Founders Day Message 2017
Brothers:
November 27, 1919 will live forever in our history as the beginning of an organization that has become the standard for musicianship, leadership, and service within college and university bands. Our existence is defined by the bonds of friendship that we share, and our commitment to building an inclusive community that builds its members up to be outstanding leaders, brothers, and human beings. As John Philip Sousa believed, we are the ones who will carry on the work started and continue to promote music and appreciate its performance. We will also carry on the example of our Founders by dedicating ourselves to excellence in all we do for our chapters and band programs.
Our Founder, William A. Scroggs said, “No organization on the campus should be more sought after for membership, no honor should be more appreciated by the fortunate few than by those affiliated with Kappa Kappa Psi.” He believed that what you get out of your membership in Kappa Kappa Psi is determined by what you put into it. Our band programs depend on our leadership and selfless service. We should all dedicate ourselves to this ideal and live up to the trust placed in us as Brothers.
During this holiday season, reflect on all that matters to you and be grateful for all that you have. Seize on opportunities to serve and give back to your community, university, and bands. Promote fellowship and kindness within your circles, and be mindful of those who are struggling.
Kappa Kappa Psi is fortunate to have each of you affiliated with our work as an active member, director, sponsor, alumni, life, honorary, or friend. The Founders’ Spirit that was brought to life 98 years ago, lives on in our dedication to leadership, fellowship, and better music. Embrace this spirit and dedicate yourselves to its positive example.
I wish you all a Happy Founders’ Day!
AEA,
Evan L. Thompson
National President
Kappa Kappa Psi
Thanksgiving Message from the National President
Brothers:
Thankfulness and gratitude are virtues seen very little in our world today. Many people do not recognize those around them, and they live in a space dedicated only to self-interest and ego. But as brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi, we understand the power of gratitude and its impact on our relationships and our service. As brothers, we are called to believe in one another, show respect to one another, and make our values known to all.
President John F. Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” Be mindful of others and seek to foster a spirit of brotherly love each day by saying ‘thank you’ and showing care for others. Don’t pay lip service to our values. Live them each and every day.
Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving! My best to each of you for wonderful memories with friends and family!
AEA,
Evan
INSTALLATION OF NU SIGMA CHAPTER AT CAL POLY STATE – POMONA
Brothers:
I am pleased to announce the installation of the Nu Sigma Chapter (#330) at California Polytechnic State University – Pomona in Pomona, California. This is the first installation of the biennium, and 15th Chapter in the Western District!
Brothers from Mu Phi at Fullerton College served as the ritual chapter, and brothers from Theta Beta, Iota Alpha, Iota Pi, and Psi were present. Western District Governor, Charlene Ronne, and Western District Secretary-Treasurer, Micki Welther were also in attendance. Dr. Nicholas Bratcher, National Vice President for Programs, served as the Installing Officer.
Please send notes of congratulations to the Chapter President Nicole Gage at nicole_gage12@yahoo.com.
Congratulations to Nu Sigma! Welcome to the brotherhood!
AEA,
—
Marco A. Krcatovich II
National Vice President for Colonization and Membership
2017 Month of Musicianship & Fall Activity Report
Dear Chapter Presidents and Sponsors,
Happy Month of Musicianship! Throughout the month of November, we work to both highlight and celebrate the musicianship of college and university band programs, chapters, and individual brothers. As a chapter it is my hope that each of you will take this responsibility seriously, and work to support music and ultimately college and university band programs! Be sure to use the OFFICIAL hashtag #MusicCharmsNovember to share your Month of Musicianship activities on social media so all of our Brothers can share in your advocacy of our greatest art.
Another responsibility of the chapter that is quickly approaching is the chapter submission of the Fall Activity Report. The Fall Activity Report (FAR) is required of each chapter and must be approved by your Sponsor & DOB in the OMRS no later than December 1 each year. While colonies are not required to submit this form (unless installed prior to December 1), colonies should take the time to familiarize themselves with the form. The Online Membership & Reporting System (OMRS) can be accessed at https://online.kkytbs.org. If you have questions about the OMRS, review the OMRS Guidebook which is available here.
In addition to your Fall Activity Report, make sure you submit a Graduating Senior Report (GSR) if you had any Active/Conditional/Associate members graduate during the Fall Semester. The GSR is functionally the membership form for their complimentary year of membership in the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association. Please ask your graduating seniors (and all Active members) to login to the OMRS and make sure that we have the correct contact information for them. We highly recommend that our graduates use their professional email address, and not the student email address established by the college or university.
As you are working on the FAR & GSR, please review any pending forms that your chapter may have in the OMRS to see if HQ is missing anything. There are still several chapters with incomplete Chapter Personnel Reports and Initiate Registrations.
As with all forms in the OMRS, we encourage you to visit with your Sponsor & DOB about the forms; including letting them know that the form is ready for approval. Do not rely solely on the email notifications that are sent out by the OMRS.
As always, if you have any questions pertaining to the Fall Activity Report or the OMRS, please do not hesitate to contact National Headquarters. Our Headquarters staff is always willing to assist with anything that you may need.
AEA,
Evan L. Thompson
National President
Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity
evan@kkpsi.org
Our Mission:
Kappa Kappa Psi is a co-educational fraternal organization that advances college and university bands for the benefit of its members and society through dedicated service and support to bands, encouragement of musical growth, lifelong educational experiences, leadership opportunities, and recognition.
November is the Month of Musicianship
Greetings Brothers,
Our Month of Musicianship is almost here, and I cannot wait to see how you will collaborate and celebrate one of our Fraternity’s primary initiatives! One of the ways that we, as Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi, are connected is through our love of music. Music is our universal language, and our Fraternity is connected by a set of ideals and values that extends throughout all of our membership. Perhaps the most prominent of these ideals, are the five purposes of Kappa Kappa Psi.
This November, I challenge all of us…active, associate, conditional, honorary, life, and alumni brothers, to find and implement creative and supportive ways to advocate for our greatest art and reconnect the Month of Musicianship to our purposes.
(1) To promote the existence and welfare of the college and university bands and to cultivate at large a wholesome respect for their activities and achievements.
• Find musical activities that promote your college band program. This could be an information display table on your college band and their upcoming activities in the student union; display a history of your band program (including prominent performances and accolades) in your school and/or local paper.
• Volunteer to usher at a university concert (band or otherwise), or help supplement a section for a college concert band by sitting in on your instrument.
• Reach out to support local schools and build bridges of recruitment into your alma mater.
(2) To honor outstanding bandmembers through privilege of membership extended as a reward for technical achievement and appreciation for the best in music.
• Host a music recital and invite your most outstanding bandsmen to perform with your Chapter brothers.
• Set up a lab band for conducting students to practice conducting.
(3) To stimulate campus leadership and promulgate an uncompromising respect through the medium of the college band for gracious conduct, good taste and unswerving loyalty.
• Invite other campus students and leaders to celebrate Month of Musicianship with your Chapter.
• Work with your band director and put on a “Conduct-Us” event. This involves having non-band members to conduct a university band in public performance in order to promote and advocate for leadership and music education.
(4) To foster a close relationship between college bands and promote a high average of attainment by the performance of good music and selection of worthwhile projects.
• Promote music off campus by performing good and worthwhile musical projects.
• Take a small combo to a nursing home; elementary school; or preschool.
• Provide master classes at an area middle school or high school. Make sure you get the director’s permission.
• Join a community band in your area (or start your own)!
(5) To provide a pleasant and helpful social experience for all engaged in college band work and to cooperate with other musical organizations in any manner consistent with the purposes of the institution at which chapters are located.
• The Month of Musicianship is important, yes. But, it’s also important to have fun!
• Host a karaoke night in your band room; perhaps with a live combo providing the music.
• If applicable, work with other organizations on your campus…like our wonderful Sisters in Tau Beta Sigma, or our other musical relatives (i.e. Phi Mu Alpha and Sigma Alpha Iota).
While this list has many ideas to implement, there are countless other ways that our brotherhood can celebrate and bring the love of bands and music to others. As always, we encourage you to take photos and post them to your Chapter’s social media and other platforms. Also, submit them to our online PODIUM at podium@kkytbs.org so that we can post them the Kappa Kappa Psi social media outlets as well.
Finally, be sure to use the OFFICIAL hashtag #MusicCharmsNovember, created by the Month of Musicianship Hashtag Contest Winner, Emily Durie, from the Nu chapter at the University of Michigan. Congratulations Emily!
Good luck y’all, and keep striving!
Nicholas Bratcher, Ed.D.
National Vice President for Programs
Kappa Kappa Psi
MONTH OF MUSICIANSHIP HASHTAG CONTEST
Greetings Brothers!
I can’t believe we are halfway through October. This means that next month is our Month of Musicianship! The Month of Musicianship is very near and dear to me, not only because of Kappa Kappa Psi, but because of my profession as a college band director. That being said, your National Council is working on new and exciting ways for your chapters to promote and advocate music in the coming weeks.
One of the ways we’d like to do this is giving our brotherhood a chance to make their mark on our Month of Musicianship through our first ever MONTH OF MUSICIANSHIP HASHTAG CONTEST! From now until October 18th, we want our brothers to post their idea for a Month of Musicianship hashtag. The National Council will select an idea to be the official hashtag for the Month of Musicianship! THE WINNING PERSON’S POST WILL GET THEIR DISTRICT CONVENTION REGISTRATION FEE PAID FOR THIS YEAR!
Get creative! We can’t wait to see the ideas you come up with! I will announce the winner, as well as post goals I’d like to see Chapters strive to achieve during our Month of Musicianship on our Facebook page shortly after October 18th. Good Luck to everyone!
AEA,
Nicholas Bratcher, Ed.D.
National Vice President for Programs
Kappa Kappa Psi
Call for Applications – NCD Governor
Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi:
The District Governors are key members of the National Leadership Team. These adult leaders serve as the administrative officers of their respective district and provide mentorship to the district and chapter officers. District Governors are expected to assist the district officers with the development of a vision for the district and build positive, professional connections with all students, alumni, and national leadership. District Governors also engage in work that supports the National Vision including activity reviews for the National Membership Education Program: The Road to Wisdom.
There is an immediate opening for North Central District Governor. The Fraternity thanks outgoing Governor Jason Mlady for his service and dedication to Kappa Kappa Psi. Eligible applicants will complete the application requirements and submit using the JotForm link. All requirements must be included in order to submit a completed application.
Applications and materials should be submitted by Friday, November 3, 2017 via JotForm.
Special Note: If you applied for District Governor in May, your application is already on file and will be considered. You do not need to reapply.
Applicant Requirements:
- Must be at least twenty-five (25) years old
- Completed an undergraduate degree
- Possess outstanding business or professional ability
- Resident of district applying for
- Be a Life, Alumni, or Honorary member in good standing of Kappa Kappa Psi
Governor Application Requirements:
- Letter of Intent – Highlight fraternity, band, and professional experience
- Resume/Vita
- Three Letters of Recommendation, one of which should be within the applicant’s profession
- JotForm Application (https://form.jotform.com/72814869888177)
Please submit completed applications via JotForm by Friday, November 3, 2017. If you have any questions, please contact National President Evan Thompson (evan@kkpsi.org).
AEA,
Evan L. Thompson
National President
Kappa Kappa Psi
Message from National Council on Revised Ritual Books
- Approved changes are being reviewed and formatted; a thorough review process will take place to ensure all changes are correct before printing.
- Once the edits and changes are made, seven (7) Ritual Books will be shipped to all chapters.
- Please check your chapter mailing address today and make sure it is valid and secure.
- Until Ritual Books arrive, continue to use the 2007 version of the Ritual Books for education and ceremonies.
- Once new Ritual Books arrive, you will receive directions on the proper disposal of out of date Ritual Books.
- Set aside a chapter meeting once new Ritual Books arrive to read through the foreword, instructions, and Ritual as a chapter.
- Questions regarding Ritual Performance can be directed to our Ritual Performance and Education Committee at RitualEducation@kkpsi.org.
Welcome to the 2017-2018 School Year!
Brothers:
Welcome back to Kappa Kappa Psi for the 2017-2018 school year! The National Council and National Headquarters encourage all chapters to submit the Chapter Personnel Report, Member Dues, and Chapter Fee on-time by September 30, 2017. Schools on the quarter system should submit their report and fees by October 15, 2017. Reports and dues submitted after the above deadlines are considered late and will be assessed a 25% late fee. This report needs to be completed by the Chapter President and approved by the Chapter Sponsor and Director of Bands through the OMRS (online.kkytbs.org). Please make sure every member of the chapter logs on to the OMRS to update personal information if anything has changed.
The Chapter Personnel Report consists of the following parts:
- Chapter Fee: $75.oo (on-time)
- Member Dues: $100.00 (on-time per member)
- Completed online form in the OMRS (online.kkytbs.org)
- Summary Page (collect signatures of all Active, Conditional, Associate)
If you have any questions about the Chapter Personnel Report, please email National Headquarters at kkytbs@kkytbs.org or call at (405) 372-2333.
Have a great school year! AEA
Evan
Statement on Charlottesville, Virginia
Brothers:
Kappa Kappa Psi wishes to express its deepest sympathy to the community of Charlottesville, Virginia over the loss of life and injuries that occurred as a result of senseless acts of violence and hate. We offer our condolences to all who were affected.
The events in Charlottesville and at the University of Virginia have left our nation once again confronted with malicious acts of hatred and intolerance by white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and the KKK. These terrible events that took place over the weekend make it clear that hatred, racism, and bigotry are still part of the mainstream culture. The goal of these groups is to preach a disgraceful and immoral message to every part of our country. Theirs is a message of hate, and it is wrong.
Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity condemns the actions of white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and the KKK who seek to tear our country apart with their hateful beliefs and rhetoric. There is no place for hate in our organization or our country.
We envision something better for our members, for society, and for college and university bands. We reaffirm our ritualistic vows and will continue to preserve the integrity and honor of Kappa Kappa Psi through ensuring an inclusive, equitable, and safe culture for all members. We are called to walk only in honorable and worthy ways and be an inspiration to others. On behalf of the National Council, I ask all Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi to stand with us and reject hatred and intolerance in all its forms.
Strive for the Highest!
Evan L. Thompson
National President
Kappa Kappa Psi