TR's reflections...
On a recent telecast of Inside the Actor’s Studio (Bravo network), Steven Spielberg was asked
to name his favorite image from one of his movies. He chose a scene from Close Encounters of
the Third Kind.
In the story, we are first introduced to a tousle-headed toddler boy living alone with his mother
in a secluded farm house. It is dusk. Mother and son are preparing to turn-in for the night. In
the distance, there is evidence of a gathering storm. They seem comforted by the security of their
surroundings.
The midsummer's peace is shattered by something supernatural ... positively extra-terrestrial.
What had the appearance of a storm now literally shakes the house.
The mother's fear of the unknown is palpable. She scurries to assure the safety of her family.
Doors are locked, windows shuttered, and through the cracks we see movements of shadow and light
that infer that something large and alien is landing just outside.
Curious, the child opens the front door, and ignoring cries of warning from his mother, we see
what he sees: a swirling storm awash with flashing lights and unknown mechanicals. Expressed
in his face, we see an infinite spectrum of awe, wonder, curiosity, and enthusiasm. While the
mother is paralyzed by fear, the child is open to possibility. Unafraid, he joins the spacecraft
for travel to parts unknown.
Spielberg's image is a powerful one. It affirms and confirms the value of seeing life as through
the eyes of a child, to trust our instincts, to connect "heart and head".
Musicians strengthen this "head and heart" connection through performance. Once the challenge and
tedium of learning notes and rhythms has been accomplished, each performer must invest those sounds
with feelings that are real, --ones that we perhaps once knew but are now too frightened, busy, or
otherwise occupied to recall.
There is no finer example of the power of performance to connect heart and head than the Symphonic
Band's performance in Cleveland. These wonderful young men and women invested untold hours preparing
individually and collectively. The result was a “mountain-top" experience that will live on in the
hearts and minds of all who heard, setting the standard for future groups.
We are sincerely grateful for the support of chaperones, parents, school, and community in this
venture, and especially to Ken and Pam Frisch, who coordinated efforts for the Cleveland trip!
On to the next mountain!
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May Banquet Meeting
It is time to begin preparation and planning for the May Banquet. We will meet on Tuesday,
February 25, at 7:00pm in the band room to brainstorm new ideas for the banquet.
All senior parents are invited to help. This is a fun committee, planning for your senior's
last awards banquet. Bring ideas and plan to attend. Questions, call Shirlee Bostdorff at
419-352-3381 or sbost@wcnet.org.
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New Uniforms & Storage Cabinets
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
On behalf of the Executive Band Board Boosters, we would like to thank all the people involved in
the process of obtaining, issuing, and storing of the new formal attire for the concert season.
Thank you to the percussion section for cleaning up the percussion cases in the upstairs band room.
Thanks to Chuck and Shirlee Bostdorff, Mike and Shelly Leestma, Judy Gardner and Mike Coomes, and
Jay and Anne Deutschman for cleaning the upstairs band room.
Thank you to the crew of Moms who helped hem 38 pair of guys tuxedo pants in record time. These
include Sue Leeds, Peg Baker, Diane Smith, Barb Clink, Darla Radabaugh, Shirlee Bostdorff, Anne
Deutschman, and Shelly Leestma.
Thank you to the cabinet crew who built, painted and assembled new cabinets in the upstairs band
room to store this year's formal wear, next year's formal wear purchase and the overflow of raincoats.
These include Al Stoots, Jay Deutschman, Chuck Bostdorff, Mike Leestma, Scott Leestma, Brittanee
Bostdorff, and Doug Stoots.
Thank you to the following for their donations to the effort. BG Block and Lumber donated the labor
for cutting the cabinet wood to size, Homeworks donated the paint to paint the new cabinets and
Doris Herringshaw donated the embroidery of the new formal wear garment bags.
We were able to accomplish all of this in a matter of 3-4 weeks, while still fitting in our Christmas
and New Year season. Thank you for all the time and effort to all who have helped and thank you to all
the parents who are buying the Kroger/Meijer certificates to pay for all the things we need. Please
remember to continue to purchase after the holidays. Our budget needs the income.
Thank you to all our performers and their conductors. We do this because of you. Our performance
in Cleveland was spectacular! We are very Proud!
The Executive Band Booster Board
Symphonic Band Refunds
Enclosed is a listing of symphonic band members (by student ID#) who participated in the recent
fundraising. Please look it over and if there are any questions or concerns about the amounts,
contact Anne Deutschman at 419-354-3014 or jakgs@dacor.net.
If your $100 deposit was paid, and you participated in the fundraising, you may be refunded up to
the amount earned, but not over the $100 deposit. If you would like a refund, send a stamped,
self-addressed envelope to Ken Bielen, 1469 Conneaut Ave, Bowling Green. You can either be refunded
by check or in Kroger or Meijer gift certificates (in $25 increments only). Include the name of
your student and in which form you would like the refund to be issued.
All refund requests must be postmarked by April 1, 2003. No requests after that time will be honored.
All unclaimed funds will be directed to the general fund. Thank you to everyone who helped raise funds
and continues to do so.
Symphonic and Concert Band Formal Wear Update
Presently, we owe $3400.00 for the balance of the Symphonic Band formal wear and the estimated cost
of the Concert Band formal wear is $7900.00. Concert Band formal wear is to be purchased in the fall
of 2003 for the 03-04 concert season.
The Band Executive Board asks for your continued support of the Kroger/Meijer Gift Certificate Fundraiser.
It was recommended to fund the formal wear purchase through the gift certificate sales. We have seen
a significant drop in gift certificate sales since the Cleveland trip and are concerned.
We are encouraging ALL band families, Freshman through Symphonic Band to continue to purchase the
Kroger/Meijer gift certificates to realize our goal of formal wear for the Concert Band by the fall
of 2003.
Gift certificates may be purchased at the Deutschman’s residence at 911 N. Wintergarden Rd on
Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:30pm and Saturday mornings from 10-11am. Remember this costs you
$0 and the band receives 5% of each certificate sold.
Thank you for your continued support.
Mid Winter Concert
The Mid Winter Concert will be held at 3:00pm, Sunday, March 2, 2003 in the new gymnasium of the
High School. Rehearsal is scheduled for Saturday, March 1, 2003. Times will be announced later.
Cookie Dough Sale
A Cookie Dough Sale fundraiser has been planned for March. The sale will run from March 3 through
March 17, with a delivery date of April 16. Besides the usual assortment of frozen cookie dough,
we will also be selling cheese cakes, pizza and butterbraids.
If you have any questions contact Mike Leestma at 419-352-8124.
Yearbook Photos
While most of the marching band members had their pictures taken in the fall, others were unable
to make it. Any students who did not have their picture taken by Life Touch and would like their
picture to appear in the band yearbook may submit a picture to Judy Gardner. Unfortunately, pictures
taken by a professional photographer or studio other than Life Touch cannot be used. Photos taken
by family and friends, however, can be accepted. We also need other pictures of band events, personnel
and members. (Digital photos don't work well for this purpose.)
Please submit all pictures to Judy Gardner at 521 W. Poe Road. If you have any questions please call
Judy at 353-1102. Information for ordering band yearbooks will be available in future newsletters.
Nominations
The nominating committee is looking for representatives of the Class of 2006 to join the Executive
Band Board. Four couples are needed. This is a three year commitment.
If you are a parent of a freshman band member and are interested in joining the Executive Board,
contact Mike Coomes at 353-1102 or any Executive Band Board member.
Bobcat Band Calendar
A brief outline of the next four months in calendar format is now available and was published as
an insert to this newsletter. The Bobcat Band Calendar has now
available on-line.