Board Stiff? (pt. 2) Biographies of New ΤΒΣ Board of Trustees by Patsy Hejl, ΤΒΣ Board of Trustees Chair
Debbie Kaplan
D
ebbie Kaplan first encountered Tau Beta Sigma in 1983 at band practice on a hot, sunny day in Gainesville, Florida, on a patch of land lovingly known as “Sewer Field.” A woman with letters on her shirt, who later turned out to be the membership educator, announced a get-together after practice; Debbie attended and was hooked from the get-go! Little did Debbie Kaplan know that the woman with the letters on her shirt would one day become the Vice-Chair of Tau Beta Sigma’s Board of Trustees, namely Debbie Baker Debbie is a Life Member of the Beta Xi Chapter at the University of Florida and has served Tau Beta Sigma in a variety of leadership positions on the local, district, and national levels since her initiation. She held office on the Tau Beta Sigma National Council from 1991 to 1999, most recently completing her term as National President from 1997 to 1999. Debbie has been an appointed member of the Board of Trustees since 1997. Originally from Hollywood, Florida, Debbie now lives in Houston with her husband, Rick, who is a financial portfolio manager. They have 2 1/2-year-old fraternal twins, a daughter named Brooke, and a son named Jordan (She’s older by 2 1/2 minutes!). Currently, Debbie’s primary focus is the upbringing of her children, but she spends a great deal of time volunteering in the Houston community. She is an active Board member of the Jewish Community Center of Houston and is extremely involved at Brooke and Jordan’s school. She is also supportive of The (Houston) Children’s Museum, the Houston Zoological Society, and the Gator Band Alumni Association. Prior to starting her family, Debbie worked as a consultant in public relations, fund-raising, and event planning for local
6—The PODIUM, Spring 2000
and out-of town clients including the Jewish Community Center of Houston, LIFE/Houston Food For Hungry Babies, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and Macy’s. She moved to Houston from Atlanta where she was Regional Public Relations and Special Events Manager for Macy’s. Debbie Baker is not the only person Debbie Kaplan knows from way back when. Former Kappa Kappa Psi National President Scott Stowell was Debbie’s ΚΚΨ/ΤΒΣ little brother, and for more than 15 years they served together on many levels of the Fraternity and Sorority. Debbie’s real brother was a member of ΚΚΨ too! Debbie loves being a parent! She also loves to travel, try new things (like restaurants and amusement parks), read books, hang out with friends, and attend major events (especially sporting ones). She is a huge sports fanatic, even though her teams, the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Braves, Houston Rockets, and, of course, the Florida Gators have had some rough times lately. Says Debbie: “Tau Beta Sigma is such an awesome organization—it brings together people from all over the country with so many diverse backgrounds. The amazing thing is that we all let the ideals, purposes, and mission of the Sorority guide us— and we all have our love for music in common! ‘Tau Beta Sigma for Greater Bands!’ ”
Cathy Miles
C
athleen J. E. Miles lives in Baltimore, Maryland (in a white and blue house!), with her husband, Melvin N. Miles (ΚΚΨ Board of Trustees), daughter, Erin (16), and dog, Quincy (yes, named after Quincy Jones!). Cathy is the Assistant Head of Gilman Middle School for Boys, where she also teaches choral music, band, and values. Prior to teaching she worked in the community fighting poverty, opening the first men’s shelter in Baltimore County. Cathy grew up in New Bloomfield, Missouri, and moved
