General Meeting Minutes – March 2024

March 13, 2024
Parents

Kearney Band Parent Association
The mission of the Kearney Band Parent Association is to support the KHS band program, the directors and Students. We offer a source of parent volunteers and organize fundraising activities, which allow band members to help defray the cost of band trips as well as provide necessary funds for the operation of the Association.

Call Meeting to Order: Introductions were made throughout the group
Approval of Minutes from last meeting
- 1st: Steven Thiele
- 2nd: Shawna Knott
- Approved by all
- Discussion: need to change the dates of the Big Band Dance and Banquet
Financial Reports:
1. Treasurer Update: We have three accounts: general account: , student account, online services; changing from Charms because they were bought out and they are going to shut down Charms; there will be no financials in the new product; there were problems in the software of Charms and they duplicated our entries. The pending checks were really high. The error in the software has been corrected and we have more money than we thought. (See treasurer’s report for details on amounts.)
2. We have been looking at replacing Charms. We will be going with Quickbooks Online. Standard financial package. It is nonprofit and the price is cheaper.
3. We reevaluated our banking situation. Our current bank, Farmers Merchant Bank, does not integrate with Quickbooks Online. We are now moving to Pinnacle Bank. This will be happening in the next month or two.
4. Our last account has a smaller amount in order to decrease any security issues.
5. Germany trip: if needing to use student’s funds to pay for the trip, the request needs to be in by March 15, end of the day. This will be the last time to use student funds to pay for the trip. Will talk more about converting foreign currency in our Germany meeting.
6. Financial Report Approved
  - 1st: Alissa Nebbe
  - 2nd: Kimberly Clark
  - Approved by all
Committee Reports
1. Uniforms: all good
2. Concessions: coming up on Saturday, look for sign up genius
3. Band Banquet: May 5 at 5pm
4. Big Band Dance: May 3 7-10pm
  - Lora Littrell: went away from title of Big Band Dance to cater more to the entire community; fundraiser for jazz band
  - Theme: “Big Band and Bell Bottoms, that 70s Swing”: everything will be reflective of the 70s theme. She will need access to a sign up genius. Will need volunteers and donations from parents. Will need help with set up especially since there is school that day. Will also have posters for advertising. Lora will have it ready by April to take to the community.
Volunteers needed
1. Concessions: a few more soccer games coming up
2. Band Banquet-need volunteers.
3. Big Band Dance-need volunteers
4. NSBA concert band festival 3/28: will use student helpers, but could use a few parent volunteers as well. Sign up genius is open. There will be 4 shifts for 1-1⁄2 hour long. Students will not be able to sign up during their performance. Audience members are encouraged
5. Scholarship Committee: in place
6. Officer recruitment: need officers for next year: president-elect and treasurer elect; need a replacement for our secretary who is moving. These officers will be in place in April and will vote on them in the May meeting
Fundraising
1. Concessions
2. Senior Graduation Seats: will start the raffle at the end of April; up to 10 seats for a grad family
3. March/April Raffles: currently running for March; all tickets have been handed out; limited to $5000 per month; tickets are $10 a piece; we have a dozen sheets back; if not selling tickets, please return them so that other students can sell. Due by March 25 and drawing is on March 26. Considering only doing one month for the raffle. Will make a decision after March sales are in
4. RaiseRight: gift cards
5. Spark (Walmart)
Old Business
1. Trip Update *See upcoming dates below; there will be mandatory rehearsals for the German trip not on the calendar
New Business
Director’s Comments
- Mr Mitchell: Fourth term is busier than first term; so many different things happening; District Music Contest is happening on 4/20. Allowed 24 entries and all spots are filled. The band banquet is where band letters are handed out. They earn points to get a letter. Total points: 35; Every term the students need to attend a concert critique. There are many events: Kearney Concert Assoc-free tickets, UNK, etc. Has to be high school level or above. The concert has to be live. The purpose is to get the kids out and experiencing live music.
- Mr. LeFeber:
  - GISH jazz festival: both bands earned superior ratings; Jazz festival in UNO: superior ratings; Freshman jazz group: sounding great. Excited about the future for our band! April 6: Wind Ensemble going to Doane Univ for a band invite with other bands. Interacting with them and then giving a concert in the afternoon. Parents/family can attend the concert.
  - See date changes. Will find out tomorrow at 10 for why the big band dance and the band banquet were changed.
  - My Music Office: new program in place of Charms; will have access to a parent site. WIll look a lot different than Charms.
  - In 2011, the KBPA was in charge of concessions. In the new building it changed. We have now been asked if we would like to run concessions again. It’s different from the old high school. Currently, when we work concessions we get 30% of the profits and FBLA gets %10 (current managers); If we take it over, we would oversee inventory, stocking etc. With the 10% we could potentially get $10,000. Right now, Angie Wright has to be at all the concessions that the band runs; it’s a huge time commitment. Possibly the plan would be to have 2-3 people to oversee it. The net gain for band parents would be significant.
    - Discussion about concessions: we would be responsible for inventory but one of the managers would have to be there. We would be using other groups to run the concessions, but KBPA would still receive the 10%. There are about 90 events a year
    - The plan would be to have directors, Julie McClary, Angie and KHS admin to talk about moving forward with the band managing concessions.
    - Comments: it’s a great idea; the extra money would be great; would be game-changing for KBPA.
    - Straw poll: thumbs up!
Adjourn Meeting
- 1st: Steven Thiele
- 2nd: Alisa Bennett

Upcoming dates:

3/7 KHS Band Concert
3/28 NSBA Concert Band Festival
4/6 Doan Concert Band Invite-Crete 4/20 District Music Contest-Grand Island
5/2 KHS Band Concert
5/3 Percussion Ensemble Recital–Canceled!
5/5 KHS Band Banquet: DATE CHANGE 5pm
5/3 KHS Big Band Dance: DATE CHANGE 7-10pm
5/9 Musicalia
5/28-6/6 Germany/Czech Republic Band Trip

Fundraising Concession Dates

3/16 Soccer
3/19 Soccer
3/21 Soccer
4/13 Soccer

Susanne Fries

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

Upcoming dates:

Fundraising Concession Dates

Susanne Fries

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