APO Inauguration 2009: LIUF Pres. Bro Mel S Gonzales Jr's Message
Posted by APhiO on Mon 19 January 2009 08:14:09 MST.

THANK YOU, Ladies and Gentlemen, Brods and Sis, for being one with us on the 2009 Alpha Phi Omega inauguration day. We beat U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s Washington DC event by three days, but in the same spirit do we celebrate this auspicious chance for all of us to become partners in progress, Brod Benigno “Ben” J. Castro’s APO-ACNA theme for his 2009-10 term as president-CEO.

“Insanity is doing things the same way while expecting different results.” We welcome change, but not change for change’ sake. We need change, because we need results that meet the goal.

The purpose of Alpha Phi Omega is to assemble college men and women in a fraternal organization in the fellowship of principles derived from the Scout Oath and Law; to develop Leadership, promote Friendship, and provide Service to humanity; and to further our freedoms.

We were students on campus. “Once an APO, always an APO.” We now are alumni members who remain students of life. As we have moved from campus-learning to community-building, we welcome the turnover.

Progress produces when we have a next generation of Leaders, Friends, and Service brods and sis to take care of the APO legacy and remain true to the APO goal as stated in its three-fold purpose (assemble, pursue LFS principles, and outlive freedoms).

Life cycles, and we do well to ensure APO cycles upward, because we have learned to build on the work of Brother Dr. Frank Reed Horton and Brod Dr. Librado “Bado” I. Ureta and the many who have passed the great responsibility to the last set of officers, this next one, and the yet to be.

Thank you for embracing the goal. Thank you for letting it go upward. Thank you, one and all, for all you do.

True to Alpha Phi Omega, may we always be,

Bro Emilio “Mel” S. Gonzales Jr.
APO-Eta Chapter Zodiac 1973D

President
The Dr. Librado I. Ureta Foundation
Jan 1, 2003 - Dec 31, 2010