# Delta Omega Epsilon

The Delta Omega Epsilon Organization (ΔΩΕ) is a professional and honor-based fraternity. Delta Omega Epsilon was founded on April 15, 1985, by Richard Pelestri and Sal Leone along with an inaugural class of 25 members at The College of Staten Island in New York City.
Delta Omega Epsilon was the first organization to be chartered at the university and was created to spread knowledge of civics and its various professions to enhance its local communities.

## History

* On April 15, 1985, at 12:38pm, the Delta Omega Epsilon Organization was founded by Richard Pelestri, Sal Leone, and an inaugural class of 25 members at the College of Staten Island, thus constituting the Alpha chapter.
* On September 7, 1995, Seth Meyerson, Joseph Congedo, and an inaugural class of 12 members formed the Beta chapter of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Delhi.
* On September 8, 1996, Chris Delgado and an inaugural class of 6 members formed the Gamma chapter of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Oneonta
* On November 15, 1998, Ralph Torres and an inaugural class of 7 members formed the Delta chapter of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Cobleskill.
* On February 28, 2002, Mike Mansky, George Mawyin, and an inaugural class of 15 members formed the Epsilon chapter of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Morrisville.
* On November 1, 2002, Dibar Gamboa and an inaugural class of 4 members formed the at-large Zeta chapter of Delta Omega Epsilon in Central New York.
* Andre Lynch and an inaugural class of 4 members formed the Theta chapter of Delta Omega Epsilon at the State University of New York at Canton during the spring of 2011.
* On February 10, 2011, the organization's Phoenix chapter was nationally incorporated by Dibar Gamboa, Ariel Pichardo, and Teru King.

## Symbols

The official symbols of the organization are the Phoenix representing rebirth and the bottlenose dolphin representing the organization's roots at The College of Staten Island. Additional symbols include doubloons and key Its colors are sterling silver and black. The fraternity's flower is the black petunia. Its tree is the California redwood. Its jewel is the Diamond and its mascot is the Bottlenose dolphin.
Its founding coordinates of 40° 36′ 0″ N, 74° 9′ 0″ W is of great importance to the organization and is a core component of essential organization activities.

## Membership

As of 2024, Delta Omega Epsilon has more than 369 members. Membership is open to any man who meets the requirements, regardless of religion, race, or nationality. Being primarily a professional organization, Delta Omega Epsilon does not operate nor maintain an organization house as lodging quarters for members or any other persons. However, a chapter may maintain rooms for meetings at the discretion of its members.

## Activities

The programs of the organization are centered around its mission statement: "To spread knowledge of civic and its various professions to enhance its local communities. Civics for all!"

## Officers

The executive board consists of the president, vice president, sergeant at arms, secretary, treasurer, chapter coordinator, alumni coordinator, and event coordinator. Following the 2020 ΔΩΕ executive board elections and the constitutional referendum, the executive board was elected to serve 25-year terms expiring on April 15, 2045. Each position has a two-term limit. The executive board has been aggressively expanding in select geographic regions to make the organization national by the end of 2023 and international by 2024.

## Chapters

These are the chapters of Delta Omega Epsilon. Chapters at colleges do not require enrollment at the school. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status |
| Alpha | 1985 | College of Staten Island | Staten Island, New York | Active |
| Beta | 1995 | State University of New York at Delhi | Delhi, New York | Inactive |
| Gamma | 1996 | State University of New York at Oneonta | Oneonta, New York | Inactive |
| Delta | 1998 | State University of New York at Cobleskill | Cobleskill, New York | Inactive |
| Epsilon | 2002 | State University of New York at Morrisville | Morrisville, New York | Inactive |
| Zeta | 2011 | Central NY at large | Central New York | Inactive |
| Eta | 2011 | York College, City University of New York | Jamaica, Queens, New York | Active |
| Theta | 2012 | State University of New York at Canton | Canton, New York | Active |
| Iota | 2015–2016 | Housatonic Community College | Bridgeport, Connecticut | Inactive |
| Kappa | 2017 | New York/New Jersey/Maine at large | New York City, New York | Active |
| Lambda | 2021 | Utah at large | Salt Lake City, Utah | Active |
| Mu | 2022 | Alaska at large | Juneau, Alaska | Active |
| Nu | 2023 | Mississippi at large | Jackson, Mississippi | Active |
| Xi | 2024 | Iowa at large | Urbandale, Iowa | Active |