Alpha Tau Omega - University of Florida

By John B. Marion IV '77, Board of Trustees Chairman W hen I volunteered to lead our Chapter's Board of Trustees almost nine years ago, our Chapter was in desperate need of a plan for the future of Alpha Omega—a plan to rehabilitate Chapter operations and governance, to strengthen membership standards and leadership, and to increase and sustain a broader engagement of alumni; and while doing these important tasks, to raise more than $4 million to preserve Alpha Omega's physical presence at the historic entrance of the University of Florida campus. Together, with generous contributions of time, effort, and dollars from many of you, we have embraced these challenges and set the foundation for generations of new Alpha Omegans to enjoy the brotherhood experience we have each been fortunate to share. The renovated Tau Mansion, celebrated with a grand reopening in fall 2015, now stands as a symbol of both the fraternity's proud history and promising future at the University of Florida. Our active members are accomplishing more, both personally and fraternally, through added emphasis on core fraternity ideals, Chapter compliance, a more responsible annual budget and operational plan, and a renewed enthusiasm for setting Chapter goals and working persistently to achieve them. In fact, as this newsletter highlights, the Chapter received top honors among other Alpha Tau Omega Chapters nationally by earning the Chapter's 13th True Merit Award in 2015. Additionally, the chapter was recognized on campus as the Interfraternity Council Chapter of the Year, distinguishing Alpha Omega as the best among 25 IFC fraternities at UF during 2015. Spring 2016 ALPHA OMEGAN the A L P H A T A U O M E G A F R A T E R N I T Y A T T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F F L O R I D A ALPHA TAU OMEGA LAUNCHES 2016 AS TOP CHAPTER ON CAMPUS Chapter Awarded 13th True Merit Award I n any other year, the opening of a renovated, state-of-the- art Chapter house may have been the high point of the Chapter's activities. In 2015, however, the active Chapter had bigger goals and perhaps one of the most organized, most committed leadership teams in recent history that remained focused on representing even more than an exceptional Chapter facility on campus. Last October, the Chapter earned a deserved, albeit delayed, acknowledgement with the True Merit Award from the National Fraternity. After a reconsideration of the Chapter's annual report at the urging of the Chapter's executive officers, ATW's Chief Executive Officer, Wynn Smiley, traveled personally to Gainesville to present the chapter with the fraternity's top honor as a True Merit Award recipient. The 2015 award marks the 13th True Merit Award presented to the Chapter since the award's introduction in 1969, four of which have been earned in the last six years. Alpha Omega also earned True Merit in 1969, 1974, 1979, 1989, 1990, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2011, and 2012. At the end of 2015, the University of Florida honored the Alpha Omega Chapter as the Chapter of the Year for the University's Interfraternity Council. Out of 25 fraternities represented in the council at UF, Alpha Omega earned the top honor, recognizing the fraternity's positive impact in the community in terms of social service, campus involvement, and member GPA. The Chapter was also recognized with the Multicultural Initiative of the Year award. Together, these awards from the national fraternity and the university tell the story of a Chapter embracing the momentum of principled and committed leadership; of a more engaged alumni base reinvesting in Chapter resources, facilities, and management; and of the unlimited potential this cooperative enthusiasm for the future of Alpha Omega can achieve when exercised effectively. Guided by the successes of 2015, Alpha Omega is on track for competing for even higher honors in the national fraternity and for continuing its leadership within the interfraternity community at UF in the semesters to come. Former Worthy Master Smith Meyers '13 accepts the award for Interfraternity Council Chapter of the Year on behalf of the Alpha Omega Chapter during the 2015 UF Greek Awards ceremony. Alpha Omega Prospers Thanks to Alumni Support Continue to Help the Chapter Grow (Continued on page 2)

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