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2013 MEP Collection & Reminders

Hello SED,

And congratulations on surviving yet another week of this gorgeous football fall!

This year’s SED Council has been hard at work compiling information for you to ease your paperwork process. As you may know, there are several national paperwork deadlines that must be met throughout the year. The next one coming up is our Fall Activity Reports and they are due on December 1, 2013.

Other than the important National paperwork, the district collects another important document every year- the MEP (Membership Education Program). These are collected by your district officers, reviewed by your district counselors, and submitted to national headquarters. MEPs are collected to connect with the chapters and to assure the national organization that all membership candidates of Tau Beta Sigma are taught the same minimal requirements.

The MEP collection process in the SED has always been left vague and open-ended, due to the personalization aspect of each chapter. This is NOT something we want to change. However, various chapters around the SED have requested a template to ensure all the information is included. SO this year, we are not providing you with a template, but we are providing you with a check list. The “Top 10” things to put in your MEP.

After the review of last year’s collections, the SED Council has sought a more efficient way of reviewing the documents for you. This year, we have attached to this email a document containing what each individual chapter was missing from their submitted MEP last fall. Use our “Top 10” (found below) and the attached data to structure your MEP this year. MEPs are due to each chapter mentor on December 1, 2013.

MEP FAQs:

1. Should my MEP be different every year? No, MEPs should not be a brand new document each year, once you establish the needed information, you should only have to update/change as needed.

2. Will they be reviewed by a collegiate member or by a counselor? Each MEP will be reviewed preliminarily by either the SED President (Belinda Baker) or the SED VPM (Christa Hall). The official review will be done by a counselor, however, until all the “Top 10” are submitted and covered, a chapter’s MEP will not be officially reviewed.

3. Is there a length requirement? There is no word or page requirement or minimum for an MEP. We (both the district and national headquarters) are more concerned with the information contained inside.

4. What if my calendar of events is not concrete yet? If your calendar is not official yet, do not fret! We would only like an example, you can include one from this fall or last spring. (As long as we get an idea of how far apart meetings are, rituals, tests, etc.)

5. Can I still submit my MEP after the deadline or incomplete? Yes, absolutely! The idea of MEP collection is to get the best representation of your chapter and the candidate process. Imagine if a brand new transfer sister needed to run the entire process, it should be a “how-to” guide.

6. Is there a penalty for not submitting? Technically, no. However, your chapter can be placed on probation if this document is not submitted to National HQ completed and reviewed after a certain amount of time. We are trying to help you!

Below you will find the “Top 10” items to include in your MEP. As a reminder and in conclusion, both your Fall activity Report and your MEP are due on December 1, 2013. Your FAR will need to be submitted and approved via the Online Membership & Reporting System. Your MEP will need to be emailed to your SED Council Mentor. If you are unsure of who this person is, or if you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact any district council member.

“Top 10”

Table of Contents

1. Recruitment- Activities, Description, and Dates

2. Chapter, School, National Policies and Procedures

3. Bid Process- Selection of Candidates, Bid Acceptance/Decline Process

4. Candidate Requirements and Meetings

5. Big/Little Selection/Reveal Process

6. Study Material and Tests for Membership Candidates

7. National, District, Chapter Information- TBS

8. National, District, Chapter Information- KKPsi

9. Chapter Operations- Ritual Attire, GPA requirements, fees/fines, and dues

10. Calendar of Events

Attached Documents

1. MEP Requirements

2. MEP Checklist

3. Sample #1- Beta Xi MEP

4. Sample #1- Beta Xi Calendar and White Manual

5. Sample #2- Theta Zeta MEP Handbook

6. Sample #2- Theta Zeta MEP Information Packet

sedcouncil band, ITB, Kappa Kappa Psi, leadership, music, SED, service, sisterhood, sorority, Southeast District, Tau Beta Sigma, TBSigma, TBΣ

A round of applause is due…

Southeast District of Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi,

Thank you.

No really, thank you. From the district officers, to you, we applaud every late night, every early morning, and every sweat stained t-shirt in service to the college bands here in the SED and beyond. This school year so far, we have seen an enormous amount of effort from chapters of BOTH organizations to turn in paperwork on time, to contact and bond with chapters and ITB around you, and lastly, and most importantly, to serve your bands to the best of your ability.

We are thankful.

We are proud.

And we are the SED- Strength, Excellence, Diversity.

We could not possibly recognize all the accomplishments of every single chapter in the SED- there are too many. However, we do want to spotlight 3 individual chapters who have gone above and beyond, and continue daily to work for the SED.

This year’s Eighth Note host, began working immediately after being awarded the bid. You will be getting information from them soon concerning the BRAND NEW “rolling submission” process for Eighth Note articles, as well as an updated Eighth Note look! Please join us in congratulating and thanking the Alpha Omega chapter of Tau Beta Sigma and the Gamma Nu chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi from THE Florida State University for hosting the 2013-2014 SED Eighth Note publication!

The next chapter and event we would like to proudly announce is the 2014 SED District Leadership Conference. We had an INCREDIBLE amount of interest in hosting this event this year, and after much discussion, the Joint Council has selected the Iota Lambda chapter of Tau Beta Sigma and the Mu Eta chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi from the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill! We are excited to announce the 2014 SED DLC will be hosted in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on February 8, 2014. Please add this event to your calendars for it is one you certainly will not want to miss!

Last, but certainly not least, we cannot thank the next chapter enough for their continued work on the biggest project the Southeast District has… Southeast District Convention. The brothers and sisters of the Iota chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and the Epsilon Theta chapter of Tau Beta Sigma have been diligently working since the 2013 SED Convention to make this year’s convention the best yet! Without their hard work and expertise of the Atlanta area, the 2014 SED would be nothing. However, since they have put in spectacular work so far, we would like to again announce the 2014 SED Convention will be held in Atlanta, GA from March 21-23, 2014.

Again, thank you for all of your hard work this fall, for your individual chapters and schools, and also for the betterment of the two national organizations. If you are ever in any need of assistance, we are always reachable at the below email addresses.

MLITB, always!

Belinda Baker
Tau Beta Sigma
Southeast District President
sedpres@tbsigma.org

Kyle Sullivan
Kappa Kappa Psi
Southeast District President
sedpresident@kkpsi.org

sedcouncil band, ITB, leadership, music, SED, service, sisterhood, sorority, Southeast District, Tau Beta Sigma, TBSigma, TBΣ

Reminder: Concerto Competition/SiMM

Hello SED,

This is a reminder email about the Concerto Competition and Service in Music Month!

The 4 Concerto Competition documents can be found on the tbs SED website: Click Here to view all Concerto Competition documents. I’m asking that you please print out and post the ad and flyer around your schools of music and student unions since this competition is open to any undergraduate musician. I would greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word.

The application is due to me by Friday, November 1st! Please mail it to:

SED VPSP
1000 Whaley Street
Columbia, SC 29201

If your application is not postmarked on or before November 1st, your application will not be reviewed.

Also, I need to approve all concerto pieces before anyone sends in an application. Please email me with your name, instrument, and the piece you want to audition with BEFORE November 1st. My email is sedvpsp@tbsigma.org.
——————————–

Service in Music Month is happening right now! Well one is already over and well two starts on Monday, October 7th

Lets take a look at the rest of the month’s itinerary:

Week 2 (October 7th-13th):

Keep Teens Musical- This week, move up to middle school or high school age youths and keep them interested in music!

Here are some ideas:

Go to a Middle School and:
Help the band program raise money.
Clean their band room.
Donate music/instruments.
Volunteer to help the band at a performance.

OR,

Go to a High School and:
Help recruit middle school band students to high school band programs/marching band.
Volunteer at a marching competition or a high school football game.
Help the high school band program fund raise.

Week 3 (October 14th-20th):

Support Your Peers- Other young adults are working just as hard as you, show them we are here to support them!

Here are some ideas:
Do a musical service event for your band program or the whole music department.
Consider supporting a different school (not your own) or even work with a neighboring chapter of TBS!
Partner with a chapter of TBS, KKY, or any of the other musical organizations to raise money or complete a service event.
Clean your band facility.

Week 4 (October 21st-27th):

Give Back to Your Elders- It’s time to show your elders how much you appreciate them!

Here are some ideas:
Stuff music folders for your local community band.
Host an event for your own band’s alumni.
Visit a nursing home or assisted living facility and perform a musicale.

This guide is not set in stone; you can deviate from the above model, so be creative! Participation is not mandatory but if you do want to participate, please fill out our SiMM log. You can find it in the TBS SED Facebook Page and in previous emails. Log each project that you do onto the document and email it back to me: sedvpsp@tbsigma.org in an attachment by Monday, November 4th!! You do not have to complete a service project every week to receive recognition, so go ahead and jump in now! Also, PLEASE send a log if you participated! I want to see what you guys are up to.

The council will review all of the logs, looking for membership participation, creativity, and musical impact. All chapters who participate in the 2013 Service in Music Month Movement will receive recognition at SED Convention in March! However, the chapter who best serves ALL THE AGES will be given an award at convention!

Any Questions, need help thinking up a project, or just want to chat??

Email me! sedvpsp@tbsigma.org

MOTS of love,
Shannon Matthews

sedcouncil band, ITB, leadership, music, SED, service, sisterhood, sorority, Southeast District, Tau Beta Sigma, TBSigma, TBΣ

Service in Music Month!!

Greetings SED!

It’s time to get ready because Service in Music Month is right around the corner!!!

Every year, the Southeast District participates in Service in Music Month during the month of October.

How it works:

The 4 weeks of the month are divided into 4 service categories that fall under one related theme. If your chapter chooses to participate, you would do 1 service project each week, under that respective category. At the end of the month, have your VPSP or Service Chair log how many or which service events you participated in and send it to me.

This is a great way for Tau Beta Sigma to raise music awareness and interest in your community! This is also a great way to get our name out there!

This year’s SiMM Theme is “Serving All Ages“

———————————————————————————————————————————–
Week 1 (September 30th-October 6th): Musically Influence Children
Connect with a pre-school or an elementary program and do something to get children interested in music.

Here are some ideas:

  • Do an instrument petting zoo.
  • Hold a concert.
  • Do homemade instrument building project (read my SHELLS article for suggestions).
  • Help your local Girl Scouts earn a music related badge.

————————————————————-
Week 2 (October 7th-13th):Keep Teens Musical
This week, move up to middle school or high school age youths and keep them interested in music!

Here are some ideas:

– Go to a Middle School and:

  • Help the band program raise money.
  • Clean their band room.
  • Volunteer to help the band at a performance.

OR
-Go to a High School and:

  • Help recruit middle school band students to high school band programs/marching band.
  • Volunteer at a marching competition or a high school football game.
  • Help the high school band program fund raise.

————————————————————-
Week 3 (October 14th-20th): Support Your Peers
Other young adults are working just as hard as you, show them we are here to support them!

Here are some ideas:

  • Do a musical service event for your band program or the whole music department.
  • Consider supporting a different school (not your own) or even work with a neighboring chapter of TBS!
  • Partner with a chapter of TBS, KKY, or any of the other musical organizations to raise money or complete a service event.
  • Clean your band facility.

————————————————————-
Week 4 (October 21st-27th): Give Back to Your Elders
It’s time to show your elders how much you appreciate them!

Here are some ideas:

  • Stuff music folders for your local community band.
  • Host an event for your own band’s alumni.
  • Visit a nursing home or assisted living facility and perform a musicale.

———————————————————————————————————————————–

This guide is not set in stone, you can deviate from the above model, so be creative! Participation is not mandatory but if you do want to participate, please fill out our SiMM log. You can find that document HERE. Log each project that you do onto the document and email it back to me: sedvpsp@tbsigma.org in an attachment by Monday, November 4th!! You do not have to complete a service project every week to receive recognition, so please send a log if you participated!

The council will review all of the logs, looking for membership participation, creativity, and musical impact. All chapters who participate in the 2013 Service in Music Month Movement will receive recognition at SED Convention in March! However, the chapter who best serves ALL THE AGES will be given an award at convention!

Any Questions, need help thinking up a project, or just want to chat??
Email me! sedvpsp@tbsigma.org

sedcouncil band, ITB, leadership, music, SED, service, sisterhood, sorority, Southeast District, Tau Beta Sigma, TBSigma

Did You Know????

As we begin looking for potential candidates for membership in Tau Beta Sigma, we always need to be aware of one of the reasons our chapters get suspended and shut down… that dreadful ‘h’ word.

Keep up with the conversation this week and really think about what your chapter does and how it educates its members.

Here are some ways to get involved:
1. Join the Facebook group- “Take a Stand for Tau Beta Sigma.” Founded by Kathy Godwin, past National President and current Board of Trustee, this group is a hotbed of conversation, not just about hazing, but instead about Tau Beta Sigma’s image. We always remember, “it is an honor to be selected to serve.” But that spans beyond just our work with the organization. This group has posts concerning social media abuse, drinking, etc. I highly encourage viewing and joining this group!!! https://www.facebook.com/groups/18218985852/

2. Use the hash tag #4Gr8rAwareness this week on your social media to join the conversation that Tau Beta Sigma is starting. How can we get involved in hazing prevention week and show the world how sororities and fraternities, especially our own, are working to end hazing!

3. Kathy Godwin asks the following from all of us, get involved and participate!!!
“I’m asking that everyone think of doing at least ONE of the following next week:
a) participate in a Twitter, Instagram, Vine, Facebook, etc. discussion or post once, next week.
b) Discuss hazing with your chapter and membership candidates. The easiest way we can start to work on this is to openly talk about it
c) Discuss/watch any of the videos or posts with your chapter and share it with all of us!
d) Ask your student affairs office or club office or whomever on campus if there are some workshops they offer on risk management or hazing (some of you may already know). Find out the cost and availability. Let them know that you’re doing it as part of Hazing Prevention week
e) Find one “tradition” you have in your membership education program OR in your band. I want you to audit that tradition. What in the WORLD am I talking about? Every chapter has traditions…some really are MANY years old and some are surprisingly new. I’d like you to look at one of them and consider everything about it: Why does it exist? What’s the purpose? Does it fit with the Tau Beta Sigma purposes? Would you be willing to explain all the details to your director, someone’s parents, the president of the university, to me, to a lawyer? I’m not trying to find your problems…to me a big part of this is education and understanding. SOOO…take a look. If this is what you want to do and you want a walk through, hang on. I’ll post more later.
f) Take pics and videos of activities for your band and chapter that DO promote our ideals and are what we should be posting on social media to help promote Tau Beta Sigma. Post them and tag them with our hashtag of #4gr8rAwareness. IF you are AT ALL concerned that it’s not the right image, ask!!! This could be a service project. It could be talking to your membership candidates about hazing or service. Think through it…if I asked you to submit pics so we could show a director or school how amazing TBS is, that’s what you should be doing.”

If you ever have any questions or doubts about the image your chapter or any individual may be releasing, let’s talk about it. If you have any questions or want more information about Hazing Prevention Week, feel free to contact any member of your SED Council for more information! Let’s get ready and Take a Stand for Tau Beta Sigma!!!

sedcouncil band, ITB, Kappa Kappa Psi, leadership, music, SED, service, sisterhood, sorority, Southeast District, Tau Beta Sigma, TBSigma

5 Reminders on the 4TH Day of the Week. : )

Greetings Sisters of the Southeast District!

I hope your school year/football/marching band season is off to a spectacular start! I wanted to take a few minutes on this lovely Wednesday to remind you of a few things that are upcoming…

#1- Eighth Note bids are due to myself (sedpres@tbsigma.org) and Kyle Sullivan(sedpresident@kkpsi.org) on September 20th! See previous email, Facebook, or either organization’s website for further guidelines and details!

#2- Chapter Personnel Reports and National Dues are due to National Headquarters via the Online Membership & Reporting System (report) and via mail (dues) on September 30th! If you have any questions, please see me or any other council member. Please remember, any report submitted is not counted as “on time” unless approved by both your Sponsor and Director of Bands by the aforementioned deadline (September 30th)!!!

#3- Service in Music Month occurs every year during the month of October. Your SED VPSP (Shannon Matthews) will be releasing the details of the month shortly, however, start looking at your calendars and brainstorming different service projects you can accomplish for your band, music department, university, and community! As a service organization, we should take pride in the month of October, as it is based fundamentally around one of the Tau Beta Sigma pillars.

#4- DLC bids are due to myself (sedpres@tbsigma.org) and Kyle (sedpresident@kkpsi.org) on October 4th. See previous email, Facebook, or either organization’s website for further guidelines and details!

#5– The details and information regarding the 2013-2014 Concerto Competition have been sent out, posted on our website, as well as posted on the SED Facebook groups. Please support this project by advertising in your music department as well as in your chapters! Applicants do NOT have to be members of Tau Beta Sigma or Kappa Kappa Psi to apply, nor will membership boost the possibility of winning. Please contact Shannon Matthews (sedvpsp@tbsigma.org) with any questions you may have!

That’s all I have for today. I hope you are as excited about this year as I am— for I KNOW the Southeast District is going to SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT!

If you ever need anything, my phone is always on (334-663-0979) and my email inbox (sedpres@tbsigma.org) is always open… and I like Facebook 🙂

Have a great day!

sedcouncil band, ITB, leadership, music, SED, service, sisterhood, sorority, Southeast District, Tau Beta Sigma, TBSigma

PSA: Active Membership Requirements — PLEASE READ.

Greetings SED members,

Tonight, I am going to be the bearer of bad news and warnings…

As we started this year, it has come to my attention that several Southeast District chapters have been committing a serious TBS crime.

The National Constitution of Tau Beta Sigma has certain rules and requirements for active membership, and they must be followed.

The requirements for active membership are as follows:
1. You must be a college or university student.
2. You must be enrolled and actively participating in the band 

3. You must pay current active membership dues for the year ($85, due Sept 30)

So, looking at the second requirement, you must be enrolled and actively participating in the band. If you are a member of Tau Beta Sigma, to be an active member, you must be enrolled in a band course, every semester you are active.

However, in the event a member of the Sorority is unable to enroll and actively participate in band, the person may continue as an active member for the academic term provided chapter members and sponsor so desire. This action and exception must be approved by the National President, Nicole Sanchez.

I am going to type it again, please understand it is not because I do not think you are capable of understanding, just that if you and your chapter are found to be making your own exceptions, you can and will be suspended!

If you are an active member in Tau Beta Sigma, you must be enrolled in a band course. ANY exceptions must go through the National President, Nicole Sanchez.

This includes color guard, dance line, majorettes, ALL active members of TBS. Your options if not enrolled in a band class include: getting permission from National President (Nicole Sanchez), going conditional for the semester (keeping in mind the conditional requirements in the National Constitution), or going inactive.

We do NOT want to see an influx of members becoming conditional or inactive, however the rules of the National Tau Beta Sigma organization apply to every member and every chapter. If you are an active member, you MUST be enrolled in a band. Updates concerning procedures for being granted an exception are coming soon, so stay tuned.

If you have any further questions, DO NOT HESITATE to contact a district council member or a national council member with questions. We want to help any chapter this applies to sort through this and get on track with all national requirements for membership.

MLITB <3
Happy Labor Day!

sedcouncil band, ITB, Kappa Kappa Psi, leadership, music, SED, service, sisterhood, sorority, Southeast District, Tau Beta Sigma, TBSigma, TBΣ

DLC Bids!

To the Southeast District of Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi,

The Joint SED Councils are looking for host chapters for DLC this spring! WE want YOU to apply to host a District Leadership Conference! The joint councils of the Southeast District are looking for a chapter(s) to host the 2013-2014 SED DLC. If you are interested in submitting a bid for this event please put together a packet that includes:

• Chapter name(s) and locations

• Tentative information regarding a date and location

• Detailed meeting space room (enough to accommodate 100-300 people)

• Information about hotel accommodations and prices in the area (include a host hotel)

• A mileage chart for all chapters in the district (Both KKPsi and TBSigma)

• A letter of support from the chapter sponsor or director of bands

Please email a PDF file of all the above information to both Belinda Baker and Kyle Sullivan by October 4, 2013. Again, bids are due October 4, 2013, so start talking with your chapter!!!

Any further questions can be directed to a district president, any district council member, or the following DLC host chapters: South Carolina State University (DLC 2013) or Auburn University (DLC 2012).

MLITB

Belinda Baker
Tau Beta Sigma
Southeast District President
SEDPRES@tbsigma.org

Kyle Sullivan
Kappa Kappa Psi
Southeast District President
sedpresident@kkpsi.org

sedcouncil band, ITB, Kappa Kappa Psi, leadership, music, SED, service, sisterhood, sorority, Southeast District, Tau Beta Sigma, TBSigma, TBΣ

Eighth Note Bids!

To the Southeast District of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma,

The Eighth Note is a resource publication, provided for the SED and the nation, which both monitors and showcases the outstanding work done by our Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters. The joint SED Councils are now accepting bids for the 2013-2014 Joint Publication- the Eighth Note. We encourage you to work jointly with the Kappa Kappa Psi or Tau Beta Sigma chapters at your school or in your surrounding area.

This year, the Joint Councils have formulated more modern guidelines for the publication and production of the Eighth Note; you can find the guidelines listed below. Also, please see the attachment for the bid requirements.

Guidelines for the 2013-2014 Eighth Note:

1. There will be only one printed edition of the Eighth Note this year, specifics of that can be found below. However, due to this, the main Eighth Note responsibilities will now be electronic, via the website (currently at www.tbssedpublications.com a site hosted through WordPress). Hosting the Eighth Note online will require the chapter(s) to:

· Update the website with host chapter and contact information
· Encourage chapters in the SED to contribute articles year-round discussing (an) inspiring or complex experience(s) at their school or chapter
· Host and advertise contests throughout the year to further encourage article submissions and photo submissions for the website
· Begin a “from the editor” column reporting news and activities by the host chapter(s), giving readers an inside look at both the Eighth Note creation and other events held by the host chapter(s)
· At the start of each month, post quotes or selections from “featured articles” to capture reader’s attention and bring people to the Eighth Note website
· Update the website bi-weekly with article and photo submissions

2. Compile one “Year in Review” Edition of the Eighth Note. This edition must be printed for dispersing at the 2014 SED Convention on March 21-23, 2014 at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA. This edition must include:

· A letter from a National Officer from both KKPsi and TBSigma
· A letter from both the KKPsi and TBSigma SED Presidents
· A selection of the “best” articles from the year, chosen by the host chapter and approved by the district councils
· A letter from the Editor (the host chapter(s))

Please electronically submit bids to both Kyle Sullivan (sedpresident@kkpsi.org) and Belinda Baker (sedpres@tbsigma.org) by September 20, 2013.

MLITB!