Ritual Performance & Education Committee Workshops & Info Sessions
The Ritual Performance and Education Committee invites you and your chapter members to attend two days of workshops and information sessions about the fraternity’s new Ritual education resource, “The Inner Circle“. Please sign up for workshops using the link below, keeping in mind that these sessions are only for Brothers in good standing, and participants will have their membership status verified through the OMRS before being admitted to each session.
- 4:00 CDT “Introduction to The Inner Circle“: Learn about Kappa Kappa Psi’s upcoming Ritual Education resource, The Inner Circle, what it is, and how having robust conversations about the Ritual can benefit your chapter. Intended for any active brother or membership candidate of Kappa Kappa Psi.
- 5:00 CDT “Planning a Ritual Debrief”: This session will present best practices for talking about each Degree of the Ritual with your candidates and new brothers, and participants will leave with a better understanding of how to conduct these sometimes difficult conversations. This workshop is geared toward brothers who oversee membership education but is open to any Brother in good standing.
- 6:00 CDT “How to Present The Inner Circle“: This training for potential facilitators will look in-depth at the components of The Inner Circle and how chapters can make use of this great new resource. This session is geared toward those who might facilitate activities from The Inner Circle with their chapter, whether that’s the VPM, Ritual chair, CMEP officer, or any Brother who wants to start a conversation about the Ritual.
- 4:00 CDT “Introduction to The Inner Circle“: Learn about Kappa Kappa Psi’s upcoming Ritual Education resource, The Inner Circle, what it is, and how having robust conversations about the Ritual can benefit your chapter. Intended for any active brother or membership candidate of Kappa Kappa Psi.
- 5:00 CDT “Planning a Ritual Debrief”: This session will present best practices for talking about each Degree of the Ritual with your candidates and new brothers, and participants will leave with a better understanding of how to conduct these sometimes difficult conversations. This workshop is geared toward brothers who oversee membership education but is open to any Brother in good standing.
- 6:00 CDR “Attributes of a Successful Life”: Open only to Brothers in good standing, this workshop will explore lessons from 3rd Degree that contribute to a successful and fulfilling life, and how those lessons can be applied to each of our personal journeys.
D.C. al Coda Weekend – Schedule of Events
Schedule of Events
Saturday, April 25th
7:00am – 11:30am EDT | TBSAA “For Greater Bands” 5K
11:30am – 1:00pm EDT | KKPsiAA Graduating Senior Celebration
1:00pm – 2:00pm EDT | Colony & District Officer Installation
2:00pm – 3:00pm EDT | Workshop Block #1
3:00pm – 4:00pm EDT | Women In Music Speaker
4:00pm – 5:00pm EDT | Workshop Block #2
5:00pm – 6:00pm EDT | Workshop Block #3
6:00pm – 7:00pm EDT | Workshop on Singing the Hymn & Song
7:00pm – 7:19pm EDT | Presentation of National Awards
7:19pm EDT | Singing of the Hymn & Song
Sunday (April 26th) – Rest and Reset
Update from National Curriculum Committee
Brothers –
To say that this is an unprecedented time in the history of our world would be an understatement. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous effect on all of us, and we know that many of you have a lot of questions and uncertainties about all things associated with Kappa Kappa Psi, as well as with your daily lives. The Curriculum Committee has been hard at work, coming up with solutions to help all of you navigate the rest of your semesters and ensure that your MCs become Active Brothers by the end of the semester.
You can complete lessons virtually and when they are finished, you should submit your initiation paperwork via the Initiate Registration Report. The actual Ritual can take place when you are allowed to meet in person, which may be in the fall. We recognize that these are extraordinary times and that this is unusual, but this is the best course of action.
The National Headquarters has posted some information on how to accomplish the tasks that need to be accomplished by the end of the semester; you can find it at https://www.kkpsi.org/covid19/. Also, please know that membership classes CANNOT continue into the fall. Plan to have your MCs finish the Road to Wisdom over the course of this semester and become Active Brothers by the end of the school year.
We encourage you to check out the Kappa Kappa Psi TV YouTube page, located at https://www.youtube.com/user/KKPsiTV; it has a few sample lessons taught by VPMs from across the country. We are constantly working to update this, with the goal that eventually, all lessons will be available for you to watch and share with your MCs. If this is not possible, or you need help figuring out how to get lessons taught virtually to your MCs, please reach out to the Curriculum Committee at curriculum@kkpsi.org, and we will help you get the resources that you need. In addition, we are available to potentially teach some lessons for you, should that be a necessity.
Please know that all of us that are in leadership roles are here to help you. We will all work together and get through this difficult time, and at the end of the day, ensure that all of you have what you need. Do not hesitate to reach out at any time with any questions or concerns; all questions are appropriate at this time! We love all of you and are on your side, as we continue to Strive For The Highest!!
Coping with Cancellations/Closures and Managing Your Wellness
Dear Brothers,
These are confusing and tough times. As we adjust to this new normal of closures and cancellations, we want to assure you that your safety and health are our top priorities. The recent changes in our organization’s programming and across campuses throughout the nation are leaving many with strong emotions. We want you to know that it is ok to feel anxious and stressed. If you have been forced to unexpectedly leave your campus and to disengage from your community, then you may be experiencing fear and anger. It is ok to feel this way. Some of our graduating seniors may be feeling disheartended because they didn’t get to attend their last convention or concert – there’s no closure. It is ok to feel this way. These are natural reactions that we are all coping with. The important thing to note is that everyone reacts differently to change and uncertainty.
As many of our Active members are transitioning to online classes, we wanted to share with you some practices that can help you cope with these changes and manage your wellness. These suggestions were collected from several articles, including the NIH, NPR, and various wellness sites.
Build a Schedule and Routine
- Going from in-person classes to all online courses can be difficult for some. You may experience restlessness and anxiety because it is different and not what your brain/body is used to. Some may be stressing out because they don’t have internet at home to even take online classes. Whatever it is that you have to do to adjust to these changes, try to build a schedule that reflects your normal routine. It may seem enticing to try to take all your classes in one sitting or to wait until later, but this could lead to burnout or further procrastination. One strategy is to time block all of your classes and set timers for each class.
Make Time to Unwind and Relax
- Without the breaks and physical movement between classes, it is important that you make time to unwind and relax. This means something different for each person. It could mean take a quick nap, taking a walk, or listening to music. Whatever it is that helps you unwind, try to make time in your daily schedule to relax. You may feel the need to take more breaks as you adjust to your new environment and that is ok. Give yourself the time to adapt and learn.
Practice Healthy Habits and Self-Care Activities
- More than likely, your environment will be different from what you are used to at college. It is important that you take the time to make a list of healthy habits and self-care activities you want to practice in your new space. Even if this is back at home or in your regular living space, being stuck inside and staring at one primary screen is difficult for most people. One important example of a healthy habit is maintaining a regular eating and sleeping schedule.
Maintain Awareness of Safety Recommendations
- Most of our student members are safe and healthy and we hope to keep it that way. It is extremely important that everyone maintain a healthy awareness of COVID-19 and preventative measures. You can visit the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Health to check out their safety recommendations. This generally includes practicing social distancing, consistent hand washing, and avoiding crowded areas. It is also important to point out that it is healthy to limit your exposure to general news coverage on COVID-19 and to double-check your sources.
Stay Connected and Engaged
- Being removed from your community is never easy to cope with. Luckily, we have access to some pretty powerful tools that you can leverage. It is important for your health to practice interconnectedness. Utilize social media, video calls, and phone calls to stay connected and engaged with one another. We are social creatures and just because events/classes are canceled doesn’t mean that our relationships should be too.
We recognize that for many college students campus is the only safe space they have. This makes life harder to adjust to when you don’t have the resources or space to take care of yourself. There are no easy solutions to these issues, but there are people out there that can help you. If you need help, please reach out to fellow Brothers and community members. At the end of the day, the most important concern for your National Council is your safety and health. We are here for you and we want to help.
If you need someone to talk to or help you get connected, please reach out to your National Vice President for Student Affairs, Bang Co. If you feel that you need to or would like to speak to a professional, there are several resources at your disposal. Here are a couple that you can try today:
Crisis Text Line – Text “HOME” to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor. Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, providing access to free, 24/7 support and information via a medium people already use and trust: text.
SAMHSA HOTLINE – Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357), (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889. SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
AEA
Bang T. Co
National Vice President for Student Affairs
(317) 370-6057
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Read more about Convention Cancellations.
Read more about Chapter Operations During COVID-19 Statement.
Cancellation of 2020 District Conventions
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As we continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the National Councils and Boards of Trustees of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma have made the difficult decision to cancel all six in-person District Conventions. We understand that this may be extremely disappointing to our members, especially to those of you who spent many long hours planning these events. Please know that we have made the decision to cancel conventions with the best of intentions, as the health and safety of our active, alumni, and life members and their loved ones is of the utmost importance.
This pandemic is an unprecedented situation for our organizations, and we thank you for your flexibility and patience as we all navigate it together. Below you can find information relating to next steps for chapters and for those who were registered for these conventions.
VIRTUAL CONVENTIONS
The joint national councils have created a task force to assist us with the preparations needed to host virtual conventions for all districts affected by cancellations. Virtual conventions for District business will take place on the Saturday and Sunday of the originally planned in-person conventions:
- Northeast District: Saturday, March 21 – Sunday, March 22
- Midwest District: Saturday, March 21 – Sunday, March 22
- Western District: Saturday, March 28 – Sunday, March 29
- North Central District: Saturday, April 4 – Sunday, April 5
- Southeast District Convention: Saturday, April 4 – Sunday, April 5
- Southwest District Convention: Saturday, April 18 – Sunday, April 19
In addition to the virtual conventions for District business, the task force is also assisting us in planning a larger nation-wide virtual event in late April. All chapter members will be invited to participate in this weekend of workshops, collaboration, and celebration of our organizations.
Chapters should plan to have chapter members attend both the virtual District business convention and the nation-wide virtual event. More guidance, as well as schedules and activities for all events, will be released soon.
REFUNDS OF DISTRICT CONVENTION REGISTRATIONS
Our National Headquarters staff will work to issue refunds to all District Convention registrants affected by these cancellations. All registrants will receive a direct email from a National Headquarters Staff member with more information regarding their refund(s). It may take some time to issue all refunds, so we appreciate your patience as they are processed.
CANCELLING HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Please remember to cancel your hotel reservations as soon as possible, as this is not something that anyone can manage for you. If you booked within the reserved hotel block for a convention, those cancellations will need to be made at least three days prior to the date of check-in.
ALUMNI CONVENTION PARTICIPANTS
The District-based Local Alumni Associations will also have virtual conventions concurrent with the active members on the weekend of the originally planned in-person conventions. The ΚΚΨAA Board of Directors and the ΤΒΣAA Executive Council will be sending out information to their members, as well as coordinating with the District-based LAAs to develop virtual conventions in which they can conduct their necessary business, connect with graduating seniors, and provide development opportunities for their district alumni.
If you have any concerns surrounding the conventions or chapter operations as we move forward, please continue to reach out to the following email addresses for assistance: healthandsafety@kkpsi.org or healthandsafety@tbsigma.org. Your email will be directed to the appropriate person or persons!
The National Leadership Teams of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma are committed to walking hand-in-hand with you during these uncertain times. We will continue to send updates to our membership as we work through questions about chapter operations and provide more details for the virtual conventions and the nation-wide virtual event. We ask that you continue to check our websites and social media for these updates.
As we continue on into uncharted territory, we want to thank each of you for the remarkable flexibility, understanding, and strength you have shown so far. Band members, current and former, know how to adapt on the fly and how to make the best of any given situation, so that is what we intend to do.
Statement on COVID-19: Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma Basic Chapter Operations
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
We are writing to you today to provide guidance on chapter operations for those chapters experiencing campus closures or restrictions on face-to-face interactions due to COVID-19. Please note that a separate message regarding district conventions is forthcoming.
The National Councils of both Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma recognize that each campus has its own unique procedure in place for this pandemic, and it is our hope that the information outlined below is easily adaptable to every chapter’s situation. However, we want to emphasize that we are here to assist your chapter and your chapter members through this difficult and unprecedented time. If, after reading the guidance below, you still have questions or concerns, please reach out to your District Counselors/Governors or send us an email at healthandsafety@tbsigma.org or healthandsafety@kkpsi.org.
Membership Education Classes and/or Membership Intake
We are aware that there are chapters who were in the middle of conducting Membership Education Classes and/or Membership Intake on campuses that have cancelled face-to-face classes as a health and safety precaution. We are committed to assisting chapters in completing their Membership Education Classes and have therefore developed the following guidelines:
- Online Membership Education Classes – All chapters are encouraged to continue the educational components of the Membership Education process via online meetings and sessions. This can be accomplished by using a number of online tools such as Google Hangout Meet, Google Classroom, Zoom Video Conferencing, etc. The curriculum committee for both organizations, as well as the National Councils are here to serve as resources, so please do not hesitate to reach out should your chapter require assistance in implementing an online educational experience for your Membership Candidates.
- Initiate Registration and Fees – Initiate Registrations Forms do not require face-to-face interactions for completion, therefore all chapters who will be continuing their intake process during this time, should still plan to fill out the Initiate Registration Form, to collect all Initiate Fees, and to send both the form and fees into our National Headquarters for processing. This should occur upon the completion of the online Membership Education Classes. For the initiation date, please put the date in which you intend or intended to have your 3rd Degree. If chapters require assistance in getting electronic signatures on the Initiate Signature Page, please let us know as we have a system in place. A very important note: All initiate forms and fees must be sent into National Headquarters, no later than Friday, May 15, 2020.
- Rituals – While not ideal, until face-to-face classes are back in session on your campus, performing the Rituals for your Membership Candidates will need to be postponed. Once your institution says that it is safe for students to return to campus, we ask that you consult your Sponsor and/or Director of Bands as you work to schedule a date for initiation. This could be as soon as you are allowed back on your campus, sometime during the summer months, or even right at the very beginning of the Fall 2020 semester.
Chapter Officer Elections
Some campuses have been instructed to close for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year and this effectively ends most, if not all chapter business for this year. However, chapters that traditionally elect officers during the Spring Semester should plan to carry out this crucial item of business, regardless of not being able to meet in person. The National Councils will provide guidance to all chapters on how this task can be completed remotely using online election software very soon.
National Paperwork
- Graduating Senior Report – Even if your campus is not able to host in-person commencement ceremonies, chapters should still fill out the Graduating Senior Report in the Online Membership Reporting System (OMRS), so that graduating seniors can be appropriately moved to Alumni Status.
- Chapter Summary Report – The annual Chapter Summary Report is still due on June 1st. Since this is a yearly national requirement that does not require that a chapter meet in person in order to get it completed, there should not be any issues in completing this report on time. Remember to start this report as soon as possible and give your Director of Bands (and Sponsor, if applicable) extra time to review your report and approve it before the deadline.
Tau Beta Sigma Chapter Visitation Program
The COVID-19 pandemic will affect Tau Beta Sigma’s Chapter Visitation Program Chapter, as some chapters will no longer be on campus, some chapters will have limitations on face-to-face meetings, and some Chapter Visitation Assistants (CVAs) may feel uncomfortable traveling. In order to address each situation appropriately, CVAs have been instructed to reach out to chapters affected by closures or restrictions on face-to-face meetings to discuss transitioning to one of the following options: 1) Hosting a Virtual Visit, or 2) Rescheduling the visit to the 2020-2021 academic year. Please help us ensure this outreach is successful by checking in with your chapter president on the status of your visit.
Kappa Kappa Psi Chapter Field Representatives
Chapter Field Representative Visits are cancelled for the month of March and we are evaluating visits scheduled for April. We may conduct some visits virtually but the CFRs will contact chapters to discuss the best method to conduct these visits. Kappa Kappa Psi has also postponed the interviews for 2020-2022 CFRs until April. If you have questions about an upcoming CFR visit, please contact our CFRs at kkytbs@kkytbs.org.
Spring 2020 Colonies
Brothers,
I am excited to announce our colonies for the Spring 2020 semester!
Miles College – Kappa Kappa Recolonization – Southeast District
Kalem Graham (Life Member, Zeta Eta, Southeast District Governor) will serve as lead colony advisor, and James Washburn III (Alumni Association Member, Iota Zeta) and Marina Pena Guoit (Life Member, Nu Alpha) will serve on the colony advising team.
The Miles College band program has a tradition of success under the direction of Mr. Willie Snipes that includes performing at Honda Battle of the Bands, the UNCF Mayoral Ball, Tournament of Roses Parade, Queen City Battle of the Bands, and other high profile performances, including performing for Hillary Clinton. In the past four years, Miles College has been named HBCU Band of the Year, ESPN Band of the Year, and HBCU Digest Band of the Year. Miles College Band Program includes Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz band, pep band, and the Purple Marching Machine Marching Band. We are excited to welcome Miles College back to Kappa Kappa Psi! Feel free to send notes of congratulation to Mr. Snipes at wsnipes@miles.edu or to Colony President, Undra Porter at undraporter@gmail.com.
Hampton University – New Colonization – Northeast District
Marie Burleigh (Life Member, Omicron – former Northeast District Governor) will serve as lead colony advisor, and Sarah Fitzgerald (Life Member, Iota Delta – Northeast District Governor) and Rassii Elliott (Alumni Association Member, Eta Omega) will serve on the colony advising team.
The Hampton University Band Program has grown and flourished under the direction of Dr. Thomas Jones. The band has had a multitude of high profile performances, including the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, Honda Battle of the Bands 2018 & 2020, Tournament of Roses Parade 2019, Rome New Year’s Day Parade 2020, and will perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2020. The band program at Hampton University includes wind ensemble, concert band, jazz band, basketball band, and the Hampton University Marching Force Marching Band. Dr. Jones is committed to the advancement of the music department at Hampton University, building the best band members both in music and in life. We are excited to welcome Hampton University to Kappa Kappa Psi! You may send notes of congratulation to Dr. Jones at Thomas.jones@hamptonu.edu or to Colony President Ayan Keller at ayank1999@gmail.com.
Chicago State University – New Colonization – North Central District
Marc Renaud (Life Member, Zeta Epsilon – North Central District Governor) will serve as lead colony advisor, and Akilah Thomas (Life Member, Beta Kappa) and Emily Durie (Alumni Association Member, Nu) will serve on the colony advising team.
The Chicago State University Band program has been thriving under the direction of Roxanne Stevenson for the last 28 years. During her tenure, she has built the CSU Community Concert Band, CSU Jazz Band, CSU Gospel Ensemble, and other chamber groups. Most recently, Ms. Stevenson has started the CSU Marching Band, the first in Chicago State University history. Ms. Stevenson has had ensembles perform at Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and the Jazz Education Network Conference. We are thrilled to welcome Chicago State University to Kappa Kappa Psi! You may send notes of congratulation to Ms. Stevenson at roxannestevenson@sbcglobal.net or to Colony President Laurente Oby at obywanmusic@gmail.com.
Thank you to those Brothers who will be serving on the colony advising teams. Each team will assist the colony during the colonization process, and will then follow the colony through a full year of reporting to ensure a strong foundation of support and success. Please join me in welcoming these three colonies to the Brotherhood!
AEA,
Jessica Lee
Life Member, Eta Alpha Chapter, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
Kappa Kappa Psi National Vice President for Colonization & Membership