Author Archive: Evan Thompson

Founders Day Message 2017

Posted on by

Brothers:

November 27, 1919 will live forever in our history as the beginning of an organization that has become the standard for musicianship, leadership, and service within college and university bands. Our existence is defined by the bonds of friendship that we share, and our commitment to building an inclusive community that builds its members up to be outstanding leaders, brothers, and human beings. As John Philip Sousa believed, we are the ones who will carry on the work started and continue to promote music and appreciate its performance. We will also carry on the example of our Founders by dedicating ourselves to excellence in all we do for our chapters and band programs.

Our Founder, William A. Scroggs said, “No organization on the campus should be more sought after for membership, no honor should be more appreciated by the fortunate few than by those affiliated with Kappa Kappa Psi.” He believed that what you get out of your membership in Kappa Kappa Psi is determined by what you put into it. Our band programs depend on our leadership and selfless service. We should all dedicate ourselves to this ideal and live up to the trust placed in us as Brothers.

During this holiday season, reflect on all that matters to you and be grateful for all that you have. Seize on opportunities to serve and give back to your community, university, and bands. Promote fellowship and kindness within your circles, and be mindful of those who are struggling.

Kappa Kappa Psi is fortunate to have each of you affiliated with our work as an active member, director, sponsor, alumni, life, honorary, or friend. The Founders’ Spirit that was brought to life 98 years ago, lives on in our dedication to leadership, fellowship, and better music. Embrace this spirit and dedicate yourselves to its positive example.

I wish you all a Happy Founders’ Day!

AEA,

Evan L. Thompson
National President
Kappa Kappa Psi

Thanksgiving Message from the National President

Posted on by

Brothers:

Thankfulness and gratitude are virtues seen very little in our world today. Many people do not recognize those around them, and they live in a space dedicated only to self-interest and ego. But as brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi, we understand the power of gratitude and its impact on our relationships and our service. As brothers, we are called to believe in one another, show respect to one another, and make our values known to all.

President John F. Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” Be mindful of others and seek to foster a spirit of brotherly love each day by saying ‘thank you’ and showing care for others. Don’t pay lip service to our values. Live them each and every day.

Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving! My best to each of you for wonderful memories with friends and family!

AEA,
Evan

2017 Month of Musicianship & Fall Activity Report

Posted on by

Dear Chapter Presidents and Sponsors,

Happy Month of Musicianship! Throughout the month of November, we work to both highlight and celebrate the musicianship of college and university band programs, chapters, and individual brothers. As a chapter it is my hope that each of you will take this responsibility seriously, and work to support music and ultimately college and university band programs! Be sure to use the OFFICIAL hashtag #MusicCharmsNovember to share your Month of Musicianship activities on social media so all of our Brothers can share in your advocacy of our greatest art.

Another responsibility of the chapter that is quickly approaching is the chapter submission of the Fall Activity Report. The Fall Activity Report (FAR) is required of each chapter and must be approved by your Sponsor & DOB in the OMRS no later than December 1 each year. While colonies are not required to submit this form (unless installed prior to December 1), colonies should take the time to familiarize themselves with the form. The Online Membership & Reporting System (OMRS) can be accessed at https://online.kkytbs.org. If you have questions about the OMRS, review the OMRS Guidebook which is available here.

In addition to your Fall Activity Report, make sure you submit a Graduating Senior Report (GSR) if you had any Active/Conditional/Associate members graduate during the Fall Semester. The GSR is functionally the membership form for their complimentary year of membership in the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association. Please ask your graduating seniors (and all Active members) to login to the OMRS and make sure that we have the correct contact information for them. We highly recommend that our graduates use their professional email address, and not the student email address established by the college or university.

As you are working on the FAR & GSR, please review any pending forms that your chapter may have in the OMRS to see if HQ is missing anything. There are still several chapters with incomplete Chapter Personnel Reports and Initiate Registrations.

As with all forms in the OMRS, we encourage you to visit with your Sponsor & DOB about the forms; including letting them know that the form is ready for approval. Do not rely solely on the email notifications that are sent out by the OMRS.

As always, if you have any questions pertaining to the Fall Activity Report or the OMRS, please do not hesitate to contact National Headquarters. Our Headquarters staff is always willing to assist with anything that you may need.

AEA,

Evan L. Thompson
National President
Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity
evan@kkpsi.org

Our Mission:
Kappa Kappa Psi is a co-educational fraternal organization that advances college and university bands for the benefit of its members and society through dedicated service and support to bands, encouragement of musical growth, lifelong educational experiences, leadership opportunities, and recognition.

MONTH OF MUSICIANSHIP HASHTAG CONTEST

Posted on by

Greetings Brothers!

I can’t believe we are halfway through October. This means that next month is our Month of Musicianship! The Month of Musicianship is very near and dear to me, not only because of Kappa Kappa Psi, but because of my profession as a college band director. That being said, your National Council is working on new and exciting ways for your chapters to promote and advocate music in the coming weeks.

One of the ways we’d like to do this is giving our brotherhood a chance to make their mark on our Month of Musicianship through our first ever MONTH OF MUSICIANSHIP HASHTAG CONTEST! From now until October 18th, we want our brothers to post their idea for a Month of Musicianship hashtag. The National Council will select an idea to be the official hashtag for the Month of Musicianship! THE WINNING PERSON’S POST WILL GET THEIR DISTRICT CONVENTION REGISTRATION FEE PAID FOR THIS YEAR!

Get creative! We can’t wait to see the ideas you come up with! I will announce the winner, as well as post goals I’d like to see Chapters strive to achieve during our Month of Musicianship on our Facebook page shortly after October 18th. Good Luck to everyone!

AEA,

Nicholas Bratcher, Ed.D.
National Vice President for Programs
Kappa Kappa Psi

Call for Applications – NCD Governor

Posted on by

Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi:

The District Governors are key members of the National Leadership Team. These adult leaders serve as the administrative officers of their respective district and provide mentorship to the district and chapter officers. District Governors are expected to assist the district officers with the development of a vision for the district and build positive, professional connections with all students, alumni, and national leadership. District Governors also engage in work that supports the National Vision including activity reviews for the National Membership Education Program: The Road to Wisdom.

There is an immediate opening for North Central District Governor. The Fraternity thanks outgoing Governor Jason Mlady for his service and dedication to Kappa Kappa Psi. Eligible applicants will complete the application requirements and submit using the JotForm link. All requirements must be included in order to submit a completed application.

Applications and materials should be submitted by Friday, November 3, 2017 via JotForm.

Special Note: If you applied for District Governor in May, your application is already on file and will be considered. You do not need to reapply.

Applicant Requirements:

  • Must be at least twenty-five (25) years old
  • Completed an undergraduate degree
  • Possess outstanding business or professional ability
  • Resident of district applying for
  • Be a Life, Alumni, or Honorary member in good standing of Kappa Kappa Psi

Governor Application Requirements:

  • Letter of Intent – Highlight fraternity, band, and professional experience
  • Resume/Vita
  • Three Letters of Recommendation, one of which should be within the applicant’s profession
  • JotForm Application (https://form.jotform.com/72814869888177)

Please submit completed applications via JotForm by Friday, November 3, 2017. If you have any questions, please contact National President Evan Thompson (evan@kkpsi.org).

AEA,

Evan L. Thompson
National President
Kappa Kappa Psi

Message from National Council on Revised Ritual Books

Posted on by
Brothers:
 
At the 2017 National Convention in Orlando, Florida, the National Chapter reviewed and revised our Fraternal Ritual and Ceremonies. When our Ritual or a Ceremony is changed, the National Fraternity will reprint Ritual Books and distribute them to all active chapters. Please take note of the important details below:
  • Approved changes are being reviewed and formatted; a thorough review process will take place to ensure all changes are correct before printing.
  • Once the edits and changes are made, seven (7) Ritual Books will be shipped to all chapters.
  • Please check your chapter mailing address today and make sure it is valid and secure.
  • Until Ritual Books arrive, continue to use the 2007 version of the Ritual Books for education and ceremonies.
  • Once new Ritual Books arrive, you will receive directions on the proper disposal of out of date Ritual Books.
  • Set aside a chapter meeting once new Ritual Books arrive to read through the foreword, instructions, and Ritual as a chapter.
  • Questions regarding Ritual Performance can be directed to our Ritual Performance and Education Committee at RitualEducation@kkpsi.org.
If you have questions about the mailing or if your chapter needs to order more books after the new books arrive, please contact National Headquarters (kkytbs@kkytbs.org). The National Council and National Headquarters will keep everyone updated on the timeline for shipping this fall.
As always, continue to Strive for the Highest!
 
AEA,
The National Council

Welcome to the 2017-2018 School Year!

Posted on by

Brothers:

Welcome back to Kappa Kappa Psi for the 2017-2018 school year! The National Council and National Headquarters encourage all chapters to submit the Chapter Personnel Report, Member Dues, and Chapter Fee on-time by September 30, 2017. Schools on the quarter system should submit their report and fees by October 15, 2017. Reports and dues submitted after the above deadlines are considered late and will be assessed a 25% late fee. This report needs to be completed by the Chapter President and approved by the Chapter Sponsor and Director of Bands through the OMRS (online.kkytbs.org). Please make sure every member of the chapter logs on to the OMRS to update personal information if anything has changed.

The Chapter Personnel Report consists of the following parts:

  • Chapter Fee: $75.oo (on-time)
  • Member Dues: $100.00 (on-time per member)
  • Completed online form in the OMRS (online.kkytbs.org)
  • Summary Page (collect signatures of all Active, Conditional, Associate)

If you have any questions about the Chapter Personnel Report, please email National Headquarters at kkytbs@kkytbs.org or call at (405) 372-2333.

Have a great school year! AEA

Evan

Statement on Charlottesville, Virginia

Posted on by

Brothers:

Kappa Kappa Psi wishes to express its deepest sympathy to the community of Charlottesville, Virginia over the loss of life and injuries that occurred as a result of senseless acts of violence and hate. We offer our condolences to all who were affected.

The events in Charlottesville and at the University of Virginia have left our nation once again confronted with malicious acts of hatred and intolerance by white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and the KKK. These terrible events that took place over the weekend make it clear that hatred, racism, and bigotry are still part of the mainstream culture. The goal of these groups is to preach a disgraceful and immoral message to every part of our country. Theirs is a message of hate, and it is wrong.

Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity condemns the actions of white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and the KKK who seek to tear our country apart with their hateful beliefs and rhetoric. There is no place for hate in our organization or our country.

We envision something better for our members, for society, and for college and university bands. We reaffirm our ritualistic vows and will continue to preserve the integrity and honor of Kappa Kappa Psi through ensuring an inclusive, equitable, and safe culture for all members. We are called to walk only in honorable and worthy ways and be an inspiration to others. On behalf of the National Council, I ask all Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi to stand with us and reject hatred and intolerance in all its forms.

Strive for the Highest!

Evan L. Thompson
National President
Kappa Kappa Psi

2017-2019 National Leadership Team

Posted on by

Kappa Kappa Psi held the 49th Biennial Convention at the Buena Vista Palace in Orlando, Florida. Part of the business sessions of the convention is the election of National Officers and Board of Trustees members. Kappa Kappa Psi is pleased to announce the elected and appointed leaders for the 2017-2019 biennium.

 

National Council

  • National President: Evan Thompson
  • National Vice President for Colonization & Membership: Marco Krcatovich
  • National Vice President for Programs: Dr. Nicholas Bratcher
  • National Vice President for Student Affairs: Jessica Lee
  • National Vice President for Professional Relations: Dr. Douglas Stotter

 

Board of Trustees

  • Adam Cantley, Chair
  • Daniel George, CPA, Vice Chair
  • Dr. Malinda Matney
  • Eric Morson
  • Ed Savoy
  • Jack Lee, Immediate Past President

 

District Governors

  • Anthony Falcone & Denali Pearce-Alt, Midwest District
  • Jason Mlady & Tammi Ramsey, North Central District
  • Marie Burleigh & Mike Napolitano, Northeast District
  • Dr. Craig Aarhus & Latrondrick Hunter, Southeast District
  • Toni Castle, Clint Wieden, & Kalem Graham, Southwest District
  • Charlene Ronne & Erik Marrs, Western District

 

Alumni Association Board of Directors

  • Daniel Miller, Chair
  • Jennifer Pitts-Taylor
  • Dr. Erin Cooper
  • Brent Cannon
  • Dr. Nicholas Rorrer
  • Kelly Nellis
  • Dr. Bret Zawilski

Kappa Kappa Psi Mourns the Passing of David Maslanka

Posted on by

Dr. David Maslanka passed away on August 6, 2017. One of the most prolific composers of wind band music, Dr. Maslanka’s works have been performed regularly in major countries around the world. He was the commissioned composer for Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma’s National Commissioning Program in 1995, and the National Intercollegiate Band performed his work A Tuning Piece: Songs of Fall and Winter.  Other works commissioned by chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi include In Memoriam and Traveler.

Dr. Maslanka is an honorary member of the Delta Sigma chapter at the University of Texas at Arlington and the Gamma Phi chapter at Stephen F. Austin State University. David Maslanka’s memory will live on through his significant contributions to the wind band repertoire and the countless number of students, conductors, and musicians who will continue to perform his works and share his music. Kappa Kappa Psi mourns Dr. Maslanka’s passing, and we send our thoughts and prayers to his family. We also send our gratitude for a life well-lived and his positive impact on college and university bands.