For those that have not attended recent band booster meetings, here are some news bites for you!
Janis Cooper Parker
Band Booster officers for 2014-15 were elected at the end of 2013-14.
Congratulations to President Janis Cooper-Parker and many thanks for all the hours she will (and has) put in to support the band program! Erin Wager-Miller will serve as VP, Lisa Ensman as Secretary, Tania Gardner as Treasurer, and Moira Wedekind as Assistant Treasurer/Student Accounts Manager. See the Boosters - Contacts page for those who have volunteered for other leadership positions.
Marching Band began July 21! This year’s show is “Stained Glass,” based on music by Philip Glass. See the calendar for performance dates!
Thanks to Olive Garden and Chick-fil-A for generously donating food for band camp meals and to Opie Taylor’s and Mother Bear’s for providing discounts.
The year’s biggest fundraiser, the March-a-thon, will kick-off July 29, with packets and instructions given at 8:30 in the auditorium. Parent should attend if at all possible. Turn in all donations by Aug. 16!
The Guard’s annual Rummage Sale will be held on Aug. 2. Donations will be accepted during band camp week (no adult or teen clothing, please). Large items should be brought early on Saturday as there is limited storage space.
The annual parent pitch-in and preview performance will be Aug. 16. ALL BAND FAMILIES, not just those involved with marching band, are invited and encouraged to attend. Find out how you can support the band program, fill out forms, buy or order band T-shirts and other spirit items, and more.
The truck trailer is being repaired, repainted and restickered this year! It will cost around $7000, but be good for 10 years. We may also get a sign for the tower in the parking lot.
Coming up later this year….
American Legion Breakfast - This wonderful community group will be dedicating their weekly breakfast to us on Nov. 15. Band members will be selling tickets for $7 and 80% of proceeds will come back to the band!
The Bloomington Jazz Fest will be at North this year, in December. We’ll also host ISSMA Solo & Ensemble, as usual. Fees and concession sales make these good fundraisers. Please plan on volunteering at both events.
Of course, we’ll have another super-fun Swing Dance in March and our usual bevy of concerts and festivals. Also watch for (and prepare for) the 2nd annual Winter Guard Talent Show!
Next year…
The Cougar Band has been accepted to march in the Hollywood Christmas Parade on Sunday evening, November 29th, 2015! We’ll try to have at least a couple of opportunities for families to raise funds for this, in addition to Band Bucks. If anyone is interested in organizing something, please step forward!!! Costs per student are expected to be in the $1000 range, so start saving now.
BHSN BANDS EMAIL MCCSC’s listserv software is “dying,” so we will be moving to a new email list system this year. We are currently in the process of choosing and setting up new lists, so bear with us as we work out the kinks. We will be using a separate list for most of the marching band emails this year, so as to avoid inundating those who are not involved in marching band with information that they really don’t need. Using separate lists for other subdivisions of band students might get too confusing, so will probably not be done.
2013-14 was a good year for the band program, financially. In round numbers, the March-a-thon raised $19,600 and the Patron Drive $16,000! For providing catering help at the Cook anniversary celebration, we were paid nearly $6000. The Swing Dance profit was about $5000 
and ISSMA Solo & Ensemble hosting and concession sales brought in about $3000. $4400 came from concert ticket sales. In addition, Marching Band, Winter Guard, and Winter Percussion members paid fees in the $250 range. Band Booster dues of $25/family were discontinued.
All the bands benefited from this fundraising, though the marching band program required the majority with expenses of roughly $46,000. (Mr. Wilson and Ms. Stockhouse get small stipends from MCCSC, but all other costs are paid by the Band Boosters.) The total included $12,000 for staff to help with the practices, $10,500 for the music arrangement and drill, $8400 for guard costumes and equipment, $5000 for food at band camp and competitions, and $2100 for transportation. The Winter Guard program cost $18,000 and Winter Percussion $6000, the major expense in both cases being staff.
Please see the Band Booster meeting minutes on the website and/or COME TO MEETINGS once a month (see the calendar) to find out all kinds of interesting behind-the-scenes information. The regulars would also LOVE to get more input and help with planning and organizing! Hope to see you there.
Cougar Band Facebook page
Recordings for band classes