A Lifelong Commitment

During the 2015 - 2017 biennium, I had the opportunity to serve on the National Curriculum Committee. Created by the National President at the time (Dr. Jack Lee), the purpose of this committee was to write a membership education program - what you all know now as The Road to Wisdom. As we planned out our lessons as a committee, we kept coming back to this thought: What is the

minimum required information that each membership candidate should know before becoming a Brother?

This thought guided the creation of lessons that many chapter membership education programs did not have at the time - such as lessons on Brotherhood, Musicianship, and the Final Lesson: A Lifelong Commitment. The goal of the final lesson is to integrate people into the chapter - since the lesson could be taught before or after Third Degree, candidates are either about to become Brothers or they are newly initiated. Ultimately, we wanted people to have the feeling that they were becoming part of something that is greater than just the time of active

• Templates & Resources - collection of templates and resources that chapters can use to prep for recruitment events and to follow up with interested band members

Brothers, we would not be here today without you, your dedication to our Brotherhood, and the work you put into our organization. I recognize that we cannot remedy these issues overnight and that it will take time, effort, and perseverance. I know there will be growing pains and many frustrations along this journey, and that we may lose people along the way. Even though these issues loom over our future, I am reminded that we, both Active and membership in college.

My question to you is this: Are we living

this principal? What does it mean to make a lifelong commitment?

Each time we experience the Ritual, we rededicate ourselves to the ideals of the Brotherhood, including the thought to live a life of selfless service. I tell chapters all the time - that to be a Brother of Kappa Kappa Psi, we all must hold and live the value of servant leadership. Without it - Kappa Kappa Psi just isn’t for you. But what does this mean? What does this look like?

For active members, I think this is fulfilling our 5 Purposes within our chapters and programs. Pursuing leadership opportunities within the Fraternity - chapter offices and committees, district offices and committees, and even National Committees. It’s participation in district and national programs and events. I also think it’s anticipating the needs of your director and band program, standing as a leader at your university and band program, and living our ritualistic values to be a good human.

As for alumni members, I think many of these ideas apply as well. It could be supporting your local chapter and band program, pursuing leadership opportunities in your band or chapter alumni association, the regional or district alumni association, or the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association. It could also be serving on various committees on the district or national level or participating in the programs.

As we prepare for the 2023 National Convention in Orlando, we need you - to attend convention and represent your chapter, to lift up your voice by participating as a delegate or on national committees, and to consider putting yourself and your talents out there to the Brotherhood by running for District office, National office, or for the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Think of the last phrase of our creed, “Through

Fraternal Participation each member

will STRIVE FOR THE HIGHEST’’ and ask yourself…Am I living that? What is my level of fraternal participation? Am I here out of obligation or because I believe in the values of Kappa Kappa Psi?

Our fraternity was created in the image of our Guiding Spirit, Bohumil Makovsky. He demanded the best of his students, and in turn, his students created an organization that cultivates the best in people. Take a moment, and rededicate yourself to the ideals of the order. Reflect on our pillars of Musicianship, Leadership, Service, and Brotherhood. Remind yourself that this is a lifelong commitment and cherish it. Kappa Kappa Psi is about people and relationships - being a good person - and the ability for us to work together through our common bond of music and band. This Brotherhood is what it is because of you…and we can’t do this

without you.

Alumni Brothers, have overcome so much more and that we are stronger when we work together and march shoulder-toshoulder. We will define our growth and success – not the challenges that aim to make us falter. Through our shared values and vision, I am confident that we will RE-CHARGE the Fraternity and spark a new trajectory for our members. I am so incredibly proud to serve as your National Vice President for Membership & Expansion, and am very fortunate to work alongside you as we STRIVE FOR FIVE.