MUSIC PARENT’S ASSOCIATION

MINUTES

March 13, 2006

The meeting was called to order by President Richard Anderson at 7:00 p.m. There were 19 people present. The Minutes for February’s meeting were accepted as transmitted by e-mail.

Treasurer’s Report: Pat Brune reported she wrote a check to the Vocal Department for $800.00 for the Sound Express trip to Chicago. There were no deposits. There’s a balance of $4,709.77 in the account (without the Color Guard balance of $244.49). She’ll begin printing a more detailed report next month.

Department Reports:

Vocal Department: Dana Babcock read a thank-you note from Sound Express. Joyce Hisel said around 80 students are going to small ensemble/solo contest in Liberty on March 31. Large group contest is April 8. She said Dr. Harpst told her the District is hiring an additional vocal director to help with vocal ensembles. Their concert is May 4. She brought in the $1,835.15 check from Country Mart that came to the District Office for MPA.

Color Guard: No report.

Instrumental Department: Mr. Jones reported the joint concert with North Platte will be on March 21. An information sheet was handed out. Contest for small groups/solos is April 1 in Liberty, and large group contest is April 7 at Park Hill South.

Jazz Band: Mr. Bonsignore said the fundraiser at McDonald’s netted $335.25. We can possibly do another fundraiser like this before the end of the school year. Jazz Band received a I rating at the CMSU Festival on February 26th, with lots of good comments from judges. We got a II rating at the KU Festival, and at NWMSU we took 2^nd. On March 31 the Jazz Band will go to the Penn Valley Jazz Festival. The Kansas City Jazz Ensemble plays on April 28. Evening of Jazz is May 5, and the programs will be printed for us. Espresso Connections may bring a drinks cart and sell hot drinks there as a fundraiser. He mentioned the Middle School jazz band, which has 22-24 kids who faithfully attend weekly rehearsals, and some high schoolers who come to help. This band will play at the middle school concert on May 18.

Committee Reports:

Ways and Means: No report other than that we still need gatekeepers for the antique show.

Home Tailgates: We still need salads and desserts for the joint concert dinner with North Platte on March 21. We’ll begin serving at 5:00 p.m.

Membership: We now have 83 families.

Communications: No report other than that each department (band and vocal) has its own website address.

Awards/Recognition: Laurie Mossman needs pictures of the MMEA concert for the book. Linda Sanders needs pictures for the senior video she will make.

Trailer/Transportation: No report.

Old Business:

The storage containers (25-gal. approx.) should be dark blue and non-see-through. MPA will use these for paper goods, extra packaged snacks, etc. Wal-Mart has these for about $6 each and we’ll need 25. Richard offered to purchase them.

Mr. Jones and Stacy Evans will work on the recruitment letter for the present 8^th graders. As an added note, approximately 145 kids have/will sign up for band for 2006-07.

We’ll need a committee to work on the senior yard signs over the summer. We’ll ask someone artistic to draw a template which will be copied and cut out of wood. The senior parents will paint them. Mr. Jones and Mr. Bonsignore will discuss a date for Parent’s Day.

New Business: 

A Nominating Committee (Syl Washington, Dana Babcock, Stacy Evans) was elected. It will report at the April 10^th MPA meeting.

Richard Anderson spoke about the e-mail sent to the Executive Committee as a poll about changing MPA from a music parent’s association to a band parent’s association. The consensus was that we need to do something to change MPA. He also read a letter from Joyce Hisel that states she appreciates MPA and what it has done for the vocal department, but she’ll support a decision to make MPA a band booster organization, if that’s what is decided. She finds it easier to work with the parents of each specific vocal group rather than with one large music parents group. This letter will be kept in the permanent records of the MPA Secretary.

We discussed retaining our name, but drafting a statement that would clarify our purpose. We request that the music directors come to us for help if they need something, rather than MPA going to them to ask how it can help. Mr. Jones said each department (band, vocal, color guard, jazz band) has money in the school budget and MPA shouldn’t be a “bank” to keep track of that money. George Bundy made a Motion to transfer the money Color Guard has in the MPA account to its account with the school. Seconded and passed.

Dana Babcock made a Motion to form a committee of five to draft Standard Operating Procedures or a “points of clarification” document that would serve as an Addendum to our Bylaws. This document would clarify and elaborate on our purpose and how we will fulfill that purpose. Seconded and passed. Karen Jacobs will head up this committee and present a rough draft at April’s meeting.

As mentioned previously, the Evening of Jazz is May 5^th. We need people to help with decorating and set-up during that day.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:41 p.m. Next meeting is April 10, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Ruth Wilson

MPA Secretary