Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Florida

Give online today by visiting sigep.kintera.org/flalpha. Sigma Phi EPSilon FratErnity FloridA AlphA ChApter p.o. Box 12182 gAinesville, Fl 32604-0182 Address Service Requested SigEp Gator Heart the Grand Chapter bylaws were amended to read as follows: "All members of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity will participate in the Balanced Man Program as established by the Grand Chapter and defined by the National Board of Directors. Pledging programs or other member development models are not permitted." An element of the BMP is to uphold the tradition of SigEp's Founders to give a member full rights the day he joins, so he becomes a full contributor with equal responsibility. Yes, the process is different. No pledges. No hell week. No hazing. And, as difficult as it might be for those of us who came up through the pledge system to understand, the "new" process has proven to be a model for the other major fraternities. Already Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta and others have adopted this approach. SigEp is not alone, but it is the leader in this new system of building brotherhood. How many of us, after learning of the highly selective process universities now use to select students, has said: "With today's academic requirements, I probably could not get in school today." It is different today. Grade point averages are much higher than when most of us were students. Technology has changed drastically. The culture has changed in more ways than one. If you have kids or grandchildren in school today you know that to be true. The Balanced Man Program (BMP) is exactly what young men need today—a continuous development experience focused on scholarship, leadership, and life skills that complements a university's classroom curriculum. The refinement of these crucial skills helps SigEp brothers succeed upon graduation and prepares them to achieve balance and satisfaction in every aspect of their lives. Eighteen-year-old high school graduates often come from a highly structured, supportive, and supervised environment. While they may relish their new-found independence, the hundreds of hours they will spend outside the classroom may be a challenge for men to stay focused and goal-oriented. When the BMP was introduced 20 years ago, it redefined the experience college men expect from their fraternity. Today, this interactive program can help brothers at every stage of their college years to develop and better prepare for the transition to life after college. The BMP is designed to provide a sufficiently structured, supportive experience with a brotherhood of high achievers, close friends, and mentors to provide personal and professional guidance. The result? A graduate who develops the skills he needs to thrive during and after college. Those are kind of young men Austin and Patrick are recruiting for Florida Alpha. The young men being recruited to membership in the Sigma Epsilon Chapter today understand, and more importantly, have accepted the BMP and have pledged to fully participate in its precepts. Austin and Patrick will be leaving Gainesville at the end of the spring semester. Before they leave it is their goal to recruit between 40 and 60 new SEC charter class brothers. Currently, Chapter meetings are being held in the Reitz Union on campus. Sometime soon, officers will be elected and volunteer alumni and non-alumni mentors will begin working with the Chapter. The plan is to pare down the scholarship applicant pool to about 20, and from that list they will select three outstanding students to receive $1,000 Balanced Man Scholarships. Florida Alpha is headed back to where it belongs. We will have to call it a Sigma Epsilon Chapter for a while, but to paraphrase the poet: "A Rose by any other name is still… Florida Alpha." Learn more about the BMP at www.sigep.org/blog/BMP-One-Page- Guide.pdf. HFF, Al Alsobrook '60 Florida Alpha Chapter Counselor thebestprguy@gmail.com A New Beginning for Florida Alpha (Continued from page 3) Austin Chapman and Patrick Gallagher, SigEp National development directors, are doing an outstanding job recruiting the best young men to Florida Alpha/Sigma Epsilon Chapter. By the time they depart Gainesville later this spring, they hope to have at least 40 new charter members on board.

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