Fall 2012 Edition

Lee Commander

Kevin Brenner

Belinda Baker

Rebecca Snead

Salvatore Parillo

Crystal Wright

Renee CarteeRenee Cartee

Stephen Richards

Lindsay Meyers

President

VP of Membership

VP of Special Projects

Secretary

Treasurer

Counselor

CounselorCounselor

Parliamentarian

Historian

Dawn Farmer

Dr. Nicole Burdick Sanchez

Kevin Earnest

Dr. Debra Traficante

Jonathan L. Markowski

President

VP for Colonization &Membership

VP for Special Projects

VP for Professional Relations

VP for CommunicationVP for Communication& Recognition

Musically Yours,

Kevin EarnestGamma Mu, Ohio Northern University

Life Member

National VP for Service Projects

In the 2011 fall edition of The Podium (podium.kkytbs.org/past-podiums/2011-2/), chapters were urged to evaluate their current programming and to consider utilizing the National Programs as guideposts for future chapter projects. In this article, we will consider the use of one of these programs: “Scouting For Music”.

Girl Scouts of the USA has over 100 Girl Scout councils and 3.2 million Girl Scout members. You can locate the girls and troops within your area very easily by using GSUSA’s Council Finder (www.girlscouts.org/councilfinder/). Programs for the girls are based on the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (www.girlscouts.org/gsle/), where girls discover, connect, take action and become stronger leaders.

The Girl Scouts National Program Portfolio (the materials designed to assist girls along their adventure) includes The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting and three themed Journeys (www.girlscouts.org/program/journeys/): “It’s Your World – Change It!”, “It’s Your Planet – Love It!”, and “It’s Your Story – Tell It!”. The new Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting includes the new Legacy Badges. In addition, Skill Building badges are also available for the girls to earn.available for the girls to earn.

The transition to the new Program Portfolio has brought about some changes including the retiring of badges such as the Brownie’s “Sounds of Music” Try-It Badge and introduction of new badges like the Junior’s “Musician” Skill Building Activity Badge.

Become an advocate for girls interested in learning about music. They are the future of our collegiate bands and the future women in music. Contact the closest council to begin your conversation with local Troop Leaders and girls.

Need help starting your program? Email National VP for Special Projects, Kevin Earnest at kevin+scouting@tbsigma.org.

Programming with GSUSABe Prepared

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contests

District Leadership ConferenceFebruary 16, 2013

South Carolina State UniversityOrangeburg, SC

ΚΚΨ Zeta Eta & ΤΒΣ Epsilon Chi

Southeast District ConventionApril 5-7, 2013

Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FLΚΚΨ Gamma Nu, ΤΒΣ Alpha Omega

Fall 2012 | 8

CalendarSoutheast District

AEA,

Ema A shleySoutheast District President

Eta Sigma, University of Central FloridaKAPPA KAPPA PSI Developing leaders through tradition.

Promoting music through service.

In the Southeast we have a lot to be proud of. We are the district where leaders are born. Our strong tradition of leadership has placed us among the best in the Nation and it is time that we honor that.

Brothers from the Southeast District have gone on to join many ranks, including that of National President. They have each held instrumental roles in shaping our fraternity to what it is today. Ken Corbett (ΖΧ),elected National President at the 35th National Convention, worked to strengthen our ties with Phi Mu Alpha, helped us adopt a uniform national membership education program and developed the Chapter Field Representative Program. Kirk Randazzo (ΖΧ) began the Diversity in Music Speaker series, as well as the Service Showcase at National Convention. Scott Stowell (ΑΗ) was the first National PresidentPresident in modern history to serve in all four of the National Council elected positions, He began a long term-strategic plan for our fraternity that included a mission and vision statement. This is just to name a few of our brothers who have been active on the Kappa Kappa Psi National stage

Three of the seven members of the National Board of trustees are brothers of the Southeast District. The Kappa Kappa Psi National Flag was created by G.R. Schagg a brother from the SED. The brothers from our district are constantly recognized for excellence in music, service, and brotherhood.

This year at Southeast District Convention we will be celebrating our tradition of leadership. You will get the chance to have an open dialogue with leaders from the Southeast, bond with brothers and sisters from our great district, and participate in meaningful workshops that will help you strive for the highest in all that you do.

district presidentFrom the

MOTS,

Lee CommanderSoutheast District President

Alpha Omega, Florida State UniversityTAU BETA SIGMA

It is a new year in the Southeast District and many wonderful things have happened as a result of the new year. Your council is well underway with achieving the goals that they set out to accomplish upon their election, many new service projects are underway, and vast improvements are being made daily!

Last year paperwork was a large issue for the SED in terms of turning it in on time, if at all. During that time we had 12 chapters not turn in their Chapter Summary Report. This year thanks largely to #Operation100% only 4 chapters were late or did not turn in the

appropriate paperwork. This is an improvement of 67%!!! The goal is have 100% paperwork completed on time and accurately for the Fall Activity Report. This is a goal that I know we can reach.

The Southeast District was also recognized in a positive way at National DLC because only 1 person did not pay their membership dues. In the largest district with over 700 active members this a REMARKABLE achievement. Congrats SED!

While #Operation100% has been well underway several other projects have been started this year as well including Pen Pals, March for Music, The Concerto Competition and the Chapter Mentorship Program. These events by and large give our district a better name nationally and allow all of us as sisters within the SED even more opportunities to bond with each other.

Even with all of these great things happening in the district plans have already begun to make Southeast District Convention the best convention that this district has seen! It is a great pleasure to announce that our National Historian Lisa Croston will be attending this event. She will be presenting a workshop about the History of Tau Beta Sigma before 1946. It is also hopeful that the Chapter One books with all of the information she gives will be available at convention for purchase.

While this is a very exciting time for the SED with the creation of new projects remember, the real excitement is in the participation and the continued improvement of these projects. So let’s stand tall and reach all of goals, participate in as many projects as possible, attend SED and DLC, meet new people and make the SED truly shine and the largest, most versatile, most diverse, BEST district this Nation has to offer!

in the SEDPositive News

KAPPA KAPPA PSI

Striving for the Highest,

Richard M artinSoutheast District Vice President

Pi, Auburn University

In light of the recent announcement of the Beta Gamma chapter at Louisiana State University being named the advising chapter for the Kappa Kappa Psi colony at the University of Southern Mississippi, the theme of collaboration between chapters, organizations, and districts could not be more relevant. Much like an orchestra’s success depends on the conductor, the percussion, the strings, and the winds, the success of both Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma depends on the collaboration between their individual chapters. The motivation for collaboration is sprinkled throughout both organizations’organizations’ purposes in “To foster a close relationship between college bands, Kappa Kappa Psi 4th Purpose” and “to cooperate with other musical organizations and societies in every manner consistent with our mutual purposes, Tau Beta Sigma 5th Purpose”.

We all love going to District Leadership Conference and Southeast District Convention for multiple reasons including taking a road trip to explore a new campus and getting to meet new brothers and sisters from other chapters that have different perspectives on not only music but also KKPsi and TBS. The college, or university, band program that each of us is associated with, the location of the program, the size of the program, and several other characteristics give us individuality from each of the other chapters within our district. That uniqueness enables us the opportunity to learn about different chapters’ approachesapproaches to promoting bands that could be more than insightful but also beneficial as we are all constantly looking for new ways in which we can make a bigger impact on our own band programs and in our band communities.

With the mottos of Strive for the Highest and Tau Beta Sigma for Greater Bands, the goal of bettering the band world seems to be a common interest for each of the chapters within Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, and it also seems to be a common motif between the two organizations. Where iron sharpens iron, we should use the bond between the chapters and organizations throughout the year rather than only at DLC and SED Convention. I challenge each of you to evaluate how your chapter works with the musical organizations on your campus as well as with the musical organizations within your community, the Southeast District, or the national fraternity and/or sorority.community, the Southeast District, or the national fraternity and/or sorority.

Your national and district officers are here to help with any questions you may ever have. I would love to hear about what types of activities your chapters do to reach out to other musical organizations on your campus or beyond. You can give me a call at 251.564.8312 or email me at rmartin@auburn.edu.

Creating Success with Collaboration Striving for Greater Bands

When I was asked to compose this article, the first thoughts that entered my mind were not encouraging in the least. While it is my privilege to have been asked to honor my little sister through this article, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. I know that if I possessed the most eloquent writing skills in the world, I would never, in years of drafts and revisions, be able to completely convey the beautiful woman I had the honor of calling my little sister and friend. No matter how many descriptive words I chose or how many immaculately constructed phrases I managed to string together, I knew I would fall short by suchsuch an immeasurable distance that I would feel as if I had failed her. After nights of struggling to even begin trying to show who April Denise Jackson was, I arrived at a conclusion. No matter how hard I worked, readers would never be able to grasp just who she was and how much she meant to the people around her. So I have no intention of trying.

by Kristle Marie Lawrence

Epsilon Xi, Troy University

Find Your April

April was beautiful in a very unique way. She commanded glances of admiration any time she entered a room. In a very unknowing way, she could gain the attention of those around her by flashing a sincerely mesmerizing smile and people could not help but be drawn to her dark eyes and elegant figure. But the most concentrated aspect of her beauty resonated from far deeper within.

April was truly living life as a vibrant woman who brought people together. She was the girl who could erupt in wild and unchecked laughter without looking around to see who was watching and would have all around her gasping for air only moments later. She was the girl who enjoyed being surrounded by unforgettable friends and seizing the moments in life that cannot last forever. My mind goes back to late nights of heartbreak treated with good friends and doughnuts and to inside jokes, pranks, and stories that had to be told over and over again. Personally, the song Kerosene by Miranda Lambert conjures images ofof the two of us (equally horrible singers) belting out the lyrics at a Tau Beta Sigma Karaoke fundraiser during her Membership Candidacy. Not one inclined to vocal performances, it was one of the few times I can recall truly having the time of my life and giving no consideration to anything else. Belting out the lyrics, we brought down the house. We bonded that night. She showed me how to enjoy not taking myself so seriously. To this day, I hear the strains of that up-beat song and can’t help but laugh to think of getting to know my little sister while literally dancing and singing as if no one was watching.

April was the person who worked in order to obtain what she wanted out of life. Working up to three jobs at any given time in addition to serving as a member of the National Guard, she knew all too well the cost of earning a living and never letting the negative events in life dictate her destination. Prompt and punctual, she was always on time and gave forth more effort than was ever asked of her. She would work one shift, only to clock out and head to the next. One after the other, she clocked in her hours out of the determination to be self-sufficient.She could be trusted with any and every task and would go trusted with any and every task and would go through whatever it took to be true to her word once it had been given. A woman of honor, she thrived in honesty and broadcasted herself as an independent and intelligent woman who would attain her heart’s desires. I could not help but be challenged by her. She inspired me to work harder and be better in academics, work, harder and be better in academics, work, Tau Beta Sigma, and life itself. Perhaps the most intense and wonderful aspect of April was her ability to love. Not merely her ability to love, but the way in which she loved the people around her. April enjoyed writing and so did I. It was truly something we shared and it was a truly something we shared and it was a way we both utilized to show the work the depth of our feelings. In one of the last pieces she wrote, she described the love that she desired.

cont. pg 17

Little could she have known how it is that, “love that can’t be undone” so many of us are searching for in this life. However, I don’t believe she was ever fully aware of how her love for those around her was truly the unbreakable and self-less love for which she was searching. To her family, friends, sisters, and brothers, she was fiercely loyal. No matter the injuries committed, she found a way to forgive and to go on loving. Giving all of herself away, she invested in those around her without reservation. She was more than willing to suspend her needs to lend to a friend. Again, I would find myself in awe of how far she waswas willing to go for the people in her life. I was often at a loss to comprehend why she was able to give so much so freely. Now I see. It was because she knew how to love.

Look around you at the people God has chosen to place in your life. Find your April. Find the person who makes you look at your own life with critical eyes. Seek out the person who exemplifies things that challenge you to go beyond your comfort zone. Identify the people in your life who, through their own dedication and sacrifice, show you the person you want to become. Search the faces of family, friends, and your brothers and sisters in the bond. April is there. She is the college student who picks up those extra shifts so that he or she can one day succeed. She is in the family member who can forgive any wrong out of sheer lovelove for another. She is in the friend who will never let you go through the terrible throes of life alone. That person is your April. Only you can truly understand what that person means to you just as only I can tell you what April means to me.

The night she passed away, I lost more than my little sister. I lost an inspiring woman, a beautiful young lady, and the presence of the friend who made such an impact on who I am. There is nothing I can say to adequately depict the feelings of loss experienced by myself, and those who knew and loved her. I have my April and always will. No matter the passage of time, her memory will be a precious reminder of how beautiful life can be to those who choose to live every second of it. She will continue to inspire me to go above and beyond, and that my dreams are only as far away as I allow them to be. Most of all, sheshe will inspire me to live life investing in the lives of others by loving without reservation. I want to be able to love like April.

Find your April. When you do, please remember these words. Only then can you appreciate the memory of the beautiful sister, woman, friend, and little sister who changed my life forever.

April Denise Jackson

Tau Beta Sigma

Epsilon Xi

Smooth TAU-lker #5

SPR 2K9

Uniques Divercia SexlinaTAUs

September 11, 1989 - June 22, 2012September 11, 1989 - June 22, 2012

Upon embarking into college band programs, I have been afforded with some special opportunities. Here at Georgia State University, our marching band program is currently in its third season since the start of our football team just two short years ago. Our chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, the Nu Alpha Chapter, is currently Kappa Psi, the Nu Alpha Chapter, is currently its second year since being a colony and crossed its Alpha class this past spring 2012. This newness brings about not only excitement, but also the chance to build “Nu” traditions and legacies in our unique programs.

I, as well as most of the members of the Nu Alpha Chapter, am a charter member of the Nu Alpha Chapter, am a charter member of the Georgia State University marching band. This is a special privilege that most college band member cannot say that they have had. We have a very unique program here that is a reflection of the lively and diverse city that we live in.in. Our students, school and community shower us with support and praise and we are truly grateful for them. Being in downtown, space is often limited, but we have found ways to work around this. We practice on a state of the art AstroTurf field that we share with the football team, whom the marching band has a great relationship with. For our home stadium, we have the privilege of the dome being our home every week. Since our first performance in the dome we have rocked the crowd with our full rock band, and have had the energy to match. Through hard work and dedication, we have gotten to where we are now while building a tradition and setting a standard of excellence for the generations to follow.building a tradition and setting a standard of excellence for the generations to follow.

I have also had the honor to be a member of the Alpha class of the Nu Alpha Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. Being in the first class, my line brothers, along with the charter members, have been able to set the foundation and structure of what our chapter will become. Thus far we are a very diverse chapter sure to grow with our many prospective members. We have brothers of many races as well as majors ranging from art, to biology, to business. As we take on the challenge to build a chapter and set “Nu” traditions, the Nu Alpha chapter will continue to “Strive for the Highest!”

By Kristen Williams

Nu Alpha, Georgia State University

Building “Nu” Traditions

What Do We Do Now?

by Rebecca SneadBeta Xi, University of Florida

No two semesters are the same in the world of Tau Beta Sigma. You have new Sisters that just crossed, Sisters that have graduated, new service projects, new officers and it never seems to end. Chapters, due to the very nature of being a college and university organization, are always having people leave and people come. Some semesters you experience large numbers of graduates or people that have toto leave for other reasons and then other semesters it feels like no one has left. Sometimes once those Sisters leave, or even in the months leading up to then, there are younger

Sisters wondering how in the world will we manage everything without this person or that person? Over the last several semesters Beta Xi has had a large number of graduates leave due to larger classes in 2007-2008 and slightly smaller than average membership candidate classes. These number fluctuations have left some Sisters wondering what is going on…

We’ve managed. Over the summer we had two different committees working to make changes to our Membership Education program and our Constitution. We’ve made changes so that all areas of our chapter are moving in an upwards direction as effectively and efficiently as possible. We have continued to provide our 350 piece marching band with service as well as all of our concert ensembles. This past summersummer 17 Sisters traveled with the Pride of the Sunshine to perform at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Despite losing nearly thirty Sisters, including three past district officers, to graduation over the last two years we are still finding ways to serve our band in new ways and to have just as strong of a chapter, despite smaller numbers. The chapter room never imploded and there were no disasters. We even have ten membership candidates this semester. One thing we have learned as a chapter is that even when you think there may not be… there will always be someone there to step up and to fill that hole. The chapter room is full of leaders (some quiet and some vocal), and it just takes some time to see everyone’s potential We can’t wait to see everyone at DLC, March for Music and SED Convention in the spring!

On behalf of Epsilon Alpha, we are all excited for the coming year. For the past few semesters, we have been gaining morale and initiative in the endeavors that we have decided to undertake and have grown into a chapter that we can be even more proud of. However, much of our past success was not achieved all by ourselves. At the University of South Carolina, therethere are four musical greek organizations: Tau Beta Sigma, Kappa Kappa Psi, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Phi Mu Alpha. Until just a few semesters ago, the four organizations did not interact or correspond much

with each other, especially in terms of serving the USC School of Music and the Mighty Sound of the Southeast. However, within the last few semesters the four organizations began to have more planned, social interactions along with having more service collaborations at USC. I can confidently say that our increased collaboration with each other has not only made each organizationfunction more efficiently in our duties to serve music, but has also created a sense of family and camaraderie between the musical greek organizations. As a result of the four As a result of the four organizations joint relations, we all have expanded the social and service event possibilities at our disposal. Specifically, I will talk briefly about some of the benefits that Epsilon Alpha has achieved from our newfound, encouraging relationships with the other three organizations. achieved from our newfound, encouraging relationships with the other three organizations. As the organizations of ΤΒΣ and ΚΚΨ at USC have become closer, we have connected our membership processes in more ways than we have previously done. Firstly, during our rush week, we hold joint informationals and social events to acclimate those interested in joining either organization to the idea that we are one family separated by two distinct organizations. Once MEC’s and prospectives are chosen, both organizations VPM’s work closely together to assign appropriate bigs and set dates for certain events. During the process, not only do the MEC’s and the Prospectives have big sisters/brothers in the opposite organization,organization, they also have to get signatures from and have interviews with members of the opposite organization in order to complete the process. Also, the two organizations have joined together to participate in ‘Clean Carolina’ once a month, where both organizations get together and clean the area outside of the School of Music and the Marching Band Building. On top of these combined efforts, the organizations engage in many recreational activities together just for fun and organization bonding. As a result of this increased relation between both organizations, each organization has created a “Social

TO PROVIDE A MEANINGFUL AND WORTHWHILE SOCIAL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL ENGAGED IN COLLEGIATE BAND WORK, AND TO COOPERATE WITH OTHER MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIETIES IN EVERY MANNER CONSISTENT WITH OUR MUTUAL PURPOSES AND THOSE OF THE INSTITUTION AT WHICH

CHAPTERS ARE LOCATED.

“”

Good RelationshipsOther Musical Organizations

Fostering

Chair” position, in which he or she not only plans social events for just their own chapters, but also with both as a joint organization. I could go on and on about the activities that ΤΒΣ and ΚΚΨ collaboratively engage in, and as a result have created for the organizations a more communal, family atmosphere while also expanding the possibilities for service projects.

Though the relationship between ΤΒΣ and ΚΚΨ has been significantly growing for the past couple of years, our recent involvement with ΣΑΙ and ΦΜΑ has been a more recent improvement. Before recently, the only interactions the organizations had were the annual Mistletoe Ball in the winter and the annual Field Day (day of outdoor activities) in the summer between all four organizations. However, within the past year, the relations between the four organizations have grown significantly. For the first time in USC history, the four organization Music Chairs got together and planned for a joint musicale between all four groupsgroups in the spring of 2012. The event was a resounding success with a huge crowd and it has now become a tradition for there to be a joint musicale every spring. Hopefully, this will prompt more traditions between the four organizations. Along with group activities, our growing relations with ΣΑΙ and ΦΜΑ has increased our involvement in the School of Music, and through ΣΑΙ we have taken on some service opportunities with the School of Music faculty. This is a very promising start to the beginning of a great relationship between the four organizations.

The main point that I am emphasizing here is to encourage you, if you are at a university or college that has any other musical organization other than ΤΒΣ, to take the initiative to better the relationship you have with those groups. Our fifth purpose states the following: “To provide a meaningful and worthwhile social experience for allall engaged in collegiate band work, and to cooperate with other musical organizations and societies in every manner consistent with our mutual purposes and those of the institution at which chapters are located.” By upholding this purpose, I know firsthand that it will increase not just the amount of service you will provide for the band, but it will form a broader family of people who are all working towards a similar goal: to aid the art of music.

By Christian Bailey

Epsilon Alpha, University of South Carolina

Starting Fall 2010, our Vice President of Service, Lauren Nowak, and the service committee came up with the idea to attend local high school football games to show our support for our local bands. We started this because we thought it would be a great way to show our support for local high schools. We know that not everyone goes to college or continues to be in band beyond high school, so we thought it would be a great opportunity to give these kids a chance to play with one of the best marching bands in the country.

The students are always ecstatic to see us and for the opportunityto play with us. They are always bursting with questions about to play with us. They are always bursting with questions about college, the Marching Southerners, our fraternity, and they just love to have conversations with us. The Marching Southerners are a very well-known band, especially in our region of the state, so they are always thrilled to see us show up. We are frequently stopped by fans thanking us for showing up and telling us how much it meant to the kids and how great it was to hear us. We also saw this as a great opportunityto recruit for our school, band also saw this as a great opportunityto recruit for our school, band program, and chapter. When the students see our enthusiasm for our band and fraternity, it renews a spark in them and gets them excited and thinking about joining a college band, which is our overall goal- to promote the existence and welfare of college and university bands. It’s the small things like these that sway the opinion of someone to go to our school over another and to continue to be in the band program.

SmallSmall recruitment activities like this are the secret to the size of our band. We have over a 400 member band at a school of around 9,000 student enrollment, which is a little unusual to see. We started getting the word out by contacting directors asking if we could join them at their games, and most loved the idea and welcomed us to join them. The word has spread of this service and how much the students enjoy it that most directors contact us requesting that we join them. Unfortunately, we only have room in our

schedulesschedules to go to about four or five high school games a season so we try to mix up where we go each season to play with everyone. So that we play with as many schools as possible, after the 3rd quarter, we also go to the visiting school’s band to play with them for the remainder of the game. This service started with just our chapter but quickly Phi Mu Alpha, Sigma Alpha Iota, and other marching band members started asking if they could join us, and we were more than happy to have more people join us from all different sections and fraternities. sections and fraternities.

Not only is this good for the high school kids, but it is also good for us to have the opportunity to work together with the other musical organizations for such a good cause showing that we can support one another. We typically have around 50 or more members of the band go to these games, which are usually the size of these high school bands, so it adds to their excitement to have the size of their band doubled for a game.

by Antonio FerrellMu Iota, Jacksonville State University

Mu Iota Reaching Out to the Community

Occasionally at larger chapters, sisters can experience a lack of contribution from the chapter. Sisters sometimes rely on others to rise to the occasion and serve their band while they just sit on the sidelines. At Auburn University, our chapter of Tau Beta Sigma currently has 46 members, and sometimes we fear that we will be one of these larger chapters that don’t have all of their sisters contributing. However, at Auburn we have a saying called ‘All Auburn, All in’, that was originally used during the 2010 football season to rally support for the team during games. Now, along with the SED’s new operation 100%, the sisters of Theta Lambda have set a goal to be ‘all in’ in everything that we do, and to have 100% participation in all that we do.that we do, and to have 100% participation in all that we do.

Since we are sisters of Tau Beta Sigma, we know that it has been an honor to be selected for us to serve our band and music department. We therefore strive to be first and foremost a service organization that is 100% committed to helping our bands and music department in any way possible. For Theta Lambda, this starts by completing our normal service projects that we have throughout the year, as well as being on call for our graduate assistants in the music department. This includes helping out during band camp with our marching band by distributing uniforms to all 380 marching band members, including fitting all of our new members for their uniforms. We’re called upon toto help out the marching band when they go on away trips by distributing per diem. We also help out throughout the season by overseeing plume distribution and mending uniforms throughout the season.

Sometimes these tasks can demand a lot from our sisters, such as when we hurry around our music building trying to find the right uniform for someone knowing that there’s still 10 people waiting in line to be fitted for their uniform. Being in charge of plumes, we have to make sure to gather the plumes the moment that we finish performing one of our shows, which means that there’s usually sisters running throughout the band in order to collect everyone’s plumes. Sometimes the marching band is required to leave for away trips as early as 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning, and our sisters are still expected to be up and handing out per diem to the band. Instead of focusingfocusing on the stress that these tasks can sometimes give us, we instead focus on the positive things that we’re getting out of serving our band, such as knowing that because we fit all of the new members for their uniforms, we have an opportunity to get to know our freshmen and interact with them.

We also try to be all in by not only serving our band and music department, but by serving our community and country as well. Every year we come up with new ideas to help our community out. For example, this year we’ve decided to buy toys to give to children in the Philippines for Christmas, as they typically don’t receive anything during the holiday times. By creating new service projects, we can continue to be enthused about helping out our community and country, which helps give us even more of a reason to be all in.

TheThe sisters of Theta Lambda are so all in when it comes to serving our music department and community because of the bond that we’ve developed between us. Developing the bond between us is something that we are all in to as well, by incorporating Tau Beta Sigma into every aspect of our lives. For us, this is something as simple as catching up with one another before practice or rehearsal, or grabbing a bite to eat before chapter. This bond that we’ve developed then helps us get strength to get through a rough week, because we know that we can always count on our sisters to lift us up when we need it.

OurOur sisters of Theta Lambda come from high schools and bands across the country, and are in different colleges and have different majors from one another. We have sisters who hold leadership positions such as section leader, and we have sisters that are simply members of a band here at Auburn. Though we have a large chapter full of differences, as sisters we have learned how to come together to give 100% to our band, music department, community, and ourselves by being all in, all the time.

All Theta, All Lambda

By Jessica Luhrs

Theta Lambda, Auburn University

“Tau Beta Sigma for Greater Bands.”

“Striving for the Highest.”

“It is an Honor to be Selected to Serve.”

If you’re reading this article, you have heard these phrases more than once since you either joined Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, Inc. or Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Inc. during your undergraduate matriculation.

Every chapter across the nation has different luxuries and setbacks which make us all unique. Some chapters have the luxury of having been established decades ago and already having set traditions by which they can model after each year. However, these chapters still deal with issues and mitigations such as breaking away from tradition without completely losing them and constantly recreating the images of their respective chapters within the band and school as a whole. On the flip side, other chapters have the luxury of establishing traditions as a newer chapter and not having the added pressures of living up to standardsstandards of previous chapter members over the years. With either of these scenarios, one must take into account, whether the chapter is newer or older, who we are serving. Some schools have stable andthriving band programs, whereas other schools are barely scraping the pavement when it comes to band membership, participation, and even their existence overall. On one side of the fence one might think it easier to find opportunities to serve within a thriving band, while on the other sideside one might think it easier to find opportunities to serve in the weaker band programs. In either situation, it is always easy for chapters to become so enthralled with maintaining service projects, uplifting the marching band, and leading within the organization, that we often forget howcrucial newer and more creative recruitment tools can be in each of these areas and to our organizations as a whole.

Now you may be thinking, “My chapter always recruits for the band.” But broaden your horizons.

by Britney HendersonIota Rho, Spelman College

Breaking the Musical Mold

How much more effective would it be if our organizations recruited members from not only the marching bands, but from all instrumental ensembles on campus? Some schools are currently in situations where marching bands have been suspended for whatever reasons, yet members of Tau Beta Sigma and

KappaKappa Kappa Psi find themselves trying to fill the void of not knowing how to “serve the band” if there is in fact, no band. Although our organizations began with marching band, I do not believe this is where we must also end in today’s collegiate band world. If one instrumentalist plays in a jazz ensemble or an orchestra, ask yourselves, are they any less valuable as a potential member of the Sorority or FraternityFraternity than their peers who happen to march in the marching band? The answer is no. In fact they are more valuable because it opens the door to more versatile members in the chapter, and it bridges the gap between Tau

Beta Sigma, Kappa Kappa Psi, and all the students on campus who may or may not be familiar with our organizations because we are usually serving the marching band. Extending our services as a chapter to all of the instrumental ensembles on our campuses not only helps us achieve more through service, it allows us to further fulfill our Purposes while inadvertently increasing membership, thusthus making our Organizations thrive even further. If we bring these ideas into culmination as we move forth into 2013 and beyond, we will truly see changes in our Organizations, Districts, and Chapters that will be for the better. We will increase diversity amongst our service projects, recruitment capabilities, and membership categories. Opening our hearts and minds one small step at a time to these ensembles outside of Marching Band could potentially allow us to receivereceive amazing Brothers and Sisters which we would have never given a chance had we stuck to the ways of the old just because that is the way it has been.

So remember, “It is an Honor to Be Selected to Serve,” so optimize your service potential.

Always “Strive For the Highest” in all aspects of your chapter.

And fight for, “Greater Bands” at your school no matter the current state of your band program.

Georgia State University’s Kappa Kappa Psi Chapter, Nu Alpha, will be celebrating its first Founder’s Day on November 28th. Nu Alpha began its process of getting established in the fall semester of 2010. “I really wanted to be involved with a student organization, and when I found out Kappa Kappa Psi was a band fraternityfraternity that served not only the band but the community, that pretty much made up my mind for me” says Vice President of Service

Megan Glasscock. The Chapter took almost one year to fulfill all the requirements of creating a Chapter, which is relatively a short amount of time for a Greek Organization to be formed.

The process of creating the Chapter was not all easy, though. There were many roadblocks and the members ran into some problems along the way. The biggest roadblock for the Chapter was money. Starting up a new organization requires financial support and the group worked really hard to come up with fundraisers to help offset some costs. Most of the money used to pay off the first set of dues and service projects came out of pocket from the members. Another major obstacle was having the correct information when they were creating the Chapter. Not only did they have to achieve certain basic tasks, likelike creating the constitution, but they also had to learn about the school's student organization regulations and procedures as well as those of the Fraternity's. Many of the members of the Chapter shard many fears as well. “The biggest trouble was finding what kind of role we want to play in the School of Music and how that university would view Kappa Kappa Psi” says Glasscock.

- Megan Glasscock

THE BIGGEST TROUBLE WAS FINDING WHAT KIND OF ROLE

WE WANT TO PLAY IN THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC ANDHOW THAT UNIVERSITY WOULD VIEW

KAPPA KAPPA PSI

“”

A Nu Beginning

By Katie Phillips

Nu Alpha, Georgia State University

Through all the problems along the way, the Chapter established itself as a talented group of students and musicians who are all there for the sole purpose of helping the band program, community, and creating lasting friendships through the brotherhood. Nu Alpha held a joint service project with Georgia Tech’s Chapter, Iota, last April. The two Chapters assembled a pep band and played music for the kids as they clapped along and listened to the music. The Chapter also held a reception for Frank Ticheli’s conducting workshop that was on their campus last November. This service project has been one of their mostmost unique and honoring ones yet. The future of the Chapter is turning out to look very strong. Marina Peña, the Chapter’s President since day one explains, “As the chapter continues to strive higher ever year, I can see the Chapter being more involved on our campus and in our community both musically and through service”. The Chapter is already planning to perform at a library next month for kids in honor of the National Month of Musicianship as well as returning to the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta next semester to play for the kids there. The Chapter still faces one of the many setbacks that an early organizationorganization may encounter. Member Michelle Parkos says, “I would really love to see our Chapter get our name around campus. We are one of the only service fraternities on campus and I would love to see us show GSU what Kappa Kappa Psi is all about”. This only makes the Chapter push to work harder at getting their name out around campus and set standards for their Chapter which will only drive them to work harder in the future. “Our Chapter is going to do big things!” says Peña.

The Chapter will be holding a dinner party November 28th for the members to celebrate their Founder’s Day. With only having been established as a Fraternity for a year, everyone associated with the organization is excited for the future of their Fraternity and proud of the accomplishments that they have made.

Reception for Frank Ticheli after a conducting workshop Playing for the kids at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Throughout my life music has brought me confidence, opportunities, and friendships that have shaped who I am today. Participating in marching and concert bands allows me to let my creative juices flow and step away from all of the stresses of college life. Quite frankly, it keeps me sane, but my story is only the tiniest fraction of the great impact music can have on peoples’ lives. A recent trip to Augusta, Georgia by the Brothers and Sisters of Kappa Kappa Psi’s Iota chapter and Tau Beta Sigma’s Epsilon Theta chapter reminded us of the bigger picture that can sometimes get lost in the haze of marching sets and sheet music.

One of my sisters, Chelsea Fechter, came from a high school with a music program so small that you could hardly call it a small ensemble, let alone a band. So when she discovered this whole new world with the Georgia Tech Marching Band, she decided she wanted to help out back home. With the support ofof the Sisterhood, a plan was set in motion to road trip down to Augusta and work with the band director and students to come up with new warm-ups, exercises, and concert pieces. This trip soon blossomed into a series of three visits, one per semester, which gave Brothers and Sisters an opportunity to do service and enjoy being together for a weekend. I want to focus on the last of the three Augusta Trips, as we like to call them,them, for something powerful happened there that moved us all.

Our final trip was packed to the brim with assemblies, instrument petting zoos, and performances. Kindergarteners were amazed by those giant, shiny noisemakers we like to call tubas and even the coolest of high schoolers loved the goofy dances and

cheers we did during our fight songs. Seeing the joy in the eyes of the kids who had never touched an instrument before or the band members who finally got that tricky eighth note run under their fingers made the early mornings and long days fly by. On the last day of the trip we decided to visit one of the nearby nursing homes and play for the elderly residents there. They clapped and sang along with us, cheering after every song. When we concluded our little performance,

by Sarah Wilson

Epsilon Theta,Georgia Institute of Technology

The Power of Music

we chatted with the group and listened to their stories. We even met an old Georgia Tech alumnus who still had his RAT (Recruit At Tech) cap. He proudly showed us the football scores from his first year at Tech and reminisced about all of the quirky RAT rules that have been passed down through the generations by the marching band. The real show stopper though was an elderly woman who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She had trouble remembering her last meal and could not even recognize her own daughter, but when we began playing our fight song, she knew every word. You see, the true power of music is

its ability to transcend conscious thought and touch us on a much deeper level. Haven’t we all had that euphoric moment of listening to a song so beautiful and pure that it brings tears to the eyes? Those moments that shake us to the very core are the ones we will never forget. Singing your fight song may seem like an insignificant act now, but when it’s the only thing you have remembered all day, those words suddenly become the most important ones in the world. This woman’s story reminded us that the impact of music is bigger than all of us, so working together to spread music to others is crucial. The Brothers and Sisters of ΚΚΨ and ΤΒΣ herehere at Georgia Tech have been inspired to push ourselves further with our service to the band and the community and I, for one, wouldn’t have it any otherway.

Iota Zeta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band FraternityNorth Carolina A&T University

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