From the Desk of the National President: June 2024 Updates

Brothers – 

As we move from May into June, we welcome the warmth and energy of early summer—a season of joy, respite, and celebration. This new month offers us a chance to rest, reflect on our successes, and prepare for the future. June marks our National Month of Celebration, an opportunity to come together and recognize the hard work and achievements of the past year. It’s a time to celebrate our accomplishments, set new goals, and look forward to the exciting opportunities ahead. As we kick off summer, let’s harness the positivity of the season to fuel our enthusiasm for the second half of this biennium and beyond.

In the spirit of celebration, I invite us all to reflect on the values that unite us and the vibrant diversity that strengthens our Brotherhood. As we honor the resilience and beauty of the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month and participate in our chapter or individual celebrations, let us do so with a sense of purpose and unity. Our shared values and mutual support are the foundation of our community, and June is the perfect time to reaffirm these bonds and give back.

With that said, I’m excited to share a few updates with you. Please take some time to carefully review the rest of this newsletter. As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I look forward to sharing an exceptional June with you!

JUNE UPDATES

SPECIAL NOTE

As part of our transition to OPUS, we have begun decommissioning our old listserv platform and integrating those mailing lists into OPUS. Unfortunately, due to the design of the old system, we were unable to migrate any unsubscribe requests. Going forward, at the bottom of each email from our new platform, you will have the option to unsubscribe from the list. You can also manage your subscriptions by visiting the Email Preferences Center through the “Update Subscription Preferences” link at the bottom of each email.

Update #1: National Month of Celebration

June marks our National Month of Celebration, an essential part of this biennium’s vision and plan. This month, we reflect on the past academic year and celebrate our progress and achievements as individuals, chapters, districts, and as a Fraternity. It’s a time to recognize how far we’ve come on #TheKappaKappaPsiJourney and to set new goals for the second half of the biennium.

As we look ahead, what are your personal, professional, academic, and fraternal aspirations? What new skills or experiences do you want to explore? How can you contribute to Kappa Kappa Psi’s growth and success, and your own?

Personally, I aim to spend more time with friends and family, visit my family in Asia before the end of 2024, and commit to healthier lifestyle choices. Professionally, I plan to pursue further education and professional development opportunities while strengthening relationships with colleagues. Fraternally, I will focus on supporting our Actives and Alumni, ensuring purposeful programming, and preparing our leadership for upcoming conventions and transitions. Take a moment to think about your ambitions and the steps you can take to reach them as you continue own your own growth journey.


Update #2: National Vice President for Student Affairs

In the spirit of celebration, it is with great enthusiasm that the National Council of Kappa Kappa Psi announces the appointment of Arupa Gopal-Campbell as our next National Vice President for Student Affairs!

Arupa is a Life Member of the Kappa Tau Chapter at the University of South Florida, where she was initiated in the Spring of 2004. During her time as an active member, she served as Chapter President and Vice President of Membership, and represented her chapter at District and National conventions. Arupa holds dual majors in Music and Management from USF and a Master of Arts in Performing Arts Administration from New York University. She has extensive experience in fraternity leadership, including serving as Southeast District Governor from 2018 to 2024 and as the Chapter Sponsor for Kappa Tau. 

We announced this search in February 2024 and invited applications until the end of April. We are grateful for the deep and diverse pool of candidates who showed the courage to put their names forward. Our focus was on finding the best fit for our team, someone with the skills and experience to hit the ground running.  Arupa stood out due to her extensive experience as a chapter sponsor and Southeast District Governor. Additionally, her background in non-profit and arts management will be invaluable as we navigate changes at our National Headquarters. 

Please join us for the installation call, which will be live-streamed on Wednesday, June 5th at 5:30pm CT. 

Update #3: End-of-Year Checklist

As we close our Year 1 of this biennium, please ensure timely submission of all required chapter reports and payments. These reports are crucial for evaluating chapters’ achievements and eligibility for the William Scroggs Founders’ Trophy at the 2025 National Convention. If you have any questions or need support, please reach out to our HQ staff at kkytbs@kkytbs.org. You can also submit a Chapter Assistance Request.

  • Membership Candidate Registration (MCR) Form: Due within 7 days following First Degree and before you can start the IRF.
  • Initiate Registration Form (IRF): Due within 30 days following Third Degree. After 30 days, a late fee will apply!  Initiation fees should be collected prior to performing Third Degree.
  • Officer & Chapter Update Form: Due as soon as after elections are finalized
  • Graduating Senior Report (GSR): Due within 30 days of graduation
  • Spring Activity Report (SAR): Due by June 1 (TODAY)

Update #4: Celebrating Our Graduating Seniors

To our Spring graduating seniors, congratulations on reaching this significant milestone! Your academic and fraternal journeys have been a beacon of leadership, musicianship, and service. As you transition to alumni status, remember that your influence on our Fraternity endures and that your fraternal journey extends far beyond your Active years.

As a reminder, graduating seniors are granted complimentary provisional membership into the Alumni Association based on the time of year they graduate. May Graduates receive complimentary membership for one year, seven months (June 1 – December 31 of the next year). However, the chapter must submit a Graduating Senior Report for graduating seniors to receive their complimentary year. If a graduating senior wants full voting rights in the Alumni Association, they will need to use the form below. 

GRADUATING SENIOR VOTING RIGHTS MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

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As we celebrate this month, I want to focus on our shared value of Love. Love is the foundation that strengthens our Brotherhood and fuels our dedication to Kappa Kappa Psi. This month, I invite you to reflect on what Love means to you. How do you like to receive love from others? How do you show love to those around you? Think about your love for music, leadership, service, brotherhood, and Kappa Kappa Psi.

Consider how Love can make each of us, and our Fraternity, stronger. How can you incorporate Love into your day-to-day life? How can you show more Love to your Brothers? How can you contribute to our Fraternity with Love?

For me, it’s my love for Kappa Kappa Psi, my journey as a leader and Brother, and each of you that powers my drive to continue my service, even through difficult and dark times. Let’s harness the power of Love to inspire our actions and uplift our Brotherhood. Together, we can pave a brighter path on The Kappa Kappa Psi Journey by leading with Love in everything we do.

With Love and Appreciation,

 

 

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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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Posted in Fraternity News, Official Statements.