Band Booster Activities
Below are descriptions of many activities carried out by the Bloomington North Band Boosters on behalf of the band program, individual students and their families, and the community. We encourage EVERY parent to get involved in some way!
Parent Pitch-In
The first Band Booster event of the school year. It is typically held on a Saturday in August within two weeks after school begins. Families of ALL band students are invited to this informal event. Parents may pay annual booster dues ($20/family), sign up for the band listserv and grocery scrip program, learn about band volunteer opportunities, purchase and order spiritwear, and more. Everyone is invited to a potluck buffet, which ends with the introduction of Band Booster officers, special instructions for marching band parents, and a preview performance by the marching band.
Email List
The band directors and boosters rely heavily on the North Bands Listserv to convey important information to parents and students. To subscribe, go to the MCCSC district Mailing Lists webpage. Click on bhsnbands, fill out the online form and click the Submit button. You may list ALL email addresses you would like BHSN Band List messages to be sent to (home, work, student etc.). If you have any questions or difficulty, email Doug Anderson or call 337-8299.
Grocery Scrip Cards
This program provides an easy way to divert a portion of your grocery bill to your student's account. The service works at both Kroger and Marsh stores. You either add money to a store debit card (Kroger) or receive the face value of your order in shopping scrip cards (Marsh). When you shop, the grocery stores donate 5% of the total amount of the value of your order to BHSN Boosters. The boosters, in turn, put the donation from your order into your child’s account, from which you can withdraw money to pay for your family’s band expenses.
Information and Orders
You may sign up by completing the sign-up form [PDF] [DOC] or by contacting one of the Grocery Coordinators:
Kari Isaacson 335-1720
Carolyn Sowinski 331-1841
Spiritwear: Cougar Apparel
Show your Cougar Band pride and support the band programs at North by wearing Cougar Band apparel! For 2009, we have our traditional band hoodies, lined jackets, tees and polos, plus hats and visors. Other items include: wind jackets, fleece blankets, duffle bags, tote bags, insulated lunch bags and poms. Many items can be personalized. Place your order early! Later orders may have shipping charges added.
Submit the forms to Debbie Roberts (contact Debbie at 337-1916 or by email)
Yearbook and Ad Sales
At the end of each year, the band boosters produce a souvenir yearbook featuring the year's many exciting activities. Students can earn money for their band accounts by selling ads to local businesses, and families can purchase "Happy Ads" honoring their band students.
More information will be available when this year's yearbook sales begin.
Fundraising Events
The North Bands host two major community-wide fund-raising events each year. Parents volunteers are essential to the success of both.
Jazz Under the Stars
In late August each year, the North Bands host an unforgettable evening of music and fine dining to support the band program. The evening, held at Deer Park Manor, includes a gourmet meal, performances by some of North's finest jazz combos, the mariachi band, and classical chamber groups, and special guest jazz musicians.
Mardi Gras
A Bloomington tradition since 2008 (!!), this new annual event features Cajun-themed cuisine, and performances by North's four amazing jazz bands and various jazz combos. A silent auction, strolling entertainers, and other activities make for a delightful evening for families and neighbors.
Music Event Staffing
Each year the North hosts many special musical events, including the District-level ISSMA solo and ensemble contests, the Bloomington Jazz Festival (in alternate years), All-District Honor Band, and others. Parent volunteers help these events run smoothly and staff the concession stand in the commons, whose revenue directly benefits the band program.
Concessions
The band program assists with concessions at all home football and basketball games, with proceeds benefitting the band program.
Directory
Each fall the Band Boosters prepares a directory of all students in the band program with contact information for both students and parents. For new families, information for the directory is collected at the band pitch-in on the day of marching band mini-camp and at the start of school.
Marching Band-Specific Opportunities
It takes numerous volunteers to make the Cougar Band season run smoothly.
- Parents coordinate, contribute to, and help serve meals during band camp and on competition days.
- The Pit Crew is made up many parents, not just of percussion players, who play an essential role in transporting the percussion instruments for the "front ensemble" from the semi-trailer to and from the practice fields and at competitions.
- On competition days, each bus requires two or more chaperones to ride along. It's a great opportunity to get to know some of the students, and it provides free transportation to the contest sites!
- The marching band needs a number of supplies at the beginning of each season. Requests for donations are announced at the beginning of the marching season.
- Parent volunteers are needed to help fit students to uniforms and coordinate the purchase of gloves and shoes at the start of the season, and also take care of the uniforms at the end of the season.
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Band Booster Organization
2009-10 Meetings
All band parents are members of the North Band Boosters and encouraged to attend monthly band booster meetings. Meetings begin at 7:00 in the band room. Minutes (in PDF) are provided after they are approved.
August 13, 2009
September 16, 2009
October 14, 2009
November 18, 2009
January 13, 2010
February 10, 2010
March 10, 2010
April 14, 2010
May 12, 2010
Archive of prior years' Band Booster Minutes
2009-10 Band Booster Officers and Support Staff
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