August 28, 2007

This year to aid communication, plan on receiving weekly emails from me on Tuesday's. That way you know when to expect it, and you know to ask questions if you don't get one each week. As always, you can also find the emails posted on the Band-Aides web site.

Picnic TONIGHT - Come meet new friends, enjoy some great food and check out the first ever Shawnee Mission West Band Olympics! It's going to be a great night of fun and camaraderie, Let's make some memories together!

What do Big Ben, Windsor Castle, Oxford, and Piccadilly Circus have in common? They are all important sights on the London itinerary for the New Years Day Parade in London 2009! The Shawnee Mission West Band has again been selected to participate in this wonderful extravaganza. This will be the 6th time in 18 years; what a record! This event equals the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or the Tournament of Roses Parade in the United States. There will be over two hundred million spectators world-wide watching our marching band on multiple television stations in various parts of the world. While there are many details still to be worked out, we are having our first informational meeting on September 13 in the SMW Cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. At that time current details will be made available, Intent to travel forms will be signed, questions answered, and initial deposits collected. Please watch the website and the coming emails for more information. The first London payment of $200.00 per traveler is due on Sept 13th. $100.00 of this is non refundable. All other money deposited into the London trip is refundable until May 15th, 2008. I know this is early and you are just getting information, but some of you have been making plans for this trip for some time. Others are just beginning to think and we will do what we can as quickly as we can for you. I can guarantee that this is a WONDERFUL opportunity that hundreds of former parents and students have marveled at over the years. Please do everything in your power not to miss out.

Our First Home game is this coming Friday evening. Call time is 4:15 in the band room. Dress for this first game is dark shorts, this years band T-shirt, black socks, and the black marching band shoes. We will be performing the opener to our show along with a fun tune La Bamba for the Dance Team. If you haven't yet signed up to chaperone, help with the tailgate prior to the game, or help with the Roadies (Men In Band), please contact Nancy Allen as soon as possible. It just won't be the same with out you! We also have a special cheering section in the stands. There isn't a special password for admittance to this section, just a desire to cheer on the West Band! Doooooo Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!!!!!!

Adopt-A-Frosh - All Freshmen are encouraged to participate in this years Adopt-A-Frosh activities. It will take place on Friday, September 7. Freshmen will be adopted by upper class band members to be taken to the football game. They will sit together, play cheers together, and generally get to know each other in an attempt to answer any questions the freshmen may have about marching band. Who knows, they may even get a gift from their adoptive sibling! ALL Freshmen MUST be signed up by Wednesday, Aug. 29. Call time is 4:15 in the band room. Dress is blue jeans and this year's Band T-Shirt (Rock the Road). Supper will be provided. We will return to the high school at about 9:30.

Special London Meeting with Mr. Robert Bone and Lord Roger Bramble (Her Majesty's personal representative). They will be making a short visit to Shawnee Mission West to meet students, parents, administrators and various community leaders in order to officially present the band with its invitation to perform in the 2009 New Years Day Parade. The event will begin at 5:00p.m. and will take approximately two hours. A specific itinerary will be produced later. OE will be performing during a reception planned for the event. I know this is not the best time of day for such a meeting, but our guests are just "passing through." Please make every effort to attend as they have specifically asked for time to talk with parents and students. Keep looking for more details.

Parents, if you have a fifth grade student who is beginning band this year in a West Area feeder school, or know someone who does, Mr. Hupe is hosting a Beginning Band information Night in the West Band Room at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 30. It will last about an hour. There is quite a buzz this year in the beginning bands of West. Don't miss out!

That first Band-Aides West meeting was superb! There were lots of people and lots of great things to talk about. The rest of the meetings are shorter so don't be discouraged. Come back for more as we plan for the future of this great organization as it supports the West Pride Bands!

Think Green - The West Bands have started a recycling program in which we can take your old Ink Jet Cartridges, Laser Toner Cartridges and old Cell Phones and recycle them. Not only does it help save the environment, but it will also help the band by providing some additional income. Have your son or daughter bring them to the band room anytime and place them in the recycling bin. Don't forget about your place of work!

Auction Donation Forms available on the website (here). Donations are welcome from anywhere and everywhere. You may have talents or know people you go to church or work with that could become contributors by donating lots of good fun stuff that other would purchase. Ken Jones (Auction Donations Chairman) ran into someone the other day who does multi level marketing and they would be thrilled to donate stuff as long as their contact information was included so that the purchaser could come back for more if they liked the product. We can do that! Download the form or call Ken Jones.

Until next week - Play on!