Like many good ideas, it is hard to pin-point when they first occur.  The idea of starting a chapter of Alpha Phi Omega is no different.  For students David Strohmeyer and Sam DiGammarino, the idea of forming a chapter occurred to them sometime early in their sophomore year while living in Dailey Hall.  The two students saw a need at Gannon for a service group.  After talking it over with some other students, they found that they were not the only ones who saw such a need.

 By January 1965, Sam DiGammarino and Dave Strohmeyer had started the three year task of starting a chapter of Alpha Phi Omega.  It was evident that before a chapter could be chartered, they first had to start a local service fraternity.  This fraternity was called Omega Alpha Phi.

 The first public meeting of Omega Alpha Phi was held on March 17, 1965 at the Student Union.  The fraternity acquired the service of two faculty advisors; Mr. Anthony Schmitt and Mr. Paul Weidle.

 In September 1965, the fraternity received official campus recognition.  During their first year of existance, the fraternity donated a ride board, held a Thanksgiving Day party for the children with cerebral palsy, and helped with Winter Carnival.

 In September 1966, with 35 active members, the first steps were taken toward national affiliation.  On April 16, 1967, the petition for chartering was approved by the national office, and the chapter name Rho Chi was assigned to Gannon College.  The chapter was initiated on Saturday April 29, 1967, at 4 PM in the Student Union.  The installation was conducted by Dr. Lester G. Brailey of the Alpha Phi Omega National Executive Board.  The brothers were installed by a ritual team from Theta Upsilon Chapter of Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland.

 The Rho Chi Chapter over the next few years performed various service projects such as the running of the Winter Carnival Festival at Gannon.

 In the fall of 1972, the Rho Chi chapter officially went inactive.  The six brothers at the last meeting split the treasury six ways, turned in their charter to Gannon and went their separate ways.  This rift was caused by some of the members wanting to go social and others wanting to maintain the service aspect.

Seven years later, as freshmen living in Wehrle Hall, three Eagle Scouts discussed the feasibility and need of a service fraternity on the campus of Gannon College.  At the time there were seven social fraternities and they did not seem to carry on the aspects of scouting the Jim Wesdock, Tim Manning and Ray Frey were accustomed to from Scouting days.  Reference was made to a fraternity that each had heard of while active in the scouting program.  After looking in the B.S.A Scouting Handbook, they realized the fraternity was Alpha Phi Omega.  From there, a letter went off to the B.S.A National Office requesting additional information.  A letter was received giving the address of the national office of Alpha Phi Omega.  Another letter was sent.

Information was received stating that at one time a chapter of Alpha Phi Omega had already existed at Gannon, which went inactive in the 1970’s.  The package consisted of material on chapter reactivation.

 After several months, an interest meeting was held that fifteen people attended.  Prior to this, Ray Frey and Jim Wesdock attended a sectional conference held in Edinboro, where they were asked to consider and all-male chapter.  The advice was not taken and steps were taken toward going co-ed.  Because the interest was good at this meeting, additional meetings were scheduled.  The four advisors to the group were Fr. Charles Drexler, Dr. Thomas Ostrowski, Mr. Denny Donahue and Ms. Shirley Van Aken.

 The petitioning application was sent off to the national office at the close of the spring semester, 1979.  Over the summer, meetings were not held, although two group newsletters tied the group together.

 Just into the fall semester, the word came that the group was accepted.  Induction/reactivation was scheduled for late September 1979.  On the evening of September 23, 1979, a group of 27 petitioners gathered in the Nash Library Gardens for induction.  The induction was conducted by Mr. William Rugh and assisted by Mr. Leland Foland.  The ritual was performed by a team from the Chi Sigma Chapter at Allegheny College.  Omega Mu of Clarion was also present.  Representing Gannon College was Dr. Paul Peterson, Vice President of Academic Affairs.  A ride board was presented to the school, later to be placed on the lobby of Beyer Hall.

 Since then, the Rho Chi chapter at Gannon University has been active in the community and on our campus with activities such as our annual Casino Night, where the proceeds have benefited many charities such as Muscular Dystrophy.

Most recent events include hosting the final join conference between sections 62/64 in Spring 2001 and planning the Spring 2002 Section 64 Formal (Ad Astra). There are currently 6 active brothers and 3 advisors.

Revised 9/30/02