Service That Matters

Episode 6: Service That MattersWelcome to Leading for Good: The Alpha Phi Omega Story—the national podcast where we explore how leadership, friendship, and service shape who we become. In this episode, Chris Meschuk sits down with Lilly Thomson from the Gamma Upsilon Chapter at Tulane University and Max Green from the Theta Alpha Chapter at Stevens Institute of Technology to explore what meaningful service actually looks like inside Alpha Phi Omega. This conversation goes beyond service hours and asks a deeper question: what makes service truly matter?In this episode, you’ll hear:The difference between transactional service and relationship-driven serviceHow Lilly built a nonprofit supporting students in the Dominican RepublicHow Max’s chapter creates hands-on STEM experiences for local familiesWhy long-term community relationships matter more than checking a boxPractical ways chapters can create more impactful service programs If you’re an active Alpha Phi Omega member thinking about how your chapter serves its campus and community, this episode offers practical ideas for creating service experiences that are meaningful, sustainable, and deeply connected to the people you serve.  Memorable Quotes“Helping is useful. Helping is kind. Mattering is different. Mattering means the community would notice if you were gone.”“When people have passion involved, it makes it more meaningful and overall just grow into an incredible relationship.”“The service that actually becomes the most meaningful… it’s almost always rooted in friendship.” About Our GuestsLilly Thomson is a member of the Gamma Upsilon Chapter at Tulane University, where she has served on application committee, philanthropy committee, and as chapter president. She is also the founder of Pencils of Passion, a nonprofit connecting communities in Oklahoma with schools in the Dominican Republic through school supply drives and educational support initiatives. https://pencilswithpassion.com/ Max Green is a member of the Theta Alpha Chapter at Stevens Institute of Technology and has served as outreach chair for the past two years. Through his leadership, he has helped coordinate large-scale campus and community service initiatives focused on STEM education, youth outreach, and relationship-building with local organizations. Key TakeawaysPick one partnership and go deeper.Replace one assumption with a question.Talk about meaning, not just hours. Chapter Discussion PromptBring this question to your next chapter meeting:Which of our current service partnerships feels the most meaningful to our chapter — and why? Get InvolvedIdea, Comment, or Nominate a future guest: https://forms.gle/mWmhGVHEUNw4vtcGASubmit to the APO Soundbites segment: https://forms.gle/KgJrSnFB2z3MPC3s5Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apostaff/Share this episode with your chapter group chat or listen together at your next meeting.