We, as brothers, expect at the least common courtesy of one another. No one appreciates rudeness, so why would we be rude to one another within a chapter? It only creates tension and inefficiency, leading to a lack of quality service. For instance, imagine a situation during a chapter meeting where one member suggests an idea for a large service project or fundraiser and another member attacks the idea with no sound basis for criticizing the proposal, but rather makes a snide remark about how “that will never work out, we simply aren’t organized enough for it.” This statement not only stalls discussion on what could be a great idea for service or raising funds, but also brings the chapter down to a point where it feels like it is ineffective, effectively diminishing morale. If this member had used better judgment and held his tongue, the chapter would not be focusing on their past weaknesses, but rather on the strength of a good idea.

As well, restraint is vital to projecting a respectable image of Kappa Kappa Psi to the campus bands. Think of how the band at large would view us if members consistently walked out on the field complaining about how tiring marching band is, how they hate all the time and effort they have to put into the activity. This projects an image of laziness, a quality not becoming of a service organization. Or rather, think of what other bend members think if a brother were to make every snide/sarcastic remark they could during a rehearsal. Imagine if that brother uses foul language on the field and simply refuses to follow proper rehearsal ettiquette. The band would begin to see us not as a service organization, but rather a hindrance, which creates a bad image of not only our chapters, but the fraternity as a whole.

Restraint is a quality that seems to be common sensical, but oftentimes is forgotten in the whirlwind of college life and frustration. It involves having a keen foresight to act respectful toward your peers. This is something that every individual can work on, much like the first word: humility. Once the individual begins to exemplify this quality, the group overall will benefit greatly.

AEA,

Powers Bilodeau

Delta Sigma – Kappa Kappa Psi

So my journey across the Southwest began today when me, and my select group of other con-goers took off from Arlington around 12:30 this afternoon. We left with the intent of caravanning with Jack Lee (Delta Sigma Sponsor and Candidate for National VPSA), but we kind of left at staggered times and…well let’s just say I haven’t exactly seen them since we last separated at a Pizza Hut in Colorado City, TX. So it’s been me, Kaylen (KKY Delta Sigma), Jessica and Dustin (both TBS Gamma Nu) for the first leg of this trip: 8 1/2 hours from Arlington to El Paso, and I gotta say…so far, so good! Pretty much just been an open road, good tunes, and brother/sisterhood.

Leg two to Phoenix is tomorrow, and I’m excited to wake up at 6:30 AM to get it kicked off! 6 1/2 hour drive to Phoenix then NATIONAL CONVENTION!!! I’m excited, in case you can’t tell. I’ll probably have more for you guys tomorrow and through the week. For now, hope to see you in PHX!

AEA,

Powers

PS – Just a note, the La Quinta in El Paso is actually nicer than the Hilton I stayed in in San Antonio over the weekend for DCI…go figure.

“What are five adjectives that describe you?”

At first, I was at a loss…I’ve always had a hard time just describing myself, especially in just five words. But then I remembered, I have seven words (Hint: they’re the inspiration for the name of this blog) which I am supposed to aspire to. So I give off a slight chuckle, and say “Heh, I almost wish you had given me seven words” and name off the ones I most identify with.

So what does this really have to do with anything? Well, it made me realize something: This fraternity has not only helped me in a social aspect, but it has given me tangible life skills. Throughout that interview, I found myself citing experiences gained through Kappa Kappa Psi (In between telling them how my HS Economics teacher inspired me and why I would choose to be, of all animals, a laughing hyena). I found myself telling them about the time management skills I have earned here, that I have become a more responsible person and can now work better as part of a team because of these experiences. In one year of experience with KKPsi, I have earned so much.

So, I want to ask…what have you gained from being in the organization? For me, it’s been a strong network of friends and skills I will carry with me throughout my life. Perhaps it’s different for other people our there in the SWD.

AEA always,

Powers “Reptile” Bilodeau

PS – I’ll update later if I get the job

And you may find yourself in another part of the world

And you may find yourself in a beautiful house…with a beautiful wife

And you may ask yourself – Well…How did I get here?!?

~Once in a Lifetime, Talking Heads

Sometimes, I’ll be walking around, minding my own business, maybe doing some shopping, when all of a sudden it hits me…I’m in Arlington, Texas!  I start thinking, “Wow, this is surely a far cry from where I was just two years ago, living in San Diego, CA.”  Sometimes, I really wonder what events transpired to bring me here to UTA. I honestly had no clue that this was where I would settle until a quarter of the way through my first semester at this school.

It’s been said that the only force that controls a man’s fate is himself. Well, I partly disagree. You see, there are few to no things I could have done to control whether or not I was thrown across three states from California to Texas right before my senior year. Believe me, if there was any practical way I could have stayed in San Diego at that time, I would have. But there wasn’t, so that goes to show how much control I had over my own fate. No, a man does not always control his own fate, he can only control the manner in which he navigates life and its given obstacles.  You see, I never let myself be defeated, because once you defeat yourself, there is no hope for a happy ending. So I made the best of life, was active my senior year even though I knew I would only be interacting with these people for a lonely year. I can honestly say it was my best year of high school, because I matured so much through those experiences leading into my first year at UTA.

Here, I knew I needed to find my niche on campus, and I didn’t have to look far. Within my first week, I met the men I would soon come to call brothers. I started to hang out with a few of them, went to rush events, and one Wednesday night after marching rehearsal, I got my bid. Clearly I accepted, and the most…interesting eight weeks of my life began. In these eight weeks leading up to initiation, I met and bonded closely with my five initiate brothers, and still we are all a closely knit group, and probably will be for years. Through the process and through the spring, I became close to all of my brothers, and can honestly say I call this town, this school, this fraternity, my home. Heck, I live with two of my initiate brothers now, why not call it all home?

So, now that I have recounted my life story, time to bring it all back: How did I get here? By making the best of a less than ideal situation…By Striving for the Highest. Interesting how that works sometimes, isn’t it?

AEA,

Powers “Reptile” Bilodeau

And how glorious it is. Aren’t we all though? I mean, here I am, writing in a blog for my fraternity…a band fraternity, and here you are reading it. But you know what makes this cool? It’s the fact that I don’t have to write about band or service all the time. I can pretty much just decide to sit here and type whatever comes to mind. Some of it may be deep and thoughtful, some may be just a little quip about something fun out there. It really doesn’t matter, because this publication isn’t just about always writing about our bands and how we serve them (though that will definitely happen, it’s our purpose after all), it’s also about fostering a network of brothers and sisters and helping them feel more connected, though we span across five different states. And we all have that common interest: band. Well there’s a bit of compatibility right there!  This blog system just plays off that. So here’s to us! A bunch of band nerds reading and writing on our band service fraternity/sorority’s publication. Because we are the coolest nerds we know.

Now enjoy this link to my favorite XKCD Comic…because you’ll get it

AEA,

Powers “Reptile” Bilodeau

PS – National Convention in 27 days! I’m so excited!

This is something that I’ve wanted for a good while now, but especially this past night. You see, I’m on the sunrise side of an all-nighter, and I’ve had music videos on the TV all night. Now, I’m the type of person who likes to update his status with lyrics to a song that I’ve been listening to that I feel have some sort of relevance to my life, or are simply thought-provoking. The thing is, that comes with a certain restriction: the lyrics must be relevant! Why would I want to post lyrics to a sad breakup song when, in reality, I’m in a great relationship with someone that I love? But that song can still affect me in ways that defy logic, but appeal to my very core emotions.

So, I’m listening to the song, and I am so moved that I want to share with people. How can I do this in a medium where the only form of communicating ideals is through words? It has been said that “That which comes closest to expressing the inexpressible is music,” and I’m coming to notice that more and more as years go by. Music is so much more than the words that go along with it. Music is the raw, unfiltered emotion that happens in the performance of. It is context, and how tones collaborate in the most primal part of your brain at any given moment to sway your emotions. I listen to a song with lyrics about a man who is watching the love of his life from across the bar leave with another man, driving him to insanity. But I feel something different by instinct…it draws me to the piece. It is not that I feel a connection with the singer’s given situation; the connection comes from the music, that universal language, which has done its work to envelop the listener in emotion.

The point to this is, I really can’t describe it, but I want to, hence why I wish I could update my status with music. Though I’m not even sure that would work…like I said, music works its magic in context. What I hear will not be the same thing someone else does. However, I don’t think that would be a bad thing, the mysterious nature of music comes from the interpretive nature of it. Music does not need to be totally understood to be appreciated.

Over the years, I have become very close to this art, as I’m sure many of you all have. I love music, it truly drives me. It’s why I’m in this fraternity, I feel compelled to give back to what has given me so much since I was in 5th grade. It’s also this same love that prevents me from pursuing the art as my major course of study. I have considered it, but I have come to the personal conclusion that I do not need a technical knowledge of the art to truly appreciate. I just need to feel it. I have come to the conclusion that when music becomes my job, I won’t be able to appreciate it at its basest levels, the levels where it is most enjoyable. Though, that’s not to say that Music majors are losing their appreciation for music…people are different, I know many who still purely enjoy music and study it, I just feel I couldn’t.

My brothers and sisters, I decided to open my blog with these ramblings because they are the pure reason that this organization exists. Music is truly the greatest of the arts. It cannot be told in simple words. Telling someone that a phrase follows a I-IV-V-I progression simply doesn’t describe it, it must be heard to be appreciated. It’s a language of its own which circumvents barriers of the spoken word: the barriers set up by Facebook that don’t allow me to properly express myself.

I’m Powers Bilodeau, a brother from the Delta Sigma Chapter at UTA. I’ve started this blog to help share ideas, articles, and other fun things with the entire SWD! Check back often as I start to get to use this thing a bit more often.

AEA,
Powers “Reptile” Bilodeau