The Facebook Privacy War: What is Personal Data?
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Friday, May 7, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Papwork and Praise
I think deadlines are the bane of everyone's existence. Though some people find them exhilirating, some find them annoying, and others find them to be nothing more than a whooshing sound in their ears as they fly by almost unnoticed, sooner or later, everyone is held to a deadline.
I've been a Brother for 9 years and have seen deadlines from the side of chapter rep, desperately trying to get the stuff I need to turn them in on time ("To which officer? In what format? Aww hell....") and from that of a national officer, desperately trying to get chapters to turn things in so they don't have to face fines ("Just fill out this form. It takes 5 minutes, you have a month, and it's online...why are you calling me at 11:50pm before the deadline?).
In my days as NVPCM I tried everything from bribery and competition to cajoling and even threats. Nothing worked all the time, but I did find that the more my representatives thought of me as a human being that they wanted to work with, the more likely they were to get their stuff turned in on time. Sometimes, the representatives would send me little notes of thanks or hello; this was my favorite part (hint, hint).
Just after accepting the role of Acting National Secretary, I was faced with the daunting April 30th deadline: 9 chapters submitting 10 different things to 4 different officers. I had heard at Convention that this past year was a terrible one for deadlines, and I was determined to get us back on track. Instead of harassing the chapters individually (a lot of effort on my part) I sent out emails to the national lists reminding of deadlines (as required) and making it sound like a race between the chapters (definitely not required). Two chapters, Zeta and Pi, took up the challenge with gusto, which really led the other chapters to get in on the fun. It wasn't until long after the guantlet had been thrown that I suggested there would be a prize, not just for the winner, but for everyone who got their stuff in on time. This was important to me because I had to see the chapters doing it for the right reasons before I was willing to reward this behavior.
It's May 1st and I'm waiting to hear back from my fellow officers to see how we fared. But if their experience is like mine, they've had 100% completion.
I don't think I can run every deadline like this. The "let's clean up the nursery" game only works so many times before kids realize it's still cleaning--that thing they hate to do. I think what has to happen is chapters get used to the communication, and the responsibility, and that national officers remember that just because we go through this every time, there's almost always some rep that's doing it for the first time. For now, we're off to a good start!
--Chrissy Fleming
Acting National Secretary
I've been a Brother for 9 years and have seen deadlines from the side of chapter rep, desperately trying to get the stuff I need to turn them in on time ("To which officer? In what format? Aww hell....") and from that of a national officer, desperately trying to get chapters to turn things in so they don't have to face fines ("Just fill out this form. It takes 5 minutes, you have a month, and it's online...why are you calling me at 11:50pm before the deadline?).
In my days as NVPCM I tried everything from bribery and competition to cajoling and even threats. Nothing worked all the time, but I did find that the more my representatives thought of me as a human being that they wanted to work with, the more likely they were to get their stuff turned in on time. Sometimes, the representatives would send me little notes of thanks or hello; this was my favorite part (hint, hint).
Just after accepting the role of Acting National Secretary, I was faced with the daunting April 30th deadline: 9 chapters submitting 10 different things to 4 different officers. I had heard at Convention that this past year was a terrible one for deadlines, and I was determined to get us back on track. Instead of harassing the chapters individually (a lot of effort on my part) I sent out emails to the national lists reminding of deadlines (as required) and making it sound like a race between the chapters (definitely not required). Two chapters, Zeta and Pi, took up the challenge with gusto, which really led the other chapters to get in on the fun. It wasn't until long after the guantlet had been thrown that I suggested there would be a prize, not just for the winner, but for everyone who got their stuff in on time. This was important to me because I had to see the chapters doing it for the right reasons before I was willing to reward this behavior.
It's May 1st and I'm waiting to hear back from my fellow officers to see how we fared. But if their experience is like mine, they've had 100% completion.
I don't think I can run every deadline like this. The "let's clean up the nursery" game only works so many times before kids realize it's still cleaning--that thing they hate to do. I think what has to happen is chapters get used to the communication, and the responsibility, and that national officers remember that just because we go through this every time, there's almost always some rep that's doing it for the first time. For now, we're off to a good start!
--Chrissy Fleming
Acting National Secretary
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Convention is around the corner!
Psyched for UNConvention 2010? I am. Here's the link for the meeting schedule in case you missed it.
UNConvention 2010 Meeting Schedule
Don't forget to bring pennies for Penny Wars!
UNConvention 2010 Meeting Schedule
Don't forget to bring pennies for Penny Wars!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
An update from the NP GIC.
Brothers,
Lots of stuff has been happening and if you happen to read this blog, this might keep you in the loop or bring you up to speed.
First of all, the skeletal bylaws are almost completely revised. This is a very good thing, because it will give us a set of documents which will expedite the process by which new Chapters create their rules during the colonization process.
Secondly, the national scholarship program is moving ahead swimmingly. The action plan I developed for its execution has been working great. The next steps include a couple of online discussions geared toward answering a few important questions about the scholarship itself. After that, we'll begin working on the framework for its establishment. Fun stuff.
Also, Convention is nearly upon us. There are several positions for which we will hold elections; get your letters of intent out soon, folks! It's going to be a wonderful weekend for us Brothers in Chapel Hill, NC, hosted by the always amazing Mu Chapter. You can thank the illustrious Logan Brackett for much of the hard work put in planning and organizing 2010's National Convention. I should have a schedule sent out early this week, but remember the NEC has to finalize it before it's technically... er... final.
If you've had your ear to the NCE ground, you've heard there is interest at Marist College in New York for a potential colonization. It's probably a good time to start thinking about whether your Chapter would be interested in hosting, should this become a reality.
The NCCM has been winding up for a helpful and mutually supportive semester.
NT Jen Staten's been guiding her NFC through the process we need to complete in order to gain tax-exemption, and helping me plan the financial side of the scholarship, among several other helpful endeavors. Remember to bring your loose change to Convention for the Penny Wars, hosted by Jen Staten and benefiting the scholarship fund!
Oh, and NEOTC Kate Capehart and I got engaged earlier this month. Just in case you haven't heard. ^__^
In other news... I'm still me. I know a lot of you tend to think about Psi business when my name comes up or when we're talking, but the office isn't who I am, it's just something I do for our Fraternity. I still love to hang out and talk about things that aren't Mu Beta Psi-related. Please don't forget that. =)
I hope everything's been going well for everyone. I'm looking forward to visiting a few Chapters this semester. I miss a lot of you guys. I'm crossing my fingers that I'll see as man of you as possible at Convention.
In Brotherhood always,
Garrett
Lots of stuff has been happening and if you happen to read this blog, this might keep you in the loop or bring you up to speed.
First of all, the skeletal bylaws are almost completely revised. This is a very good thing, because it will give us a set of documents which will expedite the process by which new Chapters create their rules during the colonization process.
Secondly, the national scholarship program is moving ahead swimmingly. The action plan I developed for its execution has been working great. The next steps include a couple of online discussions geared toward answering a few important questions about the scholarship itself. After that, we'll begin working on the framework for its establishment. Fun stuff.
Also, Convention is nearly upon us. There are several positions for which we will hold elections; get your letters of intent out soon, folks! It's going to be a wonderful weekend for us Brothers in Chapel Hill, NC, hosted by the always amazing Mu Chapter. You can thank the illustrious Logan Brackett for much of the hard work put in planning and organizing 2010's National Convention. I should have a schedule sent out early this week, but remember the NEC has to finalize it before it's technically... er... final.
If you've had your ear to the NCE ground, you've heard there is interest at Marist College in New York for a potential colonization. It's probably a good time to start thinking about whether your Chapter would be interested in hosting, should this become a reality.
The NCCM has been winding up for a helpful and mutually supportive semester.
NT Jen Staten's been guiding her NFC through the process we need to complete in order to gain tax-exemption, and helping me plan the financial side of the scholarship, among several other helpful endeavors. Remember to bring your loose change to Convention for the Penny Wars, hosted by Jen Staten and benefiting the scholarship fund!
Oh, and NEOTC Kate Capehart and I got engaged earlier this month. Just in case you haven't heard. ^__^
In other news... I'm still me. I know a lot of you tend to think about Psi business when my name comes up or when we're talking, but the office isn't who I am, it's just something I do for our Fraternity. I still love to hang out and talk about things that aren't Mu Beta Psi-related. Please don't forget that. =)
I hope everything's been going well for everyone. I'm looking forward to visiting a few Chapters this semester. I miss a lot of you guys. I'm crossing my fingers that I'll see as man of you as possible at Convention.
In Brotherhood always,
Garrett
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Summer pictures in letters!
We have spent a lot of time talking about our standards and how we appear as a Fraternity. It comes up time and again in our meetings, both Chapter and National, and we are (and should be) very concerned with how the rest of the world views Mu Beta Psi. We need to present the perspective we wish them to receive, and more often than not, I think we do. When we don't, we find ways to fix the problem. We have decided to adopt a Standards Advisor so that we have a go-to person when it comes to the tough decisions regarding whether something is or is not appropriate for our Fraternity standards. We also make sure that we don't post inappropriate or sensitive photos/information in public places, and that when we wear our letters we do so with honor and with pride.
All this talk of how we appear made me think, though -- during the summer there is a substantial decrease in the visibility of our Fraternity. Almost everyone who I've spoken with or who has addressed this has seen it as somewhat normal. I totally understand that we get busy with our personal lives in the summertime... but I also see this as an opportunity for us. It might be tougher to connect with many of our Brothers when school isn't in session since we don't all normally live right next to each other, but we can still wear our letters everywhere. (Maybe not to work, but you know what I mean. ~_^)
I think it's great when someone I don't know asks me what the letters on my shirt mean. It is a welcome opportunity to brag about my Fraternity, my Brothers, and all that we do together. It also spreads the word about our existence to people who may or may not have thought about us. People who may or may not want to help us, get to know us, or even join us. And put up your pictures of Brothers (and yourselves) in letters! Just putting our image out there plants a seed of curiosity, and who knows where that could lead? As long as we maintain our standards, I believe it can only lead to good places.
All this talk of how we appear made me think, though -- during the summer there is a substantial decrease in the visibility of our Fraternity. Almost everyone who I've spoken with or who has addressed this has seen it as somewhat normal. I totally understand that we get busy with our personal lives in the summertime... but I also see this as an opportunity for us. It might be tougher to connect with many of our Brothers when school isn't in session since we don't all normally live right next to each other, but we can still wear our letters everywhere. (Maybe not to work, but you know what I mean. ~_^)
I think it's great when someone I don't know asks me what the letters on my shirt mean. It is a welcome opportunity to brag about my Fraternity, my Brothers, and all that we do together. It also spreads the word about our existence to people who may or may not have thought about us. People who may or may not want to help us, get to know us, or even join us. And put up your pictures of Brothers (and yourselves) in letters! Just putting our image out there plants a seed of curiosity, and who knows where that could lead? As long as we maintain our standards, I believe it can only lead to good places.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Modest Proposals for Memorial Day
In a couple hours it will be Memorial Day, a time when we pause to gratefully acknowledge the security and protection we enjoy in our lives, and to thank those who have sacrificed (and in many cases, paid the ultimate sacrifice) for these freedoms.
Whatever your plans, be they travel, or grilling & chilling with friends and Brothers, take a moment to thank an active member of the armed forces, or one of the millions of veterans. We owe them so much...it's the least we can do!
* * *
It's a crappy segue, but speaking of security, an interesting blog over at Yahoo! Tech discusses how (and why) things you store online can't even be removed in a timely fashion. It's a good reminder that just because you're paranoid doesn't mean people AREN'T out to get you.
It's worth a read. In fact, those currently in the job hunt will want to pay particular attention -- after all, you wouldn't want to lose out of a lucrative job offer just because of a picture of you in a compromising position was posted to your Facebook page!
Whatever your plans, be they travel, or grilling & chilling with friends and Brothers, take a moment to thank an active member of the armed forces, or one of the millions of veterans. We owe them so much...it's the least we can do!
* * *
It's a crappy segue, but speaking of security, an interesting blog over at Yahoo! Tech discusses how (and why) things you store online can't even be removed in a timely fashion. It's a good reminder that just because you're paranoid doesn't mean people AREN'T out to get you.
It's worth a read. In fact, those currently in the job hunt will want to pay particular attention -- after all, you wouldn't want to lose out of a lucrative job offer just because of a picture of you in a compromising position was posted to your Facebook page!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Presidents, Pet Rocks, and Powwows
Yesterday felt kind of awkward for me. It was our last National President, Andrew Fleming's birthday, but I received a present from him, through our awesome Mu Brother JC Peterson, who delivered the hand-off. My gift? The National President's copy of policies! I have taken it upon myself to update these manuals. I urge you all to ensure that any manual currently residing with you remains up to date, so it will prove useful and make you happy. As the proverb goes, a manual that goes without update is like a neglected pet rock. And if there isn't a proverb that says that, then there should be. =P
In other news, in line with my intent to boost communication on a national scale, I am planning another Intranet discussion on our Fraternity's standards. It seems to me that many of our Brothers are very interested in how we think about our standards, exactly what these standards should be, and how we should measure their implementation. Zeta Brother Bryan Sebeck wrote a nifty Clef article about standards in Mu Beta Psi and the new Advisor position in the Board of Trustees dedicated to managing our standards. Keep an eye out for a specific date and time for this powwow.
I also want to remind everyone that it can be really fun to gather some Brothers for a random Intranet chat about nothing important. Even over the summer, when we are scattered to numerous locations outside of our Chapter locations or away from home, we can stay connected.
In other news, in line with my intent to boost communication on a national scale, I am planning another Intranet discussion on our Fraternity's standards. It seems to me that many of our Brothers are very interested in how we think about our standards, exactly what these standards should be, and how we should measure their implementation. Zeta Brother Bryan Sebeck wrote a nifty Clef article about standards in Mu Beta Psi and the new Advisor position in the Board of Trustees dedicated to managing our standards. Keep an eye out for a specific date and time for this powwow.
I also want to remind everyone that it can be really fun to gather some Brothers for a random Intranet chat about nothing important. Even over the summer, when we are scattered to numerous locations outside of our Chapter locations or away from home, we can stay connected.
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