Achievement Week
Originally designed to promote the study of Negro life
and history. Achievement Week is observed in November of each year and
is designed to seek out and give due recognition to those individuals
at the local and international levels who have made a noteworthy
contribution toward improving the quality of life for black Americans. A
High School Essay Contest is to be held in conjunction with
Achievement Week. This contest is open to all college-bound high school
seniors. College scholarships are awarded to the winners, each of whom
must submit an essay on a theme/topic chosen by the fraternity. This
contest is a phase of the International Achievement Week observance.
Scholarship
The Scholarship Program is intended to promote academic
excellence among the undergraduate members. Graduate chapters are
expected to provide financial assistance to student members and
non-members. A portion of the fraternity’s international budget is
allocated to scholarships through the Charles R. Drew Scholarship
Commission.
Social Action Programs
All levels of the fraternity are expected to facilitate,
participate and coordinate activities that will uplift their
communities. An international committee will coordinate the
multifaceted programs of the various chapters. Some of the activities
under the umbrella of social action include, but are not limited to:
voter registration, education and “getting out the vote”; Assault on
Illiteracy; Habitat for Humanity; volunteering time to charities and
less fortunate individuals; mentoring; and participation in fundraisers
for charities such as American Diabetes Association, United Way,
Sickle Cell Anemia, etc.
Talent Hunt Program
This program provides exposure, encouragement and
financial assistance to talented young people participating in the
Performing Arts. Winners of the competition are awarded recognition for
their talents. Awards may include college scholarships.
Memorial Service
March 12th of each year has been established as Memorial
Day. Chapters are expected to conduct an appropriate service to recall
the memory of those members who have entered into Omega Chapter.
Reclamation and Retention
A concerted effort at the international, district and
local levels to retain active brothers and return inactive brothers to
full participatory status so that they may enjoy the full benefits of
Omega.
College Endowment Fund
Each year the fraternity gives at least $50,000.00 to
Historically Black College Institutions (HBCU) in furtherance of
Omega’s commitment to provide philanthropic support. Chapters are
assessed donations based on chapter size.
Health Initiatives
All levels of the fraternity are expected to facilitate,
participate and/or coordinate activities that will uplift their
communities by promoting good health practices. An international
committee will coordinate and facilitate multifaceted programs of the
various chapters, districts, etc. It is anticipated that all local
chapters will execute the health directives at the local level. Some of
the programs under the umbrella of Health Initiatives are the Charles
Drew Blood Drive (normally held in June), AIDS/HIV Awareness, and the
American Diabetes Association Partnership. This does not prevent the
local chapters from performing additional health initiatives under the
umbrella of the Health Initiatives mandate.
Voter Registration, Education and Mobilization
All levels of the fraternity are expected to facilitate,
participate and/or coordinate activities that will uplift their
communities through the power of the vote. An international committee
will coordinate and facilitate multifaceted programs of the various
chapters, districts, etc. It is anticipated that all local chapters
will execute the directives at the local level. This does not prevent
the local chapters from performing additional voter initiatives under
the umbrella of the Voter Education, Registration and Mobilization
mandate.
NAACP
Every district and chapter of the fraternity is required
to maintain a Life Membership at Large in the NAACP. In the event that
a chapter or district is not a life member of the NAACP, it must
maintain a yearly membership to be in Good Standing with the
fraternity. Furthermore, all members of the fraternity are strongly
encouraged to become members of the NAACP.
(Chapters are required to administer these programs annually)