2024 November Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes, Uncategorized Comments Off on 2024 November Meeting Minutes

Agenda MBPA Meeting November 7, 2024  @ 6:00pm
Meeting started at: 6:09pm Meeting adjourned at: 6:58pm
Attendance: Brenda Sanson, Debby McMaster, Rick McMaster, Laurie Roberts, Gary Troilo, Kristen Castillo, Kevin M. Sitler, Jeff Kobs, Jen Winrow, Guy Tomase, Teri Fleming, Jenn Mulcahy, Thersa Freeman, Laura Donovan, Justin DeJoy, Sara Tomase, Frani Spivak, Betsy Roche

  1. Director’s Report

Competitive season finished up last weekend.  Came in 2nd place.  Best performance all season was done at MetLife.  Great that the kids were able to travel and do so well.

  1. MetLife Recap- Smoothest experience yet, other than some “scenic routes” through the city. Overall, the trip went very well.  The season went very well, students represented the school and community respectfully.
  2. Winter Season overview for anyone new- Same rehearsal schedule from now until April.  Open to anyone, and rehearsals start next Tuesday.  There is an audition process, please reach out to Mr. DeJoy for more information.
  3. Jazz band interest meeting was today.
  4. Concert band continues.  Winter concert is Wednesday, December 18th at 6:30.
  5. Senior Districts- Band is getting information tomorrow on this.  If kids are interested in other opportunities- outside of school programs.  Students audition to be a part of the Southeast District (Districts).  Weekend rehearsals and performance. These are competitive opportunities for band students.  SEMSBA is another option.  We have 7-8 kids participating in Districts.
  1. Financials

Thanks to Deb for all she did and we wish her well.  We appreciate all the work she did in the beginning of the season.  

  1. 24/25 Budget has been approved along with the increase to MetLife spend from $2,500 to $6,000
    1. Checking- $38,841.31
    2. Money Market- $10,974.83
    3. Financial Aid- $8,408.99
    4. Student Credits- $6,089.72
    5. QMS-$1,67.06
  2. Credit Memos: all have been sent and everything is up-to-date
    1. Guard Shoes still need to be invoiced and will be by tomorrow.
  3. MetLife Invoices: Thank you to everyone for paying in a timely manner
  4. New Treasurer Vote- We had a couple of people reach out.  Fidelity doesn’t like people to be Treasurer’s for NOP’s.  Want to look for someone who would have a child in the program for a while (has underclassmen).  Jeff Kobs has volunteered to step up to be our Treasurer.  “I’m good at math”. Frani asked the group for a motion to vote in Jeff; (2-year term with the ability to do 2 more years/1 more term) Kevin Sitler motioned, Jen Winrow seconded, all in favor- motion passed unanimously.  Ted and Deb have agreed to be around.  We will get this transition in place as quickly as we can.
  1. Gillette- 4 events left.  We still need help.  We are wrapping up the season.  Looking for December 1st (parade day). December 17th and one in the end of December(29th) and another in early January (Jan 5th). Please sign up if you can.  We are still in the BBQ booth, it is a bit easier than the pizza booth.  In two weeks, the high school games will be available but from noon-8pm.  We do not think we will be able to staff it. Last year the first event was in late March then the next event is in April. August is typically the busiest time for us. They are paying in a timelier manner, they have new systems in place, and seem to be more efficient with getting us our payments. Depending on the year, but we generally make around $50,000-$60,000 a year for the program. We strongly encourage 2-3 events per family but it is very difficult to get that. Typically, it is the same 12 people doing every event. We have tried everything to encourage people to be a part of it. Maybe ask someone to video the experience to demystify the volunteering experience? May be helpful.  Will reach out and ask Andrew and April. 
  1. Fundraiser
    1. Direct Donations – on going 
    2. Climbing for Cleopatra – on going.  We have currently raised $1,400.  THANK YOU! We will rebrand this for the Winter Show.
    3. Calendars – Raised $6,540 ($3,270 each for MBPA/Students)
    4. Swag Store – Raised $376.09 and items should be in next week (Frani will pick everything up and will figure out how to distribute)
    5. Dining for Dollars
      1. Papa Ginos – raised $151.88
      2. Jake & Joe’s December 9th– We will start pushing that towards the end of November
    6. Pie Sale – will begin this week and are due back November 22nd.  Reminder these are NOT for Thanksgiving, they will be delivered on 12/19. This will specifically go towards the Great East- we are going to hire judicators to come to us, then we will go to Six Flags versus going to Great East.  If we can sell lots of pies, the trip will be free!  Kids got the order forms today. Cash or check, each pie is $22. If you sell 10-15 pies, the trip will be paid for! We will be having some motivation- whoever sells the most pies will get to pie Mr. DeJoy! All checks go to Mansfield High School.
    7. Swag Store- will open for Winter Guard and Percussion (not sure on the time)
    8. Brenda Sansone has made Mansfield ornaments- $10 each.  They will be at the Winter Concert and available for purchase. Thank you, Brenda!
    9. Ear Warmers and magnets from Brenda as well.  Thank you! We will sell whatever Brenda wants to make for us!  
  1. Veterans Day Parade- Monday 10am parade, be there at the train station for 9:30 / Senior Photos- Chris Jones will be taking pictures for the senior photos for the posters/banners for the seniors.
  1. Grants- Haven’t heard from anyone from the non-profit gift fund. Have reached out a few times.  It doesn’t sound promising as we couldn’t submit for things that were already paid for.  We also owe reporting on what funds they gave us in the past.  No response yet from Mass Cultural Council, and one is being submitted to another option.  We need help locating opportunities. Foundation Directory Online may be an option to investigate grant opportunities and funders.  We need general operating expense grants.
  1. Volunteering (competitions, football games, Gillette, etc.) We do need a couple more hands for the football game tomorrow night.  We need people at 7:15. If they win tomorrow, we may have another game.  Possibly championships at Gillette, if athletics will pay for us to attend. If people have an hour to spare, we could use some extra hands. 
  1. Podium- the one we have is very awkward, very bulky.  We like the sturdiness of what we have, the height of what we have, and we will retrofit it to make it easier for transport. We will work on it from now until the next season to make it a little easier for the people willing to help us with getting the podium on and off the field.
  1. Why don’t our seniors get to recognize their favorite teachers at the senior football game? In the past- With senior night specifically at the football game, it was a question of doing the show or having them announced.  It is also the end of football and cheerleading where we continue through the end of the year. Mr. DeJoy is willing to inquire if it is something we want to pursue. This is done BEFORE the game, why can’t they add it?  Do the students want to be recognized? Concessus is that we will ask the seniors at the beginning of the season if they want to participate in the football/cheerleaders senior night.  Maybe we do something at the spring concert?
  1. Next Meeting December 5th at 6:00pm
  1. Parade- if it is raining, they do a mini parade in the hallways, and they do a presentation in the gym.
  1. Holiday Parade is on December 1st. We will update it on the MBPA calendar.
  1. Special thanks to the Superintendent’s Office for their advocacy for money for new uniforms for next season. We are all very excited about having new uniforms for next season and the upcoming years
  2. Cadence walking off the field last Sunday was AWESOME!