Band of Gold

Mt. Juliet Band Boosters Club, Inc.

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THE MT. JULIET BAND OF GOLD BOOSTERS CLUB is the parent organization for the instrumental music ensembles at Mt. Juliet High School.  During the academic year the High School Band provides a number of performance opportunities for students. The primary instrumental ensemble for the school is the Concert Band.  The Concert Band meets as a class daily and once a week after school for rehearsals.  Each year the Concert Band performs five public concerts. 

The Fall Marching Band is another performance opportunity in the Band of Gold for students participating in the concert band.  The Marching Band is comprised of the woodwind, brass, percussion and color guard sections.  Training and auditions for the color guard are held in the spring so that guard members can follow the summer and fall band calendar.  Due to the extensive rehearsal and performance schedule, a fee is required for each participating student.  The Fall Marching Band begins training for new students in the spring and performs at varsity football games and marching band competitions. 

Students who have participated in the Fall Marching Band also have the option of membership in the Band of Gold’s Winter Guard or Winter Drum Line.  The two groups organize in late November and perform in competitions that culminate in April.  The Mt. Juliet Winter Guard is currently ranked fourth in the Nation.  The winter programs are offered to keep skills honed and to learn new and possibly more advanced skills.  These ensembles are smaller than the marching band and have a different style and flavor.  All winter competitions are held in indoor arenas.  These winter programs also have fees required for participation. 

Members of each ensemble are required to participate in all rehearsals and performances that are listed as a part of the band Calendar.

MJHS BAND BOOSTERS ORGANIZATION

The Mt. Juliet Band Boosters Club, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation established in 1985 to support the Band of Gold.  An Executive Board made up of the Band Director, Assistant Band Director, and elected Band Booster Officers, governs it.  There are established and written by-laws that are available through the band director, or the band booster president or at the link above.  The Executive Board is responsible for establishing and maintaining the yearly budget, which includes the concert band, fall marching band as well as the winter guard and drum line.  By vote of approval they are responsible for any purchases not already in the budget, all payments and any changes in the current policies.  Executive Board meetings are held once a month and are open to any band booster parent.  However, any voted item is through the executive board members present at the meeting.

When your child enrolls in any of the Mt. Juliet High School Band of Gold performance ensembles you are a member of the Mt. Juliet Band Boosters Club.  However, it is open to any interested adult (i.e. aunts, uncles, older siblings, or alumni) that wish to volunteer their time and energy to the success of the band program.  Their most important responsibility is for the voluntary participation in the committees and the fund raising events of the band.  Without the participation of ALL of the band boosters, it is not possible to successfully complete all of the fund raising events that keep our individual band fees low.  Being a part of the Band Boosters is a wonderful opportunity to make new friends as well as play a vital role in your child’s band experience.  It affords you the opportunity to spend time in your child’s life and development, something they and you will remember for years to come.

FEES, FINANCIAL CONTRACT AND COMMITMENT TO WORK

 The total cost of the Fall Marching Program and the Winter Programs for training, uniforms, equipment, floors, props, instruments and competition varies from year to year.  There are  several payment options (one of which should fit into any budget) the most popular of which are the “reduced fee” and “work-off” options which establishes fees at a low rate  with a commitment to work a required number of committee assignments, concessions and fundraising activities. These options will be presented to you for selection in the form of a written financial contract/commitment to work.  Because we provide these “reduced payment” and “work-off” options for covering the full cost of band participation, it is EXTREMELY important for every parent to fulfill their financial contract and their commitment to support all of our fund raising activities.  We understand that at times it may be difficult for you to meet all of these obligations. In the event that happens it is imperative that you contact the band director immediately to discuss whatever other alternatives might be available. The budget that is established by the Executive Board each fiscal year represents the actual cost of running all of the performance programs for the Band of Gold.  A professional audit is completed each year to insure the proper use and distribution of the corporation’s funds.

The Boosters’ budget is established at the beginning of the Band’s year (June 1 to the following Mat 31) for fall marching season as well as the winter guard and winter drum line. Consequently, the band boosters are active year round, not just for the fall marching season. 

ELECTED BOOSTERS OFFICERS

The band boosters elect the Band Booster officers each year for a fiscal year term from June 1 to May 31.  Any band booster can make a nomination in person or by write in.  Voting is held at the Band Boosters May meeting and you must be present to cast your vote.  

PRESIDENT  - The president is responsible for overseeing all the functions of the Executive Board, committees, fundraisers and the band boosters.  The president is responsible for the monthly meeting, agenda and direction of the Executive Board and Band Boosters as a whole.  The president is a liaison between the band boosters and the band director and works closely with the director to help with the success of the band programs. 

VICE-PRESIDENT – The vice-president is responsible for assisting the president and/or acting in his/her absence.

PRESIDENT ELECT – The president elect is primarily responsible for assisting the president and vice president and standing in if one or both are absent.  The president-elects secondary responsibility is to stand in or help any of the executive positions when necessary.  This is necessary as we are largely made up of working parents that have many demands on their lives, and availability can become an issue.

SECRETARY – The secretary is responsible for recording the minutes for all Executive Board Meetings and Band Booster meetings. They prepare and distribute the minutes and the agenda for each meeting.

TREASURER – The treasurer maintains the checking account, writes checks, verifies, pays and records payments. The treasurer prepares the financial statements for the monthly band booster meetings. The treasurer is responsible for maintaining, preparing and distributing student statements. The treasurer records deposits made by the assistant treasurer and balances the checkbook.

ASSISTANT TREASURER – The assistant treasurer collects all payments from the band payment box and prepares deposits to the band account.  The assistant treasurer forwards deposit slips to the treasurer for appropriate posting to accounts.

PAST PRESIDENT – The past president serves to bring continuity to the Boosters from one year to the next and is a valuable historical resource.

COMMITTEES & RESPONSIBILITIES

In order for the Boosters to provide all the services necessary to the success of the Mt. Juliet Instrumental Music Ensembles, the following committees are utilized:

Band Moms

CHAPERONES – Chairperson & Assistant –  The Chaperone Committee Chairperson is responsible for enlisting chaperones for all Band of Gold events.  The chaperones are responsible for staying with the group throughout each event.  They make sure the students have water, as required.  On overnight events, the chaperones are assigned rooms for which they are responsible.  They are responsible for room checks, proper behavior of the participants and adherence to the established schedule.  They travel with the kids and ensure we have left no one behind.

COMMUNICATIONS – The Communication Coordinator is responsible for maintaining all email communications to all of the band booster families.  This person will receive emails from various information sources and ensure they are sent in a timely manner.

Football Concessions

SCHOOL CONCESSIONS – The School Concessions Chairpersons manage and coordinate concession stands at the MJHS Football Stadium and the MJHS Gymnasium.  Events covered are varsity football, Jr. Varsity, freshman and middle school football; high school and middle school basketball, as well as other events in both locations.

CORPORATE DONATIONS/GRANTS – This committee is responsible for visiting local businesses to ask for financial support, materials for props, equipment repairs, donations for auctions and other fund raising events as well as making application for whatever private or local/state/federal governmental grants that might be available.

GUARD MOM – The guard mom works with the band and guard directors to manage the color guard’s performance needs, such as hair, makeup, costumes and flags.  She sees that the guard uniforms are clean and maintained.  The guard mom ensures the color guard is fed and cared for on all performance dates.  She is responsible for coordinating award ceremony gifts, etc.

HOSPITALITY – The Hospitality Committee is responsible for;   Obtaining bottled water to be distributed to the visiting bands at the beginning of the third quarter at home football games;   Meeting/greeting/assisting visiting bands at home games;   Placing bottled water in coolers to be chilled prior to home games and transporting coolers to the stadium;   Organizing poinsettia sales and decorating the stage for the Christmas concert;   Organizing refreshment donations and preparing and serving at reception following Christmas concert;   Decorating tables, etc. for annual Moonlighters Dance and Band Banquet ;   As needed, organizing for and serving at band receptions.

MEALS – The Meal Chairperson coordinates with the band director for any meal requirements for performances, band camps or rehearsals.  They plan meals and have a committee to assist with purchase, preparation of food and serving.  They maintain a checklist of all students who eat the meals and did not pay in advance for them that is forwarded to the treasurer for billing to student statements. 

OUTSIDE CONCESSIONS – The MJHS Band raises quite a bit of money by working concessions outside the high school’s activities.  These currently include:  Races at Nashville Super Speedway, various events at Bridgestone Arena and various events at Municipal Auditorium.  Other opportunities such as the Smyrna Air Show and WGI Guard Competition arise and the band boosters sometimes staff these events.  These concessions require an excellent coordinator to enlist and train the appropriate number of people to staff these events. 

PUBLICITY – The Publicity Chairperson handles all publicity for the MJHS Band of Gold.  This includes articles for local newspapers, slides for the school information channel, flyers and banners to advertise events.  This committee takes care of sharing news about the Band of Gold with the community.

SEWING – The sewing committee works with the color guard director to make and repair flags.  The committee will work with the uniform committee in measuring and repairing the band uniforms.  Being an excellent seamstress is not a requirement for this committee as there is much cutting, pinning and measuring that is needed prior to actual sewing.  There is also fray checking and other necessary steps for flag preparation that need to be done after sewing is completed.

THANK YOU – The Thank You Committee is responsible for sending Thank You cards and notes to supporters of the MJHS Band of Gold. 

Tote n tow

TOTE-N-TOW – The Tote-n-tow Committee is responsible, along with the committee, for loading and transporting all of the equipment, instruments, uniforms, etc. to each performance.  They are responsible for the rental of trucks and equipment if necessary and for the maintenance and repair of equipment and transportation owned by the band.  They assist with the movement of props and equipment on and off the performance fields and floors.  They are responsible for the maintenance of the gators and other performance equipment owned by the Band of Gold.

Uniform Mom

UNIFORMS – Uniforms are assigned each marching season.  Alterations or size changes are made for each participant.  Uniforms are maintained by bibber number.  The uniform chairperson is responsible for ensuring proper fit, assignment of uniforms and proper cleaning and maintenance of uniforms and shoes.  They are to be put back in order upon return from cleaning.  Prior to each performance the uniform chair is responsible for making sure all uniforms and shoes are where they should be and placed in order in the appropriate uniform box.  A full extra uniform should be available for each performance in case of emergency.  The uniform chair maintains extras and temporary mending materials for emergencies during performances.

WEBSITE – The Mt. Juliet Band of Gold’s web page is a source of information for everyone in the band, as well as a portal to the world to show others some of the things we do that make our program great. It also provides a myriad of fundraising opportunities.

ADVERTISING – This committee is responsible for the continuous solicitation of advertising revenues from those businesses willing to purchase the use of the various advertising spaces available to the Band Boosters including but not limited to the Band’s vehicles, props and website.

FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES 

Each fiscal year a variety of fundraising activities are organized, coordinated and implemented by the Band Boosters. It is only through the success of these fundraisers that the Band Boosters are able to offer minimized individual payments for participation of the students in the band.  Your participation in some of these fundraisers is required by your contract and is essential to the continued success of the band program at Mt. Juliet High School.