September 2, 2005
TO: Sigma Phi Epsilon Brothers and Friends
FROM: Craig D. Templeton, Executive Director
Re: Sigma Phi Epsilon Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
Last year, some of our Florida chapters got hit twice with devastating hurricanes. We thought that hurricane season tested our ability to maintain a sense of normalcy and concentration on school for the students in our chapters there. That was nothing like the havoc Hurricane Katrina has wrought on the Tulane and Loyola university campuses. The Fraternity experience can play a vital role for our brothers from those campuses and career plans on track.
At this time, our attention turns to the relief effort and the displacement of our undergraduates and alumni. The Headquarters staff is working with local and district volunteers to provide support services to those affected by this tragedy. Our New Orleans chapters, through the assistance of District Governor Gary L. Huff, Central Arkansas '91, have been able to confirm that all members of SigEp undergraduate chapters are accounted for and many are moving forward swiftly with alternate plans for the fall semester. Chapters in Texas and less affected areas of Mississippi and Alabama have opened their homes as refuge for our brothers.
Our reports from the Tulane and Loyola campuses indicate only minor actual damages to campus facilities, and both are on high ground presently. The universities have been to secure campus facilities and have hired private security to secure student's personal belongings. The University of Southern Mississippi campus in Hattiesburg continues to be without power and water, though the university itself escaped serious damage.
At this time Loyola and Tulane Universities are working to establish exchange programs with other colleges and universities. We are presently offering assistance to undergraduates who are transferring to other schools. The chapters on those campuses have a unique opportunity to swing open the red door to assist their displaced brothers in acclimating to their new school and affiliating with the SigEp chapters on those campuses. In some cases, the displaced brothers will only be on the alternate campus for the fall term with plans to return to their New Orleans schools when the campuses are restored.
We ask for yo continued help in updating the Fraternity on the whereabouts of displaced undergraduates, alumni, and volunteers. These updates can be sent to news@sigep.net.
We have received many requests for how we can aid our Brothers.
- Support ongoing efforts to bring needed supplies, such as canned food, water, hygiene products, and paper items to local centers
- Support ongoing fundraising efforts.
National Director Garry C. Kief, president of Stiletto Entertainment, has offered SigEp a challenge to join with the Barry Manilow Fan Club in the Red Cross relief effort with a special boost: the Manilow Fund for Health and Hope and Barry Manilow will triple any donations chapters make to the relief effort. The Manilow Fund will match $1 for every dollar raised up to $50,000, and Barry Manilow himself will also match $1 up to $50,000 (Stiletto represents Barry). So every dollar donated becomes three. All funds raised for Hurricane Katrina will be donated immediately to the Red Cross to aid in its efforts. (The Manilow Fund contributes 100% of every dollar raised. There are zero charges for administration, etc. Donations to the Manilow Fund can be made online at www.manilowfund.com or via mail at:
Manilow For Health and Hope
PO Box 45378
Los Angeles, CA 90045
We ask that you keep our displaced Brothers and all those affected by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers.
CTM/s/9-54
