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Spring 2021 Colony Announcement
Brothers,
I hope that everyone is safe and healthy as you start your Spring 2021 semester! I am excited to announce three colonies for this spring!
Livingstone College – Theta Chi Recolonization – Southeast District
Kalem Graham (Life Member, Zeta Psi & SED Governor) will serve as lead colony advisor, and Kadeem Sabari (Alumnus, Zeta Chi & SED Alumni Association Chair), Jessica Needham (Alumnus, Eta Sigma and former SED VPP), and Danielle Francis Marzen (Alumnus, Lambda Tau and former NCD President) will serve on the colony advising team.
The Livingstone College Band program is growing under the direction of Director of Bands, Mr. Anthony Jones. The band program offers a variety of ensembles for students and community members to participate in including Concert Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Basketball Band, and the Marching Blue Thunder Marching Band. The band has participated in the Palmetto Bowl Classic and the Heritage Bowl Classic over the last several years. Notably, Mr. Jones, Director of Bands, also serves as the Director of the 369th Experience, a band which in its original form, consisted of 65 African American and Puerto Rican gentlemen who charmed the hearts and minds of Americans and Europeans during WWI. The ensembles recreates the famous Harlem Hell Fighters regimental band’s spirited arrangements of ragtime, jazz and blues first introduced European audiences to the novel sounds of this American music with students chosen from Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country. We are excited to welcome back Livingstone College to Kappa Kappa Psi! You may send notes of congratulations to Director of Bands, Prof. Anthony Jones (antjones@livingstone.edu) or to Colony President Tyvaun James (tyvaunjames@gmail.com).
Shepherd University – New Colonization – Northeast District
Sarah Fitzgerald (Life Member, Iota Delta and Northeast District Governor) will serve as lead colony advisor. Kelly Nellis (Life Member, Kappa Alpha and former National Vice President for Student Affairs), Lamoth Haynie (Life Member, Eta Gamma), Mike Napolitano (Life Member, Kappa Upsilon, National Vice President for Programs, and former NED Governor) have been appointed as the Colony Advising Team.
The Shepherd University Band Program is under the direction of Dr. Scott Hippensteel. The music program has several ensembles in the department, including Wind Ensemble, Marching “Ram Band”, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Community Orchestra. The Ram Band is one of the highlights of Shepherd University. Known for their strong commitment to musical excellence and exciting shows, the Ram Band is in great demand throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The Ram Band is an active recruiting ensemble that performs in exhibition at high
school marching band festivals in our four-state region (West Virginia, Virginia,Pennsylvania, and Maryland). The Ram Band also performs every year at the Collegiate Marching Band Festival in Allentown, PA. The Shepherd University Wind Ensemble is the premier wind group of Shepherd University and each year the auditions become more competitive. Over the last 20 years, the ensemble has performed in Carnegie Hall, Ireland, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Spain, France, Italy, and Portugal. We are excited to welcome Shepherd University to Kappa Kappa Psi! Notes of congratulations may be sent to Director of Bands and Chapter Sponsor, Dr. Scott Hippensteel (shippens@shepherd.edu) and Colony President, Ian Walton (ipwalton594@gmail.com).
University of North Texas – New Colonization – Southwest District
Andy Melvin (Life Member, Delta, Southwest District Governor, and former CFR) will serve as lead colony advisor, and Jason Filer (Alumnus, Alpha Zeta & former NCD President), Teddy Howell (Alumnus, Kappa Lambda), and Atia Aroonsakulwongse (Life Member, Theta Theta and former SED Secretary/Treasurer) will serve on the colony advising team.
Prof. Eugene Migliaro Corporon’s tenure as Director of Bands at UNT began in 1994. The UNT Wind Symphony under his direction, is internationally acknowledged as one of the premier ensembles of its kind. The North Texas Wind Symphony is selected from the most outstanding musicians attending the College of Music; the group has been highly acclaimed for “wonderful and artistically rendered performances which are elegant and polished,” and complimented for “terrific ensemble skills which embody a high degree of integrity and sensitivity.” From first performing at a College Band Directors National Association Regional Convention in 1996, the group has since attended multiple CBDNA conventions, TMEA, TBA, WASBE, American Bandmasters Association, PASIC, Bands of America Concert Festivals, and the Midwest Clinic. The University of Texas College of Music is the largest public university music program in the United States. UNT offers more than 70 different musical ensembles for students to participate in, which include the 400-member Green Brigade Marching Band, the three-time Grammy nominated Wind Symphony under the direction of Eugene Corporon, the Wind Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Andrew Trachsel, the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Daniel Cook, the Brass Band under the direction of David Childs, the Symphonic and Concert bands directed by Masters and Doctoral candidates, and the Brass Choir. The University of Texas is home to the nation’s first jazz degree program, and has more than a dozen vocal and instrumental jazz ensembles, including the seven-time Grammy nominated One O’Clock Lab Band, UNT Jazz Singers and 25 small groups each semester. We are thrilled to welcome The University of North Texas to Kappa Kappa Psi! Notes of congratulations may be sent to Director of Bands, Prof. Eugene Corporon (eugene.corporon@unt.edu), Chapter Sponsor, Dr. Daniel Cook (daniel.cook@unt.edu), or Colony President, Amrutha Murthy (AmruthaMurthy@my.unt.edu).
The Hampton University colony will also be continuing on this semester. By the end of this biennium, we will have installed 9 colonies of Kappa Kappa Psi – 5 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 3 Predominately White Institutions, and 1 minority serving institution.
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.
We are excited to welcome these three colonies to Kappa Kappa Psi during this unprecedented time. Please join me in supporting and welcoming these colonists to the Brotherhood!
AEA,
Jessica Lee
National Vice President for Colonization & Membership
Life Member, Eta Alpha – Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
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
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.
2019 National Convention Delegate/Proxy Form Due
Brothers:
Submit your Delegate/Proxy Form now and have your voice heard at National Convention this summer in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Be sure to contact the chapters you list to make sure they will be in attendance at convention and can serve as your proxy if you cannot send a delegate.
All forms should be submitted by June 15, 2019. Committee assignment preferences by June 1, 2019.
AEA,
Evan L. Thompson
National President
INSTALLATION OF NU PHI CHAPTER AT SCHREINER UNIVERSITY
Congratulations to the Nu Phi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi! This is the 333rd chapter to be installed since the fraternity’s founding and the sixth this biennium. Welcome to the brotherhood!
Kappa Kappa Psi – Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity mourns the loss of a brother from the Epsilon Phi chapter at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. The Fraternity sends its deepest condolences to family, friends, chapter brothers and sisters, faculty, and fellow band members. It is especially difficult to lose an active student. The power of our connections as brothers and band members becomes even more significant during these times of loss and confusion. We are here to support and encourage our fellow brothers and band members without reservation.
Brothers, help is available 24/7 for emergencies and students in crisis. We hope that our collegiate brothers will look to resources on their campus such as the Office of the Dean of Students and counseling centers who work to support students in a variety of ways. Please do not hesitate to ask for help and seek out services on your campus.
Anyone who is struggling can access the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Our ritual teaches that life is a journey with peaks and valleys. We want our brothers to feel empowered to access help when needed.
2019 Call for Proposals – Constitution, Programs, and Awards
Brothers:
The National Council is pleased to announce the 2019 Call for Proposals. Use the following form to propose changes to the National Constitution, Programs, and Awards. All proposals are due by March 5, 2019.
If you have any questions about the process or potential ideas, please contact National President Evan Thompson at evan@kkpsi.org.