Monday, December 2, 2013

I have no idea where this is going....

For some of you, this time of year is a time that you either start reflecting on the past semester and see what you need to do differently for the next, or it is time to freak out over finals coming up soon. I am realizing that for the first time in 5 years I will not be doing this. Instead, I am reflecting on all the changes that have happened over the past year.

Now before you think this is going to be a depressing post, it shouldn't be. If you're a crier, I apologize that it may happen.

This past year has been a year full of changes for me. Most people don't know, but I lost my last two remaining grandparents exactly one week apart from each other last December. My grandma from my moms side passed away first and then my grandpa on my dads side passed away. These were some tough times for me, but I had some of the greatest people by my side through this whole time. Not only did my family life change but my personal life did a complete 180.

I had always known that TBS was a big part of my life after I went active, but my last year in college I fully emerged myself in it. It was a place where I could be myself and know that I was making a difference in someones life, even if I didn't see it happening, I knew one day it would help someone. Anyways, when I thought my life was in shambles and I had no idea what to do with myself, I had some amazing sisters by my side. I had many shoulders to cry on, even when it was at a bus stop coming home from the Military Bowl (when I found out my grandpa passed away). I never thought that I would see my life crumbling in front of me, but it seemed like the whole month of December was the end of it all for me. I always knew one day that I would lose my final two grandparents, but never realized that it would happen so close to each other. On the bus ride home from DC, which is a long drive when you just received bad news on, I was getting text messages from sisters who were on other buses or weren't even on the trip. Just knowing that I had this support system around me helped me out so much. I always thought that I knew what sisterhood was, but when this happened I realized what sisterhood really was.

Even though they weren't with me, I knew they cared. Yes, I know that sisters care about you no matter where they are, but this was something else. It was something that I had never experienced before, and I don't think I would have experienced if it weren't for the sisterhood.

So I had talked about reflecting on the past year, and that was basically just an introduction to the events that basically changed my outlook on TBS. Like I said, I always knew how big of a part TBS had played in my life, but now it was something different. I honestly don't know how to explain the feeling of the change that had taken place, but one did. I never thought that I would be selected to serve as a District Officer for the NCD, but this change that I felt made me take the step. It also helped that I was being urged by some sisters to run for an office. I knew that not only could I make an impact at the chapter level, but seeing the opportunity to make one at the district level was crazy to me. And well, being me, I decided it was worth the risk. (Side-note, I am not a risk taker) Running for District Office introduced me to some great people that I may not have met if it weren't for running. Only after knowing each other for a few months, I was able to call one of them crying for the most random reason. Oh and being the only girl (besides Trudy), makes things interesting. I may seem like someone who will go up to people and just start talking, but I really am not. I am super shy, except over the past year I have realized that you just need to make an attempt and if people look at you like you are crazy, well at least you made an attempt.

With this year being my first year as a teacher, I had for sure used lessons that I learned in TBS to help me to work with others. When I first started TBS, I wasn't sure what I should/shouldn't do. That is what I'm going through this year with my co-teaching classes, I'm realizing that I just have to take a chance and if I do something wrong, I know what not to do the next time, and I am also learning to work with people who have different teaching styles than I do. Another lesson that I have learned, is that no matter how far away you go, you can always go "Home" to your sisters and your chapter. Even though I'm not able to make it up there on Wednesdays, I know that when I go to BG and need a place to stay that sisters are always open to having alumni sleep on their couches and spend time with them.

I've decided that most of this was just me rambling, so I am going to attempt to wrap it up. Basically, TBS has helped me through what I think was the roughest year of my life. From losing my last two grandparents, to my best friend/other half moving to Alaska, my sisters have always been there for me. And I know that all the work that I have put in and will continue to put in will help out others. You never know who you are going to have an impact on, even if you don't think you are doing something major, there may be that one person who notices and you are able to help them through some things.

Sorry for the rambles, its a Monday and I can't sleep.

MLITB,
Jane


Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Thoughts from an alum.

So I sit here thinking about what to write and it's hard for me to think of just one thing that is most likely going on in Chapters right now. Being an alumni makes me realize all the things about Chapter that I took for granted and didn't fully respect until now.

Chapter meetings: Yes I said it. I miss Chapter. I know sometimes we just want it to be over or for people to stop bickering but think of it as making time to better your chapter. I know not everyone sits there hoping for it to end, I know I didn't most of the time, but there were times that I wished things would get a move on. And you know how to help those things? Make sure you're following some form of Roberts Rules of Order (RRoO), or what ever helps you get things done. If the same people keep talking or are talking in circles, there's a RRoO for that!

Service Projects: Yep another one! I was asked by a Psi prospective what my favorite one was, and I honestly couldn't pick one. Realizing how much I had done for the bands with my chapter is something that I miss, it seemed like such a small thing at the time, but looking back (yes I realize it's only been a few months) I realize how much I did. When I look at the high school marching bands, I realize how much we were able help the bands out. I see bands that have harnesses that are falling apart and the kids can barely march or play in them, and I though about how we helped out our percussion studio at BG by buying them a new cart, yes I know a cart is different than harnesses, but still, a HUGE cost and expense for schools.

Outreaches: Speaking of high schools, I totally miss outreaches. Getting to see the looks on the high schoolers faces when they see a group of college students who have a passion for helping out the bands was amazing. Sadly while at BG I was only able to attend a couple of them, and someone ended up with a broken nose, that's another story for another day though.

Sisterhood: Yes, as simple as it seems, I miss the atmosphere of being with a group of people that shared a common interest with me, yes I know I am still a part of it, but not being with sisters all the time really stinks. I've lived with sisters for the past 2 basically 3 years of my life, and going from living with and seeing them everyday to never seeing them stinks. Spending time with sisters weekly at meetings, plus having sisterhood dates and going to the student union and seeing half of the chapter was what I looked forward to. I knew that I had (and still have) this wonderful group of people who no matter what mood I was in, would help me out and would point out the positive in things when I would have a hard time finding it.

There are so many other things that I miss dearly but that means I would be writing a novel and not everyone would want to read it. Anyways, the moral of this post it not to take things that happen while you are active for granted. One day you will graduate and realize that TBS held a bigger part of your daily life than you realize. When you are in chapter and that one person is annoying you, just find the humor in it, realize that in a couple of years, or months, you will be sitting around thinking about how much you wish you were there again. As I finish typing this it is on a Wednesday during the time when Alpha Xi has chapter, and every week I think about what would be happening, how much would need to be discussed, and in general just wondering how the chapter is doing.

Before I start crying, I'm ending this thing. Have a great week and please be safe this Halloween and Halloween weekend!!

MLITB,

Jane

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Hierarchy of Importance

Hello NCD!

Without a whole lot going on in the VPSP world, I thought I'd write my blog post this week in an attempt to gauge how everyone is doing.  This seems to be the time of year when everyone is freaking out about midterms, projects, and essays, not to mention the countless other things we all have going on.  With all that stress and added weight on your shoulders, sometimes you can feel like it's tough to even breathe.  I'm here to tell you today that you NEED to breathe, it's for your own safety!

Think back to the 8 and 5: "cultivation and maintenance of your emotional poise under all conditions".  What I take that to mean is that even under the hardest and busiest times of the year, there has to be a way for you to grind it out and get through it; and you will get through it, I promise!  Don't even give up on yourself, that's the first step to failure.  A very wise correspondent of mine, who also happens to be our District Counselor, has told me many times of the "hierarchy of importance" when it comes to anything in life.  At the moment, it looks as follows:

Yourself
Your Family
School/Work
Band/Extracurriculars
Tau Beta Sigma

You'll notice a few things in this hierarchy.  First of all, you are at the top, as you should be.  This isn't some egotistical ploy and it isn't selfish either, it's the realization that this is your life and you are the only one who can live it; therefore, you have to put yourself first.  If you aren't able to think about yourself and what's best for you in a given scenario, you may find it difficult to give all that you can to those organizations below you on the hierarchy, such as your family, your school, and your sorority.  I've often found that I try and put some of these things before my own well-being, and while the thought and effort is appreciated, what's most important is making sure we are all ok before we expend our services to those deserving of it.

You'll also notice that Tau Beta Sigma is last on this list, and that is on purpose too.  Many of us, even district officers and counselors, will tell you that no matter how involved we are with the sorority, it is still just a small portion of what we have going on each and every day.  This of course doesn't mean that TBS is somehow unimportant or should be left out on the side, it is a reminder that your family, your classwork, and the band you are serving need your attention as well.  We all would much rather have you not fail all of your classes, even if it's because you were doing a service project for the sorority!

Take some time over this difficult stretch in the semester and think about your own personal hierarchy of importance, and see if it matches the one I have.  It certainly doesn't have to, but it is interesting to think about where you're working the hardest and what in your life is important enough to deserve your service.  You are all wonderful people, and frankly I want to see each of us succeed at our best.  In order to do that, make sure you are in your best shape physically, mentally, and emotionally each and every day.  Be a better version of you than you were yesterday!

I wish everyone the BEST of luck with their schoolwork, marching season, and recruitment!

ITB,

Zach

Friday, October 11, 2013

Success!

Sisters! It pleases me to inform you that MER was a great success! I want to take this moment to quickly thank all of our presenters and Gamma Rho for being wonderful hosts!

There were 31 Active Members with 5 Chapters represented at Eastern Michigan. This is more than what we have had in the recent past and I am very pleased that we are gaining numbers at District events and all of the participation that took place.

I will be posting the presentations to the website in the next few days, once I collect them all. I hope that you are able to share some of the valuable information with the rest of your chapters and also with Sisters from other chapters.

In closing, you all may be wondering, what does the VPM do now that MEPs have been collected and MER is done. Well, I am going to start on my project for the year to try and assess some of the VPM documents that are being used, which include the MEP rubric and the creation of a recruitment tool.

I am always here for answering questions and I hope that you ask! Remember, no question is a dumb question!

DALLAS

Monday, October 7, 2013

Reflections of a Traveler

This past weekend I did a lot of traveling. My cousin was getting married in Pennsylvania, and my family was kind enough to come retrieve me in Central Illinois before they started the trek. It is about a twelve hour drive from Illinois State to York, PA, so naturally I had a lot of time to reflect and think about life... Of course, I alternated this with watching movies and listening/singing my favorite songs.

One such time of "reflection" came as I was looking at Facebook on my phone. I saw status after status of Sisters talking about their own travels and how they were on their way to celebrate the life of a beloved Brother, Sister, and friend. Many people made the journey to the epicenter of the Sorority and the Fraternity so that they might join together in the bond.

I was overcome with emotion when I read this! It continually amazes me that as Sisters and Brothers we have a system that provides unconditional love, support, and an endless supply of shoulders to lean on. In my three years of being an active Sister (and yes it does seem much longer than that), I have felt numerous times that I was a part of something much bigger than myself, a sensationally strong bond.

I know that in TBS we throw around the word "bond" all the time, but do we truly know what it means? Do we truly understand what the "bond" is?

Well, being an English major, I looked up the definition... I know I'm a nerd. The Oxford English Dictionary defines 'bond' as "a force or feeling that unites people; a common emotion or interest" (oxforddictionaries.com).

As Sisters we are bonded by our mutual love for bands and our need to continually serve them. "A mutual interest in the Art of Music, in its performance, and in the aesthetic qualities it can project to others." It provides us with that "common tie" that brings us together.

What would we be without our ability to serve the bands? In essence, we would not have a bond. At least it would not be the same. Our Sorority was designed to provide "excellent service to collegiate bands." Therefore, it can be said that our bond is created and honed through our service, our love of service to collegiate bands. Too often are people focused on improving either service or sisterhood, when one stems from the other! Our dutiful service is what inspires the bond within us. It is that "common interest" that brings us together.

I will leave you with this. As Sisters we have an unbelievable system of continual love and support, but it is up to us how much of that we see and understand. Our organization, the Sisterhood, is only as strong as the service we put into it. It is up to us to ignite a passion in others, so that there is continual support for our band programs even after we are gone.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Tips for the Beginning of the School Year

Hey, everybody!

For most people classes started a few weeks ago, and we are finally beginning to settle into some sort of a rhythm when it comes to our schedules. What most people forget is that the beginning of the semester sets the tone/rhythm for the rest of the semester, so it is important that we are smart about what choices what we are making. It is very hard to dig yourself out of a hole later in the semester, so adhere to these tips to make sure you are on top of everything!

1) KEEP A SCHEDULE. This could be a planner, the calendar on your phone, or something online, but it is ESSENTIAL to keep a schedule somewhere! True, you may not need to look at it everyday, but it will come in handy when you forget the start time of an important meeting.

2) WRITE DOWN YOUR ASSIGNMENTS. Writing down any assignments you have will not only remind you to complete them, but it will also give you the specifics that are required to receive a good grade. If you trust your memory for every assignment, you will eventually forget something and negatively affect your grade.

3) DO YOUR HOMEWORK... I really don't think I need to talk about this one.

4) GO TO CLASS. For some people this can be very hard... especially when it is a morning class. I understand the feeling you get when your alarm goes off. It is a winged demon from hell that wants nothing more to ruin your day! However, you have to vanquish that demon and get out of bed.

5) HAVE FUN. Part of going to college is socializing with your peers. HOWEVER, this should be done in a safe and responsible manner. Hang out with your friends and come up with some fun activities to do. Everyone needs to unwind from a stressful day. This being said, make sure you have done your homework before you do anything else!

If you follow these five simple steps I can guarantee that you will be starting your semester off right!

Now, I know that there are times during each semester where things get exceedingly difficult or something happens in your life that affects your life at school. As I like to say, "life happens." Realize that you have resources that can help you along your way! For example you have friends, family, sisters, university staff/counseling services... the list is ongoing! There are a great deal of people who care about you and how well you succeed in school. So, when things get hard, don't be afraid to ask for help!

Have a great week everyone :)

Señor Anthony


Sunday, September 1, 2013

Changes

Well this post is being done a lot later than I had hoped it would, but better late than never. Here's a little update on my hectic life seeing as though I haven't posted in a while. I have officially accepted a part-time teaching position at a high school where I have 3 classes, one of them is just students that I have on my case-load and the other two are classes that I co-teach in the subject area of History. Who knew that in a few short weeks I'd go from working at Walgreen's to finally doing what I've been dreaming of, teaching, and not only teaching Special Education, but I also get to teach History (my favorite subject in school!). I am also going to be substitute teaching when needed so woo extra money.

These past few weeks have been full of change for me and it has made me ponder a few things. Some of the changes I have been thinking of are the changes that I want to make in my own personal life (moving out of my parents house, which seems like it will never happen), what relationships I need to start rethinking and moving on with, and what changes I can bring to the NCD this year.

When some people talk about making changes there can be some hesitation, or some resistance from others. Trust me I know change can be scary, some changes scare me half to death, but then I think that change is something that we all will have to deal with in some point in our lives. When I talk about "changes" to the NCD, I'm not talking about making these drastic changes, I just mean some changes to how we fund-raise and ways to get us closer to being out of the red than we are right now. I have been given some great ideas that we are going to pursue this year, but I know there are a lot more ideas out there that some people have and they may not know how to bring them up or even who to tell. Well if you have any ideas for the District level you can feel free to email me at jane.koch89@gmail.com. If you need some help coming up with ideas for your chapter feel free to contact me as well. When I was at BG we did some pretty good fundraisers and they may have been simple, but they helped us out a lot.

So you may have noticed that I have yet to say what these fundraisers are, well here you go:

  1. We will be raffling off a breakfast with the District Officers at District Convention! Haven't you always wondered what the officers are like in a one-on-one setting? Well you can win a breakfast for you and your chapter for the Saturday of District Convention. 
  2. We will be raffling off ONE table for your chapter at Convention as well! This will take place at District Convention only. 
  3. We will do a Penny Wars at all District Events this year and the winner BEFORE District Convention will win enough seats for their ENTIRE chapter. 
  4. Per usual, we will be doing our regular Penny Wars at District Convention and I am going to come up with a surprise prize for the winning chapter. 
  5. Do you remember those old District Tees? Well those are being turned into pillows that you can buy for the low price of $5! Those will be available at MER and all other events until they are sold out! 
  6. We will also still be selling the TBS stickers for your car, or whatever your heart desires to stick them on (of course being appropriate!) 
  7. The final, and biggest one that I will need help from EVERY CHAPTER with is making a District Blanket. This will be raffled off at District Convention. How can you help since I need it? Please bring a T-Shirt from either your chapter, or school to ANY District event and it shall be ready by District Convention! I will be emailing presidents about this within the next few days since MER is a month away! 

If you have any idea's or questions don't hesitate to contact me at the email listed above. I hope everyone is enjoying the start of school!! 

MLITB,
Jane 

Friday, August 23, 2013

Leadership

            Hello everyone!  It seems this is the time of year that we band members are starting to get back into the swing of things and begin the upcoming marching band season, and I offer my best of well wishes to all of the bands working hard across the country.  Here at Michigan, we began our Band Week on Tuesday with the new members and are thrilled with how it’s going so far.
            For my blog this week, I wanted to talk a little bit about leadership.  As a rank leader candidate for marching band, I had to go to a leadership retreat last weekend where we not only went over marching fundamentals but also talked a lot about different strategies and tools to use to become better leaders.  We as sisters of Tau Beta Sigma have already proven ourselves as leaders, be it in our chapters, our bands, or across the district, and it is important to hone in on those skills to forge the path for the next batch of leaders to be welcomed to our organization.
            Being a leader takes more than simply knowing what the protocol is and abiding by it.  You must set the example and be the trend setter for those following in your footsteps, and often that means going the extra mile to ensure the success of your organization.  You can tell someone they’re doing something poorly or incorrectly, or you can show them and demonstrate how they can improve.  You can jump in with your opinion when you disagree with something, or you can listen and try to understand where this opinion is coming from.  Being a leader is about respect, dignity, and courage to stand for what you believe in and what is morally right.
            It takes more than letters on a shirt to be a sister.  We all represent Tau Beta Sigma in everything that we do.  Keep this in mind, and always remember the 8 and 5 because they’re not just words, they’re guidelines for how to live a happy and successful life.  With that in mind, I wish everyone the best of luck this semester and enjoy this wonderful time of year.

            If you have any comments or recommendations on what you’d like to see the district officers blog about, feel free to leave a comment below!

MLITB,

Zach

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Let's Get Excited!

Hello All!

I am sorry that this blog is coming to you so late this week. I have started Pre-Season Camp here in Akron! I hope that everyone is/had/or will have a great camp experience this year! Remember that this is the first time that we are making impressions on new members for our organization. Did anyone have any good recruiting tools that you all used for your band camps?

Also, with the new semester getting ready to start, that means Membership Education Retreat will soon be approaching!!! We have a great day planned for you all! I am planning on having a workshop to help you all prepare in all Membership Education areas. We have some special guests to help present on all the various topics like, Continuing Membership Education, Ritual, Membership Education Process and recruitment!

MER is on October 6! It is also starting at 9AM in the morning! I know that we have some people with games on the 5th. However, I hope to see you all! It will be such a great experience for EVERYONE!!! I would love to see all chapters there!

If anyone has any questions, please contact me as soon as you can! Can't wait for a great year!

MLITB

Dallas

Sunday, August 11, 2013

NatCon Hangover and Planning

Sisters,

It has been a little over a week since National Convention ended, and I am still at a loss for words. Over the past week I have tried to articulate the experience over and over an have come up with less than ideal phrasings of what actually happened. I made so many new friends, developed so many old and new ideas, and learned that there are people around the country who want to see our district thrive. With all of this support, I know that we will succeed in the future.

The one thing that I do want to talk about is planning for the year. At District Leadership Conference (DLC), we learned so many new ways to plan, and how to plan well (Don't worry! We are going to have a workshop on this at some point throughout the year). That's why I have come up with a "checklist" of sorts:

1) Plan early! Trust me, I understand procrastination. I am a pro. However, whenever I procrastinate my project is never as well-developed as it should be. No matter what you are doing this year, make sure you give it the necessary amount of time it deserves. Not only does it make the project better, but it helps you develop important planning skills for the future! Believe me, employers love someone who can plan things well in advance.

Planning early also allows you to trouble shoot. Whenever you are developing an idea, your path is going to shift over time. It is only natural! However, if you plan early you won't be surprised when your original idea doesn't work and you have to reevaluate.

2) Plan SMART! SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. If your goals do not meet any of these criteria, then maybe it is time for you to reevaluate what you are trying to do. Think about it this way:

Specific - If you told your goal/idea to somebody else would they know what you want to do? Do you know what you are wanting to do? A good way to see if your goal is specific is to write it out. Don't forget about the Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? that you learned about in middle school!

Measurable - Are you able to measure if you have been successful? This can come through a survey, visible improvement in a certain area, or increased morale. Figure out the best tool that fits your needs!

Attainable - Given the amount of time you have, are you able to complete your goal well? Make sure you are able to complete your goal well, otherwise, you are just wasting your own time.

Realistic - Is you idea/goal something you can actually do? Or, is it something you would like to see, but know it cannot be implemented right away? Remember, change takes time. If you goal doesn't seem realistic, then alter it so that it puts you on the path that will lead to your ultimate goal. Long-term goals are OK!

Timely - Do you have a set time frame for your idea/goal? If you don't then you should create one. Not only does having a time frame motivate you to complete things, but it also stops people from wasting each others time. If something takes too long then people lose interest!

3) Use you resources! Here are just a few resources that you have in TBS alone: Active Sisters, Exec Board, Sponsor, DOB, District Officers, District Counselor, friends in other chapters, TBS website, NCD website... the list goes on! No matter what you are trying to do there are people and places that you can use in order to ensure your success!

http://kkytbsncd.org/contact.html

Above is the contact section of the NCD website. PLEASE USE THIS! Any and all of the District Officers would be more than happy to talk to you about anything. Even if you just want to talk about nothing in particular... we would still love to hear from you!

I will leave you with this. There is a plan already in motion for this year, and I could not be more excited for the direction in which it is headed. MER, Leadership, Blocks, and NCDCon are going to be some of the greatest things you have ever experienced! We are planning these in advance (and being SMART about them), so that YOU benefit from what we have to say! Information on these will be given out at a later date.

I cannot wait to spend more time with my wonderful Sisters!

MLITB,

Anthony

Monday, July 8, 2013

Fortitude and Courage

Sisters of the Nation's Classiest District :)

Now is the time that we are gearing up for National Convention! This will be my second National Convention, and if you asked me then that I would be president of the best district ever... Well, I wouldn't have believed you!

What I want to talk about is, in my opinion, one of the most powerful 8&5: "Fortitude and courage to see an ideal, to seize upon it, and follow it wherever it may lead you in Tau Beta Sigma."

Our wonderful organization is full of leaders, but everyone is a leader in their own way. In other words, not all leaders have a title. This does not make them any less influential. However, in order to make a positive change, it is important that follow the steps listed in the above 8&5.

1) See an ideal. This can be difficult because our fears can blind us from something that is right in front of our noses. But, when we allow ourselves to see an opportunity, we give ourselves and others a chance to succeed. These opportunities come in a multitude of packages: the opportunity to run for an exec board position, the opportunity to be on a committee, the opportunity to serve above and beyond what is asked of you, the opportunity to share an idea... There is an endless list of possibilities!

2) Seize upon it. Now that you have seen an ideal or opportunity, you need to take a chance and take full advantage! Take the leap of faith and try something new or try something that you have tried before. As leaders, we grow through our experiences. So, we will not grow and improve unless we take chances. Think about it!

3) Follow it wherever it leads you in Tau Beta Sigma. No matter what happens when you take your leap of faith, you will learn something from the experience. So, take what you learn and apply it to the future. Succeed or fail, you are able to take something away that will help you in future endeavors.

I decided to discuss this 8&5 with you because we are coming up on a wonderful opportunity for sisters: National Convention. As you have no doubt heard, convention is a time where sisters can come together and learn a plethora of things that will help improve us as sisters and leaders.

If you are going to National Convention, then I urge you to see this as an opportunity, to seize upon it and learn as much as you can, so that you can take what you learn and follow it wherever it may lead you in Tau Beta Sigma. You will not regret it!

If you are unable to attend National Convention, then I urge you to see this as an opportunity, to seize upon it and learn as much as you can, so that you can take what you learn and follow it wherever it may lead you in Tau Beta Sigma. You are still able to learn from this opportunity! Ask your friends who are attending what they learned at convention, ask questions, seek out answers... This is still an opportunity for you!

Remember we are all leaders in Tau Beta Sigma as well as in life. It is what we do with these opportunities that really matters. :)

MLITB,

Anthony

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Leadership

Wonderful, Sisters -

The summer has proven to be a blur of work, planning, rehearsal, communicating, and making sure everything is going the way it needs to. I have a full-time job this summer at a Spanish speaking summer camp located at a local elementary school. I am surrounded by 5-12 year olds all day but we are having a blast! Also, after work I go home for about an hour and then head off to musical rehearsal. As some of you know, I am a involved with "Cabaret" at a local community theater (pictures coming soon).

Now, I am telling all of you this because I do not want to keep anything from you. At the beginning of the summer I made a schedule of when I would work, rehearse, and do TBS work. However, as the summer has gone along my plan has deteriorated for one reason or another. A few easy things have slipped through the cracks because I let them, which I think is unacceptable.

But, instead of beat myself up about it and get myself down I am taking a different approach: I apologize for my mistakes and plan better. Personally, I believe a big mistake leaders make is to not apologize. No matter what position a person holds they are still human. Mistakes will be made no matter what; it is the way they handle them that speaks to their ability as a leader.

So, here is what I'm doing. Currently, I am revamping my summer plan so that it will be easy to work with. I am creating a daily schedule when I go to bed at night so that I know exactly what needs to be done the next day. But, most of all I am making sure that I have time to myself. Too often leaders can become overwhelmed and not take time to decompress, which is important!

In my life, I know many different leaders. Lately, I have heard some of them beat themselves up because of some mistake they had made. When any of these people come to me for advice on what to do, I tell them to bounce back with a vengeance. Figure out what isn't working and fix it, seek help when you need it, and don't be afraid to apologize. These steps are guaranteed to put you onto the right track!

After saying all of that, I wanted to remind you of our relationship. If any of you ever have a question for me, I wan to know what I am doing, let me know! Contact me any way that you want. I will respond as soon as I possibly can!!

Have a fantastic June :)

MLITB,

Anthony


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

This upcoming year!!!

Hello Sisters!!

To start this post, why not give a little bit of a background on who Jane is. Well, I am a very recent graduate of Bowling Green State University. Right now I am jobless but am on the search. I have an interview this Friday with the Akron Public Schools, this is my first big kid job interview!! I also will be interviewing for other summer jobs. Along with that I have nothing going on besides watching my new niece grow up!! I can't wait until this summer to get more involved in TBS, FUNction is coming up and you should register! There is also National Convention, which is the first time I will ever get to go and you should register if possible!! There will be a great time had by all!!!

For this upcoming year I would like to do a Penny-War all throughout the year at each district event, I will have the cups available for all chapters to either put in pennies (positive) or other change/bills (negative). We had a great turn out for this at District Convention and I figured why not see how much we can make the district in a full year. I also have a few District T-Shirts that have not been sold in many years, I am going to make them into pillows and they will be available for sale at district events for $5. I also have TBS stickers that can be bought for $2 each. I also would like to continue doing the raffle for a reserved table at District Convention for the whole chapter. I am going to have these at each event and the sale will go through the whole year to help make it a little more competitive, all you have to do is write your chapter name on it and when the ticket gets pulled at the last block of the year someone from your chapter needs to be present to win. If you have any ideas for fundraisers please let me know!! I am always looking for ideas. I can't wait to see you all at FUNction!!!

MLITB,

Jane

Summer FUNction: Register!

Hello Sisters of the NCD,

This is a very exciting time to be the VPSP for the district.  Summer FUNction is less than a month away, which means that your chance to register for a fun-filled weekend is drawing to a close!  Here's some information about FUNction that may help you make an informed decision to attend or not:

Where: Dune Lake Campground in Coloma, MI
When: Friday, June 21st-Sunday, June 23rd (you don't have to stay the whole time)
Why: SO many activities with the Brothers and Sisters!

Here is where to register:


Registration Deadline: THIS Saturday, June 1st

The total cost for registration is $25 to cover campground sites and food.  You will be fed the entire weekend.  More details will be given out once the date draws closer.  All the information you need should be on the link above, and if not you may always ask me anything.

I'm very passionate about FUNction not only because I'm putting it together, but also because it's the only time during the year we can come together as a district and just have a fun weekend.  Sure Blocks and Leadership and Conventions are fun, but there's also quite a bit of work to be done at these events as well.  FUNction is different because it is purely social and is a great opportunity to meet some new friends and establish the strongest sense brother and sisterhood we can.  Please consider coming, you would make my day!

In The Bond,

Zach

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Ideas Please!


Sisters,
I want to take a moment and let you all know about the wonderful world of Dallas. I go to The University of Akron, majoring in Communications. I am currently working two jobs, at Chipotle and Chick-fil-a (What a couple, right??). I don’t do too much outside of school and work anymore and I cannot wait for my TBS adventures this Summer!
With that being said, I would like to thank you all for electing me for VPM this year. It is such an honor and the faith that you have all put in me in incredible and I promise to do my best and help maintain the greatness that is the NCD!
I just want to let everyone know what is happening in the world of VPM right now. I haven’t been too crafty getting started on any big projects yet. (I mean, hey, I need a couple days to recoup!) But I have been trying to talk to many people and have been answering all the questions that have been thrown my way.
I do have some questions for you and would like for you to get in contact with me with some answers! What do you guys want to see at MER this year? I have heard a few small ideas from some people however I would like to hear more. It is about you guys and I want to present relevant information that you guys can use. 

MLITB

Dallas :) 

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Summer

Dear Sisters of the NCD -

Here at Illinois State, this past week was that dreaded time of year that can either make you feel better about yourself or make you cry... finals. However, now that those are over, it is summer!

Not only is summer a time of freedom, but it is also a time of preparation and excitement. In other words... the district councils of TBS and KKPsi have a lot planned! We have a time to meet, there is Summer FUNction, and, of course, NATIONAL CONVENTION!

Now, there are all of these wonderful opportunities during the summer, but I want you to know that your council is using this time effectively. We are having monthly Skype meetings, as well as frequent e-mails. Our goal is to be as prepared for every event and activity by the end of summer. This means that we can do more for YOU! We all want to have a successful year, which means that not only are we prepared, but YOU are prepared.

The council will frequently be communicating with you over the listserv, Facebook page, NCD website, and personal e-mails. What does this constant communication do for you? Well, it allows you to be informed, plan, and collaborate with others about the event or information given.

So, here is some information that could prove very important!

June first is a magical date this year! This is the date that the Chapter Summary Report is due over the online system, the MEPs are due to Trudy, and registration and payment is due for Summer FUNction... Make sure you are staying on top of these things! It is extremely important that they are submitted on time. Remember, the CSR and MEPs need to be completed and submitted on time in order to be eligible for Counselor's Cup!

Before I go, I want to say one more thing. Have a fantastic summer with whatever you are doing. Do things with your friends that will produce great memories. No matter what time of your life you are in, you can always make time for fun!

Cannot wait to see many of you this summer! :)

MLITB,

Anthony

Friday, April 26, 2013

As One Year Ends, Another Begins


Hello Sisters!

            This is the first blog post from the 2013-14 District Council! Woo!!

            If I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you yet, allow me to tell you a little about myself: my name is Zach Marentay and I am a sophomore studying Sports Management at the University of Michigan.  I am a clarinet player in the Michigan Marching Band and Men’s Basketball Band, and this past year I served as the Corresponding Secretary for the Lambda Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma.  I also work as a tour guide for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, so I give tours of our lovely campus to prospective freshmen interested in coming to Michigan.  You all may remember me as the guy Skyping everyone at NCD from Atlanta as I’m finally recovering from sleep deprivation through our basketball team’s run to the Final Four.  With that being said, I’m so thankful you’ve all put your confidence in me as the new Vice President of Special Projects, and I promise to serve you and collegiate bands across the district to the best of my ability.

            I wanted to use this first blog post to alert sisters around the district that while we finished this academic year with a very successful Convention, preparation for next year starts NOW!  It’s been wonderful to see all of the newly installed chapter officers through the NCD listserve, and I’d like to offer my personal congratulations to all of the newly elected officers!  Don’t forget to also update this information via the Chapter Personnel Update online, so that info is all set to go.

            Now we may be talking about preparing for next year, but who says it has to be all work and business?  Want to take a break and relax, all while having some FUN with your sisters from around the district?  Then consider coming to the 2013 Summer FUNction!  This year, FUNction will be held from June 21-23rd at Dune Lake Campground in Coloma, MI, and sisters are welcome to join us for all or just a part of what looks to be a great weekend.  The campground is full of fun activities such as volleyball, beaches, mini-golf, a game room, ping-pong, and get this-you can even bring your pets!  Only $3/night to bring a furry friend of your own to join us for a weekend of fun.  FUNction will only cost a total of $25 this year to cover campground sites and food, and registration will be open very soon, so be on the lookout for that.  If you’d like any more info, you can visit the official Facebook event page, or contact me directly and I’ll answer any questions you have.

            I hope you all are excited for the things to come!  I know the council is super stoked for everything we have planned this year, and have already started preparing for a great year!  Best of luck with finals, and have a great summer!

Much Love In The Bond,

Zach Marentay

Sunday, March 10, 2013

The Love of the Bond

Sisters,

I cannot believe that Convention is so close! It seems like only yesterday that I was elected to serve as the Vice President for Membership for our wonderful district, and I could not be happier that I was given the chance to do so.

As we come closer and closer to the end of my term, I start to reflect back on my experience as a District Officer. I think back to the Summer Council Meeting, MER, my communication with people in different chapters, planning for Blocks, etc, and the one thing that is a consistent theme in each of these memories is the love I have received from my sisters, and the support I have received from the Bond.

These are the very reasons why I wanted to serve as a District Officer! From the beginning Tau Beta Sigma has surprised me. When I came to college, I was the person who was vehemently against rushing a fraternity (or sorority). In my head, I saw the stereotypical "Animal House" organizations that partied all night and didn't care about doing well in school. All of this changed when I was approached by the wonderful sisters and brothers of the Zeta Alpha chapter of TBS. It was during band camp, and the hard work these individuals put into the band program was apparent. They were the first people at a rehearsal and they were the ones who cleaned up after we were done. Honestly, they were an inspiration to me as a freshman because they made me strive to become a leader in the bands at ISU.

I attended two rush events, and knew that this was the place I was meant to be. The atmosphere was that of a loving family, and that is what I needed most: a family while I was away from home. These wonderful people became much more than that. They became my best friends, the people I went to for everything. They made me feel welcome in a world that I had never experienced before, and I am eternally grateful for that.

The most amazing thing that I discovered when I was rushing, was that it was through this love for each other, this Bond, that they served the bands. TBS had taken a common passion and made it into something so much more. The Bond helped them serve and as I began to understand it more, it helped me serve.

Trust me there is a point to my rambling. There is more to be taken out of this blog other than Anthony is a giant sap! It is easy for us to forget what we are about. We can get so stuck in the rhythm of "business" that we forget why we do what we do. We love the music and bands with everything that we have! We have decided to serve the bands because of this passion.

Do not forget this passion! Do not forget the Bond! It is true that our purpose is to serve the bands. This should be held above everything else within the Sorority. However, the Bond and our passion for the bands help us to serve and to grow closer to the people around us. When appropriately applied to the Sorority, these two aspects inspire us to do so much more than we could ever dream of. I know that they were what inspired me to serve the bands back in the Fall of 2010.

So, as we get closer to our wonderful Convention, remember what TBS is, but most of all, remember why TBS is what it is. It may change your perspective and make things a little brighter.

We come together one and all, with music in our hearts.
In TBS we serve the bands and always do our part.
We're TBS and friends to all and we care what we do.
So, sing out loud and we'll be heard. To you we will be true.

I love you all and look forward to seeing you at Convention!

MLITB,

Anthony

Sunday, March 3, 2013

The NCDIB Experience


Happy Sunday Evening Sisters!

The NCDIB at Convention 2012

Have you thought about participating in the North Central District Intercollegiate Band?? Well, you should! The NCDIB is the only of its kind in all of the districts of Tau Beta Sigma, so it is an experience you shouldn’t pass up! This year our guest conductor is Dr. Alicia Neal, from Eastern Illinois University. More information, including the application, can be found at: http://www.kkytbsncd.org/ncdib.html.

This experience can be a great resume booster, especially for music majors. It also highlights one of the 8 & 5: A mutual interest in the art of music, in its performance, and in the aesthetic qualities it can project to others. College Bands is what we are all about. We serve the bands, and the NCDIB is another way to do just that. You get to meet many other sisters and brothers, and share in an experience you will be sure not to forget!
Below are some personal accounts of past sisters who have participated in the NCDIB. I hope you find their stories interesting and will inspire you to join them in participating in the North Central District Intercollegiate Band.

Mackenzie playing Oboe

Mackenzie Ziegler- Epsilon at Butler University
I attended my first convention just last year and I really wanted to make the best of it, so I decided to join the NCDIB. This was honestly one of the best decisions I have ever made and I would sincerely recommend any sister to join the NCDIB. I was able to meet so many new people from all over the district and I still keep in touch with many of them today. Not only did I meet new brothers and sisters, but I was able to work with a new conductor and gain so much knowledge from him.

During the weekend we rehearsed here and there, but we were still able to attend everything else during convention. The flexibility of the schedule was so great and I didn't feel left out of anything during the convention. After hours of rehearsing, the NCDIB performs a concert open for everyone to see and it is a great feeling when your chapter cheers you on for all the hard work you had put into learning the music so quickly. I plan on applying again this year and I would be extremely pleased to see many more join this year so that they can experience all the fun that it has to offer!

MLITB,

Mackenzie Ziegler


Rebecca and Ashley


Rebecca Wagner- Alpha Delta at Ohio University
Hello NCD!!
Something that people overlook when coming to Convention is performing with the North Central District Intercollegiate Band! The main idea that brought all of us into Tau Beta Sigma was the “mutual interest in the Art of Music in its performance and in the aesthetic qualities it can project to others.”  So why not take part in the NCDIB?

This past year, I took part in this wonderful experience by performing with sisters and brothers from our wonderful district.  What you may not know is that we are the only district to have an Intercollegiate Band, which is quite the accomplishment.  This shows how dedicated we are to our purpose as an organization.  It was an amazing experience to get to know other brothers and sisters in the NCD and to perform beautiful music together.  We started rehearsing on Friday morning of convention weekend with Dr. John Madden from Michigan State University (a plus for music majors: it’s really a great experience to be a part of different ensembles with conductors from other universities!). We rehearsed throughout the day on Friday and Saturday and performed Saturday night before Banquet.  It wasn’t too time consuming; we still got to attend workshops and have meals with my sisters and I still got to be part of the Membership committee. 

We played a wide variety of pieces such as:
A Slavic Farewell by Vasilij Ivanovitj Agapkin, arranged by John R. Gourgeois
Carmina Burana by Carl Orff
Metroplex by Robert Sheldon
Loch Lomond for Concert Band by Frank Ticheli
American Barndance by Richard L. Saucedo
El Relicario by Jose Padilla, arranged by Robert Longfield

It was a really great educational and musical experience and it was very enjoyable to play with many talented musicians within our district.  The concert was amazing! At the end we received a really beautiful certificate for taking part in the North Central District Intercollegiate Band!

What startled me the most, however, is when we started talking about what chapters and organizations made up this great ensemble.  A majority of the ensemble was comprised of members of Kappa Kappa Psi and a small number of the band were sisters.  When I looked around and saw the small number of hands raised for being sisters of the North Central District, I couldn’t help but feel that sisters weren’t told of how great of an experience this could be.  There’s definitely nothing like making beautiful music with sisters in the Bond.  So why not try something different this district convention?  It is really a rewarding experience and you can still take part in many of the convention activities to bond with more of your sisters.  Let’s not forget that music is what brought everyone into Tau Beta Sigma and will influence your life even after your Active days are over!

MLITB,
Rebecca Wagner
Vice President of Membership at Alpha Delta



So! Moral of the story? Apply for the NCDIB! You'll have a great time, still get to enjoy convention and learn from a great guest conductor!

MLITB,

Carrie Lund

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Awards! Awards! Awards!

Greetings, NCD!

Well, the *Magic Date* has come and passed... And I am SO PUMPED for the number of submissions for SPAM, OSPA, and Student Conductors!! There are definitely more than last year, which was my goal for you all. So congratulations!! I am so happy for you all!!

Don't forget that the deadline for National Scholarships is March 1st... which is Friday!! Like, of this week!! As in, 5 days from now. So apply!! Last year, scholarships went un-awarded because NO ONE APPLIED. No on applied for FREE MONEY. Blows my mind. So please, apply! That money is there for you to have and use toward your education. And believe me, as someone who now has to start paying back student loans... you want ALL the scholarship money you can get! :-)

Don't forget about the awards that are due at Opening Gavel of Separate Session at Convention... Sisterhood of the Traveling Suitcase (SOTS), Sister Soda Sipper, and Shutterbug. Refer to this year's awards packet for more details, or as always, feel free to call, text, email or Facebook me with any questions.

I have to say, I was VERY impressed with the turnout of last week's North Block. I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting really excited for West Block next weekend! I hope to see you all there!!

MLITB,

Elise

Monday, February 18, 2013

A College Student's Guide to Lexington, Kentucky


Hello NCDers!

Tomorrow is the Magic Date, and it’s 46 days until Convention! I’m not sure about you, but I know I am incredibly excited for everyone to visit my adopted hometown. I’m sure a lot of you don’t visit Kentucky often – let alone ever – so I decided to make a handy dandy guide for college students visiting The Horse Capital of the World.

The Lexington countryside

Lexington, founded in 1782, is also known as the “Athens of the West” for its early endeavors in medicine, literacy, and refined culture. Over the years, the city has played host for Abraham Lincoln AND Jefferson Davis (talk about a border state), Secretary of State Henry Clay (check out his estate and museum, Ashland), Mary Todd Lincoln, and Ashley Judd (an alumna of UK!).

The weather in April can be unpredictable, with sudden afternoon rainstorms, but average temperatures range from 65 to 45 degrees. When visiting Lex Vegas for Convention, I recommend bringing an umbrella and a light jacket for the cool evenings.

I got to Lexington really early, and I’m bored. Any ideas?
Uh, yes! Friday, April 5th is a great day to be in Lexington. Why? Because it’s Keeneland College Scholarship Day! Starting at 11:00am, college students get in FREE to one of America’s most famous racetracks! They also hand out scholarships to some lucky students. Even if you don’t like betting on the ponies, take some time to walk across the beautiful Bluegrass-ed fields, or pick out a new Derby hat. For more information, click the link!  https://www.facebook.com/KeenelandCSD


Keeneland Race Track

I’m not really a fan of horses, got any other ideas?
Well if you insist…
Check out South Limestone Street, which connects UK’s campus to downtown Lexington. There are lots of regional restaurants and shops that you can’t find just anywhere. If the weather’s nice, it’s a beautiful walk!

Catherine, what are your favorite restaurants downtown?
Glad you asked! Here's my list:

Sav’s Grill – West African Cuisine
304 S. Limestone St.
I recommend the Peanut Chicken with Fufu dumplings!

Tin Roof
305 S. Limestone St.
One part bar, one part grill – the portions are huge, you’ve been warned!

Raising Cane’s
544 S. Upper St.
The ultimate chicken place. You haven’t lived until you’ve had Cane Sauce.

Mellow Mushroom
503 S. Upper St.
The Hawaiian pizza is amazing! Also, check out the decor and murals on the walls!
http://mellowmushroom.com/store/lexington


The exterior of Mellow Mushroom

I’m super tired, and I need to eat. But I don’t want to go far from the hotel. Help!
Near the hotel, you have a Cracker Barrel, Waffle House, Denny’s, Subway, and McDonald’s!

Things to remember:
TOMORROW IS THE MAGIC DATE! If you have any questions, please contact us ASAP!

If you'd like to run for District Office, feel free to contact the current officer in the position for which you'd like to run.

Need more Lexington info? Leave it in the comments or email me at catherine.hann@uky.edu!