209 active chapters. 6,000 collegiate members. 66,000 lifetime members. 97 years.
Kappa Kappa Psi has come a long way, having been an amazing band service fraternity recognized on a national level for almost one hundred years. Starting in Stillwater, Oklahoma, chapters have flourished all across this country, connecting more people every day whether they know it or not. Bill Clinton, Neil Armstrong, John Williams, John Philip Sousa, and Count Basie are just a few of the notable members of Kappa Kappa Psi, whether honorary or not. Kappa Kappa Psi helps college students strive for the highest every day, creating some of the best of the best people that could possibly exist. So often some of the best memories come from times within Kappa Kappa Psi, and being a brother means taking with you the values of Kappa Kappa Psi all your life. This fraternity has created shared memories among people who might not ever even meet, so here are the eleven things you'll understand if you're in Kappa Kappa Psi.
1. The significance of "promulgate."
Maybe if your chapter interviews membership candidates you ask them "what does promulgate mean" for the fun of it. Or maybe when you fill out an awards packet you try to use the word as much as possible. Whatever it is, the word promulgate (which is found within the National Constitution) is kind of a meme among brothers. If it's not significant among your chapter, then that's no surprise because none of us really know why we felt the need to meme a synonym for "promote" but we did anyway.
2. Convention hype
Convention season is the best season, hands down. You know convention is a good enough excuse to abandon whatever work you have to travel within your district (and the country overall for, national convention!), and to go to awesome workshops, meet great people, and of course, reunite with the great people you've already met. There are countless reasons to go to conventions, and every chapter knows it's the highlight of the year.
3. Band is life.
As if being in a band wasn't already time-consuming, brothers decide to join an organization that requires more time only for it to help the band in the first place. Maybe you don't like everything about the band, and maybe you don't like losing sleep by having to be up at 7:00 a.m. for call time or day of service. Whatever it is, though, something about band keeps making you want to be a part of it more and see it grow. Who needs sleep anyway?
4. There's always, always, always something to be done.
Whether it's teaching middle schoolers how to play instruments, or it's simply cleaning music stands - there is always service to be done. Sometimes it's something exciting that you're looking forward to doing. Other times it's the tedious work that no one else really wants to do but since band is so great you, of course, do it anyway.
5. "Let's think outside the box."
What if we go Christmas caroling for the Salvation Army? Or what if we digitize practice room availability? What if we stay up until 3:00 a.m. putting ads into the campus newspaper? What if we create a sexy calendar to sell for the bands? What if what if what if?
6. "Out of the night, that covers me..."
"Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul."
7. Needing to own something blue.
Whether it's a ritual, a banquet, a convention, or a Kappa Kappa Psi wedding, for whatever reason we always feel the need to wear something blue, as if somewhere in our constitution is says we have to wear the fraternity colors. Either way, blue looks good on anyone so no shame in buying a blue dress or shirt.
8. Brothers are everywhere.
If you wear letters in a city, you are very likely to meet up with someone who is a brother. It happens all the time. If your chapter wants to visit some event going on in another state or district, chances are a chapter in that area will gladly house you. Brothers are everywhere, same with our sisters of course. Once again, connections are constantly being made through Kappa Kappa Psi even if you don't realize it yet.
9. Leadership really is a value.
Within your chapter, there are countless leadership opportunities to take on, whether just for a project or an executive position. On the district level, there are committee heads and executive positions among many other. On the national level, it's just the same. Among these leadership opportunities you learn the new skills and qualities that are necessary for being a good leader, so you can always strive for the highest.
10. Not only do you have brothers, but you always have sisters.
Tau Beta Sigma is Kappa Kappa Psi's other half (sometimes better half!). You help each other out, you recognize one another, and you're always there for each other. Brothers and sisters might bicker on occasion, but at the end the bond is strong.
11. But this I know...
If I must die, I am a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi.
AEA, bros.
