Friday, August 28, 2009

Thank You Notes

Thanks to all of the parents who attended the Welcome Back BBQ. We counted about 100 people in attendance and many new faces. Even better...the volunteer sign-up sheets were overflowing with names. It's going to be a great year! Thank you again to Tammi Sevy and Allyson White for organizing such a fun event.

And a HUGE thank you goes out to two alumni students, Tim Weiss and Natalie Geeter, for their help in creating the banner for our new blog...proof positive that kids who study music are way more successful than their parents at so many things. :)

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Fall Car Wash Fundraiser September 12th

You may have heard from your student already that the Fall Car Wash Fundraiser is coming up on Saturday September 12th. The tickets will be sold from August 17th – September 10th.

Each student will be issued 10 tickets, each selling for a $5.00 donation. In order to pick up additional tickets to sell, the money for the first 10 tickets must be turned in, that will be $50 for those in higher math classes! We cannot accept cash for the pre-sold tickets!!! Checks need to be made out to Folsom Music Boosters, with a note of the student’s last name and ticket number on the check as well.

***** PLEASE NOTE: Once you have taken the ten tickets you are responsible for the tickets or the money to be returned at the end of the sales period.********

The Prize for Top Selling Section/Small Group: Pizza Party!!!!!

Car Wash Date: Saturday, Sept. 12

10am - 4pm
Folsom Middle School Parking Lot
500 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom

We will have parent & student sign-ups for 2 hour shifts the week prior to the car wash.


As always, thank you for your support!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Director's Message


Well, as time moves forward the realities hit harder! Don Wersky, who has been here since 2002 teaching various music classes, has been laid off at Folsom High. He will be at the lower grade levels teaching Music. I can't say enough about Don and what a joy it's been to work along side him. He cares deeply for the kids and this program. He has been a dear friend and cohort for many years prior to 2002 as well. Don taught at Mills M.S. in the early 80's when I was teaching at Cordova High School. Please send Don a message telling him how much we are going to miss him, etc., if you can. He needs to know that he is a HUGE part of this program and he is going to be dearly missed. Don, I am going to miss you!

With this harsh reality comes the fact that it's just me now running the entire program. I am asking for patience, and for a little respect in following my guidelines for our programs. After 25 years here we have several rules and regulations and they are in place for a reason. As you have witnessed, there was a plethora of papers that came home during the first couple days of school. IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT YET, PLEASE READ ALL MATERIALS AND SIGN WHAT YOU NEED TOO! The district has new mandates and rules etc., and with that are these forms that have to be filled out and turned back in asap.

Gaesser creed:

I love kids. I love Music. I will have each group playing at their potentials all year long. I am tough, I have high expectations of students. With that, I have high expectations of myself as well. I will get back to all messages and calls as soon as I can. Office phone number is-916-985-3103. Students first, program second. Cindi Castro is the administrative assistant to the Boosters and myself. She is a Godsend! She is in every day to answer the phones as I am teaching almost all of the time. She handles most of the logistical things and keeps me sane and sounding literate! I can't wait to meet the new students and to meet all the new parents as well.
Thank you, Cgaesser

President's Message

Monday night marching band practice, music lessons, mad dashes to the music store for reeds, repairs and lyres. It’s the beginning of another exciting year of music.

Welcome to the Folsom High School Music Boosters. I am looking forward to meeting the new families to our program and excited to see our returning boosters. I encourage you to jump in and help wherever you can. Without your help, our children will not have access to this nationally acclaimed music program. Not only have I met lifelong friends, but actively participating in my son’s music education has helped us maintain a strong relationship with him. The kids really do enjoy having their parents get involved, even if they won’t admit it to you.

If you don’t know where to start - how about joining us on Monday, August 24th for the Welcome BBQ? Check your students backpack for your invitation or check our blog for all the details. Get to know your Board of Directors, mingle with good friends, meet new friends and have fun. We’ll explain our plans for the year with a brief overview and answer any questions you may have. Thereafter, I hope to see you at our general meetings - held the second Tuesday of each month. Check this blog for more details.

I look forward to meeting you soon.

Lorie Walton, President

P.S. I want to personally thank Kalani Allred for designing our Folsom High School Music Boosters logo - it looks fabulous!

Summer Happenings

Summer started off with an exclamation point! when the Folsom City Council honored the Folsom High School Music Program with a City Proclamation for their "outstanding achievements in music education." Vice Mayor Jeff Starsky presented Curtis Gaesser and John Zimny with the mayoral proclamation.


Our Jazz Choir "A" opened the Folsom Pro Rodeo in July with a rousing rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. Many "best I've ever heard" comments floated through the arena. Fireworks sales were brisk at the Booster booth at Broadstone Marketplace, generating approximately $20,000 for the music program. Many, many thanks to Kristen Smith, Mary Slusser, Lorie Walton, Tammy Sevy and all the volunteers who spent countless hours making this event a success.

Budget problems persisted at the District level. But to date, much progress has been made. In the words of Patrick Godwin, the District Superintendent, "The federal stimulus funds, combined with a work year/compensation reduction agreement with our teachers and certificated support staff (FCEA), and administrators and supervisors (FCAA), allowed us to avoid the "worst case" budget scenario that we had to prepare and propose in June. Our high schools and middle schools will still be able to offer a full range of elective courses, and our counselor services will remain at the same level as last year. We will also provide the same athletic opportunities as last year." For now, our music programs remain unchanged. For more information, please visit the District website at http://www.fcusd.org/Budget/SupeMsg_080509.asp.

Welcome Back BBQ August 24th






Attention! Attention!


Don't miss the Welcome Back BBQ on Monday, August 24th, 6:00 pm at the Folsom High School Amphitheater. Come enjoy an evening full of fun, friends, and food. As a parent of a music student, you are officially a member of the Folsom High School Music Booster Organization. We want to meet you!

Please bring either a salad, side dish or a dessert depending on the first letter of your last name:
A-H SALADS
I-P SIDE
Q-Z DESSERTS

R.S.V.P BY AUG 19TH
TAMMI SEVY: 608-4475 tammi.sevy@sbcglobal.net
ALLYSON WHITE: 985-8992 allysonwhite@sbcglobal.net
HOSTED BY THE FOLSOM HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC BOOSTERS

Uniforms - Message from Erika Otto

Band Parents,

I will be in charge of uniforms for the 2009-2010 Marching Band season. The job includes uniform fittings at the beginning of the school year for new students and returning students and making sure the students have everything they need for football games, competitions and parades (all uniform pieces, black socks, pluming and de-pluming).

Uniform fittings will be conducted over two evenings August 18 - 19 from 4:30 to 9:00 pm. I need 6 parent volunteers each evening. Parents can sign up for the entire night or just a couple of hours. I also need parents to volunteer for football games. I need the most help for the first game. It will be the first time new students dress and we do a uniform check (fit, hems, etc.). Subsequent games are easier but I still need help with pluming/de-pluming and issuing new pieces that get lost. Once the competitions begin, we travel with the pit crew to help with uniforms, plume and de-plume.

We have a lot of fun (really, we do!) So, if you are available to help or just want more information, please contact me at eotto@folsommusic.org or 353-2721. Thank you.

Erika Otto

Volunteers Needed!

Thank you to the following volunteers who will be the 2009-2010 Committee Chairs:

Chaperones - Mariko Haugen
Pit Crew - Randy Strebe
Uniforms - Erika Otto

Volunteers still needed for the following Chair positions:

Folsom Fall Festival
Wine and Jazz
Crab Feed
Folsom High Jazz Festival
Fireworks Booth
Marching Band Food Coordinator
Fundraising Chair
Volunteer Chair
T-Shirts and Trophies
Grant Writer/Corporate Sponsorships

If you are interested, please contact Lorie Walton at (916) 217-2570 or president@folsommusic.org.

SCRIP Program Still in Full Swing

We are pleased to announce that Raley's and Belair have contributed over $8,000 to the Folsom High School Music Boosters since the inception of the scrip program 5 years ago. Please continue your support by shopping at these stores. A special "Thank You" goes to John Phillips, Manager at Raley's in Empire Ranch. Thanks also to Jeanne Foley, who is heading up this year's scrip program once again.

There are two programs available:
No. 1: The Quality of Life Program - Raleys, Bel Air, (and Nob Hill for family in the Bay Area). The local Raleys and Bel Air Stores will donate 1%-4% of your purchases to the Folsom Music Boosters every time you show them your card at the register. Contact Jeanne Foley and she will set you up.

No. 2: eScrip uses a broader scope of businesses. Please check out this website http://www.escrip.com/ . As you can see, Safeway, Eddie Bauer, Macy's, etc are included. You will need to register yourself online. The Folsom High School Music Boosters are already enrolled in the program, ID#154783066. If you have questions, please contact Jeanne Foley at (916)983-6310 or at jjnnfoley@sbcglobal.net.

Folsom Music DVDs


The 2009 Folsom High Jazz Season (5) DVD Set is available NOW! Over 5 hours of superb video chronicling the 2009 Jazz music season at Folsom High. Use Paypal to order your DVDs today! Also many more DVDs featuring performances of Folsom Middle School, Sutter Middle School and Folsom High School music students. A great way to preserve memories, makes a great gift. Over 30 DVDs to choose from. All proceeds benefit Folsom Music. Contact Craig Covello at (916) 337-0856 or Craig@CraigCovello.com.