Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Florida

For Alumni And Friends oF the FloridA AlphA ChApter no. 26 • Winter 2015 university oF FloridA, sigmA phi epsilon inFormAtion WWW.FlAlphA.org SigEp Gator Heart December 6, 2014 – "Comeback Saturday" for Florida Alpha O n December 6, 2014, the National Board of Directors of Sigma Phi Epsilon approved our recolonization proposal for the return of Florida Alpha to the UF campus. The board unanimously approved spring 2016 for the start of recolonization of our Chapter. "Comeback Saturday" will forever be an important day in our history. With the board's action, we will receive the full support of our National Headquarters, the staff in Richmond, Virginia, and the staff that will be on temporary assignment in Gainesville, for the entire spring 2016 semester. With generous financial support from National, the recolonization staff will lead our recruiting effort and then help the new group of undergraduates get off to a strong start. The board was most impressed with the very positive partnership we have established with the UF administration, which, likewise, are eager to have SigEp return to campus. Importantly, the board was extremely pleased and impressed with the strong core of Florida Alpha alumni in place and working hard for the Chapter's return. We have the leadership needed to come back stronger than ever; the members of our Florida Alpha Educational Foundation and of our Alumni and Volunteer Corporation have been working closely to bring us back on campus and to raise the money badly needed to renovate the house to a level that will make us all proud to be SigEps! Thanks to all the members of both organizations who provided the information needed to make an excellent recolonization proposal. Fraternally, Recolonization Committee Co-Chairmen Bryson Ridgway '05 bryson.ridgway@gmail.com Steve Shewbrooks '66 shewbrooks@comcast.net FL Alpha Returns in 2016! Want to get involved? E-mail SigEpFLAlpha@ gmail.com. W hen the group of 11 Florida Alpha brothers met in Winter Park, Florida, in May 2014 they didn't know how or when, but they knew they had a job to do: get Florida Alpha back on the University of Florida campus. The group, led by brothers Bert Harris '74 and Bryson Ridgway '05, included Giovanni Benedetto '06, Michael DiCosimo '11, Manny del Valle '87, Matt Gilarmo '06, Aaron Heger '11, Ken Leynse '80, Brett Ogilvie '86, Steve Shewbrooks '66, and Gary Specie '75. They knew the road back was not going to be easy and it was going to take time. Both the University and SigEp National Headquarters had to approve and be heavily involved. So this first come back meeting with representatives from National Headquarters was an important first step. The group spent two full days learning, in detail, facts about the Balanced Man Program, what would be expected of the undergraduate and alumni/volunteer operations, how the New Chapter Development process works, and the work required at UF for a successful comeback. All agreed the approach outlined for us made sense but would take dedication and hard work, and all agreed to move forward with implementation. The Headquarters representatives provided a detailed project plan outlining the actions needed to prepare a recolonization proposal for review and, hopefully, approval by the National Board of Directors. The plan addressed a long list of key areas of required activity: • Form a recolonization committee • Conduct educational sessions for the committee Restoring the Florida Alpha Brotherhood "…they didn't know how or when, but they knew they had a job to do…" (Continued on page 2) ? ? ? ? ?

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