Avoiding APOverused Lingo

Those of us who have been around for awhile have likely picked up a lot of APOverused lingo.  “LEADS”, “CoE”, “PPoE”, “CAPS”, and “AAMD” are all abbreviations which may be recognizable to longstanding Alpha Phi Omega brothers.  Sure, it’s easier to tell everyone that “CAPS is next Sunday at 5pm” than to tell them that “the Chapter Assessment and Planning Conference is next Sunday at 5pm”—a whole 11 syllables saved (10 if you pronounce “Conference” as “Confrence”)!  And if you’ve already announced the occasion a few times using its full name and giving a brief explanation of what it entails, it’s okay to get a little lazy.

But be especially careful when addressing non-brothers, pledges, and new brothers.  It may be obvious that they wouldn’t understand what’s meant when you talk about your chapter applying for the CoE (that’s “Chapter of Excellence”), but did you ever consider that even terms like “Section 67” or “National Service Week” could be confusing?

Think about it.  You know nothing about Alpha Phi Omega, except that it’s some group who does service.  You show up for some recruitment week events and hear brothers talking about how awesome Section 67 is.  Maybe you’re too shy or too polite to ask about it, so you just smile and nod and later wonder what the heck was going on.  Yes, you understand the English language and know that a section is part of a whole, but what does it mean in terms of the Fraternity?  You didn’t really connect with anyone because the crazy unfamiliar lingo kept throwing you off.  And then you decide you just don’t fit in and aren’t going to pledge.

Okay, so maybe that’s an extreme example, but the general point remains the same.  It is important to be mindful of your audience and take the time to explain any potentially foreign or confusing terms.  The goal is always to depict Alpha Phi Omega in the most positive light and to educate others about the Fraternity.  Effective communication is key, and avoiding unfamiliar jargon and acronyms is an important part of effective communication.

YiLFS,

Jessica Szweda

Section 67 Communication Chair