While Frank Reed Horton was a naval officer, as president of several court-martial during World War I, he found a lack of proper influence in the lives of the young men that were serving their country with him. As a student at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., Frank thought he discovered that “Standard of Manhood”. It was the Scout Oath and Law, a promise which fifty percent of college males in the nation had taken at that time. Frank became actively involved in Scouting, but it did not satisfy his need for an organization of his peers, which followed the principals of Scouting. On December 16, 1925, Frank Reed Horton founded such an organization. It was a Greek letter organization rooted in the traditions of Scouting, a fraternity whose cardinal principals were to serve as the lamp posts that guide the future of young men. This organization became Alpha Phi Omega. Our name, constitution and by-laws are all the work of Frank R. Horton. Alpha Phi Omega is proud to have claimed as brothers governors, educators, leaders in the field of commerce and industry, senators, doctors; these men point with pride to Alpha Phi Omega, the cornerstone of meaningful life. It is these same men that look to us to uphold the ideals which they have perpetuated: Leadership, Friendship, Service.
Today APO is the National Service Fraternity. Since the initiation of the fourteen original members of that first chapter, over 190,000 men and women have participated in the Brotherhood in over 600 chapters nationwide.
By March 1960 twenty members were assembled and officers elected. The first officers were President Don Evans, First Vice President Don Morrow, second Vice President Joe Trodahll, Secretary Sam Maszko and Ron Depaolo, Treasure Dave Linaberry, Historian Dave Cornelius. Our faculty advisors Rev. Williams, Mr. Hack Ridge, Dr. Sam Zeller, Dr. Dan Gilbert, and Dr. Hakenberg. Our Scouting Advisors were Chief Wilcox, Jack Hauser, Bob Lewis and Mr. Heller.
On April 8, 1960 we were accepted by letter by both the college and scout office to participate as a service organization. Our projects that semester were handing petitions to abolish the sales tax on college text books, a coat check service at dances, and a Cancer Fund drive.
The following year, 1960 through 1961, our project were much more impressive; on October 28, 1960, we ushered at a campaign speech, which Senator John F. Kennedy gave at Johson Hall in his campaign for the position of president of the United States. Other projects, some becoming traditional, were Ugly Man Contest, the Snow Sculpture contest, the student-Faculty Art contest, the Klondike Derby, and maintenance of the chapel’s bulletin board, participation in the Spring Festival and Carnival. Also for the first time we participated in social events: placing a float in the Homecoming parade, and the fraternity picnic.
Of major importance in the 1960-1961 school year was the recognition of the Fraternity on December 6th as a campus organization by the United Student Government. The most important event of the year took place on May 9, 1961 when Moravian College Alpha Phi Omega Chapter received its charter and became the Nu Lambda Chapter, National Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity. The fraternity flourished through the sixties and Mid seventies. But as the 1980’s approached, the membership reduced and the chapter fell on to hard times. Many of the pledge paddles and other Nu Lambda artifacts were taken by the brothers, so as to retain them as APO property and never passed on to the next class. The brotherhood had diminished almost to the point of non-existence. Then in the Sprint of 1988, a pledge class of 15 was inducted. The membership nearly tripled in one semester.
Other projects undertaken by the Fraternity were; to aid freshmen and act tour guides, help at family day, work Wiley House, decorate colonial Hall Christmas trees, fill a needy basket, deliver Christmas trees to needy, help at scout camp, and donate t the Pusan Children’s Charity Hospital in Korea for which we received a certificate of appreciation.
In this semester the Blue-Gray trophy was exchanged with Nu Chapter of Upsala. The First Pledge Class of Nu Lambda Chapter was inducted. A float was entered in the Homecoming Parade, and the chapter had a real swinging party.
The membership elected new officers for the 1961-1962 school year. Those elected were Charles Canning, President; Bob Preston, first Vice President; Carter Ruth, second Vice President; Craig Borst, recording Secretary; Don Jacobs, corresponding Secretary; Ken Holtje, Treasure; Tom Ardinger (later replaced by Ken Morick), Historian; John Weidner, Sergeant at Arms; and Frank Miller, U.S.G. Representative.
Nu Lambda chapter showed its leadership ability by assisting the petitioning group of APO at Muhlenburg College, who we installed on May 14, 1962. At this time we stated a drive for Pusan Children Charity Hospital on a national scale (the returns were still coming in as of the end of the school year). Also we actively participated in the forming of an Alumni Chapter as well as the establishment of an APO chapter at Kutztown State Teachers College.
On May 10th, Nu Lambda celebrated its first anniversary with a large banquet at which the brothers witnessed the initiation of new members, the installation of new officers and presentation of awards and honorary membership. The officers were Pober Preston, president; Frank Miller, first Vice President; Don Jacobs, Second Vice President; Gerald Still, Recording Secretary; Craig Bost, Corresponding Secretary; Ken Holtje, Treasurer; Ken Morick, Historian; Stanley Lobst, Alumni Secretary; and Ron Smoyer, Sergeant at Arms. Mr. Gerhard Zeller was chosen as Faculty Advisor Chairman.
With the problem of officers taken care of, the chapter was prepared for action. The first event on the calendar was Homecoming. The brothers spent several nights preparing a float, which they entered in the Homecoming parade. On Homecoming day, we sold mums, and operated a refreshment stand. Refreshment stands were a new thing to the chapter, but quickly became an authority on the business. We operated stands for two sports and several other campus events. At the dances on Homecoming night, which became a traditional project, coat check in.
The brothers’ next project was the Ugly Man contest. The contest proved to be quite a success; it brought in a total of $236.94, which we donated to the United Fund. This was only the first of our charity donations during the year; we later raised $123.94 for the Retarded Children Campaign and $108.46 for the Cripple Children Drive.
Our other projects for the year included the Student-Faculty Art contest and a Donkey Basketball game, which we CO-sponsored with the Vets’. The brothers with the fall and spring pledge classes were able to keep the chapel bulletin up to date, a service that was greatly appreciated by the chaplain.
Elections were held late in the school year. Those elected to office were Don Jacobs, president; Bruce Weaver, first vice president; harry Smith, second vice president; Hohn Gruden, Recording secretary; Don Jones, corresponding secretary; Ken Holtje, Treasurer; Alec Moorhead, Historian; Stanley Iobst, Alumni secretary; and William Starbuck, Sergeant at Arms. Dr. Daniel Gilbert was chosen as faculty advisory chairman.
In early spring, the chapter held its annual snow sculpture contest, which was rather successful with six works entered. A month later, the annual student-faculty art contest; this proved to be a great success with an overflow of entries.
In March four of the brothers traveled to Gettysburg to attend a conference of section 24. There they met an old friend of the Nu Lambda chapter, Joe Scanio, National Secretary. He was one of the several representatives sent by Nationals; others from Nationals included the president and the first vice president. At the conference, the brothers representing Nu Lambda launched our “Friendship Barrel”, the purpose of which is to promote inter chapter fellowship and raise funds for the Pusan Children’s Charity Hospital. With that we had enough momentum to keep it rolling for at least a dozen chapters in three eastern states; Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland.
Mid spring semester meant elections, and with present president graduating, it was an important election. Strange as it may seem, Harry Smith won the presidency without any opposition at all. The other elected to office were Don Jones, first vice president; Bruce Weaver, second vice president; Jay Martins, recording secretary; Lloyd Kingswell, corresponding secretary; Richard Michaels, treasurer; Alan Antry, historian and alumni secretary; and Will Starbuck, sergeant at arms.
Those elected to office were Gary Erhart, president; Rick Leiby, first vice president; Bill Duffy, second vice president[pledge master]; Jack LaBukas, secretary; Ronald Altorfer, treasurer.
This year there were five seniors that made up the membership: Henry Apryasz, Dominic Condomitti, Kelly Krieble, Bob Sunbury, and Richard Vitale
Once again, this year, APO provided the concession stand at nine home football games as the fraternity rooted the Hounds on to the MAC title and NCAA playoffs. The Nu Lambda chapter assisted Sigma Tau Sigma with their annual candle pouring for Moravian Vespers Services on October 8, 1998. Over seven thousand candles were produced from virgin bees wax. Several brothers walked over 6 miles in the C.R.O.P. walk for hunger on that same weekend. Later that month, the offices of Meals on Wheels were painted by a host of “A- Phi-O”’s.
Boxes of food were moved for the Central Moravian Food Bank in December. In February of 89, APO raised over $5000 for Moravian College at their Phone-a-thon, which was also repeated the following month. At the M.S. walk-a-thon, brothers of Nu Lambda Chapter, donated their time and service at a checkpoint on the college campus. Finally, for the second consecutive year APO assisted the American Association of University Women with their book drive. The fraternity moved thousands of books out of storage so they could be sold; then moved what remain back into storage after the sale, which annually raises money for women’s scholarship.
| AGBU American Fun | - $100 Christmas Gift to benefit the victims of the earthquake in America, The Soviet Union. |
| Lehigh Valley Easter Seal | - Two donations totaling $125. |
| Lehigh Valley Food Bank | - $100 Christmas Gift |
| Neuman Club, Moravian College | - $100 donation |
| PLEOA, Pennsylvania Law Enforcement | - $100 donation toward the construction of a firing range |
| Sigma Tau Sigma Service Sorority of Moravian College | - $150 to fund a rape prevention seminar which was co-sponsored by Sigma Tau Sigma and Alpha Phi Omega. |
Officers this term were Greg Markish, President; Matt Lesniak, Vice President of Service; Chris Reenock, Vice President of Membership (Pledgemaster); James Barclay, Sargent at Arms; Eric Tesche, Treasurer; John Paul Cappiello, Secretary; Bill Darcie, Rush Chairman; Bob Evans, Social Director; TJ Todaro, Publicity Director; and James Tobin and Chris Elser, Historian. In addition, Steve Turocy and Rober Metzger were appointed as Assistants to the Pledgemaster.
In December of 1988, newly elected officers were Greg Hess, President; Chris Elser, Vice President of Service; Eric Strohl, Vice President of Membership (Pledgemaster) [ Steve Turocy was elected to take his place while Eric was aboard]; John Paul Cappiello, Sargent at Arms; Bill Westerman, Treasurer; Scott Seymour, Secretary; Jeremy Eckhaus, Rush Chairman; Frank Magee, Social Director; Nate Lawall, Publicity Director; and Graham Mehl, Historian. In addition, Bill Anderson and Bob Metzger were appointed as Assistants to the Pledgemaster.
Pledges that became brothers this semester were Thomas Hartle, Norman Price, Bill Pietucha, Samuel Norwood, and Joseph Rusenko. The great success this semester was done by Greg Hess, who had practically doubled our gross income with the concession stand at the football games. The Blood Drive was a huge success under the operation of Matt Lesniak. With the large success of the concession stand the fraternity was able to make many large donations and decided to save some of the funds for a spring formal next year.
In late January / early February the officers agreed to establish a temporary rule on the number of meetings an officer could miss. It was a trial period for a possible new amendment. The officers thought this rule would help the chapter perform better for the chapter and to become better leaders. One of the officers that was effected by this new rule was Jeremy Eckhaus, Rush Chairman. Norm Price was elected to complete the rest of Jeremy’s term. Vice president of membership was held by Steve Turocy while Erik Strohl was aboard. John Paul Cappiello resigned his office in May, because he felt that he would not have enough time to five due to the number of other activities he was involved in. Therefore Samuel Norwood was elected to his office as Sergeant at Arms. Nate Lawall also resigned his office of Publicity Director. Sean Smith was elected to complete the rest of his term. Other officers were Greg Hess, president; Chris Elser, vice president of service; Scott Seymour, Secretary; Bill Westerman, treasurer; Frank Magee, Social Director; Graham Mehl, Historian, and the Advisors were Santo Marabella, Bob Brill, Steve Gordy. William Anderson and Bob Metzger and Graham Mehl(as Alumni Director) were the assistants to the vice president of membership.
Pledges this term were David Scott Mullen, Steven Pena, William Ryker, Edward Allen Joseph Stimmler Jr., J.P.Orlando, Jeremy R. Brousseau, and Scott Christopher Tompson. Now let me tell you the happenings this past term. It was a tough semester. The Communication lines between brothers and the pledges were limited. The bonding between brothers was weak. The Finances of the chapter were cut close. There were problems with getting the composite taken and delivered. Matter of fact it had not been delivered at the conclusion of the semester yet. Despite all the tough times the brotherhood had made several moves to improve the fraternity image. Such as updating the pledge program. Hell night was taking to Bill Westerman’s parent’s farm for this semester for a new experience. Both the pledges and brothers got lost going to the farm and the evening ended around two or three in the morning. The chapter sat in at a meeting that April Vari and our regional director had about the position our chapter had on campus and what the chapter does. The college also may allow us to be the only fraternity or sorority to have pledging open to freshman.
Some other activities where updated the picture books. Forming a list of officers, dating all the way back to 1960. Attempts are being made to organize an Alumni reunion in the Fall of 1993. The brothers participation in Community Interaction Day with five other universities in the area. The day was donated to cleaning up a large portion of Bethlehem. This service project gave our chapter the biggest push. Almost the entire fraternity showed up to participate in the days activities. Our chapter also invited alumni back for our spring formal. Some of the alumni that showed up were Duane Cosner, Mike Roth, Skip Sibiski, Paul Cram, Richard Vitale, Dennis Condomitti. This past semester was a large milestone in the chapter’s history. It is celebrating its thirty third year of existence and are attempting to help alumni to form an alumni association for our chapter and area. Also Chris Elser got engaged officially, at the fraternity spring formal to Hillary. We had a large number of seniors who are active and inactive that are graduating. We want to send them off with our best wishes.
The officers for this term were Greg Hess, president; Chris Elser, vice president of service; Eric Strohl, Vice President of Membership; Scott Seymour, Secretary; Bill Westerman, treasurer; Sam Norwood, Sergeant at Arms; Frank Magee, Social Director; Norm Price, Rush Chairman; Graham Mehl, Historian, and the Advisors were Santo Marabella, Bob Brill, Steve Gordy. William Anderson and Bob Metzger and Graham Mehl(as Alumni Director) were the assistants to the vice president of membership. Due to Sean Smith departure from the College over the summer, William Ryker was elected to the position of Public Relations Director. Ryker did an outstanding job with advertising our chapter.
Their also were multiple attempts to contact alumni from the chapter. A list of over 205 members were accumulated. There was attempt to arrange an Alumni dinner, but unfortunately it did not work out. However, over 20 alumni showed up for homecoming weekend. Alumni where invited to come to the chapter Christmas party, and a party that Alumni Brother, Paul Cram, hosted for the brotherhood. And of course alumni are always invited back to formals. There are plans to organize just a gathering in the spring term.
This term we had three pledges: Matt Stone, Mike Nycz, and Jason Switzer. These three men worked hard and strived to show the brotherhood that they had the qualities of becoming brothers. Today they are brothers and Jason is the Sergeant at Arms and Mat is the Publicity director.
The chapter had a large number of service projects. Some included the following: Concession stand at football games, organization fair, candle pouring and candle wrapping for Vespers Services, Aids walk, blood drive, fund raiser for Wanda Minich, Monte Carlo night, a raffle for Sean H. (who was in a terrible four wheeler accident), Lip sync, Thanksgiving basket donation, Christmas donation for underprivileged children, Moravian Museum, partitioned for better campus lighting, ushered at Vespers Services, etc.
Elections this year gave us the following: Sam Norwood, President; William Ryker, Vice President of service; Robert Metzgar, Vice President of Membership; Justine Martine, Secretary; Thomas Hartle, treasurer; Jason Switzer, Sergeant at Arms; Frank Magee, Social Director; J.P. Orlando, Rush Chairman; Matt Stone, Publicity Director; Graham Mehl, Historian, and the Advisors were Santo Marabella, Bob Brill, Steve Gordy. The assistants to the vice president of membership were not announce at the time of this write up.
The main objective of the chapter that I for see that will be challenging is to get a large number of students to pledge next term. The reason being that come May 1994, there will be a lot of brothers graduating. Good Luck and Best wishes for this Historian to the chapter and any graduates.
Under the guidance of William Ryker our Vice President of Service, the chapter was able to get 475 service hours before the last two projects of the semester. Some of the service activities we did were as follows: Moravian College got off to a slow start due to large amounts of snow fall, but the brothers of APO did over 60 hours of service shoveling cars out so people could travel or move their cars before the snow plows came, and when the plows did come. Other projects were helping out at the Allentown Boys and Girls Club, sponsoring an international child, help distribute credit card applications, the bi-annual blood drive. The blood drive this semester brought in over 44 pints of blood. Other service projects were the bowl-a-thon, office Olympics, helping out at the Moravian Museum. The one of the final projects was community interaction day. Chapters from our section got together and cleaned the township of Bethlehem. A large number of the brothers from our chapter went to “Lost Park” up by St. Luke’s Hospital and continued to clean that area up.
Other spectacular activities this semester were invitation from Alumni brother Paul Kram to come over to his house, sending out the first Alumni Newsletter, which hopes to continue and become an annual event. The development of Alumni class contacts are developing. Our chapter is preparing t have sectionals at Moravian College next spring. This way the brother hood can stay in contact with alumni on a more accurate basis. Two other remain events took place and were extremely important to brothers of the Nu Lambda Chapter. One was a delegation to a sectionals conference. A small group of brothers went to East Stroudsburg University and were hosted by the ESU chapter. There were several other chapters at the conference within our section. The delegation was able to meet fellow brothers from other chapters and view/ hear about activities these chapters do. The high light of the conference for Nu Lambda brothers was having a discussion with the APO national President, Jerry Schroder. The remaining activity was a trip down to Daytona Beach over spring break by a group of brothers known as the six pack; otherwise known as Frank Magee, William Ryker, Joeseph Rusenko, Bob Metzgar, Jason Switzer, and Greg Hess. The six pack had a wild time at Daytona Beach and brought back two STOP signs for gifts to the fraternity. Immediately after Spring Break, mysteriously quotes appeared on the walls in the basement of the APO office. A small sample of these quotes follow.
| “But I, I took the road less traveled” - Scott Seymour (Robert Frost) |
| “Even the strongest thoughts are silent. Speak up!” |
| “I’m a few bricks short of a load, A full load always hurts my back” - Jason |
| “Sometimes the little white ball just won’t fall!” J. Rusenko |
| “Nice doesn’t feed the kids.” - Bob |
| “He should have armed himself before he decorated his bar with my friend.” -SN |
| “Woman wants monogamy, man delights in novelty.” |
| “Insanity is doing what you’ve always done, and excepting different results.” |
| “I came across the shadow of a guy who looked like me, who ran right throu his life time and was far too blind to see .....” JPC |
| “In the days of my youth I was told what it means to be a man. Now I’ve reached that Age, I try to do all those things the best I can.” |
| “Some are born to move the world to live their fantasies. But most of us Just Dream about the things we’d like to be.” |