|
of America Scout Band Newsletter |
DECEMBER 2003 & JANUARY 2004
Christmas Concert at Glendale
The annual Christmas concert will be Saturday, December
13 at Glendale Mall (62nd and Keystone Avenue). The concert is set to begin
at 4:30 PM -- so please report no later than 4:00 PM. The mall has us
set up in a different area from
last year's performance. Enter through entrance 1 on the north side of
the mall, or entrance 2 on the east side. The stage area will be just outside
the L.S. Ayres store.
Following the concert, Doug Whitcomb and the rest of his
Rocker's Unlimited personnel (John Valdez and Debbie Wheat) will be hosting
a Christmas Pizza Party at Camp Belzer. Head on over to Belzer
for some food and fellowship. Parents are invited too
OR they can drop the kids off and go do some uninterrupted shopping while
Doug entertains everyone with movies and games.
The concert and Pizza Party will be the last events of
the band for the 2003 year. So come on out and help celebrate the season,
renew friendships and make new acquaintances. Any questions -- give Mr.
Bill
a call at 317-542-8057 or email at wsas@aol.com.
Rehearsal Start in January 2004
The first rehearsal of the new year will be Sunday,
January 4 at Warren Central - Orchestra Room. With this also the first
Sunday of the month, Dixieland will rehearse at 1:00 PM followed by a Crew
559
meeting at 1:45 PM.
Start the new year off right and come to rehearsal! At
rehearsal you can turn in your application for the 2004 tour (see article),
register with Crew 559 (see article), prepare for the band's open house
(see
article).
We have added SEVERAL new pieces of music so come and add your talents!
DeBruyne Eagle Court of Honor
Even though the Court of Honor occurred this past
weekend (Saturday, November 29) members of the band and BBBC wish to congratulate
Kevin DeBruyne for this great accomplishment! We wish him
and his family the best as they are making major life changes.
Kevin is in Tempe, Arizona attending school and from all
reports, being quite the entrepreneur with his own business! Kathy reports
that they have sold their house in Avon and she and Jodi will be joining
Jeff in Virginia.
We wish them the best and put the welcome mat out whenever they can stop in when in Indy -- particularly in May during race weekend! Congratulation and best wishes.
New Members
We welcome the following new members who have joined the band since our last newsletter.
John Carlson, Trombone (returning)
Sam Miller, Trumpet (from Terre Haute area)
Daniel Alred, Tuba
Jim Alred, Tuba (adult member)
Elaine Carter, Clarinet (adult member returning)
We are happy to have you join us and look forward to your continued participation in 2004! Be sure and invite your friends in your troops and crews to join in on the fun.
Congratulations to Award Recipients
Apologies for allowing two months to lapse between newsletters
-- will try to do better in 2004! Unfinished business from last newsletter
of August / September is to recognize the recipients of the annual
awards presented at the band's picnic in August.
The Good Scout Award is presented by the youth membership
of the band to an adult who they believe shows true scouting spirit and
is willing to go above and beyond what is "routine". This year's award
was presented to Deb Estes by Crew President Buddy McLaren
and Vice President, Margaret Estes.
The Harvey U. Gill Award is presented by the Alumni Association
to an outstanding youth member of the band. Only one award is presented
each year. Margaret Estes was honored with this award for
the year 2003.
The F.O. Belzer Award is presented by the Alumni Association
to an outstanding adult member of the band, again only one award is presented
each year. The 2003 Belzer award was presented to Debbie
Wheat.
Congratulations to all award recipients -- we all appreciate everything you do to help make the band successful.
More "Catch up" from the Picnic
The youth auction for the all expense paid tour in 2004 was won by Buddy McLaren with a bid of $60,000.00 in band bucks. See it DOES pay to make rehearsals and other band activities on a regular basis.
Elections for youth leadership were held at the picnic
-- your Crew 559 youth leaders for 2003 -- 2004 are: Buddy McLaren, President;
Ben Rowe, Vice President - Administration; Margaret Estes, Vice
President - Program.
The BBBC elected their leadership for the 2003 -- 2004
year: Bill Schofield, President; Bob Wiker, Vice President; Keith Hartzog,
Treasurer; Carol Wiker, Recording Secretary; Mary Jane Smock,
Corresponding Secretary; Shirley Wiker, Ways and Means;
Dana Hanson, Property; John Valdez, Publicity; Doug Whitcomb, Historian;
Howard Foster, Band Director and Crew Advisor.
2004 Texas Tour
As of this writing, there a total of eleven applications
turned in for the Texas Tour. To help us in our planning we need to know
by January 31, 2004 how many people will be going on the tour. If you are
contemplating joining in on the fun make sure and complete an application
and turn it in to Mr. Bill as soon as possible.
Cost for the tour has been set at $550.00 and the dates are July 10 -17, 2004. We are trying to arrange for a bus this time -- but we need to know if there will be enough people to make this possible.
The tour will head to Memphis, Tennessee, Shreveport, Louisiana, Dallas, San Antonio and Galveston, Texas, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama.
Arrangements are being made to visit the National Scout
Museum as well as the National Scout Office area. Perhaps when we stop
in Birmingham we can have a rain - free concert at the wonderful Scout
Office Building / Park and have some of Chef Curtis's
delicious BBQ ribs again! Don't miss out -- get an application filled out
and turned in at the next band event.
Recharter of Crew 559
Yes, it's that time of year again. Registration is $11.00
and can be paid from your account funds, or cash or check. Keith Hartzog
will be providing a notice to all current registered crew members with
a status
of their account funds.
If you have a primary registration in another Troop or Crew and would like to be included in the band's crew just fill out an application and we can register you as a multiple member at no cost.
All the band's youth females must register with our crew, or be registered in another crew.
Lindstrom / Stansbury Wedding
The band has received an invitation to the Patrick
Lindstrom and Sarah Stansbury wedding to be held Saturday, December 27
at 5:30 PM. The wedding will be at the Pleasant Run United Church of Christ
located at 59 East Pleasant Run Parkway South Drive
in Indianapolis. A reception is following at the Valle Vista Country Club
-- 755 East Main Street, Greenwood. Please RSVP to the Stansbury's at 1640
Ridge Hill Lane, Indianapolis 46217 by December 10th.
Dome Events
There are a few remaining events at the RCA Dome and we can still use ALL the help we can get!
December 14 -- Colts game -- report time (could change) is 9:30 AM -- was told that TV may rule and this game COULD POSSIBLY change to a late evening game.
December 20 -- IU vs UK Basketball game -- report time is 9:30 AM -- tip off is at 12 noon
December 21 -- Colts game (LATE GAME)-- report time is 5:00 PM -- Kickoff is 8:30 PM
January 24 -- Monster Truck Jam
With the way the Colts have been playing there is a STRONG
chance that we will have home playoff games in January. -- The dates, times,
etc. will not be known until later in December -- we will try and
keep everyone posted via email and phone calls.
To sign up to work of if you have questions, call Shirley Wiker at 487-9412 or Mr. Bill at 542-8057.
Open House 2004
At the last BBBC Board meeting as we were planning
for the annual Open House it was determined that we could have conflicts
in January with the Colts potential playoff games. This happened a few
years
ago and it was hard not having all of the band at the Open House to greet
and meet with potential new members.
To alleviate this conflict the board decided that the
Open House should be scheduled for Sunday, February 8, 2004. This also
falls on the date that we normally have our anniversary / birthday concert.
We
will attempt to combine the two events this time and
have an open house with a concert setting.
Letters will be prepared and mailed to over 4,000 registered scouts and crew members in the central Indiana area.
Pizza SaleOnce rehearsals start in January, we will
have a Super Bowl Pizza Sale using the Chicago Pizza program that we tried
last year. Sheets will be available at the January 4th rehearsal -- they
will need
to be turned in at rehearsal on January 18th. Pizzas will be delivered
at rehearsal on January 25th for you to pick up to deliver to your customers.
John - Doug & Debbie's Wacky Column
A column that is entertaining as well as informative about the band. We have had a brief hiatus, but we are back!
To recap, because you might have slept since the last
column appeared. Howard Foster one the Wacky Trivia question about the
uniform color (White). Howard received a $15.00 gift certificate to Steak
and
Shake.
The last Trivia Question had NO winner! The question was
-- which band member played with the great piano man Billy Joel? The answer:
John Valdez! When John was with AUL and Billy Joel was in
town for a concert, Billy was at the club at the top
of the AUL building practicing. The President of AUL (being friends with
Billy Joel) told John that there was someone that he would like him to
meet and
the next thing John knew he was sitting in and playing
drums with Billy Joel while his drummer took a break.
This newsletter's Wacky Trivia Question:
Which Band Director did a handstand on the chimney (of
the old Gyro Dining Hall at Belzer) while playing his trumpet? Bonus Question:
(as if the first wasn't hard enough) -- Who was the first person
(and the only person) to come up to Doug and mention
to him that he forgot to submit his Wacky Article in the last newsletter?
Answer the question by emailing your answers to Doug Whitcomb
at pdw@iquest.net or snail mail to 1697 South 700 West; New Palestine,
IN 46163. Answers will be deposited into Dougie's "thingy" and
before the next newsletter is published a winner will
be awarded a prize.
Kudos
Bill Schmidt and his friend and Debbie Wheat for
showing up to direct on October 26 in Howard's absence and Bob et al being
at the dome for a Colts Game, but no one else showed up for rehearsal.
(Sorry Bill -- but THANKS for the extra effort!)
Chris Estes for achieving his First Class Rank -- keep your eye on the Eagle at the end of the trail!
All Dome workers who have put forth extra efforts -- particularly when we have been "short-handed". Without your help and dedication the band would be hurting financially!
December Dates
7 1:00 PM Dixieland Rehearsal
1:45 PM Crew Meeting
2:00 PM Full Band Rehearsal
WCHS Orchestra Room
10 7PM BBBC Board Meeting
Schofield's House
13 4:30 PM Christmas Concert at Glendale
Following Concert -- Pizza Party at Camp Belzer
14 Colts Game - Report time 9:30 AM - Call Shirley (487-9412) if you can work
20 IU vs UK Basketball at RCA Dome -- report time 9:30 AM - Call Shirley if you can work
21 Colts Game - report time 5:00 PM - Game is at 8:30 PM -- Call Shirley if you can work
27 Lindstrom / Stansbury Wedding 5:30 PM - Pleasant Run United Church of Christ
NO REHEARSALS DECEMBER 14 - 21 - 28
January 2004 Dates
4 1:00 PM Dixieland Rehearsal
1:45 PM Crew Meeting
2:00 PM Full Band Rehearsal
WCHS Orchestra Room
11 2:00 PM Full Band Rehearsal
WCHS Orchestra Room
18 2:00 PM Full Band Rehearsal
WCHS Orchestra Room
24 Monster Truck Jam at RCA Dome
25 2:00 PM Full Band Rehearsal
WCHS Orchestra Room
28 7PM BBBC Board Meeting
February Dates
1 1:00 PM Dixieland Rehearsal
1:45 PM Crew Meeting
2:00 PM Full Band Rehearsal
WCHS Orchestra Room
8 2:00 PM OPEN HOUSE / CONCERT
WCHS ORCHESTRA ROOM