GHS Band Boosters Minutes January 9, 2007

1.  President’s Report:  The meeting was called to order and everyone was welcomed to the meeting.

2.  Secretary’s Report:  The band parents were asked to take a moment to review the minutes.  The minutes were approved.

3.  Treasurer’s Report:  As of January 7, 2007, we have $24,623.61 in our checking account and $40,879.03 in our money market account for a total balance of $65,502.64.  A motion was made to approve the expenses as presented and to adjust the gift wrap summary, increasing the profit by $30.00.

4.  Director’s Report:  Mr. Bredemeier gave a special thanks to Shari Robinson and Carol Buebe for organizing the gift wrap fundraiser.  The following events were highlighted and announced:

    Gold pep band plays January 11

    Percussion clinic on Saturday, January 13 from 9-12 and 1-5

    Augustana Honor Band is on January 14 and 15

    Illinois Wesleyan Jazz festival for Gold jazz band is January 20

    All District Band Festival is February 11 at 2 p.m.

    Other dates for the week were sent out in the week 9 announcements via email

Mr. Bredemeier said we have 2 boxes of assorted candy left if anyone wants to purchase them.  Mr. Dickerson told Mr. Bredemeier last week and that he (Mr. Dickerson) organized the senior pictures differently this year.  The end result is that Mr. Dickerson did not collect the $10 for the senior night photos and Mr. B has already passed them out, so all senior parents need to pay Mr. B $10 for these photos.  He will pass the money on to Mr. Dickerson.

We have updated trip points from John Tate posted.  We are now 14 months away from our band trip (which occurs every 4 years).  If Mr. B were to rank our progress in fundraising on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, he would put us at a 5 right now.  We need to have approximately $100,000 for the trip.  Each student will probably have to contribute several hundred dollars, perhaps as much as $500, plus bring some spending money.  It is important for parents and students to begin to plan for this expense.

Mr. Klaessy reported that the Gold jazz band will leave GHS at 10am on January 20.  A pianist from Count Basie’s orchestra will perform at 12:45.  They will attend classes at 1:45, warm up at 3:10 and perform at 3:45.  They should be back by 7 p.m.  Students should plan to eat lunch at noon right after they arrive at IWU.  Concessions will be available.  On Saturday, February 17, both jazz bands will be going to Western Illinois University for a jazz festival, with details to follow.  Mr. Klaessy thanked everyone for their help and work with the jazz bands. 

5.  Committee Reports

    A.  Uniforms: Vicki Tate/Laurie Pearson:  Vicki said that they will be distributing uniforms during class time to symphonic band before the February 11 concert. 

    B.  Chaperones – Carolyn Icenogle/Dorene Murfin:  No report.  They volunteered to do this position again next year.

    C.  Communication – Stewart Nyi:  He hopes everyone is getting his weekly announcements from Mr. B.  Parents once again thanked him for this service.  It certainly helps keep parents informed.

    D.  Publicity – Gayle Stanley: She reported that the newspaper did not charge us for the gift wrap publicity.  She will advertise the CDs for sale on the radio and in the paper.  Mr. B will give a CD to Jack Larson.  We will also sell the CDs at the concert Feb. 11.  Carole Buebe, Rhonda Brady, Nancy Reed and Laurie Pearson will work the tables selling the CDs and providing samples of chessecake. 

    E.  Equipment – Mark Stanley:  No report.  Thank you for fixing the piano and xylophone. 

    F.  Flags – Ann Seibert: No report. 

    G.  Big Band Dip – Libby Garrett: No report.  The date is May 11.

    H.  Banquet – Sherry Bankes: The banquet will be on May 18 at the Knights of Columbus.

    I.  Spirit Wear– Jamie Carlson: No report.

    J.  U of I Tailgate – Nancy Reed: No report.

    K.  Trip Coordinator – John Tate: New points have been posted.

    L.  Historian – Deb McKillip: no report

    M.  Ways and Means

      1.  Fannie May – Cindy Barshinger: We should have a net profit of $3,940.  We have those two boxes to sell that Mr. Bredemeier mentioned earlier in his report.

      2.  Gift Wrap – Shari Robinson/Carole Buebe: Shari reported that the inventory she did today went well.  They were all cleaned up and out of the mall on December 24.  She mentioned that sometimes we had too many students showing up to work when they were not on the schedule.  Overall, it went very well and she would like several thank yous sent out.  She will give the list of names to the secretary to write thank yous.  Carole will be in charge next next and Shari will be her co-chair.  A brief discussion about future improvements ensued.  The current system requires 3 books: a Master book, a copy at the mall and one at GHS.  They need an idea to improve this system.  Perhaps the jazz band could play while others wrap.  The 8th grade jazz band played at the mall.  They were recorded and later played on the radio. 

      3.  Patron Sales – Dave Pearson: No report

      4.  Cookie Dough – JoEllen Eshelman: The sale begins February 12.  We are with a new company, which comes highly recommended.  We will be able to sell to people anywhere in the country using a customer number and the website.  Details will follow in February. 

      5.  Restaurant nights/grocery bagging – Linda Mowrer: We will be bagging groceries at the HyVee on Henderson on Saturday, January 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Linda needs 8 students for two shifts and another adult.  Students should wear their band shirts, no open toe shoes and be 16 or older.  We will have a restaurant night at Happy Joes on Tuesday, January 30.  She needs 3 to 4 students for 2 shifts and again, they should wear their band shirts..

      6.  Bottled Water – Cory and Debby Silber: No report.

6.  Old Business:

Tables for Big Band Dip?

Samples of Cheesecake at All District Concert Feb. 11:  We need to check with Mrs. Gonzalez about serving cheesecake samples to preview for a fall fundraiser.

7.  New Business:

We discussed a few ideas from our November brainstorming meeting on fund raising ideas.  First, regarding the band trailer – we need to ask Mark Stanley to measure the trailer and space available for advertising.  We need a committee chair to find out the cost to create a magnet, a stencil or a vinyl graphics.  No one volunteered.  Carole Buebe inquired if our concerts have community sponsors.  This is similar, if not the same thing as our patron sales.  She also spoke of a fundraiser she was involved with in a scout troop in another state.  They sold mulch and it generated $17,000 net profit.  Rhonda Brady suggested that if we pursued that idea, we could start our advertising with U of I Extension and the Master Gardener classes from Feb. 24 to April.  The second idea discussed from last November was the idea of creating a fine arts and band calendar.  It could include pictures, phone numbers of committee chair and officers, a schedule, information for new band parents, etc.  No one volunteered to chair the calendar committee, but Donna Slaton volunteered to be on the committee.  Cheryl Ek proposed doing a 50/50 at bands concerts.  Kim Sevigny announced that we are pulling together a trip committee to begin exploring costs for the 2008 trip.

A motion was made and passed to adjourn the meeting around 8:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Tanna Cullen, Secretary