Alumni Spotlight: Meet Caleb Doerr

CALEB DOERR

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

MEET CALEB DOERR

• Home chapter – Zeta Epsilon @ Michigan State University

• Initiation period – Fall 2013

• Graduation date – Fall/Winter 2017

• Major or study concentration – Packaging

• Main Instrument – Saxophone

• Current profession – Packaging Engineer w/ Steelcase, Inc.

• Current city – Madison, AL

Why did you join KKPsi or what drew you KKPsi? – "I joined KKPsi in the fall of 2013 after auditioning for the Spartan Marching Band at Michigan State. Following a failed audition, I was looking for an outlet for my musical energies, and a way to progress in my musicality. After one long discussion on my audition and my musical aspirations with the marching band director at the time, I was turned to Isaac Frank, a Brother who shared common ambitions with me in music and life at the university. A few emails later about ensembles, instrument rentals and drum corps, Isaac invited me out to a recruitment night for the Zeta Epsilon Chapter. I was starstruck by the people I met that night, and totally in love with the group from the moment I was welcomed into the room, even it was just a pizza night in a classroom. Looking back, I didn’t have a second thought about saying yes to the invitation to continuing my recruitment, which would launch myself into new musical endeavors while being a Brother for four and half years."

What positions or responsibilities did you hold in your chapter? – "My sophomore year, I accepted my nomination for the committee chair of our chapter’s Brotherhood Committee. With four other outstanding Brothers, our goal became to enhance the opportunities for the ‘small moments of Brotherhood’ where friendship really seems to be born. Whether these moments came from big events with Tau Beta Sigma, weeknight study and meal sessions, or ‘Date Night’ meetings with our new Prospective Member class, we were inspired by the chapter growth and Brotherly-love that was flowering. Relative to the year previous, my junior year at the university was more self-focused and my fraternal activity took a downward turn while I was working on career goals, my personal mindset and trying to achieve my goals in marching drum corps. So, quite selfishly, I was more focused myself, the chapter atmosphere, and what we were doing for ourselves as a group of people. While strongly reconsidering if I had a place in KKPsi and what the organization really meant to me, I attended meetings and worked on project teams, but felt pretty out of touch with the fraternity. With the support of some great friends, I was able to work myself out of that negative headspace and really reflect on what I was doing for the chapter, what being a Brother meant to me, and more importantly what I was doing for the people around me. I was determined to see how I could affect the culture and community in our group and was elected Chapter President following a surprise nomination in the Spring of 2016. That year, our chapter’s biggest focus turned into overturning a massive debt to a company who helped with a previous chapter fundraiser that failed. The tone that year was a less than comfortable, but it took us turning our focus inward to really see ourselves as a chapter of Brothers to one another, negotiate our weaknesses, and foster them into strengths. We learned more about ‘filling our cup’ as a chapter and pouring outward, than when we tried to pour from ‘empty’."

Name a favorite memory from your Active membership. – "Myself and three members of Zeta Epsilon decided to take a trip from Michigan down to Kentucky in my small ’99 Volkswagen Golf for the District’s South Block in 2016. Sleep deprived and buzzing on caffeine, we sat in the workshops provided by district officers at the time and met Brothers we never would have been introduced to outside of that trip. We even got the opportunity to be introduced to the style of marching band music that makes the south so different from military band style. The real gem of that trip was building bonds with the brothers who travelled an odd 800 miles with me…the late night discussions that occurred in that little car are buried somewhere in a junkyard in Michigan now. For good."

How has KKPsi helped you in the "real world"? (professionally or personally, or both)  – "KKPsi has helped immensely in both focuses of the real world. Professionally, KKPsi has helped by providing me with the skills to not only lead, but to feel comfortable leading and working through projects – large or small. I’ve found how truly enjoyable it can be working in groups and watching large projects come together. KKPsi provided many opportunities for me to use new tools and resources to get the job done, through upper level contacts, technology and group practices. As I grew older, the real treat for me was assisting in the secondary level of leadership, helping individuals to pursue their strengths, and helping them grow out of their perceived weaknesses. I used this actively in my college job, and still find applications for it in my career today. Personally speaking, KKPsi taught me about personal responsibility to both the chapter and my personal time, and the feelings of others. While managing a team of students in my college job, being a section leader in the marching band, taking classes, and presiding over the chapter, I had to learn how to work with others and find balance for my time and the time of others. There are several moments that stick out to me in my years where, being the “push forward!” personality that I am, my friends and Brothers taught me to sit back, listen, and learn to better reflect on the feelings of my peers. A super simple lesson, but I think many times we become so numb to the problem-solving mindset of college that we can forget about the humanistic perspective. Luckily, I had a mindful and influential chapter surrounding me and continually teaching me."

What are you most looking forward to as a member of the NCDAA? - "I’m really looking forward to getting to interact with the numerous alumni Brothers of the NCDAA, whether recent alumni or a few years removed. We all share this great bond of being a Brother and the fraternity has always been inspiring to me because of those bonds, and the experiences, volunteerism, and musicality that result from strong Brotherhood. I hope to see the same from the alumni group and I’m excited to make new friendships with those joining this group with me! I’m definitely hoping to stir up some new projects and adventures while I’m here."

Name one thing you want to get out of the NCDAA. – "With all things KKPsi in our focus, I really want to see how adults and recent college graduates are living in the spirit of the chapter. I’ve taken my time after graduation to get settled here in the South and am looking to get involved in my community music scene, volunteering, teaching, and all that comes with it. Is anyone out there up to similar adventures of new places?"

Name any of your personal social media accounts that you would like people to connect with you. – 

1. Connect professionally with me via LinkedIn

2. Add or message me on Facebook

3. Let’s share what we’re working on via Instagram @just_cdoerrable.

4. I’m a bit of a geographical distance, but I love talking about new music, travel adventures, food quests, and whatever projects you all are working on… and dog pictures. I’d be delighted to talk! Know someone in or find yourself in North Alabama/Southern Tennessee - hit me up!

5. Thanks for reading! I’m looking forward to meeting all the alumni Brothers, making new memories, and making this a successful alumni Fraternity group.

Alumni Spotlight: Meet Justin Jensen

Justin Jensen

Alumni Spotlight

MEET JUSTIN JENSEN

• Home chapter – Beta Kappa @ Bowling Green State University

• Initiation period – Spring 2014

• Graduation date – May 2018

• Major or study concentration – Film Production

• Main Instrument – Tuba

• Current profession – Chapter Field Representative w/ Kappa Kappa Psi National Headquarters

• Current city – Stillwater, OK

Why did you join KKPsi or what drew you KKPsi? – "I was originally drawn to KKPsi because people in my section told me that I would be a good fit for an honorary band fraternity which is something that I didn’t think I would be good enough for at the time. When I saw the opportunity to join an organization of people that all loved the same things I did in addition to also bettering the band program it was an easy choice to make."

What positions or responsibilities did you hold in your chapter? – "In my chapter I held the position of Parliamentarian. It was the one position I held within the chapter but I also served as NCD Vice President of Programs."

Name a favorite memory from your Active membership. – "One of my favorite memories would have to be my first National Convention in Lexington, Kentucky in 2015. It was an eye-opening experience to get to see how much the fraternity does on a national level. It gave me perspective on how much we really do for the band program. I also got to meet so many different brothers and sisters that I now have the pleasure of working with today. (Shameless Plug: Go to NatCon 2019 on July 16-20 and celebrate KKPsi’s centennial, it will be really fun!)"

How has KKPsi helped you in the "real world"? (professionally or personally, or both)  – "Currently, it has helped with almost everything as CFR. It has also taught me how I want to present myself as a professional and how to effectively communicate my message to people I talk to whether it be brothers or anyone outside of the organization. It taught me to be passionate about everything that I do."

What are you most looking forward to as a member of the NCDAA? - "I looking forward to getting to know many brothers from the NCD that are still just as passionate about Kappa Kappa Psi as they were when they were an active member."

Name one thing you want to get out of the NCDAA. – "I would want to forge new bonds with alumni that I didn’t have the opportunity to meet while I was Active."

Name any of your personal social media accounts that you would like people to connect with you. – "Add me on Facebook or on Twitter @jstnjensen13."

Historical Highlight: The Birth of the North Central District

Unless you are a more experienced alum (in years) you might not be aware that the NCD we know and love today is only 31 years old.  While Districts have existed since 1949 they have changed over time.  The current NCD was created when the Brothers and Sisters at the 1987 National Convention approved the District Realignment Plan as presented to the district presidents in 1986.  Prior to the 1987 realignment the districts were identified by numbers as seen below. As a side note the 1987 convention was full of NCD significance as it was hosted in the NCD at the University of Michigan, and presided over by National President Frank Stubbs, who was then the Director of Bands at Purdue)

Image 1: New Districts as of September 1, 1967

As you can see above, prior to the redistricting in 1987 what is now known as the NCD was mostly District VII. 

The 1987 plan took the 10 numbered districts shown above  (international district/District 10 not shown) and consolidated them into 7 districts (including international) named for regions of the country as shown in the image below.  When the changes were made to District VII to create the NCD, a state was added but no additional chapters were gained.  That state was Wisconsin which prior to 1987 was part of District IV.  The rationale for the addition of Wisconsin to the NCD was that it was a logical fit and a fertile area for colonization. (Oddly enough that logical fit and fertile area has failed to yield any chapters to this day). 

The reason for realignment was that in the former structure we had several districts with very few chapters.  At that time, Districts I and IV only had one chapter each (District I for Kappa Kappa Psi, District IV for Tau Beta Sigma). District II had 5 chapters, and District III had a handful of chapters. Realignment meant that resources could be streamlined and districts could have more chapters for interaction and business purposes. It also was driven by growth/lack of growth in various regions of the Fraternity and Sorority.

Image 2: 1987 District Realignment

If you look closely to the image above (1987 redistricting proposal) and the image below (current district structure) you will notice one minor change if you look to the Western District.  With the 1987 redistricting the lines of the Western District and its adjoining districts were based on the Continental Divide.  A later revision was to make change those 3 districts borders to state lines.  Also for the NCD, a slight change happened when the NCD added the Zeta Lambda Chapter at Marshall University, which is located in West Virginia.  Despite accepting Marshall into the NCD, the state of West Virginia is still considered to belong to the Northeast District.

Image 3: District Alignment (2018)

Note from the Author:

This highlight was done with a considerable amount of assistance from Ken Corbett, Past National President and a founding member of our National History and Archives Team.  Ken was the National Member at Large (current VP for Student Affairs position) at the 1987 National Convention. The graphics are all from a presentation he shared with me.  Past National President Malinda Matney also provided some input as she was the TBS District V president in 1987.  Other insights beyond those two resources were items I learned as a member of the first ZE Membership Candidate Class following the 1987 district realignment.

Alumni Spotlight: Meet Brother Nicki Schmidt

Nicki Schmidt

Alumni Spotlight

Meet Nicki Schmidt

• Home chapter – Beta Kappa @ Bowling Green State University

• Initiation period – Spring 2015

• Graduation date – May 2016

• Major or study concentration – Graphic Design

• Main Instrument – French Horn

• Current profession – Graphic Designer

• Current city – Bowling Green, OH

Why did you join KKPsi or what drew you KKPsi? – "I actually didn't go out for KKPsi until I was a Junior. I spent my first couple years of college being very shy and introverted. When I joined the uniform committee for marching band my sophomore year, I met people from both KKPsi and TBS, this was my first experience with these band organizations and I thought it was awesome that a group of people could help the bands so much. The next year I was leadership of my section in marching band, which helped me get out of my shell more and I finally had the courage to go out for KKPsi. I loved the being able to meet people outside of my own section that loved band as much as I did. It was a very welcoming experience and I wouldn't change it for the world."

What positions or responsibilities did you hold in your chapter? – "I was the Fundraising Committee Head my final year as an active. When I came in as fundraising chair, our chapters funds were very low. I held different fundraisers such as our Marching Band Clothing Sale, bake sales, restaurant fundraisers, convention merchandise, and we saw a definite increase in our funds that year. It was awesome to see that I was able to contribute something to my chapter."

Name a favorite memory from your Active membership. – "One of my favorite memories would have to be building a halloween gingerbread house with my Big and Little! The first weekend after I got my little we went to a band outreach at a high school, and then went to my Big's apartment and we built a Halloween themed gingerbread house. We had so many laughs that night, and it was a great bonding experience for all of us. We failed at making the gingerbread house stand so we just smashed it and then ate all the black icing!"

How has KKPsi helped you in the "real world"? (professionally or personally, or both)  – "Kappa Kappa Psi has helped me learn the importance of teamwork. In KKPsi we work as a team to provide the best we can for the bands, it is never an individual effort. This also applies to my job environment working with my coworkers, providing the best work and product we can for the customers.  More personally, KKPsi has helped me gain confidence in leadership and trust. I was able to grow as a person being around a group of people who share the same interests and values as I do. I am more confident in myself and the work that I do because of the support I received from my brothers during my time being active. I could never be more thankful for that."

What are you most looking forward to as a member of the NCDAA? – "I am looking forward to connecting with other Alumni brothers. I still stay connected with the family that are active and still in college, but I think that having an alumni association is a great way for graduates to still stay connected with brothers even if they don't have any connection left with their home chapter." 

Name one thing you want to get out of the NCDAA. – "To continue my experience as a brother and be able to make new connections with other KKPsi alumni, and continue to grow my knowledge from new experiences."

Name any of your personal social media accounts that you would like people to connect with you. – Instagram: @Schminkz

Name any other contact information that you are willing to share. – "I do have a website that features my graphic design work: www.nickischmidtdesigns.com as well as my design work email nicki.schmidt.designs@gmail.com."