News

Statement on Situation at The Ohio State University

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Brothers,

Like many of you, the National Leadership Team of Kappa Kappa Psi has been monitoring the situation at The Ohio State University.  We want to extend our deepest thoughts and well wishes to the Eta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, the Chi chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, and The Ohio State University community.

We have been in contact with the chapter sponsor, and through him, some of the university band staff.  Thankfully, we have been informed that all chapter members are safe and well.

This will be a time of healing for Buckeyes around the world.  As a National Leadership Team, we offer support for our chapter, individual brothers, and The Ohio State University Bands as they finish this fall term.

AEA,

KKΨ National Leadership Team

Founder’s Day Message 2016

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KKPsi-Logo

Brothers and Friends of Kappa Kappa Psi,

Today marks 97 years since the founding of Kappa Kappa Psi. A Fraternity that started with 10 men, has expanded to where we are today: over 6000 active members from all walks of life, chapters and colonies on 217 college and university campuses, and thousands of alumni that to this day, honor their commitment to walk ever in the ways of Kappa Kappa Psi.

There is no doubt that today is a day that our Brothers and Friends should celebrate. However, it is also a day that we should remind ourselves of our ritualistic obligations and charge. As a chapter, I encourage you to review the ritual together. Make time during your chapter meetings to do so. As an individual member, I challenge you to hold true to our ritual and its lessons. Study it. Learn it. Live it.

In 1923, our then publication, The Baton, summarized the purpose of our founding:

“Kappa Kappa Psi was founded for a great and definite purpose. Believing that better music and better bands would be the result of such an organization, the Fraternity was organized to foster a close relationship and co-operation within the band, to co-operate with the direction in making a better band for the institution, to raise the standard of music in our American universities, to own an organization that bandmembers may stand together in a time of need and to organize university bandmembers from which professional band leaders may select musicians for their bands at any time in a systematic way.”

Since then, we have worked to fulfill that purpose through the initiation of men and women that have a desire to see the success of their college and university band programs. We have sought to fulfill the purposes of this great Fraternity for the betterment of our band programs, our universities, and our chapters. We have worked to support our Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi and our Sisters of Tau Beta Sigma in ways that have created life-long friendships. We have stood together in times of difficulty as well as times of celebration.

Brothers, we have much to be thankful for!

Today, I challenge our Brothers and Friends to celebrate our founding by sharing with your Brothers, Sisters, friends, family, and colleagues why you are thankful for them and for Kappa Kappa Psi. Celebrate by sharing a message of gratitude and love. I am thankful that our Founders pushed their friendships to commitment and started this 97 year journey. I am thankful for where Kappa Kappa Psi stands today. I am thankful for each and every one of you. I am #ThankfulForKKPsi.

AEA,
Jack D. Lee
National President
Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity
www.kkpsi.org

Student Advisory Committee November 2016 Report

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Brothers,

Below you will find an outline of what took place during the November Student Advisory Committee meeting on November 6, 2016. Kylie Wolfe and Shanon Rubin of the NED took notes for the meeting. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. You can reach me at zac@kkpsi.org or the whole committee at StudentAdvisory@kkpsi.org.

Keep Striving!
Zac

—November SAC – Minutes 11/6/2016—

  • Introduction/Attendance
    • Midwest: no representative
    • North Central: Jeric Tumang – President & Abigail Johnson – VPM
    • Northeast: Kylie Wolfe – President & Shanon Rubin – VP
    • Southeast: no representative
    • Southwest: George Ishii – President
    • Western: Si Si Ni – Secretary/Treasurer
  • District Updates
    • Midwest: n/a
    • North Central: Jeric reported that their next district event takes place January 21st. The district council is currently working on the district publication, the Arpeggio. The council will be conducting a survey about what keeps brothers from attending district functions as well as what gets them to come to events. Abigail also shared that she is starting a VPM blog.
    • North East: Kylie reported that they had their first District Day-EA (get it? AEA, lol) and the theme was leadership. The goal of this program is to encourage chapters to post their activites on social media that will ultimately help form the district scrapbook. Each day will center around a different pillar of the fraternity and will help play a thematic role in district convention. Currently, the council is working on their district convention schedule. Shanon has been working with the district VPMs, setting up one-on-one video chat sessions.
    • Southeast: n/a
    • Southwest: George reported that there wasn’t really anything new to report since our previous month’s meeting had been moved so close to this one.
    • Western: Si Si reported that the joint councils had selected a location for the Western District Leadership Conference in January and that announcement is forthcoming. The officers are finishing up their presentations for that and have begun planning for district convention in Boise, ID.
  • SAC Topic #1: What are the district officers looking for from the national council in planning their conventions?
    • Who’s coming to them?
      • Zac: Jack is waiting on the finalization of the dates as at the time of the meeting, the NED was still figuring their location out due to leaving convention without a host.
    • How can we use national council members?
      • Zac: they can be used as workshop presenters, committee advisors, general meet and greet type folks, reading band conductors. The national council members can be as involved or uninvolved as you want them to be. Once the assignments go outreach out to the members who are assigned and get specific with them.
    • Si Si asked about corporate donations to help cut costs for events in general. Zac shared that when he was district president, he worked out a deal with Sam Pilafian where since Sam was affiliated with Jupiter Music, they were able to cover some of the cost for him to come and do a breathing gym workshop and help out with reading band. But with donations of any kind, it is always good to check with national headquarters to make sure no one violates the fraternity’s 501c3 standing.
    • Zac shared that the only explicit requests from the national council at this time was to schedule time for the town hall and also some time for the curriculum development committee.
    • George asked about whether the national level had any plans to encourage brothers to go to national convention. Zac explained that other than the publicity materials that headquarters creates, there isn’t any actual program that does this. Zac shared so ways for the district councils to encourage their brothers to start saving for national convention in Florida and also shared some ideas, such as chartering buses like Texas A & M – Commerce did for the Lexington convention.
  • National Council Updates
    • The colonies at University of Texas – El Paso and Alabama A&M are going to be installed in the coming weeks.
    • The Month of Musicianship is in full swing and people are sharing their activities on social media. The fraternity is also sharing multiple times a day a variety of posts relating to musicianship and the fraternity. Make sure to take a listen to the kickoff podcast!
    • Upcoming podcast features student award winners!
  • District Feedback/Concerns
    • The Western District feels a bit stagnant in the way the host their DLC and asked for some advice on how to spice it up as it is largely an event that is predominantly attended by new members.
      • Some of the suggestions from the members in attendance:
        • Utilize social media and promote it in new ways
        • promote new ideas, come up with new formats and structures, make it fun, don’t be afraid of using gimmicks to hype it up
      • They did ask about national council participation, but due to it being the same weekend as the national council winter meeting, this was unfortunately unlikely.
  • Announcements and Wrap up
    • Keep encouraging participation in the Month of Musicianship
    • The Pennsylvania higher education strike didn’t have a huge impact of chapter activities.
    • Deadlines are quickly approaching for the Fall Activity Report! (hint: it’s December 1st!)
    • Encourage your chapters to get their candidate forms and dues in within 30 days of initiation to avoid a late fees!

Student Advisory Committee October 2016 Report

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Brothers,

Below you will find an outline of what took place during the October Student Advisory Committee meeting on October 28, 2016. Abigail Johnson, from the NCD, took notes for the meeting. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. You can reach me at zac@kkpsi.org or the whole committee at StudentAdvisory@kkpsi.org.

Keep Striving!
Zac

—October SAC – Minutes 10/28/2016—

  • Introduction/Attendance
    • Midwest: no representative
    • North Central: Abigail Johnson – VPM
    • Northeast: Shanon Rubin – VP
    • Southeast: no representative
    • Southwest: George Ishii – President
    • Western: Si Si Ni – Secretary/Treasurer
  • District Updates
    • Midwest: n/a
    • North Central: The NCD successfully hosted Membership Education Retreat, which is the first district event of the academic year. They flew in Jessica Lee to present. They are about to release new Arpeggio publication. Abigail is in the process of meeting with VPM’s and convention plan is coming along. They are now starting to get into planning spring district events.
    • North East: Shanon is Skyping 1-on-1 with VPM’s in the district and setting up times to Skype with MC classes post-2nd degree. He reported that they are not sure about Convention (in the hands of governors and counselors), and that there is a Pennsylvania University system-wide faculty strike. Member at Large is starting theme days next week (first one is leadership) for chapters to organize events pertaining to certain pillars
    • Southeast: n/a
    • Southwest: George reported that convention plan’s are coming together. Now they are taking up submissions for New Alto (publication). They are also working on plans for district service project and fundraiser.
    • Western: Si Si reported that DLC is quickly coming up. They are meeting regularly as a joint council. The joint vision is focusing on leadership stories when they are planning for convention. The District Presidents are meeting to finalize State Days dates, the VPM is meeting VP’s. Working on Southwest Airlines proposal: For every dollar spent by brothers on SW Air, they get 50 points instead of 1 or 2.
  • SAC Topic #1: Month of Musicianship (MoM), pros and cons, what would you like to see out of this national push?
    • Marco joined the conversation for the discussion re: Month of Musicianship.
    • Still have work to do as a fraternity to make Month of Musicianship part of peoples’ minds and lives for November.
    • Goal is for November to be part of the chapter’s culture, something you’re thinking about and excited about.
    • Program started under Derrick Mills as VPP (2005-2007), last year’s participation was really good.
    • Suggestions:
      • Examples of things chapters have sent in before, not just suggestions but actual past submissions.
      • Not quite sure what they’re looking for (community vs. university, what types of things to send in, etc.).
      • What would be the difference between normal chapter musical activities and MoM participation?
      • Highlights reel or feed or something as a daily update/reminder to keep it in people’s minds. Part of making it part of the culture.
      • What does the wrap-up look like, where do we go, what did we learn? Is a bigger questions than can be answered at the end of one month. Want to make it a little more year-round and cultural than an event with an end date.
      • A hashtag would be cool
    • Marco
      • It’s not like turning in an MEP or giving a grade, it’s not mandatory. “What makes this special” is a really good point. MoM started as recognition that for the majority of chapters, musicianship focus was not the norm.
      • Hashtag: #MonthofMusicianship or #NationalMonthofMusicianship
      • The difference between music and musicianship is something nationals talks about a lot – focusing not only on individual musicality but also awareness and appreciation and how you spread that love of music to others.
      • Want to raise awareness of different possibilities for musicianship (chapters utilizing recitals, etc.) and development outside of band class.
    • Zac
      • MoM also evolved as a way to share before social media made that so much more possible. Opportunity to share the great things they’re already doing. Participating in a conversation. “Like an extended twitter chat but in real life”
  • National Council Updates
    • Zac wants DO’s to have an opportunity to take some ownership over, responsibility for, and contribute to the organization through this Committee
      • Want to do things to make our voices heard and give opportunities to share experiences and knowledge and enthusiasm
      • Excited about Podcasts, 1300 downloads, wants them to continue evolving.
    • Marco working on website and MoM
    • Evan has been working with chapters who are piloting the new MEP’s, colony investigation stuff
    • Jack has been planning for NatCon, working with hq on a bunch of things
    • HQ is being rented out by the city of Stillwater to be part of their holiday train tour
  • District Feedback/Concerns
    • Would it be possible to promote the website more? A lot of people don’t know what’s on there or how to find it.
    • Marco has been working with Robert at HQ on the updating the website and ways to promote it.
    • Si Si had a question for the rest of the officers as well as the national council. Professors have office hours. She is thinking about posting a link to a Google hangout during the hour before meetings so she can have open communication with brothers, it would be good for accountability and making officers seem less intimidating.
  • Announcements and Wrap up
    • Month of musicianship is coming
    • Try to share MoM conversation with other officers and with your chapters
    • Sending out Doodle Poll for next month’s meeting
    • Encourage everyone to fill it out!

National Council Update – October 2016

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Brothers:

I hope this October is treating you well as we all work through the fall and so many of you prepare yourself for even more papers, exams, recitals, concerts, championship games, and more.  As a university administrator myself, fall is always a busy time and I’m counting down those days left until holidays as much as you are!  As a musician, I am practicing every day for my own concert this weekend playing a piece I’ve wanted to play since I first picked up my trombone, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.  Yes, even your national leadership practices their instruments, fears those uncommon time and key signatures, and celebrates our love of music in our lives.

As your National Vice President for Programs, it is that love of music that’s on my mind as we get ready to celebrate our Month of Musicianship and our anniversary as a brotherhood.  Month of Musicianship was created to expand our founding from just one day to an entire month focused on one of the true pillars of our fraternity.  Chapters are asked to join the national brotherhood in finding ways throughout November to highlight music, musicians, and the improvement of musical performance.

This isn’t a private celebration; it is a public one!  Every chapter is challenged to find FOUR new ways to celebrate musicianship, promote your bands and the musicians on your campus, and find sustainable ways to improve musical performance as a chapter.  Maybe that’s an annual public recital as a chapter or working to pack every concert and recital in November to standing-room only.  It could be setting a new chapter practice requirement or fixing up practice rooms and handing out treats when students are practicing late at night.  It might be setting up a master class for all musicians or learning about the proper performance and maintenance of all the instruments in your ensemble.  Will your chapter meet the challenge?

Throughout November the National Leadership Team will be using our own social media to promote efforts as a national fraternity to improve musicianship, highlight grants and awards that can be used to raise awareness, and feature some of the success stories of chapters from the past year to give you more ideas on how your chapter can support our Month of Musicianship.

Follow us on Facebook (search for “Kappa Kappa Psi National Fraternity”) and on Twitter (@kappakappapsi).  But also use your own social media to promote the month using the tag #MonthofMusicianship.  We want to repost your great work so the entire brotherhood can see, can learn, and can grow as musicians!

The National Council wish you the very best this Month of Musicianship. If we can ever be of assistance to you, do not hesitate to contact us.

National President – Jack Lee – lee.jack.d@gmail.com

National VPCM – Evan Thompson – evan@kkpsi.org

National VPP – Marco Krcatovich – mkrcatov@kkpsi.org

National VPSA – Zac Humphrey – zac@kkpsi.org

National VPPR – Dr. Douglas Stotter – dstotter@uta.edu

Chair, Alumni Association – Ali Beidler – alison.beidler@gmail.com

Chair, Board of Trustees – Dr. Rod Chesnutt – rchesnut@fgcu.edu

Your Brother,

Marco Krcatovich II

National Vice President for Programs

What’s the National Council Up To?

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Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi,

Before I get into my National Council update, the Chapter Personnel Report is due in a few days, September 30th. Be sure you have it and dues submitted by then if you don’t want your chapter to incur a late fee! Call HQ with any questions you have, as they are ready and willing to help you in any way they can. They can be reached at 405-372-2333. HQ is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm central time.

With that reminder out of the way, last week your National Council met for the first of our monthly check-ins for this school year. During the call, each officer gave a brief update on the work they have been tackling over the past few months. These calls are largely informal, and serve as a way to stay connected and focused.

– Jack Lee, National President, gave us an update about some of the ongoing work he is doing in relation to planning for the biennium including work on the Leadership Development Initiative. He also gave us an update on some ongoing conversations regarding higher education funding as it relates to our chapters and the Director of Band/Sponsor structure we utilize on campuses across the country.

– Evan Thompson, National Vice President for Colonization and Membership, has been working hard with the current colonies at Alabama A&M University and University of Texas at El Paso. He has also been working with the curriculum committee and the pilot schools who are using the work the committee has put forth during the membership education processes this fall.

– Marco Kcratovich, National Vice President for Programs, has been working on coordinating awards presentations for the fall. He has also been working to promote awards submissions and upcoming programs along with coordinating updates to the website with National Headquarters.

– I, myself, your National Vice President for Student Affairs have been putting a lot of effort into the Fraternity’s podcast Kappa Kappa Psi Presents. As of today, 12 episodes have been released and you can find them wherever you go to listen to podcasts. It is exciting to see the growth in listeners over the past few weeks. I have also been working with your district leaders, beginning with the establishment of regular meetings of the Student Advisory Committee. This committee is made up of current elected district officers. The conversations have been excellent and I look forward to tackling some of the pressing issues facing our membership this year.

– Your National Vice President for Professional Relations, Dr. Doug Stotter, has been putting in a lot of work in preparation for the upcoming National Intercollegiate Band that will happen at our National Convention in Orlando, Florida in July 2017 in coordination with Beth Bronk, Tau Beta Sigma’s National Vice President for Professional Relations.

– Board of Trustees Vice Chair, Adam Cantley reported that the board’s upcoming Life Membership Drive (which happened on Friday, September 23rd) was being promoted across all platforms. He also gave an brief update on the ongoing work of the board.

– Alison Beidler, the Chair of the Alumni Board of Directors reported on the status of the board and the ongoing work being done in coordination with local alumni groups across the country. Currently they are in a reporting phase of their own and things are proceeding smoothly.

As always, if you have any questions regarding the National Council or work being done on the national level, please don’t hesitate to ask! I am here to help and I always look forward to chatting with you. You can reach my at zac@kkpsi.org.

Keep Striving!
Zac Humphrey, National Vice President for Student Affairs

Boh’s Birthday Bash Announcement

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Brothers,

Tomorrow would have been the 138th birthday of the Guiding Spirit of Kappa Kappa Psi, Bohumil Makovsky.  Help us celebrate the guidance and support that Boh provided to our founding fathers and the fraternity as a whole through his service as a band director, National Council member and member of the Board of Trustees by purchasing a Life Membership in his honor. To recognize this special day, Kappa Kappa Psi is reducing the cost of our Life Membership by 20% for one day only. Benefits of Life Membership include:

  • 1.       Access to Kappa Kappa Psi Events and Conventions
  • 2.       Free Annual Membership in the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association
  • 3.       A subscription to the Podium
  • 4.       Your personal life membership number, card, shingle, and pin

Through your purchase of life membership, you are also donating to the Kappa Kappa Psi Trust Fund. This fund ensures the success of programs such as our National Intercollegiate Band. Any Alumni in good standing or Honorary member is eligible to receive Life Membership. Seniors in their last year of active membership may also purchase Life Membership. Already have a life Membership?  Life Membership can also be purchased as gift for another eligible brother.

To purchase your life membership please visit http://www.kkpsi.org/life-membership-2/ tomorrow.

This reduced price will only be available from midnight to midnight (Central Daylight Time) on September 23rd, and can only be purchased online. Paper forms will not be eligible for the reduced price. If you have questions, please contact our National Headquarters at 1-800-543-6505.

Melbern Nixon, past National President and former student of Boh’s recalls the influence Boh had on his students and in having higher goals, “… I think this is partly where Kappa Kappa Psi comes in.  As these members observed him morning after morning in band rehearsal, they began to grasp that these things, all put together, formed a philosophy, and that philosophy of Boh’s became Kappa Kappa Psi.  It is very evident in the initiation ceremony…That’s why people like A. Frank Martin, Scroggs, and others grasped Boh’s philosophies and put them together in the form of an organization.”  Show that you share a commitment to Boh’s philosophies by becoming a Life Member of Kappa Kappa Psi.

Happy Birthday Boh and AEA,
Kappa Kappa Psi Leadership

—–

Founded in 1919 at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Kappa Kappa Psi is the leading fraternity solely dedicated to supporting and developing college and university band programs. Kappa Kappa Psi has affiliation with over 210 college and university campuses across the United States of America. Guided by our values, mission and ritual, Kappa Kappa Psi is purposefully working towards our vision; With a dedicated spirit of unity and cooperation, we are unequivocally committed to become the world standard of excellence for band fraternal organizations. Collectively, Kappa Kappa Psi members are inspiring one another and all college band members to Strive for the Highest.

Student Advisory Committee September 2016 Report

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Brothers,

Below you will find an outline of what took place during the September Student Advisory Committee meeting on September 11, 2016. Notes for the meeting were taken by Sarah Person from the MWD. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. You can reach me at zac@kkpsi.org or the whole committee at StudentAdvisory@kkpsi.org.

Keep Striving!
Zac

—September SAC – Minutes 9/11/2016—

  • Introduction/Attendance
    • Midwest: Sarah Person – Secretary/Treasurer
    • Western: no representative
    • North Central: Abigail Johnson – VPM
    • North East: Helen Landers – HAAL & Shanon Rubin – VP
    • Southeast: Evan Schlameuss – VPP
    • Southwest: Arjun Jeetan – MAL
  • District Updates
    • Midwest: District Day at CU Boulder – Mountain themed with focus being on goal setting and planning
    • Western: n/a
    • North Central: Work on planning and logistics for member education retreat!
    • North East: District planning, trying to set up KKPsi and TBS meeting times. District promoting pictures!
    • Southeast: Psi 85, bring the chapters along route 85. Planning for the year and prepping for an upcoming council meeting. Working on side projects and with district VP’s.
    • Southwest: Selected team for the Alto (Newsletter). Have more articles that aren’t convention themed. Working on new ‘Badges for brotherhood”. Little badges for the different chapters for making different tasks. Had to CLC’s – east and west. Looking to have it in the north and the south next year to have it more balanced. Working on speakers for conventions, schools for workshops, service event (Penny drive), etc. New colony at University of Texas El Paso
  • SAC Topic #1: What do DOs/students want to get out of the SAC?
    • SAC Overview
      • Year-long SAC aims toward providing a way to get input and have a greater student voice
        • Email the SAC email with things that come up!
      • Shannon – Committee is most beneficial when we are all in contact with each other – also bring student voices up to the national level
      • Providing opportunities for them to question programs
        • Look into talking to Marco to try and get more of the programs broken down in ways that are easy to understand and apply for
        • Use social media more to get the news out there
          • Put out more announcements for “ask me questions” reminders
        • Sometimes saying “Come to me with your questions comments and concerns” is very vague and can be hard to get interaction that way
  • National Council Updates
    • Jack has been working on getting committees set up for National Convention
      • Nominations committee will be set by the middle of October
      • Ritual Performance and Education Committee
        • This committee will…
          • Work on recommendations for ritual logistics
          • Provide clarifications and suggestions
          • Provide CMEP kinds of things that will tie into the national curriculum
        • Next National Council meeting on the 20th of Sept.
          • If you have any questions you would like to be brought up send them to Zac (zac@kkpsi.org)
        • National MEP Curriculum is being cleaned up
          • National Headquarters is being cleaned out to be rented
            • An exciting opportunity for revenue to the nationals
            • Doing a lot of upgrades to the building from the citiy!
        • Podcasts are live!
          • Weekly on Tuesday mornings
          • Listen to them! Spread the word!
          • Send Zac your genuine comments! Good or bad.
          • Zac wants to interview national award winners in the future. He is scheduling interviews with these winners.
            • One episode a semester to provide recognitions to winners
          • Wants to provide more workshop based episodes once the get to know the national leadership episodes are finished.
          • Arjun’s podcast suggestion: Podcast on each of the district conventions as they are having
            • See the differences between the districts
            • Zac wants to do ‘Story Corps’ like bits during convention
            • Also wants to do convention recaps
        • Life membership drive on September 23rd
          • Discounted life memberships – spread the word
          • Zac will send a flyer out to everyone on SAC to spread the word
        • National Student Awards
          • Spread awareness how these awards are picked
          • Looking to have student becoming a part of the selection process
          • Keep your eyes out for potentials of these awards
          • Have questions? Marco (VPP) would be happy to talk as well as any National Officers
  • District Feedback/Concerns
    • Arjun – Lack of participation in student awards, specifically AEA scholarship and J. Lee Burke Student Achievement Award. As District officers try to spread the word about these awards so there is a bigger pool of applicants.
      • Bring more awareness – Zac will work with Robert at HQ to come up with flyers or things to spread on social media
      • Marco’s work putting it on the website is helpful – now it is on District Officers to spread the word
      • Moving forward look into ways to help the District Officers put the word out there
  • SAC Topic #2: What would you like to see the Ritual Performance and Education Committee do?
    • Due to the sensitive nature of this topic, a complete account of this part of the conversation will not be shared here. If you would like to get a record of what was discussed, you can contact Zac Humphrey, VPSA (zac@kkpsi.org) for that information.
    • The first meeting of this new committee will take place on September 25th, 2016 at 8pm ET. If you have questions, comments, suggestions, or concerns, please send them to Zac.
  • Announcements and Wrap up
    • Give the national council your perspective!
      • Nationals want your honest input both good and bad!
      • Don’t hesitate to bring your frustrations to Zac or others on the council
      • Everyone wants you to be having fun as a member of the district council, but if you have them bring your concerns to someone

National Council Connects – August 2016

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Brothers:

Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year! The National Council is looking forward to an outstanding year of promoting and advancing college/university bands through musicianship, leadership, and service.

As we move closer to the 2017 National Convention in Orlando, the National Council will begin monthly communication with all members, directors, and sponsors providing important updates and information regarding fraternity business, committees, proposals, and the National Intercollegiate Band. The council will also provide general updates on programming, deadlines, and district events and recognize excellence within our chapters and membership.

As your National Vice President for Colonization & Membership, I will be sharing updates and information with you regarding our colonization/expansion program and the CFRs.

Colonization/Expansion

I would like to welcome our two newest colonies. They have already started the colonization process and should be done in November.

Please send a note of welcome and congratulations to these outstanding band members! Many thanks to SED Governor Tron Hunter and SWD Governor Clint Wieden for serving as colony advisors for this cycle.

Chapter Field Representatives

Alaina Peters and Justin Chesak are busy preparing for their first visits as CFRs. Please welcome them to your chapters this fall and learn all you can to make your chapter the best it can be. Visit http://www.kkpsi.org/about/leadership/chapter-field-representative/ to access their schedule and contact information. Best of luck to Alaina and Justin as they hit the road!

Five Effective Ways to Recruit New Brothers

Live our values. This may seem cliché and overused in the college and fraternity world, but it continues to be said because it is true. Individuals are attracted to organizations with great people and great ideas. Kappa Kappa Psi promotes and advances college/university bands through musicianship, leadership, and service—your band members need to see you engaged in this work all the time. Our fraternity’s ritual calls us to become better band members and leaders. By treating our fellow band members with kindness and boosting morale, we become an invaluable part of the band program.

Build a strong professional relationship with your band directors. One of your greatest assets in the recruitment process is your band faculty and staff. Seek their advice on recruiting outstanding band members and discuss ways your chapter can help develop the future leaders of the program. It requires hard work, but every chapter is capable of building the trust and respect needed for excellence in membership selection. Including your directors and staff in the recruitment process gives them information they need to support your membership efforts and encourage band members to participate.

Create unique recruitment events and experiences. It is easy to organize a meeting at the band hall or in an empty classroom. Offer free food and you’ve got some folks hooked. While these meetings can be useful to disseminate important information, younger generations are requiring more engaging activities and meaningful dialogue regarding who we are and what we stand for. Your recruitment week and/or other events need to reflect what it means to be a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi and what the fraternity offers new members as they begin thinking about their future. You can share requirements and information about membership. Unfortunately, you won’t build passion and excitement unless potential members get an opportunity to experience it. Show potential members what it means to be a Brother and allow them to share in your service.

Market your chapter on social media and campus. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. They work extremely well. Create accounts and assign an officer(s) to make updates and share posts. Make sure you are following and mentioning your band’s accounts when chapter accounts are updated. Get involved on campus as well. Participate in homecoming festivities; form pep bands (with director permission) to travel around campus; organize band lunches in between classes. Allow band members to see you outside of rehearsal and contributing to campus life.

Seek out outstanding band members. Recruitment is about searching for and identifying your future leaders and brothers. While the recruitment process should be inclusive and welcoming to all eligible band members, many chapters wait for band members to show interest in the fraternity but never reach out to individuals that are truly outstanding. Reaching out in a personal manner demonstrates your willingness to connect and share your passion for Kappa Kappa Psi. It also demonstrates your desire to honor outstanding band members. Should we only recruit band members we talk to? No. Should we acknowledge band members who are going above and beyond for the band program and encourage them to attend events? Absolutely.

The National Council wish you the very best this school year. If we can ever be of assistance to you, do not hesitate to contact us.

National President – Jack Lee – lee.jack.d@gmail.com 

National VPCM – Evan Thompson – evan@kkpsi.org 

National VPP – Marco Krcatovich – mkrcatov@kkpsi.org 

National VPSA – Zac Humphrey – zac@kkpsi.org 

National VPPR – Dr. Douglas Stotter – dstotter@uta.edu 

Alumni Chair – Ali Beidler – alison.beidler@gmail.com 

Board Chair – Dr. Rod Chesnutt – rchesnut@fgcu.edu 

Don’t forget that Chapter Personnel Report, Chapter Fee, and Member Dues are due by September 30, 2016! 

AEA,

Evan L. Thompson

National Vice President for Colonization & Membership

Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity

evan@kkpsi.org

Student Advisory Committee Announcement & Summer Report 2016

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— Student Advisory Committee Announcement—

Last year, as part of my work as your Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA), I met with your district officers on a monthly basis. During these online meetings, officers would provide updates on the work being done in their districts and I would provide updates on the work of the national council. Coming out of the national council’s winter council meeting in January, I started tinkering with the idea of rebranding this meeting and transforming it into an ongoing Student Advisory Committee (SAC). This committee has historically met only during national convention, but the current national council is looking to leverage our students as resources throughout the coming year in the lead up to the 2017 national convention in Orlando, FL. Per the national constitution, the committee will be made up of current district officers. I want to introduce the current members of the Student Advisory Committee for the 2015-2017 biennium:

CHAIR
Zac Humphrey

MWD
Floyd Pierce
Tenea Fabray
Sarah Person
Jordan Burgin
 
NCD
Jeric Tumang
Abigail Johnson
Danielle Francis
Justin Jensen
 
NED
Kylie Wolfe
Shanon Rubin
Miranda Cook
Emily McPeake
Helen Landers
SED
Michael Bradford-CalhounSAC
Ariel Marissa Clouse
Jerome Hall
Evan Schlameuss
 
SWD
George Ishii
Robert Morris
Jayden Goeringer
David Cox
Arjun Jeetan
 
WD
Mitch Mikuchonis
Alyssa Maher
Shi Ya Ni
Jake Rocco

The committee will meet at least once each month to have ongoing work sessions. During these online meetings, at least one member from each district will be required to attend with the rest strongly encouraged to attend, if possible. Each month, a different district will be charged with drafting a report that will be shared with all Brothers via the website. Each session will include a brief update from each district. Following these updates, there will be conversation on a topic submitted by the district officers/active students. Following that first conversation, the VPSA will provide an update on the work being done by the national leadership. The meeting will wrap up with a conversation based on a topic provided by the national council. The session will end with final comments and announcements. These will happen monthly until national convention next summer where a final report will be submitted by the district officers of the 2017-2018 school year. Due to the overlapping nature of bienniums and academic calendars, the makeup of this committee may change due to who is elected in the spring of 2017 to district office.

— Summer 2016 SAC Report —

Brothers,

We held the first official session on Thursday, July 7th, 2016. The following committee members were in attendance: Sarah Person of the MWD, Abigail Johnson of the NCD, Shanon Rubin and Miranda Cook of the NED, Michael Bradford-Calhoun of the SED, George Ishii and Arjun Jeetan of the SWD, and Shi Ya Ni of the WD.

During the conversation, after initial updates by the districts, there was discussion on the upcoming Kappa Kappa Psi Presents podcast as well as the current state and functionality of the national website, www.kkpsi.org.

The conversation surrounding the podcast was both exciting and appreciated. This is a new endeavor, and one in which I am learning a lot. Feedback largely revolved around length and content. The committee members liked the content and were interested in what other areas/topics were in the pipeline for upcoming episodes. As the initial set of episodes erred on the long side, once the podcast rolls out on a more regular schedule in the fall, the goal will be to keep each episode to 20-30 minutes. We ended the conversation by saying that this won’t be the last time this topic is addressed as the growth and development of the podcast will be organic and ongoing.

Regarding the national website, www.kkpsi.org, the conversation was extremely productive. It provided a great look into how our active members make use of the website. Most of the issues brought forward centered largely on technical aspects of the website’s design: dead links, circular redirecting links, blank pages, and non-working aspects of the mobile interface. Content wasn’t an issue and when provided with a brief update on the goals of National Vice President for Programs Marco Kcratovich relating to upcoming content, the committee members expressed approval regarding the future of the website. As with the podcast, this will not be the final conversation as the national council is wanting to create a website that will be a useful tool for our brothers, both active and alumni, advisers and faculty, and the public.

I, as your VPSA, am looking forward to the work that is going to be done throughout the year. If you have any questions, comments or concerns or if you would like to submit something for the SAC to discuss, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself at zac@kkpsi.org or the whole committee at studentadvisory@kkpsi.org.

AEA,
Zac Humphrey
National Vice President for Student Affairs

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