List of Alpha Phi Omega national conventions

Past National President, Dr. Fred Heismeyer, lights the convention candle with the Eternal Flame of Service at the 2006 APO-USA national convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

National conventions in Alpha Phi Omega are biennial gatherings of the respective national organization of the fraternity, in which official business is conducted and brothers from the various chapters in the organization meet to share ideas and expand leadership, friendship, and service. In the very early years, decisions of the National Fraternity were conducted by mail. The first actual assembly of delegates in a convention was held in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 1–2, 1931. Seven of the fraternity's eighteen chapters were represented at this convention by 23 students and advisors.^[1]

Alpha Phi Omega of the United States conducts biennial national conventions in even-numbered years, and as of 2016, forty-four conventions have been held. The last convention held was in Austin, Texas and the next will be held in Phoenix, Arizona. Conventions were not held in 1942 and 1944 due to World War II, and a special Constitutional Convention was held in 1967. Alpha Phi Omega of the Philippines conducts biennial national conventions in odd-numbered years, and as of 2009, twenty-five conventions have been held.^[1]

In the US, national conventions are officially called to order by an opening ceremony in which members of the Delta Omega chapter at the University of Houston bring forth the Eternal Flame of Service. This tradition was started after the twenty-first national convention in Dallas, Texas. In the early hours of December 30, 1970, the delegates of the Delta Omega chapter met in a ceremony in the suite of H. Roe Bartle, with the newly elected members of the National Board of Directors and National President Aubrey B. Hamilton. Bartle lit a small blue candle which he in turn used to light a hurricane lamp, which was then passed from the blue candle to each of the board members' candles. He then joined the board members to light two four-foot candles. The flame was then taken to Houston and allowed to burn while awaiting the completion of the Eternal Flame site.^[2]

Convention attendance has grown considerably through the years. In 1932, 88 members were attending the convention^[3] and the largest convention attendance in the US to date has been 2,316 in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2002, and the largest number of chapters represented was 235 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2000.^[1]

United States

Convention number	Dates	Location	Theme	Attendance (attendees / chapters)	References
1st	December 1926	Mailed ballot		? / 1	[4]
2nd	September 1928 and December 1928	Cornell University Ithaca, New York	Held Concurrently with the 5th National Training Conference for Scout Executives	? / 6	[5][4][a]
3rd	March 1, 1931 – March 2, 1931	Jefferson Hotel St. Louis, Missouri		23 / 9	[4][6][7]
4th	December 28, 1932 – December 29, 1932	La Salle Hotel Chicago, Illinois		88 / ?	[3][4]
5th	December 28, 1934 – December 29, 1934	Hotel President Kansas City, Missouri		230 / 21, 14 interest groups	[4][8]
6th	September 4, 1936 – September 6, 1936	Camp Manatoc Akron, Ohio	Tenth Anniversary Celebration	? / 26	[4][9]
7th	December 28, 1938 – December 29, 1938	Hotel DeSoto St. Louis, Missouri		274 / 51	[4]
8th	December 28, 1940 – December 29, 1940	Antlers Hotel Indianapolis, Indiana	Service: Our Contribution to Americanism on College campuses.	312 / 54	[4][10][11]
9th	December 28, 1946 – December 29, 1946	Hotel President Kansas City, Missouri	Service: Our Contribution to a Peaceful World.	349 / 71	[1][4][10] [12][13][b]
10th	December 28, 1948 – December 30, 1948	La Salle Hotel Chicago, Illinois	To Put Service to Others Ahead of Selfish Aims.	602 / 121	[4][6][10]
11th	December 28, 1950 – December 30, 1950	Fort Des Moines Hotel Des Moines, Iowa	25th Anniversary: The Past, Present, and Future of Alpha Phi Omega.	~600 / 119	[4][10]
12th	December 28, 1952 – December 30, 1952	Deshler-Wallick Hotel Columbus, Ohio	Service Above Selfish Aims.	~500 / 135	[4][10]
13th	December 28, 1954 – December 30, 1954	Schroeder Hotel Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Service Past, Present, and Future.	600+ / 121	[4][10][14][15]
14th	Aug 28, 1956 – Aug 30, 1956	Wilton Hotel Long Beach, California		300+ / 85	[4][16][17]
15th	Aug 29, 1958 – Sep 1, 1958	Stephen F. Austin Hotel Austin, Texas	The Lone Star State in '58.	400+ / 97	[4]
16th	December 28, 1960 – December 30, 1960	Benjamin Franklin Hotel Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	35th Anniversary	843 / 156	[4]
17th	December 27, 1962 – December 29, 1962	University of Kansas City and Bellerive Hotel Kansas City, Missouri	Lead in Service.	? / 156+	[4][10][18]
18th	December 27, 1964 – December 29, 1964	Brown Palace Hotel Denver, Colorado	40th Anniversary	713 / 163	[4][10][14]
19th	December 27, 1966 – December 29, 1966	Radisson Hotel Minneapolis, Minnesota	In Brotherhood- Carry On.	1,000+ / 210+	[4][10][19]
	December 27, 1967 – December 29, 1967	University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma	Constitutional Convention	247 / 247	[1][4][10][c]
20th	December 27, 1968 – December 29, 1968	Shoreham Hotel Washington, D.C.	Hand in Hand In Service.	1,603 / 273	[4][10][20]
21st	December 27, 1970 – December 29, 1970	Marriott Motor Hotel Dallas, Texas	The Three Worlds of Alpha Phi Omega, Tell It Like It Is, Let's Be Significant.		[4][10]
22nd	December 27, 1972 – December 29, 1972	Denver Hilton Denver, Colorado	Extend A Helping Hand To Your Fellow Man.	~1,000 / ?	[4][10]
23rd	December 27, 1974 – December 29, 1974	Stouffer's Riverfront Inn St. Louis, Missouri	Golden Opportunities to Serve.	900+ / ?	[4][10][14]
24th	December 27, 1976 – December 29, 1976	Marriott Motor Hotel Atlanta, Georgia	Service - The Spirit of '76.	~1,100 / ?	[4][10]
25th	December 27, 1978 – December 29, 1978	Opryland Hotel Nashville, Tennessee	A Bold Heritage - A Bright Future.	~1,000 / ?	[4][10]
26th	December 27, 1980 – December 29, 1980	Marriott Hotel Los Angeles, California	Lighting the World Through Service.	632 / ?	[4]
27th	December 28, 1982 – December 30, 1982	Hyatt Regency Kansas City, Missouri	Show Me Service.	922 / ?	[4][10]
28th	December 28, 1984 – December 30, 1984	Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill Washington, D.C.	A Monument to Service.	1,425 / ?	[4][10][14]
29th	December 28, 1986 – December 30, 1986	Hyatt Regency Houston Houston, Texas	Service - The Finest Frontier.	1,334 / 149	[4][10]
30th	December 27, 1988 – December 30, 1988	Denver Marriott City Center Denver, Colorado	Service Above All.	993 / 128	[4][10]
31st	December 27, 1990 – December 30, 1990	Clarion Hotel St. Louis, Missouri	Service - Gateway to Our Future.	1,430 / 188	[4][10]
32nd	December 27, 1992 – December 30, 1992	Boston Park Plaza Boston, Massachusetts	Leading the Way to Service.	2,000 / ~220	[4][10][20]
33rd	December 27, 1994 – December 30, 1994	Hyatt Regency DFW Airport DFW Airport, Texas	Deep in the Heart of Service.	1,940 / 222	[4][14][21]
34th	December 27, 1996 – December 30, 1996	Hyatt Regency Phoenix, Arizona	Rising to Serve.	1,585 / ~210	[4][22]
35th	December 27, 1998 – December 30, 1998	Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Minnesota	Leadership, Friendship, and Service: SnowBalled Into One.	1,781 / 227	[4][23]
36th	December 27, 2000 – December 30, 2000	Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Celebrating our Heritage, Forging Our Future.	2,086 / 235	[1][4][24]
37th	December 27, 2002 – December 30, 2002	Sheraton New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana	Brotherhood on the Bayou	2,316 / ?	[1][25]
38th	December 27, 2004 – December 30, 2004	Adam's Mark Denver, Colorado	Service at its Peak	1,488 / ?	[26][27]
39th	December 27, 2006 – December 30, 2006	Galt House Louisville, Kentucky	Unbridled Service	1,652 / ?	[28]
40th	December 27, 2008 – December 30, 2008	Sheraton Boston Boston, Massachusetts	Revolutionary Brotherhood	2,075 / ?	[29]
41st	December 27, 2010 – December 30, 2010	Hyatt Regency Atlanta Atlanta, Georgia	Dream * Lead * Serve		[29]
42nd	December 27, 2012 – December 30, 2012	Anaheim Marriott Hotel Anaheim, California	Time to Shine	1,579 / ?	[29][30][31][32][33]
43rd	December 27, 2014 – December 30, 2014	Hyatt Regency O'Hare Chicago, Illinois	Inspire, Innovate, IGNITE
44th	December 27, 2016 – December 30, 2016	Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	This is Our Story		[34]
45th	December 27, 2018 – December 30, 2018	JW Marriott Austin Austin, Texas	Building Community	1,330 / ?
46th	December 28, 2020 – December 29, 2020	Virtual			[d]
47th	December 27, 2021 – January 5, 2022	Virtual			[d]
48th	December 27, 2023 – December 30, 2023	Indianapolis Marriott Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana		~560 / ?
49th	December 27, 2025 – December 30, 2025	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1. The convention was held in September 1926 concurrently with the Fifth National Training Conference of Scout Executives. This conference was held from September 6 to 12, 1928 The detailed voting occurred by Mail Ballot held in December 1926.
2. Conventions were not held during World War II (1942 and 1944). The 1942 Convention was planned for Kansas City, Missouri, and was changed by a vote of the chapters to a mail ballot at the request of the Office of Defense Transportation (ODT)
3. The 1967 Constitutional Convention in Norman, Oklahoma is not considered a National Convention, as it was a special conference. Only one delegate per chapter was allowed to attend.
4. Convention was planned for JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona but was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Philippines

National conventions for Alpha Phi Omega Philippines are biennial gatherings that are currently conducted in odd-numbered years. It is where official business is conducted by the General Assembly composed of brothers and sisters from the various chapters and alumni/alumnae associations meeting to share ideas and to expand leadership, friendship, and service.

Convention number	Dates	Location	Theme	Host	Refs
1st	September 13, 1953	Philippine Normal College Auditorium Ermita, Manila	Unity for Service	Beta chapter	[35][36][37][38]
2nd	December 17, 1955 – December 18, 1955	Boy Scouts of the Philippines Building Ermita, Manila		Epsilon chapter	[37][38][39][40]
3rd	December 6, 1958 – December 7, 1958	Boy Scouts of the Philippines Building Ermita, Manila and University of the Philippines, Diliman Diliman, Quezon City		Eta chapter	[37][38]
4th	December 18, 1960 – December 19, 1960	University of the Philippines, Los Baños Los Baños, Laguna		Theta chapter	[37][38]
5th	December 22, 1962 – December 23, 1962	National University Sampaloc, Manila	Revitalizing the Alpha Phi Omega Spirit	Beta chapter	[37][38][41]
6th	March 6, 1965 – March 7, 1965	Mapúa Institute of Technology Intramuros, Manila	Humility, Integrity, Honesty for a Better Nation	Delta chapter	[37][38][42][43]
7th	December 15, 1968 – December 16, 1968	Far Eastern University Sampaloc, Manila	For God and Country	Alpha chapter	[37][38][43]
8th	December 17, 1971 – December 19, 1971	University of the Philippines, Los Baños Los Baños, Laguna	Alpha Phi Omega Answers the Nation's Call	Theta chapter	[37][38][43]
9th	March 25, 1976 – March 28, 1976	Baptist Camp Mariveles, Bataan	Alpha Phi Omega: Its Role in Contemporary Philippines	National Council	[37][38][44][44][a]
10th	March 30, 1979 – April 1, 1979	Camp 7 Minglanilla, Cebu	Towards the Strengthening of Organizational Leadership in the Alpha Phi Omega in the Next Decade	Region VII and National Council	[37][38][45]
11th	December 27, 1981 – December 30, 1981	Kabataang Barangay Training Center, Malasag Cagayan de Oro	The Fraternity and Sorority: Their Relevance and Challenges in the 80's	Region X and National Council	[37][38][45]
12th	May 27, 1983 – May 29, 1983	Bagong Lipunan Settlement Project Bamban, Tarlac	Continuing Accent on Organizational Development and Service	Region III and National Council	[37][38]
13th	December 14, 1985 – December 16, 1985	Boy Scouts of the Philippines Camp Mount Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna	Alpha Phi Omega Ideology: A New Dimension Towards Genuine Service and Commitment	National Council	[36][37][38]
14th	December 19, 1987 – December 21, 1987	People's Center Tacloban City/Commission on Audit Training Center Palo, Leyte	Professionalism (in A PHI O) toward National Solidarity	Region VIII and National Council	[37][38]
15th	May 26, 1989 – May 28, 1989	Girl Scouts of the Philippines Camp Alano, Toril, Davao City	Service for Peace (Paglilingkod Para sa Kapayapaan)	Region XI and National Council	[36][37][38]
16th	May 24, 1991 – May 26, 1991	Bulwagang Balagtas, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila Santa Mesa, Manila	Reflections: The APhiO Culture (Balik-Tanaw:Ang Kulturang APhiO)	NCR and National Council	[37][38][46]
17th	May 21, 1993 – May 23, 1993	University of the Philippines, Visayas Miag-ao, Iloilo	The Alpha Phi Omega and the Filipino Values	Region VI and National Council	[37][38]
18th	May 27, 1995 – May 29, 1995	Feliciano and Sons Convention Center Tetuan, Zamboanga City	Think Global, Act Local	Region IX and National Council	[36][37][38][47]
19th	May 2, 1997 – May 4, 1997	Teachers Camp Baguio, Benguet	Brotherhood...Its True and Honorable Essence in Retrospect	Region I and National Council	[36][37][38][48]
20th	May 7, 1999 – May 9, 1999	Green Heights Convention and Business Center Buhangin, Davao City	Towards the Golden Year: A Force to Reckon With	Region XI	[36][37][38]
21st	May 25, 2001 – May 27, 2001	George Dewey Convention Center Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City, Zambales	Zoom! Into the 21st Century	Region III and National Council	[36][38][49]
22nd	May 22, 2003 – May 25, 2003	Garden Royale Convention Center, Goldenfields Commercial Complex Bacolod, Negros Occidental	Capturing a New Generation of Leaders	Region VI-B and National Council	[38][47][50]
23rd	May 25, 2005 – May 28, 2005	Provincial Convention Center Capitol Hills and New Surigao City Government Complex Surigao City, Surigao del Norte	APO Now and Beyond: Sustaining the Gains of Leadership, Friendship, and Service	Surigao City Alumni Association, Epsilon Gamma chapter, and National Council	[38][49][51][52]
24th	May 3, 2007 – May 6, 2007	Tagaytay International Convention Center Tagaytay	Bridging Generations Through Service.	Kabite Alumni Association, Sigma Alumni Association, and Mississauga Alumni Association	[38][49][53][54]
25th	May 28, 2009 – May 31, 2009	Ecovillage Resort and Convention Center Boracay Island, Aklan	Great Leap Forward, Towards Excellence	APO Boracay	[55]
26th	May 26, 2011 – May 29, 2011	Grand Caprice Convention Center, Limketkai Center Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro	One Vision in The Second Decade of the Third Millennium	Oro City Alumni Association	[56][57]
27th	May 23, 2013 – May 26, 2013	Legazpi City Albay	Together as one: Rooted and Grounded on Service	Gamma Xi Alumni Association	[58][59]
28th	May 21, 2015 – May 24, 2015	Lamberto L. Macias Sports Complex and Cultural Center Dumaguete, Negros Oriental	Leadership, Friendship, and Service Toward Peace, Unity, and Progress	Negros Oriental Alumni Association, Gamma chapter, and Negros Oriental State University Petitioning chapter	[60][61]
29th	May 26, 2017 – May 28, 2017	Lagao Gymnasium General Santos	Facing the Challenges, Bringing APO Together	General Santos City Alumni Association	[62]
30th	May 18, 2018 – May 20, 2018	Subic Bay Exhibition and Conference Center Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City, Zambales	The Road to 100, Ain't no stopping us now!	APO National Office and Region 3
31st		Plaza del Norte Hotel and Convention Center and Fort Ilocandia Hotel Laoag City

1. Convention was temporarily suspended due to the imposition of Martial Law by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Group assembly without approval was punishable by incarceration.

References

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