Alpha Pi Alpha   
      
  Welcoming Remarks      
  by John Zongrone     

Welcome to the Alpha Pi Alpha Reunion web site.  Over the past few months there has been great interest in revisiting the life and times of the brotherhood of Alpha Pi Alpha.  A reunion in March of 2001 brought together more than 90 members. 

                In October of 2002 we celebrated the 50^th anniversary of the birth of APA.  It was in 1952  that Albany’s Gamma Chapter broke away from the national Kappa Delta Rho fraternity in what was one of the initial test cases of the Constitutional prohibition against discrimination. 

                In addition to the 50^th reunion, there have been a number of other events that have taken place and are still being planned.  These have included a golf tournament and a picnic at Thatcher Park during August and sporting events during the Fall.  Information on these can be found under the Calendar of Events page on this site.  Some brothers are planning to meet at football games as well as the basketball game against Siena College, renewing a rivalry that last occurred in 1977.  We hope that some of the events become annual affairs.

                We have also located the original banner, scrapbooks dating back to 1952 and other fraternal memorabilia, some of which has historical significance.  Efforts are underway to preserve these at the University library archives and make them available for viewing at future APA gatherings.  Small composite photos and other artifacts are requested to be sent to us in order to be added to the collection.  We have also made contact with the manufacturer of our ceramic mugs.  The original mold is still available and people will be able to place orders for new ones for a limited time.

                We have had contacts with more than 350 of the estimated 750+ members of Alpha Pi Alpha during its 26 year history and we are always looking to establish more. We hope you enjoy yourself as you scroll through our many web pages and relive some of the wonderful memories of your years on campus.  Keep in mind that we are always looking to establish contacts with more brothers in an effort to make a 2002 reunion a once in a lifetime experience.

                                                                   Best wishes,
                                                                   John Zongrone

                                               First President of Alpha Pi Alpha