\article{The Editor Takes A Leap Out Of Office}
\vspace*{-.15in}

No, I'm not jumping from the {\em APO} office.  I'm leaving the office
whose duties I'm currently discharging.  (I still love that word.  It
reminds me of nice, romantic things.  Like capacitors.)  It's over, I
guess.  Wrap this up a bit, photocopy, distribute and it's all
Barbara's.  Sniff.  I'll miss it, but you haven't gotten rid of me
yet\ldots

This is, by very very far {\tt =)}, the thickest APOcrypha this term.
Maybe Barbara's better at making you submit then I am.  In any case,
the fact she's starting to sign mail with ``APOcrypha Dominatrix''
isn't the only reason why I think the APOc is headed for an
interesting term...

\vspace*{-.1in}
\hspace*{1in}bert
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\vspace*{-.15in}
\article{Incoming Editorial Comments}
\vspace*{-.15in}

Watch out! It's an APOc! {\tt =) }

I won't take up pages and pages spewing about how wonderful it to be
the editor of the apocrypha. ``Why not,'' you ask? Because everyone
was wonderful and submitted lots and lots of articles, so this edition
of the APOcrypha is more than 30 pages long! yay! Thanks to everyone,
particularly Gilbert, Henning, Bridget, Karen, Dave, and Chris, who
each wrote more than one article, even though Dave gets 200 pushups
for turning his in a day late.

That being said, I want to encourage everyone to SUBMIT! to the
APOcrypha, as soon as all your finals are over and you have time.
Write an article! It doesn't matter that the next edition of the
apocrypha is many weeks away. I am serious about this; since you have
time now and during IAP, write a bunch of articles on random things
about the chapter, random things about yourself, or just random things
in general. Then, when you are hosed with thirty-two problem sets due
yesterday and I come begging and pleading for an article, you will
have one ready. Better yet, send in the article as soon as you write
it, and specify that the next time I even {\bf think} about trying to
bug you for an article, I should just include it and save my
bits\ldots

And who knows, if there is enough interest, I may produce a Christmas
edition of the apocrypha. Not likely, but possible. {\tt =)}

\vspace*{-.05in}
\hspace*{1in}Barbara

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\newpage
\article{Outgoing Officer Articles} 
\subarticle{President}

I'm taking the opportunity of our computer system here at
ceci failing miserably to write my report.  Lukcily my 
athena connection is still coming through loud and clear.

As president, I can announce quite authoratively that 
the term happened and the chapter is still alive (and
kicking?) We had leadership development (remember barbara's
advice on how to pc a project ?), we had fellowship (remember
the candles at chapter weekend II ?), we had service (I still
remeber trying to paint up on that roof \ldots), we had wonderful
pledges \ldots what more could you ask for ? 

Leadership development was helped along by presentations
at chapter meetings on 'How to PC a day project' and 'How
to Food PC a project'.  More imaginative titles and even
different subject matter could easily be thought of for 
next term.  I also tried to instill in the officers a sense
of concern for the well being of their PCs - that PCs have to 
have enough knowledge, experience and training to be able do 
a good job and need the opportunity to get all of them. Looking 
to the future, the leadership workshop hosted jointly with BU 
looks all set for February 11th (mark you calendars NOW) and has 
generated a lot of enthusiasm already among brothers who want to 
attend. Possibly, we may then have more ideas about how to design
our own leadership development session which could be run more often 
and at shorter notice.

Inter chapter relations, which while not overtly present,
are still being fostered, particularly with the chapter at
BU.  They will probably take a long time to forget that I
gave them 30 service pins, instead of 30 pledge pins, but then
it's taken me all term to live down the embarassment too {\tt :)}
More recently I was at BU's initiation ceremony (which, funny
enough, is almost exactly the same as ours ...) and we went
for dinner/ice-cream afterwards.  I had a good time, maybe
I can convince other brothers to come with me next time.  Of
course we did schedule joint execcomm to clash with their
ceremony, and their semi-formal conflicts with ours; but if
we ever get our schedules out of sync ?  While I remember, they
have invited us to help out at the Cub Scout Decathlon again
which they think is on April 1st.  (Charley: this is in case
I forget to tell you.) Sparky (that EZ alum that's being showing
up a lot recently) has proved a great help in keeping the informal
communication between our chapters going. Only 4 brothers went
to conclave - but good roll calls come in small packages - and
we enjoyed our sojurn in Maine.  We have given you all a reputation
to keep up at WPI in the Spring (March 10-12, another date for
you calendars).

On the national fraternity front, we paid our AAMDS (annual
active membership dues) with plenty of time to spare.  We found
time at chapter meetings and during a dinner trip to discuss
a lot of the proposed changes to APO legislation that will be
discussed at Nationals.  Good luck to dave and ping as they
try to figure out what it all means and then map that to the
chapter's opinion polls.

No big strides or achievements were made on two of the chapter's
most consistent, reoccuring problems - communications and membership
retention.  I have few (no) pearls of wisdom to pass on ... except
that more communication is better than less and interdeparmental
mail still sucks. Recognising that these areas are in need of
constant attention, even though there seems nothing concrete that can
be done, is much better than ignoring the issues. 

Overall, the term seems to have left everyone with very little
time for anything but academics.  Hopefully, everyone will have
time to recover before the spring term starts and classes can only
get easier, right ?? 

YiLFS
Kate

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\subarticle{SVP}
(courtesy of 16.622, 17.471, 6.003, and 9.00)

In the history of US national security policy... oh wait, wrong article.

I need to be brief, so I encourage everyone and anyone who has
questions for me to hunt me down and ask. I plan to stay somewhat
actively doing SVP type stuff over IAP and beyond, so I'm very
available. Um, I mean... well, you know what I mean.

What went wrong this term:

{\bf Not Keeping the PCs Happy} In trying to plan ahead for the term, I
sometimes lost sight of the problems of the current week. As a result
I was slow to respond to (when I even noticed) problems with the
project of the week.

{\bf Not Achieving all my Lofty Goals} I had Big Ideas (tm) of how to
make the SVP's job easier; I also had No Time (tm) to implement them.
Well, at least not all of them. But they still exist; I'll be
attempting to implement them over IAP. Chief among them is to revamp
the SVP files: check them, update them, and generate an online
database of the places we go. I am thinking of something like the
general brotherhood listings; something that can be printed to
stickers and stuck on cards to provide a physical reference.

{\bf Not Finding more People Projects} Well, I'm not a huge fan of
people projects. Sorry, folks. If you feel really badly about this,
please, please, {\em please} let the next SVP know.

Of course, some things went well, too:

{\bf Projects Happened} Yay. {\tt =)} And in many cases, they
happened with a minimum of my effort. Notable among these were Welmet
(thanks Gilbert and Andy!), the VA Hospital (thanks Jennifer!), and
Chapter Weekend II (thanks Charley!). These projects were found and
arranged by the people PC'ing them, which made my job {\em much}
easier. Future SVPs should note, however, that occasionally checking
on things generally makes the PC and the chapter much happier.

{\bf Find a Project Study Break} Despite some minor glitches (hablas
espanol, richard? neither do I\dots), this was a great way to make the
first round of phone calls to sites and enjoy some fellowship as well.
Next time, get Bridget to provide cheesecake. {\tt =)}

{\bf New Contacts} We worked with some people we have never worked with
before, such as the VA hospital. Others have been contacted and
are eager to have us come next term. It's nice to have some new places
to go. 

There's much more to say, but if I don't get some food soon, I may
have to eat my words {\em (REALLY BAD PUN ALERT! READ AT OWN RISK!
--ed, which is me anyway, but\ldots)[Naah.  Seen worse. --ed., which
is not me].} And of course I am hosed. But in closing, I would just
like to say that being SVP has been one of the more rewarding
positions I have held in APO. I really liked the job, and future SVPs
looking for help should look me up.

YiLFS,
Barbara

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\subarticle{MVP}

Well.  The term is almost over.  The pledge term is over, now that voting
has started.  And here I am, staring at a screen, trying to figure out what
to write.  Well, here's my final ExecComm report (Fall 1994 Overview):

What Went Right
\begin{itemize}
\item Getting a big brother network up and running was good.
\item Trying to get a minimal number of pledge ceremonies was good.
\item Rewriting the pledge manual was a big win.
\item Giving the manual to the pledges in stages was good.
\item Insisting on a pledge service project AND a pledge fellowship event
was also good.
\item Having a BB meeting at the very beginning of the term was good.
\end{itemize}

What Went Wrong
\begin{itemize}
\item Not enough fellowship events -- no one knows anyone else.
\item Not finding anyone to help me be in personal contact was bad.  Not
having time to do it myself was bad.
\end{itemize}

What Is Ambivalent
\begin{itemize}
\item Leaving ``the spirit of APO'' up to the brothers is chancy.
Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't.
\item Pledge meetings.  I couldn't think of anything good to have in them
that would be commonly appealing.  I think not having them in the office
might be a good idea.
\end{itemize}

Suggestions For Next MVP
\begin{itemize}
\item Start rush early.  Poster like a maniac.
\item You can never give prospectives too much information.  Trust me.
\item Kiss your life goodbye between the start of rush and the pledge
ceremony.  Read: get help, and lots of it.  (Presidents should note that
they will want to focus a tremendous amount of their energy on this.)
\item Personal (i.e., one-on-one) contact with pledges is vastly preferable
to group meetings.  However, no one has time for this.
\item Being a MVP is not hard.  It's just work.  And you have to be a good
rolemodel.  Everything else can be done with assistance or can be delegated
away.
\end{itemize}

One question I've been asking myself at various points during the term is:
am I being a good MVP?  I don't know what the answer is.  I've come to
realize that I treat being MVP a lot like being Fellowship Chair -- it's an
incredibly nebulous job.  Maybe it's not nebulous; maybe I just don't grasp
what's necessary.  But I find that being MVP is made up of three roles:
administrivia, lecturing, and imparting ``spirit of APO'' to the pledges.
The first is routine.  The second is difficult to do and not either bore or
annoy the pledges.  The third is just flat-out impossible to describe How
To Do.

It's also a little scary to realize that the pledge program is Your
Department, because as many people feel (myself included), in many ways,
the pledge program is the most important facet of the chapter.  Reason: no
service program for a term results in lack of precedence.  However, lack of
pledges means a generation gap, which is unfillable.  But this is largely
irrelevant for me -- but highly relevant for Emily.  So don't forget; if
the MVP says ``jump'', do what she says.

That's all for now.

dave
Outgoing MVP
Fall 1994

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\subarticle{AVP}

{\large I'm off the hook!  No more minutes taking!  No more ASA meetings!
No more room reservations.}

Hold on\ldots That sounds too much like Kate's AVP outgoing report last
term. Let me rewind and redo this\ldots

It wasn't that bad.  There are certain things that went wrong though as I
pointed them out at the last ExecComm meeting.  Let me list them here and
discuss them as we go along:

What went wrong:
\begin{itemize}\setlength{\itemsep}{0in}

\item I have messed up a couple of the officers' reports due to my limited
minutes-taking ability but, hey, you didn't send me written reports!

\item I had been a little sluggish in printing out up-to-date signup sheets and address lists but we have lots now.

\item I skipped the October issue of WUAPO

\item I shouldn't have flamed some officers but officers 
should correct my mistakes in my ``pre-WUAPO'' so that we won't confuse
people about the event times and dates in WUAPO.

\item I didn't update the {\tt techinfo} info about APO yet but I'll some
time after my finals.
\end{itemize}

What went right:
\begin{itemize}
\setlength{\itemsep}{0in}
\item Wrote WUAPO generator so that future AVP's won't have to keep editing
\LaTeX\ and ASCII instances of WUAPO (I still have complete the
postscript calendar part.)

\item Rooms got reserved.

\item Database was updated and
modified to indicate visibility on signup sheet so that now the signup
sheet is a lot shorter and includes only people who might show up at
events.  Also featured is new and improved universal {\tt perl}
script.

\item Minutes got taken and \LaTeX'ed before next meetings.  Let me state
clearly that this is purely because I'm anally attracted to nice printouts
and it is not necessary that minutes be \LaTeX'ed.  (Although I do find
\LaTeX\ useful as a formatting tool anyway, besides the nice fonts.)  If
future AVP feels like, they are welcome to use my template and my {\tt
perl} script for converting {\tt .tex} file to {\tt .txt}.

\item I made a new on-line minutes browser.  The point is not just to
impress people with nice formatting, but rather to encourage people to find
out about the meetings they missed without roaming through the directory
structure of the {\tt apo} locker.  Now you could just do {\tt add apo},
{\tt minutes}.  This is useful only if people not subscribing to the {\tt
apo-minutes} mailing list know and access the browser.  I'll let the future
AVP's lead this to wherever they want.

\item Did some cleaning up for the {\tt apo} locker, but I'm by no chance
done.  There's just too much information in the locker and maintaining it
takes a lot of time and also some UNIX proficiency.

\end{itemize}

Other:
\begin{itemize}
\setlength{\itemsep}{0in}
\item Henning suggested sending {\em Week at a Glance} to {\tt apo-news}
instead of sending mail per event.  It is a good idea but a little
difficult to implement.  From experience, a lot of details of the events
don't get finalized until the last minute and additional mail sent to {\tt
apo-news} may be required to clarify things in addtion to that {\em Week at
a Glance}.  It is, however, possible to ``blow up'' the current week of the
on-line WUAPO to indicate the details of the current events.  Of course,
you need to let people know about this on-line WUAPO first, and really put
an effort into keeping it updated.

\item Henning also suggested upgrading the signup sheets to include new
columns such as ``vege'' or ``wakeup calls?''.  I find this a very good
suggestion which Richard has already volunteered to help out. (just a
reminder, Richard {\tt :)}.
\end{itemize}

I think that's all I can think of for now.  (after all, this is not a
40-page thesis {\tt :)}

Gilbert

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\subarticle{Treasurer}

It seems somewhat strange to be writing an outgoing officer's report at this
point of the term, but I guess that's just the feeling the Treasurer has 
every term. As the responsibility extends until December 31, the end of the 
fiscal period, and I started with day-to-day stuff end of August, it is 
hard to give a report that seems somewhat of a final report.

First of all, thank you Kevin for keeping the books up to date while I was 
gone during the summer, for helping me get acquainted with the job and being
available for questions I had.

What has been accomplished (so far)? 

\begin{itemize}
\item Well, we still have money. That's always a good thing to hear (or read). 

\item The Book Exchange account was seperated from the rest of the accounts so 
that a seperate signature list could be maintained. Furthermore, it is just 
a good idea to have it seperate from the funds the chapter owns proper.

\item As the last of the copied debt list sheets was used up without further 
copies being made, it became necessary to make up a new form. The
latter features an entry for email address (potentially easier to
track someone down with in this day and age of ``good times'') and is
not hand-drawn, but rather was created using a spreadsheet program and
looks quite spiffy, if I may say so myself. It resides in the logical
space for it in the APO locker: {\tt
/mit/apo/Officers/Treasurer/Forms/debtlist\_forms.ps}

\end{itemize}

Presented as an example of some of the things that the treasurer
sometimes has to deal with is the following ongoing battle, which I
mainly included for the amusement value: a billing battle with Carter
Rice Dowd, the company that supplies us with drop-poster paper, with
the first rounds having been won by their computer, which claims we
owe them half a G for an order we never made. The fact that our
account name is ``MIT, Alpha Phi Omega'' makes it the first entry on
the list of MIT accounts. It seems it is the default used by a certain
salesman. And in that spirit, last week another shipment was delivered
to our door. *sigh* Our company rep, Mike (we're on a first-name
basis, we're old friends, y'know), knows what the problem is and tells
me ``no problem'' and ``don't pay'' and ``I've taken care of it'', yet
each month a new statement with more accrued finance charges arrives,
giving me another occasion to talk with my pal Mike.

I was really hoping that CPPC (Chapter Program Planning Conference) at 
Chapter Weekend II was going to be used talking about our financial future,
but I was outvoted by the rest of the people at ExecComm who wanted to do
a fellowship event and feel good, something admirable as well. Now that we're
feeling good, we can now start thinking about how to guarantee financial
survival of the chapter in the future? Therefore, it is planned to get a
bunch of interested people together during IAP to mindmeld/brainstorm and
make proposals for plans for the future. I see this as being essential to
be done soon, i.e. before Registration Day as we know it doesn't exist 
anymore.
	
Pay your debts and I will be grateful!

Henning Colsman-Freyberger


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\subarticle{Fellowship Chair}

Well, the term is nearly over and we've elected new officers to supply
fresh energy and ideas to the chapter leadership.  It's time for those
of us who were officers this term to step down and let our successors
have their shot at changing the way the chapter does things.  All the
outgoing officers were asked to write outgoing officer reports, so
here goes.

I think this term went fairly well from a fellowship point of view.
We had all three of the usual major events as well as some study
breaks.  There weren't any major disasters and I think everyone had a
good time.  I didn't have a master plan when I was elected, I just
wanted to make sure there were a reasonable number of study breaks,
including past favorites and new ideas.  I'm pleased that the
bubblewrap study break went over really well.  And the people who were
at that study break learned that rollerblading over bubblewrap is
cool.

I would like to thank all of the people who PC'ed fellowship events
this term.  The list includes Emily, Jeffrey, Karen, Kate, Ping, and
Barbara.  If I've left anyone's name out, I apologize.  Also, I would
like to thank all of the brothers who attended fellowship events and
helped make this term's events a success.  Just holding events isn't
all that's required to have good fellowship in the chapter, though.
The brothers have to make an effort to be there for each other, and I
believe that's happened this term.  Thanks y'all.  Good luck with
finals, happy holidays, and have a good IAP.

YiLFS,
Rachel

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\subarticle{APOcEd}

And so my plans to take over the world have been foiled.  I'd like to
thank all of you that have been writing the articles so I could put
the thing together.  And to those of you who openly admit to not
having ever written an article\ldots {\em we'll get you yet.}  And
finally, thanks to all of you who are reading this.  APOc's wouldn't
be here without you.

During this term, I've had to apologize a lot.  My wrists, my lame
butt and other factors have been trying to make the APOc late, your
articles to get lost, and the locusts\ldots never mind about the
locusts.  Thank you for your patience.

Editing the APOcrypha is great fun, and I'm sure I'll miss it.  I
guess I'll just have to turn to writing filler or something. {\tt =)}

I'll cut this shortnow , lest the APOc overrun its pages\ldots\\
\hspace*{1in}YiLFS,\\
\hspace*{1in}bert


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Pre-Incoming Officer Articles Comment (President)}

Hi I'm writing an incoming president article as we speak (er, whatever)
but first, here's a word from me as a brother:

theGREisSaturdayAAAIUGH!\\
bridget {\tt :)}

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Incoming Officer Articles}
\subarticle{President}

Hello all.  This will be brief as I am still engaged in reviewing
everything I ever learned (or didn't) in CS.

Although I decided at the start of the term that I should sketch out
an updated and more detailed set of plans in case I ran for president
again, I didn't manage to do this, probably because I also tried
to front-load the academic year.

So here instead is a rough outline.  (You didn't want to read anything
longer, did you?)  These are things in which you can help.  In fact,
without help they will probably sink like rocks.

{\bf Communication and information propagation}

Some things are getting lost in the current system.  As the chapter
grows (see membership), loss may increase.  I would like people to
suggest improvements, or let execcomm know about problems we might not
have noticed.  Here are a few ideas so far, from various sources, in
various stages of being delegated..

\begin{enumerate}
\item `APO locker tour' run by an ex-AVP or other clueful person.
\item Signup sheet revision, more general institution of the wakeup 
call option.
\item A list of the ideal (fastest, most reliable) way to contact each
member.  
\item Storage of bits of PC clue, somewhere other than in PC's brain,
such as 'the people at XXX take three weeks to return calls'.
\end{enumerate}

{\bf Membership: recruiting and retention}

 The best 'formula' we have for both of these is Personal Contact.
And we know that it's something that works best when everyone helps.
This is difficult for shy people and for busy students, which covers a
lot of the chapter.  Thanks for your continued efforts {\tt :-)}

\newpage
{\bf Inactivity}

 We don't demand that brothers be active every term; that
would be insane considering the sheer effort that academics take.  If
they've been inactive last term, do we tend to assume that they won't
be around this term?  Do they still feel welcome around the chapter?
In short, is there any factor involved besides academics (over which
the chapter has no control).  I wonder these things sometimes.  (Anyone
have some answers, or think the matter is worth talking over?)

{\bf Planning}

 Planning ahead really is useful.  To make plans, we have to have
goals, ideas, aspirations; otherwise all we do is, at best, maintain
the status quo.  I'm going to hold a CPPC (chapter program planning
conference) in the spring term, at which people in the chapter discuss
the direction the chapter is heading and come up with course
corrections.  It will mostly be useful for next year; if you have any
neat ideas for this term, let execcomm or other relevant persons know
during IAP if possible.  For example, maybe you think it would be keen
to invent another big traditional project.. that's something to talk
to the SVP about ideally before the term starts.

{\bf Leadership!}

 It's nearly midnight and the article will turn into a pumpkin if I
don't mail it soon (hi Barbara) {\em (hi Bridget! -ed)}.  So I'll just
put in a plug for the Leadership Development Workshop, Feb.11.  If you
don't consider yourself an old and clueful person, you may well
benefit from going (and it's fun too.)  There'll probably be a size
limit so be warned.

One final word.  This is your chapter.  You, all of us together, make
it work.  Thanks for trusting me at the wheel, and don't be afraid to
tell us your thoughts and ideas.

YiLFS,
Bridget

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\subarticle{SVP}

Hi, I'm the new SVP elect.
My master plan is to unite the world as a single great chapter of APO.
My backup plan is to improve communication about projects and to set up
better interaction between the SVP and the Fellowship Chair.
Wheee!!!!!!


	YiLFS and FINALS$<$sigh$>$,

	Charley


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\subarticle{Fellowship Rambling \#1}

Hi!  I'm Karen.  Some of you may not know me very well although I've
been a brother since Spring 1993 (I pledged Fall 1992, my first term
at MIT.)  I was historian Fall 1993 and have been around in a general
sort of way, kinda.  Well, SOME people see me.  :o)

	As fellowship chair next term, I hope WE (as a chapter) can
accomplish a number of things as far as fellowship is concerned.  But
the following list is what I plan to do.  I will:
\begin{enumerate}

\item Be sure all major Fellowship events like Semi-Formal Formal, Steak
Fry, and I-banquet occur as smoothly as possible.  (Be kind and
volunteer for PCships NOW!  Volunteer early, and often.) {\tt :oD}
	
\item  Make sure study breaks occur throughout the term so brothers can
relax a little (punt a little, etc.) and get to know other brothers
better.  (Sign up to PC these too!  Be creative and design your very
own.)

\item  Encourage brothers who haven't been as active in the past to come
to events once in a while.  APO isn't just a service organization; it's a
service fraterity, and it's important to let everybody know they are welcome to
come to a project even if it is only once in a while.  Once you're a brother,
brotherhood is unconditional.

\item I'd like to make the APO office a center for fellowship when there
isn't any organized fellowship stuff.  The office is a good place to eat lunch,
take a short nap, do a little homework, relax ON-campus, etc.  Some brothers
already take full advantage of the office, but it would be great to get more
brothers using the office.  You can even leave things in the office instead of
having to go home and pick something up (providing you put your name on it
clearly - otherwise you might see it at the next Steak Fry auction.)
	
\item  Work with the SVP and MVP to coordinate events.
	
\item  Do any other warm and fuzzy things that seem appropriate for a
Fellowship chair to do.  I'm open to ideas.  I'm very accessible by email. 
[{\tt kgreig@MIT.EDU}]
\end{enumerate}

	This agenda may be ambitious for ONE person to successfully
accomplish, especially since I will be doing other things this term
like pitching on the varsity softball team, schoolwork (Course 3), MIT
Christian Science Organization and church, Burton deskworking, Concert
Band (maybe, hopefully), and other random stuff.  But I thought that
if I wrote it all down and let brothers think about them, many of
these things will naturally occur.  Things that YOU as a brother can
do to help (besides volunteering to PC stuff): If you have a little
(or a big brother or children), be they inactive, active, hyperactive
or otherwise, talk to them early next term or over IAP to stay in
touch and see what they are doing.  Maybe PC and event together.
Keeping in touch is a GOOD THING.  To many, this is easy - others it
is a little more difficult, but it never hurts to care.  It is nice to
have people check up on you once in a while - good feeling -
brother-like.  :o)

	I hope I can do a good job this coming term. Hope I-banquet
goes well, too.  (I suppose we all know by now.)

YilFs,
Karen Greig  :o)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\subarticle{Treasurer}

Well, I met with my predecessor, and we came up with a budget for
next term.  Sometime after classes are over, and we're both less
busy (much, {\em much\/} less busy), we're going to go over
everything else.

\begin{table}[hp]
\setlength{\parindent}{0.40in}
\begin{tabular}{llrr}
\multicolumn{3}{c}{\bf Proposed Spring 1995 Budget}\\
\multicolumn{3}{c}{Prepared by Harry Tsai}\\
\hline %----------------------------------------
\makebox[.2in]{} & {\bf Item} & {\bf \hfill Expense\hfill} & {\bf \hfill Revenue\hfill} \\
%\makebox[.2in]{} & {\bf } & {\bf \hfill (approp.)\hfill} & {\bf \hfill (estim.)\hfill} \\
\multicolumn{2}{l}{\bf Service Funds:}\\
& CPR                            &   180.00 &        -\\
& Tools                          &   100.00 &        -\\
& Transportation                 &   200.00 &        -\\
& Service Publicity              &   125.00 &        -\\
& Service Food (1st Free Meals)  &    50.00 &        -\\
& Service Misc.                  &   100.00 &        -\\
& Executive Discretionary        &   150.00 &        -\\
& Membership                     &   180.00 &        -\\
& Fellowship                     &   200.00 &        -\\
& Food (Paid)                    &   900.00 &   900.00\\
& Office (ASC)                   &   100.00 &        -\\
& Steak Fry Auction              &        - &   100.00\\
& Phone                          &   400.00 &    20.00\\
& Soda                           &   400.00 &   400.00\\
& Publicity / WUAPO              &    20.00 &        -\\
& Poster (Pubdir)                &   400.00 &   400.00\\
& Silkscreen                     &   200.00 &   150.00\\
& Historian                      &   120.00 &        -\\
& APOcrypha                      &   150.00 &   150.00\\
& Registration Day               &        - &  2400.00\\
& National Layaway               &   300.00 &        -\\
& Miscellaneous                  &   500.00 &   400.00\\
\cline{2-4}
& Total Service Funds            &  4775.00 &  4920.00\\
\\
\multicolumn{2}{l}{\bf Press Fund:}\\
& Press Fund                     &   500.00 &   500.00\\
\cline{2-4}
& Total Press Fund               &   500.00 &   500.00\\
\\
\multicolumn{2}{l}{\bf National Layaway:}\\
& National Layaway               &        - &   300.00\\
\cline{2-4}
& Total National Layaway Fund    &        - &   300.00\\
\\
\hline
\multicolumn{2}{l}{\bf Grand Total} &  5275.00 &  5720.00\\
\end{tabular}
\end{table}

My main project this term is going be looking for ways to trim
back the budget and otherwise prepare for the ever increasingly
likely possibility of Reg Day going away.  I've already heard a
few suggestions: getting brothers to pay for transportation,
raising dues, etc., but right now, I'm still very much in the
``investigation'' phase.  I'll be going through the books (in
minute detail, of course {\tt :)}) and soliciting advice.  We
might also form a committee this term if there's enough interest.

But that's all a little ways off in the future.  Right now, (or a
little while ago, depending on when you happen to get to this
article,) you all get to discuss and vote on the proposed budget
for next term.  So\ldots here it is!

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Mold Report IV}

Greetings dear APOers, most of whom I haven't seen since the days of UMOC
(this being my fault, of course).  Hopefully you're neither too stressed 
nor too sleepless, but no, I have not yet managed to repress the anguishing
memories of end-of-term hecticness (hecticity?) and therefore I do know that
non-stress and sleepfulness are not to be found upon/within/among/whatever-
other-preposition-you-like you and that thus this is truly a holiday wish
very strangely disguised as a finals wish.  (And if you understood that 
sentence, congratulations, because I doubt that I did.)

Anyway, I guess this could be categorized as a ``rest-of-you'' report that
Barbara requested.  I predict/promise much randomness, as otherwise it would 
not be Characteristic Of An Article By Me.  Here I go\ldots

Welcome to the world, my new cousin Kevin!  (He was born in Houston, over 
the Thanksgiving holidays.)  {\tt :)}

I saw {\em Star Trek: Generations} the night before it premiered (one
of those sneak preview thingies).  Believe it or not, it was only the
second {\em Trek} movie I've ever seen, and the first ({\em Star Trek
IV}) I only saw a week before that.  A friend of mine rented it for us
to watch after a conversation in which she exclaimed (with an
appropriate amount of incrdulity, of course), ``You graduated from MIT
and you've NEVER seen a {\em Star Trek} movie???????''  Heck, I've never
seen an entire episode of the old {\em Trek}.  Really!  I suppose some/a
fanatic few/a frighteningly large number of you think I must be some
kind of heathen, but I did enjoy both movies very much, so I can't be
totally hopeless, right?  {\tt :)}

Congratulations to all the new brothers and new officers!  Congratulations
to all the outgoing officers who made it through this term!  Congratulations
to anyone who's becoming mold soon!  Congratulations to my sister Jamy who 
recently made Texas All-State Orchestra!  Con-gra-tu-LA-tions, Pro-FES-sor 
HIG-gins\ldots (And congratulations to anyone who knows where I got that; it's
stuck in my head right now.)

I played three hours of volleyball last Saturday.  I actually served six 
points overhand on a men's net!  Unfortunately, I had game point twice and 
choked (squawked, too) both times, but I'm getting the hang of the overhand 
serve.  It's that whole-hand-contact, snap-wrist, elbow-first ``throw like a 
guy'' thing.  (If you want to know, Just Ask.)  It really works!

Okay, last thing.  (Whew.)  You might see me at I-Banquet.  If you do:

Questions NOT to ask me (you'll risk sounding like my parents):
\begin{enumerate}
\item How is the job search going?
\item Are you going to grad school next fall?
\item What have you been doing with all your free time?
\item How's the money situation?
\end{enumerate}
Questions I will happily answer:
\begin{enumerate}
\item Do you have any good books to recommend?
\item How do I buy/join {\em Technique}?
\item How do you like your apartment and housemates?
\item Who's/How's/Where's Bob?  {\tt :)}
\end{enumerate}
And that's all, folks\ldots have a restful break and a very merry IAP!

					YiLFS,
					Amy

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Fellowship Rambling \#2}

	Aren't you all proud of me.  This is my second article in ONE
APOc and the third one I've ever written! ({\em {\bf I'm} proud! -ed})
(The other one was my pledge article - I've just been lame about
writing articles, I guess.)  This one should be titled ``Reflections of
a Fellowship Chair.''  Here goes.

	So, what is the relationshop between leadership, fellowship,
and service in APO?  We separate them into 3 parts, but they are
really so intertwined that we must remember that there can't be one
without the other two.

	What is service but to be a friend?  Fundamentally, they are
about the same.  We merely differentiate between being of service to
others (outside of APO - our service program) and being of service to
each other (which is what the fellowship program is all about.)

	Where does leadership fit in?  Well, someone needs to take the
initiative and be of service FIRST - either without waiting to be
asked or being ready and willing WHEN asked.  Being a leader does not
mean taking the initiative and persuading others to friends to you
first.  Having others of service to you is a consequence, not a
starting point.  This is the difference between being a good leader
and a bad politician.

	Always keep in mind that APO comprises all three of these things
equally.  It's like the U.S. government.  The checks and balances are in place,
inherent in the system, because it was designed that way.

Yilfs,
Karen  :o)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Quotes discuss meeting taken over by APO brothers, news at 11}

\begin{verbatim}
[4962] sorokin@ATHENA.MIT.EDU quotes 12/01/94 18:01
Subject: autumn
Matt and I have decided that we are ready to make the 
committment of sharing a SIPB drawer. We understand the 
responsibilites this entails, and if you would like to 
donate my drawer to someone else, you may. =)

[4963] marc@ATHENA.MIT.EDU quotes 12/01/94 22:14
Subject: dcctdw
I have style, and I have a big mouth, and that's it.

[4964] rjbarbal@ATHENA.MIT.EDU quotes 12/02/94 21:03
Subject: ckclark
Sunsoft's biggest problem is that they are not the Borg, 
but they fantasize that they are.  For example, they are 
under the delusion that people will actually run Solaris 
on Intel processors, and that they will take over this
way.  In reality, there are about 4 people in the world
using 2.4 on Intel machines, they all work at Sun, and
they boot Windows when the boss isn't looking.
\end{verbatim}

(courtesy of Ping)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Ye Generic APOc Article}

Well, ok.  It's not terribly generic.

It's a lichen report.  Next term, i'll be a lichen, in all probability.
What that means is that i'll be a part-time student, finishing my thesis,
but hopefully working part-time.  So, I'll probably go inactive next term,
because I still feel it's The Right Thing To Do -- all that stuff about
getting out of the way of the actives.

So maybe I should go to AXAA meetings.  Oooh, what a scary concept.

It's kinda interesting -- I don't know what I want to do with APO now
that I've basically graduated/escaped.  (It's unclear if i'll
graduate.  It is clear that I've almost escaped.)  I've given some
thought to infiltrating AXAA and bending its considerable power to my
will.  (Author's note: HA!)  (Oh, what the heck, i'll throw this in
for free -- Editor's note: HA! {\em (Hey! Who's the editor here,
anyway? -ed)}) I've thought about serving on staff.  But I think
there's something to be said for just holding a job, paying off debts,
living life, and mellowing out from the rush of undergraduate life.
Hmm.  I guess what I'm saying is that I don't feel mature enough to be
on staff.

But for next term, I'll be around MIT, being involved in Ballroom Dance
Team and (cough) hopefully other things as well.  :)  I have no clue what
i'll be doing in 2 years, but working in Boston for the next year seems a
reasonable guess.

dave

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Cookie Offer}

Some of you may have noticed that the only part of the office which
really rivals the messiness of Dave's desk is the one covered with
ancient photographs of various molds and fungi.  As historian, I've
determined that these no longer recognizable specimens are still of
historical interest and need to be better preserved.  And I really
want to leave a clean desk.

So, I am hereby announcing the 1995 First and Hopefully Last Annual
IAP Cleanup of Ancient Photographs.  This will take place the weekend
before IAP starts (January 6-9).  Since I have no clue who in the
world most of the people in the photographs are, I need the help of
other ancient molds and\ldots er, I mean, the help of the Alumni and other
more senior members of the Chapter.  So, if you will be in the area
just before IAP starts, watch your email (I'll send to
{\tt apo-news@mit.edu}) and the office bulletin board for times I'll be
going through cool pictures of the Chapter's past.

This should be a really cool fellowship thing, and since I will not be
hosed, I will very likely make some yummy chocolate chip cookies.

+ Richard \\
  Historian and Cookie-Baker

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Random Babbling from Gilbert}

I really doubt if many people know why I am hosed this term.  Let me use
the opportunity to explain: I am going out with too many girls: Dina
(Dynamic Systems, 6.241), Ana (Analysis, Complex, 18.04), Stocky
(Stochastic Processes Detection and Estimation, 6.342), Maggie
(Macroeconomics, 14.02), Melody (Music Composition, 21.M351), Toby (Tau
Beta Pi), April (APO), and Klavia (Piano).  Some of these ladies can only
be pleased by Matlab scripts rather than flowers or love letters.  Some
likes sensitive touches and agile fingers\ldots In any case, I am dumping
Ana and Stocky because the former is too boring and the latter thinks that
I'm too stupid (I'll chase after her again next term because I like
challenging things.  Playing hard-to-get, huh? {\tt :)}) I would suggest to
everyone not to get too ambitious and go out with lots of guys and girls.
Stick to 5 or 6 and that's should be enough to get you by the term without
feeling lonely.

Of course, being a random babbling, it wouldn't just end it this soon.  I have
announcements to make.  I'm earnestly arranging the weddings (concerts)
with both Melody and Klavia (boy, how stressful!).  (multiple weddings are
ok. Just make sure that they don't conflict with each other.) You are all
invited:

\begin{tabular}{llp{1in}p{.95in}}
Time&Place&Concert&Comment\\ \hline
Thu 12/15, 2pm&Killian Hall&Compositions from 21.M351 (solos and duets)&Our new
brother Grant is one of the performers!\\
Sat 12/17, 3pm&Killian Hall&Piano recital by students of Marek Zebrowski&I'll
be playing a Debussy prelude and first movement of a Mozart sonata\\
\end{tabular}

While I would love to have your presence, I do want to warn you that the
former has mostly atonal music.  Take this as you will\ldots

Gilbert

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Just a Thought (or a few)}

I plan to become inactive next term for various reasons (One is that I
would like to concentrate my energy on other, maybe new, things as my MIT
life might be coming to an end.)  I just have some comments/suggestions
(that I remember.  I think I might have more that I forgot\ldots) to make
as this might be my last issue of Apoc while I'm still active.

{\bf Open and Close} I always thought that the ``open'' in open meetings and
open projects sound pretty fascist.  It implies that the other meetings and
projects we have are ``closed'' to outsiders while we do welcome
prospectives who don't even plan to have any affiliation with apo
whatsoever to go to these events and explore APO.  Couldn't we just change
them to ``Info Meetings'' and ``Service Projects'' and make it clear that
people plan to pledge are required to go to 1 of the first $X$ Info meetings
and 1 of the first $Y$ service projects?

{\bf Membership Recruitment} I might be too sensitive but it seems that
the percentage of pledges getting initiated seems to have dropped.  And
more are on the borderline case in terms of making the requirements.  Are
we pushing people too hard into pledging?  Are we not letting prospectives
know what the pledgeship entails?  I think it helps the chapter's morale to
concentrate on bringing the pledges up to brotherhood.  Dave's big brother
meeting was a good one but it should probably be done a little earlier in
the term and emphasize on the solutions to problems.

{\bf Membership Retention/Fellowship} Dave sharply pointed out that there
is a difference between ``fellowship'' and ``social''.  We are in fact
losing a number of brothers.  While it is true that they could be hosed,
I'm not convinced that they don't spend any time with their friends.  if
they would feel comfortable enough about the chapter and are friends with
the brothers, they would hang out around APO anyway.  The problem is that
we are probably not very close to achieving this.  We could take a low-key
approach and let whoever gets along with the chapter be around.  But if we
have a goal of expanding the chapter, we should put an effort into becoming
friends with the people different from us, people who might be harder to
know because they are quieter, etc.\\ I heard that the fellowship event at
Chapter Weekend II went really well: people sat in a circle and talked
about their experience (mostly positive) with APO.  This is a great start
as it reinforces people's stay at APO.  Except that it didn't include the
brothers who are already inactive.  Membership retention is a hard problem
about which I have little ideas.  But, for each inactive brother/pledge,
which I'll call X for the sake of clarity, there's a brother Y whom X feels
the most comfortable with.  This might be X's big brother or someone from
X's pledge class, etc.  If we find out who this is, it makes a big
difference for X if Y keeps in touch with X and encourages X to attend APO
events.  I personally had positive experience with this and think that this
is something worth pursuing or at least thinking about.

{\bf Social event idea} As an individual who always strives for something
new, I think we could run something like a ``Movie Marathon'' during IAP.
Movie rentals are only \$1.xx at Towers from Tue-Thu.  The chapter has a
VCR already and I'm happy to lend the chapter my ancient yet fully
functional 19'' TV for the event.  All the PC needs to do is to take a
survey of what people like to see, announce the event, and rent the 5-6
movies from Towers, set up the TV/VCR in the office (maybe move the
furniture a little bit).  W20 is such a strategic location that if someone
doesn't like a certain movie, he/she could always have other places (not
limited to Athena) to hang out and come back for another one.  Food as
usual is a necessity {\tt :)}

Gilbert

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{pftgoto from bridget}

I have a new fish tank.. you can drop by Senior House and say hi to
the fish after I-banquet if you want :-)  -bridget


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Christmas Stories with Kevin}

Hi everyone!

   Well, its almost Christmas!  Hey, I have a question for all my fellow 
Christians.  Do you have Jewish friends?  (I do.)  Have you always felt like 
a butthead because you never get around to wishing your Jewish friends ``Happy
Haunakah'' until Christmas, and even then you can't spell it?  (I have.)  Did
you swear to yourself that this would be the year you finally do that on the 
actual first day of Haunakah?  (I did.)  And did you blow it anyway?  (I did.
Am I weird or does everyone do this?)

   Anyway, since its Christmas I'm sending in my favorite Christmas story.  Its
all about me and my friend Ed, who was APO president and my apartment mate back
in our WPI days.  Since we had 5 APO brothers in the apartment, we had agreed 
to host the annual APO Holiday party.  

   Ed and I were sitting around our apartment late one night noticing
that we hadn't decorated our apartment for Christmas.  We also noticed that we
had no money for Christmas decorations, and even if we had money we didn't 
have much time to shop that week (most of our free time ocurred between the 
hours of midnight and 8 am, when few malls are open) and even if we had time we
both hated shopping.  

   So this is what we did.  

   We got a stack of index cards and a box of magic markers.  Ed wrote
``Wreath'' on one of the index cards and hung it on the outside door
of our apartment.  I wrote ``Candle'' on an index card and stuck it in
the window.  This happy exchange continued and the rest of our
apartment mates got in on the act until our apartment was decorated
with ``Mistletoe,'' ``Bowl of candy canes,'' ``Cardboard cut out of
Santa Claus,'' ``Mistletoe,'' ``Christmas tree,'' ``Mistletoe,''
``String of popcorn'' hanging from the tree, ``More mistletoe,''
several ``Ornaments'' also hanging from the tree, ``Mistletoe
Mistletoe Mistletoe'', ``Fireplace,'' ``Good grief, more mistletoe!''
and of course, ``Ed's stocking'' and ``Kevin's stocking'' which were
hanging on the wall above the fireplace.  (Ed at that time was dating
a charming young lady named Linda, who is now his wife, but the rest
of the residents of that apartment were pretty desperate dudes, as the
above list implies.)  I was also able to locate a brick, so I wrote
``Fruitcake'' on it and stuck it on the kitchen table.  We also wrote
``Broken ornament'' on an index card, ripped it in half and placed it
on the floor under the tree.

   The party was very successful.  A good time was had by all.
Everyone got to make a stocking to put over the fireplace, and it you
wanted to give someone a present, you just wrote it into their
stocking.  Someone gave me a queen of spades.  If you play hearts you
understand how nasty this was.  I also received ``A lump of coal,''
``A boot to the head'' and ``A pound of salt.''  (Bear in mind, my
nickname in the chapter was Slug.)

   Ah yes, life was always fun at WPI.  I really enjoyed being the among the
chapter's favorite whipping posts for verbal abuse.  Those were the good old
days.  

   Hrm.  Come to think of it, these new days really aren't all that 
different\ldots

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Henning's Random Ramblings ``Good Times'' 1+1=11}

Last column I asked the following:

Who is the highest, who the lowest-paid governor? (Which states?)

Two people sent in a guess to {\tt trivia@mit.edu}. Gilbert Leung
(gratuitous mention \#1) was first to send something and suggested 
California and Nebraska. Pete Wilson made \$120,000 this year, but he's still 
``only'' the fourth-highest net gubernatiorial grosser. The Lincoln office is 
not quite the lowest-paid gubernatiorial office with \$65 K. Surpassing it in
lower pay are only Bill Clinton's former office (\$60,000) and Marc Racicot's
Montanan office, the lowest-yielding one, which pays \$55,502 yearly. The 
latter was identified by Jeff Bigler (gratutious mention \#2), who also
correctly determined the highest-paid governor to come from my home state 
New York, Mario Cuomo and his \$130,000 salary.

Kevin Dahm (gm \#3) answered with a simple, to-the-point ``Who cares?
They all get paid too damn much. Or am I getting them mixed up with
professional athletes?'' Well, trust Kevin to bring baseball into a
discussion.  {\tt :)} I guess every one should decide for themselves
whom they derive more utility from, Roger Clemens or Governor Weld\ldots

For the record, the seven remaining seven gratuitous mentions: Ping,
Kate, Rachel, Gilbert (he sent two things, thus mentioned again),
Alexis, Alexis and Alexis (that's how I interpret ``me, me, mention
me'' {\tt :)} And also how I get to ten mentions.).

During IAP, I am running a few activities of which two might be of interest 
to some of you: Eighties Movie Nights (Activity \#142) and NY Movie Nights 
(\#154), running Tuesday and Thursday nights respectively. Such great movies
such as {\it Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Weird Science, Cadillac Man, The 
Freshman, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Say Anything, Ghostbusters} 
will be shown. If you are interested in being on the mailing lists 
announcing the finalized schedules, drop a line to 80s-films-request and/or 
ny-films-request.

The following appeared in the International Herald Tribune in 1919, 75 years 
ago on December 8:

\newfont{\henning}{phvr}
\newfont{\henbold}{phvb}

{\henning
\begin{center}\henbold Fancy schools\end{center}
LONDON - Great controversy is raging over the anti-snobbery campaign of the 
great public schools of England [Henning's note: UK public school = US 
private school]. Eton and Harrow seem the chief victims, because smartness in 
dress, including the proverbial top-hat, signify snobbery to the ``plebs''
who are incapable of judging the difference between manners and refinement
on the one hand and conceipt and pose on the other.
}

Quite. {\tt :)} They don't write 'em as they used to.

Two questions to keep you thinking (or not) until the next publication:
\begin{enumerate}

\item When did the NYSE Dow Jones index first close above 1000? (FYI,
it's around 3750 now.)

\item What year did the MIT Lightweight Crew team win the Thames Challenge 
Cup at Henley, England? (Hint: The answer can be found on the inbound 
platform of the Kendall Square T stop.)

\end{enumerate}

If you know one or both answers, email it to {\tt trivia@mit.edu}! 

And yet another term's end quickly approaches. Good luck on finals and 
enjoy your winter break. 

(There was a slight error in the URL mentioned last week. Here is the new,
shorter URL: 

{\tt http://www.mit.edu:8001/people/henning/trivia.html})

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Project Report: National Braille Press}

The project was ran by Barbara and myself.  Overall I thought that the
project went very well.  However, one item that I was disappointed
with was brothers who said they would show and did not come or call us
or let us know.  This project was interesting because it was the same
day as Project America, the nation-wide community service day.  This
meant that we got free breakfast as we were waiting to listen to Dan
Quayle speak.  He was late so we decided to go to project.  Ping is
reported as saying, ``Why don't we go up to the microphone and
announce that we wish we could stay, but we are going to go do project
now.''  After working to move piles of zinc, stacking music and
painting a bathroom not big enough for two cats---much less Bridget
and a couple of other people.  We were then treated to Uno's and
continued working until about 2:00pm.

\hspace*{1in}Christopher

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Project Report: Pledge Project}

This project went well.  However, more organizanization was
needed\ldots I believe that greater cooperation is needed between the
MVP and SVP and pledge PC or PCs.  Also, on a side note, the pledge PC
should have a key to the office for a Saturday project, in particular
if a borother requested a 6am wake-up call.

\hspace*{1in}Christopher

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{On nice breaks before finals}

Well, after my announcement of being done until finals at the end of
Joint ExecComm I was instantly the recipient of flames from a hostile
brotherhood.  However, the threat over e-mail was most effective
(thank you Big Bro).  Well, here it is.

{\sc Question:} How do I earn a nice break before finals?

{\sc Answer:} don't take labs, Unifried, three 00*'s, 1.00 etc.
Those late lab reports and problem sets can be a bummer. Finish work
ahead of the time, at the end there is nothing to do.  Just punt the
problem sets, not a problem if you are a frosh--- however,
upperclasmen should consider the effects on their GPA.  Take 8.022,
7.012, 18.023, 24.00.  18.023 has no problem sets.  The last 7.012
pset was due on Dec 1.  The last 8.022 set was due Dec 7.  The last
paper for 24.00 was due Dec 4.  This is the secret for having nothing
due in the week before finals\ldots

Well, I am finished spewing, and I felt that Neophyting went well and
thank you for not barging into The Tech.

\hspace*{1in}Christopher

P.S.  Pledge article note: I understand there was a discussion of the
word ``icshe''.  It is Cherokee for ``crap''.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Maria's Pledge Article}

\begin{center}
\em [This got eaten by my mailbox, but I bravely rescued it\ldots --bert]
\end{center}

My name is Maria Pritykin.  I got it a long time ago, I'd suppose some
time on February 22nd, 1976.

I've decided to be a part of APO on the reg day when Jeffrey was
asking people to come help out with the Book Exchange.  I really
wanted to.

Well, now a little bit about myself and my hobbies.  I've liked to
draw and paint since I remember myself.  With some help from different
people, I started getting involved in mathematics.  Well, I declared
my major: 18 (applied), but I'm still interested in art-related
courses.  My plans for the future: become a better person.  No, this
is not meant as a clich\'e, but as a goal that is hard to reach.  Some
things that worry me are what I can do to reduce stress in my life
because too much of it resulted in just too many problems.  Well, back
to my plans.  I'd like to do what I plan to and plan reasonably.  I'll
start with ``sleep.''

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\article{Avi's article}

In response to bert's requests for brothers to write articles about
themselves, perhaps it is alos appropriate for alumni to do the
same---even if I might seem to even predate mold\ldots

I pledged APO twenty-seven years ago.  I was first introduced to AX at
a summer rush held at Mike Bromberg's for incoming freshmen.  The
chapter did a good job of entertaining us and answering our questions,
doing a very soft-sell on APO.  I picked up some literature before
getting a ride home with Al Stiehl.

At MIT, Bob Boyd stopped by my room at Baker to see if I was going to
the open rush, as I had expressed interest that summer.  I responed
that I was ineligible to join APO, having never been in Scouting.  Bob
revealed to me that the chapter had a liberal interpretation of that
factor.  The president, Al Brenstein, had never been a Scout.  AX felt
that joining APO, which was nationally affiliated to BSA, made you
able to belong to APO.  A circuitous logic!  Anyway, during my term as
a pledge, MVP Ron Rosen attended a constitutional convention in
Norman, OK, and led a successful effort to change the pledging
requirement to following Scout ideals instead of being a member.  When
I became a Brother, I met the letter of the by-laws, not just the
intent.

The members of the James A. Lovell Pledge Class didn't write APOcrypha
articles, but we did list a paragraph of interests.  Bern (Thor)
Krafsig included Peanuts in his list.  The capital P caught my
attention.  Somehow, the friendship that developed still runs strong,
as it has with other members of the pledge class and the chapter.  I
also remember the pledge quiz.  The first question was to name the
founder of APO.  I knew his first name was Frank and the last started
with an H.  Going to Inquisition (the formal interview held back
then), I was sure that I would be a continuing pledge.  For some
reason, the chapter took me in on my weak pledge performance.

Over my four years as an undergraduate, APO was the most important
factor in my life.  I was very active in the service program, held a
few offices, developed strong, lasting friendships, and perhaps
learned more from and about APO than in my classes.  Some said I may
have earned my degree in VII, but I really majored in APO.  The summer
after graduating, I even met my wife on an APO outing.  APO
unquestionably did something to me, as I still have a strong interest
in it.

This only scratches the surface, but it can be a form of introduction
and can open topics for discussion when I'm up at MIT.  I look forward
to getting to know more of you in the future.  (I'm sorry that I was
unable to make it to last month's Steak Fry \& Auction.)

\hspace*{2in}The Blue Dragon\\
\hspace*{2in}(aka Avi Ornstein)

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\article{Looking Back}

Having just read some of the pledge articles, and having reflected
over the years in writing an article about myself, I felt that
pledging might be an appropriate topic for this (infrequent) column.

\hspace*{2in}The Blue Dragon

\begin{quote}
\ldots there were 17 pledges at the first smoker, 9 at the second.
Eleven have signed up.  For the past two years, the fall pledge class
has numbered between 35 and 40 at its inception.

\hspace*{.5in}Carl Mampaey, MVP (F'62) [XXII:4]
\end{quote}

{\em [Note: we now use ``prospectives'' where Carl used
``pledges''. --Avi]}

\begin{quote}
Today's membership report has been cancelled due to the impending
holiday [Thanksgiving].  Suffoce it to say that neither the last nor
the next pledge meetings have been cancelled.

\hspace*{.5in}Abba Weinstein, MVP (F'63) [XXIII:4]
\end{quote}

\begin{quote}
\ldots Uncle Dave will shortly be sending you your private list of
freshmen to contact, help and cherish.  Answer any questions they ahve
and leave your name, address, and phone number for their further use.
Be friendly, helpful, don't push the chapter too much.  Our best
advertising is guys who are interested in serving others.

You might also try to hold a rush party with the other brothers in the
area\ldots Make it a `come and talk about MIT and APO' session
combined with a lot of fun and fellowship, where you fill them up with
food, joy, and info about the 'tute and AX.

\hspace*{.5in}Len Tower, SVP (F'69) [XXX:1]
\end{quote}

\begin{quote}
We have a myriad of pledges (20 $<$ myriad $<$ 30)

\hspace*{.5in}Chapter meeting minutes (10/14/70) [XXXII:5]
\end{quote}

\begin{quote}
An accepted tradition (for many, many years now) is that each pledge
class gets to throw their MVP into some body of water after Spring
Afterfinals.

\hspace*{.5in}Avi Ornstein (F'71) [XXXIV:3]
\end{quote}

\begin{quote}
Among so many people, one feels a lesser part of the whole.  Pledges
are being raised not knowing their fellow peons\ldots Members lose the
feeling of togetherness as the Fellowship Circle grows.

\hspace*{.5in}Sheva Stern, letter (S'72) [XXXV:3]
\end{quote}

\begin{quote}
Membership VP (Richards): \ldots I'd rather have fewer pledges with
more attention per pledge, for a lower inactive rate.

\hspace*{.5in}ExecComm minutes (9/6/72) [XXXVI:3]
\end{quote}

\begin{quote}
As in the past terms, pledges will be encouraged to submit a short
introductory write-up of themselves.

\hspace*{.5in}Chapter Meeting minutes (9/27/72) [XXXVI:4]
\end{quote}

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