Dear Sigma Phi Sigma Fraternity Alumni:

William Penn University is interested in introducing a mentor program for the students of the school and is asking Sigma Phi Sigma to pilot the program with active brothers on campus being mentored by fraternity alumni. If the pilot program is successful, the university plans to use our program as a model to introduce mentoring throughout the school.

Mentoring is defined as "A significant, long term, beneficial effect on the life or style of another person, generally as a result of personal one on one contact. A mentor is one who offers knowledge, insight, perspective, or wisdom that is especially useful to the other person."

All Sigma Phi Sigma brothers have been mentors and mentees by way of the Big Brother and pledging process we experienced when becoming fraternity brothers. The plan is to have as many fraternity alumni as possible to volunteer to be mentors to create an oversubscribed pool of talent from which to choose. Since this is for the benefit of the active brothers, they would select their mentors based on personal interaction, reputation, or the fit of their major or vocational direction with the posted mini resume of the volunteer mentor. For example: If an active brother is a major in education they should select an alumni brother who is in the teaching field. If the active brother plans to pursue a career in finance they should select a mentor who is a CPA or financial advisor, etc.

We wish to initiate this program by the end of January 2006 and evaluate its initial effectiveness at the end of the school year; so we need to identify interested parties no later than January 21, 2006.

The proposal is to have as many volunteer mentors and actives meet in Oskaloosa on January 28, 2006 to review and understand the program. For those who can't make it to Oskaloosa, we will put the program overview on our fraternity website and you can self educate using that vehicle, and still become an effective mentor. We envision that after a "get to know each other" session via phone or face to face, a fair amount of the interaction would be done through e-mail, in particular if the mentor is not living geographically close to the university.

This is a unique opportunity for Sigma Phi Sigma to again take a leadership role in a high visibility program that will have a positive impact on active brothers and the university. You are urged to volunteer! If you are interested in participating as a mentor please click on the 'Mentoring Registration Page' and fill out the form and submit it. As the forms are emailed in, they will be posted on the 'Mentors: Alumni List' page.

Thanks for your support and interest in this unique program!

If you have any questions, you can contact any of the brothers on the Mentoring Creation Team:

Andy Davidson: adavidson@dc-grimes.k12.ia.us
Mike Gates: lynng@iopener.net
Doug Newcomb: douglas.newcomb@us.army.mil
Jeff MacDowell: sigmaphisigma.reg@gmail.com
Derek Schultz: dschultz83@hotmail.com
Travis Walker: twalksps@gmail.com