic year, I would like to share with you a blueprint for the future direction of AOGA, Inc., as consensually adopted by the Brothers assembled at this year’s Annual Pig Dinner AOGA Membership Meeting.

If I have learned anything in my three years as President of AOGA, it is that this organization has evolved over the years into a small business. Coordinating and managing the operations of the house and the various programs and activities of the Graduate Association can, sometimes, be quite challenging. I have been fortunate to have had a terrific group of Brothers helping me along the way. However, in order for this organization to remain relevant to the needs of the undergraduate chapter and to self-perpetuate, we must now move forward with certain organizational changes.

Board of Chapter Advisors

First, and foremost, we need to continue the implementation of separating the functions of the House Corporation and the Board of Chapter Advisors. The BCA must be able to focus solely on undergraduate chapter operations and be comprised oflocal (and that is the key word here) graduates, from both our chapter and other Fiji chapters, resident in the central/southeastern Ohio region. The key to a successful BCA is that we have graduate brothers who are willing to take the time to be in regular and direct (face-to-face) contact with the undergrads to both mentor and guide them. The key to perpetuating a successful undergraduate chapter is to ensure continuity from one academic year to the next and from each undergraduate cabinet to the next to avoid unnecessary risk management violations that have claimed so many Fiji Chapters in the state of Ohio this academic year.

So, with this goal in mind, and under the direction of Matt Dixon (Ohio Wesleyan ‘99) our Section Chief, we will be taking the summer months to assemble a group of Fiji grads from any Phi Gam Chapter resident in the central/southeastern Ohio area willing to serve on the BCA. If you live in the greater Columbus, Cincinnati, or Southeastern Ohio area, I hope that you will strongly consider lending your FIJI spirit and pride to this great opportunity by giving back to our chapter some of the benefits that you have derived from being an Alpha Omega FIJI.  Matt may be reached at Matthew_Dixon@ml.com.

House Corporation/Graduate Association

The role and staffing of the Board of The Alpha Omega Graduate Association is of equal importance and significance. As you all know, AOGA, Inc. has evolved over the years and today serves as both a house corporation and a graduate association to our members.  Operating and managing the physical plant at 20 South College Street requires the involvement of individuals who are familiar with the management of rental real estate and the provision of food services. The graduate association function incorporates programming for the annual Norris Pig Dinner, operation of the various golf outings, management of the website, evaluation of scholarship applications, fund raising, editing and publishing of periodic newsletters, and the management of more than 700 graduate addresses.

Because the House Corporation function, especially, is so very vital to the success and perpetuation of our undergraduate chapter, it is clear to me that AOGA’s President and other Officers really need to reside in the Ohio region as well. Trying to manage the house/board operations long distance is just too difficult a task, especially now, when we are faced with so many initiatives to maintain our competitiveness with University Housing. Additionally, I think the other Directors of the Board should also be grads residing in the general Ohio vicinity. As we move forward, the need to regularly meet and discuss issues and put action plans into place is vital for our Association’s success.

Special AOGA Membership Meeting, Scheduled for October 6, 2007

With these thoughts and observations in mind, the Brothers gathered at this year’s Annual Pig Dinner Membership Meeting adopted a plan to transition the composition of AOGA’s Officers and Board Members to some of the over 350 graduate brothers residing in, and around, the state of Ohio. At Pig Dinner, an interim Board was elected which will remain in office until October 6^th, when, at a Special AOGA Membership Meeting (which will be held in Columbus), a new slate of regionally based Officers and Directors will be elected. At that meeting, I will be stepping down as the President of the Graduate Association.

Retired, former AOGA Presidents Dave Slater’67 and Ron Sages’73 have graciously agreed to assist the interim Board and me in this transition. Dave, Ron and I are available to answer any questions anyone may have concerning the house operations and the management of AOGA, Inc.

Get Involved

Brothers, the time to get involved and assure the successful future of our Chapter & Graduate Association is right now! I hope that if you live in Ohio, or close to Athens in KY or WV, you will seriously consider serving AOGA on its Board, or, as a member of the undergraduate Chapter’s Board of Chapter Advisors. Please feel free to contact Dave Slater (slaterd@bellsouth.net), Ron Sages (rsages@chapinasset.com) or me (john.cassese@concentriccomunications.com) to discuss your involvement and to answer any questions you may have. I can tell you, without hesitation, that it has been one of the most rewarding and exciting opportunities that I have ever had. I have been proud to serve my graduate brothers as your President. And I look forward to continuing my involvement with the Fraternity in new capacities.