AlumniNewsthis issue

Chapter & Alumni News P.1

A Year in Review P.2

Alumni Notes & Recogni t ion P.3

Upcoming Events P.4

Upcoming EventsS• eptember 11, 2010 – Griz Tailgate vs. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA; www.grizalum.com S• eptember 18, 2010 – Griz Tailgate vs. EWU, Cheney, WA; www.grizalum.com S• eptember 19-25, 2010 - Homecoming 2010 (Sept. 25: Griz vs. Sac State), Stay tuned for more info!

1001 S. Higgins Ste A-3Missoula, MT 59801406.549.8855 ph www.mtsigep.com

Your Summer Newsletter from Sig Ep at the University of Montana!

Take 5 Minutes...A strong chapter starts with a strong alumni base, and a strong alumni base starts with accurate contact information. To make sure your record with Sig Ep and the UM Alumni Association is up to date you can: Fill out the online form at www.mtsigep.com/alumni.php or mail a letter to 315 E. St. Vrain St. Apt. 2, Colorado Springs, CO 80903Our next newsletter will only be sent out in email, make sure you don’t miss yours!

In MemoriamBrother David Leland Yockey passed away on June 3, 2010. Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on August 9, 1965, Dave pledged to the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity during his freshman year at Utah State University. Brother Yockey eventually transferred to the University of Montana and the Montana Alpha chapter of Sig Ep, where he served as chapter president while earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1989. Dave also served as a student representative on Sigma Phi Epsilon’s National Board of Directors. Upon graduation from UM, he joined the United States Air Force, eventually earning the rank of Lt. Colonel. He served in various posts during his career, including stints in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Qatar. Dave retired from the military in January of 2010, after 20 years of service. He is survived by his wife, Tamara, their two sons Kyle and Ryan, his parents Judy and Lee Yockey, and his brother Greg, who is also an alum of the Montana Alpha chapter. A memorial scholarship fund is being set up at UM in Dave’s honor. For more information on this scholarship, or how to contribute to it, please contact Charlie Palmer at charles.palmer@umontana.edu, or call him at (406) 243-4826.

Chapter News Kyle Marshall, Vice President of Programming

Alumni NewsBrint Wahlberg, Alumni President

From rebuilding within the chapter, to creating friendships and establishing credibility again within the U. of M. Greek System as a whole, to working to better the local community, the chapter has made some tremendous leaps forward. Starting the year with 15 members, SigEp was a new experience for everyone this year. As we came to know each other, the Fraternity has reestablished itself, while we carried on traditions such as the “Run to Bozeman”. We have built relationships outside of the chapter with other fraternities and with some of the sororities. We have done etiquette dinners, salsa dancing lessons, the Relay for Life, and various other community service events. Over the past year the new chapter has accomplished academic success. With a GPA of 3.26 for the Fall 2009 semester, we broke the record of the highest fraternity or sorority in the past ten years. We brought home the IFC trophy for attendance at campus events, academics, and participation in IFC sponsored activities. At the Greek Awards Banquet, one of our chapter members won best new member of the year, our president won best Fraternity President, and the chapter as a whole won best philanthropy for our work in the Run to Bozeman. This year, the chapter has updated our web site. It’s a great resource for the undergraduate chapter, potential new members, and alumni. I would encourage you all to check it out, and register with our alumni database. Check it out at www.mtsigep.com. Next semester will have even more aggressive recruitment goals, and we are aiming to have 30 members by Spring 2011. Programs such as the Balanced Man Scholarship, Freshman Orientations and sorority referrals will help to accomplish this goal. We are currently developing our Sound Mind, Sound Body program, in order to promote the well being of the men of the chapter. We look forward to a great coming year. With so many opportunities before us, it will certainly be an exciting one.

Fellow brothers, hello and happy summer, I hope this letter finds you all in good health and in good company. As the new AVC president for the Montana Alpha Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. Over the last 12 months, the SigEp as many of us know it has gone through some very dramatic changes. The chapter was suspended through the summer and then during the fall semester the house on 201 University was put on the market and sold shortly there after. Facing challenges like never before a group of key alumni rallied support to create a new AVC and from there put the chapter back on track with assis-tance from local alumni and Sigma Phi Epsilon national headquarters. The AVC Board is: Brint Wahlberg, President Erick Tombre, Chapter Councilor Charlie Palmer, Faculty Fellow Pat Gruhler, Secretary Erik Nelson, Treasurer Mike Markovich, Housing Derek Duncan, Member at Large This group has been working with the membership of the new chapter to guide them as they rebuild Montana Alpha. Each alumni, paired with an individual under-graduate, have been working diligently in their respective areas. As the AVC president I’m encouraged by the success of our current chapter and I’m proud to say that the spirit of Montana Alpha continues. We have some exciting plans for the coming year, both for our undergraduate brothers, and for our alumni around the country as we build our Sig Ep network.

this issueChapter & Alumni News P.1

A Year in Review P.2

Alumni Notes & Recogni t ion P.3

Upcoming Events P.4

PRST STDUS POSTAGE PDMISSOULA MT PERMIT #569

Jake Armstrong, Business AccountingAndrew Dusek, Political ScienceKael Melanson, BiologyRyan Mickelson, Political Science

Congratulations to the 2010 Seniors!

A Year in reviewIn the Fall of 2008, the Montana Alpha chapter appeared to be growing strong. The chapter had the most members and the highest GPA of any fraternity on campus. This progress was not without growing pains. Several members still clung to the old, unfavorable values of what they thought a “frat” should be. It began to become apparent that these members were holding the chapter back from becoming a great fraternity.

Since 2003, the chapter facility had been owned by the Sig Ep National Housing Corporation. In April of 2009, weeks before the end of the semester, it was announced to the undergraduates that the house would be closed for the coming year, and the leases that had been signed would be terminated.

The letter includes an invitation to a conference call, where over a dozen Montana Alpha alumni attend. After extended conversations over the summer, a group of 7 alumni was finally recruited to be the Alumni and Volunteer Corporation board. With Brint Wahlberg as the president, the group is formally organized in August.

The loss of members and divide in the house also led to far fewer leases being signed to live in the house the coming year. Of the25 leases needed, only 10 were signed by the mid spring.

In a letter dated June 16, the national fraternity notified all alumni that the chapter’s charter had been suspended, and the house was being placed on the market for sale. The chapter would be “re-established” pending the development of an alumni organization.

In September, the national fraternity sends out an expansion team to work on rebuilding the fraternity at the University of Montana. The team, consisting of two chapter development professionals and the regional director, spends a month on campus recruiting students. All new members are put through Sigma Rite at a fall retreat.

The new alumni group, however, was unable to raise the funds fast enough to purchase the chapter facility. In October, it was sold to a private homeowner to be renovated as a single family residence.

In February the chapter executive board completes the full rights of passage with assistance from many local alumni.

In November, continuing the tradition of years past, the undergraduate chapter holds the Run to Bozeman fund-raiser. With assistance from some alumni and Kappa Alpha Theta, over $1500 is raised for Watsons Children’s Shelter.

Two members of the existing chapter were asked to return to the new group, and continue to be active brothers. All other members were granted alumni status by the national fraternity.

The chapter struggled to recover, but a divide became apparent among the undergraduates. Some agreed with the removal of the members, others did not. The lack of support from half the chapter made it difficult for leadership to be effective, recruitment and programming suffered.

In January, a newly elected executive board decided it was necessary to take action. At the advice of the national fraternity, steps were taken to remove two of the members most detrimental to the chapter. The removal brought a strong reaction from the chapter and emotions were at an all-time high. Immediately following the removal of the two members, several other members resigned from the chapter.

The UM Greek Community

Brint Wahlberg has been elected president of the Missoula Association of RealtorsEli Fisher (will check grad year) is getting married in Seattle this August.Cole Price, ’04 received his MBA from the University of Montana.Derek Duncan, ’09 is an Associate Consultant at Target Resource GroupColin Boyle, ‘09 received his Masters of Accountancy from UM

Tell us what your up to, or let us know about a brother that’s had something special happen, new job? Promotion? Baby? Wedding? Share it with your brothers! Email alumni notes to derek@derekduncan.net

Alumni Notes

The Following Sig Ep Alumni have supported UM by becoming members in the UM Alumni Association this year:Douglas BallRichard BaskettDennis BearyDouglas BengeDavid BrockwayCharles BrookeBob CampbellThomas CannonLarry DreyerDerek DuncanDuane FlamandDaniel FoleyPhilip GraineyRandall GrayDr. Larry HalversonGeorge HenkelRobert HolmstromDr. Larimore HowardFred HuntingtonCOL (R) Douglas JamesBarry KenfieldThomas KingJames LaasThe Honorable Ted LympusSteve MatovichTimothy MellgrenDr. Martin MelosiErnest MitchW.O. MurphyJeffery NorthcuttLorin PetersonThomas RobertsonTheodore SchoenbornOscar ShinerJames SpeckRodney ThorneJohn TwaddellPaul UlrichDr. Stanley UnderdalGary WaltonJack Winters

The Following Sig Ep Alumni have shown their support for the university by making a donation to the UM Foundation this year:Dr. Glen AasheimStephen AndersonMark AngeloVern ArgoLTC Richard ArntsonDean BakerDr. Philip Barney

Richard BaskettRobert BellDouglas BengeJames BillingtonGary BoeMichael BokenDavid BrockwayDonald BrownThomas ButoracBob CampbellTony CampeauChad CanfieldDr. Patrick CheneyDarrel ChoateSilver ChordJames CloudCol. Gary CollenborneDavid CotnerScott DahmerFrank D’AngeloAndrew DavidsonHerbert EkstromLarry EschenbacherDavid FetznerDuane FlamandTony FrenchMitchell GagosBruce GarlinghouseShawn Thomas GeorgeChristopher GinoChristopher GordonPhilip GraineyCOL John GriffithDr. Larry HalversonJeffrey HamiltonJames HarrisonJon HayesDavid HergesheimerMichael HerrickFred HuntingtonRob InsingerKevin JacobsenMitchell JohnsonTerry JohnsonRobert JorgensonBarry KenfieldDirk KenfieldRichard KingThomas KingKevin KirleyRobert KlindtGerhard KnudsenBob LerumChris LeungDennis LindLawson LoweDr. Richard LucasThe Honorable Ted LympusDale MarkovichLee MathewsMichael McKee

Timothy MellgrenWilliam MercerErnest MitchSteven MorganCaptain Noel NelsonMichael O’ConnerDr. George OlsenDean O’NeillLorin PetersonJohn PincinceJohn RobertsonThomas RobertsonHoward SandfordWilliam SchottelkorbDennis SheaDaniel ShortJ. David SlovakGary SmithDr. Rock SvennungsenGeorge SwansonPeter TerhuneRodney ThorneCharles TurnerG. TuttJohn TwaddellDr. Stanley UnderdalJohn VelkBrinton WahlbergWilliam WalkerJames WallaceGary WaltonRev. Carl Westby, Jr.Aaron WestlakeJoseph WhittinghillStephen Williams

The Following Sig Ep Alumni have shown their support for the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Fraternity by making a donation to the Sig Ep Educational Foundation in the past year:Chad CanfieldDavid FetznerMitchell GagosAustin JamesStanley UnderdalWilliam WalkerDonald WatneAaron WestlakeJoseph Whittinghill

www.grizalum.comorwww.umt.edu/umf

The Sig Ep Chapter at the University of Montana has gone through significant changes over the past year. The flurry of activity has left many alumni and our com-munity asking “What the heck is going on?”. As we continue to grow and thrive as a fraternity, this is where we’ve been over the past year: