Debbie Kaplan
Chair
Debbie Kaplan first encountered Tau Beta Sigma in
1983 at band practice on a hot, sunny day in
Gainesville, Florida on a patch of land lovingly
known as "Sewer Field." A woman with
letters on her shirt, who later turned out to be
the membership educator, announced a get together
after practice - -Debbie attended and was hooked
from the get-go!! (Little did Debbie Kaplan
know that the woman with the letters on her shirt
would one day become the Vice-Chair of Tau Beta
Sigma's Board of Trustees, namely Debbie Baker).
Debbie
is a Life Member of the Beta Xi Chapter at the
University of Florida and has served Tau Beta
Sigma in a variety of leadership positions on the
local, district and national levels since her
initiation. She held office on the Tau Beta
Sigma National Council from 1991-1999, most
recently completing her term as National
President from 1997-1999. Debbie has been
an appointed member of the Board of Trustees
since 1997.
Originally
from Hollywood, Florida, Debbie now lives in
Houston with her husband Rick who is a
financial portfolio manager. They
have 2 1/2 year old fraternal twins, a
daughter named Brooke and a son named Jordan.
(she's older by 2 1/2 minutes!)
Currently,
Debbie's primary focus is the upbringing of her
children,however she spends a great deal of time
volunteering in the Houston community. She
is an active Board member of the Jewish Community
Center of Houston and is extremely involved at
Brooke and Jordan's school. She is also
supportive of The Children's Museum, Houston, the
Houston Zoological Society, and the Gator Band
Alumni Association.
Prior
to starting her family, Debbie worked as a
consultant in public relations, fund-raising
and event planning for local and out-of
town clients including the Jewish Community
Center of Houston, LIFE/ Houston Food For Hungry
Babies, Muscular Dystrophy Association and
Macy's. She moved to Houston from Atlanta
where she was Regional Public Relations and
Special Events Manager for Macy's.
Debbie
Baker is not the only person Debbie Kaplan knows
from way back when. Former Kappa Kappa Psi
National President Scott Stowell was Debbie's
KKY/TBS little brother, and for more than 15
years they served together on many levels of the
Fraternity and Sorority. Debbie's real
brother was a member of KKY too!
Debbie
loves being a parent! She also loves to
travel, try new things (like restaurants and
amusement parks), read books, hang out with
friends, and attend major events - - especially
sporting ones. She is a huge sports fanatic
even though her teams, the Miami Dolphins,
Atlanta Braves, Houston Rockets and of course,
the Florida Gators have had some rough times
lately.
"Tau
Beta Sigma is such an awesome organization
- - it brings together people from all over the
country with so many diverse backgrounds - - the
amazing thing is we all let the ideals, purposes
and mission of the
Sorority guide us - - and we all have our love
for music in common! - - 'Tau Beta Sigma
for Greater Bands!' "
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