Student Advisory Committee September 2019 Report
Brothers –
Below you will find an outline of what took place during the September Student Advisory Committee meeting on September 13, 2019. Ema Alexander of the NED took notes for the meeting. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. You can reach me at bangco@kkpsi.org or the whole committee at studentadvisory@kkpsi.org.
With much love,
Bang
—September SAC – Minutes 9/13/2019—
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Introduction/Attendance
- Midwest: Sam Faulkner – VPM, Jenn Taylor – Governor
- North Central: Russell House – President, Jack Gornick – VPM, Jenna Jansa – VPP, Ben Tuttle – Sec/Treas
- Northeast: Ema Alexander – President, Evan Choy – VP, Will Johnston – MAL, Bill Welch – Governor
- Southeast: Jessica Needham – VPP, Atia Aroonsakulwongse Sec/Treas
- Southwest: Hannah Cheeseman – VPM
- Western:Hunter Murphy – President, Oliver Kou – MAL
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District Updates
- Midwest:
- District Day (Nov. 23) at University of Nebraska – Omaha
- North Central
- Membership Retreat (Oct. 6)
- Online workshops (virtual)
- Google Classroom introduction
- Book Club
- Northeast
- Online workshops (virtual)
- Chapter One-on-Ones
- New website
- Standing committees
- Southeast
- DLC & MER in February
- FocuSED Connections – Pen pal program for chapters
- Reach for the Stars Program starting soon
- Southwest
- Histroy & Traditions Committee
- Publications
- The Charge – chapters post good examples of service and values
- Western
- VPM virtual workshops
- Centennial
- Snarky’s Challenge (monthly for chapters)
- Midwest:
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SAC Topic #1: District Communications Plan
- How are you marketing district events and updates/news?
- Midwest: Facebook Group, District Website (hopefully), Instagram, and Facebook Page
- Northeast: Infographics, Flyers, emails, individual contact, officer specific FB groups, public FB and Instagram pages
- North Central: Posts on District Facebook Page, our email list, Instagram, officer twitter pages
- Southeast: Facebook group, SED Slack channel, district website
-
- Southwest:
- Western: FB Group but hopefully transitioning to our website, occasionally Twitter
- What are you doing for follow-up?
- Midwest:
- Northeast: Messaging Presidents individually, emailing, repeat posts as big deadlines approach
- North Central: Individually emailing chapter presidents, or eventually FB messaging/calling them for reports and stuff. Also we ask the Brothers to spread info through word of mouth at their chapters
- Southeast: FB messaging brothers individually, tagging chapter FB pages, and some emailing
- Southwest:
- Western:
- What are you using to measure your quality of communication methods/strategies?
- Midwest:
- Northeast: Made a google doc for contact information for chapter officers. Asked chapters to verify the information was correct by checking a box. This was a visual representation of which chapters are being reached and which chapters are not receiving information.
- North Central: Have a spreadsheet of chapters with their submission status for forms, but not much in the way of promoting events
- Southeast: Made a spreadsheet and note which chapters I reached out to, how I reached out, and who I specifically communicated with if relevant. Then noting who has followed through and who needs another reminder
- Southwest:
- Western:
- What does “successful communication” look like in your district?
- Midwest:
- Northeast: When brothers interact with posts tagging other brothers which helps us to reach all our followers but additionally brothers who do not follow us. High completion of forms and chapter polls indicate communication is being received well
- North Central: Brothers showing up to events whether in person or digitally depending on the event and having brothers contribute to our online initiatives
- Southeast: Communicating messages on several platforms: FB, Insta, Slack, and email
- Southwest:
- Western:
- What are some successful practices?
- Midwest:
- Northeast: We post a graphic as deadlines approach that has every chapter and a series of 4 gray bars. We change the bars to green 1 at a time for being, submitted to sponsor, sponsor approved, DOB approved-pending collection of fees, completed. The updated graphics are posted weekly. Often, a brother will see their chapter has 0 gray bars and it promotes an accountability system where they will then personally check with those in the chapter responsible for submitting forms and thus more chapters are filling out forms earlier than the deadline.
- North Central: Using a promotional schedule so Brothers on the council know when to post on social media (and on which platform) to ensure a regular stream of information
- Southeast: Using Canva graphics for deadlines
- Southwest:
- Western:
- What are some of your communication goals?
- Midwest:
- Northeast: Build relations with chapters and presidents who routinely struggle to respond to district events and district officers
- North Central: Reach chapters that aren’t at most district events and get to know at least one person in every chapter of the District personally
- Southeast: Increasing interactions with chapters on social media, continuing to utilize the SM calendar as a council to pre-plan as much as possible so that we aren’t over posting, and Get as much communication through slack as possible
- Southwest:
- Western:
- How are you marketing district events and updates/news?
-
National Council Updates
- Deadlines:
- Chapter Personnel Report (Semester): September 30
- Chapter Personnel Report (Quarter): October 15
- We had our first National Council meeting on September 12.
- Deadlines:
-
VPSA Updates
- 100-Day Plan
- Established the Communications Team members
- Created content calendar
- KKPsi TV – created Chapter Personnel Report walkthrough video with Ema
- VPSA Chat (September 24) – recruitment and membership education
- KKPsi Presents – first episode to be released in October
- 100-Day Plan
-
Celebrate WINs
- Western
- Parliamentarian, dissolving joint constitution into a handbook
- Southeast
- Almost have a VPM
- Northeast
- Almost have a convention site
- Western
Newly Appointed District Governors for the 2019-2021 Biennium
Brothers,
Following our 2019 National Convention in Stillwater, Oklahoma we were left with two vacancies for District Governors and two positions were replaced due to election/appointment.
In the Midwest District, Tony Falcone (Life – Eta Omicron) has been appointed our 2019-2021 National Vice President for Professional Relations after twelve years as a District Governor. This vacancy was filled by Jennifer Pitts-Taylor (Life – Gamma Theta). Jennifer was recently a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and helped build the model we use for alumni-centered programming at our District Conventions. She also served on our National Curriculum Committee and brings that work and her background as a leader in Chi Omega Sorority to the role.
In the Northeast District, Marie Burleigh (Life – Omicron) has been the longest-serving District Governor in our Fraternity’s history and began in that role on July 1, 2000. Marie will be cycling off this year as she helps mentor the new Governors in the District. In her place, Sarah Fitzgerald (Life – Iota Delta) was appointed this July. A long-time leader in the Northeast District Alumni Association, she has been involved in the work of our alumni association for more than a decade and last biennium she served as a Curriculum Advisor as well. This July, Sarah was awarded the Scott Stowell Alumni Excellence Award for her work in the Northeast District.
Following his election to the office of National Vice President for Programs, Michael Napolitano (Life – Kappa Upsilon), will no longer serve as a District Governor in the Northeast District. After a long search I am pleased to appoint Dr. Brad Townsend (Alpha Epsilon) to the position of Northeast District Governor. Brad is the Director of Bands at the University of Pittsburgh and has worked with the chapters there since 2013. Prior to that, he was the Sponsor of the Theta chapter and for five years (2008-2013) served as Western District Governor.
A short time after the close of the 2019 National Convention, Latrondrick Hunter (Life – Zeta Eta) decided to step down as Southeast District Governor. We know the decision was not easy and we are honored by his work and passion for our organization. Following a long process where I was able to talk to an incredible slate of alumni leaders in the district, I have appointed Kalem Graham (Life – Zeta Psi) to serve as Southeast District Governor. Kalem is the Director of Bands at Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, and was previously Assistant Director of Bands at Langston University. From 2015 to 2018, Kalem served as a Southwest District Governor and during that time served on our National Nominations Committee.
We will be updating our National Website soon with their contact information as we continue our transition into the new biennium. Please join me in welcoming and celebrating these new members of our National Leadership Team and thanking the four incredible individuals who served as District Governors last biennium and continue to serve the organization and model our values.
AEA
Marco A. Krcatovich II
National President, 2019-2021
2019 Gold Star Memorial Recognition Nominations Open
Brothers,
In 1947, at the National Convention in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the National Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi recognized brothers who were killed in action while serving our country during World War II. They created a memorial recognition knows as the Gold Star.
Prior to the 2007 National Convention, the National Council was approached by Danielle Adams-Davis, a brother from the Zeta Sigma and Kappa Epsilon chapters. Danielle asked the National Council what could be done to recognize current Brothers and band members serving in the military. At that time, the National Council felt the National Convention in Orlando would be an appropriate time to recognize members of Kappa Kappa Psi and our band family who have served our country. The National Council used the Gold Star recognition ceremony from 1947 to serve as inspiration to recognize brothers and band members that were current military members or who had previously served their country.
As part of our centennial year celebration, the National Council continues this honored tradition during the 2019 National Convention. Brothers will be recognized in the following manner:
- Gold Star Memorial for Brothers who have passed while serving our country.
- Blue Star Recognition for Brothers who are currently serving our country or are veterans.
- Silver Star Memorial for Band members who have passed while serving our country.
- White Star Recognition for Band members who are currently serving our country or are veterans.
Certificates for the Blue Star Recognition and White Star Recognition will be issued to the Brother’s home chapter following National Convention. The home chapter will then be responsible for issuing those certificates to the individual Brothers. All categories of recognition will be memorialized by the Brothers’ respective District Presidents during the 2019 National Convention in Stillwater, Oklahoma and recorded in a memorial resolution in the convention minutes.
If you have names you would like to submit to be recognized this summer at National Convention in Stillwater, OK, please complete the form here.
AEA,
Dr. Nicholas Bratcher
National Vice President for Programs
Kappa Kappa Psi
Call for 2019-2021 Biennium National Volunteers
Brothers,
As we prepare for our 2019 National Convention and Centennial Celebration, we are also preparing our Fraternity for another 100 years of serving college and university bands. There are so many ways to give back to Kappa Kappa Psi and help us collectively serve as “Founders” for our next century. I invite you to register for National Convention and the Centennial Celebration, check out the history of the Fraternity and what a century of service looks like, and I strongly encourage you to support our student Brothers and Sisters financially to make sure they can be part of this truly once-in-a-lifetime moment for Kappa Kappa Psi. I know I will be sending money back to my home chapters to help support the active Brothers and Sisters who wish to attend National Convention and the Centennial Celebration.
Our National President, Evan Thompson, often talks about the incredible importance and life-changing power of giving back to support others. The Servant Leader. I wanted to extend an opportunity to each of you to give back to Kappa Kappa Psi.
As part of this national call for volunteers, below is an application for those interested in serving. We will be looking for brothers interested in serving as District Governors, National Committee Members, Colony Advisors, Curriculum Advisors, Speakers, and more. I will start reaching out to brothers in June who are interested in volunteering as we work to fill these responsibilities for the coming biennium. Most of these roles do not involve a significant time commitment and you’ll see information on what kind of commitment these roles require, whether traveling may be involved, and our volunteer expectations. We want to support you personally by respecting the fact that you may have other obligations and responsibilities, and you’ll see plain information on the commitment you would be making by serving. We don’t want to place a Brother in a position where they shirk their duties and responsibilities.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/19-21Volunteers
This biennium we were surrounded by the “Founder’s Spirit” and the history and great work of our organization as we approach a century of service. Now we have the responsibility of doing whatever we can to build the foundation for the next one hundred years. I hope you will look at ways you can donate your time, your talents, your treasure, your enthusiasm, and your support for our mission. Every collective contribution moves the Brotherhood forward. I am excited to see so many of you in July and beyond as we all Strive for the Highest.
Your Brother,
Marco.
—
Marco A. Krcatovich II
National Vice President for Colonization and Membership
2019 National Convention Delegate/Proxy Form Due
Brothers:
Submit your Delegate/Proxy Form now and have your voice heard at National Convention this summer in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Be sure to contact the chapters you list to make sure they will be in attendance at convention and can serve as your proxy if you cannot send a delegate.
All forms should be submitted by June 15, 2019. Committee assignment preferences by June 1, 2019.
AEA,
Evan L. Thompson
National President
INSTALLATION OF NU PHI CHAPTER AT SCHREINER UNIVERSITY
Congratulations to the Nu Phi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi! This is the 333rd chapter to be installed since the fraternity’s founding and the sixth this biennium. Welcome to the brotherhood!
Kappa Kappa Psi – Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity mourns the loss of a brother from the Epsilon Phi chapter at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. The Fraternity sends its deepest condolences to family, friends, chapter brothers and sisters, faculty, and fellow band members. It is especially difficult to lose an active student. The power of our connections as brothers and band members becomes even more significant during these times of loss and confusion. We are here to support and encourage our fellow brothers and band members without reservation.
Brothers, help is available 24/7 for emergencies and students in crisis. We hope that our collegiate brothers will look to resources on their campus such as the Office of the Dean of Students and counseling centers who work to support students in a variety of ways. Please do not hesitate to ask for help and seek out services on your campus.
Anyone who is struggling can access the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Our ritual teaches that life is a journey with peaks and valleys. We want our brothers to feel empowered to access help when needed.
KKΨAA Board of Directors Candidate Announcement
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
2019 Call for Proposals – Constitution, Programs, and Awards
Brothers:
The National Council is pleased to announce the 2019 Call for Proposals. Use the following form to propose changes to the National Constitution, Programs, and Awards. All proposals are due by March 5, 2019.
If you have any questions about the process or potential ideas, please contact National President Evan Thompson at evan@kkpsi.org.
INSTALLATION OF EPSILON GAMMA CHAPTER AT ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY
Brothers:
I am pleased to announce the installation of the Epsilon Gamma Chapter (#123) at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama, on January 27, 2019. This is the second installation of the 100th year of the Fraternity and joins an ever growing Southeast District! The new chapter includes 10 members who are now Brothers of our Fraternity.
Brothers from a number of chapters across the District served together as the ritual chapters and 21 brothers from the Zeta Upsilon, Theta Theta, Mu Omega, and Nu Alpha chapters were present. Southeast District Governor Latrondrick Hunter (Zeta Eta), served as the Installing Officer and Nic Rorrer (Xi) served as the Colony Advisor and will continue to work with the chapter for the coming first year as a part of our Brotherhood.
Please send notes of congratulations to the Chapter President James Wyrick at jmswyrick7@gmail.com.
Congratulations to Epsilon Gamma! Welcome to the brotherhood!
AEA,
Marco A. Krcatovich II
National Vice President for Colonization and Membership
mkrcatov@kkpsi.org