Bellaire Band Parents Organization
Minutes
September 1, 2009 Meeting
BHS Band Hall

I. Call to Order – Meeting began at 7:00 and was chaired by Kathy Cane.

Roll Call:
• Board Members Present: Kathy Cane, Susie Mauzy, Crystal Ramirez, Nancy Gennaro
• Committee Chairpersons Present: Karen Persely, Linda Pevehouse
• Band Director: Jessica Meng; Ass’t Band Director: Steven Montalvo; Guard Instructor: Katie Gonzales
• General Attendance: Other than board members and committee chairpersons, there were approximately a dozen attendance.

II. Approval of Last Meeting’s Minutes: Approved

III. Introduction – Ms. Meng
• Students need to make sure they keep their grades up to ensure eligibility for UIL marching contest. We can’t afford to have students unable to march due to poor grades. There is time before after school rehearsals to do homework, and during that time the band hall is a quiet zone so people can study. If a student is having trouble in a class, many of the other band students are willing to help, and Honor Society students have to tutoring requirements they have to meet. Get help if you need it!
• For Monday evening rehearsals, Ms. Meng is asking students to wear certain clothing to make it easier to see how the formations look on the field. The students have agreed on the following:
     • Woodwinds, Brass: red shorts, white t-shirt
     • Guard: black shorts, blue t-shirt
     • Front Line and marching percussion: black shorts, white t-shirt
• Please come to the band’s performances – football games, marching contest, concerts, etc – it really means a lot to the kids!

IV. Game Info – trucks, buses, meals, etc.
• BBPO will provide meals for Thursday games
• First time to dress out in full marching uniforms will be the Oct 3 game (homecoming). Cool Max shirts will be available to wear for the Sep 24 game. Students need to wear a belt with their khaki shorts at the games until Oct 3.
• We received a quote for the show shirts from the vendor we have used in the past; the cost will be a total of $11/shirt. This includes $8/shirt for the plain t-shirts, plus costs of artwork, setting up several screens, etc. The BBPO felt this was too high, especially the $8/plain shirt. Holly Seth will investigate other options.
• Football game tickets – last year we were able to buy tickets to the games at HISD stadiums at a reduced price from someone on the football team; parents were asking if we could do the same this year. Kathy Cane to look into it.

V. Treasurer’s Report
• Treasure was not in attendance
• BBPO Board is working on a 2009/2010 budget (which should have been approved at the BBPO May meeting); this will be presented at the Oct. BBPO meeting.
• Statements will be sent out monthly this year.

VI. New Business
• Fund raisers:
• Rock Band Contest: everyone wanted to do this fundraiser again this year. Recommendation is to move it to the cafeteria. A date needs to be selected.
• Cookie Dough and Butter Braids: the Butter Braid vendor will be here at the Oct 6 meeting to provide samples; we will begin selling these items at that time. The due date for the orders has not yet been set, but it will be in time to ensure order delivery the week before Thanksgiving. A portion of the amount each student raises will be credited to his/her account, to help pay for dues or the spring trip.
• Selling McDonald’s after school: Crystal Ramirez has been looking into this option. One McDonald’s location was not helpful so she has a meeting with another location later this week. If this proves to be a viable opportunity, we will need parents to volunteer to help sell the food to students at the school after school lets out one or two days a week. Though the amount has not yet been determined, some percentage of the proceeds would go to the student’s account.
• Thanksgiving Parade – the band has marched in the Thanksgiving Parade the last two years. Not sure if we will be able to do so this year due to band director availability. We will make a decision before the next BBPO meeting. If we participate in the parade, we would like to have as many students participate in it as possible, though it is not mandatory.

VII. Calendar Updates
• See the website, www.bellaireband.org for full calendar information
• Middle School Night – Oct 16 football game
• UIL Marching Contest is Oct 20
• Holiday Concert/Lasagna Dinner will be Dec. 4. BBPO will sell tickets for the dinner; more information will be available in the next month or so.

VIII. Meeting Adjournment
• Next Meeting will be October 6, 2009.