JerseySmarts.com

Greek State of Mind
  • Home
  • Start
  • Money
  • Student Loans
  • College & Greek Life
  • Media Reviews
  • Funny People
    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

Why I Volunteer My Time to My Local Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity

June 1, 2017 by Joe Leave a Comment

Since August 2003, I have proudly volunteered as the local advisor to the Delta-Beta Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity at Monmouth University. The role that I fill is called the Chapter Director and I officially held this position for the better part of the last 14 years. There was a two and a half year period where I switched from being the Chapter Director at Monmouth to Sigma Pi Fraternity’s Province Archon for all of New Jersey. The Province Archon is a volunteer advisor and coordinator for a specific geographic region. I held that position from August 2006 through January 2009 and the reason why I resigned from that position might be the focus of a future article here on the blog, but is irrelevant today. At the time that I resigned as the Province Archon for New Jersey, the Delta-Beta Chapter Director position was just vacated by the alumnus who held the position after me, so I was able to easily move back into the Chapter Director position again. I resigned as Chapter Director last August to focus on my obligations as a member of the national board of directors, but I still work with the young men at Monmouth on a daily basis.

Undergraduates and alumni from Delta-Beta Chapter in February 2017

Before I became the Chapter Director at Monmouth, our Faculty Advisor held the position. Our Faculty Advisor is probably the best, most engaged Faculty Advisor in the entire fraternity (in fact, when Sigma Pi started giving out a #1 Faculty Advisor in the nation award, our advisor was the first recipient). However, when I graduated in 2003, the position was ripe for a new person to hold it. I spent two years as the President of my chapter and during that time I was required to research the many events, reports, and issues that our chapter was completely out of the loop on. Shortly after I graduated, the new President of the chapter and I traveled to Sigma Pi’s leadership school and talked to the fraternity’s Executive Director about our situation. During our trip, I was asked to become the new Chapter Director and we implemented that change immediately.

What I learned from my time as an undergraduate leader through my time as a young alumni volunteer and now to someone who has some seasoning as a volunteer is that undergraduates are, naturally, not as connected to the on-going workings of the national organization as one might expect. In other words, national student organizations like fraternities and sororities should not expect every single undergraduate leader at every single undergraduate chapter to take an impassioned interest in the finer points of completing and submitting monthly or quarterly or annual reports. There is going to be an equally less-than-enthusiastic understanding of why it is necessary and beneficial to attend national conferences and regional workshops.

It is one of the many jobs of a local and regional volunteer to connect with their undergraduates in an educational, uplifting, and genuine way. The connection must be educational because we need to make the mundane reporting relevant to their everyday experiences as undergraduate leaders. The connection must be uplifting because today’s young men are berated and denigrated by nearly every corner of society just because they are young men. Who will tell our young men, “Good job!” or “I’m proud of you,” if not for us?

But most importantly, the connection must be genuine because undergraduates can see through lies and falsehoods with laser-like accuracy. And they should cut through the nonsense!

I’ll be writing more about mentoring undergraduates soon, so stay tuned!

Filed Under: College & Fraternity Life Tagged With: Delta Beta Chapter, Fraternity, Monmouth University, Sigma Pi Fraternity, Volunteer

Small Business Entrepreneurship and Doctoral Studies

March 11, 2016 by Joe Leave a Comment

Last August, I started a doctoral program at the University of Southern California. Thus far, I have really enjoyed all aspects of the program from my fellow students to the incredibly talented professors to the online learning environment that our learning takes place in to everything in between. Even the textbooks that we are required to purchase for our classes are a cut above most of the textbooks that I used in my other graduate and undergraduate studies. Since starting this program, the majority of my free time is now spent reading different studies for my classes and preparing for small group and full class discussions. I am writing this short paragraph about the USC program to show that I am enjoying the program and to state how glad I am that I decided to apply to become a student again for the last time.

Greek State of Mind is growing!

Greek State of Mind is growing!

With the start of the USC program at the end of last summer, I opted to stop all of my activities in whatever was left of Usable Web Solutions, LLC. Those activities included keeping several websites updated on a semi-regular basis and working to promote those websites via social media. Before completely stopping my activities with UWS, I was keeping at least one website regularly updated (“regularly” = almost daily) for about 20 years. Stopping those updates and moving away from my online business was a big change for me, though not an entirely bad one. The best part of relieving myself of my UWS duties was freeing up more of my time to focus on my other small business – a small, niche apparel company.

The apparel company that I co-own with another alumnus from my fraternity is doing very well, too. Our company – Greek State of Mind – had its biggest sales year in 2015. However, we are about 10 weeks into 2016 and we have generated more revenue this year than we did during the first 40 or so weeks of 2015. In the world of small business entrepreneurship, this is the type of growth that most companies dream of achieving. We are very happy with GSOM and are excited about expanding our product lines including a shirt celebrating the Monmouth University men’s basketball team and their Bench Mob.

And speaking of the Monmouth Bench Mob, I know that I speak for all Monmouth University basketball fans when I write that we are hopeful the NCAA selection committee will make the right decision and send the Hawks to the big dance this Sunday! #FlyHawks!

Filed Under: Random Entries Tagged With: clothing, Doctorate, Education, Greek State of Mind, Hawks, Monmouth University, NCAA, University of Southern California

This Was A Great Weekend For Sigma Pi Fraternity!

September 21, 2015 by Joe Leave a Comment

This past Saturday was a great day for Sigma Pi Fraternity, particularly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic parts of the country. In fact, Saturday was part of a much larger weekend of excellence for the fraternity in so many ways. Let’s dial it back to this past Thursday. On Thursday night, a group of young men who are interested in becoming members of Sigma Pi Fraternity met with their university’s Greek Advisor to lay out a path to starting a colony. Growth in the fraternity world is always an exciting accomplishment and speaking on behalf of Sigma Pi Fraternity in New Jersey, I know that we’re very excited about the possibility of having a chapter at Stockton University! Stockton is a growing, energetic campus and it is a place where Sigma Pi Fraternity needs to have a chapter. I’m thankful that these young men took the initiative to start something that will benefit not just themselves, but their campus and community as well.

Sigma Pi Fraternity is working with Stockton University on a path to colonization

Sigma Pi Fraternity is working with Stockton University on a path to colonization

The weekend continued on Friday afternoon when the Delta-Beta Chapter at Monmouth University welcomed back a recent alumnus to lead a discussion on recruitment. The talk lasted about half an hour and focused proven, successful strategies for recruitment at Monmouth University. Check out a picture of the young alumnus talking to the undergraduates of the chapter during the workshop below.

Alumnus Andre Torrecuso talks to the Delta-Beta Chapter about recruitment

Alumnus Andre Torrecuso talks to the Delta-Beta Chapter about recruitment

On Saturday, Sigma Pi celebrated the chartering of our newest chapter on the campus of St. John’s University in New York! The Iota-Tau Chapter chartered with more than 40 young men joining our brotherhood. These guys have spent the last few semesters working very hard to reach the pinnacle of the colonization process and this past Saturday, they achieved their goal. Take a look at the newest brothers of Sigma Pi Fraternity!

A shot of the the new Iota-Tau Chapter, posted by Joe Turck

A shot of the the new Iota-Tau Chapter, posted by Regional Director Joe Turck

Just across the river from the chartering was the annual New Jersey Province’s Fall Semester Workshop. This workshop has grown in size over the years to a point where it now hosts hundreds of brothers each September. On Saturday, just over 200 Sigma Pi brothers (including some interest group members from Stockton) traveled to Seton Hall University for several hours of instruction and brotherhood. Here is a picture of some of the attendees at the workshop (more pictures are available on the Province Facebook page).

More than 200 Sigma Pi guys gathered at Seton Hall University for New Jersey's Fall Province Workshop

Over 200 Sigma Pi guys at Seton Hall University for New Jersey’s Fall Province Workshop

And on the other side of New Jersey’s other river (the Delaware River), the Mid-Atlantic Province Workshop was taking place at the University of Delaware. The workshop drew in 80 brothers from chapters including the host chapter at the University of Delaware, West Chester University, Ursinus College, and St. Joseph’s University. In addition, another 11 guys from the Stockton interest group made their way to the workshop, too. While I don’t have any pictures from the workshop, I’ll update this post as soon as they come in.

The pictures from the Mid-Atlantic Province Workshop haven't been sent out... yet!

The pictures from the Mid-Atlantic Province Workshop haven’t been sent out… yet!

Then yesterday, the brothers of the Delta-Beta Chapter at Monmouth University held a suicide awareness event on the Great Lawn of Monmouth University. The event was held in collaboration with the sisters of Alpha Sigma Tau and focused on spreading awareness about suicide and prevention. One of Sigma Pi Fraternity’s national philanthropies is the Sean Vernon Feliciano Amazing Day Foundation, which remembers the life of Sean Vernon Feliciano through education about suicide awareness and prevention. Here is a picture of a balloon release that took place on the Great Lawn during the event.

Monmouth University's Greek Life gathered on the Great Lawn

Monmouth University’s Greek Life gathered on the Great Lawn

There was also a mini-reunion of some Delta-Beta alumni on Thursday night and nearly a dozen recruitment events around the New Jersey Province this weekend – and those are just the events that I know about! It was a great weekend for Sigma Pi Fraternity in New Jersey, the Mid-Atlantic, and New York City. In fact, Sigma Pi Fraternity needs more of these weekends, in more places, and much more often!

Filed Under: College & Fraternity Life Tagged With: Delaware, Monmouth University, Sigma Pi Fraternity, Stockton University

Monmouth Comes From Behind To Beat Canisius in MAAC Play

January 19, 2014 by Joe Leave a Comment

Earlier today, the Monmouth University Hawks came from behind to beat the Canisius College Golden Griffins at the MAC in West Long Branch, New Jersey. The game wasn’t very exciting or thrilling until the final few minutes when Monmouth came from behind to beat the number one ranked team in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with just one second left in the game. Instead of me trying to explain the excitement of that moment, take a look at the video below and you can see for yourself:

I’m not sure if the video adequately captures the excitement in the MAC when Andrew Nicholas sunk that 3 pointer to seal the deal for Monmouth. The place was electric. I’ve never seen the type of sheer excitement in the MAC as I saw after the game today. Even Monmouth Head Coach King Rice was jumping up and down, hugging Assistant Coach Rick Callahan the entire time. It was a great, well-deserved “feel good moment” for Monmouth.

There were a lot of players that came together with good performances to help push Monmouth ahead. You can read more about those performances in Josh Newman’s writeup over on the Asbury Park Press’ The Hawks Nest blog.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Andrew Nicholas, Canisius College, Hawks, King Rice, Monmouth University

Start the Weekend Right Link Series – Volume #1, Edition #5

September 27, 2013 by Joe Leave a Comment

Here are another set of links to help you start your weekend the right way. Again, just a reminder that if you find that you visit several websites on a daily basis, then I recommend you consider signing up for a free Feedly account. I don’t get anything for promoting Feedly – I just love the service and I think that it’s really a great RSS aggregator (even better than the old Google Reader). And if you’re using another RSS aggregator, then please consider following JerseySmarts.com at http://www.jerseysmarts.com/feed/ or if you’re already on Feedly, then you can follow us by clicking here.

Now, enjoy the links! If you come across any interesting links, then please share them with us in the comments section below.

Start the Weekend Right Link Series – Volume #1, Edition #5
Monmouth Slated For Four Games on ESPN Family of Networks, Home Schedule Set, The Hawks Nest
After Tony Graham retired from the Asbury Park Press, a host of new writers were tasked with updating his blog following Monmouth University sports. One of those writers is Josh Newman. Josh recently posted an update regarding the upcoming basketball season and when you can see the Hawks in action. If you’re an MU basketball fan, then you’ll want to check out this update.

With Practice Opening Friday, Five Things to Watch at Monmouth, The Hawks Nest
Another update on Monmouth basketball from The Hawks Nest. This update focuses on what to look for now that the practice season is upon us. Check it out – Josh Newman did a good job of what to be aware of heading into the new season especially as it relates to which players to keep an eye on and what positions they are playing this year.

Rutgers-New Brunswick Named Among the Ugliest College Campuses in the Country, Long Branch-Eatontown Patch
As an alumnus of Rutgers University, this one is no surprise. Rutgers University ranked #26 on the list of the ugliest campuses in the nation – and that’s the truth. The New Brunswick campus is a wreck of buildings strewn all over the place in and around downtown New Brunswick and points north. There’s barely a “campus” feel to Rutgers, rather it seems more like you’re trying to navigate between college buildings and random buildings. Of course, it still looks better than Rowan University down in Glassboro… they were ranked as the #10 ugliest campus in the nation!

Kula Cafe Thriving on Springwood, Asbury Park Sun
Some good news coming out of the West Side of Asbury Park: it looks like the new Kula Cafe is doing great things for the residents on the West Side and the Midtown neighborhood of Neptune Township. If you haven’t heard of the Kula Cafe and you live in the area, then you should read the story above and check the place out. I had a business lunch there a few months ago and it was fantastic. The service was great and the food was phenomenal. It was a very enjoyable experience and I would go back again.

Symbols, DoghouseDiaries
This was just a fun little game to play. It’s not so much of a game as it is a memory test. Give it a look – I think you’ll really enjoy it!

The Worst Thing You Do Before Bed, Men’s Health
I’m always trying to learn more about getting better sleep. This short article in Men’s Health talks about the worst thing that we do before we go to bed. And it’s no surprise – the worst thing that we do is engage in electronic forms of entertainment that stimulate our brains when we should really be trying to relax and calm down. Check out this quick article – and get some sleep!

How Hyper-Threading Works (and When You Want It In Your PC), Lifehacker
As you may know, I’m writing this entry on my brand new laptop. One of the things that sold me on buying this laptop was the fact that it had every single bell and whistle that is currently offered on the market (except for a touchscreen, which I didn’t want anyway). Well, I’m aware enough to admit that most of the technology behind these machines has passed me by, but videos like the one linked here help me understand what these bells and whistles actually mean. So if you’re like me in that you used to be the king (or queen) of technology and now you find yourself more like a silent, somewhat knowledgeable observer, then you may want to watch this quick video to learn what hyper-threading means.

Don’t Cheer the Rise of the Adjunct, Minding the Campus
A recent study came out suggesting that tenured professors do a poorer job of educating their students and keeping young students in their disciplines than adjunct professors. As an adjunct professor, this is good news for me because it means that my services should be in higher demand! The results of this study really don’t surprise me because anyone who has ever been to college and run smack into a stodgy old professor who received his/her tenure decades ago knows how incredibly horrible they are at teaching. I can tell you story after story of horrible professors that I had to endure when I was going to college – many of whom are still teaching at the campus! For some of these professors I’ve been told in confidence that certain other administrators and faculty members have complained and tried to get the poor performers fired, but tenure is a pretty hard thing to break. Anyway, this study was interesting – if you like this stuff, then I think you’ll enjoy reading this one.

Revitalizing the Church, His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan
Recently, Father I. Michael Bellafiore wrote an article in the Washington Post about revitalizing the church. Father Bellafiore writes about ten ways to revitalize the church and those ten ways do not include the things that we normally hear from local reformers. I read the blurb through His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan’s blog, which is linked above. You can go straight to Father Bellafiore’s article by clicking the link in this blurb.

Update a Vintage Boombox with a Line-In to Play Music from Your Phone, Lifehacker
To end this week’s update, I thought I’d provide a fun link for those of you who are looking for a cool do-it-yourself project. If I had the time and materials, I’d give this a shot. It looks like it could be fun to try to make this contraption!

Get your weekend started right by checking out these links, starting a new, free Feedly account, and/or adding the blogs above (and JerseySmarts.com, too) to your existing Feedly or other RSS aggregator account. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Random Entries Tagged With: Adjunct Professor, Basketball, Computers, Espn, Hawks, Link Series, Monmouth University, New Brunswick, Rowan University, Rutgers University, Sleep, Start the Weekend Right

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 21
  • Next Page »
Tweets by @JVince81

Recent Posts

September 10, 2018 - Wise Words to Remember During Formal Recruitment Season
January 1, 2018 - Book Review: The Return of the Shadow by J. R. R. Tolkien
December 30, 2017 - Kindle Review: The Hidden Reality by Stephen Martino
June 1, 2017 - Why I Volunteer My Time to My Local Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity
June 21, 2016 - News and Updates from Sigma Pi Fraternity – Circa 1916
March 25, 2016 - Start the Weekend Right Link Series – Volume #4, Edition #3
March 19, 2016 - Start the Weekend Right Link Series – Volume #4, Edition #2
March 11, 2016 - Start the Weekend Right Link Series – Volume #4, Edition #1
March 11, 2016 - Small Business Entrepreneurship and Doctoral Studies
January 16, 2016 - Video: The Trailer for Cyber-Seniors Documentary

Categories

  • Book, DVD, Movie, & Media Reviews
  • College & Fraternity Life
  • Computers, Internet, & Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Health Ideas & Gym Stories
  • Idiots, Morons, & Fools
  • International Politics
  • Jokes & Humor
  • Local People & Politics
  • Money, Jobs, & Finances
  • Random Entries
  • Sports
  • Student Loans
  • Sustainable Living
  • The State of New Jersey
  • United States Politics
  • Winter & Christmas Time

Join My Mailing List

From time to time, I will send out exclusive information to mailing list subscribers only. Your e-mail address will not be sold or transferred to any third parties by joining this list.
Enter e-mail:

Check Out These Sites

  • Dr. Stephen Martino
  • Greek State of Mind
  • JoePalazzolo.com
  • Minding the Campus
  • Saint Catherine of Siena Church
  • Sigma Pi Educational Foundation
  • Winners Circle Fashion

Recent Comments:

July 6, 2017 » Trum Stir commented on The Latest and Greatest with My NJHESAA Loan
March 20, 2016 » Joe commented on Start the Weekend Right Link Series – Volume #4, Edition #2
March 19, 2016 » Justin Miller commented on Start the Weekend Right Link Series – Volume #4, Edition #2
February 13, 2016 » dano88888 commented on Finally Done With TD Bank – Thank God!
February 13, 2016 » dano88888 commented on Finally Done With TD Bank – Thank God!
February 10, 2016 » dano88888 commented on Finally Done With TD Bank – Thank God!
February 10, 2016 » dano88888 commented on Finally Done With TD Bank – Thank God!
January 25, 2016 » hassan joyo commented on Send A Message to President Obama NOW!
January 10, 2015 » Bryan Duarte commented on The Internet As It Exists In 2014… It Kind Of Sucks
October 24, 2014 » Joe commented on Are High School Guidance Counselors Doing Their Jobs?
October 23, 2014 » Schullo 1814 commented on Are High School Guidance Counselors Doing Their Jobs?
September 5, 2014 » Joe commented on Start the Weekend Right Link Series – Volume #2, Edition #2

What I’m Writing About

Adjunct Professor Asbury Park Barack H. Obama Basketball Blog Book Review Business Chris Christie Christmas College Debt E-Mail Economy Education Education Reform Facebook Family Food FOX News Fraternity Governor Health JerseySmarts.com Job Losing Weight Money Monmouth County Monmouth University Movie Review New Jersey New York Times NJHESAA People Politics Republicans Rutgers University Sigma Pi Fraternity Sirius XM Student Loans Taxation The MAC USA Usable Web Solutions, LLC USED Walmart
Greek State of Mind

follow us in feedly
blog searchblogtopsites
Free Page Rank ToolSubscribe to Journal

© Usable Web Solutions, LLC | Contact | Privacy Policy