DAN KENWORTHY MB SCHOLARSHIP – Each year an outstanding MB (includes color guard) senior is awarded a $500 scholarship in the name of Dan Kenworthy, a band dad we lost too early almost 15 years ago. Any MB student may write a letter nominating a MB senior for the award. Letters need to be signed, put in a sealed envelope, and placed in the manilla envelope in the band room by the end of the day of state finals on 11/2. There is no minimum length, use specific examples of how your candidate meets the criteria. Please CLICK HERE for the criteria and process.
MACYS PAYMENTS/TRIP — CLICK HERE for a guide on how to make payments directly in Charms so they will post faster and without requiring human intervention, the treasurer thanks you!
- Student Trip fee reduction due to fundraising – The trip fee was estimated a year ago (at $950) in order to set up accounts that parents could start making payments to. This estimate was not accurate. The true trip cost including Paypal fees is $1030. Fundraising by the Upbeat club is reducing each trip by $80. The Upbeat club is also covering additional travel costs like uniform and instrument shipping. In total, the Upbeat club will be paying ~$30,500 or more toward the Macy’s trip. The club’s funds are at a low point due to the uniform and instrument purchases last year. CLICK HERE to see the nearly $187,000 in major/capital items purchased and donated to the school/district last year in support of the band program. (More than was spent in the Rose Bowl year.) We have 2 major trips within 15 months. The UNOs fundraiser, and continued new events, are very important to support efforts to defray costs for band families.
- ALL Macy’s trip payments are due 10/31 (student/chaperone/follower/bus). Full payment must be received and verified by 11/15 at the latest. Please check your account in Charms and pay any remaining balance(s).
- The followers bus cost is $130 per person. There are still seats available on the followers buses. Please email Sue Tanner at president@lakotawestbands.org if you are interested in the bus. You don’t have to purchase the followers package to ride the bus. Buses leave Lakota West 6am 11/25 and departs NY from the Westin at 7pm on 11/29. The followers bus list continues to be tweaked as passengers are added in order to keep buses balanced. The final list will be reposted in a few weeks.
- UNIFORM PACKING FOR MACY’S — CLICK HERE for instructions on uniform packing for the Macy’s trip. Please read by 10/31
- Student bus/room/chaperone list – Please CLICK HERE for the student trip bus/chaperone list.
- Charms finances will be down for month end from 9pm 10/31 until 8am 11/1. Please plan accordingly.
Due to the large number of travelers and money involved with Macy’s, the Upbeat club will be following Gateway’s cancellation policies concerning any cancelled trips (follower or student). The penalties will be incurred as follows for cancelling after the following dates: 9/19 (75%), 11/3 (100%).
November Scrip orders due noon Tuesday 11/12 – Don’t forget to get your Scrip orders in this month. For a copy of the order form and complete details concerning the SCRIP program CLICK HERE. The deadline for orders this month is November 9, 2013 if you mail your order, and noon November 12th if you drop it off. CLICK HERE for holiday ideas for Scrip cards.
UNOs Dough Raiser 11/10 — UNOs has offered to close their restaurant for a day to do an exclusive fundraiser for the Lakota West Bands. This will run very similar to our Jazz N Cakes breakfast. Band members will pre sell tickets for an all you can eat pizza buffet, tickets came home last week. CLICK HERE for a flyer you can use to advertise this event in your neighborhood or at work. 60% of ticket sales will go to the band. Please CLICK HERE to sign up to work a shift from ~10am-10pm in the restaurant to support the event as: bartenders, hosts, servers, runners, bussers, and entertainers. Ages 15 and older may work. ~75 students and parents are needed. UNOs will support with advertising and other entertainment. Past events with other groups have been very successful. They would like to partner with us for other events to help with our trips.
Vote / Levy Facts – Did you know that the school levy on the ballot this November, if passed, will restore some services previously cut? A benefit to the band is a $100 reduction in the $365 district MB fee and a $150 reduction in the $550 Winter Guard fee. The district will offset the fee reduction by making an equivalent contribution to the activity’s fund (no reduction in budget). CLICK HERE for a short document about the levy.
MB composite photo — Orders from the September photos were due to Crosson Photography by 10/11, however, the Crossons will be happy to continue to take orders if you forgot to mail them in. Please try to do this promptly in the next week if you intend to order.