Ensembles and Teamwork by Kathy Godwin

Ensembles and Teamwork

by Kathy Godwin ΤΒΣ National VP for Special Projects

We all know what it takes to be part of an ensemble whether it’s marching band or a small quintet. We each have a role we play, sometimes as the soloist, sometimes as the harmony and sometimes we even play the up-beats. In Tau Beta Sigma, many times your working relationships are compared to those in an ensemble. Working together for a common goal - excellence in music.

For a moment I’d like you to take a slightly different look at the Sorority. A different analogy if you will. It’s that of a team. I do realize that many of you have heard multiple talks about teamwork, but I ask that you consider a few more points.

We are all on the same team when it comes to Tau Beta Sigma. I don’t mean only the students in your chapter. I don’t mean only the students in your district. I mean every single person from every new initiate to every member of the Board of Trustees. Each one of us works together and needs the other in order for Tau Beta Sigma, OUR Sorority, to grow.

Often times, I speak to a student who tells me after we talk that they never knew they could just talk to a National Council member or someone on the Board of Trustees. Well, we are just people like you who have grown through ΤΒΣ and want to use our skills to give back to the organization. I want to take this time to assure you that you can and you should communication with us.

Tau Beta Sigma is a student-run organization. Yes, you elect National Officers, Board of Trustees members, and district officers to make decisions and guide you. But the most important part of that is that YOU elect them. It is by your decisions that leaders are put in place and by your ideas and thoughts that we move forward. Therefore, we are all working for the same goals and ideals...YOURS! We are all on the same team and we need each other.

So how can you help the team? You can be active, you can ask questions, you can show up to your district conventions, you can talk to your counselors. Everything we do is up to you, not just your chapter president, you. That is how integral of a part of the team you are.

More specifically, you can just attend the convention, but why not offer to chair a committee to help lead your district in a specific area or offer to help by taking minutes for the committee you are assigned. Make sure to voice your opinion in the meetings, that’s why we have them. Don’t think your opinion isn’t important in that committee or during a vote; it is important. Talk to your district leaders at precincts, block meetings or state days before the convention about what you would like to see happen. Volunteer to help move the projects forward. Go to the reading band at your convention and participate.

Remember, you will charge your district officers to bring forward ideas for the National Convention coming up this summer. Be ready with your ideas to present at district convention so there is plenty of planning time before the National Convention. Another great way to step forward is to run for office yourself. One of you reading this will be the next district president. For that matter, one of you could be on the Board of Trustees or on the National Council in the future.

The Tau Beta Sigma TEAM needs you to play your part with a common goal in mind - excellence in sister-

Tau Beta Sigma Scholarships

How many of you could use an extra $500 for this next semester? Or need a great award or recognition to add that final touch to your resume? Then APPLY for a TBS scholarship!! It’s so easy! Everyone already knows that you’re involved in a terrific organization, not to mention all of the hard work that you do for it…so why not get rewarded for it all? You deserve it! Now I know some of you are saying, it’s too much trouble to apply for an award….letters of recommendation, a resume, etc., etc., etc… but its really not as hard as it seems. In fact, many of the awards available don’t even require all of that. For instance, you can get an award for having the highest G.P.A. in you chapter. How simple is that? There are three scholarships available to all of the sisters of Tau Beta Sigma. Both the National Scholarships for Outstanding Musical Achievement and Outstanding Student Leaders award a $500 scholarship. The Tau Beta Sigma Trustees Scholarship awards a $500 scholarship to any female Music Education major. Recipients of these scholarships must be Junior or Senior Active members with a specific G.P.A. Unlike the awards such as Top Chapter Scholar, these awards do require a little bit of effort. Most require an essay or audition tape accompanied by letters of recommendation. Now, I’m sure some of you are saying that you really don’t have time to track down all of these people to get letters of recommendation, but it’s really not that hard. It really doesn’t take much time to stop by your band director’s office, a G.T.A.’s office, or whomever to ask for a letter of recommendation. And I’m sure they would be more than happy to help you out. So get out there and apply for all of these!! They’re so easy to get!! Ask your Chapter President for details, refer to your Chapter Operations Handbook, or contact Alan J. Harriet, Tau Beta Sigma Board of Trustees at 954-962-7228, or email a.harriet@worldnet.att.net.