Tom Blakley called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

REPORTS

Secretary's Report

Minutes from the July meeting were posted on the website for review. No changes or revisions were made. Lisa Drenner made a motion to approve the minutes and Teri Schuh seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Treasurer's Report

It was noted that no payments could be made using an American Express or Discover charge card. If anyone has a check that has not yet cleared from July, contact Mike Kaczmarski.

Mike Kaczmarski read and explained the financial statement. The first $400 of travel expense deposits are allocated to band camp, the next $200 is allocated to BOA in Louisville, KY and the remaining $1450 is allocated to the Holiday Bowl trip. Outstanding balances owed to the Music Boosters have been added onto the school fee form. The boosters are still trying to collect from former band members. Motion to accept the treasurer's report was made by Mary Ellen Pifko and seconded by Mike Albert.

IBA Update

Tom Blakley informed everyone that labels had been made and affixed to this month's newsletter with each student's IBA balance and the amount paid towards the trip. Bill Geary and Mike Kaczmarski are trying to update the accounts as quickly as possible and will continue to update throughout the season. If anyone needs to know their student's IBA account amount, Bill will e-mail that amount to them if requested. Mr. Smith reminded those present that this month's amount due is $300 instead of the usual $250.

Communications Report

Joyce Eriks reported that the boosters have decided to try a mass e-mail to all members who have given an e-mail address. The response was good. Anyone who hasn't given their e-mail yet or has a change can either e-mail Joyce or call her. If a phone call is preferred, just let the phone tree captain or Joyce know. The newsletter went out Friday morning; hopefully it arrived or should arrive shortly.

Ways & Means Report

Tom McKay reported that tickets for the car raffle to benefit the general fund would be available by the end of the month. Sales will be through September and end about October 6. Drawing will be at the Sandburg football game. The grand prize is a 2006 Corvette convertible. Tickets cost $10 and the Boosters are looking for permission to sell them at the brat booth and at football games. Permission to sell at the Fall Fest needs to be obtained from the Fall Fest chairperson. LWC has approved the sale of the tickets at the brat booth.

Since there will be no garage sale to benefit the students' IBA accounts, a cookie dough/Butterbraid fundraiser has been put together with about 50% of the profit going into the student's IBA account. More information will be handed out at a practice later this month. Sales will be through September and the delivery date is October 20. This date couldn't be closer to the holiday season because of the Market Day pie sale.

There will be a Kohl's gift card fundraiser run by Joyce Eriks. Kohl's will donate 5% of the purchase price to the student's IBA account. The nice thing about purchasing this type of card is that it can also be used to pay your Kohl's charge bill. This fundraiser will take place beginning in November and be ongoing.

There's still time to order Market Day. Forms are on the back table and can be turned in at the LWE main office or mailed to Jean Smith by August 28. On-line orders can be placed up until September 1 at noon. Pick-up is Wednesday, September 6 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Tom & Karen McKay have been working to spread out the fundraisers so as not to stack them together.

OLD BUSINESS

Band Camp

Steve Therriault stated that this year's band camp was the smoothest one in his many years of chaperoning because of support of the parents. He thanked the parents for all of their help, support and cooperation.

Uniform Distribution

Barb Albert and Ann Lindley thanked the many volunteers who prepared and fitted the students for uniforms including Ann's mom and dad and Barb's son. They ask that parents wash the collars frequently and take the uniform to the cleaners especially if it rains. Remember to check hems and drumline parents should check the jacket seams. Help will be needed in early January with uniform returns after the students return from San Diego. The students will not receive the uniforms back after the trip.

CURRENT BUSINESS

Fall Fest

Don Stachura asked for more help moving the booth from the pole barn on Thursday evening and for takedown on Monday. Cooks are still needed for a number of shifts. He will be calling parents who signed up on the volunteer list. Linda Therriault will be posting the volunteer list on the website. Any questions, call Don - his number is listed in the newsletter.

SIAM

Dave thanked Eileen Lahey for taking over for them while Dave & Lisa were at band camp. Work begins soon on signing up the students in pairs. It's time for the parents to sign up to drive; sign-up sheets are on the back table. Parents can take no more children than they have seatbelts for. SIAM sales will be Sunday, October 1 and 8. Meet in the fieldhouse at 11 a.m. and leave at noon returning at 5 p.m. Parents are allowed to stop for lunch with the students but reminded to keep it short.

Field Show Shirts/Spirit Wear

Mary Ellen Pifko reported that the response purchasing field show shirts was overwhelming. No additional sales are being taken. More shirts were sold than last year. Spirit wear can be purchased during registration. The variety is better this year because there are two vendors. Decals for cars are also being offered. Location for sales at registration will be better next year. Mary Ellen thanked those volunteers who helped her and Paula Socarras.

Booster Registration

Cindy Heath reported that registration of music boosters continues at school registration. Boosters can receive $1 discount at home athletic events when they present the card. See Cindy if you haven't received your card yet. Market Day forms are also available at registration. Boosters emphasized how easy it was to use the Music Booster Market Day because orders are boxed by the music department students.

Props

Jeff Facer, not Steve Therriault, is the point person for props. Props should be ready to use for the Ice Cream Concert tomorrow. They still need to be moved and assembled. See Steve after the meeting if you can spare a small amount of time to help out tonight. The plan for the year is to put together a team who will be at every competition. They will be responsible for taking props apart/reassembling, loading/unloading. Students will be moving the props onto the field. Props will be stored under the bleachers. If you'd like to be part of the prop team, see Steve after the meeting and he will give your name to Jeff Facer

Field Show

Still needing a liaison for the field show. See Tom Blakley if you're interested. Since LWC is hosting the show this year, our chairperson will just need to coordinate volunteers for registration, concessions, tickets, etc.

STAFF COMMENTS

From Mr. Smith:

Ice Cream Concert for the community, particularly those in the homes surrounding LWE in addition to family are invited. Dr. Gardner will be treating everyone attending to ice cream. The students will be performing part of the field show. Dr. Gardner needs four people to help hand out ice cream before the concert. Anyone who can volunteer can see Mr. Johnson after the meeting.

A question has come up regarding PSAT prep class (for mostly juniors). Mr. Smith spoke with a representative from the company who sponsors the class. They will make a room available on Wednesday evenings at Andrew High School at a time similar to what LWE offers. Sign-up during registration so that class materials will be delivered here. See Mr. Smith if you have any questions. Mark that the student is part of the LWE marching band on the form.

September 16 is the ACT test day. It is also the day of the Lake Park contest. It is preferable that students take the test on the 10/28 offered at LWE but since seniors may need to take the test for early registration that will be fine.

Practice times for the fall are set. Generally practices will be on Tuesdays from 4-7, Wednesdays from 4-6 and from 6-9 on Thursdays. Times are now posted on the department website and the entire season is locked in place. Mr. Johnson commented that freshman and sophomore would typically remain after school for the 4:00 practices. Juniors and seniors can go home. Parking at 4 p.m. should not be a problem and is allowed even if a student doesn't have a parking pass.

September 9 is the field show in Goshen, Indiana. The plan is to leave early and head to Penn High School to rehearse. The show starts about 5 p.m. There are no times set yet.

The band will perform at preliminaries at Lake Park at 3:45 p.m. If all goes well the band will perform at the finals in the evening around 7 p.m. Students will rehearsal in the morning, eat, change and then head to Lake Park for preliminaries. They will then go to an offsite location to rehearse and have dinner.

Plans are to leave on Friday at 4 p.m. for BOA - Louisville. Travel will be on coach busses. There will be a stop for dinner. Check in should be around 11 p.m. The band is scheduled to perform in preliminary competition in the 2:30-4:30 p.m. slot on Saturday. They will stay overnight on Saturday returning on Sunday. No separate parent trip is planned, but if a parent would like to arrange one they should see Tom Blakley. The band will be staying at the Embassy Suites, which is not downtown. Mr. Smith requested that parents choose another hotel when making their travel plans.

Travel agent is finalizing the plans for the San Diego Holiday Bowl trip. Details should be available sometime next month. The band is staying at the Hilton in Mission Valley. There will be a website with itinerary, flight and hotel information available. Steve Therriault is working with the travel agent on planning the fan trip. Families will have a choice between a flight and land package or just a land package. The travel agent has made arrangements for the families to stay at the Embassy Suites by San Diego Harbor, which is centrally located. Coach travel to all events will be provided. No ala carte. More information should be available by either the next newsletter or meeting. Luggage check in will probably be December 22. Marcia Montet said that chaperones are still needed for this trip and there are still a few openings to chaperone the upcoming field shows.

Comments by Mr. Johnson:

Thank you to everyone for making this a successful year so far. Thanks to Steve & Linda Therriault for making band camp run smoothly.

Madrigal camp was last week with Mrs. Lambert. She told Mr. Johnson that the kids have surprised her with all they have accomplished. Mrs. Lambert has a student teacher this year who will be present at many of the music department events. The Madrigals put on a performance Friday to a full house.

The jazz program has taken off. Ben Clark has conducted the summer jazz band. This program is made possible by money from the booster organization. Along with the high school students, junior high students were welcome to attend. Mr. Johnson stated that the jazz band might do some traveling this year. Ron Calhoun will be managing the jazz program this year along with Ben Clark.

The school districts from Manhattan, Hickory Creek and Summit Hill will be offering a fee-based string program either before or after school this year. The districts have been working with Stacy Jackson from LWC to make the orchestra program a success. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend the orchestra concerts.

There is a PE waiver, which allows students to waive out of gym class during the marching season. If a student elects to take a course they may waive out for the entire semester. The students will need a gym teacher's signature. More information will be given to the students soon.

It was noted that a rumor is going around that some parents feel their child does not need to attend all marching band events. Mr. Johnson reemphasized the importance of each child attending and said that attendance is mandatory.

Mr. Prokop asked whether the band members could receive their letters prior to banquet since many like to have them put onto their winter coats. Mr. Johnson did not see that being a problem.

Tom Blakley thanked everyone for attending and motioned for the meeting to adjourn at 8:15 p.m. The motion was accepted by Steve Therriault and seconded by Marcia Montet.

Respectfully submitted,

Joyce Eriks

IMPORTANT DATES

August 15 Ice Cream Concert

August 22 First Day of School

September 1 Home Football Game

September 2-4 Fall Fest

September 3 Fall Fest Parade in Frankfort

September 4 Manhattan Parade

September 5 Executive Bd. Meeting

September 9 Goshen Field Show

September 12 General Meeting