The Orange Baton: Winter 2012

Cover Contributions: Annie Pasquinelli

The Orange Baton is a production of Oregon State University’s Theta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity

Executive/Layout Editor: Greg Urban - Photo Editor: Sarah Montague

Through the eyes of NEW member

By Jamie Gregory Zeta Class The first time I ever heard about Kappa Kappa Psi was when I was a junior in high school during marching band season.

My high school had just hired a new band director who was fairly young, energetic and enthusiastic about working at our high school. For the first few days it was just our band director and some new staff members that he had brought along. However, during the last two days of our camp, there were about ten new temporary staff members there. I was informed that they were students who attended Oregon State University and were a part of a student run, band service music organization called Kappa Kappa Psi. The KKPsi Crew had only come down for a few days, and had driven two hours from Corvallis to my hometown. I was amazed that these people came down to help our struggling program all the way from OSU, but even more shocked when I learned that they were volunteering their own time as they helped our band. The KKPsi crew helped our members during sectionals, music rehearsals, in our marching techniques, and drill run-throughs on the field

during our blistering hot August days. I later found out that my band director was a past member of this group and that he was one of the charter members who helped to reinstate the chapter at Oregon State.

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and become a member of the fraternity as soon as I could.

The main draw for me to KKPsi was how helpful, outgoing, and friendly the members were to me and my fellow band members while they were helping

I loved the idea of a service-based fraternity that was solely committed to the band and its musical needs.

During my senior year of high school, more members of Kappa Kappa Psi came down yet again to help my band director and our program on at least one day during band camp. As I started to think about colleges and potential majors, I had a long discussion with my director about what Kappa Kappa Psi really was, and what it is really all about. By this point, I had already decided on attending Oregon State and about being a music education major. Learning about KKPsi and all of the possibilities that the fraternity opened to people got me really excited and motivated to try

us. I loved the idea of a service-based fraternity that was solely committed to the band and its musical needs. I loved helping out my band and my director while I was in high school, and felt like KKPsi would be the perfect group for me. I actually ended up coming to Benton Hall at OSU during the spring of my senior year on a band trip from my high school, and KKPsi members were helping run sectionals and were working with members of our concert band. I not only got to meet someone in the fraternity that also played bassoon, but also played saxophone and was so

friendly and nice in my sectional! Right after I got out of that sectional I was attacked and welcomed by other members of KKPsi. They were very excited to hear that I would be coming next year as an incoming freshman. That was the moment when I stopped worrying about college and where I would fit in, because they had already made clear to me that there were opportunities and possibilities for me here in ways beyond just being a student at OSU. After waiting all summer for my first college marching band season, it was finally upon me.

I loved marching band camp, and it was my first real time to get to see KKPsi members in action.

After a few long days of band camp, KKPsi held fun game nights and even a movie night for anyone that wanted to attend and to socialize outside of camp before school started. I thought that this added bonus of a social side to KKPsi was even better than what I had thought about it before!

During most of the marching band season, I kept asking my section leader (who is a KKPsi active member) when rush events or recruiting would be for KKPsi. I continued on next page

continued from previous page really wanted to be in the fraternity because of how many great things I had seen the group do. During Winter term I was informed about rush events and I was quite excited to see what it would be like. Unfortunately and ironically, I wasn’t able to attend any rush events due to other band commitments. I felt like I had blown my chance at rushing the fraternity. However, I was extended a bid and was invited to be a part of the fraternity. I was so excited and thrilled beyond words.

Interviewing the current actives has helped to give much more depth, meaning and understand to what I am learning in my education process. It also allows me get to know everyone in the chapter as well as to catch all the different perspectives and personalities each member brings to our chapter. The more I learn about the history of the fraternity and its morals, values and beliefs, the more I want to be an active member. I am quite excited in the growth of the fraternity and the direction it is going and can’t wait to see what I and my fellow Zeta classmates (as well as future generations) can bring to our chapter!

Valentine’s Day Fundraiser

By Daniel Mitchell Zeta Class Kappa Kappa Psi provides wonderful areas of service and fundraising towards the band program. This past year, for Valentine’s Day, Kappa Kappa Psi went to the Memorial Union Quad to sell carnations, Valentine cards, and candy to students who might want to give their special Valentine a little something to show their appreciation. Fundraising to better the band program was the ultimate goal in having this Valentine stand in a public area. In this way, the fraternity was not only selling items for Valentine’s Day, but we were also promoting the fraternity and showing students how Kappa Kappa Psi works. Through this fundraising project, we were able to also spread the love of music through students getting their friends a musical valentine. The recipient of the card had to figure out a music symbol in order to figure out what the card meant. As a prospective member of KKPsi, it is always a great experience to start fundraising early because doing something to better someone else is really the reason why Kappa Kappa Psi is such an amazing fraternity. By being a part of this fundraising project, each of the members built integrity, responsibility, and most importantly, the satisfaction of not only helping out the band program, but also brightening a person’s day.

Challenging ourselves to Strive for the Highest!

By Garrett Elzie Zeta Class As a new PM of Kappa Kappa Psi’s Theta Chapter, I wanted to get involved in fraternal activities as quickly and early as I could. Late in the Winter, we planned a challenge course event where we participated in numerous activities. Since this was one of the first times I was actively participating in a social event, I found it very fun getting to interact with other members that I didn’t really talk to on a regular basis. From the challenge course, I think we all learned and demonstrated that obstacles can be overcome with the help of others; being a good follower is just as beneficial as being a good leader; and that listening to instructions carefully is crutial for completing any task. Overall, I think I can speak for everyone who attended the challenge course when I say that it was a very fun and educational bonding experience!

Above: Garrett contemplates a debriefing activity.

Below: Participants verbally guide their partner through a treacherous ‘Minefiled’ during the Challenge Course activity.

Clockwise from top left: Ryan educates Jamie at an Education meeting. Members enjoy themselves at South Beach Campground on the Annual Camping Trip.

Lightwriting on the beach. The group has a funny moment on the camping trip. Morgan walks Danny through an intiative during the Challenge Course activity.

Photo Credits: Sarah Montague, ian Hunnicut and Allison julander

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