newsletter
july 15, 2023

Weekly Newsletter - July 15, 2023

It's official!  The band season starts this week with band camp.  I hope you all are able to make the most of the last few full days of summer - and stay cool as well...  

First, a huge thank you to all that came out to help clean-up our marching practice field today.  It's important the students have a clean field to practice on, and we couldn't have done it without everyone's help.

What's in this newsletter?

Because we have a lot to cover, here's a summary of what I've got in this weeks newsletter.

• Important band camp reminders - EVERYONE PLEASE READ

• Many upcoming volunteer opportunities - there are still plenty of signups available for uniform fitting, flea market, march-a-thon, and the car wash fundraiser.  If you can help out, please click on the links below.

• Corporate Sponsorships - we are getting some traction on these, but could use many more.  Remember, the more corporate sponsorship help we get, the lower we can make our band fees for the year!

• Open board/committee positions - still have some outstanding board/committee chair positions to fill this year.  If you are interested, please get a hold of me and we can have a discussion.  More below...

• Background Checks - the APS background check for an unsupervised clearance is not a quick process, so if you plan to chaperone at all (or even if not - can't hurt to have it), please get your information to Robby as quickly as possible so we can start this process.  More details below.

Now on to the details...

Important Band Camp Reminders

Band camp starts this week, so we have a few things to cover/remind you about before we get started.

• The schedule is in the calendar and on the website (see the Band Camp page)

• SECTION LEADERS/OFFICERS - don't forget about the leadership training session on Monday from 8AM - 3PM at EHS

• It is going to be very hot this week - especially for the first few days, so make sure you take the necessary precautions.  Wear loose fitting clothes, wear lots of sunscreen, bring lots of water (not a small 16oz. bottle...  bring the biggest bottle you have!  64oz would be better.)

• If you still need an instrument - reach out to Mr. Sayre with what instrument you will be needing and he'll have it ready for you.

• If you have a portable awning or shade structure, please bring it this week.  It will be extremely helpful to have extra shade up on the practice field in this heat.

• Band Family Picnic - Don't forget about our band family picnic!  We'll be meeting at El Oso Grande park from 6PM - 8PM.  Bring food for your family, and come meet other band families, talk with the boosters and directors, sign-up for volunteer opportunities, and enjoy your band community.

• Uniform fittings will be during lunch hour the second week of band camp (7/24-7/28).  Seniors on 24th, Juniors on 25th, Sophomores on 26th, Freshmen/Makeup fittings on 27th/28th.  Shoe sizing will be the 27th for freshmen and anyone needing new shoes.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

We have a number of volunteer opportunities early in the season.  They are for our annual Flea Market/March-A-Thon, uniform fitting, and our car wash fundraiser.  You can always find signup opportunities on our Volunteering page.

Uniform Fitting - During band camp, the students will be fitted for their marching uniforms.  This will happen during lunch on the week of July 24-28.  Ideally, we need some volunteers with unsupervised clearances, but we also have jobs for those without that clearance.  This is just for an hour, and there are slots for each day of the week, so its a great way to get involved and get to know other parents and some of the kids as well.

Signup Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d48adaa2da1fb6-uniform#/

Flea Market/March-A-Thon - this is an annual event that brings in good money for the program, but it takes a small army to pull it off.  It is on Saturday, Aug 26th, and we will be hosting a flea market in our north parking lot, and need parent volunteers to man sections of the sale, provide tables/tents, offer their truck for pickup services early that morning, and cleanup at the end.  During this event, the kids will be marching through the neighborhood playing pep tunes for the community and accepting donations (the march-a-thon).  This event will also need some parents to walk alongside, taking donations, and helping guide the band.  Additionally, be sure to save your gently used items to donate as well.  Dropoff for items will be that Saturday morning starting at 6AM.  See the Flea Market and March-A-Thon pages for details.

Flea Market Signup Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d48adaa2da1fb6-flea1#/

March-A-Thon Signup Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d48adaa2da1fb6-marchathon1#/

Car Wash - this is a fundraiser we do every year at a nearby business.  We need volunteers to help keep the car wash line moving, cooking hot dogs, taking donations, etc.  There are additional opportunities to provide equipment, like power washers.  This event will be on Aug 19th.

Signup Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d48adaa2da1fb6-carwash1#/

Sponsorships

Our corporate sponsorship program was very successful last year, and ultimately helped lower band fees for everyone.  We are initiating this process earlier this year in hopes of building on that success, and lowering band fees even more for this year. (the more sponsorships we get over the summer, the lower your band fees will be for the year...)

The link below provides a sponsorship letter that you can print/send to local businesses you have a relationship with - doctors, dentists, orthodontists, family businesses, realtors, etc. are all great opportunities.  The letter outlines the details for them and provides a way to get a hold of me with any questions.

In addition, this year, we are going to incentivize the students to participate with a little friendly competition.  The section that brings in the most corporate sponsorship dollars will win a prize.  And don't worry smaller sections, we will determine the winners based on $ / student, so you have just as much of a chance of winning as the largest section.  Just make sure you let the sponsor know to provide your name to us so we can apply the funds to the right section.

You can start today!  And we will be taking sponsorships up through August so you have all summer to work on this.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

Corporate Sponsorships: https://www.eldorado.band/fundraising/sponsorships

Open Board/Committee Positions

We've made some small headway on filling our open leadership positions, but there are still many to fill.  I've outlined a brief description of each position in the link below, but if you have any desire to help your boosters make this program the best it can be, please get a hold of me and let me know.  We will find a place that fits you and your schedule.  Don't let apprehension over schedule, knowledge of the process, or newness to the program be a hindrance to you finding a place in this program.  I assure you that you will find it to be fun and rewarding.  

One immediate need is for building up our Hydration team.  Last year this was done with only 2 individuals, but our hydration needs are growing and changing this year and we will need more volunteers for this team to help shoulder the load of hauling water to games/competitions and also washing our water bottles after games/events/competitions.  Please get a hold of me if this is somewhere you think you may be able to help out.

Open Booster Leadership Positions: https://www.eldorado.band/boosters/open-positions

Background Checks

There is a new process for unsupervised background checks starting this past May.  If you are planning on chaperoning at all this next year, and do not have an active unsupervised clearance, we need to get you into the system as soon as possible.  If needed, the boosters can reimburse the costs of these background checks, so please don't let the cost be a limiting factor in getting an unsupervised clearance.  There are MANY chaperoning opportunities throughout the year, and having a number of people with unsupervised clearances helps us run the program more efficiently.  If in doubt - go through the unsupervised process so you can volunteer for anything throughout the year - and don't forget to ask for reimbursement, if needed!

For the details, go to the link below.  The initiation form, costs, and APS process are all detailed there.  For any questions, contact our VP Robby Claspell at vicepresident@eldorado.band.

How To Volunteer page: https://www.eldorado.band/studentsparents/volunteering/how-to-volunteer

Stay cool out there!

Go Eagles!

JD