“Be not simply good, be good for something”

We have a strong commitment to philanthropic and social service activity in Omega Mu, it is not a heritage we think about, or even talk about, and we should. It should receive considered discussion because we have always incarnated a strong fraternal disposition to do good for others throughout our fraternal history. Stewardship is essential to who we are and who we aspire to be as Omega Mu Fijis. It is good fraternal citizenship.

Compassion and care in service to others is worth our time, and a good idea is always a good idea when we speak and act in collective fraternal accord for the good of others, as we have generationally done since our founding. It is the truest gift, possibly, clutched within our fraternal talons, that spans time and space in its far-ranging impact when we give with our energetic Fiji spirit for the well-being of others because it cultivates dreams and goals for a hopeful, meaningful life for all involved. Enough said, as they say. How right it is that Omega Mu has been productively engaged in all the things we have done academically, athletically, socially, and philanthropically without any excessive sense of self-importance.

As a brotherhood, we have done a great deal of community-wide service in Orono and Old Town, state-wide in Maine, and even nation-wide, and, make no mistake, we will continue to do so for the next 120 years, and there is nothing fraternally wrong-headed about committed stewardship. It is an issue of civic decency that has propelled our brotherhood to be fraternally active in social, charitable and benevolent activities since 1899.

We have had many brothers who were extraordinarily industrious, hard-working, and attentive to make sure that our various philanthropic endeavors were successful, and one of my most vivid memories is the countless hours that brothers put into making the Fiji 24 Hour Relay Marathon a continual success, and it was fun to participate in it. For all of our historical preeminence, philanthropic service and stewardship has always been part of our proud fraternal heritage as to who we are as Omega Mu Fijis; hence, there is no reason for us to be tame or muted in being humbly proud of our endeavors. It is good stewardship.

Everything that Omega Mu has done in the area of social service and philanthropy is a worthy complement to everything else that we have accomplished in our 120 years history. Every social service project demands hard-won effort, coordination, imagination, vision, and purpose. Everything we have done is an exceptional affirmation of the genuine good of the Omega Mu brotherhood from the Fiji 24 Hour Relay Marathon to raise money for the American Cancer Society, the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, feeding the less fortunate in the house on a regular basis, the annual Omega Mu - Pi Phi Christmas for Christmas toys for needy families, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Fiji Humvee Push to raise money for the USO, the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive to collect food for local ministries, the annual Christmas Party to collect toys for local ministries, and raising money during Movember to raise awareness for men’s health issues. Although we may not know it, we have made a meaningful difference, and we will continue to look for various opportunities to serve the greater good in our local, state, and national community.

In conclusion, we have always understood that part of our fraternal identity is our responsibility is to give back to the community in which we exist as a brotherhood, and we have always been happy to do so. With genuine care and felicity, it is simply how we do things, and social service will continue to be a significant, elevating, part of Omega Mu life in supporting non-profit organizations at the local, state, and national level. Philanthropy and social service will continue to be something that we will remain proud of as Omega Mu brothers. Kindness, giving back, love, goodwill, and responsibility towards others outlasts everything in life. It creates a positive difference, and we remain committed to doing so. Everything we do, we do with determination and pride because we know that you cannot separate the mind from the body and the heart in pursing excellence in the classroom, on the playing field, or from the Spirit of good to do good. That is singularly impressive, Omega Mu brothers. We have always taken the fraternal path of active social service in doing good for others for 120 years, and we will remain tenacious and principled in serving all three because the concepts of thoroughness and hard work have always carried us boldly since our beginning with a broader sense of fraternal purpose, a staying power that will continue for generations to come.

Fraternally,

Chip Chapman '82

Perge!