volume 3, issue 1
fall ter 2012
Front row: Ethan Schwanz, Stephen Nguyen, Don Jahne, Sage Gustafson, and Sarah Massey Back row: Geoff Bishop, Daniel Malmuth, Alex Bird, and Brett Moffatt
welcome to theta, eta! by Danny Mitchell Zeta Class
One of the greatest parts of fall term would be experiencing First Degree as an Active and welcoming the new Eta class to the fraternity as Prospective Members. The people who were invited to participate in the ceremony were more than qualified to become PMs. As parliamentarian of the Theta Chapter of KKPsi, it was a great honor to take part in this ceremony and it felt amazing to have such an integral part in helping these individuals become prospective members. Being a fairly new Active member, I remember how special First Degree was for me and how excited I was to go through that process. During First Degree, I was even more excited for these band members to go through the same process that I went through. Throughout this whole process of becoming an active member, it was very important to trust that the older members would be there to support me and help me through this process. I can't wait to be that individual to lend a helping hand to these new prospective members as they go through their education and degree processes. Go PMs and Eta Class!
a
big story
by Danielle Aguilar Gamma Class
This year will be my three-year anniversary of being an active member of the Theta chapter. I have gained a lot of wonderful memories from this brotherhood, from being a prospective member with my fellow Gamma class to leading group discussions on communication and teamwork. But by far, my favorite part of Kappa Kappa Psi has been being a Big Brother. I have enjoyed watching new members come into our fraternity and slowly learn what it means to be a Brother, and as they pass through the degrees, learn about the fraternity and the secrets we hold. Teaching my Littles about KKPsi and having them think deeper about how are chapter works and why we want to help our music community has been a great experience (especially during Family bowling with the Nanbo Clan!) I have so
far had two wonderful Littles, Greg Urban (Delta class) and Sarah Montague (Epsilon class). I remember Greg knew very little about the fraternity but was eager to learn more. And now he has worked his way up to being president of our chapter. My other Little, Sarah, was someone I shared my love of marine biology with, and she is currently studying abroad in Thailand! I am so proud of them and also very excited about my newest prospective Little, Geoff Bishop. He is very funny and smart and I can tell that he will be a great addition to our VonWilson family and to Greg Urban, Danielle Aguilar, and Geoff Bishop Theta chapter.
1
musical chairs by Danielle Aguilar Gamma Class
At my first Western District Convention in 2010 (Tucson, Arizona), I was just a prospective member. I hadn’t yet gone through third degree, but it was there that I had one of the most influential conversations about Kappa Kappa Psi I have ever had. Someone whose name I sadly don’t remember was talking to my grand-Big and I about how a chapter functions successfully. They said, “There are really three things that are absolutely vital: service, brotherhood, and music. Without them being equal, a chapter cannot succeed.” I think we do pretty well with our service activities, and I like to think we are a good Brotherhood (seeing as I am Brotherhood chair), but we never focused on music because it seemed to be something we should all be doing well at… shouldn’t it? But of course, there should always be constant improvement if we want to succeed. Well…we had talked about having a reading band for a couple years, but being a newly reinstalled chapter, there always seemed to be something more important that needed attention. However we finally created a Music Chair position in the chapter, and had high hopes for what this Chair would bring to the table, though we did not know exactly what to expect. This year, our Music Chair, Ryan Auerbach, has offered us many opportunities to improve our musical skills. A couple of the great things Ryan has organized are our first-ever reading band (!!!) and a wonderful addition to our annual Secret Santa exchange, Christmas quartet performances. The reading band was a huge success. Music and non-music majors had the opportunity to choose a song from our library and conduct their Brothers, enabling those non-majors the opportunity to see how it is with a baton for the first time, and also giving everyone an opportunity to play more music. Our Brothers from Mu Pi joined us for this event too! And Ryan is in the process of organizing another reading band for this February 28th. The Christmas quartet was another great experience. We were randomly put into groups of four and asked to prepare one of the provided holiday tunes. My quartet consisted of jingle bells and finger cymbals, clarinet, tenor saxophone, and a jaw harp! I really hope this tradition continues! I am sure Ryan has more ideas brewing for the Music Chair position and I look forward Ryan Auerbach to seeing what music chairs do in the future.
OSUMB Winter Travels
band, including KKPsi, were willing to help keep the entire trip efficient through acts of service. Another amazing by Danny Mitchell experience was the San Antonio Riverwalk. The Riverwalk Zeta Class was a beautiful walkway along the river that had many Through being apart of the Oregon State Marching Band, I different shops and restaurants, creating wonderful atmoshad the amazing opportunity this winter break to go to San pheric vibes. This walk was a great opportunity to wear my letters, create awareness about KKPsi, and to even see Antonio, Texas to play at the Valero Alamo Bowl. All if anyone else knew about or was in KKPsi. Overall, I rethroughout the five-day trip, I got to experience so many great things that San Antonio has to offer. The most amaz- ally enjoyed this trip because (1) I got to experience a new ing experience I had was playing great pep band music in a place that I had never been to before (2) I got to create awareness of the Oregon State Marching Band and (3) I different stadium filled with such a large audience. Even though Oregon State was almost completely outnumbered was able to help make this trip a success by helping it run in regards to the fan base, I was proud to be a Beaver. An- smoothly through the works of KKPsi. I will never forget other great part to the trip was how many members of the this truly amazing experience.
2
Rachel after Gamma class’ first degree, 2010
Rachel after Eta class’ first degree, 2012
Where are They Now? A look at the accomplishments of Theta Alumni & OSU Music Grads by Bob Schapper Theta Chapter Alumnus
My Last Year With the OSUMB by Rachel Vanderbeek Gamma Class
It is a bittersweet feeling when you realize that you are standing on the football field for the last time. The past four years in the Oregon State University Marching Band have been the highlight of my college career. I have made so many friends, made many great memories, grown as a leader and as an individual, and met the man I will spend my life with. Hard to think that in just four years all that could happen. I can still remember my first rehearsal with the band on that first day of band camp. I remember being so nervous and excited all at the same time. I came from a band of about 30 members and had dreamed of being in a 100 person band. It was more than a dream come true to be sitting there with over 200 members. Now we have reached 250 members and I will greatly miss the Oregon State Marching Band. This final year of marching band has topped all others, even the exciting new freshman year. I am proud to be a Beaver and proud to say I was part of an excellent program, surrounded by wonderful people who are supportive and kind. Thank you to all those people who made this year the best year of all. Go Beavs!
Oregon State University graduating musicians have historically impacted band traditions. Going back to World War I, graduates from Cap Beard’s band lead any number of US Army Bands. Our very first President of Theta Chapter , John Garman, exemplifies this particular band tradition. A more recently Theta Chapter member, Brian Benson (class of ’72) has continued this musical role. Also graduating in 1972, Bill Chisholm (Theta) has followed a different path. This first band director of the One More Time Around Again Band. Bill is now the Band Director, Leadership Advisor at Centennial High School, Gresham Oregon. Steve Matthes (a Theta graduating in ‘74) is the long-time director of the Corvallis Community Band and is Branden Hansen currently the President of Albany Rotary Alpha Class of Theta Chapter Club. Skipping ahead a decade, Mary (Woods) Bengel (class of ‘88) is the current Band Director Beaverton High School, Beaverton Oregon. Mary was the second band director of the One More Time Around Again Band. A new honorary member of Theta, Kristine (Fisher) Janes (class of ‘89) is the Band Director at Crescent Valley High School in Corvallis Oregon. Craig Olson (class of ‘92) is the Band Teacher at High Desert Middle School, Bend Oregon. More recent graduates include Kathleen Murphy Smith (class of ‘02) is a Staff Assistant for the OSU Marching Band and Band Teacher at Seven Oaks Middle School, Lebanon Oregon. Jon Soderberg-Chase (class of ‘06) pushed for the re-establishment of Theta Chapter and is the Band Teacher at Ashland High School, Ashland Oregon. Dana Henson (class of ‘07) is currently the Band Director Oregon City High School, Oregon City Oregon. Frank Craig (class of ‘08) recently took the job of Music Specialist at Timber Ridge School in Albany Oregon. Branden Hansen (Theta graduating in ‘08) is the Band Director at Roseburg High Paul Dunsmoor School, Roseburg, Oregon. Beta Class of Theta Chapter Congratulations to graduates of the class of 2012. Paul Dunsmoor (Theta) is now Director of Bands at Hermiston High School, Hermiston, Oregon; Jenna Gagne is the Band Teacher at Dexter McCarty Middle School, Gresham Oregon; and Devon Gray (Theta) is Director of Instrumental Music at Ogden High School, Ogden, Utah.
3
the fabulous
CANDIDS
five fabulous pictures of Theta showcasing...
{
a glimpse of thetas at their least prepared
} 3
(1) Nicole Watson and Merrick Von Poppenheim joke at the annual Secret Santa gift exchange. (2) Brian Massey and Sarah Massey share some sibling love after Eta Class’ first degree. (3) Stephen Marshall is overwhelmed with joy upon finding a stuffed animal in his stocking.
2
1
4
5
(4) Danielle Aguilar, Nicole Watson, Alex Knapp, and Allison Julander laugh while preparing to showcase their jingle bell, saxophone, clarinet, and jaw harp skills during their holiday quartet performance. (5) Brian Massey tries on his aptly decorated beanie, one of his Secret Santa gifts. The Orange Baton is assembled and edited by Allison Julander // Photos compiled by Jamie Gregory and Annie Pasquinelli
4