THE BUGLE
The Newsletter of the Thousand Oaks High School LANCER BAND
August, 2003
FAMILY NIGHT IS FRIDAY, AUGUST 22
Make sure you mark your calendar now for Family Night. This evening is the culmination of the two weeks of Band Camp. Dinner begins at 6pm. The band will perform the show music during our dinner and at 8pm we will adjourn to the stadium for the marching demonstration. Winners from the Pennies for Piccolos fundraiser will be announced during dinner. This year we will have a Mexican dinner in honor of our “southwestern travels” to Phoenix where we will participate in the regional Bands of America tournament. A taco bar offering seasoned ground beef, chicken, refried beans, rice, tortillas with all the taco fixins plus beverage will cost $7 per person, kids under 12, senior citizens and TOHS Band students will pay $5. Churros will be sold for 50 cents each for dessert.
Dinner tickets are available this week in front of the Band Room after marching practice. Tickets must be ordered by the 20th. They should put the order in the Band Room White Box by Wednesday. If you have any questions, please call Penny Hunter, 495-4798. We look forward to meeting all of you that night!
FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES BOOST STUDENT ACCOUNTS
SCRIP
You will be receiving a packet at Family Night that will be chocked full of important fundraising information. The best fundraising opportunity we have is scrip. We carry in-stock scrip for area merchants; these include: Ralph’s, Whole Food, Long’s, Smart and Final, Taco Bell, Jamb Juice, Carl’s Junior , Burger King, Baskin Robbins, and TCBY. Remember all new students receive 5% of their purchase credited to their individual student account on all in-stock scrip on purchases made through September 15. New freshman mom, Dena Watson, has graciously agreed to take care of these sales. Please stop by and see her after Band Camp, or call her at 495-3327. Mary Roberts, another new freshman mom, has jumped in and taken over the job of pre-ordering for Scrip Advantage. Percentages credited to your student account are noted on the order form and vary by vendor. (See order for on page 7 for a partial list of vendors that are available through this program.)
AdBook
The deadline for AdBook sales had been extended to September 30 and the rules have changed. Students begin earning for their ISSA beginning with the very first sale. The split is 80% Band / 20% Student for the first $100. Then back to the old rules from that point on. Please check the Band Room door for more forms and to see an updated list of ads that have been sold. If you have any questions, please contact Tricia Webster, 371-4682.
KEEP SELLING THOSE ADS!
President’s Corner
Well, the first week of Band Camp is in the bag and what a week it was. It was hot and the school air-conditioning was down for repairs! Booster planning continued with an Executive Board meeting on Monday night. On Tuesday morning our students enjoyed a presentation by David Kunz, a well known and highly regarded band expert. Parents attended his lecture on Tuesday evening, held in the blissfully air-conditioned PAC. What a pleasure to hear how valuable the band experience is. My favorite statistic was that 67% of the Fortune 500 CEO’s were in their high school bands. David emphasized that the opportunity for teenagers to develop their cooperation and group effort skills is very limited today. His message in a nutshell, BAND IS WORTH ALL OF THE HARD WORK and EXPENSE! On Wednesday the Boosters greeted our hot and sweaty students with popsicles at the end of the day. Thursday and Friday were uniform fitting/assigning days. Dorothy Hatfield and her hard working uniform crew cheerfully worked to find each student a nicely fitting uniform. What an effort! Friday morning began early for 110 of us as new members were rousted out of bed and delivered to the Green House Café for a bit of foolish fun and a well deserved breakfast. Welcome new members and thank you to our parent drivers who make this event possible!
This week will feature lots of hard work plus auditions for placement in the band classes. As you saw on the front page, the Family Night dinner and performance will be Friday the 22nd. I can’t wait to hear the music and see the show. If you are new to band, you might be wondering what we are all so excited about. Well, prepare to be amazed as Family Night provides our first peek at this fall’s field show, Echoes of Camelot.
We are trying out a new ASB fundraiser this week, a first semester NO HASSLE Parking Pass that allows the winning student to park in the front staff lot, will be raffled by the Band. Tickets are $5 and will be sold during school registration. Individual students can earn ISSA money by selling or buying raffle tickets during the first two weeks of school. Details will be in the packet distributed at Family Night. (This opportunity is not limited to Band students.)
Our next Booster General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, Septmeber 16 at 7:30 in the Band Room. All members are encouraged to attend. Mr. Martone will update us on the program and the 2003-04 proposed budget will be discussed and voted upon.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. I am easily reached by e-mail at TOHSBANDPREZ@aol.com (don’t laugh) or call me if that works better for you @ 498-3638.
Mark Your Calendar Now for the
TOHS Field Tournament
The annual Thousand Oaks High School WBA Field Tournament will be held in the stadium on Saturday, October 11. This is a huge project and takes all our efforts to make it a welcoming and profitable experience. This has the potential to be one of our largest money-makers of the season. So be ready when the various committee chairs call. Don’t forget grandma and grandpa, too, they are some of our best “boosters.”
Band Financial Terms YOU Need to Know
Band has a lingo all its own and as new parents it can often get confusing when the terms are flying around at meetings. Here are a few things we talk about a lot.
Individual Student Savings Account (ISSA) - These are monies held by the Band Boosters that have been credited to your student for participation in various fundraising events. Money raised from e-scrip and scrip purchases are also credited to this account. You may use money in this account to pay for any Band related expenses that your student incurs including the purchase of band clothing. There are special forms available in the Band Room that are used to make requests for withdrawal from this account. Questions regarding these accounts should be directed to Scott Fouse, 493-0951.
ASB— Associated Student Body— These are fundraisers that are sponsored by Mr. Martone and the school that raise money to pay for such things as registration fees for tournaments and music. This includes the car washes and candy sales. These monies are held by the ASB Office of the school. Questions should be directed to Mrs. Martone in the Band Office.
Member Statements—These are financial statements that are sent to let you know the status of monies owed and paid to the Band. Questions regarding these statements should be directed to Mike Sandler, 498-7519.
Please make sure that you keep a record of all your payments you make to the Band Office in case a discrepancy should arise.
Restaurant Nights
Begin in September
We will continue to have restaurant nights with several of the area’s most popular eateries. Mark your calendar now and plan to take a night off from cooking and support the Band at the same time.
Wednesday, September 10
Subway
Tuesday, September 16
3 Amigos
(next to Rite Aid Drugstore on Arboles)
These restaurants will generously donate a portion of the proceeds from our orders to our program. So don’t forget to mention TOHS Band when you order.
Uniform Update
All students attending the first week of Band Camp have been fitted for their marching uniform. You will pick up the uniform at Family Night. It is your responsibility to make sure that the pants legs and sleeves are hemmed according to the directions on the flyer sent home with the uniform. The uniforms should not be cut under any circumstances. The uniforms must be hemmed and ready to go by Picture Day which is Wednesday, September 17. The students will also be wearing the uniform for their first performance on Friday, September 19 at the home football game. If you are unable to hem the uniform yourself, several of the area cleaners will be able to do it for you. Masking tape and iron-on hem tape are not an option! Call Dorothy Hatfield, 529-5819, or Diane Folsom, 492-2240 with questions.
Band Roster
We publish a roster of all students enrolled in the program, (this is for our personal use only and is not to be given to anyone else). If any of your information has changed since you filled out your paperwork in the spring, please contact the Band Office immediately so that we can have the most accurate listing possible. If once you receive the roster you find an error please notify the office as well. Keep that e-mail address updated.
Keeping in Touch
Band Roster
The Band roster will be distributed on Family Night. If you have moved over the summer, had a phone number changed or added, changed e-mail please notify Lori Crosse, 494-9828, or the Band Office, 379-0437. We want to put out the most accurate directory possible. Additionally, Betsy likes to e-mail info to families as things arise during the year and this has been a very effective means of communication.
Contacting the Band Office
The Band Office phone number is 379-0437. Messages may be left here for Shari Smith or the Boosters. The e-mail address to the Band Office is tohsband@conejo.k12.ca.us. Office messages relating to any Booster related issues should be directed to Shari Smith.
To contact Mr. Martone call the TOHS main switchboard, 495-7491 ask for extension 2006, Mrs. Martone may be reached for color guard related issues at extension 6002.
The Band Hotline has all the latest info on Band activities, the number is
805-435-4331. This is especially helpful when we travel during marching season, we keep it constantly update with competition results and arrival times.
Rummage Sale Update
Keep cleanin’ out those closets. The rummage sale will be held on September 6 (same day as the freshman class car wash) . Marilyn Cole will be organizing this event, call her if you are willing to help with set-up and clean-up, 493-8351. Every family is responsible for their own table. The Band provides publicity and pick up of unsold items.
WAYS AND MEANS HAS SOME GREAT PLANS
The Ways and Means Chairs, Sandee Tischler and Polly Toohey, have been hard at work all summer planning fun fundraising events to boost those individual student savings accounts. Check out the packet you will receive at Family Night to see how fun and painless fundraising can be. The packet will contain Great Kards and Pasta Dinner tickets. Great Kards sell for $10 and when presented at area eateries entitle you to discounts. The Pasta Dinner which will be held on the evening of Saturday, September 20, is an annual event featuring students as servers and musicians. Save that date, it is one of the most enjoyable nights of the year.
The Fun Company (a business which puts on picnics for organizations) has offered to pay us for providing people to man a picnic on Sunday, October 5 at the Conejo Creek Park. We did this last year to earn money for the Indy trip. This year, when you and your family members volunteer, your ISSA will be credited with half of the earnings. We will need adults and students to work during various shifts throughout the day. See the sign up sheet a Family Night for more details.
If you have any questions regarding any of the information you receive on fundraising or if you can help with any of the events, please call Sandee, 497-6502, or Polly, 523-2569. They’ll be glad to talk with you.
Reminder... the payments for the CVUSD are past due. If you have a financial hardship, please see the athletic office (in the main TOHS office) for a possible waiver of these fees.
Pennies for Piccolos Competition is Underway
The annual Pennies for Piccolos, ASB fundraiser is going strong. Sections have already been out canvassing area neighborhoods asking for small change that people might have around the house that will go toward equipment purchases and tournament entry fees. Sections should be organizing times when they can go out and solicit. Funds collected should be turned in to the Band Office. It should be in a ziploc bag and have the form below placed inside the bag. Prizes will be awarded in several categories on Family Night including one for the student who brings in the largest donation. This always proves to be a spirited competition and the Color Guard are looking to repeat their performance as the top section again this year. Everyone better get out and give them a run for their money.
Band Photographs
Every year band students have the opportunity to purchase quality photos of themselves and the entire band. This year photos will be taken on Wednesday, September 17 during after school marching rehearsal. Students will be individually photographed in their uniform (if desired) and they will all be in the group photo. Students can also get “buddy” shots with friends. Order forms will come home soon after school begins so make sure you ask your student about it. If you have not paid the $73 district uniform usage fee by this date your student will not be photographed with the group. We will not issue their uniform even for the photo unless the District Fee is paid.
Thank You...to Dorothy Hatfield, Diane Folsom and Jim Pavell. These committee chairs have been working tirelessly all summer getting much of the behind the scenes work done for the field show. Dorothy and her crew have been sewing color guard costumes at Los Cerritos Middle School and the girls are thrilled with the outcome. And we won’t be able to recognize the uniform room, Diane and Dorothy have done a very thorough “spring cleaning.” Jim has been busily planning the construction of castles and forests. The show will be beautiful. Thanks for you commitment to all of us!
WISH LIST ITEMS WILL HELP ROUND OUT THE PROGRAM
Mr. Martone and the staff have compiled a Wish List of items we could use to make our program better and more complete. Often people ask what our specific needs are and how they could help or donate to the program or toward these needs. This is a fantastic way to impact the program long-term. If you are interested in making a donation of one of the items on the list please contact Mr. Martone. He’ll be more than happy to give you all the details!
Percussion
5 Mallet Kats (electronic Mallet Instruments) $3000 each
1 Fall Creek Set of Concert Bells $2500
1 Set of Concert Toms $1500
Field
1 Extra Large Podium $1500 (We needed two podiums and we received a donation this summer for 3/4 the cost of one of these.)
5 Cases of White Field Paint
1 New Stable Tower for Instruction
Color Guard
1 Portable Rechargeable PA System with Built in Microphone and CD Player
1 Permanent Sound System in GAR
1 Wagon
Instrument Repair
Donations can be made directly to Nick Rail Music for Thousand Oaks High School
$10,000 Needed for Current Total Repairs
Instruments
2 Concert Tubas $4500 each
2 Concert Piccolos $600 each
3 Bb Contra Bass Clarinet $4500
Garage
Hand Tools
Power Tools
Air Compressor
Power Paint Sprayer
Office
Paper Supply
Pencils
Notebooks
General Office Supplies
Postage
Sound System
2 Power Monitors
1 50/100 Ft. Microphone Snake
Funding
Unlimited Scholarship Money
Dollars for awarding scholarships to students in need
Corporate Funding for budgetary needs
Vehicles
18' Box Truck
Instrument Semi 24' Prop Truck
Uniform Vehicle
Band Room
Secure Instrument Storage Lockers $20000
Security System
Uniform Storage System/Uniform Cases
Shako Cases
DVD/VHS Player
More Room/ New Room
TO ALL OUR BAND ALUMNI…
Due to the increase in enrollment in our program (over 150 strong this year!) we will need to trim our mailing list. If you are still interested in receiving The Bugle on a monthly basis please return this page to the Band Office, at 2323 Moorpark Rd., with your check for $10 (to cover our costs) made payable to the TOHS Band Boosters. Please indicate any changes. Thank you for your continued support of our program.
Name______________________________________
Phone ___________________
E-mail address __________________________________________
Please update your address if needed _______________________________________
The information contained in The Bugle also appears on our website every month, check it out at tohsband.org.