CHS Music Boosters Meeting Minutes

November 1, 2007

 

Attendees 

Tony Caracciolo, Cindy Lewis, Suzanne Reamer, Debbie Ruark, Drew Cockley, Derrick Askew, Heather Caporaso, Susan Stephey, Moe Ruark, Huston Jacobs, Traj Antolick, Sharon Antolick, Ed Benitez, Cheryl Benitez, Judy Bushey, John Bushey, Marlin Mankowski, Marie Mankowski, Martin Vrzek, Mirrell Wothers, Lori Cady, Mary Laulis, Donna Pieciak, Rich Pieciak, Keith Widerman, Bob McLeod, Teri McLeod, Clair Kwiatkowski, Paul Kwiatkowski, Trudy Wadsworth, Maureen Stewart, Scott Stewart, Nancy Thompson, and Andy Federkeil.

 

Call to Order

  • The Music Boosters meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Tony Caracciolo.

 

Treasurer’s Report

  • Debbie Ruark presented the budget. There is still $18,775 to be raised to meet the budgeted expenses for the 2007/2008 school year. The USSBA Show brought in approximately $2,785. The TOB Show brought in $4,000. The budget was motioned to be approved by Tony Caracciolo and seconded by Cindy Lewis.

 

Ways and Means Committee

  • Bingo.  The next bingo event will be planned for May.  Please watch for details. Volunteers are needed.
  • GL Scrip card program. POC is Suzanne Reamer. A list of all participating businesses is available at www.glscrip.com. Cards make great holiday gifts! There will be three (3) orders placed before the end of December. Suzanne’s e-mail is suzo@dellmail.com.
  • Visitourmall.com. Please checkout “visitourmall.com” for convenient online shopping. A percentage of every purchase made through this website is deposited into the Music Boosters account. Simply go to “visitourmall.com”, click “Find Group”, scroll to and click on “Century High School Music Boosters”, and start shopping! Or visit the mall through the Century Knights home webpage at knightsmusic.org.
  • GoodSearch.com. This is a Yahoo-based search engine and earns the music boosters .01 for every valid search. Click on “Century High School Music Boosters (Sykesville, MD)” to designate CHS as the organization to receive credit. Since July we have earned $46.00 simply using this search engine.
  • Banners. The Carroll County Board of Education has issued guidelines regarding the sponsorship program for CCPS. Everyone involved in a music program at Century High School is encouraged to contact friends and business owners to see if they are interested in sponsoring Century. As a Thank You for sponsorships of $500 or $1000, we will display a banner in the stadium with the company’s logo. Specifics and forms are available on the Music Boosters website. Prior to contacting any company, please verify with Debbie Prince at Century whether or not the business has already been contacted.
  • eScrip. By using loyalty club cards (i.e. Safeway Club Card), credit cards (i.e., Macy’s credit card or Macy’s Visa card), and debit cards that have been registered with eScrip. There is a 6-step process to register any cards you feel comfortable registering with the program. Please register your cards at www.escrip.com. A group ID number or name must be entered in step 1 of the registration. Our information is: GROUP ID # 148958018 or use the group name CENTURY MUSIC BOOSTERS INC. This is a very simple way to raise money for the CHS music program!

 

Marching Band Shows Recap. Jim Kelly stated that both shows were a success. He offered a Thank You to all of the 60+ volunteers.

 

Music Director’s Report/Choral Director’s Report

  • Communication. Derrick Askew stated that he plans on increasing the communications he has with parents via letters given to students to take home in addition to posting all information on  the internet at www.knightsmusic.org. He encouraged parents to please check the website often. An updated calendar is in the works.
  • Marching Band. Mr. Askew noted that we are at the finish of a magnificent marching band season. Several other band directors have commented very positively on how smoothly our home shows went. Thank you to the volunteers & Jim Kelly.
  • Winter Concerts. The performance memos are coming out shortly.
  • Auditions for All County/All State will be held soon. There are 35 instrumentalists and 2 vocalists auditioning.
  • Indoor Home Show.  Tentatively our indoor show will be on January 26, 2008. This could raise approximately $3,000.
  • Pops Concert. Tentatively looking at mid to late February 2008. This is deemed a community event and could raise over $1,000.

 

  • Choral Director, Heather Caporaso, was introduced to the Music Boosters attendees. She currently has less than 50 students in chorus. She is actively trying to grow this program.      Ms. Caporaso is very eager to be involved with the Music Boosters organization and to help the choral programs grow at Century.

 

President’s Report

Tony Caracciolo presented the following issues for discussion.

  • Membership Fee Waiver. The current By-laws state that there is a $1.00 membership fee. In order to hold a vote to update the By-Laws, Tony recommended waiving the membership fee for all attendees this evening so that everyone could vote as a Music Booster member. The motion was approved by Derrick Askew and seconded by Debbie Ruark.
  • By-Laws Change. Tony suggested that in order to attract more freshman parents and to offer a smoother transition for incoming Executive Board members, the time of elections of officers should be changed from June to 1 April. This would not change the fiscal year for the Music Boosters organization which will remain June to July.  The election process would start with a 3-person nominating committee (1-freshman parent, 1-sophmore parent, and 1-junior parent) presenting nominees for the Executive Board positions at the December Music Boosters meeting. The Music Boosters organization would vote on the nominees at the January meeting. Newly elected Board members would assume their position(s) on 1 April. Further, the Executive Board would be changed to include the following members: President, Vice President, Ways & Means Coordinator, Treasurer, Secretary, three (3) Parent Liaisons (one from each group): 1) Marching Band, 2) Choral, and 3) Instrumental. The parent liaison is responsible for coordination with their specific group and each has a full vote in the Executive Board. The band directors have shown interest in having a non-voting student representative attend the Executive Board meetings. This will be explored further at a future meeting. The Amendment to the By-Laws was motioned for approval by Cindy Lewis and seconded by Jim Kelly. The amended by-laws are attachment 1. The current Officers Nominations Committee is Nancy Thompson, Mary Laulis, and Trudy Wadsworth.
  • Insurance. The Music Boosters, Inc. is insured for liability to $1M.  This covers incidents that may occur at a home show or event on school property. Any individual who drives a vehicle either rental or owned and transports school property is liable under his/her individual insurance for that property. The Music Boosters insurance does not provide coverage. All equipment trucks and buses will be via a school-approved transportation company only; i.e. Johnson Bus Service. 
  • Equipment Lease. 1-1/2 years ago a lease was entered into for marimbas, xylophones, drum wraps, bass clarinet, drum carrying vests, and a wireless battery PA system. The Music Boosters are currently paying approximately $446/month (lease + insurance). Tony C. and Jim Kelly are looking into renegotiating a lower payoff amount or lower insurance payment.
  • Audit. An auditing committee will be further explored in the near future. The Music Boosters, Inc. books need to be audited prior to change of treasurer. There are two ways to do this 1) send the information to a CPA or 2) perform an internal audit with three peers; i.e., parents verifying receipts and budget records and preparing a list of questions for the current treasurer. Mr. Cockley recommended checking with the Athletic Boosters or PTSO to see how they handle their audits.

 

Mr. Drew Cockley addressed the Music Boosters regarding the overnight trip to Dover, DE for ACCs marching band competition on November 10 and 11. He verified that the student:chaperone ratio is okay. He encouraged the chaperones to be watchful and report any incidents to CCPS personnel.       Mr. Cockley also encouraged the Music Boosters to take advantage of the banner program as a means of fund raising.

 

Next Meeting

  • The next Music Boosters meeting will be on December 6th at 7:30 p.m. The Executive Board will meet at 6:30 p.m.

 

Adjournment

  • Moe Ruark motioned to adjourn at 9:05 and Suzanne Reamer seconded.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Stephey

Secretary

November 6, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the CHS Music website @ www.knightsmusic.org