EAST ORANGE UNIFIED BAND PARENT ASSOCIATION

Re: Minutes from Meeting

Start Time: 6:30 PM
End Time: 8:30 PM
September 21, 2011

Meeting was scheduled for 6:00 but started at 6:30 PM. B.P.A. Vice President Jackie Bourne welcomed all parents, old members and new members.

B.P.A. Assistant Secretary Mrs. Rosa Davis discussed the B.P.A. Membership dues, which remain the same as last year. The dues are $10.00 a month, PER PARENT. We need ACTIVE band parents. Our children need us to help them.

An Active Band Parent is a Parent up-to-date with their dues, and who also attends at least 3 band parent meetings per school year.

The idea to donate $10.00 or whatever extra can be spared by parents at each B.P.A meeting was also mentioned by band parent Rosa Davis.

B.P.A. President Jacqueline Saez started by introducing all the B.P.A. board Members. She also made mention of Mr. Jim Gerrish who is the web designer. If we have any questions comments or concerns we can address it to Mr. Gerrish via e-mail. jimgerrish@yahoo.com

A parent asked where does the money go to, and Ms Saez emphasized with the parents the purpose of all donations including membership fees. It all goes to the taking care of the kids needs- food, water, tights, gloves, socks, wigs, and the list goes on and on.

Ms.Saez also talked about the importance of Fund raisers. Fund raising keeps the out-of-pocket costs at a low. A parent, Mrs. Kavita Pershad, presented the B.P.A. with an Avon fund raiser. We are looking forward to using her idea.

Mrs. Kavita also asked if it was possible to have a Bake sale, and Mrs. Saez said, yes that we can have a bake sale. The Bake sale will take place on Thursday 10/6/2011. Everything will cost only $1.00.

Ms. Saez also discussed the importance of chaperones at the football games. We need the parents to help assure the safety of our children.

Band Director Fred Goode spoke on the challenge to motivate our kids to continue to stay and play in the band. He spoke on the change of rehearsal time in the future. Mr. Goode shared with the parents the success of the band camp.We found out that we now have 134 students in the marching band.

Assistant Band Director, Mrs. T, expressed the importance of band members having their own combination locks, reeds, mallets, and mouth pieces. Combination locks, as per Mrs.T, are MANDITORY!

Mr. and Mrs. Witherspoon were introduced to the new band parents, making them aware that the Witherspoons are the ones that supply all of the instrument parts and even the instruments, if need be. They can be reached at anytime, anywhere and will deliver also.

Twenty dollars in cash and two checks for for $10.00 was collected in B.P.A. dues. Total $40.00 so we have a total of 4 active band parents.

At the end of the meeting there was a 50/50. Total amount of 50/50 was $75.00. The winner was Mr. Bravo who collected $37.50. Thirty seven fifty was also collected by the band.

We thank each and every one of the band parents, old and new members alike, for your present and future support. The band also had a potluck dinner. Thank you for all the parents who contributed to the potluck.

We thank, and may God Bless, Principle Dr. Stephen Cowan for approving $27,000.00 for new instruments. Meeting was adjourned at 8:30

Respectfully,
Mrs. Rosa Davis
Assistant Secretary