Omega Phi Alpha | |
---|---|
ΩΦΑ | |
Founded | June 15, 1967 Bowling Green State University |
Type | Service |
Affiliation | Independent |
Status | Active |
Scope | National |
Motto | Today's Friends, Tomorrow's Leaders, Forever in Service |
Colors | Dark Blue Gold |
Symbol | Chevron, Bee |
Flower | Yellow Rose |
Mascot | Bee |
Publication | The Chevron |
Chapters | 29 |
Headquarters | PO Box 955 East Lyme, CT 06333 U.S. |
Website | Official website |
Omega Phi Alpha (ΩΦΑ) is an American national service sorority. It was founded in 1967 at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Omega Phi Alpha, also known as OPhiA, currently has 29 active chapters in the United States, as well as one prospective new chapter and one interest group.
In 1953, several female students at Bowling Green State University expressed an interest in having an organization like the national service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega which was active on their campus.[1] The brothers of the Zeta Kappa chapter Alpha Phi Omega changed their plans to form a second fraternity and instead helped establish a new service sorority at Bowling Green State University.[1]
The two groups were to be alike in objectives—friendship, leadership, and service.[1] A similar name—Omega Phi Alpha—was chosen for the sorority. Just as the Alpha Phi Omega chapter was limited to former Boy Scouts, the Omega Phi Alpha sorority was originally limited to former Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls.[1] The national sorority removed this limitation in 1958.[1]
The sisters helped establish two more Omega Phi Alpha chapters at Eastern Michigan University in 1958 and the University of Bridgeport in 1962.[1] However, these chapters operated independently and were not incorporated as a national sorority.[1] In early 1966, the Bowling Green sorority received a letter indicating that the other two had merged to create a national sorority and invited them to join.[1] However, the new national group had not registered legally. Upon learning this, Omega Phi Alpha at Bowling Green registered and invited the two groups to affiliate with it.[1]
The three groups met at a national convention in Bowling Green, Ohio in 1967.[1] On June 15, 1967, the groups agreed to consolidate as a national sorority and laid the foundations for what is currently Omega Phi Alpha.[1] They also decided that Bowling Green was the Alpha chapter.[1] The University of Bridgeport became the Beta chapter, and Eastern Michigan was named the Gamma chapter.[1]
The Alpha, Beta, and Gamma chapters were the only chapters until the Delta chapter was formed in 1970. Other chapters were added through the Alpha Upsilon chapter at University of Tennessee Knoxville in 2022. Omega Phi Alpha has nine districts of active chapters.[2] Each district is encouraged to meet once a year and is required to hold a district summit in the convention off-year, which includes service projects, workshops, and sisterhood activities.
The chevron and the bee are Omega Phi Alpha's symbols.[3] Its flower is the yellow rose, chose to represent friendship.[3] The sorority's colors are dark blue, gold, and light blue.[3] Omega Phi Alpha has two badges: one for active members and the other for alumna.[3] The active badge is a diamond with concave sides. The alumna badge is round and features a rose. On top of the circle is a chevron with the sorority's name.[3]
The purpose of Omega Phi Alpha reads as follows:
Omega Phi Alpha has a diverse, flexible service program that allows each member to contribute to the world around her. Many chapters have ongoing projects that they have worked with for years.
The permanent project is mental health. Mental health service projects are defined as any project that improves the well-being of others, and these projects are typically hands-on projects such as playing with kids in an afterschool program, playing Bingo at a nursing home, or serving meals at a soup kitchen.
Each year at the Omega Phi Alpha National Convention, the national president of Omega Phi Alpha presents the cause she feels is worthy of being the focus of OPA service nationwide. Past president's projects prior to 2002 include the environment, terminal illness, AIDS awareness and education, domestic violence, "Just Say No To Drugs", handicapped children, nursing, ecology, heart disease, children, the elderly, head injury prevention, literacy, and internal organization key points.[4][5]
The president's projects by year include:
Sisters provide service within their university's community by volunteering at school events, holding stress relief classes, and random acts of kindness,
Sisters help the community at large by participating in local park clean-ups, food banks, tutoring at a local school, and volunteering at the Humane Society.
Sisters provide service to the members of the sorority by supporting alumnae and internal strengthening.
To serve the nations of the world, sisters have raised funds for UNICEF, AIDS Awareness, diabetes awareness (American Diabetes Association), breast cancer awareness (Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, among others).
The active chapters of Omega Phi Alpha are in bold and the inactive chapters are in italic.[28][29]
Name | Chartered/Range | College | District | City | State | Status | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alpha | 1953[a] | Bowling Green State University | Founding | Bowling Green | OH | Active | [30][2] |
Beta | 1962[b]–2000 | University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport | CT | Inactive | [31][1] | |
Gamma | 1959[c]–1974 ?, January 17, 1993 | Eastern Michigan University | Founding | Ypsilanti | MI | Active | [31][1] |
Delta | 1970 | Texas A&M University | Lonestar | College Station | TX | Active | [31] |
Epsilon | May 24, 1973 | Tennessee Technological University | Bluegrass | Cookeville | TN | Active | [31] |
Zeta | October 6, 1974–1992 | Wayland Baptist College | Plainview | TX | Inactive | ||
Eta | 1974–1983 | Amarillo College | Amarillo | TX | Inactive | ||
Theta | 1975–1978 | West Virginia Institute of Technology | Montgomery | WV | Inactive | ||
Iota | 1978–1983 | Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo | MI | Inactive | ||
Kappa | 1978–1995 | Capital University | Columbus | OH | Inactive | ||
Lambda | 1981–1988 | University of Connecticut | Storrs | CT | Inactive | ||
Mu | January 29, 1983 - September 23, 2023 | Middle Tennessee State University | Bluegrass | Murfreesboro | TN | Inactive | [31] |
Nu | April 23, 1988 | Georgia Institute of Technology | Azalea | Atlanta | GA | Active | [31] |
Xi | 1990–1996[d] | University of North Alabama | Florence | AL | Inactive | ||
Omicron | April 4, 1992–September 29, 2022, October 22, 2022 | Auburn University | Azalea | Auburn | AL | Active | |
Pi | 1994–2000 | Teikyo Post University | Waterbury | CT | Inactive | [32] | |
Rho | December 4, 1993 | Western Kentucky University | Bluegrass | Bowling Green | KY | Active | [31] |
Sigma | December 5, 1993–2021 | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | Chattanooga | TN | Inactive | ||
Tau | April 30, 1994-2023 | University of Texas | Lonestar | Austin | TX | Inactive | [31] |
Upsilon | April 19, 1997–2019 | University of Louisiana | Lafayette | LA | Inactive | ||
Phi | March 28, 1998 | Arizona State University | Cactus Pine | Tempe | AZ | Active | [31][2] |
Chi | April 19, 1998 | University of South Carolina | Peaches and Palmettos | Columbia | SC | Active | [31] |
Psi | May 2, 1998–2017 | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi | TX | Inactive | ||
Omega | 2000– 20xx ?, February 28, 2015 | Rutgers University | Colonial | New Brunswick | NJ | Active | [31] |
Alpha Alpha | 2000 | Northern Arizona University | Cactus Pine | Flagstaff | AR | Active | [31] |
Alpha Beta | January 25, 2003 – 2020 | University of Mississippi | Oxford | MS | Inactive | ||
Alpha Gamma | January 17, 2004 | Oklahoma State University | Heartland | Stillwater | OK | Active | [31] |
Alpha Delta | April 8, 2006 | Georgia Southern University | Peaches and Palmettos | Statesboro | GA | Active | [31] |
Alpha Theta | May 6, 2006 | Pennsylvania State University | Liberty | University Park | PA | Active | [e][33] |
Alpha Epsilon | June 11, 2006 – 2017 | Southeastern Louisiana University | Hammond | LA | Inactive | ||
Alpha Zeta | October 15, 2006 | Kennesaw State University | Azalea | Kennesaw | GA | Active | [31][2] |
Alpha Eta | March 3, 2009 – 2015 | University of South Carolina Aiken | Aiken | SC | Inactive | [34] | |
Alpha Iota | May 16, 2009 | Notre Dame of Maryland University | Liberty | Baltimore | MD | Active | [35][31] |
Alpha Kappa | February 27, 2010 | University of Kansas | Heartland | Lawrence | KS | Active | [31][2] |
Alpha Lambda | April 10, 2010 | North Carolina State University | Blue Ridge | Raleigh | NC | Active | [31][2] |
Alpha Mu | September 10, 2011 | Boston University | Colonial | Boston | MA | Active | [31][2] |
Alpha Nu | January 19, 2013 | Texas State University | Lonestar | San Marcos | TX | Active | [31] |
Alpha Xi | March 15, 2014 | University of Central Florida | Sunshine | Orlando | FL | Active | [31] |
Alpha Omicron | October 25, 2014 | University of Florida | Sunshine | Gainesville | FL | Active | [31] |
Alpha Pi | November 15, 2014 | West Virginia University | Liberty | Morgantown | WV | Active | [31] |
Alpha Rho | March 25, 2017 | Virginia Tech | Blue Ridge | Blacksburg | VA | Active | [31] |
Alpha Sigma | April 18, 2021 | Old Dominion University | Blue Ridge | Norfolk | VA | Active | [31] |
Alpha Tau | November 5, 2022 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Mid-Atlantic | Chapel Hill | NC | Active | [31] |
Alpha Upsilon | December 3, 2022 | University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Bluegrass | Knoxville | TN | Active | [31] |
Alpha Phi | April 29, 2023 | Binghamton University | Binghamton | NY | Active | [36] | |
Alpha Chi | October 14, 2023 | Marshall University | Huntington | WV | Active | ||
Omega Alpha | Connecticut alumni chapter | CT | Inactive | [32] | |||
Omega Beta | Michigan alumni chapter | MI | Inactive | [29] | |||
Omega Gamma | Greater Atlanta alumni chapter | Atlanta | GA | Inactive | [29] | ||
Omega Delta | Greater Nashville alumni chapter | Nashville | TN | Inactive | [29][32] | ||
Omega Epsilon | Chattanooga area alumni chapter | Chattanooga | TN | Inactive | [29] | ||
Omega Zeta | Austin area alumni chapter | Austin | TX | Inactive | [29] | ||
Omega Eta | Knoxville alumni chapter | Knoxville | TN | Inactive | [29] | ||
Omega Theta | Louisiana alumni chapter | LA | Inactive | [29] |
Omega Phi Alpha holds a national convention every other year. The national conventions provide a forum for making sorority-wide decisions like aligning on a budget, electing national officers, or changing the national policies reflected in the constitution and by-laws. Each active chapter in good standing has two votes to use in deciding sorority issues. Active chapters that are not in good standing have only one vote. Some alumnae delegates represent each of OPA's four districts. For every three active votes, alumnae get one vote.
OPA national convention locations include:[37][38]
Year | Location | Host chapter | Theme | Dates | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1967 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Alpha | June 12, 1967 – June 15, 1967 | [39][40] | |
1968 | Bridgeport, Connecticut | Beta | July 11, 1968 – July 14, 1968 | [41] | |
1969 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Gamma | June 16, 1969 – June 19, 1969 | [42] | |
1970 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Alpha | 1970 | ||
1971 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Alpha | June 1971 | [43][44] | |
1972 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Gamma | June 30, 1972 – July 2, 1972 | [45] | |
1973 | College Station, Texas | Delta | June 1973 | [46] | |
1974 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Epsilon | June 25, 1974 – June 28, 1974 | [47] | |
1975 | Bridgeport, Connecticut | Beta | June 18, 1975 – June 22, 1975 | [48] | |
1976 | College Station, Texas | Delta | June 17, 1976 – June 20, 1976 | [49] | |
1977 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Alpha | Happy Tenth Birthday | June 15, 1977 – June 19, 1977 | [50] |
1978 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Epsilon | Raggedy Ann Goes South | June 21, 1978 – June 25, 1978 | [51] |
1979 | Amarillo, Texas and Plainview, Texas | Zeta and Eta | July 10, 1979 – July 15, 1979 | [52] | |
1980 | College Station, Texas | Delta | The Yellow Rose of Texas | June 18, 1980 – June 22, 1980 | [53] |
1981 | Bridgeport, Connecticut | Beta | June 20, 1981 – | [54] | |
1982 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Epsilon | All of Tomorrow Depends On Today...Upon You | June 16, 1982 – June 20, 1982 | [55] |
1983 | Columbus, Ohio | Kappa | Create!...Relate!...Motivate! | August 3, 1983 – August 7, 1983 | [14] |
1984 | College Station, Texas | Delta | Hit the Trail for "The Wild Wild West" | August 1, 1984 – August 5, 1984 | [56] |
1985 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Mu | OPA in for A Dixieland Delight | August 6, 1985 – August 10, 1985 | [16][57] |
1986 | Bridgeport, Connecticut | Beta | August 11, 1986 – August 17, 1986 | [58] | |
1987 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Alpha | 20th Anniversary | August 4, 1987 – August 8, 1987 | [59] |
1988 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Epsilon | 1988 | ||
1989 | College Station, Texas | Delta | 1989 | ||
1990 | Atlanta, Georgia | Nu | 1990 | [7] | |
1991 | Bridgeport, Connecticut | Beta | Barnum and Beta Circus | July 29, 1991 – August 4, 1991 | [60] |
1992 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Epsilon | Omega Phi Alpha 25 Years of Excellence | July 29, 1992 – August 2, 1992 | [61] |
1993 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Alpha | Celebrate Cardinal Principles | July 29, 1993 – August 1, 1993 | [62] |
1994 | Auburn, Alabama | Omicron | Sisterhood in the Heart of Dixie | July 27, 1994 – July 31, 1994 | [19][63] |
1995 | Atlanta, Georgia | Nu | 1995 | ||
1996 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Sigma | 1996 | ||
1997 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Epsilon | 1997 | ||
1998 | College Station, Texas | Delta | 1998 | ||
1999 | Columbus, Ohio | 1999 | |||
2000 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | 2000 | |||
2001 | San Antonio, Texas | July 18, 2001 – July 22, 2001 | [64] | ||
2002 | Radisson Hotel & Suites, Chicago, Illinois | July 17, 2002 – July 21, 2002 | [65][66][67] | ||
2003 | Renaissance Waverly Hotel Atlanta, Georgia | July 30, 2003 – August 2, 2003 | [68] | ||
2004 | Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee | July 14, 2004 – July 18, 2004 | [69] | ||
2005 | Embassy Suites Biltmore Hotel Phoenix, Arizona | Service at the Oasis | July 20, 2005 – July 24, 2005 | [70] | |
2006 | Hilton Hartford Hotel Hartford, Connecticut | Service in the City | July 19, 2006 – July 23, 2006 | [71] | |
2007 | Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk Jacksonville, Florida | Service is our Greatest Treasure | July 25, 2007 – July 29, 2007 | [72] | |
2008 | Doubletree North Denver Denver, Colorado | Rockin' in the Rockies | July 16, 2008 – July 20, 2008 | [73] | |
2009 | Crowne Plaza Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | City of Sisterly Love | July 22, 2009 – July 26, 2009 | [74][75] | |
2010 | Drury Plaza Hotel at the Arch St. Louis, Missouri | Destination O-Phi-A | July 21, 2010 – July 25, 2010 | [76] | |
2011 | Holiday Inn, Charlotte, North Carolina | Queens of Service in the Queen City | July 20, 2011 – July 24, 2011 | [77][78] | |
2012 | Radisson Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah | Abuzz about OPhiA | July 11, 2012 – July 15, 2012 | [77] | |
2013 | DoubleTree Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Women of Steel | July 18, 2013 – July 21, 2013 | [77] | |
2014 | Hilton Indianapolis Downtown, Indianapolis, Indiana | Taking the Lead in Service | July 16, 2014 – July 20, 2014 | [77] | |
2015 | DoubleTree Hotel, Chattanooga, Tennessee | Woo, woo, Chattanooga there you are | July 15, 2015 – July 19, 2015 | [77] | |
2016 | Tempe Mission Palms, Phoenix, Arizona | Sunshine & Sisterhood | July 14, 2016 – July 17, 2016 | ||
2017 | Hilton Garden Inn, Perrysburg, Ohio | 50th Anniversary | June 14, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | ||
2019 | Hilton Norfolk the Main, Norfolk, Virginia | July 10, 2019 – July 14, 2019 | |||
2021 | virtual only | ||||
2022 | Springhill Suites Stockyard, Fort Worth, Texas | Y'all Means All | |||
2024 | Hyatt Regency Downtown, Greenville, South Carolina | Helping Hands | July 11, 2024 - July 14, 2024 |
Omega Phi Alpha has seven regions of alumni that are drawn on state lines and are based on the population distribution of OPhiA alumni. The regions are Mid-Atlantic, Mid-South, Midwest, Northeast, South, Southeast, and West. Each alumni region sends a specific number of delegates to OPhiA's National Convention every year; this number is based on the number of active votes possible at that year's Convention. Alumni representation makes up 25% of the total representation at any given convention.