MTA: Kappa Alpha Psi, Robert's Rules

Membership Training Academy (MTA) Overview

• The material is from the Kappa Kore Curriculum Session #5, for the years 2019-2020
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has been engaged in "Training for Leadership Since 1911"

Kappa Core Curriculum Topics

• Administrative Meeting: Addresses Code of Conduct, Keeping Kappa Safe and Compliant, Indemnification Agreements, and Fees
• Session #1: Covers Greek letters, Fundamental Purpose, Fraternity Type, Incorporation/Founding Dates, Official Flowers/Colors, and IHQ address
• Session #2: Highlights Kappa Alpha Psi Founders, History, and Objectives
• Session #3: Discusses the Kappa Alpha Psi Hymn and Organizational Structure, Governance, Grand Chapter Officer positions, the Current Grand Polemarch's name, and Province Officer positions/names
• Session #4: Addresses Province Officer positions
• Session #5: Introduces Robert's Rules of Order
• Session #6: Details Local Chapter History and Chapter Charter members, emphasizes Keeping Kappa Safe and Compliance, and reviews the Code of Conduct

Robert's Rules of Order

• Sets common deliberation and debate rules, ensuring equal footing and shared language among members
• Facilitates constructive, democratic meetings that aid assembly business
• Business meetings should adhere to Robert's Rules of Order, following Parliamentary Procedure

Parliamentary Procedure

• A structured meeting conduct rule-set to allow comprehensive hearing and decision-making clarity
• Provides a time-tested method for conducting business at both meetings and public gatherings
• Can be tailored to fit specific organizational needs
• Involves a fixed order of business including:
  • Call to order, roll call, and reading the minutes
  • Officer and committee reports
  • Special, unfinished, and new business, announcements, and adjournment
• Motions are how brothers express themselves, requiring membership action/stance
• Individual members can: call to order, second motions, debate motions, and vote on motions

Types of Motions

• Main Motions: Introduce items for membership consideration; cannot interrupt other motions
• Subsidiary Motions: Change/affect main motion handling; voted on prior to the main motion
• Privileged Motions: Address urgent matters unrelated to pending business
• Incidental Motions: Question procedure for other motions; must be considered first

Fraternity Awards

• Recognizes outstanding achievements demonstrated by brothers

Laurel Wreath

• The highest honor available to a Fraternity member for exceptional achievements on a national/international scale

Elder Watson Diggs Award

• Second-highest award for meritorious achievement

Guy Levis Grant Award

• The highest award exclusively available to undergraduate Fraternity members for meritorious Achievements

Byron Kenneth Armstrong Award

• The highest award exclusively for undergraduate Fraternity members for Academic Achievements

Toast Song

• Kappa Alpha Psi has many well sung and beautiful songs
• Songs are sung in close accord with the way in which they were written

Invictus Poem

• Written by William Ernest Henley (1849-1903)

Coat of Arms

• Founders Diggs and Armstrong had completed the ritual and had commenced work on the Coat of Arms by the end of the first year (1912)
• Work on the Coat of Arms was completed during the following summer (1913) by Founders Diggs, Armstrong, and Lee while they were pursuing employment at a hotel in Fort Wayne, Indiana
• The Kappa Alpha Psi coat of arms is fully copyright/patent-protected, heraldically described
• Special license/Grand Chapter authority needed to reproduce
• Unauthorized articles violate copyright/Fraternity laws, risking suspension
• Its colors are not to be confused with the official colors of the Fraternity, which are crimson and cream
• Chapters/members should note official specifications when ordering/preparing Kappa Alpha Psi paraphernalia

National Service Program

• Guide Right is the National Service Program of Kappa Alpha Psi

Guide Right Program

• Conceived in 1922 by Leon W. Stewart
• Aims to inspire, inform, and guide high school/college students
• Objectives: encourage higher education, present occupational outlooks, aid career selection, develop leadership, achieve academic success, and secure appropriate employment

Kappa League Leadership Development Program

• Founded in 1970 by the Los Angeles Alumni Chapter, under Leon W Steward's direction
• Helps young high school male students hone leadership skills

Kappa Kamp

• A summer enrichment camp for 12–16 year olds to gain life skills via workshops/activities

The Undergraduate Leadership Institute Program

• Aims to improve undergraduates' leadership skills within the fraternity, campus, and community

Student of the Year Competition

• Contest covering: scholarship, talent, community involvement, career preparation, poise, and chapter operation, culminating at the Grand Chapter Meeting
• The first Student of the Year Pageant was held on May 20, 1972 at Drexel University

C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference (CRWLC)

• Each Province organizes training for undergraduate/alumni leadership teams
• Named to honor C. Roger Wilson
• Disseminates information about the Fraternity's operations to members

Rituals

• Rituals are formal documents of esoteric information for members not expelled/suspended
• They consist of Kappa Alpha Psi's secret rites and ceremonial forms
• The Grand Chapter provides uniform Rituals for all chapters/alumni associations
• Ritual signs and emblems are Fraternity secrets; divulging them is a punishable misdemeanor
• The Oath of Rededication Ceremony is for rededication to Fraternity purposes
• No photos/publicity allowed for the Oath of Rededication Ceremony

Proverbs 3, Verse 1-10

• Kappamen recognize the Supreme Being's existence and follow His teachings
• Solomon's divine wisdom inspires Kappa Alpha Psi members

Quiz Review – Session 5

• Purpose of Robert's Rules of Order
• Define Laurel Wreath, Elder Watson Diggs, Guy L. Grant, and Byron K. Armstrong Awards
• Draw the Coat of Arms
• Name/Purpose of the National Service Program
• Purpose of the C. Rodger Wilson Leadership conference?
• Write the Toast Song and Proverbs 3:1-10