H T H G I E E T O N
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A Word from Council By Brianna McKinzie, Kappa Kappa Psi, SED President, University of Florida, Alpha Eta
S trength. E xcellence. D iversity. Council In 1919, our fraternity was founded by exclusively men. Prior to 1977, we did not initiate women into our fraternity. So, in the long strain of our history, women have only been brothers for 43 years. But look at us now. Your SED elected council is exclusively women. Four strong, excellent and diverse women. Why does it matter? Being a woman leader in Kappa Kappa Psi is hard. We can sit and say our equality meter has hit even, but we can all attest that that is not the case. Intersectionally, I believe our fraternity still has significant strides to make in our diversity category, although being more advanced than most groups. What can we do? How do we become better? Our strength comes in empowering our leaders — all of our leaders. It does not come from empowering leaders who only look/speak/act like you. Our excellence comes from celebrating our leaders — all of our leaders. With this, I say if you’re a woman in Kappa Kappa Psi, this is for you. You could be a district officer one day, and I hope you are. Keep striving, ladies.
Social Distance Star Gazing By Gillian Jinkins, Kappa Kappa Psi, SED Vice President of Membership, Mississippi State University, Epsilon Almost unexpectedly for so many brothers and sisters in the United States and especially in the SED, everything changed almost overnight. Many seniors had their last semester of college taken away, graduation canceled or postponed. With all of us now at home waiting out the storm we turned to any kind of contact with the outside world, for many of us that was Facebook! The SED already has bustling Facebook activity from brothers in the Meeting Grounds group, to the KKPsi and TBS Gaming Group, and groups by academic major. Now, however, that community has only grown, encompassing individual games now like the new KKPsi and TBS Animal Crossing Group (I’m a huge fan of this one!), Netflix Watch parties popping up between alumni, actives, and other brothers and sisters across the district, people sharing their well wishes and reminding everyone that “if you ever need a friend, I’m here for you.” even when they’ve never truly met. In these strange times to see a glow of community emerge from something so many people detest, social media is truly evoking of what Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma are. It is a brotherhood and sisterhood that bring all
of us together. In the past two weeks of the start of the major national quarantine, I have seen so many new virtual friendships pop up, and I have been lucky enough to be a part of them! Not only during the coronavirus pandemic but earlier this year, I have made several friends in Kappa Kappa Psi exclusively through social media. Two of those brothers I had met before but hadn’t really “met” until they reached out to me on Facebook just to say “Hi” and ask me what kinds of video games I liked to play. I can hardly express how thankful I am to have them and finally get to chat and visit with them as brothers at this year’s DLC! I’ve never been very active on social media, but these past few weeks have started to convince me just how nice and social it really can be! It’s not just counting likes, but it’s getting to say “Hey! I miss you” to your friends from university that you haven’t seen in a few weeks. It’s getting to see pictures your grandparents post. It’s seeing the amazing ideas that come out of the SED. For me, I’d never fully appreciated or understood the community the SED and the bond that Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma provided to me until I was sitting at home lonely, wishing
I had someone to talk to. Just by opening my computer, hundreds of brothers and sisters called me into their circles, invited me to stargaze on their islands, asked me how I was doing, and most importantly became my friends. So if you are reading this and feeling alone, I will be waiting for you with open arms to be your friend.
Gillian Jinkins (right) and Sara Catherine Flynn (left) from Nu Omicron at New Haven University star gazing in Animal Crossing New Horizons.
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Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging: Our Words Matter By Jessica Needham, Kappa Kappa Psi, SED Vice President of Programs, University of Central Florida, Eta Sigma Our words matter. Every day, we make choices about the language we use, and each word carries subtle meaning. The English language has synonyms for almost every word. Yet, our vocabulary decisions communicate slightly different messages. In this day in age, we hear plenty of stories of businesses making seemingly small cultural changes in its company which yield unexpectedly positive results. The same is true in schools, bands, and any other organization. Recently, I was introduced to a small vocabulary shift that can result in tremendous success, especially in our fraternity. In November 2019, the Eta Sigma chapter at the University of Central Florida hosted a leadership workshop with one of our music education faculty, Dr. Kelly Miller. In previous years, she gave workshops to the UCF Marching Knights student staff, of which I was a part. Our time with her was poignant; as we interacted with each other, she demonstrated that small things, such as knowing everyone’s name, are crucial to being a successful leader. This workshop was no different. I took away a lot and gained a new perspective on leadership. One of the points Dr. Miller touched on was the importance of the vocabulary we use. The specific example she gave was about the culture of an organization. When she taught high school choir, she never called a group the “top” ensemble; instead, she would refer to it as the “advanced” ensemble. This small choice ensured that students who weren’t in the advanced choir never felt “less than” students who were. Like many organizations, Kappa Kappa Psi is proud of our diversity. In our differences, we find our strengths. Two hallmark moments in our history include when we decided to welcome members of any race in 1947 and when we welcomed women into the organization 30 years later. These historical changes have brought crucial perspectives that have amplified the culture of the fraternity. But diversity isn’t enough. The two aforementioned changes in
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our membership made us a more diverse organization. A greater variety of college students could pursue membership than before; however, a simple change in constitutional wording wasn’t enough to make this organization a home for everyone. Brothers had to welcome these new members with open arms to ensure this amendment was meaningful. A group of people can simultaneously be diverse while not being inclusive. Inclusion is the next step in elevating an organization’s culture, and it is through inclusion that relationships are forged and strengthened. In every convention workshop I’ve attended, my opinions have been welcomed. Even when I disagree with someone, there is an air of respect in the room that welcomes different perspectives. But inclusion isn’t enough. Everyone in the group may be included yet not feel a sense of home. Belonging is the culture every organization should strive for. When members feel welcomed, they feel a sense of belonging. This is the key to unlocking ownership of an organization. When brothers feel they belong in their chapter, buy-in increases. What used to be like pulling teeth becomes painless. A member who feels they belong is more willing to sacrifice their time to help with a project because they are taking care of their family. A member who does not experience such belonging may be less likely to do such activities. This doesn’t mean they don’t fulfill their responsibilities. They may be doing their share and helping the group be successful. They may feel included in their chapter yet lack close relationships with others, which characterizes belonging. On the national level, a chapter may not feel it is welcome in a conversation due to its small size, lack of a marching band, type of institution, chapter culture, or any number of things. This is something we must combat. It isn’t enough to passively say brothers from any background are all treated the same; we have to actively seek out opportunities to show these members
that it’s true. It can be so easy to get stuck in the routine of our lives, but we must push ourselves outside of our comfort zone to build relationships with brothers who aren’t like us. We have all found a home in music, and we must continuously strive to promote a sense of belonging throughout our membership. We can encourage this at the district level by stimulating communications between chapters. Reach out to a chapter you don’t have regular conversations with and ask questions about how their chapter operates. In the process, you may get an idea of a new way to approach something your chapter has been struggling with. As Southeast District vice president of programs, I have encouraged these relationships in the SED through the penpal-like FocuSED Connections program. The primary aim isn’t to talk about fraternity business; rather, the emphasis is on building a stronger sense of community throughout the district. On the chapter level, you can support a culture of belonging by spending time with your brothers outside of chapter matters. Perhaps there is someone you’ve never had a substantive conversation with outside of service events; invite them to grab coffee and talk about non-fraternity topics. Learn what they’re interested in or ask them to share some of their life story. Spending quality time together facilitates closer relationships which not only help tasks get done more effectively but increase our bonds of brotherhood. In this new century of Kappa Kappa Psi, I hope to contribute to a continuing cultural shift toward belonging. This sense of belonging is the key to unlocking greater success. Otherwise, we’re just a group of band nerds completing projects. This small change in mindset can have a remarkable effect in our bands, our chapters, our districts, and our fraternity. It all starts with a choice to adjust our words.
How to Put the Fun in Fundraising By Janna Mann, Kappa Kappa Psi, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Theta Theta In a little under one year, the Theta Theta chapter had raised over $1000, which is more income than the chapter had seen in years. The bank account was thriving for the first time in a while, and it was done in a few simple, thoughtful, and critical decisions. We are happy to share some steps with you to help you and your chapter put the fun back in fundraiser! The first step in making a successful fundraiser is to START EARLY. The best way to create a timeline for your fundraiser is to start from the end. Set a date for your fundraiser well in advance, then set a date to start marketing that is two weeks or more before the day of your event. This should go for any event you do! Two weeks in advance is always a good notice for an event. Once the day of marketing is set, give yourself two more weeks to gather any information you may need and make any marketing for the event (more on this later *wink*). I suggest you give yourself one more week to contact the place you are having the event, if applicable, to ask them about any information you may need, like how you are going to receive payment, how they would like you to set the room back after your event, if they need a W2, so on and so forth. This timeline is very important to having a successful and well-planned fundraiser and having a good turn out to your event. Remember, more of a notice about an event equals more turn out! The next step in a successful fundraiser is good marketing! The website we use is called Canva. You can search the preset flyers that are in its system and even find one that is specific to your event, i.e. car wash, pizza party. Once you have a flyer design, be sure to include the day of the week and the calendar date on the flyer. Think about how many times you looked at a date and wondered what day of the week it was. Adding this to your flyer
will eliminate that stress on your potential guest, making it easier for them to plan to attend! Now that you have a great flyer, Facebook event, or some other platform you prefer, advertise! Post flyers across your music building, ask your band directors to post your flyer on social media, and most importantly, KNOW YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE! Advertise to the people who are most likely to enjoy your event, will enjoy what you are raffling, or will be most likely to donate to whatever your fundraiser is. This is definitely the most important part of advertising. You do not want to have just the members of your chapter to be donating. Advertise to your band program, those on your campus, and even those in your community. The last thing, and really the first thing, to ensure your fundraiser has great attendance is to make a fundraiser that is worth people’s while. This means having creative ways to raise money and have them planned well. Great planning is fundamental to having attendance, being sure you enlist the help of chapter members to pull things off. The best way to drive people away from your future events is poor planning. To be able to plan your fundraiser well, you have to have a good one! Chapters around your district and all the organizations have wonderful fundraisers that work well for them. All you have to do is ask! If you are struggling with bringing in funds through exciting fundraisers, enlist help because chapters are waiting to share their ideas. Here are the ones that have worked best for Theta Theta: Kar Wash in a local community Coin Drive Coin Wars against sections Raffle of a signed school football and basketball by their respective coaches Please reach out to Theta Theta or myself if you are wondering how to pull these off. We are more than happy to help!
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Centennial Celebration By Emma Bailly, Kappa Kappa Psi, University of Florida, Alpha Eta It’s not very often that one gets to experience the centennial anniversary of something; it’s literally once in a lifetime. My experience going to National Convention last summer was just that. From visiting the graves of our founding fathers to attending workshops and electing our new national leadership, the entire trip was an immersive look into the past, present, and future of our fraternity. Oklahoma State has a beautiful campus, despite some of the rooms being a little too small for the size of the workshops held in them. However, the lack of space only brought us — mostly physically, but also emotionally — closer. A favorite workshop of mine was Leadership in the Ritual, during which we took a closer look at our rituals and
what we can take away from them to enhance our leadership abilities. I now have a new appreciation for our rituals, and since that workshop, I have paid closer attention to each one. Now, I learn something new every time I experience one of our rituals. It was enlightening to see the national workings of the fraternity; it further solidified the truth that Kappa Kappa Psi is so much more than just what goes into my chapter. I got to witness the election of new national leadership, reflect on the goals of the last biennium, and help create new ones for the coming biennium. This made me feel more connected to the fraternity on a national level and left me feeling excited for future goals and opportunities. But what made me feel the most connected to my brothers and the fraternity itself was visiting the graves of our founding members and guiding spirit. It was so much more impactful than just reading about our history. Getting to see Boh’s grave in person made me feel truly special to be part of something that has lasted an entire century and to be charged with continuing his work by making the next 100 years even better. I was so excited to meet brothers from all around the country. Usually,
it takes time for me to open up around people; I tend to be a bit of an introvert around new people. But that wasn’t the case at convention because I knew I could trust every person there and be close to them because they were my brother or sister. That’s what I took away the most from National Convention: That being part of Kappa Kappa Psi is so much more than just being in a club; it connects us to people all around the country and creates a feeling of brotherhood that connects all of us on the deepest level.
A Sketch of Iota’s Outreach By Paul Farmer, Kappa Kappa Psi, Georgia Tech, Iota For two semesters, it has been my privilege to be the Iota chapter’s outreach chair. The greatest part about the job is getting to help in the community and help introduce them to our organization and the beauty of music. Our outreach chair focuses on service in any capacity outside of our band program. The position offers the opportunity to really get the creative juices flowing as we get to find numerous ways to help our community. We have done projects ranging from planting trees in a local park to volunteering at an animal shelter to performing in a small ensemble at the local children’s hospital.
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That last example is my favorite project to come from the outreach chair position. Once a semester, the Iota chapter puts together a small ensemble to go to the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta (CHOA) for a short performance of some of our favorite stand tunes from football and basketball games. We pass around kazoos, so the patients can join us in the art of making music. Growing up, my little brother was a regular at a children’s hospital for a few years, often staying for weeks at a time. I have seen first-hand the value of giving these kids something to look forward to, something to get them out of the room, and
something to smile about. Watching the reactions on our audiences’ faces makes the entire event worthwhile. The attendance each semester can range from three children to thirty, but we always do it anyway because giving just one child something to look forward to and enjoy that day can make all the difference. Every semester, we jump on the opportunity to perform at CHOA to try to make a difference for these kids, even if it’s only for half an hour. It is such a memorable experience watching them jump and dance and sing and grin. It’s absolutely one of the greatest experiences I’ve had in this brotherhood.
Much Love In The Bond By Alexa Lowry, Kappa Kappa Psi, Florida State Univeristy, Gamma Nu For the Gamma Nu chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and the Alpha Omega chapter of Tau Beta Sigma at Florida State University, we share a special bond with each other because ‘as we began together, so we continue.’ Gamma Nu and Alpha Omega were both founded at Florida State University on May 14, 1955. Since then, we have been working closely together as two separate
organizations that share one bond. While every semester we do service projects, cross pairs, intramural sports, and even recitals together, there is one week that is special to us: Unity week. Unity week happens once a semester and is a way for us to get to bond with our sisters of Alpha Omega. The days include Psi Family night, TBS Family night, Big/Little day, Joint Service night, Candidate Class night, Alumni brunch or picnic depending on the semester, a candidate hangout/lesson, joint general body meeting and ending the week with a joint event celebrating unity.
To break it down, we start with our two family nights. Most families have special traditions for these nights that the Psi or TBS family plans, and you would go to whatever family your cross big is in. So some of the plans include the Moe’s (Mohicans) go to Moe’s, Rabbits get Taco Bell, Pandas make pasta and one of my favorite TBS family nights, Dip Night! Dip night is when we all bring a bunch of different dips and chips, the cannoli and spinach artichoke dip is always a fan favorite that has been passed down family lines, and we sit around and hang out. These nights are meant to help you spend time with your cross families. For big little day, this is a chance to show love to your cross bigs and cross littles. Some people will make gifts, lunch/ dinner or just do something fun to spend some one on one time together. For joint service, our service chairs work together to plan something for all the brothers, sisters, and candidates to do. Some of the past projects have been cleaning the field house, organizing our uniform room, or cleaning the Marching Chief’s stadium room. This is a chance for us to be reminded that we are all serving the bands. After that Friday night, we have candidate class night where some classes get dinner, go bowling, play games, or even just hang out and watch vines. It’s whatever your class wants to do. After all the smaller events, we go into the large-scale projects. Each candidate class has to put on an alumni brunch in the fall or a picnic in the spring, and it’s just a fun day of eating food and playing some sports together with some of our alumni from both organizations. Then our candidates hang out to do some bonding games, have a joint music rehearsal, take class photos at Westcott fountain, and have their joint lesson. We also have started a new event during the
candidate hangout where brothers and sisters compete in teams of members from both organizations. Then we have a special event where we all get together and are reminded of what unity means. Finally, in the past two years, we have had a joint general body meeting. This GBM gives us a chance to learn a little more about how each organization runs, discuss how we can improve the bond and conduct any joint business. While the bond between Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi is always special for Gamma Nu we love getting to take unity one step further with this one special week celebrating our continuous growth together. Much love in the bond Alpha Omega, ‘as we began together, so we continue.’
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What They Don’ t Tell You About Being a Boy in a Sorority By Micah Williams, Tau Beta Sigma, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Eta Lambda So to get things straight between us fellow brothers and sisters in the bond, it’s nothing new that there are male sisters and female brothers within the bond. We have both been co-educational service organizations since 1977. Because we do not play around with discrimination, the “co-ed” is taken seriously. In my opinion, it is the fact that we are able to have all genders in both Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi that makes us stand out against other organizations. The fact that there were boys in a sorority when I started band at the University of Alabama at Birmingham made me want to join it even more. My first friends at UAB were sisters of TBS, and from going to recruitment events, the ideals of this sisterhood were luring me into what I knew would be a life-changing experience for me. Plus, who doesn’t want to break out of the conformity box? However, because we know this fact of being a co-ed sorority and those outside the bond do not, I’ve learned the hard way that there are some things no one told me about before becoming a dude in a sisterhood, especially outside of the context of the bond. For one, they don’t tell you how awkward the first conversation with your parents is when you tell them: “Hey. I’m thinking about joining this sorority.” “ What? Boy, don’t you mean a fraternity?” “No, Ma. Tau Beta Sigma. It’s a national band sorority.” There’s a long pause on the phone — a pause that stretches taut like a rubber band and makes you tense up because at any moment it can shoot off at you. “...Oh, and don’t worry. My male friends are in it. It’s co-ed.” “Oh...fun.” The rubber band relaxes. I am safe from being chewed out. Another thing they don’t tell you about being a boy in a sorority is how you basically become a spokesperson for the definition of “co-educational” wherever you go, or that telling your parents would be the easy part. Since being initiated in Fall 2018, I deal with having to explain my sister status on the regular to those not in the bond. It was a rollercoaster for both my mom and I to explain to my grandmother that I wasn’t in a panhellenic or Divine 9 organization, but a band one. Then further explaining that I was in a sisterhood that had active male members in it but still majority women. I guess it didn’t help that a part of my chapter’s culture is that we call each other sisters, regardless of gender orientation. Whenever I text or call my big at home (who is also male), my mom always jokes that I’m connecting with my sistau. Sometimes, I think my grandma’s still confused 7
about it. She isn’t the only one. People give me looks at Hobby Lobby when they see this broad-shouldered black man wearing frilly, sorority letters, buying pineapple stickers, craft paint, pin boxes, and talking to the sisters accompanying him about what to do for this “big-little reveal.” The side eyes become squints when I confront people in conversation, such as at the cash register. “Aww, this paddle is cute! Who’s it for?” “I’m buying gifts for my big in my sorority.” Then, it’s the same-old of always explaining to people that it is a co-ed organization as I observe them nod and still be weirded out, or better yet, I watch the faces scrunch up in even more confusion when they ask what TBS is. Either way, we can usually end those conversations on a laughing note. Other fraternity boys, such as my former dorm-mates, were definitely confused as to how I was in a sorority in the first place. The same with the clothing vendors online who sometimes forget there are boys in TBS, for a vast amount of letters come in women’s sizes, ultra-sequined patterns, or deep V-necks. Oh God, the V-necks. They make me thankful that the Membership and Ritual Committee asks me if our shirt colors look too feminine for the male sisters. There are deeper issues I’ve had to deal with other than wearing TBS gear and getting teased a little, though. There have been moments where people, particularly men, have assumed that I am a brother in KKPsi because I am a man. When I correct those assumptions, they get offended at me. From there, it becomes a matter of if I somehow hate Kappa Kappa Psi, or that I am gay, illogical, or have lost my masculinity because I joined an organization that was founded by women. Nobody tells you that being a boy in a sorority can potentially ostracize you. It used to offend me, hurt me a little, and make me question my manhood. But by this point, it doesn’t bother me anymore that I have to check people when they say my man card is revoked, for I interact and collaborate with
women more often than they do. As we sisters know, TBS is much more than that. So much so, I can list some of the great things I learned from being a male sister in Tau Beta Sigma. The things they don’t tell you but are otherwise delightful surprises. First off, I get to have duties that make me feel like an “honorary band mom.” Those duties do not require having to move heavy equipment (kudos to my fellow, awesome brothers of Theta Theta) and potentially hurting myself because I am as weak as a 1 1/2-strength Rico reed. It’s the clarinet arms, you know. I also get to be both a sister in a sorority family and a brother in my own family. So far, my family line has dibs on snatching up incoming male sisters, and we’re running at four. I get to show off my manhood the most when we sing songs because I am automatically assigned the bass part. Me, the men of my sisterhood, and the women of our fellow brotherhood have these invisible, telekinetic bonds because we all share in the struggle. Overall, I love being a part of an organization where we promote music and service to collegiate bands despite what gender, race, sexual orientation, size, ethnicity, or anything else we are. As with Tau Beta Sigma, it humbles me to be able to promote women in music as a man, for it allows me to not only be more aware of my own privileges as a male musician but also to meet a slew of female musicians who have revolutionized musicianship and broken boundaries. In Tau Beta Sigma, I feel I have a purpose, even though ignorant people would think my gender makes me dead weight to a sorority. All the ignorance and sly looks and perplexed people, I ravish in that now, especially when in my uniform, screaming a chant in a circle with my sisters after a halftime performance. Not caring about what others see or think or say. Feeling at my prime. I guess you can say that with my sisters, I am best.
With A Touch of Gold
By Hiry Thompson III, Kappa Kappa Psi, Alcorn State University, Iota Beta
One factor that has been constant in the discussion of marching band has been the presence of HBCUs in it. From the flashy entrances to the show-stealing halftime performances to playing radio friendly selections to make the entire stadium sing along, HBCU bands have become a staple in the college band world. However, the bond amongst HBCU bands runs deeper than what meets the eye. Despite the trash talking and competitive nature, the camaraderie is always maintained within the community of black marching bands. Since the chartering of both the Gamma Omega at Texas Southern University and Delta Alpha at Langston University in 1957, HBCU chapters in Kappa Kappa Psi have been a force to be reckoned with. However, in recent years, that momentum has seemingly been halted due to the dwindling number of HBCU chapters that have been ruled inactive. The most recent incident regarding the state of an HBCU chapter was on November 5, 2019, when Iota Nu at Alabama A&M University chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi was ruled inactive for 20 years. This has become the fate of many black chapters, not only in the Southeast District but amongst the entire fraternity. The goal of this article is to highlight new and/or returning HBCU chapters within our district and to portray them in a positive light. Elizabeth City State University/Nu Iota: Kelvin Seabrooks, Nu Iota, Spring 2018 Initiate Hiry: What attracted you to Kappa Kappa Psi? Kelvin: I didn’t really know much about Kappa Kappa Psi prior to participating in a college band program. I was in the band for my freshman and sophomore year of high school then quit for my junior and senior years. What attracted me to the frat, however, was the service that I saw displayed from the brothers to the band program. Hiry: How has being a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi enhanced your band experience? Kelvin: I’ve gotten closer with my band directors as well my fellow band members which have opened many doors for me Hiry: What kinds of problems or
struggles have you encountered as chapter president of a newly chartered chapter? Kelvin: Finance. Obviously, money doesn’t grow on trees, and by us being a smaller chapter, raising money could be fairly difficult. Another issue that I often come across would be lack of exposure. Again by us being a smaller chapter, it can be hard to promote certain events on a larger scale. That also could be tied into the fact that many people don’t really have an understanding of Kappa Kappa Psi. Prior to coming to college, many kids normally hear about D9 (Divine 9) organizations, so getting our name out there as a chapter and a frat could be fairly difficult. Hiry: How would you describe the bond amongst the HBCU chapters that you have encountered since becoming a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi? Kelvin: The bond amongst the HBCU chapters that I am familiar with is very positive. Whether it is collaborating with the brothers from Iota Zeta (NCAT) or with the sisters of Tau Beta Sigma from Hampton University (Theta Phi), the bond is always strong, which is very important during these times for black chapters. Hiry: What do you feel is the importance of keeping our HBCU chapters alive and thriving at a time like this in the frat? Kelvin: Representation for the black chapters, fundraising and support from our own campus, and being very active in assisting the band as well as the directors. Jackson State University/Eta Eta: Jaleel Jean, Eta Eta, Spring 2020 Membership Candidate Hiry: What attracted you to Kappa Kappa Psi? Jaleel: One thing that attracted me to Kappa Kappa Psi is the camaraderie and fraternalism between the brothers in the organization. Back when I first started playing an instrument, I never knew the impact the fraternity had on the culture of university band programs. As I’ve matured, I can now see how much the organization helps to advance music through its band programs. Hiry: How has being a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi enhanced your band
experience? Jaleel: Being a brother has opened my eyes so much when it comes to experiencing band. When aiding the band with our sister organization, Tau Beta Sigma, my colony brothers and I have been able to gain a first-hand look at the hard work and dedication it takes to serve college and university bands, whether it is through passing out food or helping to load the buses before games or trips. Each of these engagements allow our brothers to put a hand in on the successful journey of our band program. Hiry: What kinds of problems or struggles have you encountered as chapter president of a newly rechartered chapter or colony? Jaleel: So far, there has not been much stress or struggle being a newly rechartering chapter. Everyone involved in our colonization process has been very supportive and helpful in aiding us to complete the process. There hasn’t been a moment where I felt as if I had to figure things out on my own. I’ve always had the assistance of my colony brothers and any other brothers that may reach out for support. Hiry: How would you describe the bond amongst the HBCU chapters that you have encountered since becoming a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi? Jaleel: The bond between HBCU chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi shows passion and strength of fraternalism within the HBCU band community whether it is at the undergraduate level or on the graduate/alumni level Hiry: What do you feel is the importance of keeping our HBCU chapters alive and thriving at a time like this in the frat? Jaleel: I feel like the HBCU chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi encourage leadership and networking through positive engagements, resulting in connections all around the nation. Keeping our (HBCU) chapters alive will further help the representation of HBCUs when it comes to having an input in such a great organization as Kappa Kappa Psi.
Snapshots of the SED! The Nu Alpha chapter hosted an instrument repair workshop taught by BigNote, the largest mobile instrument repair company. It provided advice on proper instrument maintenance. The workshop was geared toward instrumental musicians, so discussions were held about what could be considered quick fixes and what should be sent for repair. The experience was beneficial, and the chapter was glad to have them host. 8
Brotherhood Through North and South 9
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By Theodore Panos, Kappa Kappa Psi, University of Florida, Alpha Eta This brotherhood that we have in Kappa Kappa Psi has certainly given me many things, but the one thing I treasure the most is the bonds I have made with other brothers and band members across the nation. With friends in South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and even Michigan, it’s been a pleasure gaining such a national perspective on band from brothers around the country. Even better is when brotherhood can transcend our times in college and in band, just as it did for me this fall. In the second week of November, my friend Matt Misiak, a brother of the Nu chapter and recent alumnus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, took it upon himself to use a couple of vacation days from his recent employment at General Motors to come and spend some time not only with me but with the Alpha Eta chapter and Gator Band. During Matt’s stay, it was my goal to
give him what I considered the Gator Band and Gators game day experience, and a chance to experience some of what Alpha Eta had to offer. To our enjoyment, Matt got in early enough in the week to experience a Thursday night chapter meeting, complete with a music rehearsal, announcements, and housekeeping. Friday was a full day with a tour of campus, a candidate class fundraiser, Matt getting to observe a Gator Band rehearsal, and a dinner with my KKΨ family line with Saturday being similarly filled with activities such as Gator Walk, the football game, and exploring town after. Matt left on Sunday to head to Orlando with a wonderful weekend of brotherhood behind us. The weekend I spent with my friend Matt was a wonderful reminder of the national scale of this fraternity and brotherhood. I have always loved how this organization affords us opportunities
Gamma Old and Nu By Alexa Lowry, Kappa Kappa Psi, Florida State University, Gamma Nu For the Gamma Nu chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi at Florida State University, we strive to keep our alumni brothers involved. There are a few ways we like to do this like inviting alumni to our events, hosting a special picnic just for them, and through a special Life Membership petition program. For Gamma Nu, we feel that staying connected to our alumni will help us to be a better chapter. Every spring Gamma Nu takes nominations and votes on one of our alumni to be given life membership that Gamma Nu will pay for. This program was started by current life member Hayden Elias-Rodriguez in the Spring 2016 as a way to invite outstanding alumni to be more involved with our chapter. We believe it gives a chance for older brothers to build a new bond with the circle while also allowing current brothers to know more about Gamma Nu history. Once the alumnus accepts the nomination, they have a few requirements to complete before becoming a life member. These requirements include completing seven service hours (band or communityrelated), attending three events, writing a letter of activity since their initiation semester, and formally accepting the petition. Recently, we renamed this Life Membership Petition Program the Chris Haughee Life Membership 9
Petition Program in honor of Gamma Nu Brother Chris Haughee who passed away this fall. Chris Haughee was initiated in January 1971 and received the Distinguished Service to Music Medal for Fraternity Service from Kappa Kappa Psi in 2003. By naming this petition program in honor of him we are emphasizing its purpose of continuing to strive for the highest even when you enter alumni status. Along with the petition program each semester, we host an alumni picnic or brunch with our sisters of Alpha Omega. This is one of the requirements of our candidates each semester. We spend the morning hammocking, eating good food, playing sports, and reconnecting with our alumni. It has become a tradition that each brother looks forward to every year. In the fall, we tend to have the most alumni involvement because we plan the picnic to be during homecoming week right after our 5K. We also invite alumni brothers, especially our life members, to sit in on the general body meetings and rituals. Gamma Nu appreciates all that our alumni do and strive to uphold the standard they set. We also want to continue reminding our alumni that once a brother, always a brother, even after they enter alumni status.
to meet band members and brothers across the nation, and it’s so special that someone who I met at the 2017 National Convention could live so far away, and yet through band and KKΨ, we are still able to continue our bond as brothers and friends.
Looking Back on a Year of Overture
By Evelyn Oldham, Tau Beta Sigma, University of Florida, Beta Xi
Cl a s s t ow a of S p ri n g r ds S ister 2020 sw h oo eepi d! ng a path
e r e at t h e h d e r ict u 2 0 1 9 , p r S pri n g 2 0 2 0 l l a F f o t fo Cl a s s ui t men r c e r f o star t
Overture brought great change to chapters around the country. It helped standardize the candidate process, ensure common knowledge, and offer new learning methods and opportunities for chapter growth from within our membership education programs. For Beta Xi at the University of Florida, it brought new chances for connection within our candidate classes. Serving on our Membership Education Committee these last two semesters has been a front-row seat to see the candidates bond through the curriculum and become closer throughout the semester. The lesson activities provided an avenue for controlled chaos and fun approaches to engaging with the lessons, to cement the knowledge in ways that simple discussion or quizzes — some of the dominant techniques our chapter utilized to check comprehension — had not previously. The different options allowed our Membership Education Committee to tailor activities to the candidate class and the goals of our chapter, and class personalities flourished through the module lessons. The module reflections at the end of each meeting also gave time for more serious thought and encouraged highlighting the best parts of people the candidates admired. As vice president of membership this semester, nothing has made me prouder than to see our spring candidates so easily able to celebrate the greatest traits of their fellow candidates and
B et a X i Sp the can ring 2020 Fir s t d i d at e s a n d t h e D eg r e e w i t h of M e m V ice Pr e b e r sh i p . si den t
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themselves. Watching the different ways the sisters who joined in Fall 2019 stay connected to the candidate process of Spring 2020, and the memories they retain of their own time as candidates, has continuously shown me the bright futures sisters educated through our national curriculum bring to their chapters. Overture caused significant transformations to candidate processes, and no small amount of negotiation for chapters that adjusted across all districts. Several chapters and sisters met its passing with excitement, but also trepidation, as they thought of the intrinsic parts of their candidate processes they might lose to the standardization of membership education. However, it was quickly comforting to see the preservation of the most significant elements of our chapter’s candidacy tucked into the numerous options that are provided in Overture. And almost a full academic year after its passing, it is incredible to see the people – sisters and candidates – that Overture has instructed, and the ways that its components have allowed candidates to come together and engage in their process, then stay connected to their membership education program once it is done. A year of Overture has brought Beta Xi two incredible classes, and another year and many more to come are sure to do the same.
w bi g Class of Sp ring 2020’s fir st m e m b e r sh ip educatio n meeting v Zoom! ia 10
The “ Marching 101” Strikes Daytona!
By Jacques Wilson, Kappa Kappa Psi, South Carolina State University, Zeta Eta
Not every college bandsman is presented with the opportunity to travel to another college campus and go head to head with their respective band. Let’s be honest with ourselves, not all programs are blessed with an ample amount of funds to travel and recruit. Luckily, this year we were able to make a visit to Daytona Beach, Florida, to support our football team and battle the Marching Wildcats. We traveled to BethuneCookman University shortly after our homecoming, and excitement was still in the air and band morale at its peak. There wasn’t anything stopping us from showing them that numbers don’t define a band program: It’s about true heart and loyalty. To start Monday’s practice our assistant director of bands stressed the importance of making sure we bring the energy from our hometown to theirs and show them what our program is made of. The week was stressful because for a home game we have five days to prepare, but due to the extended travel plans, we were only allotted four days. We had two days to learn and rehearse our music and the next two days to practice our field show. We got up extremely early that Friday morning to make sure we had everything we needed before departure. Though it was only a five11
hour drive, it took us about six hours to reach the hotel due to the food stop we made outside of Jacksonville, Florida. After eating, we were so amped up we only had an hour and thirty minutes left of the drive. It was our first overnight trip of the season, and we were staying on a resort at the beach, which was exciting. As soon as we arrived at the resort, we instantly unloaded the buses and explored the city and beach. Most of the band members decided to go out to eat, exploring different restaurants that aren’t in Orangeburg. The chapter enjoyed the brotherhood throughout the whole weekend. On the day of the game, the brothers were prepared to make the transition from the parking lot to the field as smooth as possible not only to aid the band but the staff as well. Once we arrived, it began to rain, so we had to utilize the rain ponchos we brought with us. Once halftime arrived, we walked across the field to the home team side to set up for the field show. We performed one of our best shows with the best energy possible. Leaving off the field, we walked over back to the away side to put our instruments back in the stands. During this time the chapter was assembling to go meet with Theta Rho and present them with the gift we made. Once they received the gift,
they loved it. We were able to have fellowship with them after exchanging the gift. On Sunday, on the way back to Orangeburg, South Carolina, we stopped at Camden County High School in St. Marys, Georgia, for a band clinic. When we arrived, we were greeted with such kindness from the students and their booster club. For about an hour and a half, we were in sectionals with the high schoolers teaching them some of the basics of being in a college band such as attention, at ease, horn up, horn down, flashes, dances, etc. After sectionals, the drum majors instructed us to get into concert formation, so we can warm up and run a couple of tunes with the high schoolers. Our Assistant Director of Bands Albert J. Shuler got on the podium and began to warm us up. After spot-checking a few songs with the high schoolers, we got ready to take the field for a performance. We played many songs with the high schoolers, like Best Part, Middle Child, Nolia Clap, Outstanding, Shame, and of course every high schools’ favorite spirit song Pass The Peas. After the performance, we loaded up the buses and headed to a church about five minutes away where they fed us a well-prepared meal. After our feast, the 101 was ready to return back to Orangeburg after a very long, exhausting yet exciting weekend.
Grow ing Small Chapters by Joshua Lurie, Kappa Kappa Psi, University of Tampa, Alpha Sigma What is the picture-perfect Kappa Kappa Psi chapter? Many brothers would say that it typically operates in conjunction with a university music program that consists of a large marching band and numerous ensembles. This makes sense, doesn’t it? After all, you need a heavy band presence to fuel recruitment and provide worthy service opportunities to the organization. This isn’t always the case. Entering the University of Tampa with a band program of just fifty members strong and no athletic bands, some would scoff at the idea that a Kappa Kappa Psi chapter could sustain itself. However, the Alpha Sigma chapter has defied the odds and reached twenty-two active brothers at the end of the Fall 2019 semester. It would also be worthy to note that two years before this the chapter had under ten brothers and was facing the harsh reality that it might not exist if that trend continued. Alpha Sigma isn’t unique. There are many chapters that face similar circumstances within our organization. Here are a few things the brothers of our chapter have learned as we continue to grow and strengthen our chapter: Building a strong team at the top One of the foremost talents of a leader is to build a great team and having effective officers, especially a president and vice presidents who communicate well and provide clear, concise, and unified guidance to the chapter. This enables the chapter to set goals and think forward. Oftentimes, during the closed-door debates of elections, much of the focus is on how each individual would function within the position they are seeking. It is important to think more about creating a dynamic team of officers who would best lead the chapter in the right direction. If a chapter has a great president and a great VPM but they can’t work together, the chapter will likely be subject to disjunct efforts that could stall progress. Recruitment is important, but it shouldn’t be the focus Recruitment can be overwhelming and the process of turning select band members into brothers can take up much of a small chapter’s time. The constant fear of not gaining enough brothers and putting the chapter in jeopardy becomes the forefront in the chapter’s thoughts and discussions. It can be easy to forget why Kappa Kappa Psi exists in the first place: to serve the bands. Going back to the basics and focusing on service is actually a way a chapter can strengthen its recruitment efforts. If band members see the chapter making meaningful contributions, they are more likely to attend events when recruitment season begins.
Instituting committees and providing more leadership opportunities Once a chapter has started growing in numbers, delegation becomes a much easier task. In many small chapters, officers bear vast responsibilities within the chapter and are both the “planners” and the “doers.” When a chapter has never had committees before, it can be hard to get off the ground. After three years of trial and error, Alpha Sigma was able to transform from one large group to being subdivided into five functional committees, each with corresponding committee chairs and all working under the vice presidents. Committees in a small chapter can seem fruitless since brothers must serve in more than one. However, the ability to make the committee members the “doers” and allow the officers to be the “planners” is a worthy commitment. This also creates “buy-in” with brothers taking on more responsibility for the events the chapter is holding. The committee chair role also becomes an officer training position. Allowing more brothers to get organizational leadership experience preparing them for future roles within the chapter. Slow and Controlled Growth In a small chapter situation, it is tempting to give a bid to every band member who walks into the interview room. Thoughts of “we have so many brothers graduating next year” is a universal fear among small and big chapters alike. The pressure to hit an imaginary quota is ever-present. In the Alpha Sigma chapter, we try not to take more than half of our current number of brothers in our candidate classes. This is to ensure the new brothers don’t have complete control of the fate of the chapter as soon as they are initiated. Alpha Sigma grows each semester. However, change takes time, and rushing change can lead to many unforeseen issues. All brothers are recruiters, not just the VPM Recruitment is a stressful time for any VPM. In a small chapter where the pool of eligible band members is limited, it is critical to be effective in bringing band members out to events. However, the responsibility doesn’t necessarily fall on just the VPM. It falls on the chapter. Each brother must sell the Kappa Kappa Psi mission and sell the chapter’s culture as one that a band member should aspire to be a part of. Every chapter is dependent on their university’s band program and, inevitably, chapter size will vary. This does not mean that smaller chapters should be any less successful than those in larger institutions. With time, patience, and strong leadership every chapter can prosper. 12
Epsilon Chapter Interv iew By Hiry Thompson III, Kappa Kappa Psi, Alcorn State University, Iota Beta
Since gaining its charter in 1923, Mississippi State’s Epsilon chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi could be widely regarded as one of the most important chapters in the Southeast District. Serving as a “big brother” chapter to the Iota Beta chapter at Alcorn State University, the Theta Theta chapter at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the Eta Eta chapter at Jackson State University, the influence of the Epsilon chapter is on grand display throughout these chapters. In order to highlight the importance of the Epsilon chapter, I’ve decided to conduct an interview with their chapter president, Brother Gillian Jinkins, a Fall 2016 initiate and our current Vice President of Membership for the SED, about a wide variety of topics. Hiry: How does it feel to be possibly the most influential chapter within the Southeast District? Gillian: One of the most interesting things about this is that when I first joined Kappa Kappa Psi, I didn’t realize just how important it was to be part of the oldest chapter in the district. My first time at a district convention all kinds of brothers were like “Hey!! Epsilon!” and recognized that they held a certain position in the district,
including taking a single letter picture at every group meeting. Hiry: What attracted you to becoming a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi? Gillian: Seeing a group of people who were all great friends that were dedicated to the same things I was. When I got to MSU and joined the Famous Maroon Band the brothers of Epsilon welcomed us all with open arms and invited us to do fun activities including service. Since graduating from high school, I had been nervous to find a place to call my own in college. Hiry: What are some of the service projects that your chapter completes that are unique to your chapter? Gillian: One of our favorite service projects has been working with Be the Match, an organization dedicated to helping with bone marrow transfusions. Be the Match a few years ago started an outreach program to marching bands to get large groups of people added to the National Marrow Donor Program. Through this project, we have had several bandsmen be able to help someone by donating bone marrow to people in need. Hiry: What have been some of your favorite moments since becoming a brother
of Kappa Kappa Psi? Gillian: My favorite moment as a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi is always at district/ national convention when we elect our new officers. I have always loved the officer installation ceremony, especially the oath of support. As a new brother at my first SED, I didn’t know what to expect from the installation of our new district council but was so proud of the camaraderie and love I felt in the room as everyone gathered swore to do their utmost to support the newly elected officers in their endeavors. Hiry: What are some of the challenges that you have encountered by serving double duty as your chapter’s president as well as the vice president of membership for the Southeast District? Gillian: Time management. Time management. Time management. Serving both my chapter and the district has been an insane balancing act of time and capability. One of the most important things that I have learned has been about delegating my tasks to other officers when I need help getting through a tough week. I’ve been so honored to have a great district council that had my back and for the brothers at Epsilon for always supporting me.
Snapshots of the SED!
Brothers Tate and Cameron Duncan performing at Prattville Christian Academy. A big part of what we do is creating awareness of the awesomeness of band programs. Sharing our talents with others is just another rewarding part of being in this fraternity. The bond of music goes deep with these fraternal twins.
The Iota Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi celebrating its graduating seniors at the end of Fall 2019 at the Graduating Senior Ceremony.
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The Journey to Wisdom By Ander Talley, Kappa Kappa Psi, Mississippi State University, Epsilon A dim star was made known to the skies Set upon a path where it’s journey therein lies To come to a better understanding of several purposes That would render wisdom, and teach it services Along this path there was a brighter star Who was known to those who wished to travel far And on this journey, she would guide Those who wished to be sanctified She told of an order, most noble and true An order who regally bore white and blue An order that taught how to strive high An order known as Kappa Kappa Psi The brighter star, who was a guiding spirit to all, Taught the dim star how to stand tall She taught the dim star how to be noble and true One worthy of wearing the white and blue The dim star learned of several purposes, pure Purposes that would be a cure For it’s unending wondering through the sky Over a world of people just getting by There was a purpose of brotherhood One that gave a bond that was more than good A bond that taught someone loyalty and friendship And kept each other strong during hardship There was a purpose of service Whose goal was not to make one nervous But to promote a tenderness in one’s heart And a love to assist those by doing their part There was a purpose of leadership Which called for more than just statesmanship It showed how to be caring, firm, and strong And how to keep oneself from getting headstrong There was a purpose of musicianship A purpose that the order had created for a discipleship A noble concept of an art so pure That they would be the ones to spread its allure The dim star learned of these ways And kept forward with its gaze Towards the brighter stars of a better day In which the dim star would have a place to stay Until finally, the dim star approached the door, And was led inside to the inner sanctum’s floor. The star was judged by those much brighter, And was found to be worth so much higher. The dim star kept its teachings close And was rewarded by the path it chose. The dim star became bright like the others And found a place with its fraternity brothers.
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How Do I Write a Song?
Appassionato
By Brett Kochanowski, Kappa Kappa Psi, University of Central Florida, Eta Sigma
A soft pattering of footsteps across the wood. Gentle thumping of chairs being lifted, set. Scraping, clanking of stands being lifted, set. The hum of wheels being rolled, set.
How do I write down My thoughts My feelings My passions? How do I contain them to A verse A line A word? How do I... EMPHASIZE it To send a message To the world? Then again, Who would listen? Who would bother To hear the message? So, the real question is not “How Do I Write a Song?” It is “How Do I Make It Sing?”
By Natalie Stasiowski, Kappa Kappa Psi, Florida Gulf Coast University, Mu Upsilon The door heaves open then closes itself, scritching across the worn floor, crashing. The inner doors scrape against each other. Opening and clunking into place, willing to stay.
More pattering of footsteps across the wood, the cacophonous envelopment of sound. Chatter, showing off, and last-minute noodling Ceased, with an elegant, soundless hand raised. Makes way for a solitary pitch. A sweet, low hum echoes in concentration followed by mimicking repetition, sustained, then arpeggiated. Can you hear it? The collision of waves so subtle adjusting to settle the crashing waves into waves that ebb and flow. Repeat. Twice. A collective breath, a soundless gesture. The room suddenly sparks to life glittering agreement, consonance. We persevere onwards. Pausing the glorious cacophony of chaos to correct, adjust, now reset. Pencils gradually find their resting spot against the metal. Waiting patiently for their time to join, rejoin. To add their own piece of color, their own voice, con tenerezza, to this labor of love. Sweet and loving to dark and foreboding. Simple and pastoral to majestic and dramatic. Stop. Everything taken out, put away. Everything experienced, not forgotten. Everyone there, filed out.
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Can you hear it? A hall that gives way to so much timbreMusic Resonates silence. Niente