Bloggers Breakfast - RIP

To begin with the end in mind… There will not be a “Bloggers Breakfast” or “Social Media Lunch” at the Nashville Conclave this year. The way I look at it, this is a positive outcome that flows naturally from over ten years of advocacy by many of us who “toil in the vineyards” of individual chapters. We have seen social media evolve from a curiosity for geeks to an encompassing standard of communication that is used - and misused - by the entire population. I applaud the way SigEp Headquarters has adopted e-communication and is using the various channels to better connect with undergraduates and alumni.

Social Media Breakfast
Dallas Conclave 2013

I question if an independent "Social Media" event, such as a “Bloggers Breakfast” is worthwhile any more. Why would I say that? - you may ask…

1. When I started the "S&P" blog back in 2004 social media was in its infancy. Remember, this was before Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and all the other landscape-altering applications. Those of us who were interested were a group of 'odd ducks' and were viewed with suspicion by folks at Headquarters who were not comfortable with ‘bottom-up’ information sharing.
1. The SigEp website was a very static offering with lots of guides and general information but not much at all in the way of up to date news from around the chapters.
2. Management at HQ was not exactly friendly and accepting of the types of interactions we were creating. These connections were, by definition and design, decentralized and not subject to oversight.
3. An independent gathering was the only way to have folks of similar mindset find each other.
2. Over the 10-11 years since then there has been an explosion of connectivity. SigEp HQ with its access to resources is now doing much more than I as one individual, or even a team of volunteers, can do to bring all the chapter and alumni experiences together.
1. Further, most of the chapters have their own websites, Facebook pages, Instagram, Twitter, etc.
2. Many have embraced specific purpose-built tools such as ChapterSpot for their internal and external communications.
3. In a real sense, I feel like I have moved from being a leading advocate and champion to a (slightly) aging firehorse whose best days are behind him but who still gets excited when the bell rings.
1. The people who came to the last gathering were all embracing the technology. Many of them were/are surpassing my grasp on it. That is great, by the way!
2. The folks at HQ have more resources and have a leader at the helm who "gets it". He has also made sure that the staff is tech savvy. There is no feeling of trying to show "them" what can be done. "They" know. "They" are doing it.

The bottom line is there is more interest than ever in harnessing and managing the social media aspect of communications in the Fraternity. We have outgrown the "band of merry scoundrels" mentality; it’s time  to get on with real training in how to use - and not misuse - the very powerful tools available to us. For that level of training to be effective the resources of the fraternity are needed, not merely a breakfast club or lunch bunch.

I am glad to see that one of the educational offerings for undergraduates is titled ”Winning with social media: How to stand out from the crowd” It is scheduled for 2:30 PM on Thursday the 13th and I encourage any undergrads who want to learn more about positive and effective use of social media to attend. (Alumni who are not otherwise engaged will be welcome too.)

Your Online Reputation Lives Forever! [Infographic]

Your Online Reputation Lives Forever! [Infographic]

This works for both business AND personal reputations. Keg stands and duck-face selfies are probably not the best way to let potential employers or grad schools know how serious and focused you are.

Florida fraternity censured, loses national charter over Facebook posts

SigEp is not the only fraternity having trouble with chapters in Florida. The Pi Kappa Alpha chapter at FIU was suspended when information from a "private" facebook page was made public. The guy are idiots for doing the things they talked about and doubly so for posting it.

Remember - nothing you put online is private. Think it can't happen to you? These guy probably thought so too.

Florida fraternity censured, loses national charter over Facebook posts | Fox News

It was “Animal House” -- Facebook style.

A Florida fraternity reportedly has been censured for maintaining a “private” Facebook page where members allegedly posted, among other things, where to buy and sell drugs, photos of topless college women, anti-gay slurs, alluded to hazing, and even suggested a strategy for turning the Boston Marathon bombing into “excellent publicity.”

The Miami Herald reports Florida International University ordered its Pi Kappa Alpha chapter, or Pike, to cease all meetings and events after someone anonymously emailed screenshots of about 70 posts from the private page to various media outlets and university officials.

The fraternity also lost its charter from the national organization.

Pike’s national Executive Vice President Justin Buck called the behavior of FIU’s chapter “disgraceful, offensive and indefensible,” in a written statement, according to the paper.

“Disgraceful, offensive and indefensible.”
- Pi Kappa Alpha Executive Vice President Justin Buck

“Anyone have a connect for coke. Not me, a friend wants, lol,” one group member reportedly wrote on the “private” page, while another post seemingly concerns a supply of the prescription drug, Adderall: “30mg of addy 10 starting tomorrow. 15 for non brothers.”

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/08/25/florida-fraternity-censured-loses-national-charter-over-facebook-posts/#ixzz2d7WeLC6p

Conclave goes social

This just in from SigEp HQ. (And don't forget the "Social Media Breakfast" at 8 AM Friday.)

 Conclave is less than one week away! As you’re getting ready, I wanted to share a few ways to stay on top of Conclave news and connect with other attendees.

1. The Conclave App. This is your on-the-go guide to Conclave. It has maps, program highlights, information about speakers and events, and links to our social media pages where you can join the online conversation. It also has a personal calendar tool to help map out your week. You can download the app today.

2. Twitter and Facebook. There’s going to be a lot of chatter online! You can join the conversation at #SigEpConclave and look for stories, trivia, and information about events. You can also follow us directly at @officialsigep and facebook.com/sigmaphiepsilon.

3. The Conclave Chronicle. The Conclave Chronicle, hosted on sigepconclave.com, will be your source of detailed, on-the-ground Conclave coverage. Check your email inbox each morning for daily digests of top stories. You’ll also find more Conclave information like daily schedules online through sigepconclave.com.

I look forward to seeing you next week when we Flip the Switch. SigEp’s future is ON!

Sincerely,

 

Stacy Nicodemus, CMP
Programs & Events Director

"Social Media Breakfast" - Riverwalk Cantina at Gaylord Texan

Once again the team from "Sanguine et Purpure" is having a breakfast gathering at Conclave. Come to the Riverwalk Cantina on Friday at 8:00 AM and look for the "Social Media Breakfast". Remember, breakfast is at your own expense.

We will be discussing how Social Media is affecting the way chapters recruit, communicate with each other (both internally and externally), the role of internet tools in mentoring, and how to become a "Virtual AVC".

As always, we hope to get good cross pollination, so come and bring stories of your chapter's successes and challenges using social media. We'll see you at Conclave!

#SigEpConclave is the 'official' hashtag for Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and other apps that can use it.
---

---

*Reservation Confirmation - Riverwalk Cantina at Gaylord Texan - "Thank you for your reservation at Riverwalk Cantina at Gaylord Texan. We are pleased to confirm the following:

Reservation Name:   Social Media Breakfast, THE POINT

Date: Friday, August 2, 2013
Time: 8:00 AM

SigEp HQ Looking for a Communications Manager

A Communications Manager position is available at SigEp HQ. Interested?

Dear Brothers and Friends, I am excited to announce that SigEp is searching for a new communications manager to join our Headquarters staff. Because of your involvement with SigEp, I’m turning to you for help.  Please forward this along to any great candidates you know, or apply if you are interested. We are looking for somebody hardworking and passionate about SigEp to work full-time in our Richmond, Virginia office.  We are seeking a strong writer, who can create and edit compelling content.  The new communications manager will direct the SigEp voice through various print, online and social media platforms.  This is an essential position, and we are looking for someone to join our team immediately.  Ideal candidates will have a bachelor’s degree and work experience in marketing, journalism, public relations, donor relations, fundraising or a related field.  Visit the job posting on SigEp’s website for more information on the role and directions on how to apply. Thank you for helping us find SigEp’s next great communications manager. Sincerely, Brian C. Warren, Jr.  Executive Director This message is being sent to all volunteers, graduating seniors and past Headquarters staff members.

Leverage SigEp's network for your professional career

From this month's "Sound Bite" - SigEp's monthly source of undergraduate news.

Leverage SigEp's network for your professional career:

By Bryce Giesler, Tennessee ’82, and Beaux Carriere, Charleston ’10, Volunteer Services Director

With over 230,000 living brothers, SigEp has one of the strongest and most reliable networks to leverage as an undergraduate. “If you are hiring, and you have two equally qualified candidates, knowing one is a SigEp can make the decision easy because you know the values are there,”Dennis Kaps, Ohio State ‘03, a recruiting manager at Abercrombie & Fitch’s corporate headquarters said. And one of the best places to begin your network is on LinkedIn.

Similar to Facebook and other social media sites, LinkedIn allows users to develop a profile and make connections with other users.  LinkedIn’s focus is on professional networking. A member’s profile is his online resume, and the site enables users to make professional contacts and expand their network. SigEp brothers work in virtually every major corporation in the United States. At least 175 of these corporations employ more than 10 SigEps, many of whom are in senior leadership roles. 

A search for SigEps on LinkedIn will produce more than 55,193 professional profiles listing membership in our Fraternity. Of these, over 14,000 have discovered the power of connecting through the Sigma Phi Epsilon (Official) LinkedIn group. If you aren’t in the group yet, you may want to sign up. To begin leveraging your SigEp network, promoting metro networking events, or connecting with brothers in your field, join the conversation at Sigma Phi Epsilon (Official).

SigEp and Social Media, the story continues to grow.

Thanks to Michael Ellis, member of the SigEp Technology Task Force, for this post

5,000 Volunteers, actively engaged with our undergraduate chapters, filling every key role on our AVC boards.   WHAT?  Are you KIDDING ME?   So says the SigEp Strategic Plan of our goal to expand volunteerism in SigEp in dramatic new ways.  

We have no more than 2500 today.  To get to that level of volunteerism, we must change what we’ve been doing for the last 25+ years.   We must find new ways to engage volunteers and to match them with the chapters and undergraduates who need them.    Social Media can give us the tools to achieve that goal.  Let me explain.

Facebook, Twitter and yes, LinkedIn have each attracted their own unique followings.  Each system offers something interesting and useful for the community in each.   Many SigEps have signed up for all of these networks and find value in being a part of the unique communities that each of these networks has spawned.

Now comes a young upstart, Google+.   A new social network, a fledgling in a world dominated by Facebook and LinkedIn and Twitter.  Where on earth would a new social network find a following?   What would be its niche?  And Google?  I mean, c’mon.....Google has tried and failed several times to invade Facebook’s space and they have always fallen flat on their virtual face.  Why would this time be any different?  What’s the case for people to use Google+ instead of Facebook or Twitter or LinkedIn?   Where is the compelling function that will draw an audience?   What, exactly, is the problem we’re trying to solve for?  And for SigEp, why would our beloved fraternity want to invest precious resources in this new, potentially also-ran social network?  The answers to these questions take a bit of explanation, but the conclusions to be drawn are unmistakable.  

For most undergraduates, and some alumni, Facebook connects them with their families and their old friends.  It has the power of incumbency, which, especially in these particular months, we know to be very powerful indeed.  LinkedIn persists as the de facto winner in professional social networking.  People serious about their careers (and who isn’t?) use LinkedIn to build their professional networks with the hope of improving their employment and business prospects.  Many of the same people often look to Twitter as the mastermind of the “text message communication” medium, on topics that can command their immediate attention.  

SigEp finds itself reaching out, searching to use these profound new technologies in ways that are relevant to our purpose.  As is so often the case, breaking ground comes from the grassroots of our organization.  Thus our LinkedIn group grew to 14,000 members under the direct leadership of two dedicated volunteers (Bryce Giesler and Eric Chan).  Facebook was more obviously a choice for the national fraternity to sign on to and encourage, lead there by our youngest brothers.  Today, our Facebook presence generates hundreds of interactions every day.   Twitter as well extends to a large segment of our audience, helping us share important, pressing matters.  We reach large swaths of our stakeholders with these tools, with some significant overlap.