Now Accepting 2021-23 CFR Applications
Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity is hiring two talented and dedicated Brothers for the position of Chapter Field Representative (CFR). This position gives Brothers a meaningful opportunity to give back to our organization as an official representative of the Fraternity and a staff member of our National Headquarters. Over a two-year period, our CFRs will visit dozens of chapters, travel thousands of miles across the country, and work with thousands of brothers and their college bands from coast to coast. The CFR position is supervised by National Executive Director, Steve Nelson, and National Vice President for Colonization & Membership, Jessica Lee.
The position starts in early Summer 2021 (target date of May 28, 2021) and is held for two years. With our current CFRs, Justin Jenson and Nicole Brooks, staying for an additional year due to COVID 19, we will be searching for candidates who are interested in a 2 year CFR position (2021-2023), with the option to stay on an additional year (2023-2024). We would like to thank Justin and Nicole for their incredible service to Kappa Kappa Psi during this unprecedented time!
Applicants must be an Alumnus or Life Member of Kappa Kappa Psi in good standing on or before the first day of employment. At that time, the applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education. Applicants must be able to obtain an Oklahoma driver’s license if hired. Applicants must possess a good driving record and are subject to a check of their driving record, criminal background, and credit. New-hire drug screening may also be required.
Applications are submitted via the online submission form only. Paper applications will not be accepted.
Application Form: https://www.kkpsi.org/cfr-2021-app/
Questions?: Email cfrsearch@kkytbsonline.com
AEA,
Jessica Lee
National Vice President for Colonization & Membership
Steve Nelson
National Executive Director
Kappa Kappa Psi Virtual Ritual Information
Brothers:
I hope that you are all doing well and are healthy as you begin your spring semester. As noted in the PIVOT Guidance released January 8, 2021, all in-person performances of the three Degrees of the Ritual of Kappa Kappa Psi are prohibited. This order supersedes the authority of Directors of Bands in the conduct of the chapter on their campus, and is a requirement from our insurance company.
These Virtual Experiences are the Ritual Performance and Education Committee’s best option for offering a secure and secret Ritual experience while also keeping our members safe and socially distanced.
Virtual Ritual Information
The Ritual Education and Performance Committee has taken the lead on virtual rituals this semester, in anticipation of the large number of chapters who will be taking membership classes. Members of the National Leadership Team, Ritual Education and Performance Committee, National Curriculum Committee, and District Officers will facilitate the Ritual. There will be no separate district performances of the Ritual in order to offer the most dates possible for our chapters. We will have ONE registration form that all chapters will use to register for dates for all three Degrees of the Ritual.
- In order to best meet the needs of our members, degree dates will be offered beginning Thursday, January 28, 2021 and will run through Sunday, May 9, 2021.
- Degrees will take place via zoom on Thursdays at 7:00 pm Central, Fridays at 8:00 pm Central, and Sundays at 6:00 pm Central.
- Chapter Vice Presidents’ of Membership (VPM) will complete the registration form for their chapter. The form requires Chapter VPMs to list the membership candidates, honorary members, chapter members, Director of Bands, or Chapter Sponsor who will be attending the virtual ritual so that these names can be vetted in the OMRS prior to the degree. In order to keep zoom seats open for these individuals, alumni will not be permitted to attend degrees. If you have questions regarding the scheduling of degrees, please email ritualeducation@kkpsi.org.
- If members still need to be initiated from Fall 2020, they can participate in Spring 2021 degrees. As a reminder, chapters have 30 days from initiation to complete the Initiate Registration form in the OMRS to avoid late fees. If you have questions about late or potentially late paperwork, please contact our National Headquarters (kkytbs@kkytbs.org) and they can help you and address any issues you or your chapter are facing, particularly at this challenging time.
- We recognize that dates may not be ideal for chapters. Currently, due to the pandemic, the Membership Candidate Orientation meeting begins the membership education process, and the membership candidate registration form should be completed then. There may be a lesson(s) that take place before the First Degree of the Ritual and there may be time after the last lesson before the Third Degree of the Ritual can be completed. As with all semesters, chapters must submit a membership education calendar and receive approval prior to starting the recruitment process. For questions regarding this, please contact the National Curriculum Committee at curriculum@kkpsi.org.
- Here is the link to the registration form: Kappa Kappa Psi Virtual Ritual Experience Sign-Up. The link can also be found in the PIVOT document under the ritual section.
It should be reiterated that participating in this virtual alternative is your chapter’s ONLY option to provide candidates and/or new initiates with a Ritual experience for the Spring 2021 semester. Chapters cannot perform the Ritual online or in any format on their own. We will be providing all three Degrees of the Ritual when we are able to meet in person again, so that chapters can see and participate in a quality Ritual experience. For questions regarding Virtual Ritual, please email the Ritual Education and Performance Committee at ritualeducation@kkpsi.org.
Membership Education Support
In addition to virtual rituals, I will be providing support for membership education by offering the following virtual workshops:
- Honoring Outstanding Band Members: A Ritual Based Foundation for Membership Recruitment and Selection | http://bit.ly/HonoringBandMembers
- Spring 2021 VPM Training | http://bit.ly/SpringVPMTraining
As chapters have questions, more workshops and development opportunities will be made available and each of your district conventions will feature workshops and resources to help you and your chapter continue to meet our present challenges.
Brothers, I know this is not an ideal situation, but now is the time for us to stand shoulder-to-shoulder together as we continue to navigate the impact of the pandemic on our chapters and band programs. We are here to support you throughout the membership process as we look forward to the brighter horizon ahead of us.
AEA,
Jessica Lee
National Vice President for Colonization & Membership
Member, Ritual Education & Performance Committee and National Curriculum Committee
Life Member, Eta Alpha Chapter
Email: jessicalee@kkpsi.org
PIVOT Guidance UPDATE (January 8, 2021)
January 8, 2020
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
As we begin the new year and our 2021 terms, the National Councils of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma wanted to provide you with updated guidance regarding chapter operations and the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is continuing to affect our lives, our campuses, and our band programs, and we once again ask that all of our chapters follow the advice of public health experts and the guidance given to you at the campus, local, state, and federal levels, just as you have over the last several months. We recognize that it has not been easy to operate a chapter under such conditions, and we truly appreciate all that you have done to continue to live out our missions and ideals during the pandemic. We are continually inspired by each chapter’s ingenuity, resolve, compassion, and positive presence in the face of great trial. You inspire us!
Moving into the 2021 terms, please note that the following updates have been made to our PIVOT! Chapter Operations Guide:
- Some chapters may now be able to host in-person activities/events: Chapters should only host in-person social, service, membership, or fundraising activities/events (with the exception of the Ritual which is still prohibited) during the Spring 2021 Term if the following criteria are in place:
- Your campus activities office, Dean of Students, Office of Greek Life, or other authorizing body is permitting your chapter to host in-person activities/events on your campus.
- Your chapter activity/event has been approved by your Director of Bands in writing
- Your chapter follows all campus, local, state, and federal health and safety guidance.
- Your chapter does not penalize members who feel uncomfortable attending these activities/events.
- The waiver for band participation has been extended until July for active members and membership candidates. However, members must still be enrolled in coursework at their college or university in good standing with their university or college.
- Additional guidance has been added for the Chapter Summary Report.
- Additional information has been provided for 2021 District Events.
The National Councils of both Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma know that each campus has its own unique procedure in place for this pandemic, and it is our hope that the information outlined in PIVOT! 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. If, after reading the changes above or the full PIVOT! guide 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.
As we continue to navigate through the weeks and months ahead, please know that your National Leadership Teams and your National Headquarters Staff are at your service. Our main goal for the rest of the biennium is to help our chapters be successful in our missions and ideals, even though the ways in which we serve may be different for now. If at any point you or your chapter need assistance with anything at all, please contact us. We promise to work with you as you continue to strive for the highest for greater bands.
MLITB,
Marco, Adrienne, and The National Leadership Teams of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma
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.