This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the 2020 Carlson Leadership Academy in Parsippany, New Jersey. Joining me were brothers Paul Kellam (Chapter President ’21), Karol Walec (VP Member Development ’22), Matt Owens (VP Finance ’22), Richie Racanelli (VP Recruitment ’22), and Connor Moriarty (Balanced Man chair ’22). And we collectively agreed that it not only headed our chapter in the right direction, but it was a life-changing experience.
When I first joined my SigEp chapter at Boston College in the Spring 2019, I did not know what to expect. Yet by the end of 2019 with two full semesters under my belt, I decided to run for executive board and was fortunate enough to be elected to Vice President of Communications. I initially thought to myself that the position would be easy and I would not be challenged with additional leadership roles in the fraternity, because what more does VPC do than keep the chapter in touch? The first week back on campus in 2020, the exiting and incoming executive board officers had our Transition Retreat, where AVC president Jason Robinson (Chapter President ’12) oversaw the training of new exec officers with the help of the outgoing officers. I left overwhelmed, not knowing where to begin with the challenges I faced ahead as the new VPC. Should I delegate positions? Should I reformat our website? Should I coordinate intramural teams and merchandise? I was in desperate need of assistance, yet was afraid to express my concerns, as I ran the risk of the rest of my chapter doubting me.
Then I attended Carlson. I headed into the main conference dining room in the Sheraton hotel in Parsippany, and was blown away with the professionalism of the conference. After a welcoming breakfast, I broke into a 3 hour morning session with other VP of Communication positions in the Northeast region. During breakfast, my Chapter Counselor Ben Bowles mentioned that what we put into CLA is what we will get out of it, so I was quick to open up to other VPCs about my concerns with my position. I learned that others were in similar situations as me (in other words, feeling equally overwhelmed), and so we decided to work and learn collectively. During CLA, some of the material skills I learned were the reaches and limitations of my position, how to control the website, and what constitutes a strong newsletter. What I found more important, however, was the leadership skills I learned, including interpersonal communication between other executive board positions, how to delegate chair positions to other brothers, and developing strong public relations/social media skills.
The Carlson Leadership Academy embodied what it means to be a SigEp. During my time as a Sigma, I learned to look outward to my brothers when facing a personal issue in life. Sharing a moment of vulnerability with one’s brothers is among the most important aspects that comes with being a SigEp, and the 2020 CLA involved such situations. I looked outward to other VPCs, all of whom were sympathetic to my problems, and received the help I needed to overcome my concerns with my position. Going forward, I know I will be a better VP of Communications, as well as a better leader and role model to those younger than me. I am excited to serve on my executive board and look forward to potentially attending future Carlson Leadership Academies.
