There was a meeting of the Iroquois West music boosters on Thursday, October 8 at 7:00 pm in the high school music room.  Members present were:  Sarah Honn, Valerie Mansfield, Linda Avery, Cindy Guttendorf, Judy Galloway, Lynne Olson, Katie Di Carlo, Rebecca Johnson, Kyle Severson, Renee Sier, Ray Guttendorf, Sr, and Chris MacDonald.

 

Old Business

Minutes from the last meeting Sept. 3 were read and approved.

Treasurer’s report- current balance $1,060.44 including bill for uniform dry cleaning (-$208)  and money for Baker’s Square pie coupons received (+$44).  Not included in current balance was profit from root beer float/bake sale on Super Saturday.  It was estimated about $230 was received.  It was reported that $305 was received in booster donations from the announcement that was sent home with the students at the beginning of the school year.  There was discussion about the patron of the arts donation form that was circulated in the Gilman Star recently.  The funds raised from the patron of the arts donations go solely to the musical and fall play.  This is separate from the music booster fund.  Mr. Severson will talk to Mr. Van Meter about this.

 

Sno-ball- at the last meeting a committee of Renee Sier, Cindy Guttendorf and Pastor Steve Hartman were asked to look into the qualifications process for choosing Sno-ball King and Queen.  Cindy reported after talking with Linda Miller that there are no formal written rules based on previous years, except that students on the Homecoming or Prom court were ineligible to run for Sno-ball court.

It was moved that the music boosters devise a list of qualifications for Sno-ball King and Queen. The following qualifications were approved by the members. 

Candidates for Sno-ball court must:

• Be currently enrolled in the music program
• Be a senior
• Not be a member of the Homecoming or Prom court

 

Eligible students will be ranked by seniority according to the number of years they have been in band and/or chorus.

If only one student is eligible for king or queen, he or she will automatically get the title.

If multiple students with equal seniority rank are eligible, a vote will be taken by the members of the band and chorus.  Students who are in both band and chorus will receive only 1 vote each.

Examples:  a 4 year senior boy with no other eligible boys would automatically be king, but if no 4 year seniors exist that year, seniors with 3 years of experience would be candidates.   If there are 2 or more eligible seniors who have an equal number of years of experience, a vote would be taken and the candidates with the most votes would be crowned king and queen.

A candidate may decline consideration for king or queen.

Transfer students  with years of music experience from their previous schools will be considered as candidates if they are eligible according to the previous guidelines.  Transfer music semesters will count.

The date for Sno-ball this year is Sat. Feb. 13, 2010. 

 

Report on Gilman Super Saturday Sept. 12, 2009- Sales were lower than expected.  Suggestions for improvement next year are to have more signs/advertising, have a street café with refreshments and musical acts, or to sell pop.  It was suggested that pop could be sold from a push cart or by walking vendors as it is done in the county fair grandstand. 

 

New Business

Middle school t-shirt designs for contest- 9 designs were submitted by students.  Boosters were given the job of narrowing down the choices to 3.  Middle school students will vote from the 3 chosen.  The final design will be taken to Denny’s to be pre-ordered.  It was also suggested that we could have band parent shirts.

 

Recorders for Upper Elem. School- the booster club will pay part or final cost of recorders for the upper elementary school, after Kyle Severson gets the prices. Used recorders will be accepted also.

 

Music Camp Scholarships- suggestion to have boosters support a scholarship for a student wanting to go to band, chorus, or theater camp.  Cost in the past years for camp at Eastern Illinois University was  $400 for one week.  It was suggested a set dollar amount be given which the receiving student could apply toward a camp of his or her choice.  The music boosters would keep a separate money account for scholarships.  Kyle  and Rebecca will ask the administration and/or school board about putting out donation buckets at the concerts to raise money for these scholarships.  Renee  reported that the Modern Woodsman Insurance company offers matching funds for such fundraising.  She will look into this possibility. 

 

Fundraisers- Proposed  fundraisers for this year are: fruit and cheese/sausage sales, cheesecake sales for middle school, candy bars, and Krispie Kreme donuts.  It was suggested by a school board member that personalized rubber stamps could be sold.  Ex: property of ___________

Judy will look into selling nuts for holiday baking.

 

Director’s reports- Rebecca  reported that  the Synergy Brass Quartet will be performing for a middle school assembly on the morning of Oct. 28^th.  Students from the upper elementary building will be bussed to the middle school for the concert.  The quartet will be giving a clinic for the high school students in the afternoon.  The cost of the concert has already been covered, but it was suggested by Rebecca that a part of the cost of housing for the 6 quartet members be paid for by the boosters.   It was voted and approved that $200 be given by the boosters for housing.

Kyle reported that 13 middle school students and 7 high school students from band and chorus will be auditioning for IMEA festival band and chorus on Oct. 13^th.  The high school chorus has been approved for a lock-in on Friday Nov. 13 overnight into Sat. Nov. 14^th.  A sign-up sheet was passed around for music boosters to help with chaperoning and food for a potluck dinner Friday night.  Please see Kyle if you can help.  Kyle is in the process of picking a musical for the high school students.  Middle school students may also be eligible.

 

Spring High School Music Trip- May 14^th and 15^th to King’s Island in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Trip will include attending a theater performance of “Ain’t Misbehavin’ “. 

 

 

Music events for 2009-2010 school year-

• Tues. Oct. 20- high school/middle school fall concert at the middle school 7:00 pm
• Dec. 7- upper elementary  Christmas concert
• Dec. 13 – high school/middle school Christmas concert 2:30
• March 6- high school solo/ensemble contest
• March 12^th and 13^th spring musical
• April 17- high school organizational contest
• April 22- middle school/upper elementary concert
• May  11- high school spring concert and awards
• May 14-15 King’s Island trip

 

The date for the middle school solo/ensemble contest is yet to be determined, depending on whether or not we get approval from the administration to attend the contest sponsored by Dwight.  If approved, it will be March 27^th.  In the past, the middle school has had a contest for the students of its own building, hiring outside judges.  The contest at Dwight would require an entry fee per solo or ensemble group and other costs.  Other possibilities would be to join another local school’s solo/ensemble contest, such as Watseka or Cissna Park.

 

Next music boosters meeting will be Thurs. Nov. 5, 2009 in the high school music room.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Chris MacDonald, secretary