Lessons We Can Learn from Geese (Geese???) by Jerome Jackson

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by Jerome Jackson National Vice President for Student Affairs Kappa Kappa Psi

(Author’s note: Since my initiation into Kappa Kappa Psi, I have continued to travel a long road that was started by my journey through the Rituals. I have benefited greatly from this fraternity, and have learned some harsh, valuable lessons about friendship, loyalty, respect, service, sacrifice, and love. Some of these lessons I realized on my own. Some of these had to be shown to me. Chris Haughee, Southeast District Governor, at the 1995 National Convention in Orlando, first showed one lesson that always sticks out in my mind to me. He used it during his Ritual Presentation at the time and I found it extremely profound then and even more important to me today. At times, I find myself reading this whenever I lose track of my goals, and I will always remember Chris Haughee, not only for his outstanding leadership as Governor, but for these lessons below as well. The original source is unknown.)

You have gone through the Membership Education Process. You have paid your dues, purchased your letters, and strutted proudly through that band room as a member of Kappa Kappa Psi/Tau Beta Sigma. However, do you know what your organization is all about? Service, right? Well, that’s a good answer. However, what is the most important service project you can work on for your band? I say, “Participate in a band.” After all, is not music a universal language, and truly the greatest of the arts? How often do we see brothers and chapters wondering what new and exciting service projects they can do for their band program? They devote time and energy inventing the wheel when some of their membership sits in the audience while the band director needs help on third clarinet. Participating in a band keeps you involved with the everyday operations of the band program. Playing an instrument connects you with the program and your fellow brothers as well as all band members. So when looking for some exciting new project to energize your self and your chapter, try looking at your instruments and making sure you participate.

Participation in a band is a team effort, and as members of the band team, we can learn a lot from watching our feathered friends, the geese. Consider:

Fact #1 – As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71 percent greater flying range than if one bird flew alone. Lesson Learned – People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the strength of one another.

Fact #2 – Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.

Lesson Learned – If we have as much sense as geese, we will stay in formation with those who are ahead of where we want to go and be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others.

Fact #3 – When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.

Lesson Learned – It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership.

Fact #4 – The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Lesson Learned – We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging, and not something else.

Fact #5 – When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again, or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or they catch up with their flock.

Lesson Learned – If we have as much sense as geese do, we too, will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.