General Meeting Agenda – May 2023

May 5, 2023
Parents

Penny Parker called the meeting to order at 6:30pm, introductions of all the attendees were made
Approval of Minutes from last meeting: Approved: 1st Julie McClary 2nd Lora Littrell Approved
Financial Reports
1. Treasurer Update: Abe states that we are in very good shape financially. Concession money will be coming in; student accounts have the beef raffle money added to them. Raffles went very well. May do the beef raffle again next year. May just purchase 2 quarters, but may not have 100% go to the kids’ accounts.
2. We paid over $7000 dollars to marching instructors; donated funds for long distance marching trip meal; the funds we raise through NSBA allow us to help with these things.
3. Savings accounts: primarily down due to moving into students accounts; Scrip is changing to Raised Right.
4. Checks we wrote over last 2 months: related to fundraisers, concessions, and a nice check from Trius.
5. This time of year, student payments are for honor programs and trips e.g., Greeley.
6. Abe is working on a budget for next year. May consider providing a meal for the Omaha Marching Trip
Committee Reports
1. Uniforms/Roadies: per Kimberly, a few drawstring bags are missing; In June, uniforms will be organized and getting ready for Marching Band season; New plume bags are complete or almost complete; they hold 118 plumes. Will need volunteers during band camp.
2. Band Banquet: Sat. May 6 at noon; can always use more volunteers; Theme is Ra, based on Marching Band Show
3. Big Band Dance: Sat May 6 from 7-10pm: per Lora, sign up genius looks really good; she thanked everyone for signing up to help; need a couple more people to help with raffle table and concessions; Invite friends!
Volunteers Needed:
1. Band Banquet-need volunteers 5/6/23 12-2pm See above
2. Big Band Dance-need volunteers 5/6/23 7-10pm See above
3. Managing Sponsorships: still looking for a volunteer; the process will be streamlined and easier to manage than in the past.
4. Volunteers for next year: watch for emails and sign up genius for the various positions needed
Fundraising
1. Senior Graduation Seats: offered raffle tickets for 8 preferred seating at graduation; we are at $500+ right now; will offer raffle tickets at Big Band Dance as well; keep sharing with the public; it’s another good fundraiser for the band.
2. Beef Raffle: Great fundraiser! Raised about $4000 in March and $4000 in April. Shamrock Farms donated the beef and processing. Rib Eye roll x2 was also donated. The winners have stated that the beef is great! Will see if it can be done again next year.
Old Business
1. Trip Update: 89 Participants this far; spoke with people at UNK and travel agent-We are partnering with UNK and they will kick in $3000 dollars. It will change the trip. No longer going to Berlin, but will get to go to Vienna. Working on updated itinerary. Cost should stay the same or go down a little bit. Payments started in April. Check the website for updates and to register/make payments.
New Business
1. Election of new Executive Committee Members:

President-Elect: Jasmin Rivas
Secretary- Elect Susanne Fries

Treasurer-Elect: Jennifer Yendra

Motion: Andrea RIpp

2nd: Alisa Bennett

Motion carried for new slate of officers

Directors Comments
1. Mr. Mitchell: Thanked everyone for supporting the kids and the program. It’s a busy week but a fun week. Concert, Band Banquet, Big Band Dance, and Musicalia. Musicalia is a great way to end the year…a celebration of the whole year. Two weekends ago, there was District Music Contest. Freshman and sophomores primarily. Two excellent ratings and 9 superior ratings. The Jazz Bands were in Greeley during this weekend. Looking ahead to next year: All State music was given out today. It’s optional, but definitely a way for a student to learn and grow. Marching Band theme for next year is “The Arena, “ based on a quote by Theodore Roosevelt.
2. Mr. LeFeber: The Greeley trip was really fun. Stopped at Ogallala and played for elementary students. Also played at a retirement home in Sterling, CO. The Jazz Ensemble got a superior rating. Sam Kreis: superior rating, Henry Stelling, superior rating, Ethan Sundberg: honorable mention. Also got to go to Rocky Mountain National Park. There were also some band students who played in the pit orchestra for the musical. Lots of fun things are coming up. Band Concert 5/4, Percussion concert 5/5, Band Banquet, Big Band Dance, and Musicalia. Thinking about summer, there is the Kearney Municipal Band that will be playing in the newly renovated Harmon Park Sonotorium. There will be a concert there on June 2 . Mr. Mitchell and Mr. LeFeber will be playing in a group. Band camp dates have been sent out.
Meeting Adjourned: 1st: Steven Thiele 2nd: Julie Bydalek

Upcoming dates:

5/06: Band Banquet/Big Band Dance

Julie Fuqua

Hello Beautiful Bridal & Formal Wear

KW Elite Keller Williams

Yanda’s Music

Stonebridge Insurance & Wealth Management

Trius Federal Credit Union

Kearney Massage & Day Spa

Kearney Bearcat Boosters

Town & Country Bank

Baer Studios

Stelling Brass & Winds

When I hear people asking how do we fix the education system, I tell them we need to do the opposite of what is happening, cutting budgets by cutting music programs… Nothing could be stupider than removing the ability for the left and right brains to function. Ask a CEO what they are looking for in an employee and they say they need people who understand teamwork, people who are disciplined, people who understand the big picture. You know what they need? They need musicians.

Mike Huckabee

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.

Albert Einstein

It is in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough – it’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the results that make our hearts sing.

Steve Jobs

In my own philanthropy and business endeavors, I have seen the critical role that the arts play in stimulating creativity and in developing vital communities… the arts have a crucial impact on our economy and are an important catalyst for learning, discovery, and achievement in our country.

Paul G. Allen

The life of the arts, far from being an interruption, a distraction, in the life of the nation, is close to the center of a nation’s purpose – and is a test to the quality of a nation’s civilization.

President John F. Kennedy

In every successful business…there is one budget line that never gets cut. It’s called ‘Product Development’ – and it’s the key to any company’s future growth. Music education is critical to the product development of this nation’s most important resource – our children.

John Sykes

During the Gulf War, the few opportunities I had for relaxation I always listened to music, and it brought me great peace of mind. I have shared my love of music with people throughout this world, while listening to the drums and special instruments of the Far East, Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Far North, and all of this started with the music appreciation course that I was taught in a third-grade elementary class in Princeton, New Jersey. What a tragedy it would be if we lived in a world where music was not taught to children.

General H. Norman Schwarzkopf

Music is exciting. It is thrilling to be sitting in a group of musicians playing the same piece of music. You are part of a great, powerful, vibrant entity. And nothing beats the feeling you get when you’ve practiced a difficult section over and over and finally get it right. Music is important. It says things your heart can’t say any other way, and in a language everyone speaks. Music crosses borders, turns smiles into frowns, and vice versa. These observations are shared with a hope: that, when schools cut back on music classes, they really think about what they’re doing – and don’t take music for granted.

Dan Rather

The things I learned from my experience in music in school are discipline, perseverance, dependability, composure, courage and pride in results… Not a bad preparation for the workforce!

Gregory Anrig

Music is an essential part of everything we do. Like puppetry, music has an abstract quality which speaks to a worldwide audience in a wonderful way that nourishes the soul.

Jim Henson

Should we not be putting all our emphasis on reading, writing and math? The ‘back-to-basics curricula,’ while it has merit, ignores the most urgent void in our present system – absence of self-discipline. The arts, inspiring – indeed requiring – self-discipline, may be more ‘basic’ to our nation’s survival than traditional credit courses. Presently, we are spending 29 times more on science than on the arts, and the result so far is worldwide intellectual embarrassment.

Paul Harvey

It [music education] is terribly important, extremely important — because when you are a child, you are in a receptive age… In high schools, public schools — that’s where they must have the best influence, the first influence, which will go through their whole life.

Eugene Ormandy

It is our job, as parents, educators, and friends, to see that our young people have the opportunity to attain the thorough education that will prepare them for the future. Much of that education takes place in the classroom. We must encourage our youngsters in such pursuits as music education. In addition to learning the valuable lesson that it takes hard work to achieve success, no matter what the arena, music education can provide students with a strong sense of determination, improved communication skills, and a host of other qualities essential for successful living.

Edward H. Rensi

A grounding in the arts will help our children to see; to bring a uniquely human perspective to science and technology. In short, it will help them as they grow smarter to also grow wiser.

Robert E. Allen

Some people think music education is a privilege, but I think it’s essential to being human.

Jewel

Arts Education aids students in skills needed in the workplace: flexibility, the ability to solve problems and communicate; the ability to learn new skills, to be creative and innovative, and to strive for excellence.

Joseph M. Calahan

Julie Fuqua

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