July 25, 2010
July Booster Meeting Minutes

The minutes from the July Band Booster Meeting can be found here and on the Minutes page.

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July 18, 2010
1 Week until Band Camp 2010!

We are very excited about this year's show and we are looking forward to an exciting and productive 2 weeks!

During these 2 weeks, we need 3 volunteers to cover each shift. We have the following opportunities for volunteers during Band Camp where we need at least 1 more volunteer during these shifts:

Week 1 – We need one more volunteer during each of these shifts

Morning Shift:

• Tuesday, Aug 3, 9 am – 1 pm
• Thursday, Aug 5, 9 am – 1 pm
• Friday, Aug 6, 9 am – 1 pm

Afternoon Shift:

• Tuesday, Aug 3, Noon – 5 pm
• Wednesday, Aug 3, Noon – 5 pm
• Thursday, Aug 3, Noon – 5 pm
• Friday, Aug 3, Noon – 5 pm

Week 2 - We need one more volunteer during each of these shifts:

Morning Shift:

• Monday, Aug 9, 9 am – 1 pm
• Tuesday, Aug 10, 9 am – 1 pm
• Wednesday, Aug 11, 9 am – 1 pm
• Thursday, Aug 12, 9 am – 1 pm
• Friday, Aug 13, 9 am – 1 pm

Afternoon Shift:

• Monday, Aug 9, Noon – 5 pm

Evening Shift:

• Tuesday, Aug 10, 5 pm – 9 pm
• Wednesday, Aug 11, 5 pm – 9 pm
• Thursday, Aug 12, 5 pm – 9 pm

In addition, on Monday Morning, Aug 2, we need 5 more volunteers to help with Registration and sign in on Day 1, from 7:30 am - 9 am

One more opportunity: Since we are home during Week 2, we need Extra Volunteers during the dinner hour to help pick up dinners and be there to help with Dinner, until 7 pm.
We need 2 more people each day during Week 2 starting at 4:30 pm
AND
We need 4 more people each day during Week 2 starting at 5 pm

And Finally, Thank you to all those that volunteered to host our Section Party on Wednesday, Aug 11. We have a host for each section. However, each section could use additional volunteers to help bring food, drink, chaperone, etc. Please let me know if you can be available to help assist with your child’s section party.

We will be having a parent orientation/information meeting on Tuesday, July 27th at 7 pm, in the band room to go over all your questions and the game plan.

Please reply to me and let me know which day, which shift, you can help with. I will send out a schedule and we will confirm your time slot. Thank you in advance for your help and assistance. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Gina Kopera
happytobekopera@yahoo.com
513-325-3879

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What is TAG DAY?

TAG DAY is our largest band fundraiser rising over $16,000 last year. The fund goes to cover expenses like uniforms, band instrument and equipment, music sheets, etc. It is vital in running a reputable program such as ours at Mason. Participation is mandatory for all Marching Band students. Students travel with a volunteer parent driver to a specified subdivision or neighborhood in Mason city schools district to do a door-to-door donation request.

Donations $10 or more will receive a Mason Band Keychain. We’ll also be giving out a pair of voucher to our 2010 Mason Invitational (Oct. 23rd) for donations of $25 or more. The contributor’s name will be listed on the back of all of our music programs throughout the year to recognize them for their support (Band parents are encouraged to show their support in this event).

Level of donations:

• $25.00 TO $49.99 PATRON
• $50.00 TO $74.99 GREEN & WHITE
• $75.00 TO $99.99 KEY NOTE CLUB
• $100.00 OR MORE SPIRIT CLUB

This year, Tag Day will take place on Saturday, Aug 7th. Students and parent drivers will meet at the H.S. Small Common room at 9:00 am to pick up their map and essentials. Groups (4 students max.) should arrive at their location and stop at 1:30 pm. All will return back to the Small Common for a pizza party for their hard work. Each student from top 3 groups will get $10 gift card (to be ordered thru our Scrip Program). Winners will be announced the following week so all can leave as soon as they are done having pizza.

PARENT DRIVERS: A TOTAL OF 50+ DRIVERS ARE NEEDED

Advance planning and scheduling is critical for this event. Mark your calendar and early commitment is greatly appreciated. Thank you for those who’ve already signed up to drive at the past meetings. You can select a prefer neighborhood if it hasn't been assigned yet so if have already signed up, please reply with your subdivision and confirmation to drive.

Please reply with the following information:

• Name:
• Cell Phone Number:
• Subdivision Request:
• Seating Capacity:

Sincerely,

Herren Rueda and Donna Guarino
2010 Tag Day Committee

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June 20, 2010
2010 Band Booster Information

If you couldn't make it to June's Booster Meeting or lost a page, here are the handouts that every family should have received:

    Booster Board & Committees
    Marching Band Shoe & Shirt Order Form
    Guard Shirt Order Form [Updated]
    Yahoo Email & One Call Information
    2010 Marching Band Performance Dates
    Kroger Cards Ordering Form
    Intro to Scrip
    Presto Pay Flyer
    Spiritwear Order Form

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June 6, 2010
MHS Marching Band Calendar on Google (Updated for 2010 Season)

For those of you that use an electronic calendar on your computer or phone, I have published the 2010 Marching Band season calendar to a Google calendar. You can subscribe to this calendar and so that practices and performances appear on your Outlook, iCal, Google Calendar, or smartphone.

This is a copy of the calendar on the Mason Bands website (http://www.masonbands.com/Calendar/default.asp) so if there is a conflict of information, believe the web site before this copy. But since I help maintain both calendars, they stay in sync pretty well.

If you want to subscribe to this calendar, point to one of the following addresses:

iCal format: http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/2rppnm3urpdfpn3eftbo213or0@group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
HTML format: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=2rppnm3urpdfpn3eftbo213or0%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/New_York

Let me know if you have any questions or problems.

// Scott Allen (ScottA@MasonComputer.com)

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August 23, 2009
SCRIP! Major Retailers Want To Give Our Band Boosters Money!

Dear Mason Band Booster Parent:

We’re pleased to share some exciting news about a new fundraising program for our organization. It’s called “scrip,” and it’s the fundraising program that works while you shop.

Scrip is simply a word that means “substitute money” – in other words, scrip is gift certificates from national and local retailers. They’re the same gift certificates that you buy at the store. Many popular retailers participate in the scrip program including JCPenney, The Gap, Shell, Pizza Hut, Red Lobster and many, many others.

You’re probably asking yourself how these stores help us raise money. It’s simple – scrip participating retailers agree to sell gift certificates to our organization at a discount. Member families like yours buy the certificates for full face value, they redeem them for full face value, and the Boosters keep the difference. And scrip is exciting, because everybody wins:

There is no set up fee. Anyone can use it to help the Band Boosters.
The retailer gets cash up front and repeat business…
You get a powerful fundraising alternative that involves no selling…
The Boosters get a regular source of funds.

The beauty of scrip is that you put your regular household shopping dollars to work. You earn money for the Boosters without spending a single additional penny. Just spend your regular shopping dollars with scrip at the stores that participate in the scrip program! And scrip can be used for just about any household purchase including food, clothing, entertainment, gasoline and even dining out.

After you register and start using scrip the Boosters will receive credit for your purchases. You will be able to order online from your home at your convenience. We will be using the PrestoPay program, which is an electronic fund transfer system. There is a small $0.39 convenience fee per order with PrestoPay. We will not be accepting checks at this time. Since this is a fundraising program, credit cards are not accepted by scrip as it would reduce the money raised. The cut-off date to place your order will be one week prior to the Booster meeting. This will allow time to process the order and receive the cards from scrip so they can be distributed at the Booster meeting. For additional information please see the flyer describing the PrestoPay process and our set up guide to get you started.

For the Scrip registration website and enrollment code, you can contact your gift card committee members Tami Wimmers & Doug Lucy at cards@lucyfamily.com

The Boosters scrip program promises to be a simple and effective fundraising program. Thanks for your support!

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May 16. 2009
Fundraising Search Toolbar

Information about our latest fundraiser, the web browser toolbar can be found on this page.  Remember, anyone can use the toolbar so invite friends and family to use it.  The toolbar is a great way for them to support the band without buying anything or taking a lot of time.