Programs

The EK Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi has always been very focused on taking care of the ASU Ram Band before everything else, and does this in a variety of ways. However, we also like to help out the high schools in the area when possible, and look to expand in that field even further over the next couple of years. Below are some details on the various projects of the EK Chapter. This list, though thurough, mostly covers recent projects and accomplishments during the Fall 2006 semester.

Equipment


EK has always tried to both repair existing equipment and purchase new equipment to the extent that our financial capacity allows.

Yard Line Markers


In Fall of 2006, the brothers purchased new yardline markers (similar to what you'd see at football games) to replace the old sheet metal markers. The old markers were scratched and worn out, so recieving these professionally made yardline markers was a good boost to the marching band's morale.

"The new yardline markers are much more visible compared to the old ones which makes it easier to facilitate the rehearsal. "~Dan Smithiger: Director of Athletic bands and Assistant Director of Bands at ASU

Surprise!


As part of the first ever National Month of Musicianship, EK performed and unscheduled service project by repairing and repainting the music stands. Additionally, a new stencil was made, converting the logo on the stands from the "Diamond ASU" to the "Flamming A" logo of Angelo State University (which is visible on both the ASU band shirts as well as on the marching uniforms). Previously many of the stands were loose, and didn't work well. Not only that, but most of the older stands were scratched up pretty badly. Now they look and work almost like new. The band students really took notice at this surprise service project, and were really excited about it.

"It helps out alot. The stands use to look bad and it made us (music department) look bad when we had highs schools come to our university. with the stand painted it make it better for requiring." ~Rosendo Ramos: ASU Band Member

The chapter (along with Mr. Smithiger, Director of Athletic Bands at ASU) identified one major trouble area for the marching band being that most students don't bring their music out to the field each day. To help deter this problem next year, the brothers of EK purchased 50 flip folders with additional pages to be distributed to next year's band members who can't afford to buy a flip folder themselves. It is also likely that flip folders will be required at rehearsals next year, making this purchase even more important. Though this only covers just over 50% of the marching band students, many first year students tend to still have their flip folders from high school. The EK Chapter also looks forward to purchasing more flip folders in the coming years in anticipation of the growth within the marching band.

The last major equipment related project of the semester was to repair the low F marimba bar. The music department wouldn't have otherwise been able to afford this repair, but the brothers of EK were more than happy to pay for it to be sent off. This repair will take place over the Christmas break so that it's available for use during the Spring semester for both the ASU concert Band and ASU Wind Ensemble.


Another purpose of Kappa Kappa Psi is to provide a pleasant and helpful social experience for all those engaged in college band work. Sometimes the brothers do this in the form of a "rush" as part of its own recruitment strategy. Other times the events will be strictly for the band members to get together and have fun.

Early Week Breakfast


During early week, the EK Chapter provides breakfast one day a week so that the band members (usually still getting the sleep from their eyes) can grab a bite to eat before the long stretch to lunch. The meal varies each year, but every year the brothers also partner up with their sister organization, the Delta Tau Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, to make a variety of breakfast burritos. This involves meeting at 5:30 AM that morning, but it's always worth it, and always well recieved.

BBQ at Horseshoe Bend


The Saturday after early week is always the first "rush" of the year, as TBSigma and KKPsi team up again for a BBQ at Horseshoe Bend. This is labeled as a recruiting activity, but there's typically little talk of the two band service organizations. Instead, TBSigma and KKPsi opt to just feed everyone and either swim, play sand volleyball, and just have an all around good time.

Ram Band Halloween Fun Night


This past year the annual halloween dance was renamed to the Ram Band Halloween Fun Night. EK and Delta Tau went all out by converting the band hall into a haunted house featuring a cannibalistic doctor, a vampire, a derranged music librarian, as well as a few other surprises... and lots of fog! For those not going through the haunted house, food and games (namely a pumpkin decorating contest) were provided in the "spine" of the EFA Building. Once everyone had their share of scares, the walls came down and the dance began. A costume contest was also held. The event had a lot of hype, and a good turn out. The students that were able to make it out on that Thursday night before Halloween all had a great time.

"Ram Band Halloween Fun Night was alot of fun. It was a nice atmostsphere and it helped us to just loosen up and relax for a couple of hours."~John Ontiveros: ASU Band Member

KKPsi/TBSigma Musical Jeapordy


One of the most entertaining "rushes" of the year is definately Musical Jeapordy. Band members team up with KKPsi and TBSigma members on three separate teams, and rotate in the hot seat to answer music related questions similar to the TV gameshow Jeapordy. This is another event that is more about having a good time than it is actually about recruitment for KKPsi or TBSigma.

Bowling Rush
Another good social activity turned out to be the KKPsi Bowling Rush, held at Stadium Lanes. College night ensured that everyone wanting to go paid relatively little to get in, and a good time was had by all in attendance. Everyone was invited to go, but this was much less informative than it was just bonding and relaxing time for the band.

Founder's Day Celebration


On Monday, November 20th, EK put on a "Founder's Day Celebration" in the spine of the EFA building, providing food and drinks for students in the building throughout the day at no cost. Founder's Day is actually celebrated on the 19th of November each year as the day the national fraternity was founded, but EK still wanted to provide this to the art students at ASU, so it was decided to do it the following Monday. This was another event held as a part of the National Month of Musicianship.

Spring Band Banquet


Typically, Band Council organizes a banquet for the marching band at the end of the Fall semester, but it's been a number of years since there has been a formal banquet for the band/music department. KKPsi and TBSigma plan to remedy this if Band Council is unable to organize such an event. The two groups feel this would be an important event to help bring the band together before the year's end and look back at the past year's accomplishments.


Recruiting and retention has always been a key value for the brothers of the EK chapter. This year the organization is stepping up its efforts on both ends. In addition to making appearances at many of the local high school football games, KKPsi will host a BBQ for the band, but will also invite high school seniors to come and get to know everyone. EK also hosted a BBQ for the band in early January for the Ram Band, but invited all high school seniors in the area to come out and get to know members of the Ram Band. Retention wise, members of the Marching Band were surprised when each one was presented with a free copy of the 2006 Ram Marching Band CD. There are other projects currently in the works. It is very likely that EK will have ASU Ram Band paraphenelia to distribute on each of its stops during the Wind Ensemble Tour in the Spring. In the coming years, this will be one of the major ways we get involved more with high schools, as service projects to those schools, in some cases, will also raise the ASU Ram Band's visibility and help with recruiting.


As a general rule around the music department, if equipment needs to be moved with little or no notice, the brothers of EK are always there to answer the call. But there are one or two things the chapter does on a regular basis.

Letter Move


During marching season, for all home games, the EK Chapter meets at 10:30 AM the Saturday of the game (for regularly scheduled games) to set up for the band. This involves moving the letters for not only Kappa Kappa Psi, but also for Tau Beta Sigma and Phi Mu Alpha (another music related fraternity for men). EK also provides the water for the games, which is handled during this time. Once at the stadium, the brothers also tie down stand covers, which doesn't just help make the band section look nice, but primarily is there to help prevent the uniforms from getting dirty. Upon arriving for the game after dress rehearsal, the brothers also put up the flags for all three music organizations. This work each game day helps ensure that the band is taken care of, and that all three music organizations are well represented.

Band Hall Clean Up


Every Friday, without fail, EK meets in the band hall to stack stands, chairs, and pick up any trash in the band hall. This also helps the maintanence crew when they come in to vaccum over the weekend. When the band students return on Monday, the band hall always looks neat.

San Angelo Marching Festival


The SAMF is an event that's organized by Keith Caul, Director of Bands at Central High School and honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi. The brothers of EK and sisters of Delta Tau help out the day of the contest, overseeing every aspect of the operation. This is done at no cost to the Central High School Band (as it's one of their major annual fundraisers), and the brothers and sisters wear ASU Ram Band apparel to help promote the ASU Ram Band outside of the exhibition performance at the end of the night.

KKPsi/TBSigma Solo & Ensemble Contest


In most areas, solo and ensemble is only offered to high school students through the University Interscholastic League. In the Concho Valley and its surrounding areas, small high school and Jr. high school music students (band and orchestra) get the opportunity to prepare a solo and perform for ratings. High school and collegiate music students can testify to how such an event helps you improve as a musician, and the band directors whose bands are involved depend on the local chapters of KKPsi and TBSigma to organize and host this event each year.

Providing for Mernard High School


Upon recieving the new yard line markers, there was no longer a need for the old, beat up, home made, sheet metal yard line markers of the past. It was decided that instead of throwing these away, they would be repainted (with Mernard school colors), and given a rubber edge (to prevent cuts) so that they could be donated to the Mernard High School Band. Next year their Marching Band will be able to learn drill more efficiently with the yard line markers that served the ASU Ram Band for several years.

The brothers of EK have some major plans to help further the quality of high school bands as well as the overall awareness of music in the Concho Valley over the next 2-3 years, so be on the lookout!

    Miscellaneous Service

National Month of Musicianship


The national chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi declared the month of November as the National Month of Musicianship. Two of the events held this past November you already know of. But the biggest event of them all was the Reading Band, held on November 21st from 4-5 PM. Students had a rare opportunity to sit down and read through music without having to rehearse, and with no pressure of an upcoming performance. Just sitting down and making music this way is great fun, and the Ram Band members who were able to participate had a great time. Additonally, graduating high school seniors were invited to participate, along with ASU Music Department faculty.

Dr. David Fenell Memorial Scholarship


At the end of this school year, the EK Chapter will resume awarding the Dr. David Fenell Memorial Scholarship. The chapter was unable to do this in previous years, but it is now once again possible thanks to the new fundraising system in place. The scholarship was started in 1996 to award outstanding music students, and was founded in memory of Dr. David Fenell, who was instrumental in the success of the ASU Ram Band as the Assistant Director of Bands under Harris Brinson. The two worked together at ASU for over two decades during what is often considered the dynasty era of the Ram Band. Dr. David Fenell was also a key player in helping the EK Chapter to realize its potential throughout those years, the effects of which are still felt today as we continue to Stive for the Highest. Dr. David Fenell passed away due to a terminal illness he caught as a result of complications during a blood transfusion. When he passed away, the brothers of EK felt it neccessary to start this scholarship so that we could forever honor his life and his spirit.

KKPsi/TBSigma Night of Music


In March of each year, the local chapters of KKPsi and TBSigma join together to put on a recital for the music department, titled the Kappa Kappa Psi/Tau Beta Sigma Night of Music. This recital is always unique to the others because of the variety of ensembles which perform, as opposed to the typical solo student, or ensemble. It's also likely that EK will put on a Kappa Kappa Psi recital each November, starting next year, in celebration of the National Month of Musicianship.

    Fundraising

This year the EK Chapter has established a new fundraising system. Though it's still young, it should plant the foundation for a system that can be maintained and expanded upon.

In previous years, the chapter's only income was from chapter dues, and Rodeo clean up. Each Active member of the chapter pays a set amount in chapter dues per semester in addition to the annual national dues.

Rodeo Clean Up


Rodeo Clean Up has always been EK's biggest money maker. Each year when the rodeo comes into town, EK cleans up the Event Center after almost every performance over the two weekends.

6th Annual KKPsi Celebrity Auction


This year EK will bring back the Annual Celebrity Auction. The 5th Annual Kappa Kappa Psi Celebrity Auction was held in April of 2000, but was discontinued. This project is taking longer to get off the ground than initially thought, but is now planned to be hosted on eBay (rather than at a physical location) sometime in March or April. Previously, this also benefited the AIDS Foundation of San Angelo, but it was decided that since this is not in accordance with the fraternity's purposes, the proceeds for the auction will go towards the Dr. David Fenell Memorial Scholarship Fund as well as towards service projects for the band.

Waterballoon War


During the ASU Band Camp, KKPsi hosted the first ever "Waterballoon War," which turned out to be a bigger success than initially projected! The campers had a blast, and the brothers of EK are looking forward to "Waterballoon War II" at next year's camp.

Charitable Donations


EK will be seeking donations, both corperate and private, this Spring semester to help pay for a uniform display case project that is currently in the works. The three display cases will cost roughly $3,000. However, EK has worked out a system to help maintain a database of donors for annual contributions to its cause. Donors will not only be rewarded in terms of recognition, but EK will also include them in their newsletter The Kappa Kappa Psi Connection, which was previously only available to EK alumni. Additionally, EK is looking for other ways to help build donor relationships once this project (which is a first for the EK chapter) gets off the ground.

Scratch & Help


EK will also be trying another new, more traditional fundraiser this year in the Scratch and Help fundraiser. For more information on how that fundraiser works, please visit www.ABCFundraising.com.

There are a couple of other traditional fundraisers as well, like selling KKPsi apparel at the Southwest District Convention, for example. Other means of fundraising are also being looked into, and details may be posted at a later date pending whether or not the chapter gets to do them. Do you have any fundraising ideas for us? Feel free to contact us.

"Whoomp, there it is!" -MC Hammer

As you can tell, the brothers of the EK Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi stay busy. On top of these service projects, members of the chapter still attend classes (Striving for the Highest in the classroom as well), and many of them have jobs to help pay for school, and other bills. If you ever have any questions about our projects, or even if you're involved with another music related organization in the area and you'd like to seek out our help (or possibly get involved with one of our projects), again, feel free to contact us!