The PODIUM
National Articles
Jessica Lee, Vice President for Colonization & Membership - ΚΚΨ
Honoring Outstanding Band Members:
A Foundation for Membership
Recruitment & Selection
O
ne of the most common questions that I receive from Brothers is “How do we choose the right members?” We can find guidance on how to answer this question in a few places. The Second Purpose provides an obvious answer: “To honor outstanding band members through privilege of membership extended as a reward for technical achievement and appreciation for the best in music.” We also have information in the National Constitution: 6.503 A band member may be offered entry into the National Membership Education Program: The Road to Wisdom of the Fraternity after the satisfactory completion of one (1) term as a member of the college or university band unless exception is made by the Chapter Sponsor. The band member shall possess unusually good character and demonstrate leadership potential. Referenced in the 1924 Baton, our Founders also had thoughts about what to consider when we choose our members: “Kappa Kappa Psi chooses its members after careful consideration – that might be said of any Greek letter organization – but it is not so true as in this Band Fraternity because the band fellows are more closely in touch with each other and individuality has much to do with the success of the organization as well as cooperative effort – for that reason more careful selection is possible to be made and is made. The cardinal requirements for membership are: Musical Ability, Personality, and Scholarship." All of these documents have one key idea in common – that membership in Kappa Kappa Psi should be for the most outstanding band members in the band. Our membership should be selective. Considering this, then our potential
38 - Kappa Kappa Psi & Tau Beta Sigma
members should already possess the qualities that we continue to develop as a member in Kappa Kappa Psi, and the most difficult vote to make as an active member should be the vote cast to extend an invitation for membership. Membership education provides development and direction to the qualities we desire in members of Kappa Kappa Psi that candidates already possess, while teaching candidates about the history and operations of Kappa Kappa Psi. Thinking about what those qualities might be, the following list provides a starting point for chapters to consider:
Musicianship. Leadership. Service. Brotherhood. Honor. Integrity. Respect. Loyalty.
Your chapter may have other qualities to consider, including the values found within our Ritual, but these qualities provide much of the basis of what we desire in our members. In order to fulfill the Second Purpose, we should consider the very best of the band and offer these individuals an opportunity to Strive for the Highest through their musicianship, leadership, and service to their university band program. Using these qualities as a starting point, create a tool that the chapter can
use to guide their discussion regarding membership selection. This tool can help make conversations more constructive in nature, and allow the chapter to have an agreed upon guide to use when making decisions. Possible tools could include: 1. List of qualities to consider 2. Portrait of a Brother – outline the qualities and characteristics of a Brother of your chapter 3. Membership Selection Rubric or Checklist 4. Standards or Criteria for active members The key is that the chapter should
