SIFE: Students in Free Enterprise

Events

• SIFE Fall Training Conference, College Station, TX, October 17, 2009
• Projects, TBA
• Regional Competition, Dallas, TX, March 2010

Meeting Dates
Location for SIFE meetings is Russell Hall, Room 213.

• Wednesday, October 7 at Noon
• Monday, October 12 at Noon
• Wednesday, October 21 at Noon
• Monday, November 2 at 5:00 PM
• Wednesday, November 18 at Noon
• Monday, November 30 at 5:00 PM

Subject to change upon circumstances.

SIFE Overview
SIFE is an international non-profit organization active on over 1800 university campuses in more than 40 countries.  SIFE Teams create economic opportunities in their communities by organizing outreach projects that teach market economics, entrepreneurship, personal financial success skills, and business ethics.  Their projects are judged at competition on creativity, innovation, and effectiveness.

What the SIFE Team does
SIFE competition is strictly a team activity.  Each SIFE team plans and executes projects designed to help people in the community recognize the opportunities available to them, and then acquire the skills they need to be successful. The team summarizes its projects for the year in an annual report which it takes to regional competition in March. There the team gives a 24 minute formal, scripted presentation before a panel of 20 judges. The judges – corporate executives from SIFE donor companies – are given 5 minutes to ask the team questions about their projects.

SIFE teams are judged based on the following criteria:

How effectively did the SIFE team measure and demonstrate that it created economic opportunity by helping others:

• Understand how a market based economic system operates?
• Acquire the education and skills training needed to succeed in a dynamic, competitive global economy?
• Learn how to succeed as an entrepreneur and/or improve an existing business?
• Develop the personal financial management skills necessary to achieve financial independence?
• Understand that the long-term success and prosperity of a market economy, businesses, and individuals are dependent on ethical business practices?
• How effectively did the team develop and execute a strategy to ensure the long-term sustainability of their team and educational programs?

Who can participate in SIFE?
SIFE is not just for business majors. Membership is open to all NSU students regardless of major. We welcome non-business majors because we know they have skills which complement those of our business majors.

No matter what your major is, you will one day sit across the table from a job interviewer. When that person asks “so why should I hire you? What have you done other than take classes?” will you have anything to say? If you’ve participated in SIFE, this will be the moment you’ve waited for. You’ll be able to explain the projects you worked on, the roles that you played, and the people that you helped. You’ll have the confidence that comes from knowing you have done something of which you can be proud. You’ll know that the skills you learned in the classroom, you have practiced and honed through your work with SIFE.

What’s in it for you?

• Personal and professional growth. Hands-on opportunity to practice skills you’ve learned in the classroom ... increasing your value for future employment.
• JOBS!!! SIFE donors are at career fairs at every regional and national competition. Many SIFE students start their careers with SIFE sponsoring companies.
• An opportunity to develop teamwork skills and compete against SIFE Teams from across the US and international teams.
• Knowing that while you are better preparing yourself for your future career you are also making a positive difference in the lives of others.
• A great opportunity to hone your written and oral communications skills in written and oral competitions judged by business leaders.
• A chance for you as an individual to develop leadership skills by taking a leadership role on your SIFE Team.

Mission Statement
To promote the entrepreneurial spirit while fostering community growth and development

Goals and Objectives

• To teach members of our team what it means to act in a professional manner.
• To instill in our members a commitment to always act in a professional manner and to pursue excellence in all their work.
• To use our projects to transmit these attitudes to those with whom we work  – NSU students, K-12 students in Natchitoches, and others as opportunities arise.

Officers (2009-2010 academic year)
President: Kelvin Binns (kbinns001@student.nsula.edu)
Vice President: Kendra Longwood
Treasurer: Hannah Martin
Secretary: Leah Mitchell-Darden