Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity530 Hudson StreetHoboken, NJ 07030

[Alpha] SpeaksFall 2010 Issue - Volume 5, Number 2

www.sigepnja.comThe Alpha Speaks newsleer is published by SigEp New Jersey Alpha, for the undergraduates and

alumni of the fraternity

Have a great idea? Submit it to Alpha Speaks! We welcome all entries and concepts. Just email alphaspeaks@sigepnja.com and we will include it in our next issue.

Inside:

Brothers,

As a graduating brother I am nervous. Nervous for what my future holds, nervous for the unknowns ahead but what I am not nervous about is the New Jersey Alpha Chapter. I am not nervous because in the three and a half years spent living among my brothers I’ve come to know and trust our brothers pretty well. To be a brother at New Jersey Alpha is to be someone different. We carry our heads higher and stand taller than all those around us. We pride ourselves on doing the best that we can do all the time, every time. Five years ago a group of men sat down to develop a vision of the future of this chapter. Goals were set and ththe bar was raised high above what many thought was achievable. As each new semester passed, more and more men joined the call to become reputable men. With each new member class, the torch was slowly passed from the re-chartering founders to younger eager men. As this responsibility shifted to a younger generation so did the high expectations and lofty ideals of a balanced man. As each new generation looked towards the future they continued to hold the ideals and aspirations of this fraternity above all else in their hearts. I am confident the brothers of New Jersey Alpha will always remember how we rose from our darkest hour to the spotlight which we now enjoy. I am especially confident in this chapter’s commitment to each other and the bond that fraternally binds us together in our pursuit of the betterment of ourselves and all our brothers. As our fraternity continues to grow and prosper, we must be diligent in the teachings of each new recruitment class, as to impress upon them the characteristics and qualities of every Sigma Phi Epsilon. I believe our future is bright and the possibilities are endless. I very much look forward to seeing you all in Phoenix, Arizona this summer when we we strive to earn our second Buchanan Cup in a row.

Andrew BoyleChapter President

Brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon, My name is Raymond Kirchhof and I am preparing to be your next Chapter Counselor. As a member of the Class of 2009, many of you may know me and I am eager to get to know the newer classes as well. After speaking with Jonathan Wharton who is the acting Chapter counselor, it was clear that my experience could be used right here at Stevens. The chapter counselor is tasked with being a mentor to the undergraduates while also serving as a connection to the alumni and headquarters. The chapter counselor essentially ties all of the pieces together and provides guidance on numerous topics. My recent experience as a leader in the chapter and my current connection toto the chapter will help me in guiding NJAlpha to the next level. As the new chapter counselor I have three key initiatives: to support undergraduate leaders, build new connections to alumni, and to provide an overall direction to help NJAlpha reach their long-term goals. It is my duty to provide guidance and advice for the chapter leaders to ensure NJAlpha continues to be a chapter of such high quality. SigEp offers so many opportunities for brothers to develop into leaders and I want to support the chapter in that effort. As a previous VP of finance as well as other positions, I understand that it can be hard to take on new responsibilities with no reference point. One of the best ways to foster new leadership is in good transitioning so every new leader understands what is expected and has a support structure to help them develop. As a resident in Hoboken, I plan to be actively involved and readily available to the active membership as the new chapter counselor. In addition to supporting the undergraduate membership, reconnecting with our growing alumni membership is increasingly important as new graduates are looking to remain active within NJAlpha. As one of the more recent alumni, strengthening the ties between the active membership and the alumni base is one of my key initiatives. Some efforts such as these Alpha Speaks newsletters have gone a long way to building the ties with alumni but there are many other ways that students can reach out to their alumni. From holding new events to alumni tours at 530 Hudson, there will be many new ways for the alumni to reconnect with their home chapter. Over the last five years, NJAlpha has seen many great successes. It all started with the move into the new house, then the re-chartering of the chapter in 2007, and most recently the awarding of our first Buchanan Cup as a BMP chapter. It can be difficult to know where to go from here but there are many things that NJAlpha can still achieve. Deciding on what these long term goals are and forging ahead towards completing them is another area I plan to contribute in. I really look forward to seeing what this chapter can accomplish in another five years.

Thank YouNew Jersey Alpha would like to thank all the wonderful donations that our alumni have made to the house. With your support, we were able to fund new projects to improve the study, clean up the chapter room, and many other enhancements which have boosted the atmosphere of the chapter tremendously. Stop by the house , attend an AVC meeting, and see what enhancements have been made at Sigma Phi Epsilon New Jersey Alpha RLC.

toilet slash someone apparently likes to get it on in the “bathroom” instead of the “bedroom”. Maybe they had bed bugs…ok probably not a very funny joke, but then again I didn’t have to live through that house epidemic. At least with my baby I know the poop will end up in the diaper, and not all over the upstairs bathroom walls. As you can see, Sigep prepared me well for jobhood, husbandhood, and fatherhood, and I wear all of those hats proudly. If I had to do it again knowing what I know now I would choose the same path, and Sigep has played and continues to play an important role. When asked how I like my new life as husband and father I unequivocally respond that I am “living the dream.” It really is amazing, and I’m so glad to have had my fellow Sigep brothers to share in it thus far. The day all of us became brothers we accepted an awesome lifetime responsibility. The same goes for my marriage, and now my responsibility to my wonderful little daughter. “We want pre-nup?”…nope, nonot this guy. All I can say is, don’t be afraid to take the plunge! Life couldn’t be better. My wife Sarah and I look forward to introducing Lacey Rose to everyone this Founder’s Day.

VDBL,Jim Waterman (J-Nice, 832)

P.S. I also look forward to thoroughly destroy the actives in football and eat racks of ribs like it’s my job…I did win the White Castle Crave Case 08’ race after all.

these skills will continue to pay dividends throughout my career. Let’s move on to more exciting turf, romance. It’s self evident that Sigeps land the most beautiful and exquisite ladies, but clearly it’s no accident. While there’s no denying our genuinely classic good looks, it takes a little more than that to persuade an eligible dame into marriage these days. In my case I think I developed somewhat of an unfair advantage for having been a Sigep. I was taught how to woo a lady, how to impress a fine specimen with incredible chivalry and etiquette skills thanks to Dr. Wharton. Do you think I would have ended up with my beautiful wife Sarah if I couldn’t distinguish between the salad fork and the desert spoon? ... yeyeh right. How about those “dressing to impress” lessons?...if you think I used those skills just to look fine for work child please… customed tailored, suit wearing, tie/belt matching, distinguished bachelor walking the streets taking ladies out to Ruth’s Criss steakhouse?...how long could that last, not for long. Sigeps only stay single out of pure determination and force of will. My serenading, chivalric, confident, well groomed gentlemanly self is embarrassed of my pre-Sigep abilities in dealings with the opposite sex. Thank goodness I learned a thing or two from my brothers and Dr. Wharton, because otherwise I’I’d be on match, eHarmony or catholicsingles.net grooming my 50 measures of compatibility instead of spending my days with my incredible wife Sarah. Let’s move on to the really exciting stuff, fatherhood. I’m well accustomed to dealing with babies, I lived with over 40 of them for five years. My daughter Lacey Rose is two months old now and I swear she’s more mature than half my graduating class, and far less high maintenance, and that’s including the diapers and midnight wakeups. At least with my daughter I know I have at least 14 years or so before I hear the question, “do these jeans make my ass look big?” At least when she wakes me up it’s an innocent little cry and not the sound of someone “assbombing” my car, vomiting in the hallway, or Nikit on any given night (chicken and rice being an acceptable excuse undeunder any circumstance of course). I am well trained for fatherhood after 5 years of rude awakenings. How about that summer I played house manager?...it took more than six months for me to find out who threw the dart through the common room window and another year to solve the mystery of the broken

I remember being enamored by the words Peter Ko delivered to the chapter during the beginnings of our chapter reformation that went something like this: your Sigep brothers are the men that could help you land that first job, introduce you to your future wife, celebrate your wedding, welcome your children into the world, visit you when you are sick and ultimately attend your funeral. I let that sink in for a minute. When I joined Sigep back in 2004 I knew I was joining something bigger than myself, but wow, that was deep. The rest of you more “seasoned” alumni know exactly what Pete is talking about througthrough the value of your own Sigep lifelong experience, but for a 2008 graduate such as myself, I have only begun to realize its unbelievable value beyond my undergraduate years. The last two years I have been quite busy acquiring several new titles, and while I’m not a military man, I’ve been told I am quite decorated. These include Boeing engineer, fiancé, homeowner, husband, and now father. So far it’s been an incredible ride; all I can say is thank goodness Sigep prepared me so well. Those of you who know me well know that my greatest passion was recruitment in my undergraduate days. In that capacity I learned several key skills: networking, event planning, project management, marketing, accounting, and the art of rainmaking: selling this new and incredible idea of a truly “different” fraternitfraternity built on a sound mind/sound body philosophy, and populating the membership with great men who espouse these very same ideals. These aspects of my Sigep experience are the ones that got me my “Boeing engineer” title, keep me gainfully employed, continue to help me build my professional network, and give me the confidence to sell myself and my ideas in a challenging work environment. I am confident

! C C F D N J A

This beloved house of ours has weathered many trying periods. Recruiting new brothers has been a focal point for active and alumni brothers alike - and rightfully so. With brothers numbering around 60 only a couple of years ago, it was seen a necessity for the Price, Silva and Movilla executive committees. But now comes the hardest part of this diligent work: we need alumni mentors more so than ever with 100 active undergraduate members. Naturally 530 Hudson Street has been blessed with a tireless and vision oriented Alumni Volunteer Corporation (AVC). With the help of tenacious brothers like Jeff Saltiel, Steve Buce and Gary Blauth, there’s no question that they established the precious roots for a flourishing chapter. But with so many new active brothers, more alumni help is imperative. While financial support is always helpful (and tax deductable), spending some necessary time with new brothers is an added benefit. If you’re a brother who lives in the Hoboken area, please consider supporting undergraduates. There is a common perception that working with the AVC is supporting your house. While this is a start, there’s more to it. The AVC is the body that oversees the financial well being of the house and assures that it is fully functional. Beyond the AVC, however, alumni should seriously consider spending some time with undergraduate brothers. So many undergrads are seeking mentors as a go to big brother for professional, personal and brotherly advice on life’s challenges and career goals. Alumni can help in a number of ways. How? Consider mentoring someone on the Executive Committee. For instance, if you were once the VP of Programming, consider reaching out to the current VP. If you can help mentor undergrads with co-op opportunities, professional advice or networking possibilities, please do so. In fact, consider hosting a seminar in one of these areas at the house. What about working out with some of the undergrads at the gym once a week? Or having a camping out weekend? What about having a baseball or football outing? Or organizing a job site visit with undergrads? These events do not demand so many hours a week; merely an hour or two a month and it can be impactful – and rewarding. In the coming months, your alumni members will be reaching out to alumni who can help with supporting and mentoring undergrads. Please consider mentoring, helping, volunteering…for brotherly love sake.