REMEMBERING CHARLES W. HASS 2025

Written by Michael Osborn (Zeta Epsilon)

A rather typical picture of Charles

You may have sat at an NCD Convention Banquet and heard the name Charles Hass when the Charles W. Hass Memorial award was awarded but you may not know who Charles Hass was and why an award was created in his honor.

Charles Hass was initiated into the Gamma Pi Chapter at Purdue University in 1992. My first interaction with Charles was in 1995 watching him run for District Office at a block meeting being held at Eastern Michigan University. To be completely honest, from a first impression standpoint I was a bit concerned about Charles as a district officer as he seemed loud, a little too outgoing, and a little crazy from a far. When Charles was elected NCD President I had no idea how our paths would intertwine moving forward. Shortly after Charles was elected I was asked to become one of the NCD Governors and even though my term did not start until National Convention, Charles was on the phone early on excited to work with me to help the district grow and laid out his plans and focus and sought advice. He essentially on-boarded me as District Governor so that the transition into the position was seamless in so many ways. Ultimately those things that gave me pause from my first impression were the things that made him a great NCD President.

Charles had a vision to try to bring the district closer together and to increase interaction between the District Council and the chapters. He was never one to shy away from a conversation with any Brother and sought opportunities to meet Brothers at any event possible. In fact for his spring break he made a tour around the district, crashing on floors and couches and brought a couple of Gamma Pi Brothers (future district officers) with him to share in the fun. One memory that wraps up Charles for me is that as Governor I made the trip to Ohio University for a Block Meeting. At the block meeting Charles mentioned to me that he and others were making the 6 hour trip from Athens to the installation of the chapter at Wake Forest University. He worked hard to convince me to go on the trip, making me forget that while it was only a 6 hour trip to Wake Forest it was 12-14 hours back home. So with Charles’ influence and despite not having packed clothing appropriate for a chapter installation, I made the trip. Thank goodness for credit cards so I could try to find suitable clothing in North Carolina on a Sunday morning. And yes, I made it back to Michigan just in time to teach the next day, wearing the clothes I bought in North Carolina the day before.

That was a typical Charles story. He was all about getting people together and convincing people that they wanted to do things Fraternally that they might not have done on their own. He was a force in moving the NCD into the District we are today.

Following his term as NCD president he and I remained close friends as he did with many others he interacted with during that year. Also following his term in office Charles stayed involved in many ways and still worked to bring Brothers together not only in the NCD but in every location he moved to for his job that had a chapter nearby. When he moved to Indianapolis post graduation he became involved with the Alpha Beta Chapter at Butler. When his job transferred him to Dallas, Charles found a way to interact with and support the Delta Sigma Chapter at UT Arlington. Just days before his untimely death he was key in getting a group of Brothers and Sisters from multiple districts together in Tampa to keep that connection that was brought from our bonds of Brotherhood.

In 2000 Charles moved to the San Francisco area for his work with Federal Express. He found a place that he felt was home. On January 27, 2001 Charles made a trip to a local convenience store with a new friend, on his way out he and his friend were attacked, robbed and Charles was stabbed in the parking lot and later died of his wounds. His funeral back home in Indianapolis was attended by Brothers and Sisters from across the district and the country.

Despite Charles’s short involvement in Kappa Kappa Psi he made a lasting impact on the North Central District that lasts to the present day. It is because of all he dedicated to Kappa Kappa Psi that an award was created in his honor in 2001.

The Charles W. Hass award is granted by the North Central District in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Fraternity by an alumnus or alumna of the Fraternity. An individual is eligible for the award after five years of alumni status and after an application is submitted to the Governor(s) and President by a chapter in the North Central District or the district council.

Charles W. Hass Memorial Award Past Recipients

2002- Mark (ZO) and Rose Bradbourne (BPsi)

2003- Craig (Nu) and Leslie McClure (Lambda)

2004- Michael Osborn (ZE-KKPsi)

2005-Not Awarded

2006- Derrick Mills (H)

2007- Roy Johnson (Gamma Pi)

2008- Not Awarded

2009-Not Awarded

2010- Rod Whiteman (AB)

2011- Doug (Gamma Pi) and Amy Heavilin (ZO)

2012- Not Awarded

2013- Not Awarded

2014- Laura Blake (AB)

2015- Jen DiBenedetto (Delta Epsilon, TBS, NCD KKPsi Honorary)

2016- Raina Regan (ZE-KKPsi)

2017- Malinda Matney (Nu)

2018-Not Awarded

2019- Scott Stowell (Alpha Eta)

2020- Not Awarded

2021-Not Awarded

2022-Not Awarded

2023-

2024-

NCD Convention Information

The 2023 North Central District Convention will be held in Muncie, Indiana! I am so excited to announce that the registration link is LIVE! 
 

The price for Convention is $65 and includes dinner at the banquet on Saturday as well as a light breakfast on both Saturday and Sunday morning. After 3/24, the cost of registration rises to $85 and does not include dinner at the banquet so make sure you register early!
 

If you would like to buy a convention t-shirt, the cost will be an additional $15.
 

Along with the registration link, the hotel reservation link is also live! Please have your room(s) booked by 3/9. If you do not have your room booked by this date, you will not receive the discounted rate for Convention which is set at $99.

Lastly, please take our short survey so we create the best Convention experience for you! This is just to get some ideas and interest in events, the final schedule will be coming out soon! 

NCD Convention Registration Link - https://kkytbs.swoogo.com/2023NCDCON

NCD Convention Hotel Registration Information- https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1676297167616&key=GRP&app=resvlink

NCDAA Convention Interest Survey- https://forms.gle/GWeZ5DQeRyfJYzyZ7

Random Act of Kindness Day

February 17 is National Random Acts of Kindness Day! To honor the day, the Kappa Kappa Psi NCDAA’s Health and Wellness Director, Hannah Trezise, will explain a bit about the impact of kindness on one’s health!

Kindness is wonderful for both the body and the mind. It has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy, and compassion, while also improving one’s mood. Showing kindness to others can also decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone. Being kind also boosts serotonin and dopamine, which can provide a sense of satisfaction and wellbeing.

Kindness can increase your sense of connectivity with others, which can directly impact loneliness and enhance relationships in general. For example, volunteering and helping others can help us feel a sense of belonging, make new friends, and connect with our communities.

Here are some ideas for a random act of kindness, provided by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation:

https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-stories/113-50-ideas-for-random-acts.

Some of our personal favorites are:
· Return shopping carts for people at the grocery store.
· Encounter someone in customer service who is especially kind? Take an extra five minutes to tell their manager.
· Take muffins or cookies to your local librarians.

For more information on how kindness may affect your personal health, take a look at the following articles!

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/the-art-of-kindness#:~:text=Good%20for%20the%20body,be%20healthier%20and%20live%20longer.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/ways-being-kind-is-good-for-your-health-and-wellbeing/

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/kindness/kindness-matters-guide

REMEMBERING CHARLES W. HASS

Written by Michael Osborn (Zeta Epsilon)

A rather typical picture of Charles

You may have sat at an NCD Convention Banquet and heard the name Charles Hass when the Charles W. Hass Memorial award was awarded but you may not know who Charles Hass was and why an award was created in his honor.

Charles Hass was initiated into the Gamma Pi Chapter at Purdue University in 1992. My first interaction with Charles was in 1995 watching him run for District Office at a block meeting being held at Eastern Michigan University. To be completely honest, from a first impression standpoint I was a bit concerned about Charles as a district officer as he seemed loud, a little too outgoing, and a little crazy from a far. When Charles was elected NCD President I had no idea how our paths would intertwine moving forward. Shortly after Charles was elected I was asked to become one of the NCD Governors and even though my term did not start until National Convention, Charles was on the phone early on excited to work with me to help the district grow and laid out his plans and focus and sought advice. He essentially on-boarded me as District Governor so that the transition into the position was seamless in so many ways. Ultimately those things that gave me pause from my first impression were the things that made him a great NCD President.

Charles had a vision to try to bring the district closer together and to increase interaction between the District Council and the chapters. He was never one to shy away from a conversation with any Brother and sought opportunities to meet Brothers at any event possible. In fact for his spring break he made a tour around the district, crashing on floors and couches and brought a couple of Gamma Pi Brothers (future district officers) with him to share in the fun. One memory that wraps up Charles for me is that as Governor I made the trip to Ohio University for a Block Meeting. At the block meeting Charles mentioned to me that he and others were making the 6 hour trip from Athens to the installation of the chapter at Wake Forest University. He worked hard to convince me to go on the trip, making me forget that while it was only a 6 hour trip to Wake Forest it was 12-14 hours back home. So with Charles’ influence and despite not having packed clothing appropriate for a chapter installation, I made the trip. Thank goodness for credit cards so I could try to find suitable clothing in North Carolina on a Sunday morning. And yes, I made it back to Michigan just in time to teach the next day, wearing the clothes I bought in North Carolina the day before.

That was a typical Charles story. He was all about getting people together and convincing people that they wanted to do things Fraternally that they might not have done on their own. He was a force in moving the NCD into the District we are today.

Following his term as NCD president he and I remained close friends as he did with many others he interacted with during that year. Also following his term in office Charles stayed involved in many ways and still worked to bring Brothers together not only in the NCD but in every location he moved to for his job that had a chapter nearby. When he moved to Indianapolis post graduation he became involved with the Alpha Beta Chapter at Butler. When his job transferred him to Dallas, Charles found a way to interact with and support the Delta Sigma Chapter at UT Arlington. Just days before his untimely death he was key in getting a group of Brothers and Sisters from multiple districts together in Tampa to keep that connection that was brought from our bonds of Brotherhood.

In 2000 Charles moved to the San Francisco area for his work with Federal Express. He found a place that he felt was home. On January 27, 2001 Charles made a trip to a local convenience store with a new friend, on his way out he and his friend were attacked, robbed and Charles was stabbed in the parking lot and later died of his wounds. His funeral back home in Indianapolis was attended by Brothers and Sisters from across the district and the country.

Despite Charles’s short involvement in Kappa Kappa Psi he made a lasting impact on the North Central District that lasts to the present day. It is because of all he dedicated to Kappa Kappa Psi that an award was created in his honor in 2001.

The Charles W. Hass award is granted by the North Central District in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Fraternity by an alumnus or alumna of the Fraternity. An individual is eligible for the award after five years of alumni status and after an application is submitted to the Governor(s) and President by a chapter in the North Central District or the district council.

Charles W. Hass Memorial Award Past Recipients

2002- Mark (ZO) and Rose Bradbourne (BPsi)

2003- Craig (Nu) and Leslie McClure (Lambda)

2004- Michael Osborn (ZE-KKPsi)

2005-Not Awarded

2006- Derrick Mills (H)

2007- Roy Johnson (Gamma Pi)

2008- Not Awarded

2009-Not Awarded

2010- Rod Whiteman (AB)

2011- Doug (Gamma Pi) and Amy Heavilin (ZO)

2012- Not Awarded

2013- Not Awarded

2014- Laura Blake (AB)

2015- Jen DiBenedetto (Delta Epsilon, TBS, NCD KKPsi Honorary)

2016- Raina Regan (ZE-KKPsi)

2017- Malinda Matney (Nu)

2018-Not Awarded

2019- Scott Stowell (Alpha Eta)

2020- Not Awarded

2021-Not Awarded

2022-Not Awarded

New Year, New Habits?

By Hannah Trezise

Happy New Year! This past week, the Kappa Kappa Psi North Central District Alumni Association (NCDAA) celebrated the coming of a new year, and said goodbye to 2021 with its Webchat Wednesday. As both the NCDAA Growth & Wellness chair and a self-proclaimed New Year’s resolution fanatic, the conversations that I have around this time at our annual Webchat Wednesdays delight me and help me prepare myself for my next year’s goals. 

Setting New Year’s resolutions can be great for your health! People set goals for themselves for fitness, for mental health, and other realms of wellbeing (social, environmental, financial, etc.). Setting these types of resolutions can be rewarding; however, they can also be challenging. I’ve failed a number of resolutions in the past, mainly for thinking too lofty, only to bow out on the second week of January. Take it from a seasoned resolution-veteran: it’s about how you plan, and the reasoning behind the resolution, as much as it is about the “What” of your goal.

So, let’s assume you have some goals in mind for 2022. You want to read more, or you want to invest more in your fitness, or perhaps you want to connect with your Kappa Kappa Psi brothers more. If you want to challenge yourself to meet your 2022 New Year’s resolutions, you should consider the “What?” “How?” and “Why?”  of your resolutions, breaking them apart into reasonable and achievable pieces.  

Take, for instance, a few of my own goals:

  • Write a book by end of December 2022

  • Travel one place new

  • Run a half marathon

A few of these seem lofty (namely the writing a book one), but I promise these are more manageable than what meets the eye. I’ll break that first one down;

What: Writing a Book. That’s not very concrete, so let’s say it’s a 300 page book of pages that are each 250 words. That’s writing 75,000 words total over 365 days. That sounds like 1,500 words a week, more or less. That, I can do.

How: I’ve bought journals, and I’m setting aside a certain amount of time every day to write creatively with the intention of working on a story. Since I’ve already plotted some of it, I feel a little less intimidated about the prospect of sitting down with this and writing in 2022. I have writer friends who are holding my accountable, and I am giving myself small goals the achieve (ie: writing 2 chapters a month).

Giving yourself a plan for execution will bring your lofty goals a bit closer to the ground. If you’re trying to get more into fitness, are you setting a goal of a certain amount of minutes with your weights or your running shoes? If you’re trying to expand upon your cooking skills, are you planning to try a new meal every week, or every month? Ultimately, planning your goal out week by week or month by month will lay out a roadmap for success, so that you can achieve by the end of 2022. 

Why: The fuel! Very important for goals. If you’ve ever been in a Kappa Kappa Psi goal-setting workshop, you probably know that knowing and understanding the “Why” behind what you’re planning is critical for getting it done. For me, this comes down to 1. always wanting to write a book, and 2. Having far too many ideas bubbling up in my head with few coming to fruition. It’s time. 

Once you’ve figured out these three items, you’ll be in a much better place to achieve your New Year’s resolutions. That being said, don’t stress too much if you find yourself losing steam throughout the year. We’re only human— we’ve got family, friends, and work to prioritize. The important thing is that you’re making any progress at all. If you’re making the effort to learn or change in 2022, that’s something you should be proud of.

Boh and Tell

This Tuesday, November 30th from 8-9pm EST the Kappa Kappa Psi NCDAA is hosting Boh & Tell, an exciting music share event, and we hope you can all attend! This event, put on by our Music Director Tim Priest and the Social Committee, is a great opportunity for NCDAA Brothers to share their musical tastes with each other. You can choose a piece that is for band, orchestra, choir, on the radio, whatever you like!

Please come ready to talk about why your chosen piece/song is important to you.

Below is the link for music submission; you may choose up to three pieces/songs to share. We might not get through each song, so please list your number one choice first. After discussing your reasoning for your choice, we will listen to it together. Afterward, we will open it up for any discussion on what we just heard.

 

Reasons to go to National Convention

By: Hannah Trezise

If you’re like us here at the Kappa Kappa Psi North Central District Alumni Association, you’re brimming with excitement for the upcoming KKY/TBS National Convention in Grand Rapids (July 13-16, 2021). With the news that on-time registration for the event has been extended to June 7th, we thought, “what a great opportunity” to outline why we think YOU should attend this biennium’s culminating event.

First things first, national convention is an excellent opportunity to see old friends and meet new ones. The last year has been especially difficult without in-person communication as we’ve individually and collectively experienced the COVID-19 global health crisis. We’re so looking forward to having an in-person convention and meeting our friends safely in person. 

Many members of the KKY NCDAA can tell stories about the people they’ve met and the conversations they’ve had at a district or national convention. You run into people you’ve met at past degrees, block meetings, and more, but you also meet a substantial amount of new people. Nowhere is that more true than at a National Convention at which you can meet brothers from all across the country. 

At my own first National Convention in Orlando, Florida (NatCon ‘17), I was able to meet brothers from Colorado, New York, and Washington. I had connections in music programs across the United States, and people to look forward to seeing at following national conventions. National Convention really starts to broaden your understanding of the scope of membership in the national fraternity, showing just how wide-reaching Kappa Kappa Psi is. 

In the same social vein, the road trips to National Convention are an additional excitement for getting ready for National Convention. As we are celebrating in Michigan this year, many are going to be flying or driving in from all over. From talking to many alumni, I’ve decided that the travel aspect to convention is half the fun. Buzzing with anticipation for what’s to come, singing songs on the highway in a car packed with supplies (maybe instruments, even), and discussing goals for your chapters or the district can make the ride (or flight) to convention just as fun as the event itself.

Another great thing about this coming National Convention is that it takes place in the great state of Michigan! Now, we in the KKY NCDAA may be a bit biased because Michigan is within our own district, but Michigan is beautiful during the summer. Grand Rapids is just under 45 minutes from the shores of Lake Michigan, and the Grand River runs right through its middle. Known particularly for art and beer, Grand Rapids has a variety of offerings for any brother or sister attending this convention.

Did you know? This year is the 75th anniversary celebration for Tau Beta Sigma! This is very exciting. A momentous anniversary for our sisters is another reason to go to this year’s national convention. To be there with our sisters as their sorority celebrates its storied history is something that will surely be memorable.

If you’re a fan of music (which, let’s be real, of course you are! You’re a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi or a sister of Tau Beta Sigma most likely), you’ll love the NIB. The National Intercollegiate Band is made up of the best of the best musicians and they are assembled every two years. The concert the NIB puts on during National Convention is a real treat; you won’t want to miss it. Additionally, the Boston Brass will be performing at this year’s event as well. Great music all around.

Finally, let’s talk about why people ultimately go to convention: to reinvigorate themselves with purpose, to discuss chapter and fraternity development, and to mold ourselves into the best servants for college bands. With a series of workshops for attendees to attend, National Convention provides plenty of opportunities to engage with other brothers and sisters on how to best serve the college music programs at our respective colleges and universities.

There are many reasons to choose to attend convention this year, but we in the KKY North Central District Alumni Association really hope to see you this year. From what we know, and what we have planned, we can guarantee that it will be a convention to remember. 

To register for the KKY and TBS National Convention in Grand Rapids from June 13-16, 2021, follow this link: http://natcon.kkytbsonline.com

Welcome to the NCDAA, Class of 2021!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL GRADUATING SENIORS IN THE NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT!

The Kappa Kappa Psi North Central District Alumni Association applauds you for your service to the college and university bands - nothing but outstanding leadership, service, brotherhood, and musicianship represent your graduating class! Just because you've graduated doesn't mean you have to leave the fraternity all together. As a brother of the NCD, we invite you to join our Alumni Association, where we strive to create meaningful experiences for YOU. Here are a few ways to stay connected as alumni!

Submit a Graduating Senior Spotlight!
Submit a quick spotlight profile here for a chance to be featured on the NCDAA Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! We can't wait to showcase all of the things that you've accomplished in your time as an Active Brother!

Learn More About the NCDAA!
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 2 at 8:30pm for a special "Welcome" where you can learn more about becoming an active member of NCDAA and get to know others from the Class of 2021! Register here for the link to join. The month will follow with other social events (Trivia Night, Book Club, Pen Pals, and more - both virtual AND in-person!) (If you're unable to make our event on June 2, check out our new member session from the 2021 NCD Convention here.)

Help US help YOU! Take this quick survey to tell us more about what you'd like to see as a new member of the NCDAA as well! We want to provide the best possible experience for our membership!

Join the NCDAA!
Once your Chapter President submits the Graduating Senior Report on OMRS, the National Alumni Association will grant you one free year of membership to join a local and/or district Alumni Association! With the quick completion of this membership registration form, you will be a fully registered member of the NCDAA, receiving our monthly newsletter and access to our resources, programming, and upcoming events!

Stay Connected with the NCDAA!
We invite you to stay connected by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Additional information can also be found on our website: https://www.kkpsincdaa.com/

Congratulations again on your graduation! We look forward to seeing you soon!

2021 North Central District Virtual Convention

Join us this weekend (April 9th-10th, 2021) for NCD Convention. We have been working hard to plan a fun-filled weekend of events.

If you are interested in attending please register here by Wednesday at 11:59PM.

The Zoom link for active sessions (separate session #1, Keynote Speaker, Joint TBS 75th Anniversary, and joint session with awards, hymn and closing) will be sent out prior to Friday at 6pm.

The Alumni only sessions (graduating senior info event, social event, business session, Music and Me workshop, and AABOD Townhall/ Q&A) will be using the Zoom link that was sent to your emails on Monday.

Any questions, please email ncdaa@kkpsi.org.