| AFM Newsletter
Copies of the AFM Newsletter mailings just in case you've misplaced yours. June 15, 2006 June 15, 2006
Director’s Report – Jon Grantham
WBA Championships information -
Please note WBA finals are a two-day format next year. Prelims will be held on Saturday, November 18 and finals will be held on Sunday, November 19. Please plan your family vacation plans to begin on Monday the 20th so we can have everyone on the field for finals. Our show Alcatraz will be amazing!
Please check the calendar!
All dates are up for 2006-2007. Please note fall marching dates for practices, football games, competitions, etc.
VIDEO to DVD COPYING?
Mr. Grantham is looking for anyone that would have the capability to copy 2002, 2003 and 2004 WBA Championships Performances from VHS to DVD. If you have this technology it is a quick project. Drop an email at jgrantham@pleasanton.k12.ca.us if you can help.
Many thanks to the families who gave so generously for my gift at the spring awards night. The gift will come in very handy for summer travel home to see family and friends. My mom and dad thank you, too!
Closing thoughts...
I would like to take this opportunity to use my final director's report of the year to share my thanks with everyone for what has amounted to our most successful year yet.
With an exciting fall season (making it into Western Band Association finals for the first time since 1999) and an outstanding second semester (all three concert bands earning unanimous superior ratings at band festival, wind ensemble at CMEA state convention) this has been a year to remember.
It is always amazing to me to hear what our students are capable of by the time the end of school draws near. This leaves me feeling energized and refreshed for the successes that are waiting in the coming year.
Every piece of the puzzle that is our band program must work at its best for success. We have hit that stride as a family this year. The students are working at the highest levels, the staff contributes great knowledge and care for our students and amazing family support allows everything to come together for a magic recipe that is the Amador Band and Colorguard.
Please enjoy some much needed time off this summer. To the seniors-one last thanks for a very special four years. Please come back and enjoy a visit to see the continuation of the tradition you have helped establish. This will always be a home away from home.
To everyone else, see you in August! The Marching Dons are strong and proud at almost 220 members!
All my best,
Mr. Grantham
Opportunity to Reduce Your Marching Band Fees! - Ron Price
Available to families of freshmen in Fall '06 and returning band members. Fundraising at the Concord Pavilion is applied directly to your Student Account which reduces what you owe for Fall fees. The concert season is underway, but the opportunity is here for you to significantly reduce your out of pocket expense for the Fall marching season. Join our group of band parents at the concession stand. Contact Ron Price at 462-4218 or ronald.l.price@usps.gov for more information.
AFM President’s Report – Thom Kato
ANOTHER GREAT YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE
It's finally June. Who could have even imagined what June would be like when the band got together for the first time in the heat of last summer's band camp? It's been an amazing year. What great students! Talent, dedication, hard work, and practice, practice, practice. What great parents and family as well. Here's one more huge THANK YOU to all of you generous parents and family members who have given your time, talent, and spirited support to the Band program. You are all fantastic! One year closes, and another is about to begin. Believe it or not rehearsals for some students begin in July. And that wonderful week of band camp is just around the corner in August. So get ready, Alcatraz (next year's show) is on its way!
2006-2007 AFM BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Next year's AFM Board of Directors were voted in at the May general meeting. Next year's officers are: Thom Kato, President; Dianne Jones, VP Fundraising; Roland Ellingsen, VP Transportation; Paulette Callahan, Treasurer; and Linda Ethier, Secretary. Taking an appointed Board position, Pam Sangicomo will be handling student accounts. It has been a real pleasure working with the Board this past year. I want to welcome our two new Board members and am looking forward to working with new and returning Board members. I also want to thank the Board members who are leaving.
Three long time Amador Band supporters will be leaving the Board after this year. Sheri Baldwin has been handling Student Accounts for 6 years as well as many other duties. She is passing her ledger on to a most capable Pam Sangiacomo. Cindy Gehl, past AFM President, Secretary, and Long Range Planning Committee Chair will be leaving the Board. The work of the Long Range Planning Committee is done, but Cindy has promised to continue to be involved in supporting the Band. Angela Adkins is stepping down as our VP of Fundraising and pursuing, well, more fundraising. Her inspiration to create the Annual Magic of Music Gala has generated about $75,000 by itself in it's first two years! Dianne Jones, an experienced fundraiser herself, is taking the helm and the 3rd Annual Magic of Music promises to be another fantastic event! The band program owes these three individuals a huge debt of gratitude for their selfless work in support of the Band programs. If you happen to see them please let them know how much their contributions are appreciated.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!
Want to get in on the action? Curious to know what a roadie's life is really like? Have talents that scream to be known? We have a job for you! Volunteers are needed for the following:
King of the Road Warriors: You get to organize a bunch of guys to eat peanuts, drive a long way, oh, and yeah, move instruments.
Uniform Coordinator: Pretty self-explanatory. You rip, snip, and sew. Your team will fit uniforms to band students during Band Camp. And a few months later you get everyone to return their uniforms clean and ready to go.
Spring Awards Chairperson: There's a movement afoot to revive the Spring Awards event and transform it into something formal but hot, serious but fun, emotional but ..... I don't know. 200+ students dressed up, having dinner, getting awards, at the end of the school year. And cheap. This one should be easy. There'll be a rush to take on this baby, so hurry.
Registrar: This is a good job for someone who can't devote a lot of time all year long. Put registration materials together and send to Band families. Get a couple of volunteers (okay maybe more) to help during registration. Repeat for second semester programs.
Volunteer Coordinator: Supporting the Band and Color/Winter Guard takes a lot of behind the scenes work. Needs keep popping up all the time. It's like playing whack-a-mole, except you really don't want to whack-a-volunteer. So maybe it's more like playing match-maker. Or personal concierge to Mr. Grantham. Well, whatever I might imagine it might be like, the nuts and bolts of this job are to find willing volunteers to help with whatever comes up. You get to travel to far-away parts of Pleasanton and meet nice people and be continuously amazed at the generosity and talent of parents in this town. A great networking opportunity!
NEXT YEAR’S BUDGET AND FEES
In May the AFM Board finalized a proposed budget for next year and set fees. The budget and fees were presented at the May General Meeting and were approved by AFM membership. I'd like to take a moment and explain both.
The AFM Board, working closely with Mr. Grantham, developed a budget for the entire 2006-2007 school year. We will have an opportunity to revise the budget in January for second semester programs. The Long Range Planning Committee, chaired by Cindy Gehl, prepared a financial plan that establishes three basic components of our budget: Operating Budget (what it takes to run the band including travel expenses, instruction, music and choreography, office expenses, etc.), Investment Funds (used for major purchases, capital equipment, instrument purchases, savings for future major expenses like new uniforms, and other expenses), and a Reserve Fund (for that emergency need).
Income from student fees pay for the vast majority of the Operating Budget expenses. Other sources of Operating Budget income include proceeds from snack bars, scrip, and contributions from the existing General Fund. Our fundraising efforts, primarily the Annual Magic of Music Gala, make up the majority of the income for the Investment Fund. Other sources of Investment Fund income include proceeds from the Campana Jazz Festival, the Winterguard Show, clothing sales, and other donations. Lastly we have saved a portion of our operating expenses in past years to build a Reserve Fund.
The 2006-2007 annual budget projects total income of $285,335, total expenses (including funding investment accounts for future major purchases) of $284,497, resulting in a projected end of year balance of $838. The balance will be incorporated into the general operating fund at the close of next year.
Now for the fees. This year's Marching Band and Color Guard fees are $750 per student, a $40 increase over last year. The fee includes transportation to five competitions, including two overnight trips: one to the Bands of America Regional Competition in southern California and the other to WBA Championships in Fresno. The cost of lodging for both trips is included in the fee. The cost for the Senior Dinner (feeds all band members) is included; but other meals and incidental expenses are not covered. The Board worked very hard to be able to include a trip to BOA Regionals, making one more competition than last year, and an additional overnight trip as well, without substantially raising fees. Last year's fees were a total of $710 ($550 for marching band and color guard fees plus $160 billed later for the cost of the Championships trip).
For the second semester programs we are projecting the following fees: Concert Band $42, Jazz Band $213, Winter Guard $751, and Winter Percussion $768. The Concert Band fee includes one trip for the WE. Jazz Band fees include the cost of transportation to two jazz festivals, neither of which are presently planned as overnight trips. The Winter Guard and Winter Percussion fees are based on local competitions and no overnight or extended trips. A decision to compete at WGI International in Dayton, OH or other major competitions would require revising the fee to take into account the cost of that trip; or making some arrangements to pay for that trip separately. Of course as plans and competition schedules for any of the second semester programs mature, we may need to revise the fees. That will be discussed after Marching Band season.
There are of course many more details to both the budget and the fees. If you would like more details or have any questions, please contact me (at thom.kato@comcast.net) or our Treasurer Paulette Callahan (at pcallaha@ebmud.com).
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!
It has been a great year and I am both saddened and thrilled to see our talented seniors move on to the next phase of their lives. I wish them the best of luck in all their endeavors and hope that they will look back with fondness and gratitude to the years they've given to make some amazing music at Amador Valley High.
Good luck and have a great summer!
To the incoming Freshman, and the new Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, we'll see you in August for "Alcatraz"!!!
Trying to keep a beat,
Thom
Updated: October 20, 2006 |
