Volunteering

What you can do:

1. Read through the descriptions below of volunteer opportunities.

2. Fill out a volunteering information sheet either here, online, or in paper format at a boosters meeting. ( Online version coming Soon! )

3. Get on our e-mail list, since some opportunities are announced with a short time line.

4. Volunteer specifically when called, or when an e-mail announcement arrives.

5. Remind us if you haven't been contacted in a month or so!

The Band Boosters organization operates through volunteer activities. Band parents, new and old, are urged to get involved and to help out. Please get in touch with us...we'll be glad to match you up with a fun but urgently needed job!

Outsiders rarely are aware of the full range of jobs that must be done for the band to operate. Students and band staff have very full schedules that focus on learning and improving drill and music. These efforts involve real personal sacrifice, but do provide enormous personal growth opportunities as well.

The professional band staff make many of the plans for the band. However, they truly cannot perform all the ancillary jobs needed to put the band on the field, nor can the band members themselves. Parents must step up and participate as well. It sometimes seems to take four full years of band participation for parents to become aware of all the behind the scenes work that is done. It speaks highly of our parents that many parents of band alumni remain active in the band boosters, even though they no longer have students in the band. They've learned how much work must be done, and they know how beneficial it is for the students. Of course, the bulk of the Band Boosters active membership is the parents of current band members.

Some of the available positions are listed below. Brief descriptions and the name of the appropriate contact person are shown when available. If the contact person is shown as TBA, that means the position is available....contact Richard Carr(rcarr@salembandboosters.org) or Kim Brown (kbrown@salembandboosters.org)

Band Aid Committee. The Band Boosters provide many meals for the Band members during the season. These range from lunch for the day of travel to band camp, to a midnight meal after a long day of competing at a band contest. Feeding 140 people (students plus staff) is a big job. People are needed to shop in advance for food, to make sandwiches, to make cookies, to package up meals, and to deliver the meals. The contact person is Julie Hunter (389-1384, kimbeljulie@hotmail.com).

Sewing Committee. Band uniforms need to be sized each year. Pants must be hemmed, for example. For 130 different people it is a big job, and volunteers are needed! Additionally, the colorguard uniforms often require significant sewing. And last but not least, colorguard flags must be constructed new each year, another big job. These jobs add up to a lot of sewing. Both men and women are urged to consider this service opportunity. The contact person is TBA for uniforms. For flag sewing the contact person is Leonard Rowe (389-3160, SalemRowes@aol.com) .

Summer Music Games Committee. Each summer the Band Boosters host a Drum Corps International event at Salem Stadium. With 6-8 visiting Corps, professional judges, and 5000+ fans attending, it is a big event. A sizable committee works for months in advance arranging the various details. A well established plan is followed, but workers are still needed to carry out the many steps involved. Day of event jobs are also available, from working ticket booths, to serving as ushers, to helping sell raffle tickets. (TBA)

USSBA Virginia State Championship Committee. In 2008, the Pride of Salem is hosting the USSBA Virginia State Championship, a band competition in Salem Stadium. As with the Summer Music Games, a wide variety of duties are involved, both in advance and on the day of the event. The contact person is TBA.

Concessions Committee. The Band Boosters run concession stands at various events at Salem High School. Volunteers typically work shifts of several hours. Opportunities are also available for purchasing the needed supplies, etc. The contact person is Iline Huff (540-525-9136, iline@salembandboosters.org

Fruit and Nuts Committee. An annual fundraiser each fall is the sale of fruits and nuts to family and friends. Volunteers are needed to lead this activity, to help collect the order forms, to do record keeping, to help organize products once they arrive at a local pickup locations, and to help with transportation. This effort is a large one, so many different volunteers are needed at each stage. The contact person is Kim and David Brown (343-3173, kbrown@salembandboosters.org).

Travel Committee. The Band Boosters seek to arrange housing options for band families that wish to travel to "away" band competitions. Directions to events are also collected and distributed. Sometimes discount tickets and busses are also arranged. Training for this committee is available! The contact person is Gary Huff (521-2142, wcoachvamd@aol.com ).

Social Committee. The Band Boosters host several fun events...potluck dinners throughout the year, a dessert event at band camp, a barbeque dinner before a home football game, etc. This committee organizes such events. The contact person is Julie Hunter(389-1384, kimbeljulie@hotmail.com).

Phone Tree Committee. The Band Boosters try to contact parents when big events are coming up. In addition to e-mail, a phone tree is available for those preferring this way of receiving information. Each person makes a few calls to get the information out to everyone. (TBA)

Bandwear Committee. The Band Boosters encourage parents to buy and wear "Pride of Salem" apparel to football games and band contests. It is a morale boosting activity. The committee designs, orders, advertises, and delivers these products, based on parent orders. The contact person is Denna Snead (389-5916, dnasnead@yahoo.com).

Publicity Committee. The Band Boosters work to place informational articles on band activities in local papers. The committee also works to advertise events and fundraising activities. Media relations is a key to obtaining support from the public and from appropriate agencies in town. The contact person is Kim Koon (387-9743, kkoon@comcast.net ).

Video Committee. Each year we produce videos of band performances and OPUS, and sell them to parents. This committee works with professional consultants to arrange the production of these "year in review" products. The contact person is Chris Koon (387-9743).

Photos. Don't forget that you can send us photos of band activities for us to share on the web site! The instructions can be found on the Photos page of this web site. The contact person is Iline Huff ( iline@salembandboosters.org )

Additional opportunities are available. Just ask!