Alpha Zeta Omega
Alpha Zeta Omega is a co-ed, pharmaceutical professional fraternity founded on December 19, 1919. It was originally known as the Dead Men's Club.
Origins
Alpha Zeta Omega was founded in Philadelphia, at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, which is now called the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. The leader and originator of this group was Ephraim G. Sless. The original members were:- Harry Althouse
- Lawrence Rosenfeld
- Morris Arkans
- Abe M. Bernstein
- David Champaine
- David L. Dyen
- Stanley Rosenfeld
- Al Rosenfield
- Louis Snyder
- David Schwartz
- Morris Shuman
- Ephraim G. Sless
- Joshua Zimskind
Purpose
Alpha Zeta Omega was formed for the purpose of academic support; the original stated goal was to ensure 100% graduation of its members. Members participated in a structured series of quizzes, designed and executed by the members most proficient in the particular subject under discussion. These frequent study sessions resulted in bringing together the social life of the members. In 1921, the Dead Men's Club boasted 100% graduation of its 13 members. In addition to the original goal of "100% graduation" the purpose of the Fraternity is now designated chiefly as "to spread the spirit of Fraternalism, Brotherly Love, Friendship and Good Will towards Mankind."Fraternal government
The original constitution of AZO was drawn up by A.M. Bernstein and D.L. Dyen. Stanley Rosenfeld was elected the first "Supreme Directorum" of the Fraternity. The original 13 members termed themselves the Alpha chapter. The Supreme Chapter, consisting of Supreme Officer and delegates from subordinate chapters, meet regularly twice a year in January and July. At the 1925 Convention in Newark, NJ the Philadelphia Alumni chapter was chartered, which nullified the charter of the Alpha chapter. The "Alpha" fraters therefore became charter members of the Alumni chapter of Philadelphia.The fraternity is organized by chapters, each representing a specific pharmacy school or geographic area. chapters may be formed by undergraduates, alumni, and in some instances are "mixed"—containing both undergraduate and graduate members.
The government has alternative names for their officers which follow:
- Directorum - President
- Sub-Directorum - Vice President
- Signare - Secretary
- ExCheque - Treasurer
- Bellarum - Sergeant of Arms
Conventions
Ladies' Auxiliary
In 1939 a Ladies Auxiliaries was established at several chapters for the wives of AZO fraters, and at the Detroit Convention in 1940, a National Auxiliary was founded.Publications
- The AZOan—yearly publication of AZO, started in December 1922. It was originally title "Hazy-O". The first editor was Si Sless.
- AZO Apothecary—newsletter published quarterly containing reports from national officers and subordinate chapters.
Regalia
- AZO Pin—designed by A. M. Bernstein, D.L. Dyen, M Shuman, and E.G. Sless
- Recognition Pin
- AZO Fraternity Shield
Collegiate chapters
- Alpha: First chapter. Philadelphia chapter that was converted into the Philadelphia Alumni as the undergraduates became the Beta chapter. Now known as Philadelphia Alumni chapter
- Beta: Philadelphia College of Pharmacy
- Gamma: Temple University
- Delta: McGill University
- Epsilon: Rutgers University
- Zeta: Columbia University
- Eta: University of Cincinnati
- Theta: Western Reserve University in Cleveland
- Iota: Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy
- Kappa: University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
- Lambda: University of Louisville/ Louisville Alumni
- Mu: Pittsburgh Alumni
- Nu: University of Connecticut/ Connecticut Alumni
- Xi: Fordham University
- Omicron: Detroit Institute of Technology
- Pi: George Washington University/Howard University
- Rho: The St. Louis College of Pharmacy/ St. Louis Alumni
- Sigma: The University of Toledo
- Tau: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Upsilon: Northeastern University in Boston/ Boston Alumni
- Phi: Wayne State University/ Detroit Alumni
- Chi: California Alumni
- Psi: Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy/ Miami Alumni
- Omega: Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Beta Alpha: Milwaukee Alumni
- Gamma Psi: Phoenix Alumni
- Delta Alpha: Chicago Alumni
- Epsilon Alpha: West Florida Alumni
- Epsilon Chi: University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Pharmacy
- Zeta Phi: University of Iowa
- Eta Upsilon: St. John's University College of Pharmacy
- Theta Alpha: Ohio Northern University
- Theta Beta: The Ohio State University
- Nu Mu: University of New Mexico in Albuquerque
- Omicron Alpha: Ferris State University
- Omicron Beta: Florida Tri-County Alumni
- Omega Chi: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy/ Virginia Alumni
- Pi Rho: University of Puerto Rico College of Pharmacy
- Theta Gamma: The University of Findlay
- Delta Tau: Western New England University
- Lambda Nu: University of New England
- Rho Iota: University of Rhode Island
Awards
- Directorum's Cup—Established June 1926, awarded a subordinate chapter having the excellent standing each year.
- Newspaper Cup—Awarded to subordinate chapters for chapter publications
- Meritorious Award—Awarded to a member with "long and distinguished activity on behalf of the Fraternity"
- Supreme Undergraduate Award—Awarded to exceptional undergraduates one a year at conventions
- Achievement Medal—Awarded to a person for "long and meritorious service to the Profession of Pharmacy"
- Order of the Double Star—Awarded to a member "who attain positions of respect and importance within the Profession of Pharmacy"
- E. G. Sless Award—Awarded to a member "who have given years of long and distinguished service to AZO on the chapter level"
- S. I. Sless Award—Awarded to an undergraduate member for undergraduate service to AZO
History
Early years
After the "Dead Men's Club" graduated, the group held its first official gathering at the home of Abe M. Bernstein. It was at this time decided to change the name of the organization to "Alpha Zeta Omega Fraternity". As it was the custom at the time to use Greek letters to designate fraternities, AZO was renamed such because:- Alpha—the first letter in the Greek alphabet, representing the beginning of time
- Zeta—a mnemonic of the founders names, a symbol of the link between the creation and eternity
- Omega—the last letter of the Greek alphabet, was taken to represent the end of time.
Notable events
In 1937, the Ohio River Floods caused considerable damage to pharmacies owned by several members. An emergency session of the fraternity was called and a support drive was held to assist those members' businesses that were damaged or destroyed in the flood. In 1938, plans to offer insurance to the members of the Fraternity were adopted, and when finalized, $100,000 worth of insurance was written.In June 1946, AZO presented funds for the pharmacy of the Hadassah Memorial Hospital in Palestine. This was part of $15,000 pledged by AZO to build a pharmacy building at the hospital.
In 1956, AZO took on as its cultural program, the task of raising money for the Hebrew University in Israel. The stated goal was to raise $100,000 in 3 years, however, the fraternity surpasses its goal and raised $103,000 in just two years.
In 1961, a book titled "40 Years of AZO" was published, detailing the history of AZO. It was a 360-page, hard-cover printed volume, distributed to fraters and chapters nationwide, as well as pharmacy school libraries nationwide. Additional historical publications would follow, outlining the histor of AZO from 1960 to 1970, and then again from 1970 to 1980.
In the early 1970s, AZO began admitting women as members for the first time, and thus became a co-ed fraternal organization.
In 1976, the founder of AZO, Ephraim G. Sless, died. In honor of their late founder, the membership began a campaign to establish scholarships across the USA and in Israel.
After the events of September 11, 2001, AZO started a project to benefit the Dean Street Heroes Fund, N.Y. Fire Dept., Engine Co. 219.
After the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria to Puerto Rico, where one of AZO's chapters resides, a project was started to benefit the rebuilding of the territory.