Kappa Kappa Psi primarily operates as a recognition society providing service, leadership opportunities, and social programming for band members. Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority, has been recognized as a sister organization since 1947, and the two organizations share National Headquarters in Stillwater Station, a converted historical Santa Fe rail depot that was purchased by the fraternity and sorority in 1991.
Since 1919, more than 66,000 men and women have been initiated into Kappa Kappa Psi, with nearly 6,000 collegiate members active today. Members of Kappa Kappa Psi include President Bill Clinton; Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon; chancellor and eleventh president of Indiana University, Herman B Wells; composer and the "American March King," John Philip Sousa; conductor William Revelli; and jazz pianist and bandleader Count Basie.
Also from Wikipedia, Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority (ΤΒΣ, colloquially referred to as TBSigma or TBS) is a co-educational national honorary bandsorority dedicated to serving college and university bands. The Sorority, headquartered at the historic Stillwater Station in Stillwater, Oklahoma, numbers over 3,500 active members in 145 active chapters, and over 40,000 alumni. Since 1947, Tau Beta Sigma has recognized Kappa Kappa Psi as "an equal affiliated organization with a parallel purpose, function and role in the college and university band setting", and the two organizations hold joint conventions and Tau Beta Sigma administers an alumni association open to members of both organizations.
Tau Beta Sigma was founded at Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) by Mrs. Wava Banes (Turner Henry). Due to corporation laws in the state of Texas at the time, however, the Texas Tech sisters surrendered their name, ritual, jewellery, constitution and Alpha Chapter designation to the local band sorority at Oklahoma State University. This had the additional effect of locating both of the Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi Alpha chapters at the same school.
Tau Beta Sigma was founded at Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) by Mrs. Wava Banes (Turner Henry). Due to corporation laws in the state of Texas at the time, however, the Texas Tech sisters surrendered their name, ritual, jewellery, constitution and Alpha Chapter designation to the local band sorority at Oklahoma State University. This had the additional effect of locating both of the Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi Alpha chapters at the same school.
Well now that we've got that summary out of the way, here's another way to break it down:
At Ohio Northern University, and probably others as well, KKY does a lot of the heavy lifting, and TBS does a lot of hemming and baking. But, this is merely the stereotypical surface of what all the two organizations do! As Christian Barber, Sergeant at Arms of KKY states, "we keep the strong bandsmen quenched and in optimal playing conditions during every football game, whether it be the scortching heat or the cold Ada wind." Every game, the brothers of KKY pass out drinks after the band's halftime show, and the sisters of TBS give everyone cookies. KKY and TBS also combine their efforts to run many activities, such as marching band freshmen move-in, fun events throughout band camp, and Spring Band Festival.
Both organizations are co-ed and tons of fun! The members love being in band and doing all that they can to serve the various bands on campus!
Any questions? Feel free to leave a comment!
