Training in 10 #11: BMP Basics Part III

Archie and Kyle conclude their three-part webisode series on "Balanced Man Basics" in the last "Training in 10" for the school year. This session focuses on Programming for the BMP.

Never fear, Archie will be back next fall with more vital and interesting information.

T10_11_BMP_Basics_Part_III:

Click the image to start the session:

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T10 Understanding the Student Conduct Part II

The latest Edition of "Training In 10." Student Conduct Part II.

T10_12_Understanding_the_Student_Conduct_Part_II:

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http://watch.knowledgevision.com/811d4407dfc5457688a7c7da059b7398

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In this edition of Training in Ten we begin our series on better understanding the student conduct process.  In part 1 of this series, Student Affairs professionals Dr. Carrie Whittier, Suzette Walden Cole and Brian Tenclinger, Renaissance Louisiana State, talk through both the mission and purpose of a conduct office on a college campus, how a campus conduct process differs from an outside legal process, and whether parents or lawyers can be present and participate in the conduct process. 

The second part of this panel discussion will dive into how students and chapters simultaneously and successfully manage pending criminal or civil litigation while still participating in their campus conduct process and then each panelist will share best practices with our volunteers on how to better support our men and our chapters through a conduct hearing.  This webisode series is a must watch for any volunteer who is directly advising any of our SigEp chapters.

Training In 10 - Balanced Man Program part II

In this week's webisode SigEp's Balanced Man Program Director, Kyle Sutton, Cincinnati '12, continues our series on the basics of the Balanced Man Program. (Click the image to get started)

Last week he covered the Philosophy of the program and this week he walks us through the People and the Process.  

Please be sure to send any questions you have about the Balanced Man Program to Kyle.Sutton@SigEp.net.

Training in 10: "Time with the NBD"

Since not all of our volunteers are able to attend a Carlson Leadership Academy or Conclave we decided to bring the "Time with the NBD session" to you! In this  week's edition of Training in Ten, National Board members Daniel McVeigh, Texas Wesleyan '90, and Marshall Miller, Valparaiso ‘14 and special guest host  Seth Irby, Louisiana State '11, answer questions that were submitted by SigEp's members and volunteers.

Training in 10: Feb 19: BMP Series Part 1

In this week's Training in Ten, SigEp's Balanced Man Program Director Kyle Sutton, Cincinnati '12, begins a four part webisode series on the Balanced Man Program (BMP) and how you can support it as a volunteer. Part 1 focuses on a general introduction to the BMP and then walks viewers through both the BMP history and its philosophy. The remaining three webisodes, including one that will feature questions submitted about the BMP by YOU, will be released in the coming months.  

Click on the image to go through to the webisode.

Training in 10: Jan 30: Volunteer_Resources

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Training in 10

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Training in 10 for November 26 - Officer Transition, Pt. 2

This episode of "Training in 10" is a deeper dive into chapter officer transition processes and best practices.

http://watch.knowledgevision.com/9a4d86bf094147f1953fdeaa0fd425f1

Training in 10 for Nov. 21 - Chapter Officer Transition Pt. 1

This episode of "Training in 10" begins a discussion of chapter officer transition processes and best practices.

"Training in Ten" A New Era in Volunteer Training

Starting today, SigEp Headquarters is unveiling a new way to bring effective training to our many volunteers.

You may have seen teasers about following @TrainingInTen on Twitter and wondered what is was about. Well, it is time for the big reveal. Be sure to go to the linked site to see the entire 10-minute introduction.

"Training in Ten" is the HQ brand for a continuing series of twice-monthly 10 minute webinars specifically aimed at all the volunteers who give back so generously to SigEp with their time, expertise, and guidance. The first edition is an introduction to the series and covers the What/Why/How of this new communication channel. The screen capture shows there will be a narrator and slides to present information both with audio and graphically.

Future webinars will address core topics that AVCs face regularly: Mentoring Undergraduates; Cultivating Alumni; Managing Assets; Managing Corporate Health; plus topics on Personal & Professional Growth. There are also opportunities to suggest topics, provide feedback, and let others know what your AVC and chapter are doing well.

"Training in Ten" is available several ways. If you use Twitter follow @TrainingInTen or (and!) @OfficialSigEp. You can also "like" the Official SigEp Facebook page or check with the "Official SigEp Blog" on the headquarters site. S&P will be investigating methods to include a link here as well.

Thanks to HQ, and especially to Archie Messersmith for developing a new way to add value and interest to our volunteers.

Introduction to Training In Ten

CLA from a Volunteer's Point of View

The weekend of February 1-3 I was on the CLA faculty for the Dallas (really Grapevine) TX CLA at the Gaylord Texan, site of the SigEp Conclave this summer (July 31 - Aug 4). The weekend was a grand success and was capped off by a surprise that caught me completely off guard.

On arriving Friday after noon we went through the usual routine of check-in, find the room, then head out to see who else has shown up. As a volunteer who has been to a number of CLAs, Conclaves, etc., connecting with others whom I only see at these events is always a treat. Some of my most cherished friendships have grown from these periodic gatherings. Many of the usual faces were in residence along with a few new ones and some disappointments who did not show up this year.

The venue was spectacular and should make for a very successful Conclave later this year. Over the course of the weekend we got a chance to get a dry run of the facilities, staff responsiveness, and of course, the food. All were first rate, though I personally think the Saturday dinner choice could have been better (tough flank steak rolled in underdone bacon is my best guess). Lets hope the menu improves by August. There were plenty of configurable meeting rooms, and even when I threw a curve by showing up with a projector for my session the hotel staff didn't break a sweat and got it set up right away.

Friday night I was tasked with facilitating a reading of the proposed "Brother Mentor" Ritual that is expected to be voted on at Conclave. As this is a public post I will simply say it is obvious the Ritual Task Force has put a lot of thought into making it meaningful.

Facilitating the VP Communications session took the bulk of Saturday. This was my first time as an all day session presenter, but the able and experienced Kay Robinson from OK Alpha (OSU) helped me out - or maybe I helped her - as we shared the duty. For those who would like to see what the VP Comm session entails, here is a set of presentation slides I made from the facilitator's guide.

SigEp District 26 2013 Volunteer of the Year

Thanks to Renato Villacort for posting this.
And of course congratulations to the recipient, Brian Licauanan, and to all the "Volunteers of the Year".
Really, everyone who volunteers for SigEp is a valuable resource and we can all be proud of our contributions.

NUTS! McAuliffe Conclave Registration Scholarship Available

Guest Post by Sam Moschelli, District Governor for Michigan

I have been a volunteer for SigEp since I graduated college in 2000.  I immediately was "pulled" onto my chapter's AVC by my mentors.  I had great volunteers as an undergraduate.  They had all been volunteers for around ten years, and had taken me under their wing early on as an undergraduate.

At my first Conclave in 1997, I became truly hooked on SigEp.  My chapter had won a Buchanan Cup.  It was the third in a row for us, but the first time that I had contributed to their success.  I was excited to be a part of that legacy.  There was about ten undergraduates and alumni there from my chapter to celebrate that experience.

What’s in a NUT?
Those alumni in attendance were the long time volunteers I had mentioned above.  My chapter isn't unique.  It's the volunteers like many of you reading this that bring consistency to our chapters and help them grow.  At that 1997 Conclave those volunteers met with other long time SigEp volunteers and came together to form a Society that would celebrate our dedication as volunteers to SigEp and share the fun and fellowship that they had together at Conclave.  Loosely, this was the foundation of the Anthony "NUTS!" McAuliffe Society.

These volunteers felt so strongly about the Conclave experience that they began to raise money and sponsor Conclave registrations for deserving undergraduates.  At my first Conclave as an alumnus in 2001, I joined this group.  In 2011, I was elected as the "Brigadier General", leading this group over the two years between Conclaves.

This happens to be a Conclave year, and I'm happy to announce that we are offering our scholarship once again.  We have guaranteed that 4 undergraduates will get registration scholarships, but we may be able to offer more as our group grows leading up to Conclave.  The application is linked below.

Also if you're a dedicated volunteer interested in finding out more or even joining the NUTS! Society, please ask.  There will be NUTS! at all the Carlson Leadership Academies and they will make themselves known at the alumni receptions.

See you at Conclave!

Sam Moschelli, MI Theta, Lawrence Technological University ‘00
NUTS! Brigadier General 2011-2013
Sigepsam [at] gmail [dot] com

Discuss SigEp IL Epsilon (NIU) Board of Mentors

If you are interested there is an invitation at the bottom of this post.You will need a Google+ account to sign up, but if you have a Gmail address or any other accounts managed by Google your account is set up already.

Post from Michael Ellis:
Hey SigEps on G+ !   I'm hoping you can help.    

Here's the thing:   
   _1)  Many of you do NOT live near a SigEp chapter._
   _2)  Many of you would LIKE to volunteer but find the time commitment prohibitive._
   _3)  Many of you could contribute greatly to the lives of our undergraduate brothers, if you just could find a way to solve 1 & 2._

So here's what I need.   I'm looking for 7 volunteers to fill positions on our new Board of Mentors for the newly formed colony (re-forming the chapter) at Northern Illinois University, IL Epsilon.   Your commitment is ONE HOUR PER WEEK to serve as a Mentor for an Exec board member of that chapter.   You'll engage with your Mentee remotely over Google Hangout.   Once a month, you'll join a Google Hangout with your fellow mentors to discuss progress, obstacles and challenges, and provide each other with encouragement.    I need volunteers for these Mentoring roles:  President, VP Programming, VP Recruitment, VP Finance, Chaplain, VP Communications, VP Member Development.  Volunteers will be hand-selected based on personal, professional, SigEp experiences and personality matches to current Undergraduates.

I hope some of you will consider joining in this pioneering new Volunteering role.   Join us - it's only ONE HOUR A WEEK - and you will be in on the ground floor of building a TOP chapter.   Great kids, just needing the guidance of some committed older brothers.   The technology helps make the commitment manageable.   Will you sign up today?  

Discuss SigEp IL Epsilon Board of Mentors

Thu, January 17, 6:00 PM CST

Google+ Hangout

Michael Ellis and Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity are going

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Discuss the whos, wheres, whats, hows, whys, whens of a Board of Mentors for the newly formed SigEp colony at Northern Illinois University.

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SigEp Volunteer Webinar: Officer Transitions

This is the time of year that new officers are being elected. This webinar from HQ will give some pointers on how alumni volunteers can help the chapters have a successful officer transition.

Make sure your new officers are ready to get the most out of CLA next year.

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.

SigEp loses OGH John McClure

Friday, Apr 20 2012

Dear Brothers and Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that the California Theta Chapter at Sacramento State announces the passing of John D. McClure, Sacramento State Renaissance. Brother McClure served as a faculty advisor, chapter counselor and Alumni and Volunteer Corporation board member to the Sacramento State Chapter for nearly 50 years.

John promoted kindness, brotherhood, leadership and personal accountability to over 1,000 brothers whom he impacted greatly. As a recipient of the Order of the Golden Heart, Distinguished Alumnus, Man of the Year, and Order of Delta Phi Omega awards, Brother McClure was well regarded and recognized for his passion of SigEp brotherhood. He was fond of saying, "Think before you speak and ask yourself: Is it necessary, is it kind and is it true?” In addition to brotherhood, he was an expert in Napoleonic French era history and was always eager for a discussion on politics.

A celebration of John McClure's life will be held in Sacramento, Calif. on Saturday, May 19, 2012. You can read a remembrance of Brother McClure and leave comments.

For additional information, please contact me or Tim McCormick.

Fraternally,

James Amen, Sacramento State ‘96
District Governor, District 25, California 

Concentration at CLA

From the Dallas CLA

A Message from the Grand President

A little over a week ago I was honored to address our 51st Conclave. In that address, I listed 17 key initiatives that I hope to implement in the coming weeks. All of these go hand in hand with our new Strategic Plan that was developed over the past two years. That Plan is the result of thousands of volunteer hours and the input of hundreds of volunteers. As evidenced by our Strategic Plan, opening the doors of Richmond to the input of volunteers…and counting on volunteers to help do the work…are key to our success. Volunteers…both undergraduate and alumni…are vital to providing advice, guidance, and ideas to your National Board of Directors….to providing man hours in assisting staff in our operations…..and in developing our Fraternity of the Future. Listed below are the areas where we need your help. Hopefully, one (or several) of these will spark your interest and you’ll volunteer to help. Please indicate your interest by going online…now…. at http://officeofthegrandpresident.createsend3.com/t/r/l/dyddkt/wlhudluy/r. Your response is vital to our success in appointing national committees, task forces, and teams. Thank you in advance for your positive response….. HFF Garry SigEpGP@gmail.com Here’s the list: Recruitment Undergraduate Volunteers Training Undergraduate Volunteers Personal Development Undergraduate Volunteers Communication Undergraduate Volunteers Academic Excellence Awards & Recognition Diversity Expansion Financial Reporting Governance Housing Long Term Planning National Service Recognition Partnering With Higher Education Program Evaluation Program Implementation Retention Ritual & Traditions Service Learning Sound Body (Health & Wellness) Transparency

Forward this message to your friends!

Care and Feeding of Advisors

The following post is an email that fellow SigEp Ron Binder sent to members of the Association of Fraternity Advisors. There are some excellent points here that can be adopted by local AVCs, the National Leadership, and the HQ staff.

Karen and Others,

The issue of engaging advisors with our groups is a daunting one, both for our campus based professionals as well as the headquarters. All can agree that an engaged advisor improves our chapters, provides mentors for our undergraduates, lowers the high-risk behaviors, and generally helps our groups achieve their intended outcomes. The tricky part is how to recruit, train, and reward these volunteers. While there is no magic formula, here are some suggestions that I have found that help.

1. Treat your advisors as equal partners in the relationship between your office and the chapter.
2. Copy advisors on almost all communication to the chapter.
3. Use inclusive language whenever possible (Grad Advisor, Chapter Advisor).
4. Try to learn the various titles of advisors (Chapter Counselor, Purple Legionnaire, High Pi, etc.).
5. In any disciplinary action, be sure to include the advisor (either by calling yourself or making sure they are called by the chapter president).
6. Send advisors internet stories, both good and bad, that will educate them (I attach them to the weekly email to presidents and advisors).
7. Provide training for advisors, realizing some are seasoned and some are not.
8. Try not to have them play the “heavy” in situations. Staff member are much more in a position to do this.
9. Realize advisor’s capabilities and don’t overload them.
10. Encourage an Advisory Team approach to advising, rather than a Jack of All Trades advisor (who probably has never existed).
11. Realize that advisors don’t sign up for life, but rather go through stages in their lives; much like undergraduates (see Erik Erikson’s theory).
12. Use the summer to spend quality time with advisors (lunches, coffee, etc.).
13. Meet advisors on their own turf (houses and their office), not always in your office.
14. Take new advisors out to lunch or coffee to orientate them to their new position (don’t assume the previous advisor transitioned them).
15. Realize that things have changed since many advisors were undergrads and bring along your advisors.
16. Most advisors don’t go around the rules, rather most don’t know the rules have changed (rarely have I found a bad advisor, just those who are not up to speed).
17. Provide books for them to read. At a recent meeting I took along some books from the office and let them borrow them. Volunteers: How to Get Them, How to Keep Them by Helen Little is a good book to buy advisors (we are doing this for the fall).
18. Provide an outstanding Grad/Chapter Advisor award. We make them for small, medium and large chapters to include more advisors.
19. Remember they are always volunteers and treat accordingly (this is not their job).

If we want quality advisors then we need to spend quality time with them. The same way we develop good undergraduate leaders, by investing our time in them, we need to do with our advisors. The best advisors I know don’t spend all their time with undergraduates, rather they spend some of their time with those that interact with undergraduates (advisors, headquarters, parents, campus administrators, etc.), especially if they want their message to undergraduates reinforced.

Other suggestions from advisors?

Dr. Ron Binder
Director of Greek Life
University of South Carolina
Email: rbinder@mailbox.sc.edu