September 9, 2008
Music Boosters Board Meeting Minutes

Submitted by Kathy Cranford, Secretary
Next meeting scheduled for Oct. 14, 2008 at 6:30 pm

In Attendance:

Mike Cummins, Carolyn Suazo, Jeanne Hoey, Bonnie MacRitchie, Anastasia Volnova, Laurette Verbinski, Lisa Stoferi, Katy LaBelle, Vickie Bittle, Colette Ingraham, Jim Sook Park, Tahereh Movagharzudeh, Allan Sathyadev, Noelle Pilkington, Deb Velez, Jennifer Haslam, Rita Perez, Nancy Coe, Ellen Goetze, Sukgwan Lee, Jill M. Dickerson, Ron and Donna Newby, John Hempsey, Fernando Marquez, Rosa Galibut, Junko Koike, Gilbert Alcazar, Marie Byrd, Tammit Oleman, Anne Marie Reyes, Teri Nazaré Simas, Jisuk Lee, Michelle Hinton, Kathy Cranford

The meeting began at 6:35 pm.

Welcome:

Our new President, Carolyn Suazo, opened the meeting by welcoming all parents and introducing the Music Boosters Board which consists of Carolyn, Jeanne Hoey (Treasurer), Bonnie MacRitchie (Communications Director and Webmaster), and Kathy Cranford (Secretary). There are still positions open (e.g. Uniform Manager, Fundraiser Coordinator, Vice-President, etc.), so Carolyn encouraged parents to volunteer and help in any way they can. There were sign-up sheets at the front of the room where people could indicate what they were interested in helping with.

Fair share donation:

Carolyn explained about the fair share donations which are $250 per band member and slightly more for color guard members. In short, fair share donations allow the music program to happen; they pay for sheet music, buses, entry fees for Field Show Festivals, truck rentals, food and water for the students at Festivals, Awards Banquet, etc.

Fundraisers:

Mr. Cummins spoke briefly about fundraisers and their importance in helping us reach our budgetary goals for the year.

Events:

There are 4 Field Shows this fall season. They are in Temecula (October 11), Scripps Ranch (November 8), Vista (November 15), and Ramona High School, Riverside (November 22). Mr. Cummins announced we need a minimum of 6 parent volunteers for each show in order to make it happen.

The marching band and color guard will be performing at 4 home football games. Games are on Fridays and usually begin at 3:00 pm. The dates for these games are: October 10, October 17 (Homecoming), October 31, and November 7.

Volunteering:

Mr. Cummins answered questions from parents regarding volunteering and scheduling for Field Shows.

Mr. Cummings made an appeal to parents to fill the volunteer positions as well as volunteer at the Field Shows. We cannot run this music program without the help of parents! For example, we need someone to drive a rental truck for each show, which carries all the instruments, including several large drumline instruments, and uniforms.

Minimum days:

He announced that UCHS is undergoing Certification this year so there will be some minimum days on Thursdays. Marching band and color guard will continue to have class every other Thursday. A handout with the schedule was passed out.

Uniforms:

He explained the Class A and Class B marching band uniforms. Class A uniforms are practically new (only 1-year old) uniforms that students wear while performing Field Shows. They cost $50,000 and we got a good deal from the same company that Mr. Cummins ordered uniforms from in the 1970’s. He asked for parent volunteers to come in and fit the students for their uniforms. These need to be ready by the first Field Show. Class B uniforms are worn for football games and during transportation to the Field Shows. They consist of black pants, black marching shoes, blue t-shirts, black socks and gloves. There will be an order form sent home with the students to order the shoes, t-shirts, and gloves.

Fundraising questions:

Mr. Cummins answered more questions from parents regarding fundraising and the idea of students getting sponsors from companies such as HP and Qualcomm. Some successful fundraisers last year were the raffle of a surfboard and the Rising Star Band Concert.

General business:

We are fortunate to have a drumline instructor, Noel (a former UCHS Drum Captain) and a color guard instructor, Anastasia (a former Color Guard Captain) this year. Color Guard has increased from 9 members last year to 16 members this year. There are a total of 66 students in marching band/color guard combined; we will be in Division 1A again this year.

During the winter season, marching band ends and jazz band begins. Color guard continues as Winter Guard.

Mr. Cummins is very impressed with the caliber of the orchestra this year.

The minutes were reviewed and accepted.

Carolyn closed the meeting by a last request for volunteers to help with the fitting of marching band uniforms which will be starting tomorrow.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 pm.