McNary Choir Booster
Meeting Minutes
October 6, 2009

Meeting convened at 6:30 pm.

Meeting started with Mr. Taylor introducing the new Assistant Choir Director Heather Stein.

Motion was made by Noelle Marier to approve minutes.   Minutes were approved.

New Vice President

A new Vice President needed to be elected.  Kristyn nominated Jennifer Weathers, Karen Jungwirth seconded nomination.

Varsity letters for Choir Students

Karen Jungwirth gave information about reinstating the Varsity letters for students.  Choir students would earn points toward a varsity letter, they would have until May to earn these points.  Points will not be carried from year to year. 

Tour Info

Mr. Taylor asked parents what they thought about taking either a concert choir or highlander’s classics & jazz groups on a musically focused tour this year.  He stated that we would need a huge amount of parent help to organize a concert choir tour because of the size of the group.  He would require 90% of the kids to be able to go. Cost would most likely be around $400 per student for a 4 night, 5 day tour.  Seattle, San Francisco, LA, and the San Juan Islands were suggested as the easiest and most cost efficient to arrange. If we were to take the highlander’s classics & jazz groups, most of the planning has already been done by students, and would only take a couple of adult volunteers to put all the pieces together.  Jo Moore suggested we poll concert choir parents, asking for their thoughts on this.  Karen Jungwirth suggested we don’t keep Mr. Taylor straggling on this issue, and that a year’s advance notice, starting this spring, would be better for a large group tour, setting early deadlines with large deposits to get commitment from parents and students.  Debra Frazier suggested we just do small groups this year, Elizabeth Shaver seconded the motion, vote was taken and approved.  An April 9 – 12th was suggested as a good date for a highlander’s classics and jazz tour. 
Two parents volunteered to help students in organizing this tour, Jo Moore and Jennifer Weathers. 

Carnival

Information went out to Elementary & Middle School Choir Directors for this event and we have already received positive feedback about it.  Mr. Taylor asked that parents get the word out about this event, planned for October 17 from 3-6.  For advertising, posters will go up the week of the 5th, it will be announced in the local newspaper and the kids will be visiting elementary & middle school classes.  We will have the gym at 11 am on Saturday morning for set up.  Anyone who can help is welcome.

Fundraising Report

Jennifer Weathers gave the fundraising report.  Applebees has 2 programs for some easy fundraising.  Apples for education consists of students selling paper apples for $2 (redeemable for a free soft drink, flavored lemonade or milkshake) and $5 (redeemable for a free order of mozzarella sticks).  There are no costs for the school/group, and we would keep 100% of the profits.  They also have a Pancake Breakfast fundraiser available.  Applebees would turn the restaurant over to our group on a Saturday morning to host a pancake breakfast.  They would open early and make a set plate of pancakes and a beverage.  Our group can pre-sell tickets for up to $7 and Applebee’s only asks for $2 from each redeemed ticket to cover food costs.  Volunteers from our group  can take food out to the tables- and keep the tips!  February was suggested as a good time to do this. 

Pie sales will begin this week.  Order forms will go home with kids on the 14th and 15th.  They are due Oct. 30 and pies will be delivered November 19th.  First 2 pie sales will go to general fund, sales after that will go to individual accounts.

Caroling – Classics & Jazz groups and those concert choir students who have auditioned and been chosen, will provide caroling services on December 19th & 21st.  We will start selling spots at the concerts and advertise in the Keizer Times.  Jo Moore mentioned that we will need parents to volunteer as drivers for those days.  Please let Jennifer know if you would like to help with this.

Merchandise – we will again be selling merchandise at every opportunity starting with the carnival.

Madrigal Night – This will take place in the Spring.  More details to come.

Treasurer’s Report

Choir has $7555.66 in the general fund, $472.69 is allotted for scholarships and $1999.00 is from a music lab grant which leaves $5083.97.  There is $4235.06 in student accounts.

Respectfully submitted by:  Jennifer Weathers