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Band Booster Newsletter

October 9, 2007

West Carteret High School Bands

4700 Country Club Road Craig Everett, Andrew Wright - Directors

Morehead City, NC 28557 ceverett@starfishnet.com

Tel. 252-726-1176, Fax. 252-726-6290 webewright@yahoo.com

We are in now in full swing with marching band. Many of you have comment at how pleased you are with the progress of the band from the first football game to the second one. We are feverously working to stage the finale before next week’s homecoming game and our first marching band competition at White Oak HS in Jacksonville on Saturday. It is hard to believe that when we write the next newsletter we will be in our final rehearsals before leaving for Indianapolis and our marching band season will be complete.

The Bands of America Fall Preview was extremely educational for both our students and instructional staff. The clinicians gave us many ideas and they notated many, many areas in which we need to improve. I have never been more proud of a group of kids who worked extremely hard in some of the hottest weather conditions we have ever faced. We must remember not to take our coastal breezes for granted ever again!

Our direct solicitation campaign is beginning this month and we desperately are seeking volunteers to contact the area businesses. We appreciate Patti Norris heading this up for us because it this is the only fund-raising drive that benefits our general band budget. All other fundraisers profits go straight into each band member’s student account. So if you traditionally do not fund-raise and prefer to pay out of pocket for your child’s trips, please consider contacting a few businesses for us as band funds are running in the RED during marching band season!

We are now ending our second fund-raiser of the year. The pizza sale officially ends on Tuesday and we hope that it has been successful for you. We have had several students who have fund-raised at 40% percent profit equal to or greater than $150 which is needed for the first Indianapolis payment that was due the first week of October. Our citrus fruit sale begins this week just in time for our final Indianapolis payment of $190 which is due the first week of November. The fruit sale has traditionally been the easiest product to sale and is one that many people look forward to each year. We especially thank all of the Seafood Festival workers who sold the carnival tickets. Alisha Lewis is attempting to collect all discount cards that are still out. PLEASE see to it that they are turned in ASAP. We are happy to announce that we now have available cards to be reissued! We ask that you prepay for any additional discount cards you now receive so we can wrap up this successful fundraiser. If you can sell additional cards, please contact Alisha Lewis at 223-5847.

Many thanks to everyone who have answered our SOS calls and have volunteered during the past month. It is heartwarming to see everyone pulling together to make our band program the best it can be. It takes a small army to make this band program go. From driving buses, working in the pit crew, chaperoning students, sewing costumes and flags, building and painting props, washing uniform parts, working uniform carts, participating in fundraising, or simply seeing to it that your child makes it to all of the rehearsals and performances, we thank you for all you do. We honestly do believe that participating in band builds a better work ethic, social skills, and gives students a sense of belonging in this very large school. We also feel that the lessons learned in band will benefit them long after they graduate. Thank you for giving them this awesome opportunity.

Sincerely

Craig Everett,

Discount Card Fundraiser

Fundraiser ended September 21.

Pizza Cookie Sales – Fundraiser for Indianapolis Trip

Currently in progress and ends on October 9.

Citrus Fruit Sales – Fundraiser for Indianapolis Trip

Fundraiser begins October 16 and no orders will be accepted after November 5.

Food

Thanks to John and Susan Drake for overseeing food preparations. A special thanks to all those parents and volunteers who supported the efforts of John and Susan for the Fort Mill, SC Trip.
John and Susan have another obligation on Friday, October 12 and Alisha Lewis will be overseeing the refreshment table at the game on. Please give her your support.

Direct Solicitations

Volunteers are still needed to contact area businesses for donations for the band.
See Patti Norris at the next booster meeting.

Student Accounts

When making payments, please place check or cash in an envelope with child’s name, the dollar amount, and what the money is for.
Receipts are located on the white board.
Fundraising assessment will not be billed until the end of the semester so all fundraising profit goes into student accounts.

Transportation

We need bus drivers for the following trips:

· White Oak HS, Jacksonville October 13

· JH Rose, Greenville October 20

· Swansboro HS October 27

Construction Crew and Pit Crew

· We still need volunteers to work in the pit crew to move band equipment to and from the field for performances and competitions.

Band Uniforms

· We still need volunteers to work the uniform carts for performances and competitions. Sign up at the booster meeting

Indianapolis Payment Schedule

· $175 October 8 (Pizza profits can be applied)

· $179 November 8 (Citrus fruit profits can be applied)

Chaperones

A really BIG thank you to the Chaperones on the Ft Mills, SC trip. All went well with your help and late nights. We are still in need for Chaperones for the Indy trip. Here is a list of confirmed adults that I have so far for the Nov. 14-18 trip. If you have any changes let us know as soon as possible. If your name is not on the list, please contact either Terry Lindner, 726-6218 or Elizabeth Willis, 728-6778. Thanks for your time and dedication to the band.

ADULTS RIDING THE BUS TO INDY (updated Oct. 8):

PLEASE CHECK THE ITENERARIES FOR THE TIMES YOU ARE TO BE AT THE SCHOOL. CHAPERONES ARE NEEDED BEFORE STUDENTS TO GET ON THERE BUS AND READ THEIR PACKET TO PREPARE FOR THE TRIP. YOUR BUS ASSIGNMENT WILL BE POSTED ON THE WALL OUTSIDE THE BAND ROOM DOORS A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE TRIP.

Preliminary Pricing for Band of

America

National Indianapolis, IN Trip

· Tomorrow (Wednesday) – Eat at Applebee’s and Our Band gets 15% of sales receipts!