Macomb Band Boosters Monthly Meeting, November 2007

On This Page…

When

Tuesday, November 13, 2007
7:00 pm

Where

MHS Band Room

Details

Please join us at 7:00 pm in the band room. Help support our award-winning band program! The more help we have, the more we can do! For information and meeting reminders, join our email list by contacting the Macomb Band Boosters secretary.

Agenda

Macomb Band Boosters Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
7:00 pm

Possible Business (Unofficial)

  1. concert attire
  2. Chili Supper
  3. MHS marching performances and competitions
  4. All-District Band and Orchestra
  5. Fruit Sale
  6. MHS Concert Band Camp
  7. Dickens on the Square
  8. holiday concerts
  9. Truffles Sale
  10. Spaghetti Supper

Call to order

Reports

  1. Secretary's report – Kelly Barsi
  2. Treasurer's report – Becca Pettit
  3. Ways & Means chair report – Beth Seaton
  4. Jr. High School Director's report – Doug Mattsey
  5. High School Director's report – David Wetmore

Old Business

  1. concert attire
  2. Chili Supper – Kathy Boocker
  3. Fruit Sale (November 5-16, December 8) – Gayle Zahnle
  4. MHS Concert Band Camp (Friday, November 16 – Saturday, November 17)
  5. Dickens on the Square
  6. holiday concerts
  7. hosting Olympic Conference (Southern) Band Festival (Thursday, March 6)
  8. long-term budget, spending, savings, and trip-savers accounts policy (discuss at end of meeting only if time allows)
  9. other old business

New Business

  1. Truffles Sale
  2. Spaghetti Supper – Gayle Zahnle & Sean O'Donnell-Brown
  3. Sousa award scholarship
  4. other new business

Thank-You!

  • Kathy Boocker for coordinating Chili Supper
  • Chili Supper volunteers and attendees
  • Illini Marching Band Festival chaperones
  • Ken Zahnle, Jacob Thurman, Mandy Lessard, Chris Norton, Michelle Detrick for their efforts—above and beyond—during marching band season
  • Barb Shrode and Lisa Stear for coordinating uniforms and concert attire

Adjournment

Minutes

(posted following approval at immediately subsequent monthly meeting)

Macomb Band Boosters Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
7:00 pm

Call to order

President Sean O'Donnell-Brown called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

Reports

  1. Secretary's report – The October meeting minutes were read by Kelly Barsi. Becca Pettit moved to accept the report; Cindy Cavett seconded and the motion passed.
  2. Treasurer's report – The Treasurer's report was presented by Becca Pettit. Barb Shrode moved to accept the report; Caren Bordowitz seconded and the motion passed.
  3. Ways & Means chair report – Beth Seaton: The Ways and Means Committee will take care of food for the Olympic Band Festival and form a T-shirt committee.
  4. Jr. High School Director's report – Doug Mattsey
    • Mr Mattsey was very proud of the 8 junior high kids who participated at District Festival (one of them a 7th grader.) They were well prepared and there were no problems.
    • He expressed some concerns regarding the Chili Supper performance venue, specifically the high noise level in the commons—the crowd is not quiet and attentive as in a typical concert setting, making it difficult for the bands to be heard. He has checked into how other schools handle these types of concert dinners and suggested that a possible solution might be to separate the performance and eating areas. Mr Wetmore said that the PA system may not have been working well, and also that the tables were set up differently this year and may have been too close to the performance area. Discussion resulted in the following suggestions for both the Chili and Spaghetti suppers:
      • Re-orient the table set-up
      • Make a statement to the crowd requesting them to be quiet during the performances, as they would in a regular concert setting
      • Set up more tables in the hallway outside the commons (it was noted that there is the possibility of a conflict with the wrestling and track teams who run in the halls.)
      • Borrow risers from WIU to get the kids up off the floor and make them more visible
      • Blink lights to signal the beginning of each performance and cue the crowd to quiet down
      • Lower some of the lights during performances
      • Place signs on tables reminding people to be quiet (and keep children quiet) when bands are playing
    • Mr Mattsey said that as the Spaghetti Supper (February 25) comes just after junior high Solo and Ensemble Contest, the 7th and 8th grade bands will not play for the Supper, but he will have some of the 7th and 8th grade ensembles play, as well as the 6th grade and Jazz bands. He will amplify the smaller ensembles.
    • The Christmas concert is Monday, December 17 at 7:00 pm.
    • He is still waiting to hear back regarding the Old Dairy as the performance venue for Dickens on the Square on November 30.
  5. High School Director's report – David Wetmore
    • Mr. Wetmore reported a good ending to the marching band season with a phenomenal performance at the U of I, despite the "hostile environment" with the jack hammers and renovations at the stadium. The stop at Mclean on the way home went very smoothly. Sean O'Donnell-Brown had called McDonald's ahead and made arrangements; they were very accommodating.
    • Jazz band is going well with 12 trumpets, full rhythm, sax and trombone sections, and a tuba.
    • The Saturday session of the Concert Band Camp has been cancelled due to many conflicts with other activities. The WIU ensemble which was to play will be invited to perform at a later date. The Friday session will begin at 6:00. Mr. Mattsey will work with the concert band, Mr. Wetmore will work with the wind symphony, and then the bands will play their pieces for each other. Mark Carlson will present his euphonium doctoral recital at 8:00. Sean O'Donnell-Brown has put together a scavenger hunt for the kids and the evening will conclude with a pizza party.
    • The brass and woodwind choirs will perform for Dickens on the Square on Saturday, Dec 1. Mr. Wetmore stressed the importance and value of playing in small groups for students' musical growth.
    • The Pep band roster is up and schedules out; the first game is December 1.
    • The Christmas concert is Sunday, December 16.
    • The band final exam is Wednesday, December 19.
    • Olympic Band Festival is March 6. Letters have been sent to directors. Bands participating are Knoxville, Monmouth-Roseville, Farmington and Macomb.
    • Spring Trip fund raiser (Fruit Sale) has kicked off. Gourmet food orders are due Monday, November 19. Fruit orders are due November 26. Mr. Wetmore recommended having more people to assist with counting money and compiling orders. Gayle Zahnle said she had help lined up.
    • The trip cost is $225.00. The band will perform on Friday, April 25 at the National Adjudicator's Invitational in St Louis. The trip will include a premier concert performance by the St Louis Symphony orchestra, time at the Galleria Mall, and a visit to either Grant's Farm or the zoo—the band will vote to decide. Lodging is at the Westport Drury Inn & Suites.
    • Mr. Wetmore will submit a Superstate audition tape (due in February.)

Old Business

  1. Barb Shrode reported that most of the marching uniforms have been turned in.
  2. Concert band camp will require some adult supervision (volunteers needed.) Need to order pizza for about 115 people.

New Business

  1. Truffle Sale is January 7 -21 with delivery prior to Valentine's Day. Becca suggested collecting the money with the orders. Truffles will sell for $8.00/box with $5.00 per box profit if band boosters again assist with packaging. Packaging dates are January 19 and 26, and February 9 if needed. Delivery is Monday February 11.
  2. All-State Festival is January 31—February 2.
  3. Sousa Award—Maureen Wallen had previously suggested to Sean that a scholarship be included as a part of this award that is given to one or two outstanding senior band students each year. Mr Wetmore expressed a concern that in some years several kids are deserving of this award, making it both very competitive and a difficult choice, therefore the addition of the scholarship would compound the issue. Mr. Mattsey said that a scholarship awarded by the Band Boosters is an excellent idea, and that it need not be tied to the Sousa award. The Band Boosters could possibly select the recipient. Sean will consider the scholarship issue, noting that qualifying criteria need to be developed and that interested students might write an essay.
  4. Other new business
    • Mr. Wetmore suggested a golf outing as a potential fund raiser, noting that IVC does this and typically makes $10,000—$12,000. Ways and Means will consider the idea.

Sean extended several thank-yous per the agenda.

There will be no meeting in December; next meeting is January 8, 2008.

The meeting adjourned at 8:31 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Barsi, Secretary

page navigation