Parent/Alumni Newsletter

Transcription

1 In this issue: Parent/Alumni Newsletter Sigma Phi Epsilon MT Beta RLC Fall Balanced Leader Scholarship Ruck Leadership Academy Fall 2011 Retreat Conclave 2011 SigEp Rose Inaugural Philanthropy SigEp s Presence in IFC Senior Spotlight State of the Chapter First Year as an RLC Alumni SoundBite Incoming Executive Board President: James Pallardy VP Programming: Jake Losinski Chaplain: Patrick Tate VP Finance: Wesley Hilliard Incoming Standards Board Senior Marshall: Ethan Haug Junior Marshall: Michael Townshend Guard: Mark Briel Guide: David Walsh VP Member Development: Mike True VP Recruitment: Nathaniel Wilson VP Communication: Matt Sherick Virtue, Diligence & Brotherly Love

2 Fall 2011 Balanced Leader Scholarship This fall, Montana Beta once again held its Balanced Leader Scholarship (BLS). Our BLS Chair for the fall was Mike True; with his organization and determination, we had a strong BLS that both applicants and brothers enjoyed. After we interviewed all 43 of the finalists, a series of events was put on for us to get to know the applicants outside of an interview setting. Events for this fall included everything from a hike to the M, a BBQ before a football game, an improv-night at the Lodge lead by our Faculty Fellow, Dr. Brian Kassar, and a day of paintballing. It was awesome! said scholarship recipient Lane Capdeville. I had a really good time getting to know everybody. We wrapped up this Fall BLS with an awards banquet in one of the SUB Ballrooms. Dr. Caires, our new Dean of Students, was our keynote speaker. He gave an excellent speech about Greeks and leadership and it was a great opportunity for some of the brothers to meet him. As a result of this Fall BLS, Montana Beta gained three new brothers: Isaac Christensen, Lane Capdeville (who was the winner of our first $250 scholarship), and Daigen Afdahl, the winner of our $750 scholarship. In addition, one Brother, Aaron Wipf, won our first New Brother Award that paid for an entire semester of dues. With another BLS right around the corner, we re expecting a great turnout and another batch of awesome guys we can call brothers. Nathaniel Wilson 14 VP Recruitment The Balanced Leader Scholarship finalists enjoy an afternoon hike to the M on Mount Baldy with some of the brothers of the chapter. Ruck Leadership Institute This past summer I attended the Ruck Leadership Institute, which was held at the University of Richmond in Virginia. Ruck, as it is known, is part of SigEp s Leadership Continuum and is said to be the Top Gun of SigEp s leadership programs. I was one of 120 undergraduates chosen to attend the intensive five day program with days running from 8:00 AM straight through until midnight. During the week we were split off into groups of 20 undergraduates and two facilitators, with whom we spent most of our time. Lessons were based around the book The Leadership Challenge, which was co-authored by SigEp alum Barry Posner. Apart from the time spent in small groups, there were several talks on leadership, nutrition, the importance of ritual, and the value of fraternal life given by past Grand Chapter Presidents and prominent alumni. Ruck was not all work of course, but there was plenty of time for team building and informal bonding with all who attended. These bonds that I made over the course of the week were likely the most valuable assets of the week. All of the members of my small group and the two facilitators still keep in contact with each other and I have bounced many ideas off of the group since Ruck ended. The week spent at Ruck was one of the most valuable times of my college career and should always be something that brothers from our chapter strive to get into so they may have a SigEp experience that they are not bound to get elsewhere. 2 David Walsh 13

3 Retreat is one of the special times of the year that brothers think and talk about for months in advance. This enthusiasm is mainly prevalent for two reasons. One is the diligence of our programmers along with their foresight and reminders; the other is because of the inherent closeness retreat creates in the hearts of our brothers. For both of these reasons, retreat continues to be a highlight of the semester s activities. Retreat may only last for a few days, but the bonds of brotherhood that are created there provide a start to a relationship with many in the house. For the older gentlemen, it provides a chance to guide those who are new, and catch up with their overworked classmates. For the guys who have been around for a year or so, they have a chance to hang out with their newly designated little brothers, an experience which I have found highly satisfying. The newest guys, some who have only been in the house for a few weeks, get their first immersive experience living in a house with forty other men. The most memorable moments that of this past fall retreat were those of movement and activity. After being in classes, meetings, and stuck in the library for a few months, the rush of adrenaline was much needed for my system. Whether it was the bloodied face, broken ribs, or other injuries sustained amongst our no-contact football game, something got my attention and excitement going. While it may be stereotypical that men enjoy the adrenaline rush that sports provide, it is certainly true that we found ourselves enjoying a short game of Frisbee and football, with little thought given to homework and test deadlines. Out in the wilderness of The brothers doing push-ups at the traditional morning workout. Fall 2011 Retreat Montana I felt the bonds of fraternalism grow stronger between my brothers and I, said Jake Losinski. In addition, the Big/Little program was continued after its initial implementation the previous semester. While many aspects of the program still remain to be nailed down, this is one of the most effective ways to get to know brothers on a more personal level. With my new little, Corey Schmidt, I enjoyed reminiscing our pasts and how different experiences had affected us growing up. For many of the brothers, these short chats have served as the beginning to meaningful and deep friendships. While it is certain that all the men of Sigma Phi Epsilon had a great weekend, it was due to the efforts of many helping hands. First, to the men of our undergraduate chapter who dedicated their time, brainpower, and effort to making this weekend a worthy one to remember. Second, to our alumni who consistently support us. With a helping hand from Kevin Christofanelli, one of our most recent graduates, over 40 guys were fed a heaping three meals a day. We were happy to welcome back our brother Frank Butterfield, who led us in a group workout and challenged us to fire up our goals in the future. The weekend was made possible by Steve Liebmann, who selflessly gave of his time and resources to make our retreat worthwhile. Thank you to y all (in the words of Mike True) who worked to make this retreat one well worth remembering! Sean Henley 14 3

4 52 nd Grand Chapter Conclave This past summer, myself and two other undergraduates, Sean Henley and David Walsh, as well as our Faculty Fellow, Brian Kassar, made our way down to Phoenix, Arizona for the 52 nd Grand Chapter Conclave where nearly 1,500 SigEps were present. Not knowing what to expect, we were all very eager to arrive in the hot city. Upon arrival, we began to reconnect with brothers we had not seen in years. The celebration began right away at the first event and carried with us long after Conclave was over. While there, we realized just how vast and diverse the brotherhood is and gained a deep sense of brotherly love and connection among all the brothers. Conclave is truly an awesome experience that every brother should experience in his lifetime. Conclave is a time to celebrate our accomplishments within our great fraternity, but it is also a time for a lot of growth and development as a leader. The most memorable time at Conclave was the Balanced Man Celebration held at the Orpheum Theater. This was truly an epic celebration of Sigma Phi Epsilon filled with huge surprises! The event started out with an introduction from Larry King and a musical procession of bagpipes, followed by Mohammed Ali and his wife welcoming us to Phoenix! In addition, chapters were recognized for recently chartering, gaining Buchanan cups and alumni recognition! Our chapter is already gearing up for the 53 rd Conclave that will be held in Dallas, Texas by working towards Montana Beta s first Buchanan Cup, the highest national honor that a chapter can earn! The 52nd Conclave reignited a fire and passion within me to further challenge myself, my fellow brothers within my chapter, and to continue supporting the chapter and the fraternity after I graduate. I will forever have SigEp within my heart and soul. Mike True 14 VP Member Development 4 Inaugural SigEp Rose Philanthropy Great Success The inaugural SigEp Rose Philanthropy event took place this past fall over three days where the Sororities at Montana State University competed in various events and fundraisers to raise money for the Gallatin Valley Food Bank. The events included Tag-a-SigEp, a Powder-puff football tournament, Makeover-a-SigEp competition, and a large Italian dinner for people in the Bozeman community. The favorite event was definitely the Powder-puff football tournament where the sororities competed against each other in a six-on-six football competition. There were great uniforms and great spirit showing from all four teams. The final event was a dinner downtown where everyone worked together to prepare and cook a free meal for those in need. Overall, more than $550 was raised for the food bank and a meal was provided for the people of Bozeman, which was considered a great success for the inaugural event. Throughout the competition everybody fostered a sense of camaraderie and lightheartedness as we all worked together for a good cause. Despite getting my legs shaved and having to wear a dress and makeup, it was a lot of fun being a coach for AOII and getting to know them really well through this event, said Nathaniel Wilson. All of the Brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon worked very hard to make this event a success and we all look forward to continuing this tradition through the years and helping out the Bozeman community as much as possible. Michael Townshend 13 Brother David Walsh, Faculty Fellow Brian Kassar, Brother Mike True, and Brother Sean Henley at the SigEp Conclave in Phoenix, AZ.

5 SigEp Takes Leadership Role in Interfratenity Council This year, SigEp has taken the lead in reforming Greek Life. The Interfraternity Council, IFC, is the governing body for the seven fraternities at MSU. It is responsible for communications, relations, recruitment, as well as legislation and enforcement of rules. It works with the Panhellenic Council, it s counterpart for Sorority life, to represent Greeks on campus and to the public. Though SigEps have often been involved with IFC in the past, this year some of the most important executive positions were filled by members of SigEp, including President (Bryan Vadheim), Vice President (Mark Briel), and PR director (Luke Coccoli). Elected last December, the officers began their term by putting together one of the most successful Greek Weeks MSU has seen recently. Mark Briel, collaborating with his Panhellenic counterpart, worked with a number of sponsors and coordinated an incredible week of events, which had the highest attendance of any Greek Week in the past five years. SigEp also took charge of a long-overdue rewriting of the IFC bylaws. Bryan Vadheim organized a team of SigEps to draft an entirely new set of bylaws, which were then discussed, revised, and finally passed by the IFC throughout the course of the fall semester. A number of big changes, including having fewer officers on the executive board, were part of these bylaws. Hopefully the amendments should pave the way for better communication, accountability, efficiency, and overall effectiveness of IFC and Greek Life as a whole. Though Mark, Bryan, and Luke stepped down after elections last month, brother David Walsh will be serving as the Vice President for the next year, which is one of just three executive offices. With David s leadership, SigEp will continue its involvement in improving the fraternity community. Bryan Vadheim 13 Senior Spotlight: Luke Coccoli Hometown- Choteau MT Major- Fish and Wildlife Management Hobbies- Spending time recreating outdoors, friends and family, Denver Broncos Involvement in the Chapter- '09-Sorority Relations, IFC Representative '10-Chaplain, IFC Public Communications Chair '11-Senior Marshall, IFC Public Communications Chair '12-Epsilon Challenge Coordinator Plans After Graduation- Get a job that makes me happy & supports my lifestyle, possibly continue to study wildlife biology and get my MS degree. What have you benefited from while being a SigEp? I can honestly say, I have benefited more than I could have ever imagined by being a SigEp. Each challenge completed has brought its own reward and I am proud to wear the SigEp letters. Everything from politics, the arts, living diligently, learning how to tie my tie, balance work, studies and play throughout college, and ways to become not only a better student but undoubtedly a more well-rounded, virtuous individual ready to have a positive effect on the society around me. What aspect about SigEp has helped you succeed in other aspects in your life? Many aspects of SigEp have helped me succeed throughout many points in my life but the one that I know I can always, throughout any aspect of my life count on, are those of my brothers and the friendships and long lasting relationships built throughout my SigEp entire experience. What advice do you have for new members? Enjoy every moment while it lasts, four years goes by fast! What are your fondest memories of Sigma Phi Epsilon? EDGE 2010, The Retreats, Charter Banquet By Ethan Haug 13 5

6 Hometown Bozeman, MT Major Construction Engineering Technology Minor Business Administration Minor French Senior Spotlight: Steven Costle Plans after Graduation The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps (Summer 2012) Stay in Bozeman, play lots of Ultimate, ski, hunt, hike, backpack, water ski, mountain bike, generally be outdoors, etc (If you want to do any of these things too or have other ideas, give me a call (August 2012-May 2013)) Work my own business for the next year (Now - May 2013) Ski Patrol at Big Sky/Moonlight? Go to Europe with Kristin for a month (May 2013 mid-july 2013) Pursue a career in renewable energy/sustainability (July whenever) What are your fondest memories of Sigma Phi Epsilon? Playing tag at night on the hay bales at retreat, retreats in general, Nerf wars, building stuff with the furniture, CLA, Frank Butterfield and his workouts, extreme ping-pong matches, brotherhood events, Chapter meetings. Pretty much all of my best memories while in college have something to do with SigEp and/or the brothers. What advice do you have for new members? Take the time to get to know everyone well Live by SMSB and VDBL Enjoy your time in the Fraternity, it goes by too quickly as it is Ask any member for help with anything at any time, especially your Big and BK By Scott Cook 13 6

7 State of the Chapter: The Outgoing President The fall 2011 semester proved to be a great one for the undergraduate brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon s Montana Beta chapter. Between the Balanced Leader Scholarship, chapter events, volunteer work, retreat, and countless meetings, the semester was packed. Elsewhere in this newsletter you will find more in-depth coverage of some of the more significant occurrences for the semester including the SigEp Lecture Series, SigEp Rose, and changes to the Interfraternity Council. To avoid repetition, I will do my best to keep them out of this article. However, before I do that, I first want to offer my gratitude to the undergraduate brothers that put in the time to make these things possible as well as the alumni that helped along the way. Their work has guided our chapter to come ever closer to greatness and one more step closer to the coveted Buchanan Cup. First I would like to touch on some good news that has come to not only SigEp but to the entire Greek system and campus at large. Last spring Dr. Matt Caires was hired as the new Dean of Students for Montana State. This marked the end of a five-year period that the university went through without someone in his position. I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Caires during summer orientation sessions and Catapolooza. From the beginning it was clear to see that Dr. Caires would be a huge advocate for the growth and improvement of the Greek system as a whole. As the semester progressed, he did not disappoint as he continued to push for new programs to benefit fraternities and sororities and to convince the campus of our value. SigEp is forming a strong relationship with Dr. Caries and even got him to give the keynote speech at the fall Balanced Leader Scholarship banquet at the end of September. Last spring, Montana Beta was designated as a Residential Learning Community (RLC). This designation pushes us to always strive to improve our scholarship with academic programming and support. After our first semester as an RLC, the chapter s GPA jumped to a While this GPA soundly beat every other fraternity and sorority house on campus, it was not enough for our brothers and, with encouragement through a program set up by faculty fellow Brian Kassar, the chapter set their eyes on a goal of After just one semester, the chapter came incredibly close to the goal with a fall GPA of Now there is a sense of determination and excitement within the chapter that ensures that we will reach it soon. After attending Edge, two Carlson Leadership Academies, Ruck, and Conclave, it has been made clear to me that new brothers are the lifeblood of the fraternity. I am sure that I have heard that phrase two dozen times during my two years as an undergraduate so it makes sense for my ending note to be about the new additions to our chapter. This semester Montana Beta added nine outstanding men to our ranks. With new brothers like these coming in, it is clear that Montana Beta is not only going in the right direction but will continue to improve for years to come. It s been a privilege serving as chapter president over the course of Thank you, David J. Walsh 13 Outgoing President 7

8 State of the Chapter: The Incoming President Things are looking great for The new executive board is ready and excited to get to work on goals for the upcoming year that will make sure we continue to be the best fraternity on campus and that will gain us more national recognition. Apart from continuing to work on the Balanced Leader Scholarship and improving programming for all our members, we are working to complete a four-year development plan that will push our members to grow from the time they join as freshmen to the moment they graduate and that will help them succeed as they move into the real world. Along with the work on recruitment, programming, and member development, there are big things happening with our new annual philanthropy titled SigEp Rose and with our push to make an all-freshman competition titled Bobcat Brawl come to MSU in Fall Members have been working to move the Powder Puff football game into Bobcat Stadium and have already began working on ideas for next year through Jake Losinski, our new VP of Programming, in hopes to raise even more money for philanthropy next year. Apart from working on SigEp Rose, Jake and our VP of Recruitment Nathaniel Wilson have been interfacing with MSU Administration and with various student offices to solidify Bobcat Brawl. Bobcat Brawl will be an all-freshman event, allowing teams to compete against one another in various events. Bobcat Brawl will not only raise money for philanthropy, but also will expose SigEp to a huge population of freshmen and give our recruitment team and chapter the opportunity to get to know more of the freshman class and recruit the highest quality members. Bobcat Brawl will be great for recruitment, and it will allow SigEp to contribute even more to campus and put our chapter in the spotlight both on a national and local level. With all of the work being done, we plan to exceed 50 members within a year, stay on top of every Greek house in academics, and continue to be leaders not only on campus, but among the national fraternity as well. We re all looking forward to a great year and can t wait to share our accomplishments with you. James Pallardy 13 President 8

9 The First Year as a Residential Learning Community In spring of 2011, MT Beta was named a Residential Learning Community, or an RLC. This is a designation offered by nationals to recognize the chapter s continued commitment to academic success. Since receiving this designation, an RLC Committee has been formed under the guidance of Dr. Brian Kassar, the chapter s faculty fellow, and Carson Yahvah, the chapter s VP of Member Development for The committee has worked hard to set up computer equipment for member use, establish study areas and study hours at the SigEp lodge, develop programming for the chapter that is geared towards academia, and, in general, foster a healthy environment conducive to academic growth. One such program established by the RLC Committee was the High.5! program, designed to encourage brothers to work diligently to get a 3.5 chapter GPA for the fall semester of Brothers were recognized for things such as good test scores, working late at the lodge, forming a study group, or seeking help from others. Ultimately, a 3.46 GPA was achieved for fall semester; while this was only 0.04 points short of the chapter s goal, it was the highest GPA ever achieved by MT Beta and certainly is higher than the GPAs of the other Greek houses on campus, as well as the campus GPA average itself. Another RLC program was the SigEp Lecture Series, the first event of which featured Dr. Nora Smith, assistant dean for the MSU College of Agriculture. In October 2011, Dr. Smith gave her presentation of Dead Greek Guys (and why they might still matter to us) to a full room of brothers, friends, professors, and one parent. This was a very successful RLC event, and the committee hopes to have two more lectures in the spring semester! Patrick Tate 13 Chaplain Grades Fall 2010 Spring 2011 Fall 2011 Chapter GPA: All-Campus GPA: All-Fraternity GPA: Unknown Rank on Campus: 1 st 1 st 1 st Spring 2011 GPA: +.56 above all-male +.50 above all-fraternity +.45 above next-highest fraternity +.44 above all-campus GPA above lowest fraternity Fall 2011 GPA: +.66 above all-male +.63 above all-fraternity +.51 above next-highest fraternity +.48 above all-campus GPA above lowest fraternity Dr. Nora Smith presents the first lecture of the SigEp Lecture series titled Socrates didn t use PowerPoint. 9

10 Alumni Soundbite Don Gunderson 63 Retired Professor of Fisheries Science at the University of Washington, currently living in Seattle, WA Thomas E. Catanzaro 66 Author, currently living in Queensland, Australia Russell Sevier 66 Retired business teacher, currently living in Glendive, MT Clifford Rylander 68 Heavily involved with veterans support group Patriot Outreach ( currently living in Fayetteville, NC Russ Squire 82- Owner of Bozeman-based fitness electronics company Heart Rate Watch Company (heartratewatchcompany.com), currently living in Bozeman, MT Beau Hedin 06 Co-owner of Rimrock Promotions and Trade Shows, Inc. & serving on MT Beta AVC board, currently living in Billings, MT Kolter Steadman 06 Lab Technician 1 Base Metals Refinery, Smelter Complex, Stillwater Mining Company, currently living in Billings, MT Thaddeus Lesnik 07 Professional Engineer at Sanderson Stewart, President of the Billings Engineers Club, & serving on MT Beta AVC board, currently living in Billings, MT Jake Wiggs 07 Environmental Stack Testing Specialist Engineer at EEMC, Recently engaged and getting married in October, & serving on MT Beta AVC board, currently living in Billings, MT Jeff Graves 08 Lab Technician 1 Base Metals Refinery, Smelter Complex, Stillwater Mining Company, currently living in Billings, MT Brandon Cox 09 3 rd Grade Teacher at McKinley Elementary School, currently living in Billings, MT "This Fraternity will be different; it will be based on the love of God and the principle of peace through brotherhood... its purpose shall be to intensify and perpetuate friendship and promote happiness among its members, to encourage literature and education, and to create such sentiments, mold such opinions, and perform such deeds as shall conduce to the building of a noble and pure manhood." Alumni, The brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon greatly appreciate the support of our alumni. Want to help out, but don t know how? We can always use additional mentoring support for undergraduate brothers, find out more by contacting our chapter counsellor, Bill Schell 97 at wjschell@hotmail.com. Donations of time not an option? We welcome financial support, which is generally used to fund travel to leadership programs put on by Sigma Phi Epsilon s national organization, and award scholarships.. SigEp at MSU continues to be a nationally recognized chapter, and recently won 7 of the 11 available awards at MSU s Greek Banquet, including Fraternity of the Year. Such excellence is a testament not only to our undergraduate members but also to the ongoing support of our alumni. Donations can be made online through Any and all contributions are welcomed and appreciated. Thanks! P.S. Don t forget our biannual barbeque on Saturday, June 16 th, and be on the lookout soon for information on an Alumni Homecoming event happening in October! VP of Communications Matt Sherick Newsletter Chair Corey Schmidt 10

11 Bobcat Brawl On October 20 th, 2012, the Montana State University Chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity (SigEp) will be holding the first Bobcat Brawl, a campus-wide event exclusive to the Freshmen Class of The students will be forming their own teams, comprised of 6-8 members per team with a total of 16 teams. They will be competing in events ranging from dodgeball to tugof-war to MSU Trivia to earn points with the top 3 teams earning prizes at the conclusion of the event. In addition, Bobcat Brawl is going to be a philanthropic event; from the funds the teams raise combined with donations from sponsors, we are going to donate YouthAIDS, SigEp s national philanthropy. Through this event, SigEp has a few objectives it wants to accomplish: 1) To encourage freshmen to be more involved with fun, on-campus activities. 2) To establish an annual philanthropy that involves the freshmen class. 3) To improve and promote a positive image of not only SigEp, but also all of Greek Life at MSU. Bobcat Brawl is going to be the largest event SigEp has ever put on at MSU. To help cover the costs of various expenses and to contribute to our philanthropy, we are reaching out to various businesses, corporations and individuals to contribute. To thank you for your contribution, SigEp will feature your business on the back of the T- Shirts all participants will be wearing and we will advertise your business on all media used to advertise our event, during the course of the event and afterwards. As a sponsor, you will not only help engage the MSU student body, you will also contribute to a national campaign towards HIV/AIDS awareness campaigning, funding for educational programs and the continued efforts of HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness in over 60 countries.

12 Donation Form Name: Address: Telephone Number: ( ) - Name of business/organization as you would like to appear in promotional materials: Amount:! $25! $50! $100! Other $ here: If you wish to donate in other ways besides monetary value (e.g. food, drinks) please list Signature: Date: Please make checks payable to: Sigma Phi Epsilon 1717 Greek Way, Apt. A Bozeman, MT You can also make a donation at: tinyurl.com/paymsusigep If you have any questions, to receive more info or to send us your business logo, contact: Nathaniel Wilson Corey Schmidt (503) (406) Vice President of Recruitment sigep.msu.recruitment@gmail.com Bobcat Brawl Head Chair sigep.msu.bobcatbrawl@gmail.com Thank you for your support and generosity.