TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE
UPDATE #3
MARCH 15, 2007
Here goes update #3! Hope this is helping to keep you up to date on all that is happening. There really is not much to report but I still wished to keep you up to date with all that I know.
CONGRATULATIONS BRANDON McCATHERN
This past week-end, Macy's Department Stores held their annual spring charity days. Brandon's mom assisted him in selling the discount coupons and in one 10 hour day at the entrance to the Macy's at Triangle Towne Center, Brandon sold coupons and collected donations for his TOR experience. His total for that one day 10 hour shift was $650.00! Congrats to him on his efforts and for using the resources in the community that we all need to "tap" into!
If you are interested in trying something like this, read on...................
BELK'S COUPONS DAYS ARE COMING!!!!
Each year Hudson Belk's has their annual BELK'S CHARITY DAYS in which local non-profit organizations can earn extra funds for their programs. If you would like to work the BELKS DAYS events on March 30 and March 31, please let me know. Basically, you "man" a table at the entrance to the store and sell their $5.00 discount coupons. You keep the entire $5.00 for each you sell and it goes to your account. Does it get any easier? There are two hour shifts starting each day at 10:00 AM. So if you would like EASY money in your TOR account, just sign and sell! Looking for roughly 2-4 people or more per two hour shift!
Be like Brandon and put 100% profit into your account! I can assist you with signs about the band and even your band uniform if you are presently at BHS! Coupons are available through me if you would like to check any out and sell them to friends and family.
FUND RAISING
Some have asked are we planning to start any new fund raiser for the funding of this trip. My basic reply has been that we will not do so. Fund raising is one thing that we all do not enjoy doing and if we add another fund raiser, then it means we go back to the SAME people every time and eventually we "burn" them out and they wish not to support in any manner. And if you are involved with Boys Scouts, Girls Scouts, church groups, etc., it means you are hitting those people too for fund raising opportunities. SO we plan to NOT add any at this time.
With that said, please feel free to organize anything on your own that you wish to do. Kathy Strednak, mother of 9th grader Scott has volunteered her time to organize a day of car washes around the Raleigh-Cary-Apex area. This type of event has my total support. She has mentioned that what she wishes to organize might benefit just the rising 10th graders. No problems from me. So if you have ideas of how we might be able to use some other type of fund raisers that are not "door to door", I am all ears! 9th grade carwash vs. 12th grade carwash? 10th grade vs. 11th grade? Male vs. female? Let's get moving!
The BELK'S COUPONS listed above would be a perfect example of "other" fund raisers that are not "door to door."
Just recently we assisted Fallon's Florists with delivering their Valentine's flowers all around Raleigh. Parents signed up and we just received checks totally close to $700.00 for delivering of flowers. Another example of "other" fund raising ideas! Fallon's was so pleased they have asked us again to assist them at Mother's Day!
I am all "ears' on ideas! What can you come up with?
MAGNET ACCEPTANCE
WCPSS just released their magnet acceptances for all students wishing to become students at various schools in the county. I know that many who are receiving this update did not get accepted into Broughton. My suggestion to you is to still continue to reapply as the "domino" effect has started since many students now who have been accepted will not accept their invitation. Therefore many other students will get the opportunity. Continue to reapply even though I know it can be very exhausting. But many of our students presently enrolled at BHS and members of the band did finally get in after numerous denials. KEEP WORKING AT IT!
VISIT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE TOURNAMENT OF ROSES
Now that the end of the year schedule and exams have been established, I can confirm that Mr. CL Keedy and his wife Adrienne will be visiting us from May 28-31, 2007. There will be here to officially invite us and to give a presentation on all that is TOR. We hope to show them many things that are "native" to NC like BBQ and plan to have all band member and families attend at least one event with them. So please just mark your calendar and we will be back in touch!
FINAL COSTS
In the next newsletter I will release the final proposed cost of the trip. Nothing has really changed but Mr. Norman, our travel expert, has asked that I hold off as we wait to see if there might be any fuel surcharges. Due to gas hikes, this has happened to many of his groups that are traveling before the Easter holiday. You have noticed that gas has gone up here and there is the possibility of a gas surcharge for our chartered buses and we wish to see if that will happen. Gas costs could rise again over the summer but we would hope not. So please be patient and it will all be outlined in roughly two weeks.
DEPOSITS
Thank you for your meeting of deadlines and having things to us. It makes it so easy on us and we can continue to pay deposits to hotel, bus, tour events etc. When submitting your deposits, please make sure that you label what it is AND MAKE sure your name is on the check. That will make it much easier on all so that hopefully we will not misplace or credit your deposits to a different account.
WHO IS GOING???
I have heard from many of you and seen on many of your required sheets the names of people who I have not received deposits from. Some of these names I do not even know who they are. My policy is that when I receive your deposit, that is when you are "officially" on the list. I do not use "word of mouth" or a name on a submitted form as your desire to go on the trip. So please understand that if you feel I am holding a spot for you, you are incorrect. Your deposit is what puts you on the trip. So please do not come up to me after the deadline has closed. There will not be a spot. I have been "burned" in the past by people telling me that and wish for it not to happen again.
PARADE AND QUEEN MARY TICKETS
As stated in the last update, the deadline for those who have requested those items is May 1, 2007. Checks should be made payable to the Broughton Band Boosters just like the deposits. After that date, I will drop you from the list and you will be responsible for getting your own parade tickets. Dropping you from the QM completely will happen if you do not reserve your ticket through me as it will be a "private" party with only those associated with the band allowed in the main ballroom that night. So please meet the deadlines so I can get these things for you.
And don't forget parking if you need a pass! That deadline is also May 1, 2007.
Check TOR update #2 for all the costs associated with these three events.
AIA WINTER GUARD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Again this year, we have been asked to host the Atlantic Indoor Association winter guard championships. This event will be held on March 30 and April 1, 2007 at both Broughton and Dorton Arena. Anyone looking for community sevice opportunities, here is a great one! Any "new" student coming to Broughton and who has the free time can come earn community service and I will turn it in once you arrive at BHS so that you will get credit during your first year there. Parents: feel free to come work this event and meet more great parents like yourself who make this band operate.
If you wish to work the event and earn community service, please just contact me via email and I can inform of your working shift! We would love to have you with us!
$150.00 CREDIT TOWARDS YOUR TRIP
If you attended the first meeting we had in January, I stated that I had instructed the band boosters to take $30,000 from our reserves and credit each student who marches the parade with a $150.00 credit towards their trip. After much thought, I do not believe I am going to do that. And here is why. I am going to take that money and use it to pay for buses to charter to/from Charlotte for our flights, costs for freight to move equipment, rental of percussion pit equipment while in California, etc. These were costs that you were going to have to pay into the total trip. So why should I charge you for these costs then turn right back around and credit you with a $150.00 credit towards those costs? It is just easier to NOT charge you for these things and just use the money in a "slush" fund to pay for things like this so your trip can stay as cheap as possible. More later on this.
DEPOSIT UPDATE
In June about the time school ends, we will be sending an update to let you know the status of your TOR account. All band accounts will be closed officially and any carryovers from fund-raisers will be transferred to your TOR account. Hopefully this will assist you in knowing where you stand with deposits and what else will need to be done in the final 6 months before departure! It will also assist me in knowing that we have reserved the correct number of parade tickets, QM dinner reservations, and parking permits.
That is really about all that I know at this time. Things continue to move slowly forward and I appreciate all your efforts in keeping it as simple as possible for me. Thanks for sending in deposits and for contacting community people and asking for assistance. I have received terrific response from community people but know we can do more! We just need to ask so get more letters out to your fellow church members, fellow workers, relatives, etc. Everyone is excited about this opportunity and I know it will be great for all!