2002 September Bugle

FAMILY NIGHT DRAWS OVER 400

As our Ways and Means chair, Melody Fouse, said, “Family night was way cool!” On behalf of the entire Booster Board, Melody and Nancy Skewes-Cox, this year’s organizers of Family Night, we want to extend a huge thank you to all the volunteers who made the evening possible. Nancy, a new freshman mom, bought all the food and organized our barbequers and supplied the decorations. She also worked tirelessly to get freshman families involved. She did a great job and we are so thankful that she was so willing to jump right in a get involved...reallllly involved. Great job and thanks to Nancy and all her crew!

Thanks also go to our seasoned veteran, Melody, she kept everything on track and organized for the evening. She and her spouse, Scott, and their son were at school almost all day making sure everything was perfect...and it was! We also need to thank Julia Schrom for all her help in planning for the evening. Thanks go out to Lynne Phillips for arranging the car show.

We want to applaud our fantastic students for the wonderful performance they put on that night. They really wet our appetite for the great things that are to come. Thanks kids for all your hard work and dedication to the Band it really showed in your performance.

And last, but certainly not least, we would like to thank all the instructors for their tireless commitment to our children. It takes special people who will work out in the hot sun, long hours for little pay. They love music and students and it shows in all they do. Please, take time to say thanks to them the next time you see them. Those little words of praise and thanks mean so much!

The “Race to Indy” is on and the Lancer Band is in the driver’s seat.

Good luck to all this season!!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Tuesday, September 10

PICTURE DAY

Friday, September 13

Home Football Game

Saturday, September 14

Janss Mall Car Wash Fundraiser

8am-5pm

PASTA DINNER

5-8pm

Tuesday, September 17

SUBWAY NIGHT

Prep Meeting

7pm

Tuesday, September 17

General Booster Meeting

7:30pm

Saturday, September 21

Simi Valley Days Parade

Thursday, September 26

Baja Fresh Night

Friday, September 27

Home Football Game

Saturday, October 5

San Marcos Field Tournament-Santa Barbara

Car Washes and Candy Sales

All car wash money is due in the Band White Box by Monday, September 9. Every student in the program is responsible for selling $100 worth of car wash tickets. Car wash proceeds go to Mr. Martone’s/the Band’s ASB (Associated Student Body) account. These moneys are used to purchase things that the Band needs that the Booster budget cannot cover and that are not allowed for in the school district’s budget either.

If your student did not sell any/all of his/her tickets, then they should turn in the unsold tickets. They are still liable for the $100 for ASB. You can simply write a check for the amount due and no candy will need to be sold. Students will need to sell candy to raise the $100 or any part thereof. Students will be credited for $12 for each box of candy they sell. Each box of candy costs $24, with $12 credited to the student. All ASB obligations must be met before any candy sale proceeds can be credited to the personal student accounts. Questions? Call Mrs. Martone.

President’s Corner

We’re Off and Running!

What a tremendously successful Family Night Kick Off BBQ we had! Our incredible team, Melody Fouse and Julia Schrom, Ways and Means, Nancy Skewes-Cox, Membership (and their families) and all the great volunteers put on one great party! Thanks to all those who cooked, set-up, served, sold merchandise, helped with tickets and soda sales and signed up more volunteers for future events. They put on such a fabulously fun evening. We are off to a great start for what will be our best season ever! Of course, I know you enjoyed seeing all of our talented students perform. They had an awesome beginning performance. It’s such an incredible process to watch our students’ progress. Thank you to Mr. Martone who has put together an unbelievable staff this year and it certainly shows! You will be amazed at every performance.

This wonderful night was the end of a busy August. Just a little recap of all that we did: Our very special WBA Field Tournament meetings are continuing every Thursday night in the Band Room and will continue until that big day Saturday, October 12. We still need more committee heads; please see page 4 for more details on how you can help. We had another successful car wash. Then we had a City Work Day to repay hours from last season so that we might again apply for another important grant from the City of Thousand Oaks. It’s wonderful to be able to “give back” to our community. Thank you to Betsy Connolly and her crew of parent volunteers for organizing this planting day. We have successfully collected, as of Family Night, $3,337.50 for our Pennies for Piccolos campaign (which is on-going throughout the year). Thank you to Lori and Jerry Dulek for organizing this instrument fundraiser. We have only one more payment to the district for past instrument loans, then Mr. Martone will be able to use this on-going fundraiser to replace or add to the instruments owned by the Band.

Wow! School has just started and we have already accomplished all this!

How do we do all this? Answer, with very generous volunteers. Voluntarism as defined in the dictionary is “voluntary participation in a certain action, or a system based on this.” Well, our system, the Thousand Oaks Lancer Band and Color Guard Booster, Inc. is an organization solely based on voluntarism. I thank all of the volunteers who selflessly volunteer their time because they care and believe in the cause. Please join us (if you haven’t already) as we continue to have fun volunteering and watching our children continue to grow into awesome individuals and world-class Band and Color Guard performers.

September is a very important month. Check your Band calendar (see page 1). Our first football game performance is on “lucky” Friday, September 13. Our ever-popular Pasta Dinner featuring Alumni Kay DeGennaro’s famous sauce, and our student entertainers and servers will take place on Saturday, September 14 in the TOHS cafeteria. Bring neighbors, family and friends. Also on that Saturday is a special fundraising opportunity to raise money for our Indy trip. The Simoniz Car Wash at the Janss Mall is donating profits to us by helping them write up car wash tickets, having a bake sale and having various groups of our students entertaining throughout the day from 8am to 5pm (see page 3 for more details). Please plan on attending the Booster Meeting on Tuesday, September 17 (eat at Subway first for our Restaurant night fundraiser). We will be discussing the details of our biggest fundraiser of the year, our WBA Field Tournament. We will also have more details on the trips to Indianapolis and San Diego.

“Time is the most valuable thing a person can spend.” Thanks for spending yours with us.

Musically yours,

Lynne Phillips

Extra Special Fundraising Opportunities

People are contacting us to raise money…

Two wonderful fundraising opportunities have arisen. These are of no cost to the Band. All they require are our time and talents. We will have no financial outlay for either of these events. Please consider helping. We can use these opportunities to help defray the cost of the trip to Indianapolis.

The Janss Car Wash has generously offered the use of their facility to help us raise money for our “Race to Indy.”

On Saturday, September 14 the Ventura County Professional Firefighters Association has arranged for the Band to use the Janss Car Wash as a fundraising site. Students do not have to wash cars, but they can help dry. We will have a bake sale and various groups of student performers will be there throughout the day to entertain customers. We will be able to sell tickets to our Band events, Pasta Dinner and Field Tournament especially.

Thanks to the Ventura County Professional Firefighters Association and the Janss Car Wash for supporting the Lancer Band and Color Guard!

Rockwell International Science Center Picnic

The Fun Company has requested our assistance at a picnic they are providing for the Rockwell International Science Center. They will donate $2250 to the Band if we will provide people to man their activity booths. The picnic takes place at the Conejo Creek Park on Sunday, October 6 and the shifts are as follows: 7am-10:30am, 5 adults and 14 students; 10:30am-4pm, 54 people, 14 adults and 40 kids, 4pm for about an hour, 19 people. Free lunch and t-shirts for those who help during the second shift. Students can sign up in class to participate at these events. We will also need parent volunteers to supervise both events. If you have any other questions, please call Shari Smith or Melody Fouse.

BOOSTER SPONSORED ACTIVITIES

Pennies for Piccolos

Pennies for Piccolos raised $3337.50 this summer. Thanks to the Duleks, Jerry and Lori, for supervising the collecting. The amount collected, however, fell short of our goal of $5000. We are encouraging everyone to continue collecting lose change throughout the year. Future collection dates will be announced in The Bugle.

Great Kards are coming…

In October students will have the chance to sell Great Kards again. These cards provide discounts at various merchants in the area. Students will receive a percentage of all sales credited to their student account.

Deck the Halls

A new fundraiser this holiday season will be wreath sales. Orders will be taken in October and delivery will be made in time for the holidays. This is sure to be a fun and easy way to raise money.

Field Tournament Update

F.Y.I. General Tournament Planning Meetings are held every Thursday in the Band Room at 7:30pm. Call Betsy Connolly, for more information.

Mr. Martone will be attending the WBA Fall Meeting on Sunday, September 8. At this meeting schools which have pre-registered for fall field tournaments will be confirmed. This will give the Field Tournament Committee much needed planning information. Last year we had nine schools, including TOHS, participate. We are hoping for 12-15 this year. If we still have open spots, schools can register up until September 20 when the WBA closes registration.

We are still looking for a few more planning committee members. The areas of Awards Ordering and Facilities need serious help and a few of the other committees could use some additional planning assistance. Shari Smith is looking for help with Hospitality in the area of Band Hosts/Hostesses as well. We are having lots of fun so you should come and check it out.

You may be wondering why you haven’t been asked to volunteer for the day of the event. That's because we need everyone's help. Our volunteer coordinators will be calling each and every one of you, helping you to choose the work assignment that is right for you. Thanks to everyone ahead of time for helping in our biggest fundraiser of the year. We appreciate all of you!

Save the Day! TOHS FIELD TOURNAMENT

Saturday, October 12

INFO YOUR STUDENTS NEEDS TO KNOW

Here are some various and sundries information items you and your student need to be aware of:

1. Students need to check the bulletin board above the Band White Box for any communications that need to go home. The Band Office posts things there for students to pick up.

2. If you have not paid your uniform and

district transportation fees students cannot

get their uniform nor can they travel with

the Band. Make sure those fees are paid

ASAP!

3. Candy is now available from Mrs. Martone. Buy a box for $24, get $12 credited to your student account. Talk to her for details.

UNIFORM DETAILS

Uniforms should be hemmed and ready for picture day Tuesday, September 10. It is your responsibility to have the uniforms hemmed properly. The jacket sleeves should be hemmed at the break in the wrist while in playing position and the pants should be hemmed 2’’ from the ground with the black marching shoes on. We will be receiving new pants in the next month. At that time we will refit the students with new pants, theses will also need to be hemmed and then we will take the old pants back.

Find those baseball caps that you wore in Hawaii. We are wearing them at all home football games instead of shakos. (Big cheer!!) New students and those who did not go to Hawaii will be receiving new hats shortly.

The term “in uniform” applies to the marching uniform and alternate uniform as well. Here are some guidelines to remember for those times we are “in uniform.” There should be no jewelry at all, no nail polish, no make up, boys should be clean-shaven and there is to be no colored hair the day of a performance. The alternate uniform is as follows: black pants or short, alternate t-shirt, tucked in, no jewelry etc, nice tennis shoes, preferably white. We want our student to look “uniform” so that no one stands out in the crowd. We are asking parents to help make sure your student follows these guidelines on performance days. We really cannot make exceptions. Being prepared with all the right clothing makes everything go smoother for everyone on those long tournament days. Thanks for your help in helping your child be prepared to perform.

One last uniform item, if your student has long and/or unruly hair please work with them to help them devise a way to get it up under the shako. Hair should not touch the collar of the uniform (haircuts may be in order for the marching season.)

We should have a ”military” look in uniform. The preppers have old pantyhose tops that can be used as a hair net to keep those beautiful tresses up and out of the way.

Please refer to the Booster Handbook in the appendices for a complete recap of the uniform requirements.

Scrip Scribbles

The clock is ticking for families new to band this year, you only have until September 15 to take advantage of the increase percentage of scrip sales that goes to your student account. You can earn 5% on all in-stock paper scrip: Ralph’s, Whole Foods, Smart and Final, Taco Bell and Longs. After September 15 the percentage drops back to 2.5% (the normal amount) . Stock up for the next few months and benefit from the increased rate.

UPDATE—Beginning September 16, we will keep Carl’s Junior, Burger King, Jamba Juice and Sav-On paper scrip in stock as a service to last minute shoppers. When you buy this way you will only receive 2.5% credited to your account. You still have the option to purchase these scrips from Mary and receive the higher percentage. This is simply a convenience for those of us who find it harder to plan ahead.

Schedule change: During the fall marching season Dorothy Hatfield will be at school selling scrip on Wednesdays and Fridays between 4:25pm and 4:45pm. If you have any questions or need to make other arrangements, please feel free to call Dorothy. Dorothy said she will do anything to make buying scrip easier for YOU! Stop by her house, meet her somewhere—she will work it out. She wants to help you and the Band.

If none of the above vendors are the ones you patronize, be sure to check out the list of National Scrip. It can be ordered through Mary Tessendorf. Forms are always available on the Band Room door. The percentage shown on the form is the actual percentage that is put into your student’s account. (A small amount of the total percentage goes to the Boosters for shipping and handling charges we incur.) Orders should be placed with Mary by Tuesday morning. Orders can also be left in the Band White Box, dropped off at her home, or left with Dorothy. Orders will be available for pick up at Mary’s house by Thursday night or Friday afternoon, she’ll call you. This is such a painless way to get funds into your student’s account to make those Band payments. Please don’t hesitate to call Mary if you have any questions.

Annual Pasta Dinner

Saturday, September 14

5pm-8pm

Join us for a relaxing evening of family fun at the Annual Pasta Dinner. (This is the same day as the car wash at the Janss Car Wash so take the evening off and come to the Pasta Dinner.) We will be serving alumni parent Kay DeGennaro’s world famous pasta sauce, along with a tossed green salad, bread and drinks. Dinner tickets cost $6 for adults and $4 for kids 10 and under and seniors; TOHS Band students can also eat for $4. Desserts will be available for $1-$2. Band students will provide the evenings entertainment. We will also have some raffle prizes, tickets will be $1 or 6 for $5. Dinner tickets will be available after school Monday, September 9—Thursday. September 12. Please buy your tickets early so that we can get an accurate count.

Chaperones Still Needed

We are still in need of chaperones for the trip to Indianapolis. We will be traveling November 13-17. We need to finalize our count by September 13. Shari Smith, Band Vice President, is getting last minute details on cost. Please call Shari if you have any questions. This will be a great time to get to know other parents and share in some very special memories with your kids. Please consider joining with us!

Farewell to the Schrom Family

It is with great sadness that we must announce that the Schrom Family is leaving the Band family. John and Ian are already in Montana, (they love it there and Julia said they are already talking slower). Julia will be leaving as soon as the sale of their home is finalized. They always had a kind word for everyone and were a great source of encouragement for students and parents alike. Besides that, they were tireless, committed workers. They will truly be missed. Best of luck to you all!

Their departure also leaves a large hole in our Booster Executive Board, Julia was co-chair of Ways and Means and John was the Equipment chair. If anyone is at all interested in filling these roles they should contact Lynne. Julia and Melody have most of the ground work laid for our fundraisers. Mr. Martone would be able to talk with you about the equipment needs this year. Alum Camden Lorentson will be working for the Boosters this year to help with some of our construction and equipment needs, but we need someone to coordinate the comings and goings of all the “stuff.” Please consider helping us out! Thanks!