Kappa Kappa Psi Presents goes live!
Good evening Brothers!
We are excited to announce that the first episodes of the new Kappa Kappa Psi Presents podcast are available on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher. If there are other platforms we should be posting to, let us know! These initial episodes act as a teaser for what is to come once the school year gets underway. The episodes highlight a couple of the different ways we’re looking to create content, focusing on educational topics as well as interviews with members of the fraternity.
We look forward to hearing your feedback as well as your suggestions for future episodes. You can get in touch by either emailing the podcast email, kkpsipresents@kkpsi.org or zac@kkpsi.org.
AEA,
Zac Humphrey
National Vice President for Student Affairs
KKPsiAA Board of Directors Announcement
Dear Brothers,
On behalf of the Kappa Kappa Psi Board of Trustees, I am pleased and honored to announce the appointment of Alison Beidler as Chair of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. She replaces Mike Napolitano who is taking on the position of Northeast District Governor. Mike has done a terrific job as chair, and Alison is poised to continue the Alumni Association having served as co-Vice Chair. Her work with membership is particularly remarkable.
Please join us in congratulating Alison as she takes on this role and in supporting the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association as they continue to “Strive for the Highest.”
AEA
Rod Chesnutt, Chair
Northeast District Governor Changes
Brothers of the Northeast District –
I wanted to take a moment to thank Marie Burleigh and John Leonard on their outstanding work this year as the governor team in the Northeast District. They have each continued a high standard of work and motivation for the active members of the district.
Unfortunately, John has notified the National Council that he is resigning his position as Governor of the Northeast District. It is exciting, however, that John is doing so to focus on future plans as he pursues his doctoral degree at Western Michigan University. We are thankful to John for his service to the district, and wish him the best as he continues to support the Fraternity through his work as a collegiate director.
Obviously, this creates a vacancy in the governorship within the district. After careful consideration and with input from the national leadership team, I am excited to announce that Mike Napolitano will join the national leadership team as a Northeast District Governor alongside Marie.
Mike brings a wealth of knowledge and should be a familiar name for many in the NED. Mike has recently served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and was most recently serving as the chair. He was initiated in to the Kappa Upsilon chapter at Marist College in Spring 2002. For the past 12 year, Mike has served as the chapter sponsor while he serves as the Associate Director of Music and Operations manager at Marist College.
I am excited that Mike is joining the governor team in the Northeast District, and I know that he is going to be an exception example of leadership for the active membership.
Please feel free to send a welcoming and congratulatory message to Mike at mnapolitano@kkpsi.org.
As always, if there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
AEA,
Jack Lee
National President
North Central District Governor Changes
Brothers of the North Central District,
I wanted to take a moment to thank Dr. Ishbah Cox and Jason Mlady on their outstanding work this year as the governor team in the North Central District. They have each continued a high standard of work and motivation for the active members of the district.
Dr. Cox has notified the National Council that he is resigning his position as Governor of the North Central District to focus on family commitments. We are thankful to Dr. Cox, and are reminded of the great musical leadership and passion he brings to Kappa Kappa Psi. We wish him the best in his future!
Obviously, this creates a vacancy in the governorship within the district. After careful consideration and with input from the national leadership team, I am excited to announce that Tammi Ramsey will join the national leadership team as a North Central District Governor alongside Jason.
Tammi is no stranger to the Fraternity or to the NCD. Tammi was initiated in, and is a life member of, the Zeta Omicron chapter at the University of Akron. She has previously served as a NCD President and as a colony advisor for Kappa Kappa Psi. I know that her passion for our Fraternity is great, and she is going to do an exceptional job.
Please feel free to send her a congratulatory message at tammi@kkpsi.org.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
AEA,
Jack D. Lee
National President
Statement From National President Jack D. Lee
Brothers,
I write to you today with a great sense of love and gratitude. I am thankful that I became a Brother of Kappa Kappa Psi. I am thankful that Kappa Kappa Psi is a place where all Brothers should feel welcomed and supported. I love that this Fraternity continually reminds me that we celebrate love over hate.
The recent events throughout the world, from Baton Rouge to Minnesota to Orlando to the Middle East, unfortunately show us that not everyone in the world shares the same views that I know our Brothers do. I encourage each of you to remember the tenets of our ritual, and to live by them. If you are doing so, you are making this world a better place. If you are doing so, you are showing the world that this organization makes you a better human being.
As we continue to move through the month of July, and we begin to travel back to our universities for summer band camp, review the purposes of our organization. There, you will find that Kappa Kappa Psi, and each of you, work to support our organization’s being: college and university bands. It is through participation in band that we all share a universal trait: we are musicians. Let us continue to use that skill to create beauty, joy, and inspiration to this world.
Please know that the entire national leadership of Kappa Kappa Psi stands, shoulder to shoulder, with our Brothers. No one should be treated differently or live in fear simply based on the color of their skin, a uniform that they wear, their religious beliefs, or their sexual orientation. It is not appropriate, it is not right, and it will not happen here in Kappa Kappa Psi because our Brotherhood is better than that. Because our Brotherhood spreads love.
AEA,
Jack D. Lee
National President
Kappa Kappa Psi
Kappa Kappa Psi Official Statement on Orlando Tragedy
The National Leadership of Kappa Kappa Psi is proud of the work of this fraternity. We are proud that we are a fraternity that is made up of diverse individuals. Individuals that commit themselves to the selfless service of college and university band programs. Individuals that are, each and every one, a family member; a brother. Our diversity is often celebrated among our members, and it is the love that we all share that allows us to join in fellowship to be embraced as a brother.
Kappa Kappa Psi stands with and supports our brothers and the people of Orlando. We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and we will continue to support our own beloved fraternity members affected by this tragedy. As an organization, we embrace and celebrate our diversity – it is what makes us the great Fraternity that we are – and we empower our members to live with authenticity and courage. We stand with our brothers of the LGBT community and support their right to live and love without fear of hatred, intolerance, or violence. In keeping with our belief that music is a universal language and as we move forward with our mission to promote and advance college and university bands, we echo the words of Leonard Bernstein:
“This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.”
Closing Out 2015-2016 Announcements & Reminders
Brothers:
As we close out another school year, I want to share this friendly reminder with all of our outgoing and incoming chapter officers, active members, sponsors, and directors.
1. Initiate Registration Form – Please complete and submit all fees and paperwork associated with your Initiate Registration Form. This should be submitted within 30 days of initiation. Late fees apply to chapters who do not submit within the appropriate time. Remember that this form cannot be processed if you do not submit a copy of the signed summary page along with payment.
2. Officer & Chapter Update – If you have held elections that have not been reported, please complete this form as soon as possible so that National Headquarters has accurate contact information for your chapter leadership. If you have not yet started your Chapter Summary Report, please check that you officers are listed correctly before beginning the CSR.
3. Chapter Summary Report – This report is due by June 1st. Please begin working on this document now and remember to give time for sponsor and director approval prior to June 1st. We recommend completing this form prior to the end of finals week.
4. Graduating Senior Report – This reports allows us to document graduating seniors and provide recognition to them for their service to college bands. Graduating Seniors receive a one-year complimentary membership in the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association if the chapter submits this form.
5. Officer Transition Meeting – The National Council encourages all chapters to hold a transition meeting between outgoing and incoming officers. Many discipline issues occur as a result of a lack of institutional knowledge of the larger fraternal responsibilities of the active chapter including reports and dues. Outgoing officers please take time to review these responsibilities with your successor. Set your chapter up success in the coming year.
6. National Programs – The National Council encourages all chapters and members to review the national awards and scholarships which can be found at kkpsi.org under the Programs tab. Due date for applications and nominations is July 1st. If you have specific questions, contact Vice President Krcatovich at mkrcatov@kkpsi.org.
If you have any questions, please let us know.
AEA,
Evan L. Thompson
National Vice President for Colonization & Membership
Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity
evan@kkpsi.org
Installation of Nu Pi at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Brothers:
I’m pleased to announce the installation of the Nu Pi Chapter (#328) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. This is the fifth installation of the biennium.
The Mu Delta chapter at Western Michigan University served as the advising chapter and NCD Governor Jason Mlady served as the colony adviser. Many thanks to these brothers for their service and leadership!
Active and alumni members from Nu, Gamma Pi, Kappa Chi, and Mu Delta attended the initiation and installation. Director of Bands, Dr. José Riojas and NCD Governor Jason Mlady were also in attendance.
Mr. Marco Krcatovich, National Vice President for Programs, served as the Installing Officer.
The chapter is electing and installing new officers in the next few days. We will send out new contact information once we have it so that everyone can send congratulatory notes to our new brothers.
Congratulations to Nu Pi! Welcome to the brotherhood!
AEA,
Evan L. Thompson
National Vice President for Colonization & Membership
Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity
evan@kkpsi.org
Installation of Nu Omicron at the University of New Haven
Brothers:
I’m pleased to announce the installation of the Nu Omicron Chapter (#327) at the University of New Haven. This is the fourth installation of the biennium.
Multiple chapters served as participants in the ritual degrees throughout the colonization process. Active and alumni members from the following chapters attended the installation and assisted with initiation: Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Omega, Delta Omicron, Epsilon Nu, Eta Rho, Lambda Nu, Theta Beta, and Theta Upsilon
Current NED Council members in attendance: President Kylie Wolfe, Vice President Shanon Rubin, and Member At Large Emily McPeake. Past NED Officers included: Vice President Emily Quinlisk, Historian/Alumni Liaison Alex Finkel, and Secretary/Treasurer Howard Kalfus.
Mr. Eric Morson, Board of Trustees Member, served as the Colony Adviser and Installing Officer.
The chapter is 32 members strong. The elected officers of the Nu Omicron Chapter are:
President: Christopher Zygmunt
Vice President of Membership: William Belke
Vice President of Projects: Leah Myers
Secretary: Nikolas Decker
Treasurer: Justin Pelletier
Historian: Christopher Jenis
Parliamentarian: Melissa Bannon
Sponsor: Chad Cooper
Director of Bands: Jason DeGroff
Please send notes of congratulations to the Chapter President Christopher Zygmunt at czygm1@unh.newhaven.edu.
Congratulations to Nu Omicron! Welcome to the brotherhood!
AEA,
Evan L. Thompson
National Vice President for Colonization & Membership
Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity
evan@kkpsi.org
2016-2018 Chapter Field Representatives Announcement
Brothers:
The National Chapter Field Representative Program began in 1992 to provide a vital link between Active Members and the National Fraternity. We have been served the past two years by two outstanding brothers. I would like to extend my thanks and congratulations to Andy Melvin and Chris Young for their service to Kappa Kappa Psi. The fraternity is better because of their leadership and service.
Kappa Kappa Psi has recently completed the interview process for the National Chapter Field Representative Position. I cannot begin to detail the level of the applications that were received throughout the most recent months. This is an indication of the leadership abilities that are being developed in chapters throughout the country. Our selection committee interviewed four outstanding finalists this past weekend in Stillwater, OK.
It is my honor to introduce our two newest CFRs who will be joining our Professional Staff:
Alaina Peters (alainarpeters@gmail.com) is from Arizona State University and was initiated into the Beta Omicron chapter in the Spring of 2013. She will graduate this spring with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. She is enrolled in the Honors College at ASU and recently presented her thesis More Than Teachers: A Study of How Band Directors Handle Student Grief. She has served Beta Omicron in a variety of positions including Secretary and President. In addition, she has served as a presenter and committee chair for Western District Leadership Conference and Convention. The Western District recognized her with the Ideal Active Achievement Award in 2014. She is currently completing her student teaching at Desert Ridge High School in Mesa, AZ.
Justin Chesak (jchesak@unm.edu) is from the University of New Mexico and was initiated into the Gamma Iota chapter in the Fall of 2011. He will graduate this spring with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Psychology. Justin served two terms as his chapter’s Vice President of Membership and is the current President. He served as Vice President of the Southwest District for the 2015-2016 school year and chaired the Colonization & Membership Committee at the 2015 National Convention in Lexington, Kentucky. Justin has also served as a campus tour guide and equipment manager for the Spirit of New Mexico Marching Band.
Please feel free to send these individuals congratulatory messages. As they make their transition to Stillwater and become a part of the National Headquarters Professional Staff, more information will be shared regarding their upcoming chapter visits. A special thank you to National President Jack Lee, National Executive Director Steve Nelson, National Office Manager Di Spiva, Chapter & Colony Education Coordinator Yvonne Daye and our entire National Headquarters Staff for all their work this past weekend in Stillwater.
AEA,
Evan L. Thompson
National Vice President for Colonization & Membership
Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity
evan@kkpsi.org