Author Archive: admin-aaron

Launching the Friend and Advocate Initiative – Call for the Alpha Cohort

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Brothers, 

It is with great pleasure that we announce the launch of the “Friend and Advocate Initiative.” This program is born out of the need to provide more individualized support for our chapters, be it our longstanding chapters, our new petitioning groups, or our chapters undergoing the “ReCharge” process. The goal of this initiative is to train Alumni members of the Fraternity to be up-to-date with the current practices of the Fraternity, such as the Road to Wisdom or our Chapter Operations (CHOPS) resources. Ultimately, we want to train and enable our Alumni members to support our chapters.

This desire and need brings us to today, where we are inviting our Alumni members to apply to be part of the ‘Alpha Cohort’ of the Friend and Advocate Initiative. Members of this cohort will be selected to be Petitioning and ReCharge Group advisor moving forward. In fact, the lessons of the cohort are designed to reflect the material that will be taught to members of petitioning and recharge groups. This includes: 

  • Lesson 1. Our Service – A review of our policies, our work, discussions on designing successful service projects, and chapter operations resources for Chapter Service officers
  • Lesson 2. Our Leadership – An Introduction to the Founders Circle, discussions on how to run Chapter meetings, and chapter operations resources for Chapter Presidents
  • Lesson 3. Our Musicianship – An Introduction to the NIB, discussions on how to design fundraisers, and chapter operations resources for Chapter Treasurers
  • Lesson 4. Our Brotherhood – An Introduction to the Strive for Five Initiative, discussions on successful recruitment strategies, and chapter operations resources for Chapter Vice Presidents of Membership
  • Lesson 5. Our Journey – An Introduction to the Alumni Association, discussions on the inner circle, and the current biennium plan

Additionally, all lessons will also cover the related Road to Wisdom lessons. As this is the ‘Alpha Cohort,’ we fully expect that we will develop and refine this program throughout this process. The expected time commitment for this cohort is 2-3 hours a week. We also expect to host multiple cohorts throughout this biennium and next. If you are interested in applying, you can do so here:

Friend and Advocate Initiative Application Form

We are hoping that this initial cohort will have 20-30 members. The application will be open till January 10th, 2023 and the cohort training will begin mid-February. To be eligible for this program, you must be a current member of the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association. 

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please contact Dr. Nic Rorrer (nic@kkpsi.org). We hope that many of you will be part of this or future cohorts.

AEA,

Board of Trustees Appointment

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Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi –

I hope you are doing well and enjoying all the changes that October has to offer! I am writing to share with you an exciting update on one of the National Council’s priorities this quarter. 

Following the 2023 National Convention, we left with a vacancy on the Board of Trustees. In alignment with our National Constitution (2.109), the National Council announced a call for applications on August 11th, which resulted in a strong response that reflects our Brotherhood’s unwavering dedication to service and leadership. Due to the high number and quality of applications, we extended the process by two weeks to facilitate a comprehensive review, in-depth interviews, and careful deliberations.

Throughout the selection process, our focus was on identifying the most suitable candidate to further the Board’s objectives while ensuring fairness and efficiency. We extend our sincere gratitude to all Brothers who dedicated their time and effort to apply for the Trustee position. We look forward to engaging these individuals in meaningful ways throughout the biennium.

On behalf of the National Council, I am honored and excited to share that Brother Franklin “Frankie” Johnson-Norwood, a Life Member of the Zeta Psi Chapter at Virginia State University, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees. We congratulate him wholeheartedly on this remarkable achievement and look forward to his service and leadership as a Trustee.

We invite all Brothers to join us for Frankie’s virtual swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday, October 25th, at 6:30 PM CT, live-streamed on our National Facebook page. In the meantime, you can learn more about Frankie here: https://www.kkpsi.org/board-of-trustees/. 

Once again, I want to express my most sincere gratitude to all who participated and contributed to this selection process. I am grateful for this Fraternity and look forward to the journey ahead with you all. Let’s continue to strive together for college and university bands!

Much Love and AEA.

In Solidarity,
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Bang T. Co (He/Him/His/他)
National President & Ex-Officio Board of Trustees Member,
Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity, Inc.

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Our Mission: Kappa Kappa Psi is a diverse fraternity dedicated to advancing college and university bands for the benefit of its members and society through: Meaningful musical experiences and enrichment, Transformational leadership development, Purposeful service to bands and support to band members, Lifelong fellowship and community.
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Call for Nominations – Board of Trustees Vacancy

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Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi –

We hope this message finds you well. As part of our commitment to fostering strong governance and effective leadership within our organization, we are excited to announce a call for nominations to fill a vacancy on the Board of Trustees.

Our Board of Trustees plays a vital role in shaping our organization’s vision, direction, and mission. As we strive to positively impact the lives of our members and the band community, we seek dedicated individuals who are passionate about our mission and possess the skills and expertise to drive our organization forward.

We invite all eligible members, stakeholders, and community leaders to actively participate in this nomination process. If you believe that your skills and experience align with our organization’s needs, we encourage you to submit your materials for consideration. If you know an alumnus of Kappa Kappa Psi who would be an outstanding candidate, please forward this information and encourage them to submit materials for consideration.

To be eligible for nomination, individuals must meet the following criteria as listed in the National Constitution:

  1. A member of the Fraternity;
  2. a member of the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association;
  3. at least twenty-nine (29) years of age;
  4. shall possess outstanding business or professional ability; 
  5. and shall be capable of representing the Corporation and Fraternity under all conditions.

Submission Process

  1. Complete the Nominations Form with your information and materials.
  2. Submit no later than 11:59 pm CT on Friday, September 1, 2023.

Required Materials

  1. Brief Biography
  2. Photograph Suitable for Print Publication (.jpg or .png)
  3. Letter of Intent (Word or PDF)
    In your letter, please:

    1. explain why you are seeking to join the Board of Trustees;
    2. outline how your skills, experiences, and qualifications would complement the Board of Trustees; and
    3. describe both your understanding of the role of the Board of Trustees within Kappa Kappa Psi and your vision for how your involvement on the Board of Trustees will contribute to the growth and success of our Fraternity and the college band movement.
  4. Résumé / Vita
  5. List of Three (3) References (with contact information)

Selection Process & Announcement

Once the nomination period has ended, the National Council will thoroughly review all the submitted nominations and assess each candidate’s qualifications and alignment with the organization’s mission. Shortlisted candidates will then be contacted for an interview for further evaluation.

The interview process allows the National Council to better understand the candidates, their reasoning for being interested, and their vision for the organization. During the interviews, candidates may have the opportunity to discuss their skills, experiences, and how they envision complementing the Board of Trustees’ responsibilities. After the interview process, the National Council will carefully review the list of finalists and select the candidate they believe will best complement the Board and contribute to the organization’s growth and success. The appointed candidate will be announced and welcomed to the Board of Trustees through our website, email distribution lists, and social media accounts.

Timeline

  • August 11, 2023 – Call for Nominations Announcement
  • September 1, 2023 – Deadline for Nominations (closes at 11:59 pm CT)
  • September 2-15, 2023 – Review period
  • September 16-24, 2023 – Interview Period
  • September 25-30, 2023 – Follow-Up & Deliberation Period
  • October 2, 2023 – Announcement of Appointment

Your active participation in this process is crucial in helping us find the right individual to join our Board and contribute to the growth and success of Kappa Kappa Psi. We look forward to receiving your nominations and building a stronger, more vibrant journey together. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me at president@kkpsi.org.

Thank you and AEA,

Bang T. Co
National President
Kappa Kappa Psi
president@kkpsi.org

2023 Kappa Kappa Psi Oral History Project

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Dear Brother,

Many of you may have received an email today about the Kappa Kappa Psi Oral History Project.  We apologize for the concern the email may have caused, but it is a legitimate appeal for your participation.

Every Brother has a story, and Kappa Kappa Psi wants to hear yours!

We are launching a new project, the Kappa Kappa Psi Oral History Project, to collect the stories of our alumni in their own words. We will preserve these stories in a book that celebrates the impact of Kappa Kappa Psi on your life and who you are today.

Kappa Kappa Psi partnered with Publishing Concepts, Inc. (PCI) to collect your stories. PCI will contact KKPsi members via postcard and email to verify and update contact information.

Additionally, PCI will ask if members want to share a story about KKPsi. Members will also receive an offer to purchase the hard-copy book and other products, but no purchase is necessary to participate in the Oral History Project.

We hope you will participate and share your stories.  A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page is available on the KKPsi website at this link:  https://www.kkpsi.org/oralhistoryproject/

If you have any concerns or question, please feel free to contact us at kkytbs@kkytbs.org

 

Steve Nelson
National Executive Director
Kappa Kappa Psi & Tau Beta Sigma

Bang Co
National President
Kappa Kappa Psi

Month of Musicianship Message

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Brothers,

Our annual Month of Musicianship is not and should not be the only month where we celebrate music.  It is, however, the one where we pay extra and deserved homage to truly the greatest of the arts. As well we should! And as we do, I encourage you to think about these questions:

  • As we finish a membership class or start to think about recruiting a new one, how can we use music to showcase Kappa Kappa as an organization that people will be eager and proud to join?
  • As we come closer to the end of a semester and, for many, a marching band season, how can we bring our music to its greatest height?
  • As we look at our fellow band members and our band directors, how are we helping them build a program that will produce music for years to come?

How does your Chapter answer these questions?  During November, please share your answers, your stories, your pictures, and your performances on social media using the hashtag #strikeupthebands.

You can also join us in celebrating music on November 6th at 8:00 p.m. ET as we have a panel with music educators and past A. Frank Martin Award winners Tony Falcone, Amy Heavilin, Dr. Craig Aarhus, and Denali Pearce-Alt as they share their experiences as music professionals.  Finally, stay tuned to social media throughout the month with experiences and performances from your National leadership on the value of music in their lives.

Brothers, please celebrate our precious gift of music and, in so doing, remind others and yourselves of what this great Brotherhood has in store for us all!

AEA,

Ed Savoy
National Vice President for Programs

Launch of The Founders’ Circle

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Kappa Kappa Psi is excited to formally launch our leadership development program The Founders’ Circle.  This program includes written lessons and resources developed by Past National President Dr. Kirk Randazzo, guided questions, and in person presentations at our District and National Conventions.  You can go to www.kkpsi.org/founderscircle to access these materials (the password for accessing these materials is the Fraternity password.  Once you complete a level of The Founders’ Circle, let us know HERE and we’ll recognize you for your achievement!  We are currently working on a process for applying to be a presenter for The Founders’ Circle, so stay tuned for more information!

2019 Month of Musicianship

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Month of Musicianship

I hope you’ve all had the chance to see the launch video of this year’s Month of Musicianship campaign, celebrating our personal connections to music. Many thanks to National VPSA Bang Co and the National Communications team for bringing this year’s vision to life.

During this Month of Musicianship, we are charging brothers to take some time and reflect on our personal relationship with music. Remember, while service to college and university bands unites us, it is the art of music that unifies us. So throughout this Month of Musicianship, not only do we want to actively showcase the best of what our brothers do for advancing music in our lives, but we want us all to take an inside look about what connects us to music in the first place.

Ask yourself: Band is our bond, but what does music mean to me? If I could find one word that summed up how important music is to me, what would it be?

Once you’ve uncovered your word, print out the attached template, write it out, snap a picture or a video, and post it up on social media using the hashtags #BandIsOurBond and #MonthofMusicianship. Take some time to share your story – celebrate how meaningful music is to you.

This can be an amazing conversation starter within your chapter, and an amazing opportunity to make connections with brothers across the country. Expand the conversation – we aren’t the only musicians in our bands. Ask our sisters in Tau Beta Sigma and other band members what music means to them. Because once we start to look at the broader meaning of music in our lives, music is no longer a broad concept, but something that holds true meaning in our identity.

Continue to share all of the amazing activities that you and your chapters are doing to hone the craft of music, but also share the stories of what music means to you.

If you have any questions about this year’s Month of Musicianship, or any of Kappa Kappa Psi’s national programs, please do not hesitate to contact me at mnapolitano@kkpsi.org.

If you have not yet had a chance to watch the Month of Musicianship launch video, find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9nBjj5Zn_I

To share and print out the template, visit: http://bit.ly/KKPsiMoM19

 

AEA,

Mike Napolitano
National Vice President for Programs, 2019-2021
Kappa Kappa Psi
National Honorary Band Fraternity
Pronouns: he, him, his

KKΨAA Board of Directors Candidate Announcement

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Brothers,

Since its creation in 2007, the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association’s Board of Directors (AABOD) and its Chair have been appointed by the Board of Trustees via an application process. With an eye on greater Alumni Association autonomy, the Board of Trustees asked the current AABOD to establish an election process to be used in 2019.

After dedicated work by the 2017-19 AABOD, it is my pleasure to announce that KKPsiAA members will elect their next Board of Directors for the first time in 2019. Following the call for candidates that was issued in November of 2018 and concluded on January 15, 2019, the following Brothers provided candidate applications and have been deemed eligible for election to the AABOD:

  • Michael Blander
  • Greg Boike
  • Brent Cannon
  • Erin Cooper
  • Michael Lindsay
  • Kate Rohrich
  • Nic Rorrer
  • Kyle Thompson

Candidate information will follow online, and printed material will be available at each District Convention. Registered members of the National Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association will be able to vote for up to eight (8) Directors. The vote will be conducted online, and results will be announced shortly thereafter. As a reminder, you can still join the Alumni Association for the 2019 year.

I want to thank each of our candidates for offering themselves in the service of our great Fraternity.

AEA,

Eric B. Morson
KKPsi Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees Liaison to the KKPsiAA Board of Directors