From Our President…

Didn’t we just get finished with school? I was in Kmart yesterday and they were setting up the back to school supplies. I must confess that the sight of all those backpacks, binders and stacks of lined paper made me feel a bit faint.

The Booster Executive Board never really took a break from “Band Mode”. Planning and organizing for the new season is well underway. I would like to thank all of the board members for their enthusiasm and flexibility. Many of us are changing roles and have found ourselves with one foot completing past responsibilities while the other is moving forward into new areas. Thank you all for your dedication to the program.

At the present, our attention is focused in three main areas: Field Show Preparation, Updating Membership Information, and Launching Fundraisers. The Boosters are responsible for turning the staff's vision of Camelot into reality. This means creating costumes and props designed to set that special mood. Soon Dorothy Hatfield (Costumes) and Jim Pavell (Props) will be asking for your help. We have jobs for the talented right down to the hopeless so when the call comes, don’t be shy.

Shari Smith, our Band Office secretary, has been hard at work going through the raft of paperwork we generated after the parent meetings in June. Gail Williamson and Lori Crosse are updating the roster and compiling volunteer lists. Thank you ladies! We do still have a number of students with missing or incomplete files. If you have not returned your student’s folder, with all papers completed, please do so now. The Band Room is open for paperwork return during Wednesday rehearsals from 3-6pm. Notices are posted on the student information board in the Band Room for those students who turned in their folders with some items missing or incomplete. Please pick up those notices and take care of the deficiency.

By now we have completed our second car wash. Every student was given 20 carwash tickets to sell for $5 each. There are two more car washes left so keep selling those tickets! Seniors and Juniors who were out of town for their carwash should contact the appropriate Band Council class representative to schedule themselves for the August 16 (Sophomore) or September 6 (Freshman) dates. Thank you Cheryl Pavell, VP of Band, for providing the Booster coordination for these events.

The AdBook is one of our biggest fundraisers. Each family has the sample AdBook and the paperwork necessary to sell ads. This is a great way to earn substantial funds for Individual Student Savings Accounts. Don’t miss out on this powerful fundraiser.

By the time you read this, we should be back in full gear on SCRIP sales. Polly Toohey and Sandee Tischler, our Ways and Means VP’s, will be able to steer you in the right direction for pre-order and in-stock SCRIP. If you haven’t signed up for e-scrip, a zero cost and zero effort fundraiser, get on to that computer and do it now! It takes only a few minutes at www.escrip.com our account number is 137115759.

See you soon,

Betsy Connolly

GET INVOLVED WITH STUDENT SUPPORT

Becoming part of the Band is a scary experience – not for the students but for us parents. There is so much paper work and so many things to understand – how can we possibly feel comfortable? ………Get involved!!!

Diane Folsom and Dorothy Hatfield are two people who will be happy to help you in your new adventure. They are in charge of student support.

Their duties include:

-Ordering and distributing alternate uniforms

-Helping with the construction of field costumes/uniforms

-Assigning and measuring each student for their marching uniform

-Providing food for our students at field tournaments and before football games

-Helping students with last minute hair and uniform touch-ups before performances

As wonderful as they are, they certainly cannot do it all on their own. So if you are interested in helping out please give them a call, send them an e-mail, or stop and talk with them at one of our Booster meetings. Diane can be reached at 492-2240 (rd.folsom@gte.net) and Dorothy can be reached at 529-5819 (the5hats@adelphia.com). If you have already filled out your purple volunteer sheet we thank you and someone will be contacting you soon.

AdBook Update

Are you selling those ads? The one-month grace period to obtain your ads from last year’s advertisers expired on July 15. If you did not renew that ad yet it is now fair game for anyone in Band. Check the Band Room door for a list of ads that have already been obtained, if the business you want to solicit is not on there then go for it! Blank order forms are also available on the Band Room door. An additional selling point and an excellent way to increase the funds that go into your account is to encourage the advertisers to place an ad in the program for our field tournament on October 11. Any questions call Trisha Webster, 371-4682 or Penny Hunter, 495-4798.

Scrip Program Puts Bucks in

YOUR Account

The quickest and easiest way to put money in your student account is by purchasing scrip. Scrip for the area grocery stores is in-stock and available all the time. Call Polly Toohey, 523-2569 or Sandee Tischler, 497-6502, to arrange a mutually convenient time to pick it up.

We also participate in the National Scrip Program. You may pre-order this scrip. New freshman parent Mary Roberts has graciously agreed to take this over this year. Enclosed you will find a copy of the most current order form. Call Mary, 492-7165, with your order.

Remember all students new to the program this year will receive 5% back to their student account for any grocery scrip purchased through September 15.

Ways and Means Has Exciting Plans for New Year

Ways and Means Co-chairs, Polly Toohey and Sandee Tischler, have a lot of great fundraising opportunities scheduled this year. Topping the list are some of are all time favorites: Spaghetti Dinner, Pancake Breakfast, restaurant nights (which will begin in September) and churro booth sales. They are also planning on continuing what was a very successful fundraiser last year at the Janss Car Wash. Mark you calendar now for one of our biggest events of the year the Annual Dinner Dance and Silent Auction. The date is set for Sunday, February 8, 2004 at the new Los Robles Greens Banquet Center over looking the golf course.

Of course, Polly and Sandee can’t do all these things on their own. If you have any previous experience in these areas or are just eager to help out contact them and let them know.

Hopefully everyone has filled out and returned the purple volunteer sheet that was in your registration packet. Thanks to those who have already returned their form and if you haven’t yet returned that to us could you please take a minute to do so. (Just return it to the white box in the Band Room.) We need everyone helping this year to make it our best season yet!

Pennies for Piccolos

Pennies for Piccolos is a director fundraiser that provides monies to refurbish and replace school owned instrument. Students, with their sections, go to neighborhoods around Thousand Oaks soliciting donations. Students are also encouraged to keep a change jar around the house to collect “pennies” for this drive. The Student Band Council and section leaders will be contacting your student about a date and time to canvas an area. Prizes are given to the student who collects the most!

Lookin’ Good as a Member of the Lancer Band

One of the most confusing and overwhelming parts of joining the Band is making sure that your student is wearing the proper attire at the proper time. Listed below are the components of the alternate uniform, the marching uniform and concert attire.

Alternate Uniform

Alternate green shirt

Alternate white shirt

Alternate band jacket or letterman jacket

The above items are purchased from the Band Boosters. Please submit your order by the end of July. Also needed are:

Black pants or shorts (no blue jeans or athletic shorts, please)

White socks

White tennis shoes

Marching Uniforms

Black shoes (shiny) – order from band booster (form in packet)

Black (no logo) t-shirt and black socks

Your student will be measured at August band camp for their marching uniform. It is important to remember that when they bring home the uniform, you will need to make the necessary adjustments such as hemming. Do not put an iron directly on the uniform; instead, cover with a towel and iron over the towel. Please do not use hemming tape of any kind and never cut any part of the uniform. You can hem them yourself or take them to a cleaners or tailors.

Spring Concert Uniforms

Girls - Black Concert Dress (all bands)

Boys – Tuxedo with white shirt

(Symphonic Band members may wear a black suit)

All Jazz Band members will also need a black dress shirt

More information will be provided to you in September.

This information is outlined in detail in the Booster Handbook on page 28 and in the Handbook appendices.

Watch the Bugle next month for details on how to re-sell your dresses, shoes and tuxedos. Make sure you check your marching shoes before the August Band Camp to see if they still fit. If they don’t plan on ordering new ones then, cost is $30 per pair.

Call Dorothy Hatfield, 529-5819 or Diane Folsom, 492-2240, with and questions.

CAR WASH RECAP

The junior and senior classes have already held their car washes. Two still remain, Sophomores on August 16 and Freshmen on September 6. Stills are required to attend their class car wash. If they cannot attend on their date they must advise their class representative and let them know which date they will attend. Students are required to work the entire day, 8:30am-3pm. Lunch will be provided by the Boosters.

Every student was given $150 (30 tickets @ $5) in tickets. Each student is obligated to pay for $100 worth of tickets. This money goes to the ASB fund. Any tickets that the student sells above that will be credited to their individual student account. Students may not sell their tickets at the car wash.

Students should bring old towels and rags and/or paper towels to the car wash.

We can use parent volunteers to help supervise the students. Call Cheryl Pavell, 492-6047, if you can help or if you have any questions.

Band Camp Begins August 11

The two week mandatory Band Camp begins August 11 and goes August 22 (we’re off on the weekends). The culmination of Band Camp is Family Night. It is one of the most fun evenings of the year. It will be the parents first chance to see the field show and marvel at how much progress your child has made in only two weeks.

If your child will not be at camp on any one day or if you are out of town during camp you should notify Mr. Martone in writing. Your child should give him a note prior to the absence (Wednesday marching rehearsal would be a good time).

The days are hotter and longer in August than they have been during these Wednesday afternoons. Please be sure that your child comes prepared. Loads of sunscreen, a hat and gallons of water. The day begins at 8:30 and continues until 4:30 with lunch from 12 noon to 1:30pm. Students may either stay at school or go home. Whatever the plan be back on time!!

Enjoy the last lazy(?) days of summer and we will see everyone on August 11!