Beta Chi's Candidate Projects

By DAVID THORNE, BΦ

As the current treasurer of Psi, I got the opportunity to help some of the committees of the new Beta Chi candidate class with their fundraising and social event efforts. I observed excellent foresight and planning with a creative approach to several events which speak to the quality of the candidates and their ability to work together in committees.

The Beta Chi class fundraiser was to design and sell pins with UCLA marching band inside jokes. “Beat Ducc”, “UCLA Boot”, “You’ll feel it” and several other notable phrases which are used among the band were sold for $3 individually or two for $5. The fundraising committee advertised to the whole band through the current facebook page and the PsiEK! Facebook page. The entire fundraiser was able to raise approximately $70 and successfully funded the other candidate class projects, while remaining unique and exciting to the band. The committee struck the difficult balance of running an engaging and profitable fundraiser, one of the greatest challenges I see in my own fundraisers.

The candidate brotherhood committee held a movie/game night event. The committee was
successfully able to gather all the candidates and start building the brotherhood that I find is unique among a candidate class. This event was similar to events put on by previous candidate classes but nonetheless introduced many of the candidates to each other.

The candidate brotherhood-sisterhood committee held a friendship bracelet making activity.
Each candidate was given the materials and instructions necessary to create a bracelet and together they helped create each unique product. This was their first event with the candidates from EK and many of the candidates for Psi found the opportunity to introduce themselves to the new members of our sister organization.

Through the social events, the candidates got the opportunity to begin building the friendships that so many of us define our PsiEK experience by. I personally remember talking to members of my own class at our first candidate brotherhood event and I believe the Beta Chi class have an excellent foundation to experience the same kinship that I and so many in Psi have felt before.

The candidate service committee put on an ice cream social for the whole band. This event
happened at the end of finals, which is an obvious service to us all. Most often, candidate classes focus on how they can service the marching band and this event successfully brought together many non PsiEK members who do not get the opportunity to interact after football season. I was personally involved in the planning of this event and observed that the committee had to consider many of the logistical challenges of putting on any event that are not normally noticed. Specifically, they managed to mobilize the band very successfully for a non-mandatory event at the end of finals which can be very challenging. They succeeded with thorough planning and an active advertising campaign.
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The candidate class committees met the requirements of the events which they were tasked
with organizing, but they did so with a refreshing enthusiasm and unique approaches. I see many leaders in their class who will not only lead our chapter and band in the coming years, but also take their experience into the rest of their lives and hopefully apply what they gain from our organizations as so many others have before. The events organized by the committees of this class focused on actively involving the whole band, and if this class can maintain their ability to engage with the entire band they can successfully continue and build upon the image and status that our organizations hold. This group of candidates are very charismatic and creative, with many strong leaders who will successfully guide our fraternity forward in the coming years.

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