Greetings Band Parents and Mac Band Supporters,
I hope you’ll be able to make it to our next Band Parent Meeting which is coming up this Tuesday evening, August 14th from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. We’ll once again be meeting in the Library at Grandhaven Elementary School. Agenda items include Mr. Barton answering all of your Band Camp questions and the announcement of the voting results for MBPO Officers.
If you haven’t yet, please take a minute and click on this link for the Ballot (hosted by Survey Monkey) and cast your vote. The voting link will be available through midnight on Monday, August 13th.
Band Camp Starts on Monday, August 20th
Please remember to encourage your kids to get out their instruments and learn the music for this year’s Bollywood show. All the music for winds players is available on the Students page of the Mac Band website. Also on the website, students can get the March-a-thon Fundraising Pledge Form and get started gathering pledges. This fundraiser is an easy way for kids to raise money to pay for their Band Fee (so you don’t have to.)
Like to spend a day at the Oregon Coast?
Here’s a fun thing you can do: Drive a few Mac Band students to the beach this Friday, August 17th for their Leadership Retreat. We need a couple more parents to help transport students and hang out for the day with these great kids. Please send an email to [email protected] if you want to help out. (Did I mention free pizza?)
Do you love Social Media and want to help spread the word about our amazing kids and the Mac Band? If so, we have just the thing for you. The Mac Band could really use someone to keep our Facebook pageup-to-date. Please send an email to [email protected] or find me at Tuesday’s meeting if this is something you might be interested in. Thanks!
See you at the meeting on Tuesday,
Brian Bailey
McMinnville Band Parent Organization
But Wait, There’s More!
You no doubt know that I’m a proud Mac Band supporter, but here’s another parent’s perspective about why you should think about getting involved.
Dear Marching Band Parents,
I would like to welcome you all to this year’s Marching season. As a band parent like you I wanted to encourage all of you to get involved. I have found Marching Band to be one of the most rewarding volunteer activities I have gotten involved in. It has become an activity our family can be involved in together. Having said that, I want to be clear I have no musical background but I have found that I can truly help out as each of you will find out. No experience needed! There are always ways to help out. No effort is too small. I have found even just having an extra pair of clean or new black socks in my bag to lend out, a bobby pin, or safety pin, my small sewing kit, tape can make a huge difference in how well the show goes.
Others have helped by being the “muscle” to move the props/equipment onto the field or get the music stands up in the bleachers during games, or making sure that there is water for the students. Parent involvement is also needed in fundraising, chaperoning events, cooking for 100+ hungry marchers, setting up tents, cleaning up, being an ear to talk/cry to, someone to laugh and celebrate with…basically supporting these amazing kids. There are so many ways to help I could go on and on and I probably will as the season continues because the band needs you. All of you.
This is a call to ACTION! Please get involved! You might actually get hooked on Marching Band like our family. We have met and made so many amazing friends. Thank you to all of the families we have already met and can’t wait to meet those of you coming in.
Janet Gahr
parent of Rain Bailey/ Senior- Clarinet