Tau Beta Sigma

Infobox Fraternity | name = Tau Beta Sigma
letters = ΤΒΣ
crest =
motto = Tau Beta Sigma for Greater Bands
colors = White and Admiralty Blue
symbol =
flower = Long Stemmed Red American Beauty rose,
birthplace = Texas Tech University
founded = 1946
charterdate = March 26, 1946
chartercity = Oklahoma State University
chapters = 140 active
type = RecognitionCitation | pages=37|url=http://www.tbsigma.org/Manuals/2007TBS-GuideToMembership.pdf|title=Tau Beta Sigma National Guide to Membership|publisher=Tau Beta Sigma|accessdate=2008-02-15]
scope = National
address = P.O. Box 849
city = Stillwater, Oklahoma
state = Oklahoma
country = USA
homepage = http://www.tbsigma.org

Tau Beta Sigma is a co-educational national honorary band sorority dedicated to serving college and university bands. The Sorority, headquartered at the historic Stillwater Station in Stillwater, Oklahoma, numbers 3,000 active members in 140 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 Henry. Tech Band Sorority, was the original meaning of the abbreviation T.B.S and was changed into Greek letters to give a more official sorority title.

History

Ties to other organizations

In addition to the close relationship with Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma has historical and current relationships with several other organizations.One such relationship is with Sigma Alpha Iota, a social international fraternity for women with a strong interest in music.

In 2005, multiple joint statements were issued by the leadership of Tau Beta Sigma and Sigma Alpha Iota, along with Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, affirming "that there are equally important roles for Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Sigma Alpha Iota, Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma to fulfill on any campus where our chapters mutually exist, now or in the future. Each organization possesses a distinct mission and, as a result, fulfills a unique and vital role in the musical environment of a college campus" and that "A member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia or Sigma Alpha Iota can hold simultaneous membership in Kappa Kappa Psi or Tau Beta Sigma, subject to his/her own interests and the eligibility requirements of the other organizations. The same holds true for a member of Kappa Kappa Psi or Tau Beta Sigma with regard to membership in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia or Sigma Alpha Iota."cite web|url=http://www.orgs.okstate.edu/kkp/generalinfo.htm|title=Joint Statements of Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and of Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia|publisher=Alpha Chapter, Kappa Kappa Psi|accessdate=2007-04-02]

National leadership

National headquarters

Originally located on the campus of Oklahoma State University, the National Headquarters of Tau Beta Sigma is housed in Stillwater Station, a retired railway station in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Open Monday to Friday, the headquarters carries out the day-to-day operations of the Sorority.

The headquarters staff includes:cite web|url=http://www.kkytbs.org/hqstaff.html|title=Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma Headquarters Staff|publisher=Kappa Kappa Psi & Tau Beta Sigma|accessdate=2008-08-15]

*Executive Director: Lt. Col. Alan Bonner, USAF (ret.)
*National Headquarters Office Manager and Accountant: Diana Spiva
*National Membership Services Coordinator: Debbie Morris
*National Publications Manager: Jake Burk
*National Alumni, Chapter and Colony Affairs Coordinators: Aaron Moore and Clinton Wieden

National officers

The current national officers of Tau Beta Sigma (serving a 2007-2009 term) are:

*National President: Kimbi F. Sigle, Eta Omega
*National Vice President for Colonization and Membership: Dollie A. McDonald, Psi
*National Vice President for Special Projects: Dawn Farmer, Omega
*National Vice President for Communication & Recognition: Deena Smith, Epsilon Lambda
*National Vice President for Professional Relations: vacant

Board of Trustees

There are currently ten members of the Tau Beta Sigma Board of Trustees. The seven voting members comprise six elected Trustees and the immediate past National President. The six elected Trustees are elected at each biennial convention for a four-year term, with three seats coming open at each convention. The three non-voting members of the Board consist of the current National President and two life members: Mrs. Wava Banes Henry, founder of the Sorority, and Mrs. Janet West Miller, past National President and long-time activist on behalf of the Sorority.

The current Board consists of:

* Alan Harriet, Gamma Epsilon (Chair)
* Melanie L. Meehan, Delta Delta (Vice Chair)
* Kelly T. Eidsen, Beta Sigma
* Patsy D. Hejl, Beta Gamma
* Deborah H. Kaplan, Beta Xi
* Carla Robinson, Alpha Gamma
* Katherine E. Godwin, Omega (Immediate Past National President)
* Kimbi F. Sigle, Eta Omega (National President)
* Janet West Miller, Iota (Life Member)
* Wava Banes Henry, Beta (Founder & Life Member)

Districts

Tau Beta Sigma is divided into seven geographical areas known as districts: Northeast, Southeast, North Central, Midwest, Southwest, Western, and International (a hypothetical district comprising all chapters outside the United States, although there are not and never have been any such). Each district is lead by one or more Counselors appointed by the National President, as well as a council elected from and by the members of the Districts.

District Counselors are regional advisors for the Sorority. They actively work with each district's student leadership and communicate with chapter sponsors. District Counselors are appointed by the National President for two-year terms, and are currently limited to serving three terms.

The districts are as follows:

Notable Members

Famous Tau Beta Sigma members include:
*Debra Dene Barnes (Miss America 1968)
*William "Count" Basie (musician)
*Karen Carpenter (singer)
*Richard Carpenter (singer)
*John Denver (singer)
*Maynard Ferguson (musician)
*Wynton Marsalis (musician)
*Alfred Reed (composer)
*Carl "Doc" Severinsen (musician)
*Red Skelton (entertainer)
*Dionne Warwick (singer)
*Beth Brown (NASA astrophysicist) Initiated Eta Delta Chapter
*Pauline Oliveros (composer) Founder of Tau Chapter

External links

* [http://www.tbsigma.org/ Tau Beta Sigma website]
* [http://www.kkytbs.org National Headquarters of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma]

References