2000
In 1990 the National Executive Board (NEB), the governing body for the future national organization, is founded by four members of the Sorority from the Alpha and Beta Chapters: Cindy Majcher (Alpha), Kathy Rectenwald (Alpha), Julie Whalen (Alpha), and Michelle Rohr (Beta). The NEB was composed of the Executive Director, Expansion Officer, Financial Officer, and Interchapter Relations Officer. Cynthia Majcher (Alpha) was elected the first Executive Director. In 1991, procedures to incorporate the organization in the state of Wisconsin began, and the national organization’s Constitution and Bylaws were drafted. Additionally, local Sorority Alpha Sigma Kappa at the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis was established as the Epsilon Colony. During this time the Sorority’s scope increased from solely promoting women in engineering to promoting women in both engineering and technical sciences.
In 1992 the NEB’s structure was changed, and the President assumed the role of the Executive Director, the Vice President assumed the role of the Expansion Officer, the Treasurer assumed the role of the Financial Officer, and the Secretary assumed the role of the Interchapter Relations Officer. The first National Convention was held in Rapid City, SD during the summer of 1992 with the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Chapters in attendance. In late 1992 the Epsilon Colony withdrew its intent to join Alpha Omega Epsilon, and the NEB decided to join the Professional Fraternity Association (PFA).
In 1993 the National Constitution and Bylaws were ratified and a decision was made to incorporate as a social organization, rendering the Sorority both a social and professional organization (due to the NEB’s affiliation with the PFA). The Articles of Incorporation for Alpha Omega Epsilon, Inc. were filed with the Secretary of State in Wisconsin.
In 1994 a proposal to start a National Foundation – whose goals were to establish academic, professional, leadership, and volunteer development programs including scholarships, conference attendance/sponsorship, and grants – was initiated. In November of that same year, the Sorority’s Risk Management Policy was finalized, and Alpha Omega Epsilon, Inc. received 501(c)(7) designation as a tax-exempt organization from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
In 1996, the NEB’s structure was changed for a second time to add a fifth office – the Interchapter Relations Officer – whose duties included overseeing the activities of the chapters. This allowed the Secretary to focus more on Sorority history and risk management. On December 5, 1996, the Alpha Omega Epsilon National Foundation, a non-profit organization that primarily focuses on academic development programs, professional and leadership development programs, volunteer development programs, and organizational grants, is established by four members of the Sorority from the Alpha and Beta Chapters: Cindy Benske (Alpha), Julie Whalen (Alpha), Julie Heinrich (Beta), and Michelle Vondenkamp (Beta). Cindy Benske is selected the first Chairman of the Alpha Omega Epsilon National Foundation Board of Directors.
On February 21, 1998, Eta Chapter was installed at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia marking the first international chapter of the Sorority. In March of that same year, the Alpha Omega Epsilon National Foundation received 501(c)(3) designation as a tax-exempt charitable organization from the IRS, retroactive to the date of founding.
On December 4, 1999, a Colony of Alpha Omega Epsilon was established at Trine University in Angola, IN.
Read more about this topic: Alpha Omega Epsilon, Sorority History, 1990