Alpha Phi Omega national conventions

Past National President, Dr. Fred Heismeyer, lights the convention candle with the Eternal Flame of Service at the 2006 APO-USA national convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

National conventions in Alpha Phi Omega are biennial gatherings of the respective national organization of the fraternity, in which official business is conducted and brothers from the various chapters in the organization meet to share ideas, expanding leadership, friendship, and service. In the very early years, decisions of the National Fraternity were conducted by mail. The first actual assembly of delegates in a convention was held in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 1–2, 1931. Seven of the fraternity's eighteen chapters were represented at this convention by a total of 23 students and advisors.^[1]

Alpha Phi Omega of the United States conducts biennial national conventions in even-numbered years, and as of 2015, forty-three conventions have been held. The last convention held was in Chicago, Illinois and the next will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Conventions were not held in 1942 and 1944 due to World War II, and a special Constitutional Convention was held in 1967. Alpha Phi Omega of the Philippines conducts biennial national conventions in odd-numbered years, and as of 2009, twenty-five conventions have been held.^[1]

In the US, national conventions are officially called to order by an opening ceremony in which the Eternal Flame of Service is brought forth by members of the Delta Omega chapter at the University of Houston. This tradition was started after the twenty-first national convention in Dallas, Texas. In the early hours of December 30, 1970, the delegates of the Delta Omega chapter met in a ceremony in the suite of H. Roe Bartle, with the newly elected members of the National Board of Directors and National President Aubrey B. Hamilton. Bartle lit a small blue candle then he in turn used to light a hurricane lamp, which was then passed from the blue candle to each of the board members' candles. He then joined the board members to light two four foot candles. The flame was then taken to Houston and allowed to burn while awaiting the completion of the Eternal Flame site.^[2]

Convention attendance has grown considerably through the years. In 1932, there were 88 members attending the convention^[3] and the largest convention attendance in the US to date has been 2,316 in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2002, and the largest number of chapters represented was 235 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2000.^[1]

United States

Number	Location	Theme	Notable Events	Dates	Attendance (attendees/chapters)	Refs
1st	Mailed Ballot			Dec 1926	?/1	[4]
2nd	Cornell University	Held Concurrently with 5th National Training Conference for Scout Executives		Sep 1928 and Dec 1928^[a]	?/6 or 7	[4]
3rd	Jefferson Hotel,[5] St. Louis, Missouri			Mar 1, 1931–Mar 2, 1931	23/9	[4][6]
4th	Hotel La Salle, Chicago, Illinois			Dec 28, 1932–Dec 29, 1932	88	[3][4]
5th	Hotel President, Kansas City, Missouri			Dec 28, 1934–Dec 29, 1934	230/21 chapters, 14 interest groups	[4][7]
6th	Camp Manatoc, Akron, Ohio	Tenth Anniversary Celebration.		Sep 4, 1936–Sep 6, 1936	?/26	[4]
7th	Hotel DeSoto, St. Louis, Missouri			Dec 28, 1938–Dec 29, 1938	274/51	[4]
8th	Antlers Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana	Service: Our Contribution to Americanism on College campuses.		Dec 28, 1940–Dec 29, 1940	312/54	[4][8]
9th^[b]	President Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri	Service: Our Contribution to a Peaceful World.		Dec 28, 1946–Dec 29, 1946	349/71	[4][8]
10th	Hotel La Salle, Chicago, Illinois	To Put Service to Others Ahead of Selfish Aims.		Dec 28, 1948–Dec 30, 1948	602/121 chapters	[4][6][8]
11th	Fort Des Moines Hotel, Des Moines, Iowa	25th Anniversary: The Past, Present and Future of Alpha Phi Omega.		Dec 28, 1950–Dec 30, 1950	~600/119	[4][8]
12th	Deshler-Wallick Hotel, Columbus, Ohio	Service Above Selfish Aims.		Dec 28, 1952–Dec 30, 1952	~500/135	[4][8]
13th	Schroeder Hotel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Service Past, Present and Future.		Dec 28, 1954–Dec 30, 1954	600+/121	[4][8][9][10]
14th	Wilton Hotel,[11] Long Beach, California			Aug 28, 1956–Aug 30, 1956	300+/85	[4][12]
15th	Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Austin, Texas	The Lone Star State in '58.		Aug 29, 1958–Sep 1, 1958	400+/97	[4]
16th	Benjamin Franklin Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	35th Anniversary		Dec 28, 1960–Dec 30, 1960	843/156	[4]
17th	University of Kansas City and Bellerive Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri	Lead in Service.		Dec 27, 1962–Dec 29, 1962	?/156+	[4][8][13]
18th	Brown Palace Hotel, Denver, Colorado	40th Anniversary		Dec 27, 1964–Dec 29, 1964	713/163	[4][8][9]
19th	Radisson Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota	In Brotherhood- Carry On.		Dec 27, 1966–Dec 29, 1966	1,000+/210+	[4][8][14]
19.5 ^[c]	University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma	Constitutional Convention		Dec 27, 1967–Dec 29, 1967	247/247	[4][8]
20th	Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.	Hand in Hand In Service.		Dec 27, 1968–Dec 29, 1968	1,603/273 (record attendees until 1992)	[4][8][15]
21st	Marriott Motor Hotel, Dallas, Texas	The Three Worlds of Alpha Phi Omega, Tell It Like It Is, Let's Be Significant.		Dec 27, 1970–Dec 29, 1970		[4][8]
22nd	Denver Hilton, Denver, Colorado	Extend A Helping Hand To Your Fellow Man.		Dec 27, 1972–Dec 29, 1972	~1,000	[4][8]
23rd	Stouffer’s Riverfront Inn, St. Louis, Missouri	Golden Opportunities to Serve.		Dec 27, 1974–Dec 29, 1974	900+	[4][8][9]
24th	Marriott Motor Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia	Service - The Spirit of '76.		Dec 27, 1976–Dec 29, 1976	~1,100	[4][8]
25th	Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee	A Bold Heritage - A Bright Future.		Dec 27, 1978–Dec 29, 1978	~1,000	[4][8]
26th	Marriott Hotel, Los Angeles, California	Lighting the World Through Service.		Dec 27, 1980–Dec 29, 1980	632	[4]
27th	Hyatt Regency Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri	Show Me Service.		Dec 28, 1982–Dec 30, 1982	922	[4][8]
28th	Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.	A Monument to Service.		Dec 28, 1984–Dec 30, 1984	1,425	[4][8][9]
29th	Hyatt Regency Houston, Houston, Texas	Service - The Finest Frontier.		Dec 28, 1986–Dec 30, 1986	1,334/149	[4][8]
30th	Denver Marriott City Center, Denver, Colorado	Service Above All.		Dec 27, 1988–Dec 30, 1988	993/128	[4][8]
31st	Clarion Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri	Service - Gateway to Our Future.		Dec 27, 1990–Dec 30, 1990	1,430/188	[4][8]
32nd	Park Plaza and Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts	Leading the Way to Service.		Dec 27, 1992–Dec 30, 1992	2,000/~220	[4][8][15]
33rd	Hyatt Regency DFW Airport, Dallas/Ft. Worth	Deep in the Heart of Service.		Dec 27, 1994–Dec 30, 1994	1,940/222 (75th cd says ~1,600)	[4][9][16]
34th	Hyatt Regency, Phoenix, Arizona	Rising to Serve.		Dec 27, 1996–Dec 30, 1996	1,585/~210	[4][17]
35th	Hyatt Regency, Minneapolis, Minnesota	Leadership, Friendship and Service: SnowBalled Into One.		Dec 27, 1998–Dec 30, 1998	1,781/227	[4][18]
36th	Philadelphia Marriott Downtown/Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Celebrating our Heritage, Forging Our Future.		Dec 27, 2000–Dec 30, 2000	2,086/235	[1][4][19]
37th	Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana	Brotherhood on the Bayou		Dec 27, 2002–Dec 30, 2002	2316	[1][20]
38th	Adam's Mark, Denver, Colorado	Service at its Peak		Dec 27, 2004–Dec 30, 2004	1,488	[21][22]
39th	Galt House, Louisville, Kentucky	Unbridled Service		Dec 27, 2006–Dec 30, 2006	1,652	[23]
40th	Sheraton Boston, Boston, Massachusetts	Revolutionary Brotherhood		Dec 27, 2008– Dec 30, 2008	2,075	[24]
41st	Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia	Dream * Lead * Serve		Dec 27, 2010– Dec 30, 2010		[24]
42nd	Anaheim Marriott Hotel, Anaheim, California	Time to Shine[25]		Dec 27, 2012– Dec 30, 2012		[24][26][27][28]
43rd	Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Chicago, Illinois	Inspire, Innovate, IGNITE		Dec 27, 2014– Dec 30, 2014
44th	TBD, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	TBD		Dec 27, 2016– Dec 30, 2016

a. ^{^} Convention held in September 1926 concurrently with Fifth National Training Conference of Scout Executives. This Conference was held from Sep 6, 1928–Sep 12, 1928 The detailed voting occurred by Mail Ballot held in Dec 1926.^[4][29]

b. ^{^} Conventions were not held during World War II (1942 and 1944).^[1] The 1942 Convention was planned for Kansas City, Missouri^[30] and changed by vote of the chapters to a mail ballot at the request of the Office of Defense Transportation (ODT).^[31]

c. ^{^} The 1967 Constitutional Convention in Norman, OK is not considered a National Convention, as it was a special conference. Only one delegate per chapter were allowed.^[1]

Philippines

National conventions for Alpha Phi Omega Philippines are biennial gatherings which are currently conducted in odd numbered years. It is where official business is conducted by the General Assembly composed of brothers and sisters from the various chapters and alumni/alumnae associations meeting to share ideas, and to expand leadership, friendship, and service.

Number	Location	Theme	Dates	Chair	Host	Refs
1st	Philippine Normal College Auditorium, Ermita, Manila	Unity for Service	Sep 13, 1953	Librado I. Ureta, Alpha ’50	Beta Chapter	[32][33][34][35]
2nd	Boy Scouts of the Philippines Building, Ermita, Manila		Dec 17, 1955–Dec 18, 1955		Epsilon Chapter	[34][35][36][37]
3rd	Boy Scouts of the Philippines Building, Ermita, Manila and University of the Philippines, Diliman Diliman, Quezon City		Dec 6, 1958–Dec 7, 1958		Eta Chapter	[34][35]
4th	University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Los Baños, Laguna		Dec 18, 1960–Dec 19, 1960		Theta Chapter	[34][35]
5th	National University, Sampaloc, Manila	Revitalizing the Alpha Phi Omega Spirit	December 22, 1962-December 23, 1962		Beta Chapter	[34][35][38]
6th	Mapúa Institute of Technology, Intramuros, Manila	Humility, Integrity, Honesty for a Better Nation	Mar 6, 1965–Mar 7, 1965	Ignacio J. Sevilla, Sr., Alpha ’50	Delta chapter	[34][35][39][40]
7th	Far Eastern University, Sampaloc, Manila	For God and Country	December 15, 1968–December 16, 1968		Alpha chapter	[34][35][40]
8th	UPLB, Los Baños, Laguna	Alpha Phi Omega Answers the Nation’s Call	December 17, 1971–December 19, 1971	Rolando V. Virtucio, Theta ’62	Theta chapter	[34][35][40]
9th ^[d]	Baptist Camp, Mariveles, Bataan	Alpha Phi Omega: Its Role in Contemporary Philippines	March 25, 1976–March 28, 1976	Librado I. Ureta, Alpha ’50	National Council	[34][35][41]
10th	Camp 7, Minglanilla, Cebu	Towards the Strengthening of Organizational Leadership in the Alpha Phi Omega in the Next Decade	March 30, 1979–Apr 1, 1979	Manuel A. Reyes, Alpha Zeta ’66	Region VII & National Council	[34][35][42]
11th	Kabataang Barangay Training Center, Malasag, Cagayan de Oro City	The Fraternity and Sorority: Their Relevance and Challenges in the 80’s	December 27, 1981–December 30, 1981	Angel A. Tuason, Eta ’71	Region X & National Council	[34][35][42]
12th	Bagong Lipunan Settlement Project, Bamban, Tarlac	Continuing Accent on Organizational Development and Service	May 27, 1983–May 29, 1983	Jose V. Cutaran, Alpha Pi	Region III & National Council	[34][35]
13th	Boy Scouts of the Philippines Camp, Mount Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna	Alpha Phi Omega Ideology: A New Dimension Towards Genuine Service and Commitment	December 14, 1985–December 16, 1985	Marlyn A. Pimentel-Neri, Theta ’70	National Council	[33][34][35]
14th	People's Center Tacloban City/Commission on Audit Training Center, Palo, Leyte	Professionalism (in A PHI O) toward National Solidarity	December 19, 1987–December 21, 1987	Jose Antonio L. Dimaano, Pi ’74	Region VIII & National Council	[34][35]
15th	GSP Camp Alano, Toril, Davao City	Service for Peace (Paglilingkod Para sa Kapayapaan)	May 26, 1989–May 28, 1989	Paul A. Balagat, Alpha Omicron ’69	Region XI & National Council	[33][34][35]
16th	Bulwagang Balagtas, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila, Santa Mesa, Manila	Reflections: The APhiO Culture (Balik-Tanaw:Ang Kulturang APhiO)	May 24, 1991–May 26, 1991	Angel A. Lansi, Jr., Gamma Pi ’78	NCR & National Council	[34][35][43]
17th	University of the Philippines, Visayas, Miag-ao, Iloilo	The Alpha Phi Omega and the Filipino Values	May 21, 1993–May 23, 1993	Marlyn A. Pimentel-Neri, Theta ’70	Region VI & National Council	[34][35]
18th	Feliciano and Sons Convention Center, Tetuan, Zamboanga City	Think Global, Act Local	May 27, 1995–May 29, 1995	Ronald S. Devesa, Pi ’67	Region IX & National Council	[33][34][35][44]
19th	Teachers Camp, Baguio City, Benguet	Brotherhood…Its True and Honorable Essence in Retrospect	May 2, 1997–May 4, 1997	Jose Antonio L. Dimaano, Pi	Region I & National Council	[33][34][35][45]
20th	Greenheights Convention and Business Center, Buhangin, Davao City	Towards the Golden Year: A Force to Reckon With	May 7, 1999–May 9, 1999	Agaton C. Labrador, Jr., Nu ’74	Region XI	[33][34][35]
21st	George Dewey Convention Center, Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City, Zambales	Zoom! Into the 21st Century	May 25, 2001–May 27, 2001	Noraida P. Velarmino, Alpha Sigma ’82	Region III & National Council	[33][35][46]
22nd	Garden Royale Convention Center, Goldenfields Commercial Complex, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental	Capturing a New Generation of Leaders	May 22, 2003–May 25, 2003	Teddie Elson E. Rivera, Alpha Rho ’71	Region VI-B & National Council	[35][44][47]
23rd	Provincial Convention Center Capitol Hills and New Surigao City Government Complex, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte	APO Now and Beyond: Sustaining the Gains of Leadership, Friendship and Service	May 25, 2005–May 28, 2005	Luzviminda F. Fopalan-Lumang, Theta ’63	Surigao City AA, Epsilon Gamma Chapter & National Council	[35][46][48][49]
24th	Tagaytay International Convention Center, Tagaytay City, Cavite	Bridging Generations Through Service.	May 3, 2007–May 6, 2007	Hilda A. Sacay-Clave, Alpha Mu ’77	Kabite AA, Sigma AA & Mississauga AA	[35][46][50][51]
25th	Ecovillage Resort and Convention Center, Boracay Island, Aklan	Great Leap Forward, Towards Excellence	May 28, 2009–May 31, 2009	Nobella S. Tombokon, Psi '70	APO Boracay	[52]
26th	Grand Caprice Convention Center, Limketkai Center, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City	One Vision in The Second Decade of the Third Millennium	May 26, 2011–May 29, 2011	Erlinda S. Unabia, Alpha Rho '79	APO-OCA (Alpha Phi Omega Oro City Alumni Association)	[53][54]
27th	Legazpi City, Albay	Together as one: Rooted and Grounded on Service	May 23, 2013–May 26, 2013	George Gerald "Donjie" Baccay	Gamma Xi AA (Gamma Xi Alumni Association)	[55][56]
28th	Dumaguete, Negros Oriental		May 21, 2015–May 24, 2015			[57]

d. ^{^} 1973(?) Convention was temporarily suspended due to the imposition of Martial Law by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Group assembly without approval punishable by incarceration.^[41]

References

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2. "The Eternal Flame." Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega. Last Revised on January 11, 2005. Retrieved on October 6, 2007.
3. Boys Life March 1933 p23, p49, and p 50
4. Alpha Phi Omega 75 Years of History CD
5. $19 million Jefferson Arms buy sets next Pyramid rehab | St. Louis Business Journal
6. Highlights of the first 25 years
7. Torch & Trefoil. Winter, 1998. Vol. 75, No. 2. p. 15
8. Alpha Phi Omega History Book (1925-1993) pp 92-98
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10. The Milwaukee Journal - Nov 8, 1954
11. The Sky Room Captivates - Press-Telegram
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13. Torch & Trefoil. November 1962. Vol. 37, No. 6. p. 11.
14. Alpha Phi Omega Board Meeting Minutes 7 October 1967
15. Torch & Trefoil. Winter, 1995. Vol. 71, No. 2. p. 12
16. Torch & Trefoil. Fall, 1994. Vol. 70, No. 1. p. 16.
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22. December 30, 2004 Board Minutes
23. Torch & Trefoil. Fall, 2006. Vol. 83, No. 1. p. 13.
24. Alpha Phi Omega convention web site
25. 2012 National Convention
26. Torch & Trefoil, Spring 2009
27. Hotel
28. 2010 Alpha Phi Omega National Convention
29. April 1928 Scouting Magazine
30. Torch & Trefoil. May 1942. Vol. 17, No. 5. p. 2.
31. Torch & Trefoil. November 1942. Vol. 17, No. 8. p. 5.
32. Torch & Trefoil. Winter, 2003. Vol. 80, No. 2. p. 15.
33. History of APO in the Philippines
34. Delta Nu chapter history
35. National Biennial Conventions
36. Torch & Trefoil. March 1956. Vol. 31, No. 3. p. 2.
37. Online copy of the March 1956 T&T Cover and information
38. Torch & Trefoil. December 1962. Vol. 37, No. 7. p. 7.
39. 6th APO convention
40. APO National Sorority History
41. Communication from Jess Castillo
42. Eastern Visayas RDD listing
43. Manila Standard - May 22, 1991
44. ICAPO. QUO VADIS?
45. APO Australia FAQ
46. APO USA National OfficersZeta Omega chapter of APO-Phil
47. APO-Phil Convention sites?
48. APO gathers for 23rd national biennial convention Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
49. "National Biennial Convention 2005." Alpha Mu Chapter Alumni Association. March 28, 2005. Retrieved on October 6, 2007.
50. Bro Mel AdrianoSecures APO Philippines Presidency
51. APO Phil 24th Convention Promotion Video
52. APO Boracay is host for the 25th Biennial Convention Archived June 17, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
53. APO Philippines 26th Biennial Convention
54. Fraternity adopts no hazing policy
55. Alpha Phi Omega National Biennial Convention 2013
56. Legazpi City hosts APO midyear confab
57. Dumaguete City to host the 28th APO Philippines National Biennial Conference in 2015