Omicron Zeta

History

Chartering

Omicron Zeta (OZ) was officially installed as a chapter of Alpha Phi Omega Region X, Section 4 on June 14, 1964 at the campus of California State University, East Bay. Between 1964 and 1998 OZ membership fluctuated, as membership of many other chapters did, until it gradually died out. Much of the chapter's history from 1964 through 1998 was lost over this time.

Rechartering

OZ was rechartered in Spring 1998. James P. Nicholls III, the only active member of the chapter, began recruiting potentials in what would become the re-founding class of Omicron Zeta. With the help of then-Section Representative, Ping Huang, the Mu Zeta Chapter from San Francisco State University, and its members Mark Ronan and recently transferred member, Swaga Deb, OZ re-emerged as an active chapter. The rechartering group had twelve notable founding members under Pledge Masters James P. Nicholls III and Swaga Deb as the Ping Huang pledge class:

1. Nelson Andrada
2. Lalaine Borja
3. Khristine Cembrano
4. Chris Choi
5. Kelly Gube
6. Kharisma Gube
7. Derek Illastron
8. Cory Louie
9. Wennie Nipay
10. Rey Vargas
11. Vincent Vasquez
12. Carmelia Vitalis

In Fall 1998, Kharisma Gube arranged OZ's first ever set of composite pictures, also commemorating the crossing of twenty-one brothers for the Joseph F. Kuchta pledge class. In Spring 1999, eighteen brothers crossed under their second chapter namesake and the 1998-1999 OZ Section Representative, Gamma Gamma alumna Irene Chu. Around this time, Vince Vasquez created a chapter family system. The original Omicron Zeta families were Leadership, Friendship, and Service, but were later changed to Mind, Heart, and Soul to reflect the spirit of the chapter. At the end of the decade in Fall 1999, nine brothers crossed under the Stan Carpenter pledge class. This small class size was a short-lived phenomenon.

2000s

As OZ pressed on into the 21st century, it reached many historic chapter milestones. While OZ's pledge class sizes have often fluctuated between roughly 10 to 30 pledges, Fall 2000 marked its largest pledge class since rechartering, crossing forty new Brothers. By 2002, OZ had won Alpha Phi Omega's Earle M. Herbert National Friendship Award and was the first chapter within Region X to do so. In 2007 and beyond, OZ continued to expand its chapter programs, regularly winning various Section 4 Gold Pan awards, and producing many spirited individuals who would go on to promote the cardinal principles of Leadership, Friendship, and Service throughout the section.

Beyond the honors it received in the 2000s for improving as a chapter, Omicron Zeta had also strengthened its chapter programs to both benefit the community, and strengthen its place within it. In 2003, OZ held one of its most notable service projects: Journey to Self Discovery, a project to teach local high school students to Acknowledge, Aim toward, and Achieve their goals. In Winter 2005, Omicron Zeta's Swaga Deb pledge class built a brick road in front of the letters "Alpha Phi Omega" on the CSU Eastbay campus' Greek Hill.

Omicron Zeta continues to maintain a strong presence within Section 4 as an ever-growing chapter of Alpha Phi Omega.

Service

Omicron Zeta has also prided it self in provided valuable service to the community, through their diverse service program. A number of their projects have become a yearly tradition:

• Relay for Life
• Trick or Treat for Cans
• Habitat for Humanity
• Rebuilding Together
• Project Open Hand

Spring and Winter Pledge Class Namesakes

• Spring 1998: Ping Huang
• Spring 1999: Irene Chu
• Spring 2000: Eric Kaarto
• Winter 2001: Jim Nichols
• Spring 2002: Kelly Chea
• Spring 2003: Corey Louie
• Winter 2004: Margaret Tobias
• Spring 2004: Vince Vasquez
• Winter 2005: Swaga Debb
• Spring 2005: Ken Naranja
• Winter 2006: Julin Lai
• Spring 2006: Ray Matsuda
• Spring 2007: Vince K. Yu
• Spring 2008: David Lusch

Traditions

• The Ping Huang class decided that the Robert’s Rules of Order did not fit with the identity of the new chapter. This began the long standing tradition of doing things “the OZ way”.

• The Ping Huang class created the “APO letters on Greek Hill” project. This was completed by the time the JFK class was activated.

• Kharisma Gube and Khristine Cembrano embraced red and black as chapter colors. Pledges purchased their first set of red and black sweaters to set the chapter apart from others. Many chapters such as Mu Zeta and Gamma Beta followed suit using their school colors as their “chapter” colors.

Trivia

• Omicron Zeta's theme is The Wizard of OZ, since its Greek name is Omicron Zeta (OZ), so they have structured their family system around that theme. They have 3 families: Heart, Mind, and Soul. Vince Vasquez introduced three family mascots: the Tinman to represent Heart, the Lion to represent Soul, and the Scarecrow to represent Mind.

• OZ's chapter colors are red and black. Their chapter sweaters are often called "red and blacks."

• OZ has been known to tour each chapter in the section during their section 4 T-shirt tour. This entails touring each chapter and asking them to sign their Section 4 t-shirt, which they hope to have each chapter sign prior to the Spring Sectionals.

• OZ members have been known to paint their faces red and black and spike their hair our of chapter pride when attending the Section 4 Conference.

• OZ has been known to have interesting and fun meetings. This is because, during their meetings OZ often includes a fun icebreaker just to keep the meeting fun and entertaining.

• OZ has also been known to have "themed" meetings, for example if the theme was "super hero" the executive committee would be dressed as some sort of super hero. Actives are also encouraged to participate as there are often prizes handed out for the coolest costume.

• The brothers of OZ created a handicap ramp near the Art & Education Building to the Music Building of their campus. Engraved at one end of the ramp are the fraternity letters misspelled, making it read Alpha Omega Phi.

• In 2006, John Narciso proposed what is, as of 2010, still a common call to reach OZ members: "Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie, Oi Oi Oi!"

External links

• Alpha Phi Omega - Omicron Zeta