LinkedIn SigEp Group Achieves 15,000 members

The LinkedIn group "Sigma Phi Epsilon (Official)" has reached the 15 thousand member mark. Started in 2007 by alumni volunteers Eric Chan and Bryce Giesler, the group has provided a networking and discussion opportunity for SigEps and friends of SigEp who use LinkedIn for professional interaction. In addition to member discussions the group also receives articles and posts from Headquarters and the S&P blog.

The group has grown steadily since its inception and is currently the second largest social fraternity/sorority oriented LinkedIn group. Earlier this year SigEp Headquarters agreed to partner with the independently started group and added the "Official" label to the title.

Are you on LinkedIn.com? If so, check out the "Sigma Phi Epsilon (Official)" group. You'll be glad you did.

SigEp pilots Life After College program

Something new from HQ---

Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity - SigEp pilots Life After College program:

"Sigma Phi Epsilon is now offering a new program called Life After College to help undergraduates prepare for the job market. This new program will be piloted three times this spring in California, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The Fraternity is responding to undergraduates who have asked for programs focused on helping upperclassmen prepare for life personally and professionally after graduation. This one-day program will focus on preparing students to search for their first full-time job, have their first job interview, negotiate their first salary, begin life as a young professional, transition into adulthood, and adjust to life after college.

What's in it for participants?
• Expert resume and job search advice
• Opportunity to meet and network with successful alumni from the area
• Perspective from former CEOs and other top industry leaders
• A chance to win a $500 educational scholarship
• No registration fee"

'via Blog this'

Better check it out. The open slots are going fast.

Giving up the worst kept secret...

If you are reading this as a blog post you have already noticed things are changing. We're not done yet, so keep checking back to see what else happens. In the spirit of change it is now time for me to take a moment and make an announcement about how I will be blogging from now on...

When this blog was created (2004), the whole concept of social media was in it's infancy. Those of us who were in at the beginning knew we had something to say. We knew it was not the same thing we heard coming from Richmond, and we expected to ruffle some feathers. Several of us, and I as a ringleader of sorts, took on pseudonyms to remain anonymous.

At first there was indeed some official consternation, and we were glad to not be officially connected to the blog but to do the work in secret. However within a relatively short time at least a few of our names got known, and surprisingly there were no late night knocks on the door. Not only that, but eventually we would occasionally get calls letting us know about stories. One Sunday afternoon the then Grand President called to ask - not that I sit on a story - but just to please be gentle and try to tell both sides. That was when I knew we were being taken seriously.

Of course social media has exploded since 2004. Facebook, Twitter, Smart Phones, and so much more has come about since then. At Conclave this past summer there a screen near the main meeting rooms that was displaying a continuous stream of Tweets, all with the #SigEpConclave hash tag. When Mohammed Ali showed up at one gathering I had my iPhone out to do the obligatory "OMG" tweet and watched as a couple hundred of my brothers had the same idea. Everyone has access to information, and everyone can publish.

With that in mind, it is time to retire "Wordjunky" as a pseudonym officially. I'll still use the term because I like it and it fits me. But I am done with even a semblance of hiding behind it. Besides, its a pain to switch back and forth between accounts every time I was to make a blog post. From now on I'll be posting under my own name.

The other contributors to the blog can make their own choices, its not for me to say what they will or should do. Either way, I respect and support the choices.

Fraternally submitted,

Bryce Giesler (aka "Wordjunky")

White House Internships

Internships

No kidding. This release is on the www.whitehouse.gov site.

In addition to typical office duties, interns will supplement their learning experience by attending a weekly lecture series hosted by senior White House staff, assist at White House social events, and volunteer in community service projects.

"This program will mentor and cultivate young leaders of today and tomorrow and I'm proud that they will have this opportunity to serve," said President Obama. "I look forward to working with those that are selected to participate and I want to commend all who apply for their desire to help through public service to forge a brighter future for our country."

You won't get paid, and you'll have to find a place to live, but that is a small price to be able to fetch coffee and make copies in The West Wing.

SigEp LinkedIn group reaches 2000 members

The social networking site LinkedIn is aimed at working professional people - I like to call it "Facebook for grownups."  Like many other networking sites they offer a group function. Members can create and join groups that reflect their interests, professions, or passions. My professional profile has been growing new groups since I signed up a few years ago. A little over a year ago Eric Chan (PA Theta - Carnegie Mellon University) created a Sigma Phi Epsilon group on LinkedIn and started sending invitations to his contacts. We at S&P saw an opportunity to help professional SigEps connect with each other and helped to get the ball rolling, so to speak.

We put a link on the sidebar and have written about the progress of the group a few times. The response has been incredible. Lately we have been routinely getting 10-15 member requests a day. Today we hit another milestone - 2000 members. If you have set up on LinkedIn and have not found the group yet, come on over and join up. If you are not "Linked" now is a good time to start, and SigEp can be your first group. You will recognize other members when you see our letters in the "Groups we Share" section. Oh, and be sure to add your chapter as a comment in the "Chapter Roll Call" discussion topic.

LinkedIn Group has 1000 Members

I like LinkedIn.com as a social networking site because of its professional demeanor. No one writes on your wall, and you don't need to worry about being attacked by vampires or zombies. It is easy to put up a good version of a resume and you are encouraged to ask questions and other profession types will often give very intelligent answers.

Last October(2007) Eric Chan created a group on LinkedIn to help SigEps find each other and build their personal networks of contacts. He knew me from the blog and invited me to be one of the first members. Groups on LinkedIn are not very intrusive. Mostly you can search them and send a message to a member even if you don't have a direct "network" connection to them.

I published the link to join the group here (it's on the sidebar), made a few posts about it, and went about making sure that more people knew about it. Any time I connected with a SigEp on LinkedIn I'd make sure they got a link to the group so they could join too, and many have.

Today, the group got its 1000th member. That is noteworthy in itself, but there is more to the story and it has direct bearing on our "Lifetime Experience."

While helping people join the group (Eric made me an 'admin' so I could approve requests) I have reconnected with at least half a dozen of my chapter brothers from thirty-odd years ago. And it is interesting to see how they turned out: Randy is the head of United Way in Albuquerque, NM; Alan is CEO of McCormick (as in Spices); Steve is a "product management evangelist" - whatever that is. They don't know it yet but I'm going to nag them to come back to our next Alumni Weekend. I have also connected with several younger alums whom I have yet to meet in person, but I hope to at an alumni reunion soon.

I'll bet that there are several SigEps out there that you remember from your days in the chapter or maybe a guy you talked to at a Conclave but didn't get an email address. Wouldn't it be neat to find out what they are up to? You might even make a business connection.

If you have a LinkedIn account you can request to be added simply by clicking on the link. If you don't, the same link will help you sign up first.

By the way, when you sign up be sure to ask me to connect, too.

LinkedIn group hits 500 members

Congratulations to all the 500+ savvy LinkedIn SigeEps who have joined the LinkedIn group "Sigma Phi Epsilon."

Brothers who have already found LinkedIn to be a good networking tool are now connecting with their friends, chapter mates, and other SigEps from all over the country (world!).

The 500 member milestone means, among other things, that you must limit searches to find people since LI will only display the first 500 names returned in a search. It also means that the group just keeps increasing in popularity.

Links:
Not Linked? Join LinkedIn
Already there? Join the Sigma Phi Epsilon group

LinkedIn SigEp Group - 400 members

There has been a steady stream of people requesting to join the LinkedIn group "Sigma Phi Epsilon" over the last several weeks. So much so that we hit 400 members today. OK, I'm impressed (but I have always been easy).

Those of you who are signed up for LinkedIn and have not found the group yet can go to the group invitation page to request membership. Usually you will be approved within 24 hours.

LinkedIn SigEp Group hits 200 members

The Sigma Phi Epsilon group on the LinkedIn networking site has reached 200 members.

If you are a SigEp on LinkedIn here is how to join...

The goal of this group is to help members:

* Reach other members of Sigma Phi Epsilon
* Accelerate careers/business through referrals from Sigma Phi Epsilon Group members
* Know more than a name – view rich professional profiles from fellow Sigma Phi Epsilon Group members

Here’s the link to join:
http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/36627/51908F4DB267

Foundation Web Site Adds Social Network Features

It has been a while since I logged in to the Foundation Web Site to do more than look at the occasional message or new pictures for one of my contacts or groups. However, I went in today and found a *New* feature - at least it is new to me.

You can now add links to your presence on other networks, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Flickr, Blogger, and so on (yes, even MySpace, though who would admit to having a page there?). I did this for a few of my other networks, now those networks show up as links in my profile so you can see how I present myself in other areas of the web.

How does this make the world a better place? Well, besides the "Gee Whiz" factor, you can see and maybe connect to a SigEp contact who is in another network but that you had not found yet. For instance, if you see that I am also on LinkedIn you can use the email address I show on my profile to request a connection. The more we connect, the more useful all the sites become for sharing information. Not to mention we can reverse global warming and decrease greenhouse gases (Hey, I can dream, can't I!?)

This feature is pretty new. The message just went out today so there are not a whole lot of participants. Yet. But I think it will grow. Things can grow quickly on the web once the word gets out. (The SigEp group on LinkedIn has 175 members in the little over 2 months since it was started.)

Of course you have to be registered on the Education Foundation site to participate. All SigEps can register there, then add as much or as little information as they feel comfortable sharing. I'll look for you there!

LinkedIn Group - 100 strong

Recently we announced that a group just for SigEps has been formed on the LinkedIn networking application. this group helps SigEps find each other and connect to share information and business connections.

The good news is that 100 SigEps who are LinkedIn members have already joined the group. The "opportunity" that remains is the many SigEp members of LinkedIn who have not joined the group yet.

How to join...

• If you are a member of LinkedIn: Click on this link to request membership in the group.
• If you got an invitation email: Click the link, you are already appoved. (This is a real offer and not a come-on. No extra obligation or expense is involved.)
• If You are not a LinkedIn member: Join up, then join the group.

LinkedIn and Facebook and Flickr - Oh My!

I have been spending a fair amount of time lately thinking about social networks as the 'new' face of the web. Yeah, I know, somebody is always touting the 'next big thing', but I think the concept of social networking is very interesting. Bear with me. I'll get to the fraternity aspect in a minute, but first a little set up for those who don't spend their lives online. Let me quickly say there is little 'geek-speak' in this post, and most of the applications themselves are very friendly to normal humans.

"Social Networking" is loosely defined as a way to set up a local group of people you know and then when sach of them does the same you can be connected to friends-of-friends via introductions or recommendations. It is a simple concept that has spawned some of the fastest growing sites of the past few years. MySpace is the biggest and best known, if not the best reputed site. Facebook started as a site for college students only and has recently become open to all. LinkedIn is focused on building professional relationships. LinkedIn also works with Plaxo, a web based contact manager, to synchronize contacts with both applications. Flickr is an example of how developers are combining networking with other applications. With Flickr you upload you photographs and find others whose work you appreciate. You can tag pictures you like and your friends will see them recommended. You can also join groups of almost unlimited variety - just to view or to contribute your work. There is a random, serendipitous character to the pictures you find that makes it very interesting.

I am interested in making connections that will help me and help this blog get better, so I have joined a number of applications that use the network model.
Here are some of them:

• Flickr - photographs
• Facebook - college connections, and others
• Stumbleupon - interesting web sites
• Twitter - short messages available via PC, IM, and mobile phone
• LinkedIn - professional connections
• MyBlogLog - interesting blogs from all over
• SigEp Foundation site - register and connect with other SigEps

Those are ones I use at least weekly and often daily. They all work best if you have lots of connections. If you are a member too, look me up. If there are other groups you like, pass the info along in the comments.

Now, how does that relate to fraternities, and especially to SigEp?

As I posted a few weeks ago the opportunity to get to know people that you would not normally meet is a great benefit of the fraternity experience. That is exactly what these online groups do too. And when you meet another SigEp in a online group well, so much the better. I have made friends with a number of people that I have yet to see in person. The pictures in the sidebar from the Flickr SigEp group grew from one of those encounters.(By the way - if you have SigEp related pics and would like to join, let us know.) A person from LinkedIn emailed me he was coming to Houston for a few days. We were able to meet and "talk frat" for an evening. The Foundation member registration group is another source of connections. Much of the fraternity leadership - both defined and de facto - is there and most are willing to connect. Facebook has a myriad of active SigEp groups, some with over 4000 members. In fact many of the blog hits we get are via those groups.

With my LinkedIn account I have actively searched for fellow SigEps whom I know or have heard of and would like to know. In some cases I have used my own list of email addresses to search and in others I have asked for introductions from mutual contacts. Bottom line is I have a group of SigEp friends I can contact with business oriented questions, opportunities or even fraternity matters. We also can grow our networks by introducing people we know and trust from all areas. I can't think of a better way to get or send a recommendation or to get back in touch with a brother from the chapter that you have not heard from in several years.

Let's connect and see where it goes!