2013 Winter AOT Newsletter.

​

A year in review by S. Raff

​

   As I look over this past year and all that we have accomplished, I’m reminded of something which I experienced many years ago as a high school junior. As secretary of Delta Chapter, I was entrusted with all of the fraternity books. These included materials dating back to the Brooklyn days of AOT as well decades old correspondence between various chapters of AOT and what they were all doing to grow their respective chapters. Those books represented more than just 40 years of history. They represented the best efforts of many self-directed young men who, aside from occasional shenanigans, accomplished some truly remarkable things. That was a history that I was proud to be a part of. And now, many years later, I find myself being part of that same great organization which despite being dormant for decades, was always alive in my heart.

 

  Reflecting on the past year, we started off with many internal divides, but when Tim Argento’s home was badly damaged in a fire, brothers from near and far put aside their differences to help out… and you guys really went above and beyond in doing so. Seeing all of that positive energy, we took on the task of generating over $5,000 which was donated to Veteran Chris Levi and to Andy Pujols of the Building Homes for Heroes Project. Most recently, when Hurricane Sandy hit our area, we came together once again, and we hit back! Just an amazing year for us. And I think back to high school, looking over those books, wondering what it would take to bring back all of that positive energy upon which AOT was built…

and now I know... it takes a bunch of truly great guys that I am proud to call brothers.

2012 Timeline

​

* February - Support for Tim Argento (Tim’s dad was a founding member of AOT Delta Chapter). Most of you didn’t know Tim, and yet you sent so much that it took two car trips to empty everything out of my Mom’s living room, which had become the drop site. ( Thanks mom J )

​

* May – Freeport Benefit for the Building Homes for Heroes and our own Wounded Warrior Chris Levi – Donations totaled 5K

​

* August – Night out at Governors Comedy Club. A Nice showing but next time we pack the place! Raised $1800

​

* Sandy Relief – Including: Demolition work at Brother Mike Rooney’s house in Long Beach and Brother B.a in Baldwin, a house demo in Freeport for a non-brother (an elderly gentleman and his wife who really needed us!), Clean-up at the Fishery, Clothing and Toy donations to the MLK Center of Long Beach, Donation to Brother Jim Funari, Freeport PBA Toys for Tots, Long Beach HS wrestling program, as well as random donations made throughout the year. At the moment we are putting a package together for brother Abe Conn who is currently stationed in Afghanistan.

With all of this in mind, we have no place to go but up! We hope to grow our numbers, and we hope to grow our treasury with the intention of locating a club house. We are on the verge of our second annual election and we have an election committee that has been working diligently to ensure that the brothers of AOT will be best represented in the year ahead.

​

  From myself, Chris, Wilson, Phil, and Mark, thank you all for coming to the meetings, for checking in online, for your emails, and for any and all support which you have given, be it from near or far.

​

​

Alea jacta est

​

​

​​

​

Membership Cards

​

Signed by the Original Founder of AOT John Stefano are being replenished and will be available soon