Congratulations fall 2009 paddle recipients

- Photo by Francesca Cardillo, ΔΨ

Rhoda and Herchen worked as co-chairs this semester to get the brothers an inexpensive, classy banquet in the Frangipani room at the IMU. Musmanno provided the paddles in her final semester as Alumni Secretary including the addition of hand-painted crests by brother Courtney Grayson ΔΨ. from left: Juliana Musmanno ΔΤ, Drew Rhoda ΔΥ, Annelise Herchen ΔΧ.

Juliana Musmanno ΔΤ joined AZ her first semester here at IU. Since then, she has had the pleasure of being elected to three offices on exec and serving two of them. In spring 2009 she received the award of Outstanding Brother from the chapter. Originally a music education major (euphonium), Juliana had the honor to work as a band librarian. She marched four seasons as a sousaphone with the Hundred. Her best memories from Psi and band include the adventures of the Sousy Gnome and getting to know and work with so many diverse personalities. She graduated on December 19 with a B.A in journalism and a minor in academic music. Post graduation she moved back to her hometown of Pittsburgh to look for employment and see where life takes her next. AEA.

Drew Rhoda ΔΥ became a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi in the fall of 2006 in the Delta Psi class under the guiding leadership of Andrea Kopp and Father Juliana Musmanno. Drew was lucky enough to become bass drum section leader for the Marching Hundred, bass drummer for the Crabb Band, played drum set in the Big Red Basketball Band and was a section member of the Indiana University Wind Ensemble. A music education major, Drew is currently student teaching at Paoli High School with Bill Laughlin and will graduate in the Summer of 2010 with a Bachelors of Music Education from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. In addition to being a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi Drew is also a member of the Percussive Arts Society and MENC: the National Association for Music Education.

Annelise Herchen ΔΧ is a 2006 graduate of Duxbury High School from Massachusetts. She is currently a senior at Indiana University studying music education. In high school, she was active in the Honors Society, president of both the Wind and String Ensemble, an AP Scholar and private flute teacher. An avid participant in the music program at DHS, she now studies music education and plans on becoming a music teacher. She plays the piccolo, flute, tenor saxophone, and cello. She has had the privilege of being one of two librarians for the band department at IU - working with and learning from world renown professors.

At IU she was a member of the piccolo section of the Marching Hundred for three years, an Undergraduate Staff member for three years and a drum major for one. She has been the principle flutist for both the Concert and Symphonic Bands and received numerous awards in both the marching and concert bands. She joined Psi in the spring semester of her freshman year and remained active until graduating at the end of the fall semester of 2009.

Ferguson memorial expands in third year

by Juliana Musmanno, ΔΤ

AZ awarded the Jeremy Ferguson Memorial Scholarship to trombonist Debbie Newman at 2009’s Marching Hundred banquet on December 7. She was the third recipient of this award and the first non-brother.

Ferguson was tragically killed in a car accident in fall of 2007. In more recent years he was known as the “Golden Voice of the Marching Hundred,” but during his time as a student he was a baritone in the Hundred and a brother of AZ.

After hearing about his death and realizing there were sufficient funds, active brothers under then president, Schuyler Troy, decided to make a scholarship in his honor. It was decided that applicants for the award must have completed at least three years in the hundred and be returning the next season. This was to ensure dedication to the band. They also must have no less than a 3.0 GPA. To apply, they submit an essay to the chapter about how music and band have changed their lives for the better.

Because the first two recipients were brothers (Jamal Miller ’07 and Cassey Crowell ’09) the chapter updated the bylaw to encourage other members of the Hundred to apply.

“If less than five letters have been submitted one week prior to the deadline,” states the bylaw,” active brothers are encouraged to apply.”

Each year the number of submissions has grown. This year, four non-brothers applied.

There is no way to know where the chapter will be financially, so the bylaw does not state how much monetary value the scholarship holds. This time, Newman will be awarded $250 upon returning to band next fall.

Memories fade; Traditions live on

by Jessica Zmierski, EA

Many honored traditions have been created in the Marching Hundred. The clarinet section has had the honor of two awards, the red and white Vito, given every game day, in memory of two people dear to the hearts of those who knew them. Although these awards are similar in style and meaning, they each have their own unique story to tell.

The Marching Hundred clarinet section marched all white Vitos, a model of clarinet produced by LeBlanc corp.; this set Indiana apart from the Big Ten marching bands. But because of the plastic clarinets demand for countless hours of repairs, the white clarinets were discontinued from being used before the 1997 marching season. In 1998, the clarinet section brought back a single white Vito to be awarded to the most spirited member of the clarinets that week before a home football game. In 1999 the recently inaugurated spirit award was dedicated in memory of Tiffany Nicole Powell, who was a beloved member of the clarinets.

In 1999 Powell, a newly initiated brother of AZ, was tragically killed in a car accident. An excellent student, Powell achieved a 4.00 gpa her first year at Indiana University, the brothers set up an award to be given to a current first or second year brother who exuded the same dedication to music and their education studies. The executive council of AZ presents the Tiffany Nicole Powell award in memory of an honored brother to a worthy recipient at the spring banquet. The council can elect not to give the award if they feel that a brother does not meet the qualifications.

In 2005 The LeBlanc corp. gave a new white and red Vito to the Marching Hundred. The red Vito was and still is awarded to a member of the clarinet section based upon the best attitude during the week prior to game day. This clarinet is awarded in memory of Steve Jones who passed away from cancer in 2005. Jones daughter, Molly, still keeps in touch with the Marching Hundred clarinet section. Although Jones is no longer with us, he is remembered for starting the clarinet tailgate and being a supportive fan of the Hoosiers.

These two uniquely crafted instruments have been awarded in memory of past contributors of the Marching Hundred, but very few people outside the clarinet section know why these colored instruments are still used. It is a tradition, which is bestowed upon the veterans of the section, past and present, to keep these traditions alive. As memories fade of seasons past, the memory that a member of the Marching Hundred has of being a part of “A Tradition of Excellence” is priceless and should always be treasured. It has been an honor of the clarinet section to march with these specific instruments in memory of deserving veterans, and will always be in the memory of those who have been given the opportunity to keep the tradition alive.

Brothers adjust fundraisers in face of recession

by Biz Carson, EA

A group of red-eyed, bleary members of AZ and Rho huddled around a box of donuts and jugs of orange juice. It was 7 a.m. on Sunday morning when they clasped gloved hands clumsily around Styrofoam cups. It was okay if a little orange juice sloshed onto the rough beige fabric. After all, they would be dealing with much worse later. At that moment in time, it was about sugar and brotherhood. They would

need this later as they combed the grounds of Memorial Stadium picking up trash.

Under the stress of the economic recession, many IU student groups have to rework and expand their fundraising strategy. This includes Kappa Kappa Psi’s AZ chapter.

Twice this semester, the group has gathered early in the morning to clean up the tailgates trash. The piles of beer cans, hamburgers, pizza boxes, and the occasional diaper or pair of boxers equate to $1200 for the chapter. This $1200 means some sort of financial stability – the chapter can survive another year.

Traditionally, the chapter has been funded through dues and fundraisers that have been traditions since its inception. Now, Treasurer

Ryan Comerford and Sergeant-At-Arms Caitlyn Kruer (both of Delta Psi) are having to think on their feet to create new ways to keep AZ afloat in the rough economic waters.

“I haven’t seen a drop in fundraising so far this year, but I have made sure I offer things that can’t be purchased elsewhere: the Hundred car stickers and BRBB sweatshirts," Kruer says, "or activities that people may have attended other

wise: fundraiser at AppleBee’s."

Comerford and Kruer have continued to reinvent the fundraising style of the chapter. At the beginning of the semester, AppleBees sponsored a night where 10% of the proceeds benefit the group. AZ earned more than $90 through a more nontraditional fundraiser that is growing in popularity among student groups at IU.

Kruer hopes to continue this sort of fundraiser to other restaurants in town. Chains like Noodles Inc. and Qdoba often donate a portion of their proceeds to help student groups and to attract more costumers.

Outside of restaurants, Comerford also credits the success of product fundraisers.

“Fundraisers that have not been successful seem to be those that lack a tangible product. We always seem to do better when we are able to distribute actual products,” Comerford said.

The basketball sweatshirt fundraiser was open to anyone via a group on Facebook. On the event, members could post their designs to be voted on by group members. The winner would receive a free sweatshirt with their design.

Clarinet UGS Jayme Kasting submitted this winning design for the BRBB sweatshirts via the BRBB Sweatshirt Design Contest!!! facebook group. The design won with 78.5 percent of the vote.

Kruer, however, notes that their “biggest failure to date” was selling Sudler glasses.

“The company went on strike and then out of business,” Kruer said.

Kruer now looks to the new and the old fundraisers of this year to support the chapter. These include Mom and Dad Hundred sweatshirts, Hundred stickers, restaurant fundraisers, BRBB sweatshirts and CD/DVD sales.

“The current economic situation has heightened the importance of fundraising for our chapter,” Comerford said. “Specifically, our chapter was

experiencing economic conflict even before the recession hit, and now it is imperative for us to have successful fundraisers."

“We are always searching, welcoming and open to new fundraising ideas, especially given the current situation. What makes fundraising difficult is product differentiation. In what ways can we offer a better, unique or rare product to our customers that will create a competitive advantage for our chapter.”

The times, they are a-changin'

by Ashley Nichols, ΔΨ

For former Vice President Jessi Reddick and the 2008-2009 brothers of Alpha Zeta, “good enough” was no longer good enough. That was why beginning with the EA class Reddick and the brothers revamped the Prospective Member Process to take not just one semester, but instead one full school year.

For years, AZ had used the same PM Process to recruit, meet and initiate new brothers into the chapter. Announcements would be the Marching Hundred and the All Campus Band and interested students would attend one or two meet and greet events. Before the semester came to an end a new class of brothers was welcomed into the chapter. The problem, Reddick says, was that it all moved too quickly.

“We always had large class in the fall, but a lot of the time we didn't know them that well to start,” she says. “Most of the time that turned out fine, but on occasion we misjudged a person or the level of their interest.”

This resulted in a number of issues: PMs would drop out in the middle of the process and on occasion other PMs who became brothers quickly lost interest in the chapter, or were not well educated in the history and tradition of KKPsi.

“When a PM class learns and does everything in a month or less, it's hard for them to really engage with what they learn during the process.” Reddick says, “If they don't engage with it, and they don't understand how multiple years in the fraternity can be both useful to the bands and useful to them personally, they will be gone as soon as their initial "new brother" enthusiasm fades. If you don't know why something is important or useful, you won't retain it, and eventually you won't care.”

Another reason that new initiates lost interest was that new Brothers did not feel as though they had enough time to bond with their dads and their bigs or form other relationships within the chapter.

With double the time to educate her new members, Reddick worked to make sure that the class of EA understood KKPsi history and traditions while also encouraging the initiates to apply the teachings of the fraternity to daily life.

“You should join because you love band,” Reddick says. “However, once you're in, there is nothing wrong with contributing things to the chapter in your unique set of skills that can also end up on your resume and portfolio. If our brothers can apply themselves to Psi in a way that benefits their life after college, they will stay committed. Event planning, teaching and journalism/constructing newsletters etc. help the chapter, and help its members.”

Once the class of EA was welcomed into the Brotherhood, its members showed signs of being better educated on the ideas and values of KKPsi than previous classes and of being more comfortable with older brothers.

Though the process has been successful thus far, there are a few issues to work out. “I'm not confident in our extended fall recruitment yet,” Reddick says. “I think we can do a better job with timing of events, the kind of events we choose, and our overall enthusiasm.”

During the Fall 2009 semester, the PM class Eβ became the second class to begin the extended PM Process. Six new PMs were invited to pledge as members of the chapter on Dec. 4^th, 2009. Throughout the course of the school year, the PMs will be educated by the new AZ VP, Dylan Suehiro. The new recruits have all shown dedication to KKPsi by attending numerous events and getting to know current Brothers.

While only time will tell whether the new process will be successful, the first class to go through the process seemed more educated, more acclimated with the Brothers, and more enthusiastic about being brothers in AZ.